It’s that wonderful time of the even months again-with just 2 weeks until the next tournament, the Japan Sumo Association has announced the official Banzuke (rankings) for the November 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament. Below are the full rankings for the top 2 tiers and other lower tier notes:
Makuuchi (top tier):
Yokozuna-Terunofuji
Ozeki-Kotozakura, Hoshoryu, Onosato (September Champion)
Sekiwake-Kirishima, Daieisho
Komusubi-Wakamotoharu, Shodai
Maegashira 1-Oho, Hiradoumi
Maegashira 2-Wakatakakage, Ura
Maegashira 3-Abi, Atamifuji
Maegashira 4-Churanoumi, Oshoma
Maegashira 5-Tobizaru, Kotoshoho
Maegashira 6-Takanosho, Nishikigi
Maegashira 7-Endo, Mitakeumi
Maegashira 8-Roga, Gonoyama
Maegashira 9-Midorifuji, Takayasu
Maegashira 10-Ichiyamamoto, Takarafuji
Maegashira 11-Tamawashi, Meisei
Maegashira 12-Hokutofuji, Sadanoumi
Maegashira 13-Ryuden, Shonannoumi
Maegashira 14-Chiyoshoma, Nishikifuji
Maegashira 15-Onokatsu, Tokihayate
Maegashira 16-Shishi, Takerufuji (September Juryo Champion)
Maegashira 17-Asakoryu, Bushozan
Notes: Terunofuji all but won’t compete in November and the Yokozuna Deliberation Council is probably going to keep the pressure off until early next year, with rumors he’s going to try and hold on until next summer when the current Isegahama must retire (turning 65, the mandatory retirement age in sumo), potentially opening up the elder stock, unless certain other elder stock becomes available before then. Onosato is promoted to Ozeki and could enter Yokozuna consideration if he can win his second straight championship and third this year. He does have one advantage the current & former Ozeki currently active don’t-wins against Terunofuji. For those who missed September, Takakeisho retired during the September tournament and is now an oyakata. The Sanyaku shakeup came in lower ranks as Daieisho is back to Sekiwake but a surprise at Komusubi as Shodai is back at that ranking when I and probably others expected Oho to be there. The grandson of legendary Yokozuna Taiho must settle for M1 this time. Wakamotoharu also returns to Komusubi while brother Wakatakakage makes a big jump back to the foot of Sanyaku, moving up to M2. Hiradoumi is demoted from Sanyaku after 2 tournaments, but only to M1. Abi falls from Sekiwake to M3 alongside Atsmifuji, who remains on the cusp of Sanyaku but hasn’t been able to break through. But the real attention is at the bottom as Takerufuji, who won the Emperor’s Cup in his top tier debut in March despite a day 14 injury, is back at M16 after winning Juryo alongside Shishi, who will also make his Makuuchi debut. Asakoryu will also make his top tier debut at M17.
Kirishima will be on Ozeki watch again as he will have a chance to earn promotion back to the rank with either another championship or if he can get enough wins, the ideal result for the latter-and for that matter a championship-would be at least 13 wins. Daieisho can’t be ruled out of Ozeki contention either but he’s going to need to win the championship and with an impressive win total after 2 straight 8-7 efforts.
Juryo:
Juryo 1-Kitanowaka, Kinbozan
Juryo 2-Kagayaki, Hakuoho
Juryo 3-Shirokuma, Kayo
Juryo 4-Tamashoho, Shimanoumi
Juryo 5-Shimazuumi, Tomokaze
Juryo 6-Tohakuryu, Shiden
Juryo 7-Hidenoumi, Tsurugisho
Juryo 8-Mitoryu, Hakuyozan
Juryo 9-Daiamami, Daishoho
Juryo 10-Onosho, Fujiseiun
Juryo 11-Aonishiki, Chiyomaru
Juryo 12-Daiseizan, Tochitaikai
Juryo 13-Wakaikari, Kotoeiho
Juryo 14-Nabatame, Oshoumi
Notes: The real talk at the bottom was if Asanoyama, who will miss November due to injury, would perhaps hang on to his juryo ranking and salary despite being absent in September. Close, but no. He’s Makushita 1. At the top, Kinbozan was perhaps a slight surprise demotion from the top tier to J1, while Hakuoho made a surprisingly big move up to J2 to get back to on the verge of a Makuuchi return after he was demoted due to injury. Shirokuma, the July Juryo champion, also was demoted back to Juryo while Kayo made a big move up to J3. The newcomer to watch is Ukraine super-prospect Aonishiki, who has been a rocketship climbing up the ranks since his debut a year ago, making his Juryo debut in what will be just his 7th career tournament on a 38-4 start and 2 lower-tier championships. Kotoeiho, also making his Juryo debut, is one of the Kaimei rikishi this tournament as he changed his shikona, or ring name, from Kotokebakari after September. Nabatame returns to Juryo for a second chance after prior demotion. No word yet on if Onosho will be able to compete or not after withdrawing in September due to injury.
Lower tier notes:
Asanoyama is at Makushita 1 but will not compete due to injury. He may not be back until March now. That means if he can return in January he’ll probably still be in Makushita, but a March return almost certainly means he’ll be demoted to the Sandanme. In the Sandanme, Enho will continue his comeback climb up the ranks from the middle of the pack, coming in at Sd56 for this tournament. Another 6-1 performance or 7-0 could see him promoted back to Makushita in January. The lower tiers are leaner as the number of active wrestlers continues to show concerning drops-the Jonidan has just 93 ranks total this time while the Jonokuchi will only have 14 ranks and 28 total wrestlers.
The November Tournament runs from 11/10-11/24 at Fukuoka International Center in Fukuoka.
