Grand Sumo Autumn Tournament begins at Ryogoku Kokugikan

The Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament has commenced at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. Ozeki Aonishiki, returning to the ring after an eight-month absence due to injury, secured a victory on the opening day by defeating Kotonehō. Aonishiki, who previously won three titles via playoff matches, expressed his desire to achieve his first outright victory this tournament.

Yokozuna Onosato also began the tournament with a win, defeating Komusubi Daieisho. Other notable performances included wins by Enpō and Kagayaki in the Juryo division. Meanwhile, Ozeki Kirishima started with a victory over Kotonowaka, though his mentor, Mutsu-oyakata, cautioned him against losing to lower-ranked wrestlers, a habit that has previously hindered his pursuit of the Yokozuna rank.

The Japan Sumo Association reported a record-high 3,895 prize sponsorship applications for the Autumn Basho, the highest for an autumn tournament to date. Yokozuna Onosato leads the individual sponsorships with 399, followed by Atamifuji and Aonishiki.