The Onami brothers: a family legacy inspired by a Japanese parable
In short: In the world of professional sumo, names carry the weight of history. For the Onami brothers, their identities were forged from a famous Japanese parable about the strength found in unity, leading them to become one of the most successful sibling duos in the sport's history.
Wakatakakage Atsushi, born Atsushi Onami in 1994, is a prominent figure in professional sumo. He is one of three brothers from Fukushima Prefecture, including Wakatakamoto and Wakamotoharu. Their professional names, or shikona, were bestowed by Arashio stable's head coach, Ōyutaka, drawing from the 'Lesson of the three arrows'—a well-known Japanese parable involving the three sons of Mōri Motonari: Takamoto, Motoharu, and Takakage. Their father's lineage traces back to the former komusubi Wakabayama. This connection highlights the deep-rooted sumo traditions within their family.
The brothers' success is a rare feat in the sport. Wakatakakage and Wakamotoharu are only the 19th pair of siblings to both reach the sekitori level. Furthermore, they are the fourth sibling group in history to reach the third-highest rank of sekiwake, following the precedent set by the yokozuna brothers Takanohana and Wakanohana in the early 1990s. This achievement makes them the first siblings to reach this specific rank since the legendary Takanohana and Wakanohana era. Their rise underscores a unique familial dominance in the professional rankings.
Wakatakakage's career has been marked by both rapid ascent and significant resilience. After making his debut in March 2017, he reached the top makuuchi division in November 2019. Despite facing setbacks, including reconstructive knee surgery in 2023 that saw him demoted to the makushita division, he achieved a remarkable comeback. He won the makushita championship in early 2024 and returned to the top division by July 2024. His career highlights include winning two makuuchi championships, with his most recent victory occurring in May 2026. His resilience was further demonstrated when he secured his first career kinboshi by defeating Yokozuna Ōnosato in 2026. This victory highlighted his ability to compete at the highest level despite previous injuries.
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