Now that everything seems to be settled post-tournament, here is the final wrap-up of the March 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka:
First, some breaking news from YouTuber Chris Sumo, who is a reliable English-language news source: Miyagino Beya (stable/room) is no more. In the other sumo chiefs’ latest effort to rid themselves of Hakuho, the greatest wrestler of all-time, the stable and wrestlers, including Hakuho/Miyagino, will be moved to Isegahama Beya. An original plan floated was to move the wrestlers to Oshima Beya, but that was vetoed apparently over the chiefs not wanting all the Mongolian wrestlers teaming up…yeah, potential racism. One other plan floated was for Asakayama Beya to take the wrestlers, but the stable now run by former Ozeki Kaio didn’t have enough space. Isegahama did so he takes them all, excluding any that have just retired. And on top of all this is the issue of where all the Michinoku Beya wrestlers go because their stable is about to shut down-the current Michinoku must retire in about 2 weeks because he will turn 65, which is the mandatory retirement age in sumo, and there is no succession plan. Plus in the chief elections just held, which is every 2 years, Hakkaku was re-elected as chairman and despite vows to eradicate bullying and in-stable violence in sumo, it keeps happening. And the new number two in the hierarchy, Kasugano, has had his share of this in his stable the last few years. ANd we may not hear as much in the media about this because an apparent anti-negative media stablemaster, Sadogatake (Kotonowaka’s father), is now in charge of the media requests. Go look up the Chris Sumo channel on YouTube for much more on this. It’s almost turning into pro wrestling. As punishment for the Hokuseiho bullying scandal, Miyagino/Hakuho was demoted to the lowest rung among the stablemasters and is assigned to being in charge of media-related stuff at tournaments. The punishment was among the most severe, stopping just short of the next 2 levels which would have probably been being forced out as a stablemaster and the most severe after that, forced retirement.
Now back to Osaka, here is the final Hoshitori (rankings list with records in this tournament) for March, records are in win-loss-absent format (for ranking detrmination purposes and for breaking ties in the standings, absent is treated as a loss):
Makuuchi (top tier)
Yokozuna-Terunofuji (2-5-8)
Ozeki-Kirishima (5-10), Hoshoryu (11-4), Kotonowaka (10-5), Takakeisho (8-6-1)
Sekiwake-Daieisho (6-9), Wakamotoharu (9-6)
Komusubi-Abi (9-6), Nishikigi (3-12)
Maegashira 1-Ura (6-9), Asanoyama (9-6)
Maegashira 2-Atamifuji (8-7), Meisei (6-9)
Maegashira 3-Oho (7-8), Takanosho (5-10)
Maegashira 4-Tobizaru (8-7), Hiradoumi (9-6)
Maegashira 5-Midorifuji (7-8), Onosato (11-4)
Maegashira 6-Tsurugisho (2-3-10), Gonoyama (11-4)
Maegashira 7-Kinbozan (6-7-2), Tamawashi (7-8)
Maegashira 8-Onosho (9-6), Takayasu (11-4)
Maegashira 9-Hokutofuji (6-9), Kotoshoho (8-7)
Maegashira 10-Shodai (8-7), Mitakeumi (9-6)
Maegashira 11-Ichiyamamoto (7-8), Sadanoumi (8-7)
Maegashira 12-Shonannoumi (9-6), Shimazuumi (0-4-11)
Maegashira 13-Ryuden (6-9), Churanoumi (7-8)
Maegashira 14-Nishikifuji (8-7), Kitanowaka (3-12)
Maegashira 15-Myogiryu (6-9), Roga (7-8)
Maegashira 16-Endo (5-10), Daiamami (7-8)
Maegashira 17-Takerufuji (13-2, Champion)
Notes: Kirishima will be in kadoban status in May, needing 8 or more wins or he will be demoted to Sekiwake. Takakeisho is back to a full Ozeki with 8 wins. Daieisho will be demoted from Sekiwake after a year while Wakamotoharu will stay there, with Abi possibly being promoted to Sekiwake as Nishikigi is looking at a big demotion from Komusubi after a disastrous tournament that saw him beat Terunofuji on opening day then lose 10+ straight. Asanoyama will return to Sanyaku for the first time since being demoted from Ozeki during the pandemic after a 6 tournament disciplinary punishment while the most likely to get there from the lower ranks is Onosato after 11 wins, or possibly Gonoyama or even Takayasu. After his rookie championship, the big question is how far Takerufuji will move up aside from a lot…based on how things are looking right now, I’m predicting he’ll slot in at M4 for May. Being demoted out of the top tier will probably be Shimazuumi (equal to 0-15 due to injury), Kitanowaka again, Endo (first time in several years, some are hinting he may opt to retire) and possibly Daiamami and Myogiryu. Tsurugisho’s top tier status is questionable too due to a 2-13 equivalent effort, largely due to an injury withdrawal.
Juryo:
Juryo 1-Tokihayate (8-7), Takarafuji (8-7)
Juryo 2-Tohakuryu (6-9), Mitoryu (12-3, Champion)
Juryo 3-Tomokaze (9-6), Hokuseiho (Retired)*
Juryo 4-Kagayaki (7-8), Oshoma (11-4)
Juryo 5-Bushozan (9-6), Shirokuma (7-6-2)
Juryo 6-Hakuyozan (4-11), Chiyoshoma (9-6)
Juryo 7-Hidenoumi (7-8), Daishoho (10-5)
Juryo 8-Asakoryu (9-6), Shishi (8-7)
Juryo 9-Shimanoumi (5-10), Tamashoho (6-9)
Juryo 10-Shiden (7-8), Wakatakakage (9-6)
Juryo 11-Oshoumi (6-9), Aoiyama (7-8)
Juryo 12-Kotoeko (1-14), Tsushimanada (7-8)
Juryo 13-Akua (6-9), Hakuoho (8-7)
Juryo 14-Kitaharima (4-11), Chiyosakae (8-7)
*-Hokuseiho was forced to retire in late February as a disciplinary sanction although he voluntarily did so just before. The rankings had already been determined for the tournament before this even though the announcement came after the official retirement, therefore he was still ranked for the tournament but did not participate. (They determine the rankings 2-3 days after the tournament ends, but the official release to the public does not happen until 2 weeks before the tournament with the exception being announcing promotions from Makushita to Juryo and having Juryo debuts appear at related press conferences)
Notes: Interesting trends here…Asakoryu was the first to clinch promotion with an 8-0 start, but then he went 1-6 the second week. Likewise, Wakatakakage, in his first tournament back at Juryo since demotion from Sekiwake last year due to injury, stared 7-0 but then went 2-6. Elsewhere, Daishoho started 0-2 then won 9 straight to remain in title contention until the end, while Mitoryu started 2-2 then finished 10-1 to take the title, including winning his last 6. Oshoma likewise finished on a 8-1 run and will have a chance to reach the top tier for the first time. Takarafuji will also be promoted back up after just one tournament down while Tokihayate is headed up for the first time in his career. Mitoryu will also return to the top tier again. Tomokaze will also have a chance to go back up after going 9-6 at J3. Shirokuma will be demoted for the first time in his career after finishing the equivalent of 7-8, missing 3 days due to injury. At the bottom, being demoted out of Juryo are Kitaharima, AKua and, in perhaps his final career tournament although no decision has been made yet, Kotoeko after a disastrous 1-14 effort. Despite going 7-8 at J11, we now know Aoiyama is safe in Juryo if he opts to continue.
The Shin-Juryo and Sai-Juryo rikishi for May 2024 have been announced: Making their Juryo debuts will be March Makushita champion Kazekeno along with Onokatsu and Tsukahara, while Chiyomaru will be promoted back to Juryo after one tournament in Makushita.
Tsukahara will be one of at least two “Kaimei” rikishi, who will compete in May with new shikona, or ring names-per Kasugano Beya tradition when a wrestler reaches the top 2 tiers, he will have “Tochi” as the first part of his ring name so Tsukahara will become Tochitaikai. (Some stables are like that such as Isegahama Beya, which with one or two exceptions has every rikishi change their name to end with “Fuji”), and Kokonoe Beya has all their wrestlers start their name with “Chiyo” and, leading into the next item, all Sadogatake Beya wrestlers have “Koto” as the start of their name) The other name change is the long-expected one, as Kotonowaka will inherit his Yokozuna grandfather’s ring name, Kotozakura, as promised if he ever was promoted to Ozeki. He did hold off until now as he wanted to begin his Ozeki tenure under his current name, which was his father’s name when he competed (the former Kotonowaka, now the current Sadogatake, only reached Sekiwake in his career). Any more potential name changes will probably be announced around the time the next Banzuke is announced.
Finally, the first list of retired rikishi includes 17 total-the Hokuseiho dismissal pre-tournament, Keitenkai (retired just before the tournament, he would have been at Sandanme 43 and reached a highest rank of J11), Terutsuyoshi (retired during the tournament, was absent due to health issues-he reached a career high rank of M3 and, according to Chris Sumo, did qualify for elder stock but opted to leave sumo. He popularized the epic salt throw ritual that Akua tried to keep going after Terutsuyoshi was demoted to Makushita and will now end with Akua demoted, and also was the only Isegahama wrestler not a Fuji), and 14 more in the lower 4 tiers. 3 Makushita retirements-Kairyu, Tochikamiyama and Yuki-were hired to work in various “caretaker” roles but not as stablemasters/coaches as they never reached Juryo in their careers and thus don’t qualify to be oyakata (a wrestler must have spent 30 total tournaments in Makuuchi and/or Juryo to qualify for elder stock).
The May Banzuke will be announced on April 30 with the Tournament scheduled for May 12-26. For the May Tournament, there will be no daily recap posts for the first week because of a pre-planned vacation and not having internet/cellular service as I will be traveling outside of the US and unable to watch the first 7 days until I return stateside before Day 8. Yokozuna Terunofuji will compete in May per stablemaster Isegahama but this may be his career finale and last chance to get to the yokozuna’s long-stated career goal of 10 top-tier championships (he currently is at 9). And because of hos sumo is, the only way Takerufuji would face his senior stablemate is if it’s for the championship.
