Another even month ends and brings that which we eagerly await-the Japan Sumo Association has announced the updated Banzuke (rankings) for the September 2026 Grand Sumo Tournament. Here are the full rankings for the top 2 tiers and other noteworthy items:
Makuuchi (top tier):
Yokozuna-Onosato, Hoshoryu
Ozeki-Kirishima, Kotozkura, Aonishiki (July Tournament Champion)
Sekiwake-Atamifuji, Fujinokawa
Komusubi-Hakunofuji, Daieisho
Maegashira 1-Kotoshoho, Kotoeiho
Maegashira 2-Takayasu, Yoshinofuji
Maegashira 3-Gonoyama, Churanoumi
Maegashira 4-Takanosho, Fujiryoga
Maegashira 5-Roga, Oshoma
Maegashira 6-Asanoyama, Ichiyamamoto
Maegashira 7-Fujiseiun, Nishikifuji
Maegashira 8-Takerufuji, Hiradoumi
Maegashira 9-Ura, Shishi
Maegashira 10-Oho, Kinbozan
Maegashira 11-Wakamotoharu, Shodai
Maegashira 12-Wakatakakage, Asahakuryu
Maegashira 13-Asakoryu, Abi
Maegashira 14-Tobizaru, Chiyoshoma
Maegashira 15-Asasuiryu, Tokihayate
Maegashira 16-Wakanosho, Toshinofuji
Maegashira 17-Shonannoumi (July Juryo Champion)
Notes: First, at the top…Hoshoryu is considered status uncertain for the tournament due to knee surgery (ACL/MCL) and his stablemaster Tatsunami is already dropping the dreaded “r” word if he can’t return soon and quickly win his first championship as a Yokozuna. IF the tournament began tomorrow I’d say he probably would be out. Onosato is currently considered in for September. Kirishima remains on Yokozuna Watch although it seems the elders want him to win a championship again before being promoted, while Aonishiki resumes his Yokozuna quest having been re-promoted quickly to Ozeki following demotion after May. Kotozakura is back to a full Ozeki after a winning record last time. Atamifuji stays Sekiwake and is on Ozeki Watch for the first time (he would need a championship or at least 12 wins again for promotion consideration) but a mild surprise is seeing Fujinokawa making his debut at the rank. He also becomes the first Sekiwake from Kyoto in, unbelievably, 198 YEARS!?! Hakunofuji will also debut in Sanyaku alongside the returning Daieisho, snapping his year-to-date M4 streak. Kotoshoho’s demotion from Sekiwake only sees him fall to M1 alongside brother Kotoeiho while Takayasu is lower than I thought he would be at M2 alongside fellow demotion Yoshinofuji. Farther down, Wakatakakage took the expected huge fall after missing May due to serious injury (right thigh compartment syndrome), thankfully he is recovering well but he will not compete this time as expected and is doubtful to questionable for November (almost certainly out), so he’ll be demoted to Juryo. January seems more likely for a return. Oho also took a big fall but it was revealed post-tournament he was also injured throughout July, which affected his performance. Asasuiryu will make his top tier debut just below brother Asakoryu and also debuting is Toshinofuji, the last true Hakuho prospect pre-Isegahama takeover, while I’m happy to see Wakanosho hang on to a top tier spot after a brutal injury knocked him out after a fantastic 5-0 start. His status is also uncertain. With one Sanyaku spot left vacant, that also allowed Shonannoumi to sneak back into the top tier after his July Juryo triumph.
Juryo:
Juryo 1-Dewanoryu, Kyokukaiyu
Juryo 2-Daiseizan, Kazuma
Juryo 3-Tamawashi, Onokatsu
Juryo 4-Kazekeno, Mitakeumi
Juryo 5-Sadanoumi, Arashifuji
Juryo 6-Kitanowaka, Shirokuma
Juryo 7-Midorifuji, Tomokaze
Juryo 8-Ryuden, Hatsuyama
Juryo 9-Enho, Tohakuryu
Juryo 10-Nabatame, Tanji
Juryo 11-Kagayaki, Hitoshi
Juryo 12-Tamashoho, Kayo
Juryo 13-Meisei, Tokifudo
Juryo 14-Tochitaikai, Nishikigi
Notes: And the answer to who would be demoted is…neither?!? Despite 7-8 records at J14, Tochitaikai AND Nishikigi were both kept at the rank AGAIN! That’s now 3 straight barely hanging-ons for NIshikigi, who surely has some mystery clout with the elders to do so. It looks like a last-day July loss, or those last 2, cost Dewanoryu a top tier debut as he slots in alongside Kyokukaiyu, who gets another chance at J1 despite a losing record. Daiseizan & Kazuma were demoted from the top tier after tough debuts but at J2 they both can get back quickly. Iron Man Tamawashi moves up to the high end of my predicted range at J3, putting the top tier back within reach if he can get at least 9 wins. A bit of a surprise-or not-is struggling Mitakeumi is back down at J4. Arashifuji moves up big after almost winning the championship in his Juryo debut in July, jumping from J13 up to J5. Enho also moves up a couple more spots to J9, but Tanji at J10 for his debut is a huge surprise given he went 4-3 at Ms1 to get here while fellow debutant Tokifudo is down at J13 with the same. Nabatame returns to Juryo alongside Tanji at J10 following his playoff loss to Asahifuji despite handing the Isegahama super-prospect his first career loss.
Lower tier notes: As expected once we got confirmation he would not be promoted to Juryo despite another championship, Asahifuji is indeed at Makushita 1 alongside Nishinoryu, who was demoted from Juryo. It was basically confirmed that despite beating Nabatame in a playoff to win the championship, Asahifuji losing in regulation to Nabatame for his first career loss was the difference. Oshoumi was demoted after basically going 0-15 due in part to injury and falls to Ms2, I don’t think he’ll be back this time. Notables with promotion chances this time include Himukamaru moving back up to Ms2, Okaryu up a spot to Ms5 and, after just missing out on a Juryo return, Mudoho at Ms6. Mita made another big move up after a second straight 6-1 effort post-injury and moves up to Ms15, giving him an outside chance at a Juryo return in November should he go 7-0 and win the championship. Tochimusashi is perhaps the biggest mover up as his Sandanme playoff loss rocketed him from Sd29 all the way to Ms17. The Sandanme has the now-usual 80 ranks with 160 wrestlers. The Jonidan is at 100 ranks with 200 wrestlers while the Jonokuchi has 22 ranks with 43 wrestlers. There are a couple notable names among new debuts this time, namely Eisei at Jk18. He is, if I remember correctly, only the second-ever rikishi from England/UK to compete in Japanese pro sumo. He just turned 17 in June and will be one to watch from Minato Beya. The internet’s favorite lovable loser, Moriurara, is at Jk14 looking to avoid stretching his record losing tournament streak to 42. If you are able to see the mae-zumo preliminary matches, Musashigawa Beya has an intriguing prospect from the USA (but he is half-Japanese) that could debut this time ahead of a potential November debut. Check him out on the stable’s latest YouTube video.
Also there were 3 kaimei rikishi who all are in Jonidan & Jonokuchi, the only notable one-at least YouTube sumo-watchers like myself is Miyatani from Musashigawa Beya-his new shikona (ring name) will be Bishomaru. But there is one interesting note about the other Jonidan name changer, who went from Minutodake to Banju-he now is only the second Isegahama man besides Enho who, that I know of, is not a Fuji (and Enho won’t be a Fuji at any time). Yet. Banju is among the eldest rikishi at 39 with 24 1/2 years active, a Jonidan mainstay who has a high rank of Sd55. The other name change was for Yamaguchi, a rookie making his official debut this time-since he’s a Kokonoe man he has to get a Chiyo name and will thus be Chiyoshinkai.
The September Tournament is 9/13-9/27 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. All tickets are sold out for all days. You can watch all tournament matches on ABEMA (if you can somehow access it outside Japan, not impossible but it’s tricky) or all top tier matches live on NHK World Premium, taped (same day) online via Jme (new subscribers can get a 5 day free trial) or taped and on demand on NHK World Japan (which is COMPLETELY FREE to access online and on mobile/tablet, no cable/satellite provider or account creation is required). NHK World Japan will also have 50 minutes of LIVE top tier coverage on Days 1, 8 & 14 and 90 minutes on Day 15.
UPDATE: Based on a translation of comments he made to Nikkan Sports, Hoshoryu will be the sumo equivalent of a game-time decision for the tournament. Simply put, last-minute decision for Day 1. Onosato is IN.