promotion

Post-Hatsu 2026 News Round-Up

Andy Juryo (十両), promotion, Takakeishō (貴景勝), Terunofuji (照ノ富士)

You thought you were rid of me for six weeks. Think again. There are a handful of news items I wanted to bring to your attention.

Minatogawa-Beya (湊川部屋)

Former Ozeki Takakeisho has officially taken the reins at his old stable. Tokiwayama-oyakata, the former shisho (master), will turn 65 right before the next tournament starts on March 1. Currently, 65 is the mandatory retirement age. There is some speculation that might be changed but it’s difficult to imagine many folks will be happy with that if the number of available kabu remains the same.

For a period of five years, the former master can stay on as san’yo in more of an advisory capacity. Current Miyagino-oyakata (Yokozuna Asahifuji) is an example of someone in this san’yo position. However, the master has to hand things over to the next master. Just as Isegahama handed things over to Terunofuji, Tokiwayama-oyakata has passed the baton to Takakeisho. We wish Takakeisho well in this exciting new chapter of his career. This does not make me feel old, at all.

Juryo Promotions

The Japan Sumo Association officially released the names of the three Makushita wresters who will be promoted to Juryo. As Leonid alluded to in his Makushita coverage post, Toshinofuji, Fukuzaki, and Shimazuumi were the three leading candidates for promotion after their senshuraku wins. Toshinofuji and Fukuzaki finished with 5-2 records from Ms2W and Ms3W, respectively, while Shimazuumi managed 6-1 from Ms5W.

Shimazuumi returns to the Juryo after spending the past year in the third division after rehabbing an injury. Toshinofuji and Fukuzaki are bing promoted for the first time. Fukuzaki has also taken on a new shikona with his sekitori promotion. He is now Fujitensei and joins his stablemates Fujiseiun and Fujiryoga as sekitori. This leaves Himukamaru (4-3 from Ms2 East) on the outside, looking in.

Terunofuji Haircut on Abema

Terunofuji’s retirement ceremony will begin at 10:30am on Saturday, Japan Time. That’s 8:30pm Eastern time, 7:30pm Central in the US. It’s apparently being covered on Abema which will be nice for those in Japan — or those with VPNs who can pretend to be there. It should give a bit of a sample of what hanazumo is like.

Terunofuji will perform a dohyo-iri and there will likely be demonstrations of drumming and the hairstyling on the dohyo, as well as jinku singing, shokkiri, possibly some exhibition bouts before the haircut ceremony begins.

Aonishiki Promoted to Ozeki; Juryo Promotions Released

Andy Banzuke, Banzuke (番付), Juryo (十両), promotion, Sumo Topics , ,

Before heading out on holidays, there is a bit of news to bring to you sumo fans. The banzuke committee meets after each tournament and has drawn up the ranking sheet for Hatsu 2026. Most of it will remain secret until two weeks before action kicks off. However, these promotions are formally announced ahead of time so the heya and wrestlers can get acclimated to their new status and duties.

Aonishiki Promoted to Ozeki

As expected Ajigawa-beya’s Ukrainian phenom, Aonishiki, was promoted to Ozeki after his dramatic and triumphant Play-off yusho in Kyushu. The Sumo Association played it a bit coy heading into the tournament, dismissing promotion chances and saying that his September result would be the official start of his Ozeki run and they did not intend to include his 11-win result from Maegashira 1.

However, his late yusho march flipped the script and forced the Association’s hand. He did not just meet the unofficial 33-win benchmark, he plowed through it with a Playoff victory over a Yokozuna to boot. To be honest, I had hoped he would face Onosato again in the playoff but it was not to be with Onosato’s unfortunate injury and late scratch from senshuraku action. As it was, he beat Hoshoryu again with a wild takedown.

In the video below, Asakayama and Oshima oyakata came by to represent the Sumo Association for the promotion ceremony.

Aonishiki’s promotion will create a bit of balance on the banzuke, evening out the sanyaku ranks and eliminating the need for a Yokozuna-Ozeki. As I noted in my banzuke post from a few weeks ago, two Ozeki are required for a hon-basho and lately Hoshoryu has been carrying the distinction of being Yokozuna and Ozeki on the West Side. Since we won’t be seeing that for a while, to see what that looks like on the ranking sheet, check out that Anatomy of a Banzuke post. This will also eliminate that Maegashira 18 East position. So, we’ll have four full sanyaku ranks to start 2026 (Reiwa 8).

Juryo Promotions

Leonid has been following the progress of Makushita tsukedashi wrestlers since the most recent policy changes. Check the post below for his most recent update. Gone are the days of Makushita 10 debuts, like Endo. Now, those wrestlers with sufficient success in the amateur ranks can be skipped only as high as Makushita 60 when they debut.

One such wrestler, Kazuma, has earned his Juryo promotion by virtue of his Makushita Yusho, alongside Kyokukaiyu and Dewanoryu. It is worth noting that Kazuma defeated Enho on his way to the yusho. For his part, Enho finished 5-2 and will move up in the division, closer to the promotable range.

Kyokukaiyu will return to the ranks of sekitori after a one basho absence. Justin wrote a profile on him when he was initially promoted into Makushita. His 6-9 record in September forced him to be demoted but he has quickly been repromoted after a 5-2 in Kyushu. Dewanoryu of Oshima-beya has earned his promotion after spending much of the last five years grinding his way through the third division.

Congratulations to all of the promotees! Update your banzuke guesses accordingly!

The winter Jungyo tour will begin this coming weekend and will wind its way around southern Japan for much of the month of December. I hope to bring a few posts of the tour as well as the New Year celebrations. There is much mochi-pounding action ahead!

Onosato Promoted to Yokozuna

Andy promotion

Onosato was officially promoted to Yokozuna today. Kotoshogiku paid a visit to his former rival’s heya to represent the Kyokai and deliver the news, along with Dewanoumi-oyakata. Hat tip to Herouth for noticing that Kotoeko’s retirement ceremony this weekend will likely be our first glimpse of his dohyo-iri.

Juryo Promotions

The banzuke committee also announced promotions to Juryo, yusho winner Otsuji and Kotokuzan. While the other promotions and demotions have not been announced, you can review Leonid’s analysis of the likely banzuke movements here.

Some sad news to report as a list of retirements was shared. Along with Satonofuji, several of his heyamates retired, including Raiho, Hayatefuji, and Ono. Sawaisamu also called it a career. Others who joined them in the next chapter of their lives are Ryusei, Masuminato, and Kaitoma.

Lastly, there is a scandal brewing that necessitated an update of the scandal-meter. A gyoji has reportedly embezzeled hundreds of thousands of dollars from charitable donations and using the money for gambling. I’m sure more information will come out soon as this sounds like a criminal matter, rather than a civil one. I will bring more details when I have them.

Are we really going to see a double Yokozuna promotion?

bradk promotion, Yokozuna (横綱)

On top of all the normal excitement for the first basho of the year, Hatsu 2025 brings the added anticipation of a potential double Yokozuna promotion. With Kotozakura and Hoshoryu both on rope runs, how likely are we to see two new Yokozuna in March?

Taken individually, both men are in range of “normal” pre-Yokozuna careers. Since 1958, wrestlers promoted to Yokozuna have needed an average of 32 tournaments in makuuchi to achieve the rank. Kotozakura is in his 28th tournament and Hoshoryu is only one behind at 27. Both rikishi are in the average range of others promoted to Yokozuna.

ShikonaBasho to Promotion
Taiho11
Futahaguro12
Asashoryu13
Kitanoumi15
Wajima15
Akebono15
Kashiwado19
Hakuho19
Chiyonofuji22
Hokutoumi23
Tochinoumi23
Sadanoyama25
Takanohana26
Wakanohana (56)27
Onokuni28
Wakanohana (45)31
Terunofuji31
Asashio35
Tamanoumi36
Kitanofuji37
Takanosato43
Kakuryu44
Asahifuji45
Musashimaru46
Harumafuji47
Wakanohana (66)47
Kotozakura57
Mienoumi60
Kisenosato73

In the case of Hoshoryu, a promotion would be somewhat surprising only because of how precisely “on average” he has been. As seen in the table below, The Nephew has been right on pace with the number of tournaments spent at every level. A top performance and promotion in January would be 4 tournaments early!

 

Tournaments at rank

 OzekiSekiwakeKomusubiMaegashiraTotal
Average*13.35.93.29.431.9
Kotozakura6341528
Hoshoryu963927
  • 1958-Present

If either Kotozakura or Hoshoryu earn promotion, it would be unremarkable. But what about both? While it has only happened in 1961 and 1970, the two have something in their favor. In both previous double-promotions, the rikishi were on similar career arcs to one another. In January 1970, Tamanoumi was promoted after his 36th Makuuchi tournament. Kitanofuji joined him after his 37th tournament. Similarly, in September 1961, Taiho was promoted after only his 11th tournament. While Kashiwado got the rope after his 19th basho. The 8 basho gap seems significant; but only 8 men have achieved the rank of Yokozuna in under 20 tournaments: so they are in a similar grouping. The 28 tournaments for Kotozakura and 27 for Hoshoryu fit the pattern of rikishi at similar stages in their career enjoying simultaneous promotion.

In the modern area, there has been one joint promotion of fast risers in 1961 and one joint promotion of slightly slower than average champions in 1970. Perhaps we are due for a pair of slightly faster than average ascenders in 2025. But it seems highly unlikely.

In a fitting twist, the sumo spirits seem to have other pairs ready to ruin the party. At the top Terunofuji is set to appear and reassert his dominance. An even greater threat is probably Onosato. Right below the Ozeki, the Waka- brothers will be looking to continue their rise. And further down still, Takerufuji and Hakuoho seem set to rack up early wins against overmatched opponents in hopes of playing late spoilers.

January 12th can’t get here soon enough!