Ukrainian sumo wrestler Danylo Yavhusishyn, competing under the ring name Aonishiki Arata, secured his second consecutive Emperor’s Cup on January 25, defeating Japanese wrestler Atamifuji in a playoff at the Hatsu Basho in Tokyo. The 21-year-old became the third European in history to win the prestigious New Year tournament, following Estonian Baruto in 2012 and Georgian Tochinoshin in 2018.
Ukrainian Sumo Wrestler Aonishiki Wins Second Consecutive Emperor’s Cup at Hatsu Basho
Both wrestlers entered the final day with identical 12-3 records. Atamifuji, weighing 195 kilograms, defeated Oshoumi in his scheduled bout to maintain his championship position. Aonishiki then forced the playoff by defeating fellow ozeki Kotozakura in the next match. During the decisive playoff, Atamifuji initially had control and pushed Aonishiki toward the edge. However, the Ukrainian executed a headlock throw that sent his heavier opponent to the ground, securing the title.
The victory marked the first time in 20 years that a newly promoted ozeki won a tournament. Hakuho, who later became one of sumo’s greatest yokozuna, was the last to accomplish this feat in May 2006. Aonishiki also became the first wrestler since Futabayama in January 1937 to claim Emperor’s Cups in consecutive tournaments while wrestling at sekiwake and ozeki ranks.
Yavhusishyn was born in Vinnytsia, Ukraine, on March 23, 2004. He began sumo at age seven and won the Ukrainian national championship by 17. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, he fled to Germany with his family before traveling to Japan in April 2022 with help from Japanese sumo wrestler Arata Yamanaka, whom he had befriended at the 2019 World Junior Sumo Championships.
He joined the Ajigawa stable in Tokyo and adopted the ring name Aonishiki, with “ao” meaning “blue” in reference to the Ukrainian flag. The “Arata” portion honors his Japanese friend who facilitated his arrival in Japan. He made his professional debut in September 2023 and reached the top makuuchi division by March 2025. His rise through the ranks was the fastest in modern sumo history, reaching sekiwake in just 13 tournaments.
Aonishiki won his first Emperor’s Cup at the Kyushu Basho in November 2025, defeating yokozuna Hoshoryu in a playoff. That victory earned him promotion to ozeki for the January tournament. With two consecutive championships, he now stands one tournament victory away from potentially becoming the first European yokozuna in sumo history.
