Sumo Power Shift Seen Through Ring Names — A New Era Begins

“I really like my shikona,” he said.

This was stated by the 21-year-old Ozeki Aonishiki, who hails from Ukraine, in the FRIDAY (January 23, ’26 issue) interview.

The name Aonishiki takes the kanji 安 (A / An) from his stablemaster Anjigawa Oyakata’s shikona Anbikin, and incorporates 青 (Ao / Blue) representing the Ukrainian flag. It’s a shikona that reflects both his respected master and his home country.

Shikona also have trends. You can read the balance of power in the sumo world from wrestlers’ names.

“Before this year’s New Year tournament, the shikona ending in ‘-Fuji’ increased dramatically. Wrestlers from the former Miyagino stable, whose master was former Yokozuna Hakuhō, transferred to Isegahama stable in April ’24 following a violence incident at the stable. Since Hakuhō retired from the Sumo Association last June, under the direction of Isegahama stablemaster, former Yokozuna Terunofuji, eight of the nine former Miyagino wrestlers changed their shikona to include ‘-Fuji’ after their master.”

For example, Maegashira Hakuzōhō became Hakuno Fuji, and Makushita Hijirihakuhō became Kotobuki no Fuji. The only wrestler who didn’t change was Makushita Enpō, said to have a particularly strong attachment to the old Miyagino stable. Now, Enpō is the only active wrestler keeping Hakuhō’s ‘Hō’ in his shikona (Komusubi Ōhō belongs to a different lineage). Meanwhile, the wrestlers with ‘-Fuji’ became the largest faction in sumo, numbering 29. The exact reason why most former Miyagino wrestlers changed their shikona is unknown, but there is a rumor that Terunofuji disliked the character ‘Hō’ due to a strained relationship with Hakuhō.” (Source: former Miyagino stable personnel)

Only two wrestlers have shikona derived from Takanohana

Each sumo stable has traditional shikona. For instance, Isegahama uses ‘-Fuji’, Sadogatake uses ‘Koto-‘, Kokonoe uses ‘Chiyo-‘, Kasugano uses ‘Tochi-‘ and so on. However, changing stables does not necessarily require a shikona change like the Isegahama case.

“The former Takanohana stable, which retired in October ’18, was taken over by Tokitsukaze stable (master: former Komusubi Ryūzōsugi). However, Tokitsukaze Oyakata did not rename the wrestlers from the former Takanohana stable to the stable tradition ‘Ryū-‘. Former Ozeki Takakeisho, now a stable elder, is a good example.

After Takanohana retired, no master or wrestler wanted to create new shikona starting with ‘Taka-‘. Currently, only Makushita Takakento and Sandanme Takadaisho have such shikona. It’s a bit sad that shikona derived from great Heisei-era yokozuna like Hakuhō and Takanohana are becoming rare.” (Source: Japan Sumo Association)

In the first place, having a shikona is not mandatory. Sekiwake Takayasu, Maegashira Shodai, and former Komusubi Endō (who retired in the November tournament last year) competed under their real names.

“There are no strict rules for shikona. Perhaps the only rule is that wrestlers in the same era can’t share the same kanji and pronunciation. If a stablemaster sees potential in a wrestler, they may give them the master’s former shikona, even if the wrestler is low-ranked.

At this year’s New Year tournament, the name ‘Asahifuji’ returned after 34 years, inherited by a Mongolian Jonokuchi wrestler from the previous Isegahama stablemaster (former Yokozuna Asahifuji). Shikona reflect the stablemaster’s intentions, influential wrestlers, and various other factors.” (ibid.)

By checking wrestlers’ shikona on the banzuke ranking sheet, you can see the current state of the sumo world.