PROFESSIONAL LUNCHEON: Rescheduled
Aonishiki, Sumo Wrestler
11:30-13:00 Thursday, October 9, 2025
This event has been rescheduled due to the speaker's schedule.
⋆Lunch will start at 11:30 and the speech will start at 12:00.
Language: The speech and Q & A will be in Japanese with English interpretation.
Ukrainian-born Aonishiki’s rapid rise in sumo
Danylo Yavhusishyn was preparing to enter university when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, prompting the amateur wrestler and sumo enthusiast to leave his homeland. A friend from his sumo circle took him into his home in Kobe, and the young Ukrainian began training in earnest in Japan’s national sport.
Now known as Aonishiki Arata, a name that pays tribute to both his nation and the Japanese man who gave him shelter, the 21-year-old has rocketed through sumo’s ranks at record speed. He toppled Yokozuna Hoshoryu last month and came close to winning the tournament in Nagoya.
Aonishiki, now ranked as komusubi, will come to the Club to speak about his journey in the sumo world, as well as an artistic collaboration between his stable and the Keith Haring Foundation to promote messages of peace and freedom.
How to attend the event in person:
Please register at front@fccj.or.jp with your name, the name of your media outlet, and FCCJ membership number. The lunch charge for members is 2,500 yen (including tax); and for non-members, 3,000 yen (including tax). Reservation/cancellation deadline is noon on Wednesday October 8. Reservations and cancellations are not complete without confirmation. Please note lunch will not be served after the speech begins. Working journalists and student members can attend the event after the meal service for free.
How to watch online: https://www.youtube.com/c/FCCJchannel/live
Livestream will start at 12:00 after the lunch.
How to ask questions: https://forms.gle/NDNn7WqTKvax14h78
TV crews: Please reserve at front@fccj.or.jp. Doors open for TV crews only 30 minutes before the event. FCCJ will limit live-streaming of FCCJ-hosted press conferences to Club members only. Non-members will no longer be permitted to live-stream these events. However, non-members may still film for reporting purposes and use footage after the press conference.
*こちらのイベントをオンライン視聴ご希望の方はFCCJ YouTubeチャンネルのライブ配信をご覧ください。会場での取材、TV撮影をご希望のメディアはfront@fccj.or.jp にてご予約ください。TV撮影は予約順、ライブ配信は会員のみに限定となり、非会員の方によるライブ配信はご遠慮いただきます。
Professional Activities Committee