Onosato Performs Dohyo-iri in Quake-Hit Kumamoto

November 3, 2026

Yokozuna Onosato performed a ceremonial yokozuna dohyo-iri at Rengein Tanjoji Okunoin temple in Tamana, Kumamoto on November 3rd, with Takayasu as tachimochi and Ichiyamamoto as tsuyuharai, before a crowd of about 1,100. The temple's annual November festival has featured a yokozuna ring-entering ceremony nearly every year since 1980, and Onosato was the first Japanese-born yokozuna to visit since Kisenosato in 2017. Kumamoto was hit on July 28th by an earthquake that reached the top intensity of 7 on Japan's seismic scale, and with the shiko stomp said to drive away evil and calm the earth, Onosato said he was glad he could come: "Even though it's right before the basho, it was a good experience."

He also gave chest to local elementary and junior high school students in practice and signed autographs, inviting fans to cheer on the Kyushu basho, which opens Sunday. Onosato, gunning for a second straight yusho and his first in Kyushu, said he will get back to serious training tomorrow so he can start the tournament in good shape.

Source: Yahoo! Japan Sports