Kirishima Captures Spring Sumo Title Despite Loss As Closest Foes Also Fall

The Japan News

18:10 JST, March 21, 2026

Sekiwake Kirishima clinched his third career title with one day to spare on Saturday, although in likely the least satisfying way.

Kirishima went down to defeat to ozeki Aonishiki on the 14th day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament, but was assured the title when his two closest challengers for the Emperor’s Cup also lost.

The losses by No. 5 maegashira Kotoshoho and yokozuna Hoshoryu allowed former ozeki Kirishima to preserve a two-win lead with a 12-2 record going into the final day at Edion Arena Osaka.

“I wanted to win today’s bout to clinch the title, but I’m glad to have still earned it,” Kirishima said. “My daughter had told me she wanted to do banzai [for my victory] and I’m glad it happened.”

After Kotoshoho, who won the Nagoya tourney in July 2025, was pushed out by komusubi Atamifuji to fall to 10-4, Kirishima was sent to the dirt by Aonishiki, who had more than enough incentive to gain a well-needed victory.

At the jumpoff, the Ukrainian buried his head in Kirishima’s chest as he secured an underhand belt hold. The Mongolian tried to extricate himself with an underhook and overhand belt hold, but Aonishiki levered him to the ground.

The last piece of this unusual Kirishima victory puzzle then fell into place when Hoshoryu was tripped by burly ozeki Kotozakura with an outside leg hook in the final match of the day.

Hoshoryu, who had beaten Koto- zakura in 16 of 24 previous meetings, dropped to 10-4 as he remains titleless since his promotion to the top rank after the 2025 New Year tournament.

The 29-year-old Kirishima, who stands 1.86 meters and weighs 149 kilograms, won his first title in the Spring tourney in March 2023 as a newly promoted sekiwake. In May 2023, after earning the Technique Prize with an 11-4 record, Kirishima was promoted to the second highest rank of ozeki.

At the 2023 Kyushu tourney, Kirishima earned his second title and recorded the most aggregate wins for the year with 62.

In May 2024, he dropped out midway through the Summer tourney and was demoted to sekiwake. He then fell directly to maegashira in January 2025 before returning to komusubi for the Spring tournament a year ago. He regained the sekiwake rank for the Summer tourney last year.

Through Saturday, Kirishima now has 34 wins over his past three tournaments, which could earn him a promotion back to ozeki, although his result on the final day could affect the decision.

At 7-7, Aonishiki now has to win his final bout on Sunday to extend his streak of never having a losing record, a run of 14 tournaments from his debut in November 2023.

Ironically, after winning the last two tournaments to put him on the doorstep of yokozuna, he is now fighting to avoid being a kadoban ozeki that would put him in danger of losing that rank at the next tournament.