With the September Tournament and usual post-tournament rankings meeting now in the books, here is a recap of the tournament and early news ahead of November:
First, here is the final Hoshitori (Tournament Records) by Banzuke for the top 2 tiers, all records are in win-loss-absent format (for ranking purposes absent is treated as a loss):
Makuuchi (top tier):
Yokozuna-Onosato (12-3, Tournament Champion), Hoshoryu (Absent)
Ozeki-Kirishima (8-7), Kotozkura (9-6), Aonishiki (11-4)
Sekiwake-Atamifuji (8-7), Fujinokawa (11-4)
Komusubi-Hakunofuji (5-10), Daieisho (5-10)
Maegashira 1-Kotoshoho (5-7-3), Kotoeiho (5-10)
Maegashira 2-Takayasu (7-8), Yoshinofuji (9-6)
Maegashira 3-Gonoyama, (6-9), Churanoumi (10-5)
Maegashira 4-Takanosho (4-9-2), Fujiryoga (8-7)
Maegashira 5-Roga (6-9), Oshoma (6-9)
Maegashira 6-Asanoyama (10-5), Ichiyamamoto (4-11)
Maegashira 7-Fujiseiun (9-6), Nishikifuji (7-8)
Maegashira 8-Takerufuji (9-6), Hiradoumi (9-6)
Maegashira 9-Ura (10-5), Shishi (7-8)
Maegashira 10-Oho (7-8), Kinbozan (9-6)
Maegashira 11-Wakamotoharu (10-5), Shodai (3-12)
Maegashira 12-Wakatakakage (Absent), Asahakuryu (8-7)
Maegashira 13-Asakoryu (9-6), Abi (8-7)
Maegashira 14-Tobizaru (4-11), Chiyoshoma (5-10)
Maegashira 15-Asasuiryu (8-7), Tokihayate (8-7)
Maegashira 16-Wakanosho (Absent), Toshinofuji (9-6)
Maegashira 17-Shonannoumi (3-12)
Notes: All is well for the moment up top as Onosato won his first Emperor’s Cup since this tournament last year and seemed back in form despite 2 late losses. Hoshoryu was out due to knee surgery and is uncertain for November but is expected to join the October tour at some point. Regardless, the key words come from his stablemaster Tatsunami-Hoshoryu must win the championship in his return event or it might be time to retire. No more Yokozuna Watch among the Ozeki as Kirishima fell apart after a 5-2 start, only saving his rank on the last day just to go 8-7 and Aonishiki’s repeat title bid ended with a loss to Onosato in the final match. Kotozakura managed 9 wins this time, protecting his rank a little earlier but still disappointing. Atamifuji also blew Ozeki promotion after starting 8-2 but then losing his last 5, with stablemaster Isegahama/Terunofuji death staring through him that final day from an usher’s chair. He’ll need 13 wins or a championship in November for a promotion chance. And after Kyoto waited nearly 200 years for a Sekiwake rikishi, Fujinokawa rewarded his hometown fans with an impressive 11-4 Sanyaku debut AND Fighting Spirit Prize despite being the smallest top tier man. He’s not yet on Ozeki Watch but could be promoted if he wins the championship next tome. Both Komusubi will be demoted so not much of a Sanyaku shakeup, which should see Yoshinofuji rewarded for rallying to finish 9-6 after an 0-5 start and Churanoumi making his Komusubi debut in November as replacements. Both Kotos will be demoted from M1 although Kotoshoho was knocked out late and had to withdraw due to a concussion, which cost him a chance at 8 wins. Asanoyama should move up to M1 or M2 after 10 wins while Ura & Wakamotoharu are poised for big bouncebacks up the chart. Some big questions are at the bottom-we know Wakatakakage will be demoted due to still recovering from thigh compartment syndrome that will keep him out of November and Shonannoumi will go back down, while Wakanosho will also be demoted due to injury absence but the feeling is at M16 he’ll at least hang on to a Juryo spot. Tobizaru & Chiyoshoma are toss-ups to go down and the big one is Shodai after a 3-12 disaster at M11.
Juryo:
Juryo 1-Dewanoryu (10-5), Kyokukaiyu (8-7)
Juryo 2-Daiseizan (8-7), Kazuma (6-9)
Juryo 3-Tamawashi (10-5), Onokatsu (8-7)
Juryo 4-Kazekeno (8-7), Mitakeumi (5-10)
Juryo 5-Sadanoumi (3-12), Arashifuji (10-5)
Juryo 6-Kitanowaka (11-4, Tournament Champion), Shirokuma (6-9)
Juryo 7-Midorifuji (7-8), Tomokaze (5-10)
Juryo 8-Ryuden (9-6), Hatsuyama (4-11)
Juryo 9-Enho (7-8), Tohakuryu (8-7)
Juryo 10-Nabatame (9-6), Tanji (9-6)
Juryo 11-Kagayaki (11-4, lost playoff), Hitoshi (9-6)
Juryo 12-Tamashoho (6-9), Kayo (11-4, lost playoff)
Juryo 13-Meisei (7-8), Tokifudo (7-8)
Juryo 14-Tochitaikai (5-10), Nishikigi (6-9)
Notes: It should be a house cleaning up top as I expect at least 4 to get promoted to the top tier: Dewanoryu definitely is going up & Kyokukaiyu should head up for the first time, Daiseizan has a chance but 8-7 at J2 may not be enough, and the big one-Tamawashi should return to the top tier after the Iron Man won 9 straight after a 1-4 start to finish 10-5 and move another spot up the all-time wins list and was in title contention going into the final day. Kitanowaka will also have a chance after winning the championship at J6 in a playoff, completing an epic collapse for Kagayaki-while he’ll make a big jump up after 11-4, he fell apart after starting 10-0. Arashifuji is a big toss-up for top tier promotion after 10-5 at J5, but I think he’ll lose out to Kitanowaka and be J1 or J2. And of course the bottom-reputations have spared Nishikigi & Tochitaikai from Makushita the last few tournaments. And now we’re adding Meisei after 7-8 at J13. Will it be enough again? Here’s the sad state part that makes it likely: Only one promotion from Makushita is definite. Two is a toss-up. So it may depend on how many come & go from the top tier. My thinking? Nishikigi will wrongly get spared yet again, but Tochitaikai will not be as lucky this time. Despite demotion on the last day Enho’s Juryo spot is safe and he should only go down one spot. We’ll find out who did and didn’t get spared in just over 3 weeks when the next Banzuke is announced.
The Shin-Juryo rikishi are, to nobody’s surprise, Asahifuji as the Isegahama super-prospect reaches the second tier in record speed-just 5 career tournaments with 4 championships already and a 33-2 record (that record excludes Makushita debuts like Onosato), and to my surprise there is a second one…Ryuho. A surprise given he was 4-3 at Ms4, but everyone above him except Asahifuji got demoted and also 4-3 at Ms4 but not being promoted was Ikarigata. Also means Makushita Champion Inami isn’t going up from Ms25. There will be no Sai-Juryo rikishi. This slightly increases the odds of a Nishikigi demotion, but he’s stated if that happens he will not retire.
The retirements list is headlined by Yago, who retired after his final match on Day 13 as he ended his attempt to return to the top tier after injuries. He reached a highest career rank of M10 and was in the top tier for 4 tournaments. He didn’t qualify for elder stock (only 24 tournaments in the top 2 tiers, which was 6 short of the requirement) but will remain in the sport as a university team coach. There were 8 others, the other notable one being Dewanojo who was in the Sandanme and, at 252 kg/554 pounds was the heaviest active wrestler. The rest were Jonidan & Jonokuchi with one unranked wrestler also retiring.
UPDATE: Some additional news from a 10/1 meeting: First, there will be a tule change implemented in November-hair touching the dohyo will be a new factor used in judging when there is a close call as to which wrestler touched the ground first when both appear to at the same time. It sounds like an attacking wrestler (performing a throw for example) may not be declared the loser if his topknot touches the ground first. This would only really come into play on a Mono-ii (judges review). Second, there will be another international event in June 2027, this one in Bangkok, Thailand.