Aonishiki on a talk show

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Moti Dichne

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Oct 4, 2026, 5:07:31 PMOct 4

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On the 4th, Aonishiki appeared on the "Pia Talk Battle" event held at the Edo-Tokyo Museum in Sumida Ward, Tokyo. He shared the stage with Christa Deguchi (30), the Paris Olympics gold medalist in women's judo (57kg class)—to discuss the appeal of their respective sports and their mindsets regarding competition. The event delighted the audience as the two exchanged candid remarks and jokes about their dietary habits. When the conversation turned to food, Aonishiki drew laughter by revealing, "I decided that once I become a sekitori, I would eat only the food I like." He noted that he prefers to avoid eel and eats only lean cuts of meat. Deguchi shared that she dislikes hoya (sea squirt), leading to a lively exchange about food preferences between the gold medalist and the Ozeki. He also revealed that his appetite sometimes drops during official tournaments due to nervousness or fatigue, prompting him to order Korean food, steak, or sushi via Uber Eats. He explained that he maintains his weight by choosing foods he feels he can manage to eat. Regarding his performance on the dohyo, he said his strategy is simply to "charge hard at the tachiai" and let his body take over from there. He mentioned feeling "quite reassured" when his Oyakata Ajigawa is present dohyo-side, smiling as he expressed his wish for him to be there for all "15 days" of the tournament. The conversation also touched on a hypothetical sumo match between the two. While Deguchi proposed a strategy of circling around to his back, Aonishiki suggested that her only path to victory would be "me taking a break and her winning by fusensho." The unexpected answer drew a roar of laughter from the audience. He concluded the event by expressing his ambition to reach the pinnacle of the sport, stating, "I will do my best to aim for the highest rank."