Now that the July 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament has concluded and most of the post-event news has broken, here is the final wrap-up of the event:
First up, here is the final Hoshitori, or rankings listing with records for each wrestler (records are in win-loss-absent format, for ranking purposes absent is treated like a loss):
Makuuchi (top tier):
Yokozuna-Terunofuji (12-3, Tournament Champion)
Ozeki-Kotozakura (10-5), Hoshoryu (9-4-2), Takakeisho (5-10)
Sekiwake-Abi (8-7), Onosato (9-6), Kirishima (8-7)
Komusubi-Hiradoumi (10-5), Daieisho (8-7)
Maegashira 1-Meisei (4-11), Atamifuji (7-8)
Maegashira 2-Wakamotoharu (6-9), Mitakeumi (7-8)
Maegashira 3-Takayasu (0-2-13), Gonoyama (5-10)
Maegashira 4-Tobizaru (9-6), Ura (6-9)
Maegashira 5-Onosho (0-4-11), Shonannoumi (7-8)
Maegashira 6-Takanosho (12-3), Oho (9-6)
Maegashira 7-Kotoshoho (8-7), Sadanoumi (5-10)
Maegashira 8-Ryuden (3-12), Kinbozan (4-11)
Maegashira 9-Oshoma (7-8), Tamawashi (7-8)
Maegashira 10-Shodai (10-5), Midorifuji (8-7)
Maegashira 11-Ichiyamamoto (8-7), Nishikigi (5-10)
Maegashira 12-Asanoyama (3-2-10), Churanoumi (10-5)
Maegashira 13-Hokutofuji (6-9), Takarafuji (5-10)
Maegashira 14-Wakatakakage (11-4), Endo (10-5)
Maegashira 15-Chiyoshoma (5-5-5), Roga (9-6)
Maegashira 16-Kagayaki (9-6), Bushozan (8-7)
Maegashira 17-Nishikifuji (6-9)
Takakeisho will be demoted from Ozeki again, this time after roughly 5 1/2 years, but can earn re-promotion with 10 wins in September (he succeeded the first time he was demoted from Ozeki). Kirishima will not be promoted back to Ozeki because he didn’t get 10 wins so he starts over in his efforts to move up the ranking again. That will leave Kotozakura & Hoshoryu as Ozeki. Onosato will probably need another championship or (ideally) 13 wins to be promoted to Ozeki, but the 33-win benchmark for consideration is not mandatory. Outside of that, I expect a lot of the lower-ranked wrestlers to make big moves up the rankings and the top half moving way down as a whole. Asanoyama, Choyoshima & Nishikifuji all are probably demoted down to Juryo, Asanoyama may be done for the year due to injury. I see Ryuden as a toss-up doe demotion. I’d expect Tobizaru to jump back up to M1, Shodai will be near the top again while Churanoumi, Wakatakakage & Endo are poised for hige leaps as well.
Juryo:
Juryo 1-Tokihayate (7-8), Onokatsu (9-6)
Juryo 2-Takerufuji (2-1-12), Daiamami (6-9)
Juryo 3-Kitanowaka (8-7), Mitoryu (6-9)
Juryo 4-Daishoho (5-10), Asakoryu (6-9)
Juryo 5-Tohakuryu (5-10), Tsurugisho (7-8)
Juryo 6-Shimanoumi (8-7), Tamashoho (9-6)
Juryo 7-Tomokaze (5-7-3), Shiden (8-7)
Juryo 8-Shirokuma (12-3, Tournament Champion), Myogiryu (7-8)
Juryo 9-Hidenoumi (9-6), Chiyosakae (5-10)
Juryo 10-Shishi (11-4), Shimazuumi (10-5)
Juryo 11-Tochitaikai (5-10), Aoiyama (6-9)
Juryo 12-Hakuyozan (6-9), Tsushimanada (1-14)
Juryo 13-Hakuoho (11-4), Kayo (7-8)
Juryo 14-Fujiseiun (9-6), Nabatame (4-11)
Onokatsu will be promoted to the top tier for the first time in September, Tokihayate just blew multiple chances down the stretch. Shirokuma has a chance to make it up after winning the championship with 12 wins from J8. Shishi may have made it with a title, he won 8 straight after losing on day 1 but a 3-3 finish did him in. At the bottom, Nabatame will be demoted back to Makushita in his first try at Juryo, Tsushimanada also will be demoted and possible Tochitaikai & Hakuyozan. I think Aoiyama is safe again despite only 6 wins. Hakuoho should also make a good move up the rankings. The burning question will be whether 2 wins will be enough to keep Takerufuji at Juryo, he came in near the end of the first week, maanged 2 wins then was pulled out with another injury. We’ll see.
The Shin-Juryo rikishi for September 2024 (making their second tier debuts) will be Kiryuko & Daiseizan (the Makushita champion). Oshoumi will be Sai-Juryo, promoted back to the second tier after previously being demoted to lower ranks.
The retired rikishi were announced as well, all the post-tournament retirements are from the Sandanme & Jonidan. There were 8 in all plus one during the tournament (Asabenkei, who was in the Sandanme but reached a career high rank of Juryo 7) and two pre-tournament retirements (Oki, in the Sandanme but reached a high of Juryo 13) and Chiyonoumi (Makushita, he reached a high of Juryo 8).
The Banzuke for September is scheduled to be announced on August 26.
