Arata Yamanaka
UkraineathleteMale7.0Global Dominance: 0.00%Arata Yamanaka is a Japanese sumo wrestler and former captain of the sumo team at Kansai University, known for his role in helping Ukrainian refugee Danylo Yavhusishyn (Aonishiki Arata) transition to life in Japan and pursue a career in sumo wrestling after fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.
Power140
Reach39,507
Country presence
Recent news mentions
Arata Yamanaka took Danilo in after he moved to Japan.
Українець Аонішікі втретє за кар'єру виграв Кубок Імператора| ІншеУкраїнська правда (Ukrayinska Pravda)·Ukraine· 2026-07-26
Ukraine· 2026-07-26
Arata Yamanaka was the captain of a university sumo team in western Japan and befriended Aonishiki.
‘You can’t progress without a struggle’: Ukrainian sumo star Aonishiki on the next step, and life back home | JapanThe Guardian·
United Kingdom· 2026-02-05
United Kingdom· 2026-02-05
He initially lived and trained with a Japanese sumo wrestler, Arata Yamanaka, who he made friends with at the world junior sumo championships.
Ukrainian refugee Danylo Yavhusishyn wows Japan to win his country’s first elite sumo title | Sumo wrestlingThe Guardian·United Kingdom· 2025-11-24
United Kingdom· 2025-11-24
Aonishiki met the Japanese wrestler Arata Yamanaka, then captain of the sumo team at Kansai university, and the two stayed in touch via social media.
The Ukrainian refugee fighting to become the first European sumo grand champion | JapanThe Guardian·United Kingdom· 2025-03-08
United Kingdom· 2025-03-08
