Here are the quick results from today’s Day 1-Opening Day-of the November 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita
Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Kitanowaka (M17) beat Nishikifuji (M16)
Churanoumi (M15) beat Roga (M16)
Ichiyamamoto (M14) beat Tohakuryu (M15)
Tsurugisho (M13) beat Tomokaze (M14)
Tamawashi (M12) beat Takarafuji (M13)
Oho (M12) beat Hiradoumi (M11)
Sadanoumi (M11) beat Kotoeko (M10)
Ryuden (M10) beat Mitakeumi (M9)
Atamifuji (M8) beat Myogiryu (M9)
Kinbozan (M7) beat Endo (M9)
Hokuseiho (M7) beat Takanosho (M6)
Shonannoumi (M6) beat Midorifuji (M5)
Onosho (M5) beat Nishikigi (M4)
Abi (K) beat Gonoyama (M4)
Kotonowaka (S) beat Tobizaru (M3)
Takayasu (M3) beat Wakamotoharu (S)
Daieisho (S) beat Meisei (M2)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Shodai (M2)
Kirishima (O) beat Ura (M1)
Takakeisho (O) beat Hokutofuji (K)
WITHDRAWAL (Pre-Tournament): Terunofuji (Y), Asanoyama (M1). Terunofuji-Back/hip (herniated disc). Out the entire tournament. 3rd straight absent. His 2023 will finish with only one tournament he lasted the full 15 days in, but that was his May Championship. He either wins the championship or doesn’t finish. Will return in January per stablemaster Isegahama. Still no real pressure from the Yokozuna Deliberation Committee to possibly retire as he did join the October tour for a while, but he’s never going to truly be 100% again between his knees, back and other health issues (namely diabetes). Asanoyama-Torn left calf muscle suffered late in the tour. Questionable to return during the tournament. Will attempt to return if able to., especially because he is motivated by coming just short of his stated goal of making it back to Sanyaku by the end of this year. Just a win or two short.
On a side note, YouTube source Chris Sumo reported before the tournament that if Kotonowaka ever gets promoted to Ozeki, he will change his ring name to Kotozakura. The son of stablemaster Sadogatake needs to win the tournament to have any chance of promotion this time (mathematically he could also become eligible with at least, I think, 13 wins).
Juryo:
Hakuyozan (Ms1) beat Azumaryu (J14)
Shiden (J12) beat Chiyosakae (J14)
SHimanoumi (J12) beat Asakoryu (J13)
Yuma (J13) beat Hidenoumi (J11)
Tenshoho (J10) beat Hitoshi (J11)
Akua (J10) beat Takakento (J9)
Tokihayate (J7) beat Takahashi (J9)
Tamashoho (J7) beat Chiyomaru (J8)
Chiyoshoma (J6) beat Daishoho (J7)
Onosato (J5) beat Shishi (J5)
Mitoryu (J4) beat Daiamami (J4)
Kagayaki (J3) beat Oshoma (J3)
Bushozan (J2) beat Shimazuumi (J2)
Aoiyama (J1) beat Kotoshoho (J1)
WITHDRAWAL (Pre-Tournament): Hakuoho (J8). Shoulder. Not a surprise as it was announced after July he would have surgery for a separated shoulder and be out the rest of the year. Will return in January barring a setback. Will be demoted to Makushita but should be high enough to have a chance to return to Juryo in March. If what happened this time to Wakatakakage in September is a comparison, and it’s a good one as I believe he was J7, look for Hakuoko to wind up around Makushita 7 or 8 and need one-maybe two-tournaments to get back up.
Lower tier notes: Former Sekiwake and Emperor’s Cup winner Wakatakakage, demoted to Makushita 6 and losing his salary for the first time in a long time, returned for this tournament following knee surgery and recovery. This was on the best-case end of the timeframe for return, which initially was 6 months to 1 year (it’s right about at 6 months). He lost his first match to Kayo, meaning he will need to win out and finish 6-1 to have any reasonable chance to return to Juryo in January (at least if 6-1 wins the tournament again, which is unusual). Also debuting today was Onokatsu, the final wrestler to earn the Makushita 15 debut ranking for pre-pro accomplishments (there were recent rule changes to do away with that following Hakuoho debuting at that rank). He lost his first match so it’s safe to say he won’t match Hakuoho’s now-never-to-be-matched record of making it to Juryo in just one tournament after debuting. Among the notable withdrawals are Kiho (Ms2), just demoted from Juryo after 2 straight tournament at the equivalent of 6-9 (dealt with injuries in both) and Fujiseiun, who just a couple tournaments ago was in Juryo but will now be demoted to the Sandanme after pulling out from Ms46. Former top tier wrestler Enho, now at Sandanme 22, is also out as he continues to try and return from a major back injury. He recently returned to training under former Yokozuna Hakuho, his stablemaster (Miyagino). He’ll almost certainly drop to Jonidan in January, I would call him doubtful for that tournament right now.
