Ukrainian sumo star Aonishiki eyes top title in Japan

VIDEO SHOWS: UKRAINIAN SUMO WRESTLER, AONISHIKI ARATA, TRAINING / SOUNDBITES FROM AONISHIKI SHOTLIST ONLY, COMPLETE SCRIPT TO FOLLOW SHOWS: TOKYO, JAPAN (FEBRUARY 4, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all) 1. SUMO WRESTLERS CLASHING 2. WRESTLERS’ FEET  3. VARIOUS OF WRESTLERS FIGHTING 4. VARIOUS OF UKRAINIAN SUMO WRESTLER, AONISHIKI ARATA, WATCHING FIGHT 5. TRAINING EQUIPMENT / AONISHIKI SITTING FOR INTERVIEW 6. AONISHIKI SITTING FOR INTERVIEW 7. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) UKRAINIAN SUMO WRESTLER, AONISHIKI ARATA, SAYING:     “I wake up every day wanting to get stronger, wanting to climb another rank higher, I’m working on it now. The simple fact is that you can’t progress without a struggle. It’s my job to overcome that.”  8. VARIOUS OF AONISHIKI WRESTLING 9. AONISHIKI’S FEET SLIDING ON GROUND 10. AONISHIKI 11. AONISHIKI BEING PUSHED IN RING 12. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) UKRAINIAN SUMO WRESTLER, AONISHIKI ARATA, SAYING:     “I’m just going to do what I’ve always done, that’s all there is to it.”  13. WRESTLERS STANDING BESIDE RING 14. AONISHIKI WATCHING WRESTLERS 15. WRESTLER TAPING UP HIS WRIST 16. VARIOUS OF AONISHIKI WATCHING WRESTLERS 17. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) UKRAINIAN SUMO WRESTLER, AONISHIKI ARATA, SAYING:     “It’s incredibly fun as a wrestler to attract so much attention that the tickets sell out every time, and of course I feel very strongly that I have to live up to those expectations.” 18. WRESTLERS DURING TRAINING  19. WRESTLER WIPING OFF SWEAT 20. WRESTLER DRINKING WATER 21. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) UKRAINIAN SUMO WRESTLER, AONISHIKI ARATA, SAYING:     “One of my goals is absolutely to gain more recognition worldwide. That’s a challenge. And speaking for myself, I think I still have room to grow.”  22. WEIGHTS ON FLOOR, WRESTLERS FIGHTING 23. AONISHIKI WATCHING WRESTLERS 24. WRESTLERS’ FEET MOVING 25. WRESTLERS TRAINING 26. AONISHIKI LOOKING ON 27. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) UKRAINIAN SUMO WRESTLER, AONISHIKI ARATA, SAYING:     “Well, my friends in Ukraine and and my teachers back there, everyone’s been watching far more sumo than I imagined. When I won the championships or even just a regular match they’d get in touch right away. It’s really, how should I say, it really makes me want to push harder.” 28. VARIOUS OF WRESTLERS IN RING AFTER TRAINING  29. AONISHIKI STORY: TO FOLLOW

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