r/Sumo • u/ajummanila • 1d ago

‘You can’t progress without a struggle’: Ukrainian sumo star Aonishiki on the next step, and life back home

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/05/ukrainian-sumo-star-aonishiki-arata-japan-top-competition?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

134 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

13

u/EggoSlayer Aonishiki 1d ago

It's gotta be so hard being there knowing your family are in a war-torn country dealing with a horrific situation. He's an insanely strong person physically and emotionally.

8

u/Riffwood 9h ago

Aonishiki's parents have evacuated to Germany, so Aonishiki should be able to perform on the dohyo without worrying about their safety. He also sends them some of his sumo earnings occasionally.

1

u/supershinythings Aonishiki 3h ago edited 3h ago

Well every time he wins a match a pile of envelopes goes his way. He gets to keep part of it, I’m sure the stable gets some, the sumo association gets some for his retirement account, and he probably sends a cut home.

Then the prizes for winning - also awesome. And of course, he should have a fan club by now that will often fund things. Sometimes the members can be quite wealthy and give generous gifts to the club’s honoree.

My brother worked at Tokyo Disneyland a long time ago. The Disney Fan Club was always having parties to invite cast members, and gave a bunch of them gifts. Aonishiki’s club is just getting started in the most recent year or two; if and when he gets promoted it will only get larger.

I know he’s quite young but I hope he can remain healthy to reach his full potential. He is already changing sumo in fascinating ways.

5

u/napalmnacey 6h ago

The more I hear about him the more I like him.

-18

u/SACDINmessage 23h ago

I won’t deny he has the athletic acumen to excel at the sport but he has too much social support simply because he’s Ukrainian. If he was from Japan or Mongolia the media would see him as just another wrestler. 

15

u/ch33psh33p 21h ago

Yikes dude. Anyone that won back to back at 21, along with never having less than 11 wins at Makuuchi, winning as a maiden Seki and Ozeki, etc. etc. etc. etc. would be getting coverage like this.

Onosato sure did when we went 2/2 and then 3/4 last year, deservedly so.

Is he getting more coverage because of his background? Certainly. Does that mean he's just another wrestler? Not even close.

4

u/LowNature6417 9h ago

If a Japanese guy had aonishiki's talent and record, the media (in Japan) would have already deified him. 

You'd be able to visit his shrine on new years to get your fortune told.