As their late Christmas Day gift to their fans outside Japan, the Nihon Sumo Kyokai (Japan Sumo Association) has announced the Banzuke (rankings) for the January 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament. Click below for a look at how the top 2 tiers shape up:
Makuuchi (top tier): Yokozuna-Terunofuji Ozeki-Takakeisho Sekiwake-Shodai, Hoahoryu, Takayasu, Wakatakakage Komusubi-Kiribayama, Kotonowaka, Meisei, Wakamotoharu Maegashira 1-Tobizaru, Daieisho Maegashira 2-Mitakeumi, Tamawashi Maegashira 3-Abi (November Tournament Champion), Midorifuji Maegashira 4-Nishikifuji, Sadanoumi Maegashira 5-Ryuden, Nishikigi Maegashira 6-Hokutofuji, Myogiryu Maegashira 7-Ichinojo, Ura Maegashira 8-Onosho, Oho Maegashira 9-Takanosho, Endo Maegashira 10-Aoiyama, Hidenoumi Maegashira 11-Chiyoshoma, Tochinoshin Maegashira 12-Kagayaki, Okinoumi Maegashira 13-Kotoshoho, Kotoeko Maegashira 14-Ichiyamamoto, Azumaryu Maegashira 15-Tsurugisho, Mitoryu Maegashira 16-Takarafuji, Chiyomaru Juryo: Juryo 1-Akua, Bushozan Juryo 2-Hokuseiho, Daiamami Juryo 3-Atamifuji, Oshoma (November Tournament Champion) Juryo 4-Tohakuryu, Enho Juryo 5-Kinbozan, Kotokuzan Juryo 6-Churanoumi, Daishoho Juryo 7-Chiyonokuni, Tochimusashi Juryo 8-Shimanoumi, Kitanowaka Juryo 9-Roga, Hidenoumi Juryo 10-Gonoyama, Terutsuyoshi Juryo 11-Chiyosakae, Shimazuumi Juryo 12-Takakento, Asanoyama Juryo 13-Shonannoumi, Kaisho Juryo 14-Tsushimanada, Hakuyozan
Notes/thoughts:
According to the Kyokai’s Japanese website, the last time the top tier had only one Yokozuna AND only one Ozeki was all the way back in 1898. Shodai was demoted from Sekiwake so he gets his one chance at quick promotion back this time. If he can win at least 10 matches he will be promoted back to Ozeki. On the Sekiwake side, Wakatakakage and Hoshoryu both will have chances for promotion to Ozeki if they can win at least 11 matches. Despite another winning record, Kiribayama remains stuck at Komusubi, his Sekiwake hopes blocked simply by numbers. Kotonowaka makes his Sanyaku debut at Komusubi while Meisei returns after reaching as high as Sekiwake before injury issues sent him plummeting to the bottom of the top tier. Wakamotoharu will make his Sanyaku debut as both the top tier Waka Bros are now in the top 4 rankings as he is just below younger brother Wakatakakage.. But they won’t face each other in a tournament unless it’s for the championship. The top 2 Maegashira ranks are all Sanyaku dropouts-Tobizaru and Daieisho dropped down to M1, while Mitakeumi, unsuccessful in his one chance at Ozeki re-promotion and September Champion Tamawashi-are at M2. Mitakeumi now has to earn promotion to Ozeki again the hard wa-get back to Sekiwake and string together 30+ wins over 3 consecutive tournaments or win 2 straight tournaments. After his first championship, November tournament winner Abi leaped back up to M3. He dropped out of Sanyaku last time due to being absent in July (injuries). Also taking big falls were July Champion Ichinojo and Ura, both dropping to M7. Towards the bottom, Takarafuji’s final days surge kept him in the top tier, albeit barely at M16, while Tsurugisho, Mitoryu & Chiyomaru are all back in the top tier after one or two tournaments down in Juryo. Terutsuyoshi, coming off the first 0-15 top-tier tournament in quite some time in November, fell all the way to Juryo 10. Also of note, at Maegashira 13 both are stablemates so they also won’t face each other at all. In Juryo, Akua’s runner-up performance almost got him back to the top tier, as he went up from J6 to J1. Oshoma, who won a playoff for his first Juryo Championship, shot up from J12 to J3 and is on the verge of the top tier. A 10-win November got fan favorite Enho on the verge of a return as well, he moved up to J4. Atamifuji fell from the top tier down to J3 and will try to earn his way back up following his debut in November, while at the bottom former Ozeki Asanoyama earned promotion back to Juryo and will continue his climb back to the top from Juryo 12. Even a 15-0 performance almost certainly would not get him back to the top tier so best-case seems to be a return as soon as May. Shonannoumi is Shin-Juryo this time, making his second tier debut in January at J13. The 14-year-old needed roughly 9 years to reach the professional ranks, debuting in March 2014-just a month before his 16th birthday.
Lower tier notes: Former top tier and Juryo mainstay Tokushoryu falls out of Juryo after collapsing following a 4-1 November start, but only fell to Makushita 2 and can easily get back in March. Internet favorite “Muscle boy” Ishizaki jumped up to Makushita 1 with a strong November and is also on the verge of Juryo. November Champion Tamashoho, who also handed Asanoyama his only November loss, fell just short of reaching Juryo as he went to Makushita 1 from Makushita 23. Sandanme November Champion HItoshi makes his Makushita debut at Makushita 18. In the Sandanme, Asashiyu, the November Jonidan winner, leaps up to Sandanme 61, while if former top tier mainstay Ishiura is able to return from a lengthy injury-related absence, he would do so from Sandanme 30. November Jonokuchi winner Takerufuji, after winning his debut tournament, goes up to Jonidan 11 while former top tier wrestler Kyokutaise, who dropped down to Jonokuchi after missing several tournaments, will continue his climb back up from Jonidan 28.
The January Tournament is scheduled to run from January 8-23 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.
