Aonishiki, sumo's first Ukrainian ozeki and one of the most-watched figures in modern makuuchi, came out of the Spring Basho in Osaka with one of the more peculiar lines of his still-young career: a tournament-shaping upset, but a losing 7-8 record.
The defining moment came on day fourteen at Edion Arena Osaka. Aonishiki, then carrying a 6-7 record and one loss away from a make-koshi (losing tournament), stepped onto the dohyo against sole leader Kirishima. The Mongolian sekiwake was riding a 12-1 line and looked all but certain to take the title — possibly even close it out before senshuraku.
Aonishiki had other ideas. Working low and using his trademark belt grip to deny Kirishima the angles he had used to dispatch the rest of makuuchi, he turned the Mongolian and forced him over the tawara. The bout ended Kirishima's perfect surge, but the consequences cut both ways. Yokozuna Hoshoryu was beaten in the day's final bout by ozeki Kotozakura, and No. 5 maegashira Kotoshoho lost earlier in the day. Kirishima, despite his loss to Aonishiki, was confirmed as Spring Basho champion before he had even reached senshuraku.
"I lost my bout, and ideally I wanted to [win] it," Kirishima said afterwards. "But I'm relieved to have secured the title."
For Aonishiki, the upset was a flash of his ceiling. The 7-8 record, however, is the more important number on his post-Spring sheet. Ozeki status in sumo is provisional: an ozeki who finishes with a losing record at any tournament is placed on kadoban — "on notice" — and must produce a winning record at the following tournament or face demotion back to sekiwake. Aonishiki will arrive at the May Natsu Basho on kadoban for the first time in his ozeki career.
That puts him in unfamiliar territory. The Ukrainian had won back-to-back Emperor's Cups at the New Year and Hatsu Basho meets earlier in 2026, prompting his promotion to ozeki and triggering a wave of attention from outside the usual sumo audience. The Spring Basho was supposed to be his first showcase at the rank. Instead, the loss column piled up — including head-to-head reverses against ozeki Kotozakura and yokozuna Hoshoryu — before that lone, oversized win on day fourteen.
The broader read on Aonishiki is that he remains the player capable of shaping any tournament he is in, but that the step up from sekiwake to ozeki has exposed gaps the upper division will keep targeting. His run-up footwork on the tachiai, in particular, showed signs of fatigue across the Spring fortnight. Coaches and former rikishi commenting on Japanese broadcasts repeatedly flagged the same issue: when Aonishiki gets the angle he wants, no one in makuuchi can stop him; when he doesn't, the more experienced ozeki and yokozuna eat him alive.
Natsu Basho will be the answer. May's tournament starts at Ryogoku Kokugikan on 10 May, and Aonishiki will need eight wins to clear kadoban. With Kirishima back at ozeki, Hoshoryu and Onosato carrying their own questions, and Atamifuji freshly promoted to sekiwake, the field around him is as competitive as he has ever faced.
