It’s Christmas Day in Japan and sumo fans just got their gift-the Japan Sumo Association has announced the Banzuke (Rankings) for the January 2024 Tournament. Here are the top 2 tiers and other notes:
Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Yokozuna-Terunofuji
Ozeki-Kirishima (November Tournament Champion), Hoshoryu, Takakeisho
Sekiwake-Kotonowaka, Daieisho
Komusubi-Takayasu, Ura
Maegashira 1-Wakamotoharu, Atamifuji
Maegashira 2-Midorifuji, Abi
Maegashira 3-Gonoyama, Hokutofuji
Maegashira 4-Tobizaru, Shodai
Maegashira 5-Ryuden, Nishikigi
Maegashira 6-Kinbozan, Shonannoumi
Maegashira 7-Ichiyamamoto, Asanoyama
Maegashira 8-Hokuseiho, Hiradoumi
Maegashira 9-Mitakeumi, Meisei
Maegashira 10-Tamawashi, Sadanoumi
Maegashira 11-Tsurugisho, Oho
Maegashira 12-Takanosho, Myogiryu
Maegashira 13-Churanoumi, Endo
Maegashira 14-Kotoshoho (November Juryo Champion), Onosho
Maegashira 15-Tomokaze, Onosato
Maegashira 16-Takarafuji, Bushozan
Maegashira 17-Shimazuumi, Aoiyama
Juryo:
Juryo 1-Daiamami, Mitoryu
Juryo 2-NIshikifuji, Tohakuryu
Juryo 3-Roga, Kitanowaka
Juryo 4-Tamashoho, Kotoeko
Juryo 5-Chiyoshoma, Oshoma
Juryo 6-Tokihayate, Shirokuma
Juryo 7-Kagayaki, Shishi
Juryo 8-Shimanoumi, Shiden
Juryo 9-Asakoryu, Daishoho
Juryo 10-Takerufuji, Hakuyozan
Juryo 11-Akua, Hidenoumi
Juryo 12-Chiyomaru, Tenshoho
Juryo 13-Yuma, Oshoumi
Juryo 14-Chiyosakae, Tochimusashi
Notes:
As expected, no changes in Sanyaku except Wakamotoharu was demoted to M1 while the new Komusubi this time are Ura for the first time in his career and Takayasu. If Kirishima wins this tournament, he will probably earn promotion to Yokozuna (or will at least be recommended)-he hopes it can happen this time or next time because his stablemaster, the current Michinoku, must retire after the March Tournament (he turns 65 in April, which means he’ll reach the mandatory retirement age in sumo). Terunofuji will be back this tournament after being out the last 3 tournaments according to stablemaster Isegahama, and if he doesn’t return the Yokozuna Deliberation Council will take the first step in a 3-step process that ends with pretty much forcing retirement (Yokozuna can never be demoted but they can be forced to retire for continued poor performance or, in this case, numerous absences). Kotonowaka will be on Ozeki Watch again as he can earn promotion by winning the championship or finishing with at least 13 wins. Daieisho also has a chance at promotion again but he’ll need a championship or to go 14-1 or 15-0. The only real big surprise in the rankings is perhaps Atamifuji making it to M1, I had him a couple ranks lower after another runner-up finish. If he keeps this up we’ll be taking about Ozeki promotion for him by the end of 2024. Also making his top tier debut will be Onosato after losing the Juryo Championship playoff to Kotoshoho, making a huge jump from Juryo 5. He’ll open at M15 against..possibly .Kotoshoho! Normally on the first day wrestlers face the other wrestler who shares their rank but Onosato and Tomokaze at M15 are both from Nishonoseki Beya so that won’t happen. Shimazuumi also sneaks in at M17 which means he’ll also make his top tier debut, possibly against the returning Aoiyama who gets back to the top tier after winning his final November match to finish 8-7 at Juryo 1. Ichiyamamoto was another big winner as 11-4 and a Fighting Spirit Prize took him up to M7 alongside the biggest loser, Asanoyama. His gamble of coming back after missing the first week in November to try and save promotion to Sanyaku backfired and a 4-11 equivalent drops him from M1 to M7.
Nishikifuj, Roga, Kotoeko, Kitanowaka and Tohakuryu all were demoted to Juryo with Kotoeko going down for the first time in 3 years (largely due to injury).
Don’t recognize Shirokuma? I didn’t either. Turns out it’s the former Takahashi with a new Shikona, or name change. He will no longer use his real last name as his ring name.
Takerufuji & Oshoumi are Shin-Juryo this tournament, making their second tier (pro) debuts, while Hakuyozan & Tochimusashi are Sai-Juryo, returning after demotions to Makushita. Tochimusashi will try to have a winning Juryo record for the first time since winning the championship.
In the Makushita, former Sekiwake Wakatakakage just missed promotion to Juryo after a 5-2 effort in his return from injury, and moves up to Ms1 from Ms6. The big question is if Hakuoho will be able to return from injury this time, which is possible-if so, he’ll be at Ms5 but should be back up in no time. Best-case for a top-tier return for the super-rookie seems to be July. September champion Hitoshi was demoted to Ms7 after a disastrous Juryo debut in November, while November Champion Satorufuji got a bigger than expected, and no doubt Isegahama-influenced bump up from Ms42 all the way to Ms3 (normally the Makushita Champion gains 30 spots if they are in the lower half of the 60-rank division).
The Sandanme has the new-usual 90 ranks with 180 wrestlers, with the biggest story being Enho possibly beginning his comeback from a major back injury. He may try to return this tournament and if so he will be at Sd83. He doesn’t plan to retire anytime soon and is no doubt motivated by needing to get back to Juryo one more time to qualify for elder stock upon retirement (you need to have been in Makuuchi and Juryo for at least 5 years-30 tournaments-in your career to qualify to become an Oyakata, and eventually a coach or stablemaster-after retirement. It doesn’t have to be consecutive. Enho has 29 such tournaments, really he missed it by just one win in his last appearance). The Jonidan ranks are a bit thinner this time with just 98 ranks and 196 wrestlers, down from the usual triple digit ranks, while the Jonokuchi will have 17 ranks and 33 wrestlers. In Jonidan, watch November Jonokuchi Champion Aonishiki at Jd10, looking to eventually become the second rikishi from Ukraine to reach the top 2 tiers alongside countryman Shishi (they are not in the same stable).
The January Tournament begins on 1/14 in Tokyo.
UPDATE: Azumaryu, who was demoted from Juryo after November, has now retired after the Banzuke announcement. He was to have been at Makushita 13 in January. His final career record will be 588-522-47 (win-loss-absent), 62-88-15 in the top tier with one Juryo championship and a highest rank of Maegashira 11. In November he was a withdrawal on Day 2 due to injury and didn’t return, finishing the equivalent of 0-15. He had 5 straight demotions and only earned 2 promotions in the last 10 tournaments. Nikkan Sports reports he will have a hair cutting ceremony in September at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo and it sounds like he will not become an elder/oyakata and may return to his native Mongolia (he spent over 10 years in the top 2 tiers, more than double the time needed to qualify for elder stock).