Ukrainian-born sumo wrestler Danilo Yavvshushin, also known as Arata Aonishiki, became the first wrestler from his country to win an elite-level sumo championship in Japan.
Published November 23, 2025
Ukrainian sumo wrestler Danilo Yavvushshin on Sunday became the first person from his country to win a traditional Japanese sports tournament.
The 21-year-old, who fled the Ukraine war three years ago, won the Kyushu tournament with a tie victory over Mongolian grand champion Shoryu Toyo.
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Known by his ring name Arata Aonishiki and who speaks fluent Japanese, he told fans at the Fukuoka International Center in a televised victory interview that he was glad he was able to perform as usual.
“I’m happy that I achieved my goal,” he said.
Yavvshishin, who fled Ukraine and came to Japan three years ago, rose through the sumo ranks in record time.
The Japan Sumo Association will soon hold a special meeting to promote him to yokozuna, or ozeki, the second-highest rank after grand champion, state broadcaster NHK said.
Yavvshishin competed in the World Junior Sumo Championships as a teenager, but left Ukraine after Russia invaded in February 2022.
He arrived in Japan two months later and made an excellent start to his career, reaching the upper division of sumo in just one year, winning promotion to the highest ranking, No. 4.
Born in central Ukraine, Yavvshishin began sumo at the age of seven and became a national champion at the age of 17.
His age meant that when war broke out, he narrowly avoided the Ukrainian conscription for men over the age of 18, and was evacuated to Germany before emigrating to Japan.
His parents remained in Germany, and he came to Japan without knowing the language.
Yavshishin debuted in July 2023, becoming the second Ukrainian-born sumo wrestler to do so, following his compatriot Serhiy Sokolovsky, known as Shish.
Yavvushishin’s promotion to the upper division of sumo was the fifth fastest since the current system of six places per year was introduced in 1958.
The ambitious sumo wrestler said his goal now is to reach the top of the sumo world.
“(Right now) I’m happy, but there’s a higher position than me. I want to work hard to get there,” he said.
