Below is the final Hoshitori for the July 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament-the finals standings based on the Banzuke (rankings) and some early thoughts on rankings for September.
Makuuchi (Top Tier, records are in Win-Loss-Absent format, Absent is treated as a loss for ranking purposes):
Yokozuna-Terunofuji (1-3-11)
Ozeki-Kirishima (6-7-2), Takakeisho (Absent, 0-0-15)
Sekiwake-Hoshoryu 12-3, Champion), Daieisho (9-6), Wakamotoharu (9-6)
Komusubi-Kotonowaka (11-4), Abi (6-9)
Maegashira 1-Nishikigi (10-5), Tobizaru (9-6)
Maegashira 2-Shodai (6-9), Mitakeumi (3-12)
Maegashira 3-Midorifuji (4-11), Meisei (8-7)
Maegashira 4-Asanoyama (8-4-3), Ura (7-8)
Maegashira 5-Hiradoumi (5-10), Onosho (6-9)
Maegashira 6-Hokuseiho (5-10), Oho (6-9)
Maegashira 7-Takayasu (7-8), Tamawashi (8-7)
Maegashira 8-Sadanoumi (5-10), Nishikifuji (5-10)
Maegashira 9-Takanosho (8-7), Hokutofuji (12-3, lost in Championship Playoff)
Maegashira 10-Kinbozan (7-8), Myogiryu (6-9)
Maegashira 11-Kotoeko (8-7), Tsurugisho (5-10)
Maegashira 12-Chiyoshoma (6-9), Wakatakakage (Absent, 0-0-15)
Maegashira 13-Gonoyama (10-5), Kotoshoho (7-8)
Maegashira 14-Daishoho (6-9), Shonannoumi (10-5)
Maegashira 15-Ryuden (10-5), Takarafuji (9-6)
Maegashira 16-Endo (10-5), Bushozan (3-13)
Maegashira 17-Aoiyama (9-6), Hakuoho (11-4)
Notes: Both Ozeki will be in kadoban status in September, meaning they must win at least 8 matches to avoid demotion. Kirishima was a tough one because he got injured right before the tournament and missed the first 3 days, and was expected to be out 4 weeks, but came back on Day 4 and went 6-6. He was done in by losing his last 2 matches. Takakeisho just cane out of kadoban but was out this tournament due to injuries. Terunofuji will hopefully be back in September after pulling out due to injury, but not knees this time. But there is hope as Hoshoryu is expected to be promoted to Ozeki after winning this tournament AND managing the 33 wins over the last 3 tournaments generally considered the benchmark for Ozeki candidacy (the alternate criteria is win 2 straight tournaments in Sanyaku). Kotonowaka should be promoted to Sekiwake while Tobizaru should return to Komusubi and Nishikigi will make his Sanyaku debut with Abi demoted. Hokutofuji will make a big move up with a playoff loss and lots of demotions ahead of him, possibly back up to M1. All the 10-11 win finishers will also move up quite a bit. The biggest losers will be Mitakeumi & Bushozan with the later demoted to Juryo. Mitakeumi reportedly lost his father just before the tournament so that may explain his struggles. Midorifuji will also take a big drop after going 4-11. Wakatakakage will also be demoted as expected as he is still out due to injury. He almost certainly will not be back in September but there is a slim chance of a November return as his initial recovery timeframe was 6 months but could be up to 1 year. He had surgery just after the March tournament ended so barring a miracle consider him out for September, so he’ll be demoted to Makushita after that.
(Promotion update-Nikkan Sports reports if Hoshoryu is indeed promoted to Ozeki, the earliest it will happen is Wednesday)
Juryo:
Juryo 1-Kagayaki (9-6), Atamifuji (11-4, Tournament Champion)
Juryo 2-Roga (8-7), Mitoryu (6-9)
Juryo 3-Ichiyamamoto (4-9-2), Shimazuumi, 5-10)
Juryo 4-Oshoma (7-8), Tohakuryu (7-8)
Juryo 5-Tamashoho (10-5), Kitanowaka (10-5)
Juryo 6-Fujiseiun (Absent, 0-0-15), Azumaryu (7-8)
Juryo 7-Hakuyozan (6-9), Churanoumi (8-7)
Juryo 8-Takakento (7-8), Akua (7-8)
Juryo 9-Daiamami (11-4, Lost in Championship Playoff), Tomokaze (10-5)
Juryo 10-Chiyosakae (8-7), Shimanoumi (5-10)
Juryo 11-Chiyomaru (8-7), Tsushimanada (3-12)
Juryo 12-Shishi (9-6), Hidenoumi (5-10)
Juryo 13-Kiho (7-5-3), Shiden (8-7)
Juryo 14-Yuma (6-9), Chiyonoumi (4-11)
Notes: Kagayaki & Atamifuji will return to the top tier in September. Roga has a chance but probably will be at J1. Tamashoho & Kitanowaka should move up to J1 or J2 with everyone else from J2-J6 being demoted. Fujiseiun will probably be demoted to Makushita due to missing the tournament, while Tsushimanada, Hidenoumi, Yuma and Chiyonoumi also are/should be going down. Kiho is a tough call on demotion, he was 7-4 before having to withdraw on Day 12. Ichiyamamoto probably was safe despite starting 0-4 then withdrawing and starting 0-8, but he saved his Juryo spot fur sure by returning and managing 4 wins the second week (a 4-3 finish). That will soften his drop considerably. Daiamami & Tomokaze will be big movers up, should be up to J2 or J3.
Makushita notes: Tokihayate is the only sure promotion to Juryo as he won the championship at Ms1. Enho, who was the other Ms1, was absent (injury). Everyone ranked Ms2-5 will be demoted except Takahashi and Ishizaki, who both went 5-2 at Ms4 & Ms5. Chiyonokuni, who was absent at Ms5, retired after the tournament and is now Sanoyama Oyakata. Tsukahara, 6-1 at Ms7, has a slight chance at Juryo thanks to the numbers game because there look to be up to 3 Juryo spots available. They could all get there if Kiho gets demoted back to Makushita, but I do not see that happening so one will lose the numbers game.
UPDATE: The Shin-Juryo rikishi for September have been announced, and there are some new shikona (ring names) to report: Onosato, Amaterasu (?), Takahashi, Asakoryu. As for name changes, Amaterasu (might not be right based on quick translation) is the former Mukainakano, while Asakoryu is the former Ishizaki. Those 4 will make their Juryo debuts in September. There is one Sai-Juryo rikishi, as expected it’s Tokihayate, the Makushita Champion at Ms1. He will return to Juryo for a second time, he was demoted after his debut in May. THere were also 4 retirements, one at the Sandanme, one Jonidan and 2 Jonokuchi. These are in addition to the previously announced retirements of Ishiura & Chiyonokuni, who both have become Oyakata and work towards becoming mentors for up-and-coming wrestlers.
As of 7:30 PM PT (11:30 AM Japan time on 7/26), no word on the potential Hoshoryu promotion.
UPDATE 2: It’s now official…HOSHORYU OZEKI! The July Emperor’s Cup winner has been promoted. Nikkan Sports reports he was unanimously approved by the Nihon Sumo Kyokai and the promotion ceremony was held at Tatsunami Beya-his stable-in Nagoya. That makes 3 Ozeki for September.
