OSAKA—Sekiwake Kirishima won his third Emperor’s Cup on March 21 despite losing to ozeki Aonishiki, marking a remarkable rebound after he was demoted from the sport’s second-highest rank more than a year and a half ago.
The defeat on the 14th day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament being held at Edion Arena Osaka left Kirishima with a 12-2 record, but his two closest challengers—yokozuna Hoshoryu and maegashira no. 5 Kotoshoho–also lost to fall to 10-4 records with one day remaining.
Kirishima, 29, who is from Mongolia, was promoted to ozeki after the 2023 Summer Grand Sumo Tournament. But injuries led to his demotion after the 2024 Summer Grand Sumo Tournament.
Kirishima previously won the Emperor’s Cup in the Spring and Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournaments in 2023.
His recent performances in the past two tournaments with 11-4 records in both have led to the expectations that he would be promoted to ozeki with another strong performance in the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.
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