While we have to wait until Christmas Eve for the rest of the banzuke (don’t worry, I’ll post a forecast before then), the promotions to Juryo have been announced. As anticipated, these are Ms1e Churanoumi (4-3), Ms1w Chiyootori (4-3), Ms2e Asagyokusei (5-2), Ms3e Sakigake (4-3), and none other than the 7-0 Ms10w Makushita yusho winner, former Ozeki Terunofuji!
Terunofuji returns to the salaried ranks after sitting out four tournaments and spending five more in the lower divisions. For Churanoumi, this is his third trip to Juryo; both of the previous ones ended with immediate demotions. Chiyootori, Chiyomaru’s “little” brother, has been ranked as high as Komusubi, but has been toiling in the unpaid ranks for two full years. Asagyokusei is coming up to the second division for the second time; his first visit was in September. Sakigake has also been in Juryo before, but not since January 2015. So none of these are youngsters making highly anticipated sekitori debuts.
The corresponding demotions from Juryo have not been announced, but they should be the injured J6w Ichiyamamoto (0-2-13), the J11 duo of Kaisho and Wakamotoharu, both 5-10, J12w Gagamaru (1-12-2) and J14e Akiseyama (5-10). J13w Hoshoryu (7-8) should survive by the thinnest of margins to fight again as a sekitori at Hatsu, where he will have no margin for error.
Four I more or less expected to make it back someday. And Sakigake.
It must be such a thrill for him to get back to the salaried ranks, though who knows if he’ll be there for more than a single tournament. What’s the longest stretch anyone’s gone between sekitori stints?
There was just a thread about this on the sumo forum; apparently it’s over 6 years! http://www.sumoforum.net/forums/topic/39458-promotiondemotion-and-yusho-discussion-kyushu-2019/?page=3&tab=comments#comment-404451
Y1e Hakuho
Y1w Kakuryu
O1e Takakeisho
O1w Goeido
S1e Asanoyama
S1w Takayasu
K1e Abi
K1w Daieisho
M1e Myogiryu
M1w Endo
M2e Hokutofuji
M2w Mitakeumi
M3e Tamawashi
M3w Kotoyuki
M4e Shodai
M4w Okinoumi
M5e Enho
M5w Meisei
M6e Takarafuji
M6w Shohozan
M7e Onosho
M7w Takanosho
M8e Ishiura
M8w Yutakayama
M9e Chiyotairyu
M9w Kagayaki
M10e Tochinoshin
M10w Aoiyama
M11e Ryuden
M11w Sadanoumi
M12e Chiyomaru
M12w Tsurugisho
M13e Terutsuyoshi
M13w Azumaryu
M14e Kotoshogiku
M14w Kotoeko
M15e Shimanoumi
M15w Ikioi
M16e Tochiozan
M16w Kaisei
M17e Kiribayama
M17w Tokushoryu
J1e Tomokaze
J1w Kotonowaka
J2e Chiyoshoma
J2w Hidenoumi
J3e Daishomaru
J3w Nishikigi
J4e Kizakiumi
J4w Wakatakakage
J5e Mitoryu
J5w Daishoho
J6e Daiamami
J6w Tobizaru
J7e Ichinojo
J7w Kotoshoho
J8e Kyokutaisei
J8w Yago
J9e Kyokushuho
J9w Akua
J10e Sokokurai
J10w Takagenji
J11e Toyonoshima
J11w Terunofuji
J12e Asagyokusei
J12w Churanoumi
J13e Chiyootori
J13w Irodori
J14e Sakigake
J14w Hoshoryu
?
Tochinoshin below Ishiura. Wow 2020 is gonna be nuts. I really hope Ichinojo doesn’t fall that far. J7? Ouch. And I hope Azumaryu, Ikioi and Kaisei get spots a couple more ranks up the banzuke.
Kaisei tumbled that far due to injury, so J7 sounds about right for Ichonojo unfortunately.
Not sure Terenofuji’s knees will hold up to the daily fight schedule in Juryo.
Fingers crossed!
Is there any word how how Terunofuji’s diabetes is doing? I hope that it’s well managed, and that continuing to train does not harm his long term health.
In our household he’s known as “Big Scary Terry” courtesy of our youngest child who was very impressed with Teru’s Ozeki game-face.
No, no word on that. But any attempt to get information like that on any Isegahama rikishi is futile.
I’m not sure his knees will be the only worry. It’s a bit weird to say that, but he kinda took the easy route back to Juryo. He has been fighting Ms7, Ms9, Ms11, Ms14 and his last 3 bouts 29, 45 and 51 … its not that he dominated those bouts …
He loses most tachiai and still lacks very much any mobility. He was just too heavy for his opponents in Makushita this time, but this will change in Juryo. In his current form I would be possitively surprised, if he even made it to the top half of Juryo …
Yes. Not sharp or mobile at all. I watched a few of his alleged “useless pushes”, and it looked to me more like he was unable to assure victory with a confident and gentlemanly assist over the bales.
Now just imagine if Terunofuji had happened to win that may 2017 basho. Imagine having two Kisenosatos at once to deal with. Glad it didn’t happen, though, and we don’t have to put up with someone like him.
Two yusho or the equivalent is only an unofficial standard — there are no actual set criteria for yokozuna promotion. Prior to his 13-2-P JY, 12-3 JY walking ghost phase in early 2017 Terunofuji’s record was 3-3-9, 8-7, 2-13, 8-7, 4-11, 8-7, 4-11; I would expect that this extended cycle of double-digit make-koshi followed by 8-7 kachi-koshi would give the YDC pause and they might very well have held off for one more basho (especially considering that there were already four active yokozuna at that point in time).
Terunofuji….. Is he the one that pulled a Henka on Kotoshogiku when he was trying to regain his ozeki rank back?
Yes, that’s him. He’s also done dame-oshi to his opponents after almost every single bout he’s had in the lower divisions. His behavior is arrogant and shameful.
And they don’t warn him at this point? Honestly I hope he finds himself stuck for awhile in 2nd division.
He was somewhat the villain for a while there, but I feel like he’s done his penance. I gotta give him credit for fighting his way back. I thought he was done for
Apparently he’s been late hitting opponents in lower division in every bout. I would say he’s learned nothing.
I don’t know which bouts you have seen. I saw him do that once this basho.
Please don’t try to change the narrative Herouth, Mongolians bad don’t you know.
Not true, Ichinojo is a gentle giant. Kakaryu is a great Yokozuna who acts like one. So no.. they are not. Just some of them.. and that can be said about all people.
Ouch. March 2017. Been trying to forget that stunt. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6v69R8Zv0E
I can’t. Every time I see Koto struggling Vs someone in the lower ranks, I think of this. Every time someone Henka’s Koto, which just not long ago.. He was up for a special prize doing amazing, his prize was conditional though, he had to win his final day match. Well, I forget who he was against but he Henkaed Koto.. and you could see the pain in Koto’s eyes as he relived the loss of his rank.
You might be thinking Abi, July 2019. Abi was 7-7 and “dug cheap” (not deep) for that 8th win.
Giku does seem to get caught by the henka more than his fair share of the time. He’ll be 36 next January.