2023 In Sumo
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The following are the events in professional
sumo is a form of competitive full-contact wrestling where a ''rikishi'' (wrestler) attempts to force his opponent out of a circular ring (''dohyō'') or into touching the ground with any body part other than the soles of his feet (usually by th ...
during
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.


Tournaments


Hatsu '' basho''

Ryōgoku Kokugikan , also known as Ryōgoku Sumo Hall or Kokugikan Arena, is the name bestowed to two different indoor sporting arenas located in Tokyo. The first ''Ryōgoku Kokugikan'' opened its doors in 1909 and was located on the premises of the Ekōin temple i ...
,
Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
, 8 January – 22 January


Haru ''basho''

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium is an indoor sporting arena located in Namba, Osaka, Japan. It first opened in 1952 and the current building was constructed in 1987. It is the venue of a professional sumo tournament ( honbasho) held in March every year. The capacity of the ...
,
Osaka is a Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan, designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the List of cities in Japan, third-most populous city in J ...
, 12 March – 26 March


Natsu ''basho''

Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 14 May – 28 May


Nagoya ''basho''

Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium , also known as , is a multi-purpose gymnasium in Nagoya, Japan, built in 1964. Overview Located on the site of the secondary enclosure of Nagoya Castle, it is host to numerous concerts and events. The gymnasium has 4,375 fixed seats and can a ...
,
Nagoya is the largest city in the Chūbu region of Japan. It is the list of cities in Japan, fourth-most populous city in Japan, with a population of 2.3million in 2020, and the principal city of the Chūkyō metropolitan area, which is the List of ...
, 9 July – 23 July


Aki ''basho''

Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 10 September – 24 September


Kyushu ''basho''

Fukuoka Kokusai Center,
Kyushu is the third-largest island of Japan's Japanese archipelago, four main islands and the most southerly of the four largest islands (i.e. excluding Okinawa Island, Okinawa and the other Ryukyu Islands, Ryukyu (''Nansei'') Ryukyu Islands, Islands ...
, 12 November – 26 November


News


January

*4: Former ''
sekiwake , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
''
Toyonoshima Toyonoshima Daiki (born June 26, 1983, as Daiki Kajiwara) is a former professional sumo wrestler from Sukumo, Kōchi, Japan. He made his professional debut in January 2002, reaching the top ''makuuchi'' division in September 2004. He was a runner ...
, who had retired from professional sumo in April 2020, quits as a member of the
Sumo Association The , officially the ; sometimes abbreviated JSA or NSK, and more usually called Sumo Kyōkai, is the governing body that operates and controls professional sumo wrestling, called , in Japan under the jurisdiction of the Japanese Ministry of Ed ...
in order to pursue a ''
tarento Television personalities in Japan, known as in Japanese, are celebrities who regularly appear in mass media in Japan, especially as panelists on variety shows. During the Golden Age of Hollywood, bankable stars in the United States were descri ...
'' career. *6: ''
Yokozuna , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
''
Terunofuji ) is a Mongolian-Japanese former professional sumo wrestler. Wrestling for the Isegahama stable (2007), Isegahama stable, he entered professional sumo in January 2011 and took the second division ''jūryō'' championship in his debut as a ''seki ...
withdraws from the upcoming January tournament—his second straight absence from an entire '' basho''—as he continues to recover from surgery on both of his knees. *14: Former ''sekiwake''
Okinoumi is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Okinoshima, Shimane. He joined professional sumo in 2005, reaching the top division in 2010. He was runner-up in ''makuuchi'' three times in the January 2011, March 2013, and November 2017 to ...
retires, ending an 18-year career in professional sumo competition. He withdrew from the January 2023 ''basho'' the previous day after he was defeated in his first five matches. *22: The top division
championship In sport, a championship is a competition in which the aim is to decide which individual or team is the champion. Championship systems Various forms of competition can be referred to by the term championship. Title match system In this sys ...
is won by Takakeishō, who defeats ''
maegashira , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (''rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the on ...
'' 13 Kotoshōhō in the final bout. Both wrestlers had come into the final day with identical 11–3 records. It is Takekeishō's third career championship and first since November 2020, and puts him in a strong position to seek promotion to ''yokozuna'' in the following tournament. Kotoshōhō, who had not produced a ''
kachi-koshi The following words are terms used in sumo is a form of competitive full-contact wrestling where a ''rikishi'' (wrestler) attempts to force his opponent out of a circular ring (''dohyō'') or into touching the ground with any body part oth ...
'' or winning record since March 2022, wins his first Fighting Spirit Prize. He shares runner-up honours with Kiribayama, who also finishes on 11–4 and wins his first Technique Prize. Ōnoshō, who led the tournament outright on Day 12 at 10–2, finishes on 10–5 and misses out on a share of the Fighting Spirit Prize after defeat to Hōshōryū. Former ''ōzeki'' Shōdai, who was hoping to return to the rank by scoring at least ten wins, can only manage a 6–9 record. Another former ''ōzeki'', Asanoyama, wins the ''
jūryō Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. Fo ...
'' division championship with a 14–1 record. *25: Promotions to the ''jūryō'' division are announced. The winner of the ''
makushita Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. Fo ...
'' division title, two-time high school ''yokozuna'' Ochiai, is promoted just one tournament after making his professional debut as a ''
makushita tsukedashi The following words are terms used in sumo wrestling in Japan. A B C D E F G H ...
'' entrant. It is the first time since the beginning of the Showa era that a wrestler has been promoted to in one tournament. The winner of the 2022 All Japan Corporate Sumo Championship, Ochiai is the first new ''
sekitori A ''sekitori'' (関取) is a '' rikishi'' (力士, sumo wrestler) who is ranked in one of the top two professional divisions: '' makuuchi'' and '' jūryō''. The name literally translates to having taken the barrier, as only a relatively small fr ...
'' for
Miyagino stable was a Heya (sumo), stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Isegahama ''Glossary of sumo terms#ichimon, ichimon'' or group of stables. It was founded by the 43rd ''Yokozuna (sumo), yokozuna'' Yoshibayama as ''Yoshibayama dōjō'' while he was still ...
since the former Hakuhō took over as stablemaster. The other ''jūryō'' debutant is 29-year-old Tamashōhō from
Mongolia Mongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south and southeast. It covers an area of , with a population of 3.5 million, making it the world's List of countries and dependencies by po ...
, who is the brother-in-law of Tamawashi. There are also two wrestlers returning to – Tokushōryū after just one tournament, and Tomokaze, who returns for the first time since a long injury layoff beginning in November 2019 saw him drop from the top division down to ''
jonidan Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. Fo ...
.'' *28: The retirement ceremony for the 69th ''
yokozuna , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
'' Hakuhō is held at the
Ryōgoku Kokugikan , also known as Ryōgoku Sumo Hall or Kokugikan Arena, is the name bestowed to two different indoor sporting arenas located in Tokyo. The first ''Ryōgoku Kokugikan'' opened its doors in 1909 and was located on the premises of the Ekōin temple i ...
. He performs the ''yokozuna
dohyō-iri The following words are terms used in sumo wrestling in Japan. A B C D E F G H ...
'', or ring entering ceremony, for the last time with ''ōzeki'' Takakeishō and ''sekiwake'' Hōshōryū serving as the '' tachimochi'' (sword bearer) and ''
tsuyuharai In professional sumo, the ''tsuyuharai'' (Japanese: 露払い, literally "dew sweeper") is one of the two attendants that accompany a ''yokozuna'' when he performs his '' dohyō-iri'' or ring entrance ceremony. The other attendant is called the ...
'' (dew sweeper), respectively. About 300 people take turns to cut the '' ōichōmage'' bun. *29: The retirement ceremony for former ''
maegashira , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (''rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the on ...
'' Toyohibiki is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.


February

*1: Ikazuchi (former ''
komusubi , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
'' Kakizoe) officially takes over the
stable A stable is a building in which working animals are kept, especially horses or oxen. The building is usually divided into stalls, and may include storage for equipment and feed. Styles There are many different types of stables in use tod ...
previously owned by Irumagawa (former ''
sekiwake , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
'' Tochitsukasa) ahead of the latter reaching Sumo's mandatory retirement age of 65 at the end of April. The renamed Ikazuchi stable is the first incarnation of the stable in over six decades. *4: The
NHK , also known by its Romanization of Japanese, romanized initialism NHK, is a Japanese public broadcasting, public broadcaster. It is a statutory corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television licence, television license fee. NHK ope ...
charity sumo tournament is held at the
Ryōgoku Kokugikan , also known as Ryōgoku Sumo Hall or Kokugikan Arena, is the name bestowed to two different indoor sporting arenas located in Tokyo. The first ''Ryōgoku Kokugikan'' opened its doors in 1909 and was located on the premises of the Ekōin temple i ...
for the first time in three years. It was cancelled in 2021 and 2022 due to the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
. *11: The retirement ceremony for former ''
komusubi , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
'' Shōhōzan is held at the
Ryōgoku Kokugikan , also known as Ryōgoku Sumo Hall or Kokugikan Arena, is the name bestowed to two different indoor sporting arenas located in Tokyo. The first ''Ryōgoku Kokugikan'' opened its doors in 1909 and was located on the premises of the Ekōin temple i ...
. *27: The Sumo Association releases the ''
banzuke A , officially called is a document listing the rankings of professional sumo wrestlers published before each official tournament ('' honbasho''). The term can also refer to the rankings themselves. The document is normally released about two ...
'' for the March 2023 tournament in
Osaka is a Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan, designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the List of cities in Japan, third-most populous city in J ...
, also known as the Haru (spring) ''basho''. There is no change in the top two ranks, with ''
yokozuna , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
''
Terunofuji ) is a Mongolian-Japanese former professional sumo wrestler. Wrestling for the Isegahama stable (2007), Isegahama stable, he entered professional sumo in January 2011 and took the second division ''jūryō'' championship in his debut as a ''seki ...
expected to return to action after missing two tournaments (he would later withdraw), and the January champion—'' ōzeki'' Takakeishō—seeking to join him at sumo's top rank with a strong March performance. January runner-up Kiribayama is elevated to ''
sekiwake , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
'' for the first time in his career. Daieishō and Tobizaru, who were both demoted from ''
komusubi , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
'' for the January tournament, return to that rank for March. The top division sees three new faces: Kinbōzan, who enters ''makuuchi'' after just eight tournaments in professional sumo and is the first top division wrestler in history from
Kazakhstan Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a landlocked country primarily in Central Asia, with a European Kazakhstan, small portion in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the Kazakhstan–Russia border, north and west, China to th ...
, Mongolian-born Hokuseihō, who was encouraged to enter sumo by his now-stablemaster Miyagino, and nine-year sumo veteran Bushōzan. One other wrestler, Daishōhō, returns to the top division for the first time since November 2019. Asanoyama, who has been climbing the sumo ladder again since completing his one-year (six tournament) suspension and had won the ''
jūryō Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. Fo ...
'' title in January, just misses promotion to ''makuuchi'' and is ranked at ''jūryō'' 1 for March.


March

*2: Daisuke Yanagihara (former ''
sandanme Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. Fo ...
'' Kotokantetsu) files a lawsuit against the Japan Sumo Association and his former stablemaster Sadogatake (former ''
sekiwake , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
'' Kotonowaka) seeking over ¥4.1 million in monetary damages. Among his claims, the 25-year-old says he was forced to retire when he was told he could not withdraw from the January 2021 sumo tournament because of his concerns over contracting
COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...
. This occurred shortly after the Japanese government declared its second state of emergency over the virus in Tokyo and surrounding prefectures. Yanagihara also alleges mistreatment of lower-division wrestlers in
Sadogatake stable is a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Nishonoseki group of stables. In its modern form, it dates from September 1955, when it was set up by former ''komusubi'' Kotonishiki Noboru. Former ''yokozuna'' Kotozakura took over the running of th ...
. *10:
Terunofuji ) is a Mongolian-Japanese former professional sumo wrestler. Wrestling for the Isegahama stable (2007), Isegahama stable, he entered professional sumo in January 2011 and took the second division ''jūryō'' championship in his debut as a ''seki ...
withdraws from the March 2023 tournament, one day after stablemaster Isegahama suggested that there was "still something missing" upon observing the training of his Mongolian ''
yokozuna , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
''. Terunofuji underwent knee surgery last October and has not participated in a professional sumo match since Day 9 of the September 2022 ''basho''. *18: ''
Ōzeki Ozeki or Ōzeki may refer to: * Ōzeki, a rank in ''Makuuchi'', the top division of professional sumo ** List of ōzeki 53 sumo wrestlers have reached the second highest in the sport, the rank of '' ōzeki'', but have failed to rise to the top r ...
'' Takakeishō withdraws on Day 7 of the March 2023 ''basho'' after three losses, ending his bid for promotion to sumo's top rank. He had suffered a left knee injury during his Day 3 victory over Shōdai, which he aggravated when losing to
Mitakeumi is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Agematsu, Nagano. He is in the Dewanoumi stable. He is a pusher thruster-type wrestler. A former amateur champion at Toyo University, he made his professional debut in March 2015, reaching the top ...
on Day 6. Takakeishō's withdrawal leaves the sumo tournament with no competing ''yokozuna'' or ''ōzeki'' for the first time since the start of the
Shōwa era The was a historical period of History of Japan, Japanese history corresponding to the reign of Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito) from December 25, 1926, until Death and state funeral of Hirohito, his death on January 7, 1989. It was preceded by the T ...
in 1926. *26: Mongolian ''sekiwake'' Kiribayama defeats ''komusubi'' Daieishō twice on the final day of the March 2023 tournament–once in their final scheduled match, and again in a playoff–to win the first top-division championship of his career. The
playoff The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eithe ...
was set after Kiribayama's Day 15 victory left both him and Daieishō with 12–3 records. In the playoff, Kiribayama–who had a day of rest due to a
default Default may refer to: Law * Default (law), the failure to do something required by law ** Default (finance), failure to satisfy the terms of a loan obligation or failure to pay back a loan ** Default judgment, a binding judgment in favor of eit ...
the previous day–used the same thrust down technique he used to defeat Daieishō the first time. The ringside judges had to make sure that Kiribayama did not accidentally step out of the ''dohyō'' before confirming the victory. The 26-year-old said after the competition that he didn't understand anything that was going on when he entered sumo in 2015, but "somehow, eight years later, I've made it this far." Kiribayama, who becomes sumo's ninth ''
makuuchi , or , is the top division of Professional sumo divisions, the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (''rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous ...
'' champion from
Mongolia Mongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south and southeast. It covers an area of , with a population of 3.5 million, making it the world's List of countries and dependencies by po ...
, is now in a position to pursue promotion to the second-highest rank of '' ōzeki'' with a strong performance at the May ''basho''. For using a variety of winning ''
kimarite is the technique used in sumo by a (wrestler) to win a match. It is officially decided or announced by the (referee) at the end of the match, though judge (sumo), judges can modify this decision. The records of are then kept for statistical ...
'' both Kiribayama and Daieishō receive the ''Ginō-shō'' (Technique prize) for the second and first time, respectively. The other special prize goes to new ''maegashira'' Kinbōzan of
Kazakhstan Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a landlocked country primarily in Central Asia, with a European Kazakhstan, small portion in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the Kazakhstan–Russia border, north and west, China to th ...
, who received the ''Kantō-shō'' (Fighting Spirit prize) after securing 11 victories in his top-division debut.
Another Mongolian, Ichinojō (14–1), secures the ''
jūryō Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. Fo ...
'' championship. The former ''sekiwake'' had just been demoted to the second-highest division after serving a one-tournament
COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...
-related suspension. Right behind Ichinojō in the ''jūryō'' standings is former ''ōzeki'' Asanoyama (13–2), who seeks to return to sumo's top division for the first time after COVID violations resulted in his suspension for one year. *29: The Sumo Association announces three promotions to the second-highest rank of ''
jūryō Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. Fo ...
'' for May. One of two newly promoted ''
sekitori A ''sekitori'' (関取) is a '' rikishi'' (力士, sumo wrestler) who is ranked in one of the top two professional divisions: '' makuuchi'' and '' jūryō''. The name literally translates to having taken the barrier, as only a relatively small fr ...
'' is , who entered sumo two years ago. With the exception of a playoff loss, he went undefeated in his first three tournaments, with a ''jonokuchi'' and ''sandanme'' championship to his name. The other new ''jūryō'' competitor is Tokihayate, who started sumo in 2019 and clinched the ''jonidan'' championship in his second tournament. 14-year veteran returns to ''jūryō'' after he was just demoted, having secured five wins at the rank of ''makushita'' 2 in the March tournament.
Among the retirements announced by the Sumo Association is former ''maegashira'' Kagamiō, who concludes a two-decade career. Kagamiō fell off of the ''banzuke'' rankings after the July 2021 ''basho'' due to injury.


April

*14: Stablemaster Arashio (former ''maegashira'' Sōkokurai) announces that ''sekiwake'' Wakatakakage will be sidelined for up to one year after undergoing reconstructive surgery on his right knee. He had damaged his right ACL and
meniscus Meniscus may refer to: *Meniscus (anatomy), crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous structure that partly divides a joint cavity *Meniscus (liquid) In physics (particularly liquid statics), the meniscus (: menisci, ) is the curve in the upper sur ...
near the end of the March 2023 tournament during his match against ''komusubi'' Kotonowaka, forcing his withdrawal. The spring '' jungyō'' (regional tours) were held at the following locations: *2:
Ise Shrine The , located in Ise, Mie Prefecture of Japan, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the solar goddess Amaterasu Ōmikami and the grain goddess Toyouke-hime (Toyouke Omikami). Also known simply as , Ise Shrine is a shrine complex composed of many Shi ...
, Mie (Ceremonial tournament) *3:
Minoh, Osaka file:箕面市役所.jpg, 270px, Minoh City Hall is a Cities of Japan, city in northwestern Osaka Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 139,118 in 62451 households and a population density of 2900 persons per km2. The total ...
*4:
Okazaki, Aichi is a Cities of Japan, city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 386,999 in 164,087 households, and a population density of 999 persons per km2. The total area of the city was . Geography Okazaki is in the ...
*5:
Inazawa, Aichi is a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 135,580 in 54,999 households, and a population density of . The total area of the city was . Geography Inazawa is located in the flatlands of far western Aic ...
*6: Fukui *8:
Jōetsu, Niigata is a Cities of Japan, city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 189,430, in 76,461 households with a population density of 190 persons per km2. The total area of the city was . Jōetsu borders the S ...
*9: Nagano *15:
Fujisawa, Kanagawa is a Cities of Japan, city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 439,728 and a population density of 6300 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Geography Fujisawa is in the south-central part of Kan ...
*16:
Machida, Tokyo is a Cities of Japan, city located in West Tokyo, the western portion of the Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 428,851, and a population density of 6,000 persons per km2. The total area of the city was . Due to ...
*17:
Yasukuni Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Chiyoda, Tokyo. It was founded by Emperor Meiji in June 1869 and commemorates those who died in service of Empire of Japan, Japan, from the Boshin War of 1868–1869, to the two Sino-Japanese Wars, First Sino-Japane ...
,
Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
(Ceremonial tournament) *22:
Yokohama, Kanagawa is the second-largest city in Japan by population as well as by area, and the country's most populous municipality. It is the capital and most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a population of 3.7 million in 2023. It lies on Tokyo B ...
*23:
Takasaki, Gunma is a city located in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 372,369 in 167,345 households, and a population density of 810 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Takasaki is famous as the hometown of the ...
*28:
Narita, Chiba is a city in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 131,852 in 63,098 households and a population density of 620 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . It is the site of Narita International Airport, one of ...
*29:
Kawasaki, Kanagawa Kawasaki, officially Kawasaki City, is a Cities of Japan, city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, one of the main cities of the Greater Tokyo Area and Keihin Industrial Area. It is the second most populated city in Kanagawa Prefecture after Yokohama ...
*30: Kamisu, Ibaraki


May

*1: The ''
banzuke A , officially called is a document listing the rankings of professional sumo wrestlers published before each official tournament ('' honbasho''). The term can also refer to the rankings themselves. The document is normally released about two ...
'' for the May 2023 tournament in
Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
, called the Natsu ''basho'', is published by the Sumo Association. The ''basho'' marks the return of ''
yokozuna , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
''
Terunofuji ) is a Mongolian-Japanese former professional sumo wrestler. Wrestling for the Isegahama stable (2007), Isegahama stable, he entered professional sumo in January 2011 and took the second division ''jūryō'' championship in his debut as a ''seki ...
, who previously indicated that he intends to compete following injury-related absences in all or part of the last four tournaments. ''
Sekiwake , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
'' Kiribayama, the March champion, seeks a double-digit winning record in May which would likely result in promotion to the second-highest rank of '' ōzeki''. Conversely, current ''ōzeki'' competitor Takakeishō needs eight wins in the May ''basho'' to hold on to his rank.
Wakamotoharu (born October 5, 1993 as ) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Fukushima. He wrestles for the Arashio stable, where he is a stable mate of his brothers Wakatakakage and Wakatakamoto. His highest rank to date has been ''sekiwake''. ...
, the older brother of injured Wakatakakage, is promoted to ''sekiwake'' for the first time in his career. It is the fourth time in sumo history that two brothers have reached the third-highest ''sekiwake'' rank, and the first since ''yokozuna'' brothers Takanohana and Wakanohana in the early 1990s. March runner-up Daieishō returns to ''sekiwake'' for the first time since last September. Former ''ōzeki'' Shōdai returns to the ''
san'yaku The following words are terms used in sumo wrestling in Japan. A B C D E F G H ...
'' ranks at ''
komusubi , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
'' after notching ten wins in March. Returning to ''
makuuchi , or , is the top division of Professional sumo divisions, the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (''rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous ...
'' for the first time since 2021 is Asanoyama, the former ''ōzeki'' who has been making a comeback since serving a six-tournament suspension and had spent the first two tournaments of the year in the second-highest ''
jūryō Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. Fo ...
'' division. Former ''sekiwake'' Ichinojō, who was suspended in January and then won the ''jūryō'' championship in March, makes a quick return to the top division. *4: Former ''sekiwake'' Ichinojō submits his retirement papers, ending a career spanning over nine years with one championship and two runner-up performances in the top division. Ichinojō suffered from chronic lower back pain and reportedly sought treatment after winning his second ''jūryō'' championship in March, but his condition eventually left him unable to travel from his home to
Minato stable is a Heya (sumo), stable of sumo wrestlers, formerly part of the Tokitsukaze ''ichimon'' or group of stables. It was founded in 1982 by former ''komusubi'' Yutakayama Hiromitsu, Yutakayama, who branched off from Tokitsukaze stable. Minato-''oy ...
in order to practice. Although he has acquired Japanese citizenship, Ichinojō did not acquire elder stock and will not remain in the Sumo Association as a coach. *9: Another violence scandal erupts as Michinoku stable is the subject of a controversy. A senior wrestler, Kirinofuji, assaulted another young wrestler, Yasunishi, in January with a frying pan and whipped him with a jump rope. Stablemaster Michinoku (former '' ōzeki'' Kirishima) is accused to have covered the violence by directly allowing the aggressor to remain within his stable and allowing him to perform a hair cutting ceremony in April despite the fact that the information was relayed to the Compliance Department. Hanakago (former ''sekiwake'' Daijuyama), the director of the Compliance Department, is also the subject of controversy for letting the aggressor retire without punishment and for declaring the incident closed after the retirement despite a formal complaint (later withdrawn) filed by the victim during the same month of April. *14: Takayasu withdraws on the opening day of the May 2023 tournament after suffering a right leg injury during morning practice. Although the medical certificate called for three weeks of treatment, Takayasu announced on 23 May his return for the eleventh day of the tournament. *19: Georgian wrestler
Tochinoshin ; ), lead=yes is a Georgian former professional sumo wrestler from Mtskheta. He was a member of the Kasugano stable and made his professional debut in March 2006. He reached the top ''makuuchi'' division just two years later in May 2008. After a ...
retires from professional sumo, ending a career spanning 17 years. The 35-year-old former '' ōzeki'' injured his shoulder in the January 2023 tournament and was subsequently demoted from ''makuuchi''. At the May tournament he was unable to secure a win after competing in five ''jūryō'' matches. He concludes his career with one championship and four runner-up performances in the top division. *23: Kotoshōhō withdraws on Day 10 of the summer tournament after having suffered eight consecutive defeats. The reason for his absence is a patellar subluxation in his left knee. He also had sprained his right ankle during the spring '' jungyō''. He would later re-enter the tournament on Day 14.
Former ''
makuuchi , or , is the top division of Professional sumo divisions, the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (''rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous ...
'' wrestlers and current ''
jūryō Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. Fo ...
'' Enhō and
Chiyonokuni is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Iga, Mie. Making his professional debut in May 2006, he reached the top ''makuuchi'' division for the first time in January 2012. He has a highest rank of '' maegashira'' 1, but he has also ...
also withdraw from the summer tournament due to injuries. Enhō was diagnosed with a
herniated disc A disc herniation or spinal disc herniation is an injury to the intervertebral disc between two vertebrae, usually caused by excessive strain or trauma to the spine. It may result in back pain, pain or sensation in different parts of the body, ...
in his neck, which will require approximately three months of treatment. Chiyonokuni is suffering from meniscus injuries in both knees and from
osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis is a type of degenerative joint disease that results from breakdown of articular cartilage, joint cartilage and underlying bone. A form of arthritis, it is believed to be the fourth leading cause of disability in the world, affect ...
in his left knee. *25: ''Sekiwake'' Kiribayama secures his tenth win at the May 2023 tournament. With his 33rd victory in his last three tournaments, Kiribayama meets the requirements to be considered for promotion to the second-highest rank of '' ōzeki''. *27: ''
Yokozuna , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
''
Terunofuji ) is a Mongolian-Japanese former professional sumo wrestler. Wrestling for the Isegahama stable (2007), Isegahama stable, he entered professional sumo in January 2011 and took the second division ''jūryō'' championship in his debut as a ''seki ...
wins his eighth top division championship by defeating ''
sekiwake , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
'' Kiribayama and securing a two-win advantage over his competitors with one day remaining in the May 2023 tournament. It is the first time since 1989 (when the ''
yūshō is the term for a championship in Japanese. This article focuses on championships in the sport of professional sumo. It is awarded in each of the six annual '' honbasho'' or official tournaments, to the wrestler who wins the most bouts. ''Yūs ...
'' was won by ''yokozuna''
Hokutoumi is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Hokkaidō. He was the sport's 61st ''yokozuna'' and won eight top division championships. He wrestled for Kokonoe stable, as did Chiyonofuji, and the two were the first ''yokozuna'' stablema ...
–now Sumo Association president Hakkaku) that a wrestler has won the top division championship after being absent for three consecutive tournaments. *28:
Terunofuji ) is a Mongolian-Japanese former professional sumo wrestler. Wrestling for the Isegahama stable (2007), Isegahama stable, he entered professional sumo in January 2011 and took the second division ''jūryō'' championship in his debut as a ''seki ...
collects his eighth Emperor's Cup trophy after dispatching ''ōzeki'' Takakeishō in the final match to finish with a 14–1 record. Despite the loss, Takakeishō (8–7) will hold on to his ''ōzeki'' rank after securing a
winning record In sports, a winning percentage or Copeland score is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. The statistic is commonly used in standings or rankings to compare teams or individuals. It is defined as wins divided by the tot ...
. Finishing as the runner-up is Asanoyama (12–3) in his first top division tournament since returning from his COVID suspension. Kiribayama finishes behind him with 11 wins and his third straight ''Ginō-shō'' (Technique prize). Another Technique prize is awarded to
Wakamotoharu (born October 5, 1993 as ) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Fukushima. He wrestles for the Arashio stable, where he is a stable mate of his brothers Wakatakakage and Wakatakamoto. His highest rank to date has been ''sekiwake''. ...
, who wins his first special prize after finishing his first tournament at the ''sekiwake'' rank with 10 wins. The final special prize is awarded to Meisei (8–7), who after securing his first gold star is awarded the ''Shukun-shō'' (Outstanding Performance prize) for the first time.
Following the tournament, Sumo Association chairman Hakkaku accepted the request of Refereeing Department head Sadogatake (former ''sekiwake'' Kotonowaka) to convene a special meeting on 31 May, where Kiribayama's ''ōzeki'' promotion is expected to be finalized.
The ''jūryō'' championship is decided in a
playoff The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eithe ...
, with top-ranked Gōnoyama defeating 19-year-old Ochiai to clinch his second championship in sumo. It is the first time since 15-day tournaments began in 1949 that the ''jūryō'' championship is decided in a playoff between two wrestlers with 14–1 records. *31: Kiribayama is officially promoted to ''ōzeki'' and makes his formal acceptance speech when notified of the Sumo Association's decision at his stable. It is also announced that Kiribayama has changed his ''
shikona A is a sumo wrestler's ring name. The tradition of ring names in sumo dates back to the Muromachi period and established itself during the Edo period, where they were used as a means to hide the identities of the . Given by the master to his di ...
'' (ring name) to Kirishima, inheriting the name previously used by his stablemaster Michinoku (former ''ōzeki'' Kirishima).
With the ranking meeting completed, the Sumo Association announces five promotions to the ''jūryō'' division for July. Included in the promotions is 26-year-old Shishi, who will become the first ever ''
sekitori A ''sekitori'' (関取) is a '' rikishi'' (力士, sumo wrestler) who is ranked in one of the top two professional divisions: '' makuuchi'' and '' jūryō''. The name literally translates to having taken the barrier, as only a relatively small fr ...
'' from
Ukraine Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the List of European countries by area, second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which Russia–Ukraine border, borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the nor ...
. Also promoted to ''jūryō'' for the first time is top ''makushita'' wrestler
Kawazoe Keita , born April 10, 1999, is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Uto, Kumamoto. The highest rank he has achieved is ''jūryō'' 13. From the July 2023 tournament through the March 2024 tournament he competed under the ''shikona'', or ring ...
, who will change his ''shikona'' to Kihō, as well as 24-year-old . returns to ''jūryō'' after he was first promoted in January 2022 but did not compete. returns to the second-highest division after 12 tournaments in ''makushita''.


June

*1: Former ''maegashira'' Ishiura retires, ending a 10-year career after suffering from a
pinched nerve Radiculopathy (; ), also commonly referred to as pinched nerve, refers to a set of conditions in which one or more nerves are affected and do not work properly (a neuropathy). Radiculopathy can result in pain ( radicular pain), weakness, altered s ...
at the March 2022 tournament. The injury forced him to withdraw from competition for a year, dropping him to the rank of ''jonidan'' 60. Ishiura acquired an elder stock from his former master
Chikubayama Chikubayama Masakuni (born August 21, 1957, as Makoto Tazaki) is a former sumo wrestler from Ukiha, Fukuoka, Japan. He made his professional debut in 1973, breaking into the top ''makuuchi'' division thirteen years later in 1986. His highest rank ...
and will remain in the Sumo Association under the elder name Magaki.
With the release of the
2025 So far, the year has seen the continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudanese civil war, and the Gaza war. Internal crises in Bangladesh post-resignation v ...
tournament schedule, the Sumo Association announces that the annual Nagoya tournament will move from the
Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium , also known as , is a multi-purpose gymnasium in Nagoya, Japan, built in 1964. Overview Located on the site of the secondary enclosure of Nagoya Castle, it is host to numerous concerts and events. The gymnasium has 4,375 fixed seats and can a ...
to the under-construction
Aichi International Arena , also known as for sponsorship reasons, is a multi-purpose arena under construction in Kita-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Scheduled to open in July 2025, the arena will be a replacement for the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, which was buil ...
in July 2025. *3: The retirement ceremony of the 71st ''
yokozuna , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
'' Kakuryū is held at the
Ryōgoku Kokugikan , also known as Ryōgoku Sumo Hall or Kokugikan Arena, is the name bestowed to two different indoor sporting arenas located in Tokyo. The first ''Ryōgoku Kokugikan'' opened its doors in 1909 and was located on the premises of the Ekōin temple i ...
. Kakuryū performs his final ''yokozuna
dohyō-iri The following words are terms used in sumo wrestling in Japan. A B C D E F G H ...
'', or ring entering ceremony, with former ''ōzeki'' Shōdai and newly promoted ''ōzeki'' Kirishima serving as the ''
tsuyuharai In professional sumo, the ''tsuyuharai'' (Japanese: 露払い, literally "dew sweeper") is one of the two attendants that accompany a ''yokozuna'' when he performs his '' dohyō-iri'' or ring entrance ceremony. The other attendant is called the ...
'' (dew sweeper) and '' tachimochi'' (sword bearer), respectively. Some 380 people take turns in cutting Kakuryū's '' ōichōmage'', including all three of the other ''yokozuna'' from Mongolia: Asashōryū, Harumafuji and Miyagino ( Hakuhō). *4: The retirement ceremony of former ''sekiwake'' Ikioi (now Kasugayama) is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.
The retirement ceremony of former ''maegashira'' Kyokushūhō is held at the Tobu Hotel Levant in
Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
. *10: The retirement ceremony of former ''maegashira'' Kagamiō is held in a reception room at the
Ryōgoku Kokugikan , also known as Ryōgoku Sumo Hall or Kokugikan Arena, is the name bestowed to two different indoor sporting arenas located in Tokyo. The first ''Ryōgoku Kokugikan'' opened its doors in 1909 and was located on the premises of the Ekōin temple i ...
. About 270 people took part in the hair-cutting ceremony with Kagamiyama stablemaster (former ''sekiwake'' Tagaryū) making the final cut. *23: The Sumo Association concludes its investigation into the allegations of assault at Michinoku stable. Stablemaster Michinoku is handed a 20% salary cut for three months and resigns his post as
Operations director The role of operations director generally encompasses the oversight of operational aspects of company strategy with responsibilities to ensure operation information is supplied to the chief executive and the board of directors as well as external ...
in the Sumo Association. *25: The retirement ceremony of former ''maegashira'' Yutakayama is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. *26: The Sumo Association releases the ''
banzuke A , officially called is a document listing the rankings of professional sumo wrestlers published before each official tournament ('' honbasho''). The term can also refer to the rankings themselves. The document is normally released about two ...
'' for the July 2023 tournament in
Nagoya is the largest city in the Chūbu region of Japan. It is the list of cities in Japan, fourth-most populous city in Japan, with a population of 2.3million in 2020, and the principal city of the Chūkyō metropolitan area, which is the List of ...
, with newly promoted Kirishima (previously known as Kiribayama) formally listed for the first time at sumo's second-highest rank of '' ōzeki''. Abi is promoted to ''
komusubi , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
'' for the third time in his career. Entering the top ''
makuuchi , or , is the top division of Professional sumo divisions, the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (''rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous ...
'' division in his fourth career sumo tournament is Ochiai, under his new ''
shikona A is a sumo wrestler's ring name. The tradition of ring names in sumo dates back to the Muromachi period and established itself during the Edo period, where they were used as a means to hide the identities of the . Given by the master to his di ...
'' Hakuōhō. Nicknamed the "
Reiwa is the current and 232nd era of the official calendar of Japan. It began on 1 May 2019, the day on which Emperor Akihito's eldest son, Naruhito, ascended the throne as the 126th Emperor of Japan. The day before, Emperor Akihito abdicated ...
monster" in the press, the 19-year-old entered professional sumo as a ''
makushita tsukedashi The following words are terms used in sumo wrestling in Japan. A B C D E F G H ...
'' entrant in January and is the sixth-youngest competitor since 1990 to reach the top division. Hakuōhō is one of three wrestlers promoted to the top division for the first time, the others being the top-ranked ''
jūryō Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. Fo ...
'' wrestlers in May: Gōnoyama, who defeated then-Ochiai in the May ''jūryō'' playoff, and nine-year sumo competitor Shōnannoumi. Bushōzan returns to ''
maegashira , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (''rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the on ...
'' after competing in ''jūryō'' in May.


July

*7: Takakeishō withdraws from the July tournament citing cartilage damage in both his knees requiring around 3 weeks' treatment. Knee injuries had already cost him a withdrawal from the March tournament and had plagued him at the May tournament. *9: The newly promoted ''ōzeki'' Kirishima sits out the first day of the July tournament because of inflammation on the back of his shoulder blade. Although his medical certificate indicates that he bruised his right ribs and would need three weeks of treatment, his
stablemaster A stable master or head groom is the manager in charge of a stable. At large horse establishments there may be several grooms under the management of the stable master. In a professional establishment the head groom usually has complete responsibil ...
leaves open the possibility that Kirishima could return to the tournament later. This absence is a first since Musōyama at the May 2000 tournament that a newly promoted ''ōzeki'' had to withdraw on the first day of a tournament, and the fifth time in total since the start of the Shōwa era. Due to the absence of the other ''ōzeki'', Takakeishō, the July 2023 tournament is presumed to be the first in the written history of sumo (since the Shōwa era) to be held without an ''ōzeki'' from day one. Kirishima would later compete on Day 4 of the tournament, picking up his first win at the ''ōzeki'' rank. *12: ''Yokozuna''
Terunofuji ) is a Mongolian-Japanese former professional sumo wrestler. Wrestling for the Isegahama stable (2007), Isegahama stable, he entered professional sumo in January 2011 and took the second division ''jūryō'' championship in his debut as a ''seki ...
withdraws on Day 4 of the July tournament after conceding back-to-back gold stars to top rank-and-filers
Nishikigi is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Morioka. He made his debut in March 2006 and wrestles for Isenoumi stable. His highest rank has been ''komusubi'' and he has won championships at ''jūryō'' and ''makushita'' level. Early life and ...
and Tobizaru. It is his sixth withdrawal in the last ten tournaments. *16: Asanoyama pulls out on Day 8 of the July tournament after partially tearing his left
bicep The biceps or biceps brachii (, "two-headed muscle of the arm") is a large muscle that lies on the front of the upper arm between the shoulder and the elbow. Both heads of the muscle arise on the scapula and join to form a single muscle belly ...
in his loss to ''sekiwake'' Hōshōryu the day before. He returned to competition on Day 12. *21: Former ''maegashira''
Chiyonokuni is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Iga, Mie. Making his professional debut in May 2006, he reached the top ''makuuchi'' division for the first time in January 2012. He has a highest rank of '' maegashira'' 1, but he has also ...
retires, ending a 17-year career marked by repeated injuries. *22: Three wrestlers – Hōshōryū,
Hokutofuji is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Tokorozawa, Saitama. His debut in ''Glossary of sumo terms#maezum.C5.8D, maezumō'' was in March 2015, and his first ''makuuchi'' division ''honbasho'' was the Kyūshū tournament in Novemb ...
and newly promoted Hakuōhō – are tied for the top-division lead with eleven wins each after Day 14 of the July tournament. With the
Sumo Association The , officially the ; sometimes abbreviated JSA or NSK, and more usually called Sumo Kyōkai, is the governing body that operates and controls professional sumo wrestling, called , in Japan under the jurisdiction of the Japanese Ministry of Ed ...
's Refereeing Department deciding on the Day 15 matches, Ryūden and
Nishikigi is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Morioka. He made his debut in March 2006 and wrestles for Isenoumi stable. His highest rank has been ''komusubi'' and he has won championships at ''jūryō'' and ''makushita'' level. Early life and ...
– both one win behind the leaders – are eliminated from
Emperor's Cup , commonly known as or Japan FA Cup, and rebranded as The JFA Emperor's Cup from 2024 onwards, is a Japanese annual football competition. It has the longest tradition of any football tournament in Japan, dating back to 1921, before the formatio ...
contention. Should Hokutofuji win his contest, it would result in a
playoff The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eithe ...
for the championship against the winner of the match between Hōshōryū and Hakuōhō.
Newly promoted ''ōzeki'' Kirishima suffers his sixth loss at the hands of former ''ōzeki'' Asanoyama. As he was absent for two days, Kirishima will be at '' kadoban'' status for the next tournament in September, where he will need eight wins to retain his rank. *23:
Mongolia Mongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south and southeast. It covers an area of , with a population of 3.5 million, making it the world's List of countries and dependencies by po ...
n ''
sekiwake , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
'' Hōshōryū defeats
Hokutofuji is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Tokorozawa, Saitama. His debut in ''Glossary of sumo terms#maezum.C5.8D, maezumō'' was in March 2015, and his first ''makuuchi'' division ''honbasho'' was the Kyūshū tournament in Novemb ...
in a playoff to secure his first top-division championship, and with it a likely promotion to sumo's second-highest rank of '' ōzeki''. The playoff match was forced when Hokutofuji defeated
Nishikigi is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Morioka. He made his debut in March 2006 and wrestles for Isenoumi stable. His highest rank has been ''komusubi'' and he has won championships at ''jūryō'' and ''makushita'' level. Early life and ...
in their scheduled Day 15 contest to finish with a 12–3 record. Hōshōryū then fended off the challenge of 19-year-old Hakuōhō using an overarm throw to also finish with 12 wins. In the playoff Hokutofuji, who had already beaten Hōshōryū three days earlier, could not stop the Mongolian's advance and was pushed out of the ''dohyō''. Hōshōryū, who could not contain his emotions after winning the playoff, secured 33 wins in his last three tournaments at the ''
san'yaku The following words are terms used in sumo wrestling in Japan. A B C D E F G H ...
'' ranks. He is poised for promotion to sumo's second-highest rank on 26 July after the request for an extraordinary board meeting of the
Japan Sumo Association The , officially the ; sometimes abbreviated JSA or NSK, and more usually called Sumo Kyōkai, is the governing body that operates and controls Professional sports, professional sumo wrestling, called , in Japan under the jurisdiction of the Min ...
is granted. A total of eight special prizes are awarded at the end of the tournament. The ''Shukun-shō'' (Outstanding Performance prize) is awarded to Nishikigi (10–5), who defeated most of the wrestlers ranked above him–including ''
yokozuna , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
''
Terunofuji ) is a Mongolian-Japanese former professional sumo wrestler. Wrestling for the Isegahama stable (2007), Isegahama stable, he entered professional sumo in January 2011 and took the second division ''jūryō'' championship in his debut as a ''seki ...
–and was in the hunt for the top-division championship until the final days. New ''makuuchi'' wrestler Hakuōhō (11–4) is awarded both the ''Kantō-shō'' (Fighting Spirit prize) and the ''Ginō-shō'' (Technique prize) for his efforts, becoming the first wrestler since Ichinojō in 2014 to win two special prizes in their top-division debut. The Fighting Spirit prize is also awarded to five other competitors: tournament champion Hōshōryū and runner-up Hokutofuji, Kotonowaka (11–4), and new ''makuuchi'' competitors Gōnoyama (10–5) and Shōnannoumi (10–5).
The ''
jūryō Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. Fo ...
'' championship also goes to a playoff, with top-ranked Atamifuji (11–4) defeating Daiamami and likely securing a return to the top division. *26: The Sumo Association unanimously approves the promotion of Hōshōryū to ''ōzeki''. He is the seventh wrestler from Mongolia to reach sumo's second-highest rank.
It is announced that five wrestlers will be promoted to ''jūryō'' for the September tournament. There are four new promotions, two of which are from
Nishonoseki stable is a Japanese sumo elder from Ibaraki. As a wrestler, he made his professional debut in 2002 and reached the top ''makuuchi'' division in 2004 at the age of just 18. After many years in the junior ''san'yaku'' ranks, he reached the second high ...
: 23-year-old Ōnosato, a ''
makushita tsukedashi The following words are terms used in sumo wrestling in Japan. A B C D E F G H ...
'' competitor and amateur ''yokozuna'' champion who was a highly regarded prospect when he entered professional sumo earlier this year, and 24-year-old
Takahashi is the third most common Japanese surname. Less common variants include , , , , , , , and . Notable people with the surname Takahashi * Aaron Takahashi, Japanese-American actor * , Japanese singer and actress * , Japanese kickboxer * , Jap ...
. They are the first two recruited by their stablemaster, the 72nd ''yokozuna''
Kisenosato is a Japanese sumo elder from Ibaraki Prefecture, Ibaraki. As a wrestler, he made his professional debut in 2002 and reached the top ''makuuchi'' division in 2004 at the age of just 18. After many years in the junior ''san'yaku'' ranks, he reac ...
, to become ''
sekitori A ''sekitori'' (関取) is a '' rikishi'' (力士, sumo wrestler) who is ranked in one of the top two professional divisions: '' makuuchi'' and '' jūryō''. The name literally translates to having taken the barrier, as only a relatively small fr ...
''. The other two new promotions are
Miyagino stable was a Heya (sumo), stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Isegahama ''Glossary of sumo terms#ichimon, ichimon'' or group of stables. It was founded by the 43rd ''Yokozuna (sumo), yokozuna'' Yoshibayama as ''Yoshibayama dōjō'' while he was still ...
's , who will take on the new ''
shikona A is a sumo wrestler's ring name. The tradition of ring names in sumo dates back to the Muromachi period and established itself during the Edo period, where they were used as a means to hide the identities of the . Given by the master to his di ...
'' Tenshōhō (天照鵬) in September, and
Takasago stable is a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Takasago group of stables. It is correctly written in Japanese as "髙砂部屋", but the first of these ''kanji'' is rare, and is more commonly written as "高砂部屋". History The stable was establ ...
's , who will now compete under the name Asakōryū (朝紅龍). Tokihayate, who had just been demoted to ''
makushita Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. Fo ...
'' in July and won that division's championship, is promoted to ''jūryō'' again. *27: The Sumo Association announces that the
Yokozuna Deliberation Council The , sometimes called Promotion Council, and usually abbreviated in Japanese as , is an advisory board, advisory body to the Japan Sumo Association. The council considers candidates for promotion to sumo's top rank of , before passing its reco ...
's training session for wrestlers on 2 September at the
Ryōgoku Kokugikan , also known as Ryōgoku Sumo Hall or Kokugikan Arena, is the name bestowed to two different indoor sporting arenas located in Tokyo. The first ''Ryōgoku Kokugikan'' opened its doors in 1909 and was located on the premises of the Ekōin temple i ...
will be open to the general public. It will be the first time since the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
that the public will be permitted to attend the session. The summer '' jungyō'' (regional tours) were held at the following locations in July: *29:
Toyota, Aichi , formerly known as Koromo, is a city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 426,162 and a population density of 464 people per km2. The total area was . It is located about 50 minutes from Nagoya by way of the Me ...
*30:
Numazu is a city located in eastern Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 189,486 in 91,986 households, and a population density of 1,014 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Geography Numazu is at the n ...


August

*10: Former ''maegashira'' Akiseyama retires, ending a 15-year professional sumo career. He acquires the vacant Izutsu elder stock and will remain as a coach at Kise stable. *28: The Sumo Association releases the ''
banzuke A , officially called is a document listing the rankings of professional sumo wrestlers published before each official tournament ('' honbasho''). The term can also refer to the rankings themselves. The document is normally released about two ...
'' for the upcoming autumn Grand Sumo Tournament in
Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
. Three wrestlers are listed at the second-highest rank of '' ōzeki'': Mongolian Hōshōryū will compete in his first tournament at the ''ōzeki'' rank, while Takakeishō and Kirishima both hope to secure a
winning record In sports, a winning percentage or Copeland score is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. The statistic is commonly used in standings or rankings to compare teams or individuals. It is defined as wins divided by the tot ...
and avoid
relegation Promotion and relegation is used by sports leagues as a process where teams can move up and down among divisions in a league system, based on their performance over a season. Leagues that use promotion and relegation systems are sometimes call ...
. Kotonowaka, coming off of an 11-win performance in July, earns a promotion to the third-highest rank of ''
sekiwake , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
'' for the first time. July tournament contender
Nishikigi is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Morioka. He made his debut in March 2006 and wrestles for Isenoumi stable. His highest rank has been ''komusubi'' and he has won championships at ''jūryō'' and ''makushita'' level. Early life and ...
receives his first promotion to ''
san'yaku The following words are terms used in sumo wrestling in Japan. A B C D E F G H ...
'' in a career spanning 17 years. Joining Nishikigi at the rank of ''
komusubi , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
'' is Tobizaru, who returns to that rank for the first time in three tournaments. There are no newly promoted wrestlers from ''
jūryō Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. Fo ...
'' to
Makuuchi , or , is the top division of Professional sumo divisions, the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (''rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous ...
, although two are returning to the top division. Atamifuji, the winner of the ''jūryō'' championship in July, returns after four tournaments, while
Kagayaki The is a high-speed ''shinkansen'' train service jointly operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and West Japan Railway Company (JR West) between and on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line in Japan. The shinkansen service was introduced ...
returns after having just been demoted. The summer '' jungyō'' (regional tours) were held at the following locations in August: *2:
Tachikawa, Tokyo 250px, Showa Memorial Park is a city located in the western portion of the Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 184,383 in 93,428 households, and a population density of 7,600 persons per km2. The total area of t ...
*3:
Ryūgasaki, Ibaraki is a city located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 75,212 in 33,421 households and a population density of 958 persons per km2. The percentage of the population aged over 65 was 31.1% in July 2020. The tota ...
*4:
Naraha, Fukushima is a Towns of Japan, town located in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an official registered population of 6,465 in 3,182 households, and a population density of 65 persons per km2, although the current actual resident population is si ...
*5:
Fukushima city is the capital city of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. It is located in the northern part of the Nakadōri, central region of the prefecture. , the city had an estimated population of 275,850 in 122,130 households and a population density of . The ...
*6:
Sendai is the capital Cities of Japan, city of Miyagi Prefecture and the largest city in the Tōhoku region. , the city had a population of 1,098,335 in 539,698 households, making it the List of cities in Japan, twelfth most populated city in Japan. ...
*8:
Ōshū, Iwate is a Cities of Japan, city located in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 114,620 and a population density of 120 persons per km2 in 45,728 households. The total area of the city is . Ōshū is famous for its Maes ...
*9:
Kuji, Iwate is a city in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 34,418 in 15,675 households, and a population density of 55 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Geography Kuji is in far northeastern Iwate Prefecture, ...
*12:
Hakodate is a Cities of Japan, city and seaports of Japan, port located in Oshima Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital city of Oshima Subprefecture. As of January 31, 2024, the city had an estimated population of 239,813 with 138,807 househol ...
*13:
Sapporo is a Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan, designated city in Hokkaido, Japan. Located in the southwest of Hokkaido, it lies within the alluvial fan of the Toyohira River, a tributary of the Ishikari River. Sapporo is the capital ...
*14:
Asahikawa is a Cities of Japan, city in Kamikawa Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital of the subprefecture, and the second-largest city in Hokkaido, after Sapporo. It has been a Core cities of Japan, core city since April 1, 2000. The city i ...
*15:
Eniwa, Hokkaido is a city in Ishikari Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is on the Ishikari plain, 8 km north of Chitose, and 26 km south of the prefectural capital Sapporo. It is reached through route 36 and the Chitose Railway Line. The town is s ...
*19:
Nagaoka, Niigata is a Cities of Japan, city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It is the second largest city in the prefecture, after the capital city of Niigata, Niigata, Niigata. , the city had an estimated population of 264,611 in 109,283 households and a ...
*20:
Oyama, Tochigi is a city located in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 167,647 in 70,928 households, and a population density of 980 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . In 2006, Oyama became the second most popul ...
*25:
Kurobe, Toyama is a Cities of Japan, city in Toyama Prefecture, in the Chūbu region of Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 41,564 in 15,387 households and a population density of 95.8 persons per km2. Its total area was . Geography Kurobe is loca ...
*26:
Kanazawa is the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture in central Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 466,029 in 203,271 households, and a population density of 990 persons per km2. The total area of the city was . Etymology The name "Kanazaw ...
*27:
Himi, Toyama is a city in western Toyama Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 48,275 in 17,632 households, and a population density of 210 persons per km2. Its total area is . Himi is known primarily for its commercial fishing industry ...


September

*2: The
Yokozuna Deliberation Council The , sometimes called Promotion Council, and usually abbreviated in Japanese as , is an advisory board, advisory body to the Japan Sumo Association. The council considers candidates for promotion to sumo's top rank of , before passing its reco ...
's open training session is held at the
Ryōgoku Kokugikan , also known as Ryōgoku Sumo Hall or Kokugikan Arena, is the name bestowed to two different indoor sporting arenas located in Tokyo. The first ''Ryōgoku Kokugikan'' opened its doors in 1909 and was located on the premises of the Ekōin temple i ...
, with about 4,000 people in attendance. Following the training session, Hakkaku (the 61st ''
yokozuna , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
''
Hokutoumi is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Hokkaidō. He was the sport's 61st ''yokozuna'' and won eight top division championships. He wrestled for Kokonoe stable, as did Chiyonofuji, and the two were the first ''yokozuna'' stablema ...
) performs his ''
kanreki dohyō-iri In sumo, sumo wrestling, a is a ring-entering ceremony (''dohyō-iri'') performed by a former ''yokozuna (sumo), yokozuna'' in celebration of his 60th birthday (called ''kanreki'' in Japanese). If he is a ''toshiyori'' (a sumo elder), the ceremo ...
'' joined by
Hokutofuji is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Tokorozawa, Saitama. His debut in ''Glossary of sumo terms#maezum.C5.8D, maezumō'' was in March 2015, and his first ''makuuchi'' division ''honbasho'' was the Kyūshū tournament in Novemb ...
and ex-
Okinoumi is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Okinoshima, Shimane. He joined professional sumo in 2005, reaching the top division in 2010. He was runner-up in ''makuuchi'' three times in the January 2011, March 2013, and November 2017 to ...
(now Kimigahama) as his ''
tsuyuharai In professional sumo, the ''tsuyuharai'' (Japanese: 露払い, literally "dew sweeper") is one of the two attendants that accompany a ''yokozuna'' when he performs his '' dohyō-iri'' or ring entrance ceremony. The other attendant is called the ...
'' and '' tachimochi'', respectively. Hakkaku's 60th birthday was on 22 June, but he elected to hold the ''kanreki dohyō-iri'' in September to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the founding of his stable. *4: Hakuōhō withdraws from the upcoming September tournament after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder on 31 August. Hakuōhō had been experiencing problems with his shoulder since the conclusion of the July tournament, and had withdrawn from the entirety of the summer regional tours. Reports suggest he may need the rest of the year to fully recover. *7: The Sumo Association announces the retirement of Sendagawa ''
oyakata The following words are terms used in sumo wrestling in Japan. A B C D E F G H ...
''. The former Tōki competed in professional sumo from 1991 until 2006, and reached the fourth-highest rank of ''
komusubi , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
'' in September 2003. At the time of his retirement he was working in various departments within the Sumo Association, including as a ringside judge. *8:
Terunofuji ) is a Mongolian-Japanese former professional sumo wrestler. Wrestling for the Isegahama stable (2007), Isegahama stable, he entered professional sumo in January 2011 and took the second division ''jūryō'' championship in his debut as a ''seki ...
withdraws from the September tournament. It is his seventh '' kyūjō'' since being promoted to the ''
yokozuna , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
'' rank two years ago. *12: Former ''maegashira'' and ''makuuchi'' championship winner Tokushōryū retires at the age of 37, after a 14-year career. He succeeds the recently retired Tōki by using the Sendagawa name in his stable to become coach. *24: ''
Ōzeki Ozeki or Ōzeki may refer to: * Ōzeki, a rank in ''Makuuchi'', the top division of professional sumo ** List of ōzeki 53 sumo wrestlers have reached the second highest in the sport, the rank of '' ōzeki'', but have failed to rise to the top r ...
'' Takakeishō (11–4) defeats 21-year-old Atamifuji (11–4) in a
playoff The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eithe ...
to win his fourth championship in the top division. Competing at ''
maegashira , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (''rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the on ...
'' 15, Atamifuji became one of the September tournament's headliners, holding a two-win advantage after 11 days of competition before consecutive defeats. Entering the final day with a one-win advantage, Atamifuji could have won the ''
yūshō is the term for a championship in Japanese. This article focuses on championships in the sport of professional sumo. It is awarded in each of the six annual '' honbasho'' or official tournaments, to the wrestler who wins the most bouts. ''Yūs ...
'' outright with a victory, but was defeated by former ''ōzeki'' Asanoyama (9–6). Meanwhile, four others–Takakeishō, Daieishō, Takayasu and Hokuseihō–all entered the final day just one win behind at 10–4, with up to three of them potentially facing Atamifuji in the playoff. Takakeishō, who already had enough wins to avoid
demotion A demotion is a compulsory reduction in an employee's rank or job title within the organizational hierarchy of a company, public service department, or other body. A demotion may also lead to the loss of other privileges associated with a more s ...
, defeated Daieishō (10–5) in their scheduled match by rear pushout. Takayasu (10–5) was defeated by ''ōzeki'' Kirishima (9–6), who also avoided relegation, while Hokuseihō (10–5) lost to Hōshōryū (8–7), who barely secured a
winning record In sports, a winning percentage or Copeland score is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. The statistic is commonly used in standings or rankings to compare teams or individuals. It is defined as wins divided by the tot ...
in his debut at sumo's second-highest rank. This set up the playoff between Takakeishō and Atamifuji, in which the 27-year-old ''ōzeki''–who had defeated Atamifuji two days earlier–quickly stepped to the side at the ''
tachi-ai The is the initial charge between two sumo wrestlers at the beginning of a bout. It is a combination of two Japanese words that mean “stand” and “meet”. There are several common techniques that wrestlers use at the tachi-ai, with the a ...
'' and slapped his opponent to the ground. Takakeishō, who called Atamifuji a "young, wonderful talent," is the fourth wrestler to win the top-division championship with four losses since the six-tournament system was introduced in 1949. With the tournament results Atamifuji is the only wrestler to take home a special prize, receiving the ''Kantō-shō'' (Fighting Spirit prize).
In the second-highest ''
jūryō Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. Fo ...
'' division, the winner is former top-division competitor Ichiyamamoto (13–2). The runner-up is new ''jūryō'' competitor and former amateur ''yokozuna'' Ōnosato, who earned 12 victories in his third professional tournament. *27: The Sumo Association holds a meeting to set the ''
banzuke A , officially called is a document listing the rankings of professional sumo wrestlers published before each official tournament ('' honbasho''). The term can also refer to the rankings themselves. The document is normally released about two ...
'' (rankings) for the next tournament in November and announces three promotions to ''jūryō''. Newly promoted to sumo's second highest rank is . The 26-year-old entered sumo in 2021 after officials waived the maximum age limit for him to compete professionally. After winning the ''
jonidan Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. Fo ...
'' championship in his second career tournament, he was sidelined for half a year due to a neck injury. He then won three more lower-division championships–most recently the title in ''
makushita Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. Fo ...
''. Two other wrestlers are promoted back to ''jūryō'' after having just been demoted: former top-division competitor Hidenoumi, who has not returned to ''
makuuchi , or , is the top division of Professional sumo divisions, the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (''rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous ...
'' since his January 2022 suspension for participation in illegal gambling, and nine-year sumo competitor . *28: The Sumo Association announces that it will change the ''tsukedashi'' qualification system for top college and university sumo competitors. The top 8 finishers in designated tournaments will be uniformly given the lowest ''makushita'' rank, while those who finish in 9th-16th place in such tournaments will be given the lowest ''sandanme'' rank. It is also announced that two high school tournaments will be eligible for the ''tsukedashi'' system, with the top four finishers in the National High School Championship and the National Athletic Meet for high school boys offered the lowest ''sandanme'' rank. With this, the current qualifications for ''makushita tsukedashi'' 10–a system that has promoted only Kiyoseumi, Endō,
Mitakeumi is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Agematsu, Nagano. He is in the Dewanoumi stable. He is a pusher thruster-type wrestler. A former amateur champion at Toyo University, he made his professional debut in March 2015, reaching the top ...
and Ōnosato since its introduction in 2001–and ''makushita tsukedashi'' 15–a promotion system whose four latest beneficiaries are Ōshōma, Kihō, Hakuōhō and Ōnokatsu–will be abolished.
Additionally, the Sumo Association announces changes regarding the height and weight requirements for new sumo recruits. Under the new standards, prospective recruits that do not meet the minimums of and can still qualify to enter professional sumo by passing a physical fitness exam.
Promotions are announced for ''
gyōji A is a referee employed by the Japan Sumo Association, responsible for a variety of activities which concern the organisation of the sport in general and the refereeing of matches, as well as the preservation of Sumo#Professional sumo, profess ...
'' (sumo referees) effective 25 December, the date that the January 2024 ''
banzuke A , officially called is a document listing the rankings of professional sumo wrestlers published before each official tournament ('' honbasho''). The term can also refer to the rankings themselves. The document is normally released about two ...
'' will be published. The current 41st Shikimori Inosuke, Hideki Imaoka, will be promoted to become the 38th Kimura Shōnosuke, marking the first time in 8 years that the upper of the two ''tate-gyōji'' ranks will be used. Imaoka is expected to hold his new title until September 2024, when he reaches sumo's mandatory retirement age of 65. Also, the current Kimura Hisanosuke, Toshikazu Hata, will be promoted to the ''san'yaku-gyōji'' rank. At the same time, promotions for ''
yobidashi A , often translated in English as "usher", "ring attendant", or "ring announcer", is an employee of the Japan Sumo Association, responsible for various tasks essential to the traditional running of Sumo#Professional sumo, professional sumo tour ...
'' (ushers) are also announced. Jirō (
Kasugano stable is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Dewanoumi ''ichimon'' or group of stables. As of January 2023 it had 17 wrestlers. It has been led by former ''sekiwake'' Tochinowaka Kiyotaka since 2003. It was one of the most successful stables in 201 ...
) becomes, by jumping two ranks, the first ''tate-yobidashi'' (chief ''yobidashi'') promoted since October 2019. Katsuyuki (
Shibatayama stable Shibatayama Stable (Japanese: 芝田山部屋, ''Shibatayama-beya'') is a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Nishonoseki group of stables. It was founded in 1999 by former ''yokozuna'' Ōnokuni. Located in Suginami, it is the only stable to b ...
) is promoted to the second rank of the hierarchy by becoming ''fuku-tate-yobidashi'' (deputy chief). *29: The 6th Kimura Tamajirō, Masashi Takeda, submits his retirement papers to the Sumo Association ending a 47-year career. The 62-year-old, who was ranked just below the current Shikimori Inosuke, was not included in the list of promoted ''
gyōji A is a referee employed by the Japan Sumo Association, responsible for a variety of activities which concern the organisation of the sport in general and the refereeing of matches, as well as the preservation of Sumo#Professional sumo, profess ...
'' announced the day before. *30: The ''
danpatsu-shiki A , or, more colloquially, , is a sumo wrestler. Although used to define all wrestlers participating in sumo wrestling matches, the term is more commonly used to refer to professional wrestlers, employed by the Japan Sumo Association, who part ...
'' (retirement ceremony) of
Okinoumi is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Okinoshima, Shimane. He joined professional sumo in 2005, reaching the top division in 2010. He was runner-up in ''makuuchi'' three times in the January 2011, March 2013, and November 2017 to ...
is held at the
Ryōgoku Kokugikan , also known as Ryōgoku Sumo Hall or Kokugikan Arena, is the name bestowed to two different indoor sporting arenas located in Tokyo. The first ''Ryōgoku Kokugikan'' opened its doors in 1909 and was located on the premises of the Ekōin temple i ...
.


October

*1: The ''
danpatsu-shiki A , or, more colloquially, , is a sumo wrestler. Although used to define all wrestlers participating in sumo wrestling matches, the term is more commonly used to refer to professional wrestlers, employed by the Japan Sumo Association, who part ...
'' (retirement ceremony) of Kaisei is held before invited guests at the
Ryōgoku Kokugikan , also known as Ryōgoku Sumo Hall or Kokugikan Arena, is the name bestowed to two different indoor sporting arenas located in Tokyo. The first ''Ryōgoku Kokugikan'' opened its doors in 1909 and was located on the premises of the Ekōin temple i ...
. *2: ''
Ōzeki Ozeki or Ōzeki may refer to: * Ōzeki, a rank in ''Makuuchi'', the top division of professional sumo ** List of ōzeki 53 sumo wrestlers have reached the second highest in the sport, the rank of '' ōzeki'', but have failed to rise to the top r ...
'' Kirishima wins the annual All Japan Rikishi Tournament, a one-day
single-elimination tournament A single-elimination knockout, or sudden-death tournament is a type of elimination tournament where the loser of a match-up is immediately eliminated from the tournament. Each winner will play another in the next round, until the final match-up, ...
held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. *24:
Kokonoe Kokonoe may refer to: People with the given name *, Japanese actress and singer *Chiyotaikai Ryūji, head coach of the stable, known as Kokonoe Oyakata Fictional characters * Kokonoe, a fictional character from ''BlazBlue'' *Rin Kokonoe, a fiction ...
(former ''ōzeki'' Chiyotakai) is suspended for an undetermined amount of time after an underage ''
makushita Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. Fo ...
'' wrestler from his stable got drunk earlier in the month during the autumn regional tour. The wrestler in question is also suspended, and those involved in the drinking spree are expelled from the tour along with Kokonoe. A second wrestler from the stable is suspended the following day. Two days after the initial suspensions were announced, the Sumo Association sends warnings to all stables and calls for thorough measures to prevent drinking and smoking by those under the legal age of 20. *30: The Sumo Association releases the ''
banzuke A , officially called is a document listing the rankings of professional sumo wrestlers published before each official tournament ('' honbasho''). The term can also refer to the rankings themselves. The document is normally released about two ...
'' for the November 2023 tournament in
Fukuoka is the List of Japanese cities by population, sixth-largest city in Japan and the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The city is built along the shores of Hakata Bay, and has been a center of international commerce since ancient times. ...
. There are no changes to the top three ranks of ''
yokozuna , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
'', '' ōzeki'' and ''
sekiwake , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
''. Two wrestlers are promoted again to the fourth-highest rank of ''
komusubi , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
'': Abi, who had just been demoted from that rank in September, and
Hokutofuji is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Tokorozawa, Saitama. His debut in ''Glossary of sumo terms#maezum.C5.8D, maezumō'' was in March 2015, and his first ''makuuchi'' division ''honbasho'' was the Kyūshū tournament in Novemb ...
, who returns to the ''
san'yaku The following words are terms used in sumo wrestling in Japan. A B C D E F G H ...
'' ranks for the first time since March 2020. For the first time in 10 years there are four new promotions from ''
jūryō Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. Fo ...
'' to ''
makuuchi , or , is the top division of Professional sumo divisions, the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (''rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous ...
''. 2018 All Japan Student Sumo champion Tōhakuryū is the first ''makuuchi'' competitor from Tamanoi stable since 2013. With three lower-division championships, Churanoumi becomes the fifth top-division competitor from
Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan. It consists of three main island groups—the Okinawa Islands, the Sakishima Islands, and the Daitō Islands—spread across a maritime zone approximately 1,000 kilometers east to west an ...
in the post-war era. Rōga, who won consecutive ''
jonokuchi Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. Fo ...
'' and ''
jonidan Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. Fo ...
'' championships in 2019, becomes the sixth ''makuuchi'' competitor from
Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
and the first for stablemaster Futagoyama (former '' ōzeki''
Miyabiyama Miyabiyama Tetsushi (born July 28, 1977 as Masato Takeuchi) is a former sumo wrestler from Mito, Ibaraki, Japan. A former amateur champion, he turned professional in 1998. With the exception of two tournaments, he was ranked in the top division ...
). Kitanowaka, whose 23rd birthday will fall on the first day of the November tournament, is
Hakkaku stable is a heya (sumo), stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Takasago ''Glossary of sumo terms#ichimon, ichimon'' or group of stables. It was established in September 1993 by former ''Makuuchi#Yokozuna, yokozuna'' Hokutoumi Nobuyoshi, Hokutoumi, who t ...
's first top-division promotion in seven years. Additionally, two others return to the ''makuuchi'' ranks: Ichiyamamoto, who spent the last two tournaments in ''jūryō'' and had just won the September championship in that division, and Tomokaze, who competed in five tournaments in 2019 at the top division before a knee injury and subsequent recovery resulted in his demotion to ''jonidan''.
The unveiling of the ''banzuke'' is also an occasion for change in the sumo world.
Kasugano stable is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Dewanoumi ''ichimon'' or group of stables. As of January 2023 it had 17 wrestlers. It has been led by former ''sekiwake'' Tochinowaka Kiyotaka since 2003. It was one of the most successful stables in 201 ...
ends its 56-year continuous presence of one of its wrestlers in the ''makuuchi'' division with the demotion of
Bulgaria Bulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern portion of the Balkans directly south of the Danube river and west of the Black Sea. Bulgaria is bordered by Greece and Turkey t ...
n Aoiyama to the ''jūryō'' division.
Saitama Prefecture is a Landlocked country, landlocked Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Saitama Prefecture has a population of 7,338,536 (January 1, 2020) and has a geographic area of 3,797 Square kilometre, km2 ( ...
also becomes the second prefecture in sumo history, after
Aomori , officially Aomori City (, ), is the capital Cities of Japan, city of Aomori Prefecture, in the Tōhoku region of Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 264,945 in 136,781 households, and a population density of 321 people per squa ...
, to have three native wrestlers ranked in the ''
san'yaku The following words are terms used in sumo wrestling in Japan. A B C D E F G H ...
'' ranks with Daieishō, Abi and
Hokutofuji is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Tokorozawa, Saitama. His debut in ''Glossary of sumo terms#maezum.C5.8D, maezumō'' was in March 2015, and his first ''makuuchi'' division ''honbasho'' was the Kyūshū tournament in Novemb ...
. The autumn '' jungyō'' (regional tours) were held at the following locations: *4:
Ōta, Tokyo is a Special wards of Tokyo, special ward in the Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolis in Japan. The ward refers to itself in English as Ōta City. It was formed in 1947 as a merger of Ōmori, Ōta, Tokyo, Ōmori and Kamata, Ōta, Tokyo, Kamata following Tokyo C ...
*6:
Matsumoto, Nagano is a Cities of Japan, city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. Matsumoto is designated as a Core cities of Japan, core city since 1 April 2021. , the city had a population of 239,466 in 105,207 households and a population density of 240 perso ...
*7:
Kōfu is the capital Cities of Japan, city of Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 187,985 in 90,924 households, and a population density of 880 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Overview Toponymy Kōfu ...
, Yamanashi *9:
Isehara, Kanagawa 260px, Isehara Shibuta River 260px, Mount Oyama Afuri Jinja is a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 101,415 and a population density of 1800 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Geo ...
*11:
Chichibu, Saitama is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 61,159 in 26,380 households and a population density of . The total area of the city is . Geography Chichibu is in the westernmost part of Saitama. Unlik ...
*12:
Yaizu is a city located in central Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 139,578 in 57,593 households, and a population density of 2000 persons per km2. The total area of the city was . Yaizu is a noted port for commer ...
, Shizuoka *13:
Nishio is a city located in Aichi Prefecture, in the Chūbu region of Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 169,984 in 65,553 households, with a population density of 1,054 persons per km2. The total area of the city was . It is a regional ...
,
Aichi is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Aichi Prefecture has a population of 7,461,111 () and a geographic area of with a population density of . Aichi Prefecture borders Mie Prefecture to the west, Gifu Prefecture ...
*14: Kasugai, Aichi *15:
Ōbu is a Cities of Japan, city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 92,179 in 39,382 households, and a population density of 2,739 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Ōbu has been a member of the ...
, Aichi *17:
Tajimi is a city located in Gifu, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 110,070 in 46,580 households, and a population density of 1200 people per km2. The total area of the city was . The city is famous for its production of Mino ware ceramic ...
,
Gifu is a Cities of Japan, city located in the south-central portion of Gifu Prefecture, Japan, and serves as the prefectural capital. The city has played an important role in Japan's history because of its location in the middle of the country. Durin ...
*18:
Ōtsu 270px, Ōtsu City Hall is the capital city of Shiga Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 343,991 in 153,458 households and a population density of 740 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . History Ōtsu is ...
,
Shiga is a landlocked prefecture of Japan in the Kansai region of Honshu. Shiga Prefecture has a population of 1,398,972 as of 1 February 2025 and has a geographic area of . Shiga Prefecture borders Fukui Prefecture to the north, Gifu Prefecture to t ...
*19:
Kyoto Kyoto ( or ; Japanese language, Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan's largest and most populous island of Honshu. , the city had a population of 1.46 million, making it t ...
*20: Sakurai,
Nara The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is an independent agency of the United States government within the executive branch, charged with the preservation and documentation of government and historical records. It is also task ...
*21:
Wakayama Wakayama may refer to: * Wakayama Prefecture, a prefecture of Japan * Wakayama (city), the capital city of Wakayama Prefecture, Japan * Wakayama Station, a train station in Wakayama, Wakayama * Wakayama University, a national university in Wakayama, ...
*22:
Takamatsu file:Takamatsu City Hall.jpg, 270px, Takamatsu City Hall file:Takamatsu city center area Aerial photograph.2007.jpg, 270px, Aerial view of Takamatsu city center file:Takamatsu200910cut.JPG, 270px, View from Yashima to Takashima port is a capital ...
*23:
Tokushima is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located on the island of Shikoku. Tokushima Prefecture has a population of 682,439 (1 February 2025) and has a geographic area of 4,146 Square kilometre, km2 (1,601 sq mi). Tokushima Prefecture b ...
*24: Kōchi *25:
Okayama is the prefectural capital, capital Cities of Japan, city of Okayama Prefecture in the Chūgoku region of Japan. The Okayama metropolitan area, centered around the city, has the largest urban employment zone in the Chugoku region of western J ...
*26:
Izumo, Shimane is a Cities of Japan, city in Shimane Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 172,841 in 69,435 households and a population density of 280 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Geography Izumo is located in cen ...
*27:
Maniwa file:Maniwa city office.jpg, 270px, Maniwa City Hall file:Kuse district Maniwa city Aerial photograph.1976.jpg, 270px, Aerial view of Kuse area of Maniwa is a Cities of Japan, city located in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated ...
,
Okayama is the prefectural capital, capital Cities of Japan, city of Okayama Prefecture in the Chūgoku region of Japan. The Okayama metropolitan area, centered around the city, has the largest urban employment zone in the Chugoku region of western J ...
*28:
Hiroshima is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 1,199,391. The gross domestic product (GDP) in Greater Hiroshima, Hiroshima Urban Employment Area, was US$61.3 billion as of 2010. Kazumi Matsui has b ...
*29:
Kadoma, Osaka file:Kadoma City Hall.jpg, 270px, Kadoma City Hall is a Cities of Japan, city located in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 116,511 in 64301 households and a population density of 9680 persons per km2. The total ar ...


November

*9:
Terunofuji ) is a Mongolian-Japanese former professional sumo wrestler. Wrestling for the Isegahama stable (2007), Isegahama stable, he entered professional sumo in January 2011 and took the second division ''jūryō'' championship in his debut as a ''seki ...
withdraws from the upcoming November tournament, marking his eighth absence since being promoted to the rank of ''
yokozuna , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
''. He finishes 2023 having fully competed in just one of the year's six grand sumo tournaments–the May tournament, which he won. *10: Former '' ōzeki'' and current top rank-and-filer Asanoyama announces he will sit out the start of the November tournament due to slow recovery of his left calf muscle, which had been torn last month during the regional tours. Asanoyama would eventually enter the tournament on Day 8, defeating '' ōzeki'' Takakeishō in his first match. *21: ''
Maegashira , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (''rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the on ...
'' Kotoekō withdraws on Day 10 of the November tournament due to an injury to his left MCL, ending his streak of 1,043 consecutive sumo matches since beginning his career in 2007. *22: ''
Maegashira , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (''rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the on ...
'' and former ''
sekiwake , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
'' Takanoshō pulls out on Day 11 of the November tournament after appearing to suffer an injury to his right knee in his Day 10 match against Myōgiryū. His medical certificate reported a damaged right
meniscus Meniscus may refer to: *Meniscus (anatomy), crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous structure that partly divides a joint cavity *Meniscus (liquid) In physics (particularly liquid statics), the meniscus (: menisci, ) is the curve in the upper sur ...
and ACL. *26:
Mongolia Mongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south and southeast. It covers an area of , with a population of 3.5 million, making it the world's List of countries and dependencies by po ...
n '' ōzeki'' Kirishima (13–2) wins his second career top-division championship at the November 2023 sumo tournament in Fukuoka. Kirishima and Atamifuji opened up a two-win advantage on their competitors after 12 days, the latter being one of the tournament's main ''
yūshō is the term for a championship in Japanese. This article focuses on championships in the sport of professional sumo. It is awarded in each of the six annual '' honbasho'' or official tournaments, to the wrestler who wins the most bouts. ''Yūs ...
'' challengers for the second straight time. Kirishima defeated Atamifuji in their Day 14 contest, and officially locked up his second ''
makuuchi , or , is the top division of Professional sumo divisions, the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (''rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous ...
'' title when Atamifuji lost his scheduled Day 15 bout to ''
sekiwake , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
'' Kotonowaka. In the final bout of the tournament, Kirishima beat fellow ''ōzeki'' Takakeishō. While September champion Takakeishō failed in his bid for ''
yokozuna , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
'' promotion with a 9–6 record, Kirishima will now seek ascension to sumo's highest rank at the next tournament in January. The
Sumo Association The , officially the ; sometimes abbreviated JSA or NSK, and more usually called Sumo Kyōkai, is the governing body that operates and controls professional sumo wrestling, called , in Japan under the jurisdiction of the Japanese Ministry of Ed ...
hands out three ''Kantō-shō'' (Fighting Spirit) special prizes to the three runner-ups, all finishing at 11–4: Atamifuji, Kotonowaka and Ichiyamamoto. Despite sitting out the beginning of the July tournament, Kirishima finishes 2023 with 62 victories, the most in the top division.
The championship in the ''
jūryō Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. Fo ...
'' division goes to former ''
maegashira , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (''rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the on ...
'' Kotoshōhō (12–3), who defeats 23-year-old ''
tsukedashi The following words are terms used in sumo wrestling in Japan. A B C D E F G H ...
'' entrant Ōnosato (12–3) in a
playoff The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eithe ...
. With his third title in the second-highest division, Kotoshōhō–the top-ranked ''jūryō'' competitor–appears likely to return to the top division in January. *27: ''Yokozuna''
Terunofuji ) is a Mongolian-Japanese former professional sumo wrestler. Wrestling for the Isegahama stable (2007), Isegahama stable, he entered professional sumo in January 2011 and took the second division ''jūryō'' championship in his debut as a ''seki ...
–who competed in just one full tournament in 2023–is requested by the
Yokozuna Deliberation Council The , sometimes called Promotion Council, and usually abbreviated in Japanese as , is an advisory board, advisory body to the Japan Sumo Association. The council considers candidates for promotion to sumo's top rank of , before passing its reco ...
to compete at the next tournament in January. The council indicated that they would make a comment should Terunofuji not compete, which could including issuing a formal notice. *29: The Sumo Association holds its ranking meeting and announces four promotions from ''
makushita Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. Fo ...
'' to ''
jūryō Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. Fo ...
'' for January. Two wrestlers reach ''
sekitori A ''sekitori'' (関取) is a '' rikishi'' (力士, sumo wrestler) who is ranked in one of the top two professional divisions: '' makuuchi'' and '' jūryō''. The name literally translates to having taken the barrier, as only a relatively small fr ...
'' status for the very first time. 24-year-old Takerufuji is from
Aomori , officially Aomori City (, ), is the capital Cities of Japan, city of Aomori Prefecture, in the Tōhoku region of Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 264,945 in 136,781 households, and a population density of 321 people per squa ...
and is a graduate of
Tottori Jōhoku High School Tottori Jōhoku High School, also commonly known as Jōhoku High, is a private Secondary education in Japan, high school located in Tottori (city), Tottori, Tottori Prefecture, Japan. The school is known for its baseball and sumo clubs, and a ra ...
and
Nihon University , abbreviated as , is a private research university in Japan. Its predecessor, Nihon Law School (currently the Department of Law), was founded by Yamada Akiyoshi, the Minister of Justice, in 1889. The university's name is derived from the Ja ...
, with two lower-division championships since starting sumo at the end of last year; to date he has won 43 of his 49 professional matches. 22-year-old Ishikawa native also has two lower-division championships, registering winning records in all tournaments since returning from a shoulder ligament injury in July 2022. 12-year sumo veteran returns to the second-highest division after just having been demoted to ''makushita'', while returns for the first time in five tournaments.


December

*18: One day after the death of former ''
sekiwake , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
'' Terao, coach Tatsutagawa (former ''komusubi'' Hōmashō) announces his intention to inherit the Shikoroyama ''
toshiyori A , also known as an , is a sumo Elder (administrative title), elder exercising both Coach (sport), coaching functions with rikishi, active wrestlers and Management, responsibilities within the Japan Sumo Association (JSA). All are former wrest ...
'' and
stable A stable is a building in which working animals are kept, especially horses or oxen. The building is usually divided into stalls, and may include storage for equipment and feed. Styles There are many different types of stables in use tod ...
. On 28 December, the Sumo Association announced that Tatsutagawa became acting master of the stable in charge of managing and supervising wrestlers. *25: The Sumo Association releases the official
rankings A ranking is a relationship between a set of items, often recorded in a list, such that, for any two items, the first is either "ranked higher than", "ranked lower than", or "ranked equal to" the second. In mathematics, this is known as a weak ...
for the January 2024 tournament. The ''
san'yaku The following words are terms used in sumo wrestling in Japan. A B C D E F G H ...
'' ranks see the promotion of Ura, who reaches a career best with his elevation to ''
komusubi , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
''. Joining Ura at sumo's fourth-highest rank is veteran and former '' ōzeki'' Takayasu, who returns to ''san'yaku'' for the first time since last January's tournament. September and November top division runner-up Atamifuji is promoted to a personal best for his recent efforts, reaching the top of the ''
maegashira , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (''rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the on ...
'' ladder. Two wrestlers are promoted to the ''
makuuchi , or , is the top division of Professional sumo divisions, the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (''rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous ...
'' division for the first time: 23-year-old Ōnosato, who becomes the first top-division competitor for
Nishonoseki stable is a Japanese sumo elder from Ibaraki. As a wrestler, he made his professional debut in 2002 and reached the top ''makuuchi'' division in 2004 at the age of just 18. After many years in the junior ''san'yaku'' ranks, he reached the second high ...
under the 72nd ''
yokozuna , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
''
Kisenosato is a Japanese sumo elder from Ibaraki Prefecture, Ibaraki. As a wrestler, he made his professional debut in 2002 and reached the top ''makuuchi'' division in 2004 at the age of just 18. After many years in the junior ''san'yaku'' ranks, he reac ...
, and 27-year-old Shimazuumi, the first ''makuuchi'' wrestler for Hanaregoma stable since being taken over by former ''sekiwake''
Tamanoshima Tamanoshima Arata (born September 15, 1977, as Arata Okabe) is a former sumo wrestler from Izumizaki, Fukushima, Izumizaki, Fukushima Prefecture, Fukushima, Japan. A former amateur champion, he made his professional debut in 1998, reaching the t ...
. Three wrestlers return to the top division: Kotoshōhō, who had just been demoted in November and won the championship in ''
jūryō Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. Fo ...
'', Bushōzan, who returns after three tournaments, and former ''sekiwake'' Aoiyama, who won 8 matches at the top ''jūryō'' rank in November.
On the same day 36-year-old Mongolian Azumaryū, having just been demoted out of ''sekitori'' status, retires from professional sumo. The former ''maegashiras retirement ends a 15-year career in which he spent 11 tournaments in the top division. *27: The Sumo Association approves the 71st ''
yokozuna , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
'' Kakuryū's acquisition of the Otowayama elder stock previously held by former ''maegashira'' Tenkaihō. The former Kakuryū will branch off from Michinoku stable to form his own stable, Otowayama stable. It is also announced that two coaches in Sakaigawa stable will swap elder stock, with former ''maegashira'' Hōchiyama becoming Dekiyama-''
oyakata The following words are terms used in sumo wrestling in Japan. A B C D E F G H ...
'' and former ''maegashira'' Sadanofuji becoming Furiwake-''oyakata''. The winter '' jungyō'' (regional tours) were held at the following locations: *3:
Yatsushiro 270px, Yatsushiro City Hall 270px, ruins of Yatsushiro Castle is a city located in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 120,389 in 57,953 households, and a population density of 300 persons per km2. The total are ...
,
Kumamoto is the capital Cities of Japan, city of Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. , the city has an estimated population of 738,907 and a population density of 1,893 people per km2. The total area is 390.32 km2. had a populat ...
*4: Kikuyō, Kumamoto *5: Miyazaki *6: Ōita *8: Kasuga,
Fukuoka is the List of Japanese cities by population, sixth-largest city in Japan and the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The city is built along the shores of Hakata Bay, and has been a center of international commerce since ancient times. ...
*9:
Sasebo is a core city located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. It is the second-largest city in Nagasaki Prefecture, after its capital, Nagasaki. , the city had an estimated population of 230,873 in 102,670 households, and a population density of 540 per ...
,
Nagasaki , officially , is the capital and the largest Cities of Japan, city of Nagasaki Prefecture on the island of Kyushu in Japan. Founded by the Portuguese, the port of Portuguese_Nagasaki, Nagasaki became the sole Nanban trade, port used for tr ...
*10: Ōmura, Nagasaki *12:
Matsuyama 270px, Matsuyama City Hall 270px, Ehime Prefectural Capital Building is the capital city of Ehime Prefecture, on the island of Shikoku, in Japan and is also Shikoku's largest city. , the city had an estimated population of 505,948 in 243,541 h ...
,
Ehime is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Shikoku. Ehime Prefecture has a population of 1,334,841 and a geographic area of 5,676 km2 (2,191 sq mi). Ehime Prefecture borders Kagawa Prefecture to the northeast, Tokushima Prefecture to th ...
*15:
Higashihiroshima 270px, Sake Brewers in Saijō 270px, Panorama from Saijō Station 270px, Aerial view of Saijō area of Higashihiroshima is a city located in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 190,186 in 90,294 households a ...
,
Hiroshima is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 1,199,391. The gross domestic product (GDP) in Greater Hiroshima, Hiroshima Urban Employment Area, was US$61.3 billion as of 2010. Kazumi Matsui has b ...
*16:
Fukuyama Fukuyama may refer to: People * Francis Fukuyama, Japanese-American philosopher and political economist * Fukuyama (surname), other people with the name Places *Fukuyama, Hiroshima, city in Japan *Fukuyama, Kagoshima was a town located in Aira D ...
, Hiroshima *17:
Sakai is a city located in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. It has been one of the largest and most important seaports of Japan since the medieval era. Sakai is known for its '' kofun'', keyhole-shaped burial mounds dating from the fifth century. The ''kofun ...
,
Osaka is a Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan, designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the List of cities in Japan, third-most populous city in J ...
*19:
Habikino 270px, Habikino city office is a city located in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 109,479 in 50918 households and a population density of 4100 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . The city is known fo ...
, Osaka *20:
Amagasaki 270px, Amagasaki Castle 270px, Aerial view of Amagasaki city center 270px, Amagasaki Station is an industrial city located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 455,555 in 223,812 households, and a population de ...
, Hyōgo *24: Tochigi


Deaths

*2 April: Former ''
maegashira , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (''rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the on ...
'' Asaarashi, aged 79, of a
heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...
. *22 June: Sōkichi Kumagai, the 27th Kimura Shōnosuke ('' tate-gyōji''), aged 97, of natural causes. *2 November: Former '' ōzeki'' Asashio IV, aged 67, of
small intestine cancer Small intestine cancer is a cancer of the small intestine. It is relatively rare compared to other Gastrointestinal cancer, gastrointestinal malignancies such as gastric cancer (stomach cancer) and colorectal cancer. Small intestine cancer can be ...
. *17 December: Former ''
sekiwake , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...
'' Terao, aged 60, of
arrhythmia Arrhythmias, also known as cardiac arrhythmias, are irregularities in the cardiac cycle, heartbeat, including when it is too fast or too slow. Essentially, this is anything but normal sinus rhythm. A resting heart rate that is too fast – ab ...
.


See also

*
Glossary of sumo terms The following words are terms used in sumo wrestling in Japan. A B C D E F G H ...
*
List of active sumo wrestlers The following is an alphabetical list of all active professional sumo wrestlers in the top ''makuuchi'' division, and all those currently in lower divisions who have a Wikipedia article. Please refer to professional sumo divisions for more informa ...
*
List of years in sumo The following is a list of year in sumo articles listed in chronological order. Each gives an overview of the happenings in sumo for each year listed. The highlights below refer only to top division championships. 1970s * 1970 in sumo - Kitanof ...


References

{{Years in sumo Sumo by year
Sumo is a form of competitive full-contact wrestling where a ''rikishi'' (wrestler) attempts to force his opponent out of a circular ring (''dohyō'') or into touching the ground with any body part other than the soles of his feet (usually by th ...
2023 sport-related lists