Onosato Beats Aonishiki on Final Day to Win Aki Basho, His Sixth Title

The September Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo came down to one bout on the final day. Yokozuna Onosato and ozeki Aonishiki both went into Sunday, 27 September at 11-3, so the winner would take the championship. Onosato won and finished 12-3.

The deciding bout

Onosato was in control from the tachiai. According to News On Japan, he kept his arms extended so that Aonishiki could not get a grip on his belt, then pushed him out with strong thrusts. Tachiai.org said Onosato looked emotional during the national anthem at the trophy ceremony.

Why the win matters

• It is his sixth top-division title. It is also his first championship in a year, since the September 2025 tournament.
• He carried the top rank on his own. The other yokozuna, Hoshoryu, did not compete, so Onosato was the only yokozuna in the tournament.
• He stopped Aonishiki winning two in a row. Aonishiki, the Ukrainian ozeki, won the July Nagoya tournament and was trying to win again. He finished 11-4.

Other results and prizes

• Fujinokawa (sekiwake) finished 11-4 and won the Fighting Spirit Prize, the second of his career. He won his last bout against Atamifuji with a sukuinage (beltless arm throw).
• Churanoumi also received the Fighting Spirit Prize, according to News On Japan.
• Takayasu could have won a special prize, but he lost on the final day and missed out.
• No Technique Prize was given.
• Kirishima beat fellow ozeki Kotozakura to finish 8-7. That winning record means he avoids kadoban status (the risk of demotion) at the next tournament. Readers may remember his Day 13 win over Onosato, which made the title race much more open.
• Asanoyama, Wakamotoharu and Ura each finished 10-5.

In the second division (Juryo), Kitanowaka won the title after a three-way playoff. He beat Kagayaki in his regular bout, then beat Kagayaki and Kayo in the playoff.

What's next

The next grand tournament is the November Kyushu Basho in Fukuoka. The rankings will be published before it, and that will show how Fujinokawa's strong 11-4 at sekiwake is rewarded. It will also show whether Aonishiki's consistent results lead to more talk of promotion to yokozuna.

Key takeaways

• Onosato beat Aonishiki on the final day to win the Aki Basho with a 12-3 record.
• It is his sixth career top-division title and his first since September 2025.
• Fujinokawa (11-4) won the Fighting Spirit Prize, and no Technique Prize was awarded.
• Kirishima finished 8-7, which keeps him out of kadoban danger.

FAQ

Q: Who won the 2026 Aki Basho? A: Yokozuna Onosato, with a 12-3 record, after beating Aonishiki on the final day.

Q: Was there a playoff for the top-division title? A: No. Onosato and Aonishiki were tied at 11-3 going into the final day, and their bout decided it. The Juryo title did go to a three-way playoff, which Kitanowaka won.

Q: How many titles has Onosato won? A: Six top-division championships, including this one.

Sources: Tachiai.org, News On Japan