The Japan Sumo Association on Jan. 29 promoted Hoshoryu to yokozuna, the highest rank in the top division of professional sumo.
The 25-year-old became the 74th yokozuna and the sixth Mongolian-born wrestler to assume the title, with his predecessors including Asashoryu, who is Hoshoryu’s uncle.
“I’ll do my best in the spirit of standing vigorously so as not to tarnish the title of yokozuna,” Hoshoryu said at a promotion ceremony at his Tatsunami stable in Tokyo on Jan. 29.
Hoshoryu told reporters after the ceremony, “I couldn’t really sleep well because I was so excited. … My goal is to achieve double-digit tournament titles.”
Hoshoryu, whose real name is Sugarragchaa Byambasuren, won the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Jan. 26 after winning a thrilling three-way championship playoff. It was his second career Emperor’s Cup following his victory at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament in July 2023, which earned him promotion to ozeki.
Hoshoryu will be the only yokozuna competing in the next tournament in March. Fellow Mongolian wrestler Terunofuji, who had been sumo’s lone yokozuna in recent years, retired during the January tournament. (Jiji, The Japan Times)