An early Halloween treat with hopefully no tricks is here-the Japan Sumo Association has just announced the updated Banzuke (rankings) for the November 2026 Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka. Here are the full rankings for the top 2 tiers and other noteworthy rankings & notes:
Makuuchi (top tier):
Yokozuna-Onosato (September Tournament Champion), Hoshoryu
Ozeki-Aonishiki, Kirishima, Kotozakura
Sekiwake-Atamifuji, Fujinuokawa
Komusubi-Churanoumi, Yoshinofuji
Maegashira 1-Asanoyama, Fujiryoga
Maegashira 2-Ura, Fujiseiun
Maegashira 3-Takayasu, Hakunofuji
Maegashira 4-Takerufuji, Daieisho
Maegashira 5-Hiradoumi, Gonoyama
Maegashira 6-Kotoshoho, Kotoeiho
Maegashira 7-Wakamotoharu, Kinbozan
Maegashira 8-Roga, Nishikifuji
Maegashira 9-Oshoma, Asakoryu
Maegashira 10-Shishi, Oho
Maegashira 11-Takanosho, Asahakuryu
Maegashira 12-Ichiyamamoto, Abi
Maegashira 13-Toshinofuji, Asasuiryu
Maegashira 14-Tokihayate, Dewanoryu
Maegashira 15-Tamawashi, Kitanowaka (September Juryo Champion)
Maegashira 16-Arashifuji, Kyokukaiyu
Maegashira 17-Daiseizan
Notes: For the first time in over a year one of the Yokozuna is truly on top as Onosato enters November as the defending tournament champion after a September triumph (but of course Hakkaku found reason to complain because it was with “only” 12 wins) while Hoshoryu is rumored to be returning from injury absence with quite an ultimatum per stablemaster Tatsunami-essentially triumph or die. More specifically, win the championship or retire.None of the Ozeki likely can be promoted this time although Aonishiki is best positioned to do so after Kirishima slumped to 8-7 in September, while Kotozakura is coming off 9 wins. Both Sekiwake theoretically have a chance for promotion consideration-Atamifuji would need 13 wins or the championship while Fujinokawa would need a championship in his second effort at Sekiwake after am impressive 11-4 debut and Fighting Spirit Prize. At Komusubi, Churanoumi makes his Sanyaku debut and becomes the first rikishi ever from Okinawa to reach the 4th-highest ranking, alongside the returning Yoshinoduji. Asanoyama makes another big move up to M1 alongside young rising star Fujiryoga just one step from Sanyaku. Hakunofuji didn’t take a big fall after a rough Komusubi debit, falling only to M3 alongside Takayasu, while…stop the presses! Daieisho is back at M4 for the 5th time this year! The Kotos both share a rank again as both fell from M1 last time to M6 while a number of new faces debut at the bottom-Dewarnoryu makes his top tier debut at M14, Kyokukaity finally gets in at M16 alongside newcomer Arashifuji, while a handful of familiar faces return led by Tamawashi as the Iron Man returns to the top tier after 2 tournaments in Juryo alongside September Juryo champion Kitanowaka. The one M17 rank allows Daiseizan to sneak back in too for a second chance.
Juryo:
Juryo 1-Chiyoshoma, Onokatsu
Juryo 2-Kazekeno, Tobizaru
Juryo 3-Kagayaki, Shodai
Juryo 4-Kazuma, Kayo
Juryo 5-Ryuden, Wakatakakage
Juryo 6-Shonannoumi, Nabatame
Juryo 7-Tanji, Hitoshi
Juryo 8-Midorifuji, Tohakuryu
Juryo 9-Mitakeumi, Shirokuma
Juryo 10-Enho, Wakanosho
Juryo 11-Tomokaze, Sadanoumi
Juryo 12-Asahifuji, Tamashoho
Juryo 13-Meisei, Tokifudo
Juryo 14-Hatsuyama, Ryuho
Notes: The big story as expected is Shin-Juryo rikishi Asahifuji making his long-awaited debut, needing just 5 tournaments since his debut to get here with 4 championships and a 33-2 record, although one of those losses came last time in his de facto Juryo debut so expectations are somewhat tempered now that he’s made the big time. The 5 tournaments is perhaps the fastest ever to Juryo since debuting, excluding Makushita debuts. Now the big question: Who got spared at the bottom? NEITHER!?! That aside, a lot of notable names following top tier demotions as Chiyoshoma leads the way at M1 and Tobizaru is in Juryo for the first time since July 2020, along with Shodai for the first time since November 2015 (when he actually won the Juryo championship). Wakatakakage, who was absent in September, is rumored to have a chance of returning this time but I do not expect him back until January, so J5 means if he can’t go he’d fall down to Makushita, but probably stay within the top 5. Enho fell just one spot after demotion on the last day in September while Sadanoumi’s slump has taken him down to J11. Tokifudo gets a second chance at J13 while other newcomer Ryuho debuts at J14. Wakanosho was absent in September due to injury and fell to J10 but is not expected to compete in November so he’ll be demoted to Juryo if he can’t.
Lower tier notes: So that means…no reputation save for Nishikigi & Tochitaikai. Nishikigi was demoted to Makushita 2 while Tochitaikai went down to Ms3, so both have a quick re-promotion chance. Nishikigi previously stated he would not retire if demoted even though he almost certainly has elder stock waiting for him. Inami & Tenshoyama are the Ms1s this time while Ikarigata joins Nishikigi at Ms2. Mita climbed up to Ms9 after a 5-2 effort so a championship could get him back to Juryo. The Sandanme has the usual 80 ranks/160 wrestlers. The Jonidan is at 100 ranks/200 wrestlers with Eisei promoted to Jd83 for his second full effort, while the Jonokuchi holds relatively steady at 22 ranks/43 wrestlers with highly-regarded American-born prospect Sunamusashi making his official debut at Jk19 while favorite lovable loser Morriurara is at Jk15, trying to stop The Streak from reaching 43. Also of note to me, popular Tatsunami chanko chef Kokuryunami was demoted to Jk2 due to withdrawing in September with what appears to be a rib injury based on comments in YouTube videos.
The November Tournament is 11/8-11/22 at Fukuoka International Center in Fukuoka. All tickets are already sold out.
On another side note, the Japan Sumo Association has begun selling & shipping official goods from it’s SuMall online store worldwide including to the US. An English-language page on the JSA’s English website shows goods that can be shipped internationally, with costs ranging from 550-15,000 yen (around $3-100 US) before taxes/fees/shipping. The shipping costs, tarriffs, etc. probably jack up the costs a lot but if you can’t get to Japan, or at least to Ryogoku Kokugikan when it’s open on non-tournament weekdays, it’s at least a way to get official goods.
UPDATE; Stablemaster Tatsunami says Hoshoryu is DEFINITELY IN for November. But Hoshoryu says he will be a game-time decision again, meaning probably by 11/6 which is the pre-tournament withdrawal deadline and announcement of the first 2 days’ matches.