Now that the January 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament is in the books and the post-tournament rankings & extraordinary council meeting have been held, here is the final wrap-up for the tournament:
First up, here is the final Hoshitori, or rankings with final records this tournament, for the top 2 tiers:
Makuuchi:
Yokozuna-Terunofuji (13-2, Champion)
Ozeki-Kirishima (11-4), Hoshoryu (10-4-1), Takakeisho (2-2-11)
Sekiwake-Kotonowaka (13-2), Daieisho (9-6)
Komusubi-Takayasu (2-4-9), Ura (6-9)
Maegashira 1-Wakamotoharu (10-5), Atamifuji (6-9)
Maegashira 2-Midorifuji (5-10), Abi (8-7)
Maegashira 3-Gonoyama (5-10), Hokutofuji (4-5-6)
Maegashira 4-Tobizaru (7-8), Shodai (4-11)
Maegashira 5-Ryuden (3-12), Nishikigi (8-7)
Maegashira 6-Kinbozan (7-8), Shonannoumi (4-11)
Maegashira 7-Ichiyamamoto (5-10, Asanoyama (9-3-3)
Maegashira 8-Hokuseiho (2-4-9), Hiradoumi (8-7)
Maegashira 9-Mitakeumi (6-9), Meisei (9-6)
Maegashira 10-Tamawashi (9-6), Sadanoumi (6-9)
Maegashira 11-Tsurugisho (9-6), Oho (10-5)
Maegashira 12-Takanosho (10-5), Myogiryu (5-10)
Maegashira 13-Churanoumi (7-8), Endo (5-10)
Maegashira 14-Kotoshoho (9-6), Onosho (10-5)
Maegashira 15-Tomokaze (5-10), Onosato (11-4)
Maegashira 16-Takarafuji (6-9), Bushozan (4-11)
Maegashira 17-Shimazuumi (9-6), Aoiyama (0-7-8)
Notes/thoughts: Kotonowaka has been promoted to Ozeki for March 2024, and the expected name change to Kotozakura will probably happen by May or July based on early reports. Takakeisho had to withdraw early due to injury and will be in kadoban status in March, meaning he must finish with at least 8 wins or he will be demoted from Ozeki. Last time that happened last year, he won the championship next time out. Kirishima missed out on a chance at Yokozuna promotion after winning November, the deal sealed on the final day when he lost to Terunofuji (he’s never beaten the Yokozuna). Daieisho again protected his Sekiwake rank but his only hope for Ozeki next time out is to win the championship or go a perfect 15-0. Both Komusubi will be demoted, with Wakamotoharu returning to Sanyaku after one tournament (possibly back to Sekiwake) and Abi will have a chance at Komusubi again after saving promotion following a mostly winless first week. Nishikigi could move back up to M1, along with Asanoyama, who started 7-1 before he had to withdraw and miss 3 days due to injury. Near the bottom, newcomer Onosato is poised to make a big move up the rankings along with Oho & Onosho. Aoiyama will be demoted back to Juryo or worse after the equivalent of 0-15, and also possibly going down is Takarafuji for the first tine since 2012. Also to be demoted are Tomokaze, Bushozan while Endo may be sweating the wait out.
Juryo:
Juryo 1-Daiamami (8-7), Mitoryu (7-8)
Juryo 2-Nishikifuji (10-5), Tohakuryu (8-7)
Juryo 3-Roga (9-6). Kitanowaka (10-5)
Juryo 4-Tamashoho (4-11), Kotoeko (3-10-2)
Juryo 5-Chiyoshoma (7-8), Oshoma (8-7)
Juryo 6-Tokihayate (10-5), Shirokuma (8-7)
Juryo 7-Kagayaki (9-6), Shishi (7-8)
Juryo 8-Shimanoumi (6-9), Shiden (6-9)
Juryo 9-Asakoryu (8-7), Daishoho (9-6)
Juryo 10-Takerufuji (13-2, Champion), Hakuyozan (10-5)
Juryo 11-Akua (6-9), Hidenoumi (10-5)
Juryo 12-Chiyomaru (5-10), Tenshoho (5-10)
Juryo 13-Yuma (5-10), Oshoumi (8-7)
Juryo 14-Chiyosakae (6-9), Tochimusashi (5-10)
Notes/thoughts: At the top, Daiamami & Nishikifuji are headed back to the top tier. Kitanowaka should be going up and Roga will have a chance to return after demotion in his debut, but might wind up at J1, the same for Tohakuryu. The big toss-up is Takerufuji, will 13-2 and a championship at J10 in his Juryo debut get him in at the bottom of Makuuchi? He’ll certainly have the Isegahama influence working for him. Tokihayate should move up to J1 or J2, while Hakuyozan & Hidenoumi should make big moves up. Being demoted to Makushita are Tochimusashi again, Chiyosakae, Yuma and possibly Chiyomaru & Tenshoho. Kotoeko is a big toss-up after going the equivalent of 3-12, but he missed 3 days due to flu. At J4 I think he’s going to hang on in Juryo. We do know there will be 4 promotions from Makushita which will influence potential demotions. If I had to guess anyone who might get saved based on the numbers game, I think it’ll be Chiyomaru. And to a lesser extent Akua, whose Terutsuyoshi epic salt throw imitations are in danger of going away.
Lower tier notes:
No Shin-Juryo rikishi this time but there will be 4 Sai-Juryo who will return to the second tier and get their salary back, led by former Sekiwake Wakatakakage who won the Makushita Championship from Ms1. He’ll be joined by Kitaharima, back up for the first time in almost 4 years, Tsushimanada, and the return of super-rookie Hakuoho after missing 3 tournaments due to shoulder surgery. Hakuoho probably will be J14 with Kiraharima & Tsushimanada being J13 or J14 (the latter for Tsushimanada as he was 4-3 at Ms2), while the championship and 7-0 should put Wakatakakage as high as perhaps J10 but I see scenarios where he gets up to potentially J8.
Elsewhere, there were 15 retirements announced post-tournament, generally at the bottom ranks with 2 unranked retirements. The highest ranked retirement was Omoto, who calls it quits after 9 years despite a 5-2 effort this time at Makushita 37 and a winning career record, but he never got about Ms13. Also retiring just before the tournament were Azumaryu, who retired on Christmas Day 2023 after the Banzuke was announced, leaving at Makushita 13 following reaching a career high of Maegashira 10, and Chiyoarashi retired after Day 6 of the tournament, leaving at Ms16 after a career high rank of Juryo 10. Among the lower tier veterans retiring were one who, I don’t remember his ring name, but according to reliable YouTube reporter Chris Sumo was the longtime attendant for former Yokozuna Asashoryu. Many stories about how countless times he was lucky to live to see another day after those legendary Asashoryu outbursts (and his legacy lives on through his nephew, current Ozeki Hoshoryu). The Shindeshi, or new rikishi introduction, had its largest group in quite a while with 11 new wrestlers-to-be who passed the entrance exams, with 10 from Japan and one from Mongolia (who is headed to train under fellow Mongolian Myagino aka Hakuho).
The Banzuke for the March 2024 Tournament is scheduled to be announced on February 29 Japan time (February 28 in the US).
