The 21-Year-Old Who Beat Both Yokozuna — Twice: Fujinokawa

Fujinokawa is 21, smaller than nearly everyone he faces, and he has beaten both yokozuna twice. This video tells the story of how Fujinokawa Seigo turned grand sumo’s biggest mismatches into some of its most surprising upsets. If you’ve wondered why so many sumo fans are suddenly watching this young wrestler, this is where to start. We look at his wins over Onosato and Hoshoryu, what made each bout work, and how a small sumo wrestler finds openings against the sport’s strongest men. You’ll see what a kinboshi means for a rank-and-file wrestler, how Fujinokawa developed in the Isenoumi stable, and how his results through the Haru, Nagoya and Aki basho of 2026 pushed him toward sekiwake and the ozeki conversation. We also put his yokozuna wins in context with past sumo upsets. Upsets like these are rare in Japanese sumo history, and they say a lot about where the sport may be heading after 2026. SumoSpirit breaks down the bouts, the background and what to watch for as the Kyushu basho approaches. Like and subscribe so you don’t miss what Fujinokawa does the next time a yokozuna steps onto the dohyo against him.