by Sumo wrestler Danylo Yavhusishyn made more history on Wednesday when he became the first Ukrainian to ascend to the ancient Japanese sport’s second-highest rank in record time.
The 21-year-old, who fled the war in Ukraine three years ago, has become the fastest to rise from the bottom ranks to ozeki status since the current six-tournament-a-year calendar was introduced in 1958.
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He became the first wrestler from Ukraine to win a competition when he emerged victorious at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday.
After wrestlers from Estonia, Bulgaria and Georgia, he is only the fourth European to become an ozeki.
“I will strive to achieve even higher goals in a way that does not bring shame to the title of ozeki,” Yavhusishyn, known by his ring name Aonishiki, said during his promotion ceremony.
Yavhusishyn has enjoyed a meteoric rise in sumo since his debut in July 2023.
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He capped an impressive year by defeating Grandmaster Hoshoryu in a play-off to claim his first title in just his 14th tournament.
Yavhusishyn received his promotion at a special ceremony in western Fukuoka, where he bowed to sumo elders in front of gold screens and celebratory flowers.
He then held up a large sea bream as a symbol of happiness and celebration.
“I surprised myself, but I never paid attention to how fast things were happening,” he said in fluent Japanese.
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“The best thing I’ve done is listen carefully to what my stable master tells me.”
Yavhusishyn was born in central Ukraine and started sumo at the age of seven, becoming a national champion at 17.
Because of his age, he narrowly avoided Ukraine’s conscription for men aged 18 and over after Russia invaded and sought refuge in Germany before moving to Japan.
His parents stayed in Germany and he arrived in Japan without knowing the language.
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“What I appreciate most is the support they gave me before I came to Japan,” he said.
“They were very happy when I won the tournament and I want to call them afterwards.”
amk/pst
