We’re still pinching ourselves, because…
We got to sit down with Aonishiki and ask him some questions - YOUR questions.
You’ll see that he is very professional and also pretty funny, something that delighted us. We talk sumo, training, living in Japan, and finish up with a lightening round of questions like “what’s your favorite movie,” and that’s where his personality really shines.
This interview took place last week, after he learned of his promotion to sanyaku, and during a huge rainstorm in Japan. He was gracious enough to give us some time before he was interviewed by NHK and the like, and we were happy that the internet worked throughout.
We were Aonishiki fans before, but now we are EXTREME fans. You will be, too.
Join Aonishiki's Facebook Fan Club for up to date info on him!
Ajigawa Beya
Aonishiki’s heya is Ajigawa, and if you are in Tokyo, you might be able to get tickets to their charity BINGO event on September 28th. BINGO! BINGO EVERYWHERE! All their wrestlers will be there, so go play BINGO with the Ajigawa boys for a good cause.
BINGO CARDS ARE AVAILABLE
It takes luck, speed, and skill to win this game. OK, mostly LUCK, but it’s still fun!
Tip: BINGO is a great way to learn each wrestler’s name.
NEWS: We have been running out of BINGO cards lately. So, if you want to play, get your card sooner rather than later.
Ganbatte!
How to PLAY SUMO BINGO:
CLAIM YOUR CARD. (1 per person please)
Watch the July sumo tournament and mark a wrestler when he gets 8 wins (kachi-koshi) and/or 8 losses (make-koshi).
5 across/down/diagonal of the same type is a BINGO (all kachi-koshi or all make-koshi).
When you get a BINGO, email us a photo/screen shot of your completed winning card sumokaboom@gmail.com ASAP. We’ll let you know if you were the first BINGO.
The prizes go to the 1st kachi-koshi and make-koshi BINGO winners, so speed is of the essence. If you BINGO later, your name goes into a drawing for additional prizes at the end of the basho - 2nd place BINGOs. SO KEEP PLAYING.
We also give prizes for Double BINGO and Most Creative BINGO card, so there are multiple ways to win.
Feel free to share your good fortune with the world over social media, too. Go ahead - share your win!
Reminders
***IMPORTANT*** Your BINGO card is filled with wrestlers who are on the current banzuke. If a wrestler never wrestles in this tournament, it's NOT a make-koshi or kachi-koshi. It's a dead square. It sucks, and we don’t like it either!
A sense of humor is appreciated and will earn you special sumo points from us. Decorate your cards. Redesign them. Take pictures of them surrounded by all your sumo merch. This basho, Cheeky Sumo is offering a prize for the best decorated BINGO card.
Play to the end of the basho! Every BINGO enters your name into the drawing for prizes at the end of the basho. We give away 2-4 prizes to folks who BINGO late.
If your wrestler wrestles at least 1 day, his record counts. He might be make-koshi, but he could be JUST the loser you need to win BINGO.
Stay true to your style of sumo bingo! Ganbatte!
WHAT DO I WIN?
IF YOU WIN SUMO BINGO, you get BRAGGING RIGHTS. You may also receive any number of prizes from our sponsors - homemade jam, a chance to get yourself some sumo merch from bigSUMOfan.com or CheekySumo. Sponsor info below!
bigSUMOfan
bigSUMOfan.com has been a BINGO sponsor for years! Robert at bigSUMOfan.com carries many authentic Japanese sumo products that are likely to be of interest to fans worldwide. bigSUMOfan.com is an online store in the USA for sumo fans all over the world.
The second series of 2025 Sumo Wrestling Trading Cards called Nagomi (和) or Harmony, Peace, or Calm are now available. And, acrylic Stands are here. Available with wrestlers in their robes or (new!) wrestlers in their keshso mawashi. 28 different wrestlers are available, including Shishi.
They carry each basho’s program, traditional banzuke, picture banzuke, and Sumo Magazine. They announce new arrivals on X/Twitter @bigSUMOfan.
Cheeky Sumo
Sumo is a sport packed with power, tradition, and—let’s be honest—plenty of cheeks. From cheeky grins to cheeky butts, and now cheeky designs, we’re here to bring the fun side of sumo to life.
Cheeky Sumo aims to celebrate, educate, and support the sumo world with bold merch and fresh gear that both fans and wrestlers can get behind (pun intended). Whether you're laughing at clever graphics or proudly repping your sumo spirit, you’re showing sumo’s got more than just power—it’s got personality.
Cheeky Sumo has new products launching this Thursday - a training line with gym shorts, gym bags, lightweight training hoodies and a competition mawashi. They have a great Kimarite line that is popular and a Mono-ii design that is also a fan favorite.
Cheeky Sumo is offering a prize to the most creative BINGO card, so let your creativity fly!
As a special offer just for Sumo Kaboom listeners, use promo code KABOOM to get 10% off your order! Shop tees, sweatshirts, socks and more at cheekysumo.com. US and International shipping available.
Sumo Kaboom
Sumo Kaboom is a weekly podcast about all things sumo. Give us a listen! We talk about the wrestlers, the history and culture of sumo, and of course, sumo wrestling. We recently covered women who serve on the YDC, Hakuho’s Retirement, the sumo Belly Touching event, and more.
Leslie makes a mean jar of homemade jam and offers it to a SUMO BINGO winner. The flavors change - orange, fig, strawberry, grape, depending on what’s in season.
Stay true to YOUR BRAND of SUMO BINGO. Thank you for reading Sumo Kaboom. This post is public, so feel free to share it.