SUMO/ Onosato brings smiles again to faces in Ishikawa hometown

THE ASAHI SHIMBUN

May 27,江戸 の スポーツ と 東京 オリンピック 2024 at 14:44 JST

• Share
• Tweet list

• Print

People in Tsubata, Ishikawa Prefecture, erupt in joy on May 26 as their hometown hero, sumo wrestler Onosato, secures his first grand sumo championship victory. (Eriko Nami)

TSUBATA, Ishikawa Prefecture--Cheers and jubilation erupted at a public viewing event at the town hall here on May 26 as hometown hero Onosato pushed his opponent out of the dohyo and clinched a historic tournament victory.

The victory elicited joy among the 400 people in attendance as well as lifted the spirits of residents in Ishikawa Prefecture, who have had little to celebrate since the devastating Jan. 1 Noto Peninsula earthquake. 

“He is the pride of Ishikawa. He has always been an inspiration to me. His sumo today was aggressive and impressive,” said Raiya Yasui, a 15-year-old vice captain of the Tsubata Minami Junior High School’s sumo team who once received training advice from Onosato.

The new 23-year-old komusubi secured the championship in the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament by defeating sekiwake Abi at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.

With a remarkable 12-3 record, Onosato captured the Emperor’s Cup in only his seventh professional tournament, the fastest since the championship system was established in 1909.

"I'm happy to be able to bring good news to the people of my hometown," Onosato said on May 27.

Expectations are high for Onosato's future advancement to the prestigious ozeki and yokozuna top ranks.

"Of course, I am happy to have won, but this is not my ultimate goal. I want to continue climbing the ranks and reach even greater heights," he said. 

Onosato's achievement came at a much-needed time for residents and communities trying to get back on their feet. 

Nearly five months after the New Year's Day earthquake, approximately 3,500 people in the prefecture are still living in evacuation shelters.

A 77-year-old woman, who is currently taking refuge at an evacuation center in Suzu, burst into tears as she watched the tournament on television.

“Since the beginning of the year, I haven't had such a moment of joy. I will never forget this moment,” she said.

In February, Onosato joined his fellow wrestlers on visits to evacuation centers across the prefecture, delivering relief goods and offering encouragement to those affected by the earthquake. 

(This article was written by Kai Uchida, Eriko Nami and Mayumi Ueda.)

• ·ファミ通「ドラゴンクエストIII」発売記念特集号で堀井雄二と坂口博信が語り合う
• ·なでしこジャパン監督代行の佐々木則夫女子委員長「年内には何とか頑張ります」…新監督選考について言及
• ·冴えない国語教師がクエスト報酬を駆使して生徒たちを救う、「救済の教室」1巻
• ·ＤＦ冨安健洋が負傷で再離脱…アルテタ監督が認める「長期離脱にはならないだろうが…」
• ·ドラマ「ウイングマン」ウォッチパーティー、桂正和と“ファン代表”鈴村健一が参加
• ·「勘違いの工房主」来年4月にTVアニメ化！小松未可子ら出演、シリーズ構成は赤尾でこ（動画あり / コメントあり）
• ·女子１００Ｍ障害の田中佑美「私もまだまだ強くなれる」パリ五輪の経験を生かし、来季へ
• ·「名探偵コナン」原作絵のシールくじびき第2弾が登場　シークレット含む全8種
• ·ドラゴンと江戸が交わる、波乱に満ちた歴史ファンタジー「ドラゴン奉行」1巻
• ·桑木志帆は８バーディーで６５の首位発進　３勝目へ「伸ばせる時にしっかりと伸ばそうと」
• ·【オートレース】飯塚軍団の精神的支柱、その名は久門徹　尽きることない情熱と闘志で、今日も明日も戦い続けていく～飯塚Ｇ２オーバルチャンピオンカップ
• ·「明日ちゃんのセーラー服」14巻発売、封筒入りのフレークシールシートを配布
• ·貧乏一家が始めた動画配信、それは地獄の始まり「ファミリー・ショー」新連載（試し読みあり）
• ·中谷潤人の親友エイドリアン・アルバラードが３―０判定勝ち 「いつか日本で潤人たちの世界戦前座に出たい」
• ·小祝さくら、岩井明愛、宮田成華が１１アンダー首位　山下美夢有が１差４位…延田グループ・マスターズＧＣレディース
• ·「魔法騎士レイアース」現存するイラストと資料をほぼすべて収録した1冊（画像16枚）