Danylo Yavhusishyn has made history as the first Ukrainian to win a top-tier sumo tournament in Japan. The 21-year-old clinched the Kyushu tournament after a dramatic tie-breaking victory against grand champion Hoshoryu from Mongolia.
Competing under the ring name Aonishiki Arata, Yavhusishyn addressed fans in fluent Japanese, expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to compete at his best. “I am happy that I am able to achieve a goal of mine,” he said after his victory, which was also broadcast live on Japanese television.
Yavhusishyn’s journey to this milestone has been remarkable. He arrived in Japan three years ago after fleeing the war in Ukraine and rapidly climbed the sumo ranks. Within just one year, he reached sumo’s upper divisions and earned promotion to the fourth-highest rank. His meteoric rise is one of the fastest since the introduction of Japan’s current six-tournament-per-year system in 1958.
Born in Vinnytsia, central Ukraine, Yavhusishyn began practicing sumo at the age of seven and became a national champion by 17. The outbreak of the war in 2022 prompted him to seek refuge in Germany before moving to Japan. Despite arriving with no knowledge of the Japanese language, he trained under the guidance of Japanese wrestler Arata Yamanaka, whom he had met previously at the world junior sumo championships.
Reflecting on his early days in Japan, Yavhusishyn recalled how his mentor welcomed him despite the language barrier, giving him the confidence to pursue his sumo career in a new country.
Following his historic tournament win, the Japan Sumo Association is expected to hold a special meeting to consider promoting him to “ozeki,” the second-highest rank beneath grand champion, or yokozuna.
Yavhusishyn is now focused on reaching sumo’s highest level. “I am happy now, but there is one higher status. I want to work toward that,” he said, signaling his ambition to continue breaking barriers in the sport while representing Ukraine on the global stage.
