Danylo Yavhusishyn arrived in Japan in April 2022 as a teenage refugee from the war in Ukraine. He was unable to speak the language and was uncertain as to how far he was from his family.
This weekend, the 20-year-old will make his debut in Sumo Wrestling's top division of ancient sports after climbing the ranks at record speed.
“I'm more excited than nervous,” he told reporters and fans that were being shown ahead of the massive tournament in Osaka. Full of confidence, he added: Want to win 10 or more matches and win one of three awards [for exceptional performances]. ”
He is currently known by his Japanese ring name. aonishiki arata, The Ukrainian wrestler has recently been promoted to Sumo's highest level. He finished the New Year tournament in Tokyo with 12 wins and just three losses.
It took him only nine tournaments to reach the top tier of Japan's de facto national sports. This is the achievement of combining with two other wrestlers for the fastest rise through all six divisions since 1958, when it adopted the current form of six grand tournaments, or six grand tournament formats. Bashoone year.
On Sunday, he will start his 15-day match in Osaka. Basho As number 15 Magashirathe most junior rank in the elite Makuuchi In the division, some SUMO watchers believe he will launch a campaign to become the first Europe YokozunGrand champion.
Flights from Ukraine
At 182cm tall and a relatively modest 136kg, he discovered a SUMO as a boy and practiced judo and freestyle wrestling before encountering a SUMO athlete from Japan visiting a gym in Ukraine. Grappling, Japanese style quickly became his athletic calling.
In 2019, he finished third in the Junior World SUMO Championship in Osaka, giving him the means to one day escape the conflict in Ukraine and shape his future as a professional wrestler.
There he was Yamanaka, a Japanese wrestler and at the time the captain of the Kansai University SUMO team, and the two were in touch via social media.
Aonishki, who recently fled to Germany with her parents after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, contacted Yamanaka, whose family agreed to host Ukrainian teenagers. He was granted permission to train at the university despite not being registered as a student.
“I just met [Yamanaka] Aonishi told Kyoto Press last year. “I was surprised when he said it was okay. If it was the other way around, I would have refused.”
Arishiki pays tribute to Arata in honour to his Japanese friend and leader. If I hadn't seen him, I wouldn't be the person I am today. ”
Eight months after he arrived in Japan, Aonishiki Ajigawa In eastern Tokyo, it is stable to train under former wrestler Aminishiki.
According to contemporaries, he used his physical strength and incomplete techniques to defeat heavier enemies, despite experiencing culture shock and anxiety over the fate of his homeland, as his friends nicknamed him, as his friends nicknamed him, as his friends nicknamed him, and as his friends called him his friend.
“I never officially beat Danya in any of my 200 matches against him,” Sakamoto Samoto, 21, former captain of Kansai University's sumo team, told The Asi Shinbun Shimbun.
Aonishiki has since earned the ranks since his professional debut in September 2023, and has accumulated a record of victory in consecutive tournaments.
“Danya will be Yokozuna,” Sakamoto told Asahi. “He's formidable.”
He was preparing for the tournament late last year, so yet another promotion was visible, and Aonishi, who is now fluent in the language of the family he adopted, said he was fighting for the “Japanese family” who helped him after fleeing Ukraine.
“All I did is follow the instructions.”
His feat was not noticed in Ukraine, where he was already producing another top flight wrestler. I'm not a. Write in Ukraine weeklysports journalist Ihol Stermach said Aonishki, from Vinutia city, “takes his opportunity to be mentioned as a potential European sumo wrestler at the top of Japan's sports.”
Over 2,700 Ukrainians have sought evacuation from Japan after the Russian invasion as part of a scheme launched by the Japanese government, which receives work visas and long-term residency. Almost 2,000 remain.
in investigation Last year, the Japan Foundation, which provided living and other expenses to Ukrainian refugees, saw 39% say they wanted to stay in Japan “as long as possible,” while 34% say they wanted to go home once the situation stabilizes.
Showing the humility expected of Sumo Wrestlers, Aonishiki tried to carry out his achievements after fighting against the sports elite, and told reporters, “All I did is follow the directions of my Stablemaster.”
