Oonosato breaks kensho money record

[Moti Dichne]

Yokozuna Oonosato recorded his ninth consecutive win, maintaining his lead in the championship race. He defeated Sekiwake Wakatakakage to improve to 12-1. There were 47 kensho banners for this match, bringing Oonosato's total to 519 for this basho. Of the 70,000 yen ( $467) per banner, the rikishi's take-home pay is 60,000 yen ($400). After 13 days, Oonosato has earned 31.14 million yen ($209,617) in prize money. His prize money totals were 19.62 million yen ($110,950) at the Hatsu Basho, 16.44 million yen ($109,481) at the March Basho, and 28.2 million  yen ($188,255) at the Natsu Basho. These were his years as an Ozeki, and after his Yokozuna promotion at the Nagoya Basho it reached 29.16 million yen, and this basho he is surpassing 30 million yen for the first time. The previous record for the most prize money won in a single tournament was held by then-Yokozuna Hakuhou in the 2015 Hatsu Basho, where he won all 15 matches and received 545 envelopes. However, at the time, each envelope was worth 62,000 yen, of which the rikishi received 56,700 yen. Hakuhou earned just over 30.9 million yen. Oonosato's 31.14 million yen this tournament surpasses that amount, becoming the highest prize money ever paid to anyone for a single basho. With two days remaining in the tournament, further increases are expected.