It’s that time of the even month once again-the Japan Sumo Association has just announced the official Banzuke (rankings) for the May 2025 Grand Sumo Tournament. Here are the rankings for the top 2 tiers and other notes:
Makuuchi (top tier):
Yokozuna-Hoshoryu
Ozeki-Onosato (March Tournament Champion), Kotozakura
Sekiwake-Daieisho, Kirishima
Komusubi-Takayasu, Wakatakakage
Maegashira 1-Wakamotoharu, Oho
Maegashira 2-Abi, Gonoyama
Maegashira 3-Tamawashi-Hiradoumi
Maegashira 4-Takerufuji, Ichiyamamoto
Maegashira 5-Ura, Chiyoshoma
Maegashira 6-Oshoma, Tobizaru
Maegashira 7-Hakuoho, Churanoumi
Maegashira 8-Onokatsu, Kinbozan
Maegashira 9-Aonishiki, Midorifuji
Maegashira 10-Meisei, Shodai
Maegashira 11-Endo, Shishi
Maegashira 12-Atamifuji, Takanosho
Maegashira 13-Tokihayate, Sadanoumi
Maegashira 14-Kotoshoho, Roga
Maegashira 15-Ryuden, Shonannoumi
Maegashira 16-Kayo, Nishikigi
Maegashira 17-Tamashoho, Asakoryu
Maegashira 18-Tochitaikai
Notes: No changes at the top as expected, with Onosato going for Yokozuna promotion and Kotozakura back to being a full Ozeki, but a slight surprise at Sekiwake as Kirishima returns to the rank over March runner-up Takayasu, who lost in a playoff with a better record. The former Ozeki is back in Sanyaku though at Komusubi along with Wakatakakage, while despite a winning record Wakamotoharu misses out on Sanyaku and stays at Maegashira 1 alongside Oho, demoted from Sekiwake in his first attempt in Sanyaku. Daieisho is on Ozeki Watch again in May as he tries once more for promotion, probably needing a minimum of 13 wins for a chance at promotion or winning his second championship. Abi was demoted from Sanyaku to M2 while Iron Man Tamawashi climbs back up to M3 with Takerufuji right behind at M4. A Fighting Spirit Prize helped catapult Aonishiki up to M9 for his second top tier effort, while at the bottom Kayo & Tochitaikai make their top tier debuts this tournament alongside the returning Roga. Asakoryu & Nishikigi just managed to hang on to their spots leading to a very notable demotion…
Juryo:
Juryo 1-Mitakeumi, Kusano (March Juryo Champion)
Juryo 2-Hidenoumi, Fujiseiun
Juryo 3-Takarafuji, Shirokuma
Juryo 4-Hakuyozan, Kagayaki
Juryo 5-Nishikifuji, Wakaikari
Juryo 6-Hitoshi, Daiseizan
Juryo 7-Tomokaze, Kotoeiho
Juryo 8-Shimanoumi, Shiden
Juryo 9-Oshoumi, Tsurugisho
Juryo 10-Tohakuryu, Hatsuyama
Juryo 11-Kazekeno, Wakanosho
Juryo 12-Mitoryu, Nabatame
Juryo 13-Miyanokaze, Daiamami
Juryo 14-Mita, Mudoho
Notes: Said top tier demotion was Mitakeumi, completing a slow fall from Ozeki in 2022 to Juryo, down for the first time in nearly 10 years. And it looks like that one loss in his March championship effort made the difference between making the top tier and not making it for Kusano, he’s at J1 after a 14-1 debut effort at J14. Takarafuji also is demoted back to Juryo along with Shirokuma again, the former coming amidst rumors he may retire anytime now as he does have elder stock and can cash it in when he does, which suggests he and not former Yokozuna Terunofuji may take over Isegahama Beya after this tournament when the current stablemaster must retire in June. Nishikifuji joins his stablemate in being demoted to Juryo again, this time in large part due to injury. Hitoshi made a nice move up in his second Juryo effort and cracks the top half of the rankings. Newcomers Miyanokaze (former Miyagi), Mita & Mudoho round out the bottom of the rankings along with Mitoryu & Daiamami hanging on to their spots.
Lower tier notes: Kitanowaka was demoted from Juryo after missing March due to injury, he is Makushita 1 along with Akua. Hokutofuji was also demoted to Makushita for the first time in 9 years, raising questions about whether the Hakkaku prized pupil will continue his career or not. Enho made the expected big jump up the Makushita rankings although not quite what I expected, going from Ms30 in March to Ms10 this time, lowering the odds of a Juryo return in July, while after winning the Sandanme in his latest injury comeback Asanoyama shot up like a rocket to Ms14. After winning the Makushita championship in March, Oshoryu moved up from Ms28 to Ms2, on the doorstop of Juryo for the first time. The Sandanme once again is slimmer with only 80 ranks, down from the recent 90 after it was cut from 100. The Jonidan holds relatively steady with 106 rankings while the Jonokuchi sees an influx of debuting talent and expands considerably to 25 ranks with 50 total wrestlers.
Unfortunately there was also a death to report recently-Wakatozakura, a wrestler from Shikihide Beya, died earlier this month after complications from a medical condition at just 33. He had been competing for 17 years with a career record of 305-430-7 (win-loss-absent), almost exclusively in the Jonidan which he never promoted above. A number of wrestlers including Hoshoryu attended the services for Wakatozakura, whose real name was Tsuyoshi Sawada. He would have been ranked at Jonidan 72 in May after going 3-4 in March in his final tournament.
The May Tournament is 5/11-5/25 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. Advance tickets are already sold out. I will not be able to post daily results for at least the first 5-6 days of the tournament due to a trip to Japan starting this week (unfortunately not for the tournament).
