Aonishiki

[Moti Dichne]

Even though he was nervous, he didn't get carried away. Aonishiki won his regular bout, tying Atamifuji with 12 wins and 3 losses. He returned to the shitakubeya  to re-tape his left big toe and headed to the playoff match. He is 55kg lighter than Atamifuji. Even when he was caught in his opponent's favored right-hand grip, he didn't panic. He felt that his body started to rise, but he finished Atamifuji off with a kubinage.

"It would be a lie to say it was the same as last time. If my opponent was a Yokozuna, I could wrestle more easily. This time I was competing as an Ozeki, so there was a slightly different kind of tension." This was also the first tournament in which he struggled with the pressure of being an Ozeki. He couldn't sleep the night before. His appetite and weight both dropped. "I'm glad I was able to achieve results with the sense of responsibility that comes with being a new Ozeki. I think pressure is natural. I'm grateful for the attention. I worked hard not to let it get the better of me." He was determined. It was a victory with many with records. It was the first time in 20 years since Hakuhou that a new Ozeki had won the yusho. During that time, 18 Ozeki had been born, but no one had achieved this. And  because he has aspirations of reaching a higher rank, he wasn't satisfied with just being promoted to Ozeki. It was the first time in 89 years, since Futabayama, that a new sekiwake and new Ozeki had won consecutive yushos. He changed his mawashi on the 12th day of this tournament from blue to black. He was given the one his Oyakata had worn. The "black" embodies his master's feelings. The black is a symbol of his Oyakata's thoughts. Ajigawa Oyakata: "I liked Chiyonofuji, and when I was still active I had it made just like Chiyonofuji's. The weave is the same. Aonishiki said he wanted it to be black. I think he saw (video of) Chiyonofuji and thought black would look good."