With the traditional post-tournament rankings meeting now in the books. here are the final standings & early ranking notes from the March 2025 Grand Sumo Tournament:
First, here is the final Hoshitori, or tournament records based on rankings, for the top 2 tiers (records are in Win-Loss-Absent format, Absent is treated like a loss):
Makuuchi (top tier):
Yokozuna-Hoshoryu (5-5-5)
Ozeki-Onosato (12-3, Tournament Champion), Kotozakura (8-7)
Sekiwake-Daieisho (9-6), Oho (6-9)
Komusubi-Kirishima (8-7), Abi (6-9)
Maegashira 1-Wakatakakage (9-6), Wakamotoharu (9-6)
Maegashira 2-Gonoyama (7-8), Choyoshoma (6-9)
Maegashira 3-Tobizaru (6-9), Takanosho (3-12)
Maegashira 4-Takayasu (12-3), Ichiyamamoto (7-8)
Maegashira 5-Ura (7-8, Kinbozan (6-9)
Maegashira 6-Hiradouni (9-6), Takerufuji (9-6)
Maegashira 7-Shodai (6-9), Tamawashi (10-5)
Maegashira 8-Atamifuji (6-9), Oshoma (9-6)
Maegashira 9-Hakuoho (9-6), Endo (7-8)
Maegashira 10-Nishikigi (3-12), Shonannoumi (4-11)
Maegashira 11-Midorifuji (9-6), Meisei (9-6)
Maegashira 12-Takarafuji (3-12), Onokatsu (10-5)
Maegashira 13-Nishikifuji (0-2-13), Shosho (9-6)
Maegashira 14-Ryuden (6-9), Churanoumi (11-4)
Maegashira 15-Aonishiki (11-4), Sadanoumi (8-7)
Maegashira 16-Asakoryu (6-9), Kotoshoho (8-7)
Maegashira 17-Mitakeumi (6-9), Shirokuma (5-10)
Maegashira 18-Tokihayate (10-5)
Notes: Despite vowing to push through any injuries, Hosboryu was forced to withdraw after Day 9 following 2 straight losses due to an apparent neck sprain in addition to elbow issues. The latter has cleared up and he will be part of the April between-tournaments national tour for ring-entering ceremonies then practice bouts later. He should be fine for May. Onosato will be on Yokozuna Watch in May as another championship, ideally with 13+ wins but maybe 12 again, will give him a chance at the fastest-ever promotion to the highest rank in what would be just 12 career tournaments (he debuted at Makushita 15). Despite losing his last 2 matches, Kotozakura got 8 wins and thus gets back to being a full Ozeki after facing demotion if he didn’t. Daieisho will be on Ozeki Watch as a championship or 13+ wins will give him a realistic chance at promotion. Oho will be demoted from Sekiwake after his first effort on Sanyaku. Kirishima will stay Komusubi with a slight chance for promotion to Sekiwake while Abi will be demoted as both Wakas should return to Sanyaku. Where Takayasu will wind up is the big question-a Samyaku return is all but definite, but will it be Sekiwake or Komusubi? Absolute worst-case is M1. Elsewhere the big question is who gets demoted to Juryo-Nishikifuji is a definite yes due to essentially being 0-15 due to injury, Shirokuma is a yes again, Mitakeumi is a big question mark and if he’ll keep going should he be demoted. Nishikigi, Takarafuji and maybe Shonannoumi are toss-ups.
Juryo:
Juryo 1-Tamashoho (8-7), Kagayaki (4-11)
Juryo 2-Kayo (9-6), Kitanowaka (Absent, 0-0-15)
Juryo 3-Roga (11-4), Tochitaikai (9-6)
Juryo 4-Shiden (4-11), Oshoumi (4-7-4)
Juryo 5-Nabatame (3-8-4), Fujiseiun (9-6)
Juryo 6-Mitoryu (4-11), Hidenoumi (10-5)
Juryo 7-Tomokaze (7-8), Kotoeiho (7-8)
Juryo 8-Hokutofuji (3-12), Hakuyozan (9-6)
Juryo 9-Wakaikari (8-7), Tohakuryu (7-8)
Juryo 10-Daiseizan (8-7), Shimanoumi (8-7)
Juryo 11-Tsurugisho (8-7), Wakanosho (7-8)
Juryo 12-Hitoshi (9-6), Kiryuko (2-5-8)
Juryo 13-Hatsuyama (8-7), Kazekeno (8-7)
Juryo 14-Otsuji (5-10), Kusano (14-1, Tournament Champion)
Notes: There was Kusano and then everyone else. The first big question is where Kusano winds up in May-does 14-1, a championship and Isegahama Influence (although he’s really a Miyagino/Hakuho man) get him to the top tier or J1? I think it will come down to top tier demotions. We know Tamashoho is getting promoted up, Roga surely is too, maybe Kayo & Tochitaikai…so on paper it looks like 5 battling for 4 spots. If I had to guess as to the odd man out in that scenario…I think it’s Tochitaikai just because he’s J3 and Kayo is J2 (Kayo also won 6 straight before his final day loss but Tochitaikai did win his last 4). We know Otsuji & Kiryuko are being demoted to Makushita, Kitanowaka is expected to be demoted due to missing the tournament, Hokutofuji is the big question mark now. 3-12 at J8 is 50-50 for demotion, it may come down to whether or not they do soon-to-be-outgoing Chairman Hakkaku any favors (he’s not an Isegahama man despite being a Fuji). He also could opt to retire if demoted but he hasn’t yet, so…I think Nabatame did just enough to save his spot despite his record and withdrawing due to injury, same for Oshoumi. Also, while he will be promoted, Shimanoumi went from a hot start to…Shimanoumi. That 8-7 finish came after he started 7-1.
Other news:
The Shin-Juryo and Sai-Juryo rikishi for May have been announced: Making their Juryo debuts in May are Miyagi (as expected), Mita & Mudoho. Miyagi will also be a Kaimei rikishi due to a new shikona (ring name change), and will now be Miyanokaze. Mudoho is a grandson of Yokozuna Taiho and younger brother of Oho (the youngest of 4 brothers-one of them I believe is pro wrestler Yukio Naya, who competes in DDT Pro Wrestling). Making a Juryo return post-demotion is Daiamami. He owes Hokutofuji one for giving him the difference-making fusen on the final day. That means, despite winning the Makushita Championship at Ms28, Oshoryu will not be promoted to Juryo. Neither is Akua despite 6-1 at Ms6.
In other lower tier notes, Asanoyama will be promoted back to Makushita after winning the Sandanme Championship while Enho should be near the top of Makushita after a 5th straight 6-1 tournament from Ms30. I’m guessing he’ll be between Ms5-8, putting Juryo and that elusive elder stock within reach after May. That’s the first big goal-a wrestler needs 5 years-30 total tournaments-in the top 2 tiers to be eligible to become a coach and eventually a stablemaster upon retirement. (exception is for those who reach Yokozuna like Terunofuji-they get an automatic 5 years of elder stock to give them time to find a permanent opening-it’s thought he’ll take over Isegahama this summer when the current stablemaster must retire due to turning 65 then open his own stable next year) The tournaments/years don’t have to be consecutive. Enho has 29. It’s thought that before his injury he was one win away from clinching it because said win would have meant a promotion instead of a demotion to Makushita.
The first batch of retirements was announced as well with 7 calling it quits. All were Sandanme or Jonidan and includes Taiga, who reportedly quit but was recorded as Absent for the tournament (it was reported he quit due to lack of motivation/passion for sumo, which is basically a death sentence for a career)…but-not yet-Hokutofuji amidst rumors he was going to quit as he is facing potential demotion to Makushita for the first time in about 10 years (he was 3-12 at Juryo 8 and was a last-day withdrawal due to injury). But what might weigh on his decision is he’s supposedly the prized pupil of the current Hakkaku, the chairman of the Japan Sumo Association until he must step down this summer (reaching the mandatory retirement age in sumo which is 65). Also notable as retiring is Shinhakuho, an Isegahama Beya wrestler who was a prized recruit of former Yokozuna Hakuho at Miyagino Beya before it was forced to temporarily close. Injuries seem to be the main reason for his quitting.
The May Tournament will be held from 5/11-5/25 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. The Banzuke will be announced on 4/28.
