It’s that exciting time again for sumo fans-we’re now 2 weeks away from the next tournament which means it’s time for the July 2023 Banzuke Announcement. Here are the new rankings for the top 2 tiers (Note-(*) indicates name change since May Tournament):
Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Yokozuna-Terunofuji (May Tournament Champion)
Ozeki-Kirishima (*), Takakeisho
Sekiwake-Hoshoryu, Daieisho, Wakamotoharu
Komusubi-Kotonowaka, Abi
Maegashira 1-Nishikigi, Tobizaru
Maegashira 2-Shodai, Mitakeumi
Maegashira 3-Midorifuji, Meisei
Maegashira 4-Asanoyama, Ura
Maegashira 5-Hidenoumi, Onosho
Maegashira 6-Hokuseiho, Oho
Maegashira 7-Takayasu, Tamawashi
Maegashira 8-Sadanoumi, Nishikifuji
Maegashira 9-Takanosho, Hokutofuji
Maegashira 10-Kinbozan, Myogiryu
Maegashira 11-Kotoeko, Tsurugisho
Maegashira 12-Chiyoshoma, Wakatakakage
Maegashira 13-Gonoyama (May Juryo Champion), Kotoshoho
Maegashira 14-Daishoho, Shonannoumi
Maegashira 15-Ryuden, Takarafuji
Maegashira 16-Endo, Bushozan
Maegashira 17-Aoiyama, Hakuoho (*)
Juryo:
Juryo 1-Kagayaki, Atamifuji
Juryo 2-Roga, Mitoryu
Juryo 3-Ichiyamamoto, Shimazuumi
Juryo 4-Oshoma, Tohakuryu
Juryo 5-Tamashoho, Kitanowaka
Juryo 6-Fujiseiun, Azumaryu
Juryo 7-Hakuyozan, Churanoumi
Juryo 8-Takakento, Akua
Juryo 9-Daiamami, Tomokaze
Juryo 10-Chiyosakae, Shimanoumi
Juryo 11-Chiyomaru, Tsushimanada
Juryo 12-Shishi, Hidenoumi
Juryo 13-Kiho (*), Shiden
Juryo 14-Yuma, Chiyonoumi
Early notes:
First, there are quite a few new shikona (ring names) after some name changes since May-starting at the top with Kirishima, the former Kiribayama and new Ozeki. At the bottom of the top tier, Hakuoho is the former Ochiai, the super-prospect of former yokozuna Hakuho (now Miyagino) who has reached the top tier in just his 4th career tournament. In Juryo, Kiho is the former Kawazoe, the popular human slinky also from Miyagino Beya.
Now to ranking notes-Asanoyama’s stated goal is to get back to Sanyaku and in particular Sekiwake by the end of the year. He could get there after this tournament as he made a huge move up to M4. The only change in Sanyaku was Abi returning at Komusubi following Wakatakakage being demoted from Komusubi after missing the May tournament due to injury. He will miss July as well and fall out of the top tier after being at M12 this time. Takakeisho is out of kadoban status thanks to 8 wins in May and is a full-fledged Ozeki again, important given we’re not sure what shape his knees are in after injuries cost him a chance at yokozuna promotion in March. Gonoyama, the May Juryo champion, and Hakuoho (Ochiai) reach the top tier after both went 14-1 in May and there remain high expectations for the latter, who many think is a future yokozuna. In the meantime, we’ll soon see if he’s managed to grow enough hair to have a topknot! Endo took a huge fall almost to Juryo due to withdrawing in May and finishing the equivalent of 0-15. And following a slump after the retirement of stablemate Tochinoshin, Apiyama barely hung on to his top tier spot, down to M17 at the very bottom.
Ozeki Watch: Each of the 3 Sekiwake mathematically has a chance to reach the secondary criteria for consideration of promotion to Ozeki, which is at least 33 wins over 3 consecutive tournaments, all with winning records (the primary criteria is win 2 straight tournaments, both criteria must be achieved at Komusubi or Sekiwake). Daieisho has the best chance to make it as he needs a minimum of 11 wins to reach the required 33 wins over the last 3 tournaments, while Hoshoryu and Wakamotoharu both need at least 12 wins. It should be noted that of the 3, only Daieisho has a top tier championship. He almost won #2 in March, losing in a playoff to Kiribayama/Kirishima. If any win the tournament that may do it as well as, among recent Ozeki, Kirishima and Mitakeumi were both promoted after championships.
Terunofuji won the May Tournament and will be going for his 9th Emperor’s Cup. He stated his goal for the year (and before perhaps considering retirement) was to get to 10 championships and he’s got 3 more chances. He went 14-1 in May in his return from a nearly year-long injury absence, losing only to Meisei.
Demoted to Juryo were Ichiyamamoto and Kagayaki while, despite going 13-2, Atamifuji just missed a top-tier return and will be at J1. He was at J8 in May and was simply a numbers game victim with Gonoyama & Ochiai both going 14-1. Shishi, Yuma and Kiho (former Kawazoe) are Shin-Juryo this tournament, Shishi being the first rikishi from Ukraine to reach the top 2 tiers and perhaps setting up a slightly awkward late-tournament match against Roga, at J2 who is from Russia. Shishi has gained a lot of fan support the last couple years because of the Ukraine-Russia war. Shiden is Sai-Juryo this tournament, his prior Juryo debut attempt didn’t happen due to withdrawal/absence and he went back to Makushita but he’s back for a second Juryo chance. Chiyonoumi is also returning to the second tier. Notably missing from Juryo is fan favorite Enho, who withdrew during the May tournament (injured) and finished the equivalent of 0-15. If he can go in July he’ll be at Makushita 1. May Makushita Champion Kiryuko moved up to Makushita 2, on the verge of reaching Juryo. May Sandanme Champion (and now YouTube celebrity thanks to SUMO PRIME TIME) Sazanami moved up to Makushita 27.
The Sandanme has the new-normal 90 rankings The Jonidan has 107 rankings with 214 participants, and notably near the bottom is Satonofuji, the day-ending bow-twirling performer from Terunofuji’s Isegahama Beya. A demotion this time would probably send him down to Jonokuchi. Finally, the Jonokuchi has 22 rankings with 43 total participants, which actually will be 42 because although he retired on June 1, Ishiura-who is now Magaki Oyakata (the name formerly taken by Hakuho when he retired before he took over Miyagino Beya) was ranked at Jonokuchi 15 for July. He was forced to retire after being out about a year now due to injuries. Should he not have retired and sat out July he almost certainly would have fallen off the rankings completely.
The July Tournament begins on 7/9 at Aichi Prefectural Gym in Nagoya.
