It’s the even-month moment sumo fans have been waiting for: The Nihon Sumo Kyokai (Japan Sumo Association) has announced the Banzuke (Rankings) for the November 2022 Grand Sumo Tournament. Below are the rankings for the top 2 tiers (Makuuchi & Juryo) and notable lower rankings:
Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Yokozuna-Terunofuji
Ozeki-Shodai (K), Takakeisho
Sekiwake-Mitakeumi, Wakatakakage, Hoshoryo
Komusubi-Tamawashi (September Tournament Champion), Kiribayama, Tobizaru, Daieisho
Maegashira 1-Takayasu, Kotonowaka
Maegashira 2-Meisei, Ichinojo
Maegashira 3-Ura, Midorifuji
Maegashira 4-Wakamotoharu, Sadanoumi
Maegashira 5-Hokutofuji, Nishikifuji
Maegashira 6-Nishikigi, Ryuden
Maegashira 7-Endo, Myogiryu
Maegashira 8-Takarafuji, Tochinoshin
Maegashira 9-Takanosho, Abi
Maegashira 10-Aoiyama, Chiyoshoma
Maegashira 11-Onosho, Kotoshoho
Maegashira 12-Kotoeko, Chiyotairyu
Maegashira 13-Okinoumi, Oho
Maegashira 14-Ichiyamamoto, Azumaryu
Maegashira 15-Kagayaki, Atamifuji
Maegashira 16-Terutsuyoshi, Hiradoumi
Of note: As has almost always been the case since reaching the second-highest ranking, Shodai is yet again in Kadoban status, meaning he must win at least 8 matches or he will be demoted. Mitakeumi was demoted from Ozeki but can earn promotion back up if he can win at least 10 matches. Takakeisho has won at least 10 matches in 2 straight tournaments, including a runner-up finish in July, but probably can’t get into Yokozuna consideration unless he wins the tournament with at least 13 wins. Wakatakakage needs at least 11 wins for potential Ozeki consideration, best-case would be a championship. Tamawashi, the September champion, jumped up to Komusubi. Runner-up Takayasu moved back up to Maegashira 1, alongside Kotonowaka who just missed Sanyaku based on the numbers. July champion Ichinojo struggled in September and falls back to Maegashira 2 alongside Meisei, who is steadily moving back up after dropping from Sekiwake to the bottom of the top tier. Abi, who missed the September tournament due to injuries, dropped all the way to Maegashira 9. At the bottom, Atamifuji will make his top-tier debut in November at Maegashira 15, needing just 11 tournaments and less than 2 years to get there (he’s had only one losing tournament in his career, 7-8 in March when he made his Juryo debut). Terutsuyoshi managed to hand on for one more tournament in the top tier, so fans won’t have to show up earlier for his epic salt throws.
Juryo:
Juryo 1-Tohakuryu, Chiyomaru
Juryo 2-Churanoumi, Bushozan
Juryo 3-Tsurugisho, Mitoryu
Juryo 4-Hiradoumi, Yutakayama
Juryo 5-Akua, Chiyonokuni
Juryo 6-Hokuseiho, Kitanowaka
Juryo 7-Tochimusashi (September Tournament Champion), Kinbozan
Juryo 8-Shimanoumi, Kotokuzan
Juryo 9-Daiamami, Daishoho
Juryo 10-Chiyosakae, Kaisho
Juryo 11-Enho, Takakento
Juryo 12-Tokushoryu, Oshoma
Juryo 13-Shimazuumi, Roga
Juryo 14-Tsushimanada, Gonoyama
Of note: September Champion Tochimusashi & runner-up Kinbozan both settle in at Juryo 7. Tochimusashi could’ve moved up higher but after clinching the title before his Day 13 match he lost his last 2 matches. Russian rikishi Roga will be making his Juryo debut at Juryo 13. Shimanoumi, coming off another tough tournament with only 4 wins (although much better than the only one-win July), fell further from Juryo 1 down to Juryo 9. At Juryo 1, Tohakuryu has a chance to make his top-tier debut in January with a winning record, while Chiyomaru will be looking to return to the top tier. Finally, after a losing July tournament fan favorite Enho is at Juryo 11. Finally, an interesting side note-Juryo 9 sees two wrestlers from the same beya (stable). Normally those ranked wrestlers would face each other on the first day but that will not happen as the only way stablemates can face each other in a tournament is should it be needed to decide the championship.
Lower tier notes:
Asanoyama Watch-the former Ozeki moved up to Makushita 4 from Makushita 15 after a 6-1 September tournament. A 5 win or better tournament should get him to Juryo in January.
September Makushita Champion Daiseiryu leaped up from Makushita 38 to Makushita 3. Kawazoe, the human slinky who made an incredible first impression in his debut loss to Asanoyama, managed a winning record in his debut tournament and moves up 2 spots to Makushita 13. If former top tier mainstay Ishiura is able to return this tournament after being out most of this year due to injury, he would do so at Makushita 50. September Sandanme Champion Oshoumi makes his Makushita return with a massive move up to Makushita 54. He was demoted from Makushita 21 to Jonidan after withdrawing in January for an 0-7 equivalent then missed the following 2 tournaments.
Only 90 rankings in the Sandamne once again instead of the traditional 100, Notable at Sandanme 43 is Takahashi, the September Jonidan Champion. The Jonidan will be a little leaner this time around with 102 ranks, down a bit from recently, September Jonokuchi Champion Otani will be at Jonidan 14. Finally, the bottom Jonokuchi will have 16 ranks with 32 total wrestlers. One notable name at the bottom is Kyokutaisei, who has been as high as Maegashira 6-he has not had a winning tournament since July 2021and has missed some or all of the last 5 tournaments (absent the last 3). He will be at Jonokuchi 5 and can’t really go any lower.
The November Tournament is scheduled for 11/13-11/27 at Fukuoka Convention Center in Fukuoka.
UPDATE: Here are some of the notable ranking notes/topics from the Nihon Sumo Kyokai:
Mitakeumi is the first Ozeki to be demoted since September 2021 (Asanoyama was demoted after the second tournament of a one year suspension for violating coronavirus protocols and dishonesty when questioned about it).
Tamawashi is the 3rd-oldest rikishi ever to be ranked in Sanyaku at just a few days short of 38. He is at Komusubi, just below his highest career ranking of Sekiwake. The iron man of sumo has only missed 2 days in his career, both in July when his entire beya was forced to withdraw due to coronavirus protocols (if one member of a stable got the virus, the entire stable had to withdraw).
Tobizaru makes his Sanyaku debut in November. In terms of number of career tournaments from Debut to Sanyaku, Tobizaru is the second-slowest to reach Komusubi at 46 tournamnets (just under 8 years).
The last time 3 Sekiwake and 4 Komusubi made up Sanyaku in a tournament was all the way back in 1974. The last time there was a 7 wrestler Sanyaku Tournament was November 1992.
Making it to the top tier in just his 12th tournament, Atamifuji has tied for 8th-fastest to reach Makuuchi for the first time in his career.
Roga is the 6th rikishi from Russia to reach Juryo. The last one was Amuru in 2012.
Tsushimanada is the 5th-slowest rikishi to reach Juryo following his debut, including those who began their careers during their student years (high school-some rikishi debut as young as 15-16), taking 38 tournaments (just over 6 years) to reach the second tier.
