The ranking list for the upcoming Nagoya basho has been released. Onosato will make his debut as Yokozuna on the West Side, as suspected. He enjoyed a hometown parade today to mark the occasion, riding in an openback car with his shisho, ex-Kisenosato. He’s the first Yokozuna from Ishikawa prefecture since the great Wajima in 1973. Shifting back to the banzuke, there will be three Sekiwake in Nagoya. It’s a bit of a surprise that Takayasu survives as Komusubi West, leaving Aonishiki in the top maegashira slot.
More importantly, Wakaikari has changed his shikona to Fujinokawa Seigo as he makes his top division debut. As an aside, ex-Fujinokawa Yuji (also from Isenoumi-beya) just passed away earlier this month from cancer. Note that he had been winner of the great belt buckle in his university/amazumo days. He had a short career in Isenoumi-beya. At the time, Isenoumi beya was headed by another former Fujinokawa (Takeo), who was stable master for Oikari — Wakaikari’s dad. So I am not sure if Wakaikari’s change is a nod to one or both men. I will dig into it more. While I figure it out, enjoy these clips of Fujinokawa Takeo, ex-Sekiwake, ex-Isenoumi Oyakata. *I added their first names to help keep track of who’s who.*
Kusano and Kotoeiho join him as Shin’nyumaku and Mitakeumi and Hidenoumi return to Makuuchi. Tamashoho, Tochitaikai, Shonannoumi, Nishikigi, and Ryuden have all gone punting on the barge to Juryo. Juryo to Makuuchi placement calculus is beyond me. I will let Leonid cover the rest of the division particulars. Review his take here.
Asanoyama is on the top rung of the Makushita ladder while Enho dangles at Ms16 East. According to the SumoDB it’s been nearly 50 years since a wrestler has been promoted to Juryo from as deep in the division as Enho is, and obviously that took a yusho. A more realistic path to Enho’s promotion would not see him make sekitori until early 2026 if he can put together a consistent string of solid kachi-koshi. I think he should be happy with 4-3 and ecstatic with 5-2. There are a lot of vets and some great prospects in the top of Makushita nowadays. I will be paying close attention to the kyujo list this tournament.
I am particularly eager to watch Atamifuji this tournament. He’s had a string of lackluster performances and there has been a lot of drama in the Isegahama stable at the same time. They are in a new location and Terunofuji is stablemaster now. Hakuho might be enjoying some beers in Asashoryu’s yurt while he tries to organize his new sumo venture. But I wonder if this will lighten the mood around the heya. Atamifuji is also rather far down the banzuke and he will be slated to fight guys that he should beat.
Regardless, I am just happy sumo is right around the corner. Aren’t you all?
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My Sumo withdrawals are becoming a serious matter.
Yes, happy! And looking forward to seeing Kotoeiho’s lovely shiko in the top division.
Thanks for the clips of Fujinokawa Takeo! Those were some wild bouts. I loved how he dispatched the guy with the flying henka, who seemed to try to undress him in revenge.
Super-cool. He’s a fun watch
I’m going to need to find more and dig through their archive footage.
Yes, Andy, I‘m very happy about it. And I‘m very much looking forward to Kusano. As they placed him down at M14, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was in the yusho race until day 10 at least. And maybe, if Onosato slipped in his first basho as Yokozuna, Kusano might even do „the Takerufuji“! Besides those two, I‘ll also be watching Hoshoryu and Aonishiki eagerly.
I’ve noticed that many of the matches begin without both fists being down. Has that rule changed since these sumo matches?
Otherwise, thanks for posting. He’s a lot of fun to watch.
Can’t wait for more sumo soon. I’m really looking forward to seeing if one of the Sekiwaki can overcome the numbers to make it up to Ozeki. I’m really rooting for Daieisho, but wouldn’t be upset if Wakatakakage moves up.
Yeah, Herouth found an awesome documentary a while back that showed when the two hands down rule was implemented. Chiyonofuji was Yokozuna back then. I’ll see if I can find it and try to store the link in a good place here.
What is the kimarite for the win at 6:32 in the video? I’ve never seen anything like that!
I wonder if Isenoumi beya has a history of emphasizing modern weight training methods?
It looked like they called that an oshitaoshi.
Looks like they gave Hakuoho an unexpected bonus promotion. Are they trying to entice him away from Hakuho’s new venture, or is it just because he finished all 15 bouts in May even though he appeared to have a pretty serious injury after day 9.
He’s exactly where I had him in my banzuke prediction post.
So not too bad this time. 21 bullseyes and 8 hits for 50 points. I did however manage to get points at every rank. My biggest misses were Gonoyama & Chiyoshoma (both of whom I had 2 full ranks too high) and of course Takayasu whom I had a M2E.
wait, you had Gonoyama and Chiyoshoma higher?
Oops I misspoke (or failed at simple arithmetic) !! I had them 2 full ranks too LOW:
I had Gonoyama at M8W & Chiyoshoma at M11W
I had a go at the banzuke crystal ball. I think I need to revisit the rationale you’ve explained previously Iksumo. I’m not sharing where I was right or wrong, but was fun to try !
Can’t wait until Sunday morning. I need sumo more than ever right now. It’s absorbing in its blend of tradition, characters, action, upsets, and off-dohyo drama.
Two Sundays from now. The tournament starts on the 13th.
Oops, wishing my life away! Thanks Andy, no reason to jump up bright and early on Sunday. I knew that; after all, the banzuke comes out a couple of weeks prior to the start. I must be desperate for the bright point of sumo, and of course more tachiai.org 😁
Given this upcoming tournament is Nagoya, and it’s going to be hot hot hot, extreme heat and humidity, is there possibility for a yukata fashion show (again) for us? Thank goodness for the new IG arena, with its functional ac. At least the wrestlers will be comfortable inside the venue….
Yeah, those somenuki are out for May, July and September. I will see what I can find and remember to post. Aonishiki and the other new guys will be interesting to see, as well as Onosato as Yokozuna. I wonder if he will have some new threads.