The Banzuke Committee met today, along with an ad hoc meeting of the Association’s Board of Directors to approve Hoshoryu as the 74th Yokozuna. After his Championship run, the Shimpan Department recommended his promotion which was seconded by the Yokozuna Deliberation Council.
This all happened today because the Banzuke Committee are drawing up the ranking sheet for Haru Basho, which will begin March 9 in Osaka. Hoshoryu will be listed at the top.
Along with the announcement of Hoshoryu’s promotion, we also received official word of promotions to Juryo. These promotions are in line with Leonid’s predictions from the other day.
Wakanosho (Tokiwayama), Kusano (Isegahama), and Otsuji (Takadagawa) earn sekitori status for the first time. I’m a little surprised that there aren’t any new shikona for the latter two, who continue to use their real surnames.
Joining them are Kazekeno (Oshiogawa) and Hitoshi, who return to the division. Hitoshi likely replaces an Oitekaze stablemate, as Daiamami and Daishoho dip back into the part-timers.
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Looking at fresh videos of Hoshoryu practising his dohyo-iri and the stable with friends making the new white rope Hoshoryu is smiling, joking and overall people seem to be having fun around him. His game face is so different from the fellow in these videos,
Dear All, sorry but this promotion makes me regretting about Kaio missed promotion.
He was Ozeki for a decade and in 2004 after a Yusho with 13-2 had a Jun-Yusho with 12-3 but no promotion. He deserved the status much more than Hoshoryu today.
It’s that kind of “missed opportunity” that the committee members likely had on their minds. Konishiki had some tantalizingly close runs, as well. But how many tournaments will it take for Hoshoryu or Onosato to win two consecutive? March 2025? Or years?
Then there was a strong and healthy Yokozuna, not a retiring one.
It‘s as simple as that.
(Though the presence of the Uncle then means that Kaio‘s 25-5 were even more difficult to achieve than the Nephew‘s now…)