Open The Forbidden Gate

With the May 2026 Tournament now in the books as well as the early post-event council & rankings meetings, here are the final standings from the May 2026 Grand Sumo Tournament and early post-events news:

First, here is the final Hoshitori (Tournament Records based on the Banzuke) for the top 2 tiers (all records are in win-loss-absent format, for rankings purposes absent is treated as a loss):
Makuuchi (top tier):
Yokozuna-Hoshoryu (0-2-13), Onosato (Absent)
Ozeki-Kirishima (12-3), Kotozakura (3-9-3), Aonishiki (Absent)
Sekiwake-Atamifuji (8-7), Kotoshoho (8-7)
Komusubi-Wakatakakage (12-3, Tournament Champion). Takayasu (2-2-11)
Maegashira 1-Fujinokawa (7-8), Takanosho (7-8)
Maegashira 2-Yoshinofuji (11-4), Ichiyamamoto (6-9)
Maegashira 3-Hiradoumi (7-8), Oho (9-6)
Maegashira 4-Daieisho (7-8), Gonoyama (8-7)
Maegashira 5-Wakamotoharu (5-10), Shodai (6-9)
Maegashira 6-Churanoumi (9-6), Fujiseiun (7-8)
Maegashira 7-Chiyoshoma (5-10), Asakoryu (3-4-8)
Maegashira 8-Oshoma (8-7), Asahakuryu (5-10)
Maegashira 9-Abi (5-10), Nishikifuji (5-10)
Maegashira 10-Asanoyama (7-5-3), Hakunofuji (11-4)
Maegashira 11-Ura (10-5), Kinbozan (6-9)
Maegashira 12-Shishi (6-9), Tokihayate (4-11)
Maegashira 13-Kotoeiho (10-5), Tamawashi (2-13)
Maegashira 14-Mitakeumi (8-7), Roga (9-6)
Maegashira 15-Tobizaru (9-6), Oshoumi (4-11)
Maegashira 16-Wakanosho (9-6), Ryuden (5-10)
Maegashira 17-Fujiryoga (10-5)

Despite losing in a playoff for the championship, it appears Kirishima is officially on Yokozuna Watch in July. If he can win the championship, ideally with 12+ wins, or manage at least 12 and get to another playoff, he will have a chance at promotion. Both Yokozuna are expected back from July and perhaps have been given a little “encouragement” by the Yokozuna Deliberation Council, the first step that things must improve if they are to remain active. There were a lot of concerns raised about injuries as, on the final day, Halkaku’s pre-matches greeting, which should have all Sanyaku wrestlers & Yokozuna, went from 8-9 down to just 4 (one Ozeki, both Sekiwake, one Komusibi). So he was en fuego get again. Both were absent from most of the tournament-Hoshoryu pulled out after Day 2, Onosato sat it out entirely. Aonishiki will be demoted from Ozeki due to being absent but can be promoted quickly back with 10+ wins in July. He is expected to compete and hopefully be at full strength after toe & ankle injuries. Wakatakakage should be promoted back to Sekiwake after winning his second top tier championship. Atamifuji & Kotoshoho will remain at Sekiwake while Takayasu will be demoted from Komusubi. Yoshinofuji may be headed for a Sanyaku debut at Komusubi while Oho has a chance to join him. Gonoyama may have to settle for M1 after clinching promotion on Day 10 was followed by 5 straight losses to finish 8-7.
Towards the bottom, it seems like Tamawashi is resigned to demotion to Juryo, ending his current top tier Iron Man streak at over 13 years. He struggled with a calf injury this time. But he also has less than no intent of retiring so the overall appearance streak will keep going. There are some who have fears about Aomori Prefecture’s 140+ year streak of top tier representation being in danger again because of Nishikifuji’s demotion but those fears are overblown-I don’t think 5-10 at M9 will send him to Juryo and fellow Aomori native Takerufuji is headed back up after 11-4 at J2 so the streak is safe. Oshoumi & Ryuden should be going down to Juryo along with Tamawashi while Tokihayate may be a toss-up for demotion. Kotoeiho & Fujiryoga should make big moves up after being in title contention until the end (although Kotoeiho may have lost a championship with 3 straight losses to end the tournament).

Juryo:
Juryo 1-Onokatsu (9-6), Daiseizan (9-6)
Juryo 2-Sadanoumi (7-8), Takerufuji (11-4)
Juryo 3-Dewanoryu (7-8), Hatsuyama (5-10)
Juryo 4-Kyokukaiyu (9-6), Asasuiryu (10-5)
Juryo 5-Tomokaze (8-7), Kitanowaka (8-7)
Juryo 6-Kazuma (12-3, Tournament Champion), Meisei (7-8)
Juryo 7-Kagayaki (5-10), Toshinofuji (9-6)
Juryo 8-Shonannoumi (9-6), Shirokuma (7-8)
Juryo 9-Nishinoryu (7-8), Kayo (5-10)
Juryo 10-Tohakuryu (6-9), Midorifuji (9-6)
Juryo 11-Kazekeno (10-5), Nishikigi (5-10)
Juryo 12-Hitoshi (8-7), Tamashoho (8-7)
Juryo 13-Okaryu (3-13), Hakuyozan (6-9)
Juryo 14-Toxhitaikai (7-8), Enho (8-7)
Obviously it starts with Enho, who managed promotion in his Juryo return after years trying to make his way back up for a chance to be eligible for elder stock upon retirement. But that 8-7 nearly didn’t happen as he started 7-2 before struggling the second week. But he stays up while Okaryu, Hakuyozan and maybe Tochitaikai & Nishikigi will be going done to Makushita. Okaryu had a tough Juryo debut after winning his first match, struggling to a 3-12 effort so it may not be a quick return. Also nice to see Midorifuji do well after missing March due to heart failure, which was very scary but hopefully he will be good going forward. He does qualify for elder stock if he can’t continue due to the condition. The top ranks should clear out as both J1s should be promoted to the top tier-Daiseizan finally for the first time-and Takerufuji will return too, but Sadanoumi will not. Dewanoryu blew his post-championship promotion chances with a 2-7 start (0-4 the first 4 days) and a too-late rally attempt to get to 7-8. The big question mark for promotion is Kazuma and whether or not 12-3 and a championship at J6-which he won maybe as much as Kazekeno lost, the latter blew an 8-0 then 10-1 start by losing his last 4-will be enough for top tier promotion. It could be between him and Asasuiryu who went 10-5 at J4 and looks to join brother Asakoryu and make 4 Takasago men in the top tier. I do think Kazuma makes it at M16 or M17 but Asasuiryu may have to settle for J1.

The Shin-Juryo rikishi for July was announced and it’s just one going up: Arashifuji will be in Juryo for the first time. That will make a still-sumo-leading 9 Isegahama Beya wrestlers in the top 2 tiers. There will be no Sai-Juryo rikishi. That means those who came close to promotion from Makushita miss out, most notably Tanji who lost in the 7-way championship playoff at 6-1 from Ms6.

In the lower tiers, the big question may be how far up Asahifuji will start in Makushita after 3 straight titles and a 21-0 start to his career. He was Sd7 this time. Mita should be back up to Makushita after going 6-1 while Kiryuko could make the bottom Makushita ranks after another 7-0 and another playoff loss to Asahifuji at Sd77.

As far as retirements go, there are 2 notable ones not counting the pre-tournament Tsurugisho retirement…it’s been confirmed that the 3:10 to Yuma has made it’s final departure as Yuma has officially retired. He was mainly in Makushita & Sandanme the last couple years but did reach Juryo a couple times (his highest rank was J13). He was Ms13 this tournament and would have been promoted if he kept going after a 4-3 effort in which he won his last 3 matches. Yuma, real name Yuma Nakao, finishes with a career record of 256-208-50 and one Sandanme championship. Another notable retirement means the Arashio Wakas in sumo drop from 3 to 2-Wakatakamoto, the eldest of the Onami brothers but lowest ranked, is calling it a career. The older brother of Wakamotoharu & Wakatakakage never made it above Makushita and did not compete this tournament at Ms52. Wakatakamoto, real name Wataru Onami, finishes his career with a record of 345-289-45 in 16+ years and a career high rank of Ms7. He will, however, remain in the Japan Sumo Association as he was hired for a “young leader” position. There were 21 total retirements announced, with one other Makushita as Fujinoyama retired after going 3-4 at Ms54. A stablemate of Fujiseiun & Fujiryoga, he went 157-144 in just over 6 years with a highest rank of Ms11. 3 Sandanme retirements, 8 Jonidan retirements and 3 Jonokuchi retirements join them (including to my dismay Teruyutaka, who was just getting started and being featured on the Tatsunami Beya YouTube channel now, but only had one official match-a win-and otherwise sat out his only 2 tournaments) along with 2 unranked wrestler retirements.

Next up on the calendar are 2 retirement ceremonies this weekend for a pair of respected veterans as Oyama & Furiyama-the former Hokutofuji & Takarafuji, respectively-will have their hair cutting ceremonies. Then after a couple weeks it’s off to Paris, France for a special 2 day event. You will probably be able to find video clips on YouTube shortly afterwards. For Takarafuji, it’ll be worth watxhing to see if the former Terunofuji-the current Isegahama-makes an appearance after having been out of the spotlight since before March due to an incident involving Hakunofuji.

The July Tournament is 7/12-7/26 at IG Arena in Nagoya. All tickets are now sold out. The Banzuke will be announced on 6/29 (6/28 US time).

An interesting follow-up note on Wakatakamoto-apparently he also has some pro wrestling connections as current All-Japan Pro Wrestling stars Jun & Rei Saito, who also were sumo wrestlers before getting into pro wrestling a couple years ago, went to sumo school with Wakatakamoto. They both posted this and congratulatory messages on social media

UPDATE: Miyagino Beya is no more, at least for now. It was announced that what was left of the stable formerly run by former Yokozuna Hakuho has been dissolved for now and is no longer under control of Isegahama Beya and all former Miyagino men are now official Isegahama members. Reasons cited were that it has been over 2 years since it shut down, no application to take over or rebuild the stable has been made and it’s been over a year since Hakuho/Miyagino left the Japan Sumo Association. The Miyagino elder stock is currently held by the former Asahifuji/Isegahama, who had to retire last year due to turning 65 (Terunofuji now is the stablemaster). The door is open to the stable reopening in the future but applications would have to be reviewed by the Japan Sumo Association Board Of Directors. Given fka Isegahama/Asahifuji has the elder stock for 5 years as a Yokozuna it may be another 4 years or so before the best hope for re-opening it emerges, which perhaps could be Enho now that he qualifies for elder stock upon retirement.