Ōnosato Daiki facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ōnosato Daiki
大の里 泰輝
Ōnosato in September 2024
Personal information
Born	Daiki Nakamura (2000-06-07) June 7, 2000 (age 25) Tsubata, Ishikawa, Japan
Height	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight	191 kg (421 lb; 30.1 st)
Career
Stable	Nishonoseki
University	Nippon Sport Science University
Current rank	Yokozuna-Ōzeki
Debut	May 2023
Highest rank	Yokozuna (May 2025)
Championships	Makuuchi (4)
Special Prizes	Fighting Spirit (3) Outstanding Performance (2) Technique (3)
* Up to date as of June 30, 2025.

Ōnosato Daiki (Japanese: 大の里 泰輝, [oːnosato daiꜜkʲi]) (born Daiki Nakamura (中村 泰輝, Nakamura Daiki), June 7, 2000) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler. He comes from Tsubata, Ishikawa.

Ōnosato had a very successful amateur career in college. Many people thought he was the most promising college sumo wrestler in many years. He joined the Nishonoseki stable and started his professional career in May 2023. He quickly moved up the ranks.

He reached the top sumo division, called makuuchi, in January 2024. This happened after he competed in only four tournaments. In May 2024, he won his first top-division championship. This was a record, as he did it in just seven tournaments.

Ōnosato became professional sumo's 75th yokozuna in May 2025. He earned this highest rank after winning two championships in a row while he was an ōzeki.

Early Life and Sumo Journey

Medal record
Men's Sumo
Representing  Japan
World Games
Gold	2022 Birmingham	Openweight
Silver	2022 Birmingham	Heavyweight

Daiki Nakamura was born in Tsubata, Ishikawa, Japan. He started sumo wrestling in first grade at his elementary school. As a child, he loved professional sumo. He enjoyed reading Sumo [ja] magazine.

He attended Itoigawa City Nō Junior High School and Niigata Prefectural Marine High School. In junior high, he won the 2016 Junior High School competition at the Hakuhō Cup. In high school, he trained with future top-ranked wrestlers.

In 2019, he went to Nippon Sport Science University. This university is known for its strong sumo club. In his first year, he won a national competition. This allowed him to start his professional career at a high rank. He also won the National Student Sumo Tournament as a freshman. This was the first time a freshman had won in 29 years.

In May 2021, he became an amateur-yokozuna at the All Japan Sumo Championships. This meant he could join professional sumo at an even higher starting rank. During his university years, he won 13 amateur titles. This tied the record for the most amateur titles ever won by a wrestler.

In January 2022, Nakamura competed in the 2022 World Games sumo competition in Birmingham, Alabama. He won a gold medal in the Openweight category and a silver medal in the Heavyweight category. In October 2022, he won the amateur-yokozuna title for the second time.

In March 2023, Nakamura decided to become a professional sumo wrestler. He joined the Nishonoseki stable. His coach was the former yokozuna Kisenosato. Nakamura wanted to reach the top ranks quickly. He chose this stable because he wanted to be trained by a former yokozuna. The stable's location also helped him focus on sumo.

Starting Professional Sumo

First Matches

Ōnosato training with Tomokaze in August 2023

In April 2023, Nakamura announced his professional sumo name, called a shikona. He chose Ōnosato. The name means 'great' and connects him to famous yokozuna like Takanosato and Kisenosato. This name was chosen to show his master's high hopes for him. It had also been used by a famous ōzeki from the early 1900s, Ōnosato Mansuke.

Ōnosato started his career at a high rank, makushita 10. His first professional match was against Ishizaki, an older wrestler from his university. Ōnosato lost this first match. However, he finished the tournament with six wins and only one loss. This was a very good start.

In the July tournament, Ōnosato was ranked makushita 3. He won his first two matches. But then he lost two matches in a row, including one against Kihō, a rival from his amateur days. Ōnosato was disappointed by these losses. He still managed to win four matches in total for the tournament.

Promotion to Jūryō

Ōnosato training with his master Nishonoseki in December 2023

In September 2023, Ōnosato was promoted to jūryō. This is professional sumo's second-highest division. This was a big step for him. He and his stablemate Takahashi were both promoted at the same time. This was the first time since 2012 that two wrestlers from the same stable reached this rank together.

In his first jūryō tournament, Ōnosato won seven matches in a row. He then won an eighth and ninth match, which was a rare achievement. His winning streak ended at nine victories. He finished the tournament just one win behind the champion.

In the November 2023 tournament, Ōnosato continued to do well. He defeated a wrestler who had been in the high san'yaku ranks. He tied for the lead with Kotoshōhō on the second-to-last day. Ōnosato won his final match, but Kotoshōhō also won, leading to a playoff. Kotoshōhō won the playoff, so Ōnosato missed out on the championship again.

Reaching the Top Division (Makuuchi)

Rising Star

Ōnosato was promoted to the top makuuchi division for the January 2024 tournament. This happened after he competed in only four tournaments. He was one of the fastest wrestlers to reach the top division since 1989. His stablemaster, Kisenosato, was very proud.

In his first top-division tournament, Ōnosato performed very well. He won six matches in a row and secured a winning record early on. He faced a yokozuna (Terunofuji) in his first makuuchi tournament. This was the first time a wrestler had done this in 10 years. Ōnosato won 11 matches in total. He was given the Fighting Spirit special prize for his strong performance.

In the March 2024 tournament, Ōnosato continued to impress. He beat a san'yaku-ranked wrestler for the first time. He also defeated an ōzeki (Takakeishō). He finished with 11 wins again. He received the Technique and Fighting Spirit prizes. His strong results made him a strong candidate for promotion to the san'yaku ranks.

On April 22, 2024, Ōnosato received a strict warning from the Sumo Association. He apologized for an incident that happened in September 2023. He was grateful that he could continue wrestling.

San'yaku Promotion and First Titles

Ōnosato during the 2024 May tournament

For the May 2024 tournament, Ōnosato was promoted to komusubi. This is his highest rank yet and his first time in the san'yaku ranks. He reached this rank in just six tournaments, making him the second-fastest to do so since the Shōwa era.

On the first day of the May 2024 tournament, Ōnosato defeated yokozuna Terunofuji. He continued to beat higher-ranked wrestlers. He entered the final day of the tournament as the sole leader with 11 wins. He quickly won his last match, securing his first Emperor's Cup.

Ōnosato won his first top-division title in only seven tournaments since his debut. This broke the speed record set by Takerufuji in the previous tournament. He was also the first wrestler in 67 years to win the top-division championship right after being promoted to komusubi. He dedicated his victory to the people of Ishikawa Prefecture, who were affected by an earthquake.

After his victory, Ōnosato said he was happy but his goal was to go even higher. He was grateful for his stablemaster's advice, which helped him feel less stressed.

In July 2024, Ōnosato finished with nine wins. He defeated yokozuna Terunofuji for the second time in a row. He received the Outstanding Performance prize. This made him the first wrestler in sumo history to receive a special prize in each of his first four top-division tournaments.

In the September 2024 tournament, Ōnosato won 11 matches in a row. He secured his promotion to ōzeki, the second-highest rank in sumo. He also won the championship by defeating two ōzeki wrestlers. People started to expect that he would soon become a yokozuna.

Becoming an Ōzeki

Promotion Ceremony

Ōnosato, after his customary ōzeki acceptance ceremony, celebrating with stablemates

On September 25, 2024, the Japan Sumo Association officially promoted Ōnosato to the rank of ōzeki. He reached this rank in nine tournaments, which is the fastest for any wrestler since 1958.

Sumo officials visited Ōnosato at his stable to deliver the news. He accepted the promotion, saying he would continue to work hard. He wanted to become a "one-of-a-kind" wrestler who would honor the ōzeki rank. Ōnosato was the first ōzeki to be promoted before his hair was long enough for a traditional topknot.

In his ōzeki debut at the November 2024 tournament, Ōnosato won nine matches. He finished his first year in the top division with 65 wins. This was just one win behind Kotozakura for the most makuuchi wins in 2024. He was disappointed with his results but wanted to keep winning. He received the 2024 Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize's Rookie of the Year Award. He also won the 2024 Wrestler of the Year award from a newspaper.

Road to Yokozuna

In the March 2025 tournament, Ōnosato was one of the leaders. He and Takayasu were tied for the lead until the final day. They faced each other in a playoff for the championship. Ōnosato won the match.

This was Ōnosato's third championship and his first since becoming an ōzeki. With this win, he became the active wrestler with the most championships. This victory also put him in a position to be promoted to yokozuna if he won the May tournament.

In the May 2025 tournament, Ōnosato was the clear leader. He won eight matches in a row at the start. He continued to win, securing his second straight top-division championship on Day 13. This was his fourth title overall. This win almost guaranteed his promotion to yokozuna.

Ōnosato told reporters he didn't expect to win the title so early. He won his first 14 matches but lost his final match to yokozuna Hōshōryū. So, he did not achieve a perfect championship.

Becoming a Yokozuna

Promotion Ceremony

After the May 2025 tournament, the Sumo Association decided to discuss Ōnosato's promotion. On May 26, 2025, the Yokozuna Deliberation Council recommended that Ōnosato be promoted to yokozuna. They were all in agreement.

On May 28, 2025, the Sumo Association officially promoted Ōnosato. He became sumo's 75th yokozuna. He is the first Japanese wrestler to reach this rank since his stablemaster Kisenosato in 2017. He is also the second wrestler with a college background to become a yokozuna.

Ōnosato reached the yokozuna rank in only 13 tournaments. This makes him the fastest to reach this rank since the Shōwa era. He is also the first wrestler in sumo history to have a winning record in every tournament leading up to his yokozuna promotion.

Sumo officials delivered the news to Ōnosato. He gave a speech similar to his ōzeki promotion speech. He said he would train hard and aim to be a "one-of-a-kind" yokozuna. His stablemaster hoped Ōnosato would inspire the entire world of sumo.

Preparations for his yokozuna ceremonies began. About 70 wrestlers helped braid his special tsuna (rope). Ōnosato chose to use his master's ring-entering ceremony style. He practiced by watching videos of his master. He also received advice from another former yokozuna.

Due to rain, a public ceremony at the Meiji Shrine was canceled on May 30. However, a private ceremony was held inside the shrine. The next day, Ōnosato performed his yokozuna dohyō-iri (ring-entering ceremony) in public for the first time. This happened at a retirement ceremony for a former wrestler.

In the July 2025 rankings, Ōnosato was listed as yokozuna-ōzeki. This is because at least two wrestlers must be listed as ōzeki on the rankings.

Rivalry with Takerufuji

Ōnosato's quick rise in 2024 led to talk about his rivalry with Takerufuji. Many people see Takerufuji as Ōnosato's main rival. Both wrestlers are new to the top ranks and came from similar amateur backgrounds.

This rivalry is often called ryūko [ja], which means "dragon and tiger." This term describes two opponents of equal strength. Some people even call this period of sumo the "Taison era," combining parts of both wrestlers' names.

Fighting Style

Ōnosato prefers yotsu techniques. This means he likes to grab his opponent's belt, called a mawashi. His most common winning move is yorikiri, which is a force-out win. He prefers a right-hand inside, left-hand outside grip. He also uses a lot of pushing and thrusting techniques.

A sumo commentator suggested that Ōnosato's style is a mix of two former yokozuna: Takanohana and Musashimaru.

Personal Life

Ōnosato is the oldest child in his family. He has a younger sister. He is good friends with Shirokuma. They went to university together and became professional wrestlers at the same time. They often eat together during tournaments.

On February 6, 2024, Ōnosato was part of a group of wrestlers from Ishikawa Prefecture. They visited the governor after the 2024 Noto earthquake. They presented money raised during a tournament and donations from the Sumo Association. Ōnosato also visited an evacuation center where his grandfather had stayed. He received many messages of congratulations from people affected by the disaster.

Career Record

Honors

• Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize's Rookie of the Year Award (2024).

See also

• Glossary of sumo terms
• List of active sumo wrestlers
• List of yokozuna
• Active special prize winners
• List of sumo tournament top division champions
• List of sumo tournament top division runners-up