After Onosato’s Yokozuna Promotion, Nishonoseki Oyakata Celebrates His Long-Awaited Dream

The glory and challenges of Nishinoseki stable

Dainosato (25) achieved the fastest ever promotion to yokozuna in just 13 tournaments since his debut. At the end of May, a yokozuna promotion ceremony was held at Nishonoseki stable in Ami Town, Ibaraki Prefecture, where Dainosato declared, “I aim to be a yokozuna like no other.”

It must be an especially emotional moment for Nishonoseki Oyakata (former yokozuna Kisenosato, 38), who founded the stable four years ago and nurtured Dainosato into a yokozuna. Around 5 p.m., after the ceremony, Nishonoseki Oyakata left the stable dressed casually in a bright blue polo shirt and navy chinos. Beside him was a man in a suit, Kazuki Maeda (37), the stable’s manager and a current Ami Town council member.

“The oyakata was so happy about his beloved disciple’s promotion that he playfully pretended to kick Maeda-san. They were clearly in high spirits. Maeda was elected to the Ami Town council as an independent last March and is working on youth development and tourism, promoting Ami as a sumo town in cooperation with Nishonoseki stable. Both are local celebrities,” said a nearby resident.

On their way to the nearest station, an elderly man on a bicycle called out to the two. Nishonoseki stopped to listen, gently put his arm around the man’s shoulder, and chatted warmly. After seeing the man off with a satisfied smile, they entered a nearby izakaya.

“Nishonoseki opened the stable in Ami Town on June 5, 2022. At that time, he said, ‘My dream is to make Ibaraki a place synonymous with sumo and eventually produce yokozuna and ozeki.’ Dainosato’s promotion is also a long-cherished goal for the oyakata,” said a sports newspaper sumo reporter.

However, challenges remain for Nishonoseki Oyakata.

“In February this year, ‘Weekly Shincho’ exposed underage drinking and wild parties by stable wrestlers at the Kyushu tournament two years ago. Last April, it also came to light that Dainosato drank with underage wrestlers in the stable. If another scandal occurs, a strict warning may no longer suffice. The oyakata needs to keep a closer watch on the behavior of his wrestlers,” the reporter added.

To truly make sumo synonymous with Ibaraki, the entire stable must devote themselves wholeheartedly to rigorous mental and physical training. The oyakata’s responsibility is heavy.