Sumo

what a chaotic background!

Aonishiki Arata (Japanese: 安青錦 新大, born March 23, 2004 as Danylo Yavhusishyn Ukrainian: Данило Явгусішин) is a Ukrainian professional sumo wrestler from Vinnytsia, Vinnytsia Oblast. He is the second Ukrainian to become a professional sumo wrestler, after Shishi in 2020. He wrestles for Ajigawa stable and his highest rank is maegashira 9.

Yavhusishyn was accepted by a Ukrainian national university, but because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, he decided to leave his country, first seeking refuge in Germany before coming in Japan in April of the same year, using the friendship he had forged with Arata Yamanaka, Kansai University sumo club captain, an older amateur sumo wrestler with whom Yavhusishyn met at the 2019 World Junior Championships. In Japan, he was hosted at Yamanaka's apartment in Kobe (Hyōgo Prefecture), where his host family spent their own money so that he could stay in Japan in the best possible conditions, helping him to cope with homesickness and loneliness, with Yavhusishyn calling them his "Japanese family".

Yavhusishyn trained with the sumo clubs of Kansai University and Hōtoku Gakuen High School (Yamanaka's alma mater), despite not having student status. During this period, it was noticed that Yavhusishyn was already at a much higher level than his university counterparts, notably winning several matches against future Miyagino stable's wrestler Seihakuhō, while the latter was competing at Doshisha University after immigrating to Japan. Yavhusishyn maintains a friendship with the club, to which he is nicknamed "Danya".

Through Kansai University sumo clubs, Yavhusishyn was introduced to Ajigawa (the former Aminishiki). In December 2022, Yavhusishyn was formally accepted as one of Ajigawa stable's first recruit. Initially, Ajigawa was reluctant to recruit Yavhusishyn, initially not wishing to recruit foreign wrestlers (subject to recruitment restrictions) and concerned about the cultural and language barrier, but gave in to the young wrestler's determination.