The Nihon Sumo Kyokai has announced the full Banzuke (Rankings) for the September 2022 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo. A full list of the top 2 tiers will come later today, but here are some of the big early points of note:
First, the hottest topic perhaps…Despite a second straight losing tournament, Mitakeumi stays at Ozeki and presumably remains in Kadoban status. Mitakeumi was 2-6 in July before being forced to withdraw due to a coronavirus outbreak in his beya (stable). That means the equivalent of 2-13, which for a Kadoban Ozeki normally means demotion. Shodai & Takakeisho are out of Kadoban again and there is perhaps a chance of Yokozuna consideration for Takakeisho if he can win the tournament with at least 13 wins.
July Champion Ichinojo, coming off his first tournament championship, moves up to Komosubi from Maegashira 2.
Hoshoryu is promoted to Sekiwake for the first time, joining holdovers Wakatakakage & Daieisho at the 3rd-highest rank. Wakatakakage, the March Champion, just missed potential Ozeki promotion by one or two wins in July.
Kiribayama returns to Komosubi along with Ichinojo and Abi.
Midorifuji is the big mover up, leaping all the way up to Maegashira 1. July Juryo Champion Ryuden is finally back in the top tier as expected, coming in at Maegashira 12.
Demotions to Juryo include Shinanoumi to Juryo 1 after a disastrous 1-14 July, Chiyomaru to J1, and Daiamami to J8. Only 16 Maegashira ranks because Sanyaku additions took two bottom spots away. Elsewhere in Juryo, Kinbozan becomes what is believed to be the first rikishi from Kazakhstan to reach the top two tiers, debuting at Juryo 12 and needing just 6 tournaments to get there.
Amidst rumors it might spell the end of his career, longtime top-tier stalwart Kaisei was demoted to Makushita 1 and, in breaking news, has now retired. The Brazilian ranked as high as Sekiwake and won 1 championship in Juryo. He will now become Oyakata Tomozuna and go through training to become a mentor and perhaps eventually a stablemaster, following in the path of Yokozuna Hakuho, who became Oyakata Magaki after retiring last year.
Former Ozeki Asanoyama, who went a perfect 7-0 and won the Sandanme tournament in his return in July, takes a rocket flight up from Sandanme 22 to Makushita 15. Another 7-0 performance could get him back to Juryo in November. Ishiura, formerly in the top tier but out the last 2 tournaments due to injury, drops to Makushita 10. July Makushita Champion Yoshii makes the usual big leap up and just missed reaching Juryo, he’ll try to get there next time from Makushita 3.
The September Tournament runs from 9/11-9/25 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.
UPDATE 1: There is also a name change to report-Kanno, who is making his Juryo debut at Juryo 14, will now be known as Tochimusashi. There have been two other renamings in the Sandanme and one in the Jonidan.
UPDATE 2: Here is the September Banzuke for the top 2 tiers;
Makuuchi (top tier):
Yokozuna-Terunofuji
Ozaki-Mitakeumi (Kadoban), Shodai, Takakeisho
Sekiwake-Wakatakakage, Daieisho, Hoshuryu
Komosubi-Abi, Ichinojo (July Tournament Champion), Kiribayama
Maegashira 1-Tobizaru, Midorifuji
Maegashira 2-Kotonowaka, Meisei
Maegashira 3-Tamawashi, Ura
Maegashira 4-Nishigiki, Takayasu
Maegashira 5-Takarafuji, Sadanoumi
Maegashira 6-Wakamotoharu, Endo
Maegashira 7-Aoiyama, Onosho
Maegashira 8-Tochinoshin, Hokutofuji
Maegashira 9-Myogiryu, Kotoeko
Maegashira 10-Nishikifuji, Takanosho
Maegashira 11-Kotoshoho, Chiyotairyu
Maegashira 12-Okinoumi, Ryuden (July Juryo Champion)
Maegashira 13-Ichiyamamoto, Oho
Maegashira 14-Chiyoshoma, Yutakayama
Maegashira 15-Terutsuyoshi, Tsurugisho
Maegashira 16-Mitoryu, Hiradoumi
Juryo (2nd tier):
Juryo 1-SHimanoumi, Chiyomaru
Juryo 2-Chiyonokuni, AzUmaryu
Juryo 3-Atamifuji, Tohakuryu
Juryo 4-Kagayaki, Bushozan
Juryo 5-Hidenoumi, Asanowaka
Juryo 6-Akua, Churanoumi
Juryo 7-Kotokuzan, Enho
Juryo 8-Daiamami, Daishoho
Juryo 9-Hokuseiho, Kaisho
Juryo 10-Shimazuumi, Tokushoryu
Juryo 11-Chiyosakae, Kitanowaka
Juryo 12-Gonoyama, Kinbozan
Juryo 13-Oshoma, Tochimaru
Juryo 14-Tochimusashi (name change-formerly Kanno), Takakento
Notable Makushita: Kaisei (Makushita 1-RETIRED), Yoshii (July Makushita Champion-Makushita 3), Asanoyama (July Sandanme Champion-Makushita 15)
Once again there are only 90 ranks in the Sandanme instead of 100. There are 107 ranks in the Jonidan (and many now at least get mug shots/profile pics on the banzuke!), and 19 ranks in the Jonokuchi with an odd number of inexperienced or debuting wrestlers.
