OSAKA - Champion Kirishima ended the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament with a loss on Sunday but his return to ozeki is now a certainty, while Aonishiki fell to a losing record after yokozuna Hoshoryu beat the ozeki for the first time after five attempts.
With the title wrapped up, an under-par Kirishima (12-3) ended the meet getting overpowered by Kotozakura (10-5). The ozeki quickly secured a right overarm belt hold and grappled forward using his torso effectively en route to claiming a comfortable force-out win at Edion Arena Osaka.
Nevertheless, the Mongolian-born Kirishima's return to ozeki has been all but confirmed after Japan Sumo Association President Hakkaku accepted a request to hold an extraordinary board meeting to discuss his promotion, put forward by its judging department in charge of determining rankings, with none denied in the past.
"It felt really heavy, holding it for the first time in a while," Kirishima said after he won his third Emperor's Cup, and for the first time since November 2023 when he was an ozeki. "Today's my mother's birthday and I'm able to send her the best present."
Kirishima won his first elite makuuchi-division title also at the Spring meet in Osaka three years ago as a sekiwake, one he recalled as the "most memorable," before he fought at the second-highest rank of ozeki for six tournaments between July to May 2024.
Having gone 11-4 in the last two tournaments as No. 2 maegashira and sekiwake, Kirishima reached 34 wins over three straight meets. The usual ozeki promotion standard is 33 over three meets fighting as sekiwake or komusubi.
"I didn't give up after getting demoted and kept working hard, believing I'd get back there one day," said Kirishima, who turn 30 in April. "I'm still young. I'll get even stronger and go for the titles."
Kirishima also claimed the Outstanding Performance prize as he won an award for the third straight meet and ninth overall.
In the meet's last bout, Hoshoryu (11-4) finally ended his winless streak against Aonishiki (7-8), the New Year meet champion who began this month's tournament bidding for yokozuna promotion. But the Ukrainian star now needs a winning record at May's Summer meet as a "kadoban" ozeki to avoid dropping down from the rank.
Aonishiki held a left underarm grip in an action-packed opening exchange before Mongolian-born grand champion Hoshoryu went for a forceful right armlock throw. Hoshoryu hooked the inner thigh of Aonishiki at the same time and floored his nemesis at the edge.
Having made a record-fast ascension to ozeki, Aonishiki suffered his first losing record of his young professional sumo career that began in September 2023.
Sekiwake Takayasu (7-8) ended his seven-day losing streak on the last day by beating Atamifuji (9-6) after the former ozeki grabbed the left overarm belt hold instantly before flooring the komusubi debutant with a twisting throw.
No. 5 maegashira Kotoshoho (11-4) and makuuchi-debuting No. 13 maegashira Fujiseiun (10-5) won the Fighting Spirit prize, while No. 2 maegashira Fujinokawa (8-7) won the Technique prize.
