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This is bad for sumo and really bad if true-Nikkan Sports reports there is another investigation of violence among wrestlers within a sumo stable…and if this one is true, open the floodgates because it involves…Isegahama Beya. The current stablemaster, fka Yokozuna Terunofuji, is being investigated for violent acts against one of his wrestlers-Hakunofuji, who will be ranked Maegashira 7 in the March Tournament. The report indicates there may be witnesses as fellow Isegahama wrestler Nishikifuji was also interviewed about this.

This could be an uncomfortable full-circle moment for the sumo powers-this kind of incident ultimately led to the former Yokozuna Hakuho being forced out of the Japan Sumo Association and Miyagino Beya being taken over by Isegahama-and the former Isegahama, just forced to retire last year (reaching age 65, the mandatory retirement age in sumo), currently has that elder stock for up to 5 years as a former Yokozuna although, if Enho can get promoted back to Juryo again, he will be eligible for elder stock which is hope. Nonetheless, with more details and potential punishment to be announced in the near future, what goes around may have just come around. Best-case punishment? Equal to a slap on the wrist. Worst-case? If recent history is an indication, he could be kicked out of the Association and his career & stablemaster time would be over. There was such a situation more recently with Kise Beya but that was wrestler-on-wrestler violence/bullying, however Kise was punished stiffly with the equivalent of demotion in the stablemaster hierarchy and perhaps hopes of running for an executive position soon being dashed.

Nikkan Sports also reports Hakunofuji is currently not with the rest of the stable for pre-Tournament training camp in Osaka and Terunofuji was absent from a press conference the other day with Atamifuji after the January playoff loser was promoted to Komusubi, becoming the first rikishi from Shizuoka Prefecture to reach Sanyaku since 1930. And in worst-case it could take down the most powerful & influential stable in sumo (and the biggest too).

More as it becomes available.

After being delayed a day because today (yesterday Japan time) was a holiday, the Japan Sumo Association has now announced the updated Banzuke (rankings) for the March 2026 Grand Sumo Tournament. Here are the full rankings for the top 2 tiers and other notes:

Makuuchi (top tier):
Yokozuna-Hoshoryu, Onosato
Ozeki-Aonishiki (January Champion), Kotozakura
Sekiwake-Kirishima, Takayasu
Komusubi-Wakamotoharu, Atamifuji
Maegashira 1-Wakatakakage, Yoshinofuji
Maegashira 2-Fujinokawa, Churanoumi
Maegashira 3-Hiradoumi, Oho
Maegashira 4-Daieisho, Takanosho
Maegashira 5-Abi, Kotoshoho
Maegashira 6-Ichiyamamoto, Onokatsu
Maegashira 7-Oshoma, Hakunofuji
Maegashira 8-Ura, Shodai
Maegashira 9-Tokihayate, Tamawashi
Maegashira 10-Gonoyama, Roga
Maegashira 11-Shishi, Oshoumi
Maegashira 12-Asakoryu, Asanoyama
Maegashira 13-Tobizaru, Fujiseiun
Maegashira 14-Chiyoshoma, Nishikifuji
Maegashira 15-Midorifuji, Mitakeumi
Maegashira 16-Asahakuryu, Kinbozan
Maegashira 17-Fujiryoga, Kotoeiho
Notes: The big story is Aonishiki being on Yokozuna watch as he goes for 3 straight championships and potential promotion. Next up is Atamifuji, whose playoff loss in January finally gets him into Sanyaku as he is Komusubi for the first time alongside Wakamotoharu, who protected his rank on the final day of January after an 0-5 start. No change at Sekiwake-Kirishima has a chance at promotion back to Ozeki if he wins the championship. Yoshinofuji was perhaps only denied Komusubi by Wakamotoharu’s promotion-saving win and Atamifuji’s playoff loss. Fujinokawa & Abi are notable big movers up while Tamawashi will keep his Iron Man streak going from the middle of the chart. There were rumblings about Aomori’s top tier representation streak being in danger of ending due to Nishikifuji’s demotion because of late withdrawal but it’s safe for now as he only fell to M14. But he needs to compete and do decent or hope Takerufuji can get back up from Juryo this time, which is possible. Fujiseiun was also rightfully promoted up from Juryo for the first time, and they made up for January’s snub by taking him up to M13 and also coming up is Fujiryoga at M17 for his rookie effort.

Juryo:
Juryo 1-Ryuden, Sadanoumi
Juryo 2-Asasuiryu, Tomokaze
Juryo 3-Daiseizan, Wakanosho (January Champion)
Juryo 4-Nishinoryu, Takerufuji
Juryo 5-Kagayaki, Shirokuma
Juryo 6-Hitoshi, Kayo
Juryo 7-Meisei, Kyokukaiyu
Juryo 8-Shonannoumi, Kitanowaka
Juryo 9-Tamashoho, Hatsuyama
Juryo 10-Dewanoryu, Tohakuryu
Juryo 11-Kazuma, Toshinofuji
Juryo 12-Nishikigi, Tsurugisho
Juryo 13-Shimazuumi, Fujitensei
Juryo 14-Kazekeno, Kotokuzan
Notes: Ryuden was once again demoted from the top tier while Sadanoumi came closer to going back up than I expected as they are the J1s this time. January Champion Wakanosho went from J11 to J3 this time. At the bottom, Toshinofuji (fka Seihakuho) & Fujitensei are the Shin-Juryo rikishi while Fujitensei is also kaimei, as his promotion comes with a new shikona (ring name) for the former Fukuzaki, while Shimazuumi is Sai-Juryo returning from the lower tiers. A slight surprise that Nishikigi gets one more chance to stay Juryo while Tsurugisho staves off demotion-induced retirement for another tournament.

Lower tier notes: In the Makushita Enho is within promotion range, climbing up to Ms4. That means he needs 5+ wins for a chance at that long-hoped-for Juryo return. Himukamaru is at Ms1 after demotion to Juryo but with a chance to return quickly, alongside Tochitaikai. Hakuyozan was demoted from Juryo to Ms2 alongside Okaryu, who climbs to a career-best with Juryo in reach. January champion Nobehara is up to Ms6 with a chance at promotion too. The Sandanme has the “new normal” 80 ranks & 160 total wrestlers. The Jonidan slims down just a little to 100 ranks & 200 wrestlers, with both Isrgahama January Jonokuchi unbeatens, champion Asahifuji (their next super-prospect) & runner-up Aoifuji, slotting in high at Jd8, while the Jonokuchi has 21 ranks with 42 wrestlers and what looks like 7 debuts, and the net’s favorite “lovable loser” Moriurara at Jk14 (also getting more popularity thanks to Otake Beya starting a YouTube channel a few months ago).

The March Tournament runs from 3/8-3/22 at Osaka Prefectural Gym in Osaka. All tickets are already sold out. Remember the time change forward in the US starts on 3/8 so everything is an hour later than usual for TV/streaming.