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.
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!
After the Nagoya basho, I reviewed the performance of the wrestlers who debuted at Ms60 under the Makushita tsukedashi system after it was changed at the end of 2023. We then followed them at Aki. Let’s take a brief look at how our protagonists fared at Kyushu. Of the eleven rikishi in this group, ten started the basho, and nine finished it. Ms49 Gyotoku was absent for the entire tournament after withdrawing in September; apparently he’s been suffering from myocarditis. And fan favorite J3 Mita injured his knee in his day 2 bout against Kagayaki and missed the rest of the tournament. It’s not clear just how severe the injury was and when we might expect to see him again on the dohyo.
All nine full participants posted winning records, and six of them did so while fighting at their career-high rank! M5e Yoshinofuji, the rikishi formerly known as Kusano, went 9-6, posting his 10th winning record in 10 basho and earning his second technique prize. He narrowly missed out on a sanyaku debut by losing his day 15 bout against Takayasu but should be right near the top of the maegashira rankings in January. Word is that he was injured in training prior to the tournament, and his participation was in doubt. He fought much of the basho with a heavily taped calf, which makes me even more eager to see what he can accomplish when fully fit.
J12w Asasuiryu (the brother of Asakoryu; both started their careers under their family name Ishizaki) rebounded from his 7-8 sekitori debut with a 9-6 performance. I expect him to be ranked around J7 for Hatsu. Juryo debutant J13w Fujiryoga (a shikona change from Goshima) did even better, taking the yusho with a 13-2 record. A logjam at the top of Juryo will limit his rise to around J3, but he will have a good shot at earning a Makuuchi debut for Haru with another strong performance. One of his rivals for the Hatsu Juryo crown may well be Ms15w Kazuma, who got injured in his first basho in July 2024, sat out four tournaments, and has dominated since coming back, with the Jonokuchi yusho in May, the Sandanme yusho in September, and now the Makushita yusho in November. His 7-0 record from the last spot in the extended promotion zone will see him make his sekitori debut when the Juryo promotions are announced later today.
Ms11w Matsui went 4-3 and will see a bump in rank to around his Ms8 career high. Ms14w Fukuzaki debuted alongside heya-mate Fujiryoga and kept pace with him until Aki, where he hit the single-digit Makushita wall hard, finishing with a 2-5 record. He came back with a strong 6-1, losing only to the eventual champion Kazuma. This performance should take him to the Ms1-Ms5 promotion zone, with a shot at Juryo for Haru. Ms16e Hanaoka, who debuted in May, went 4-3 to post his fourth-straight kachi-koshi that will see him rise to the extended promotion zone. He’ll be joined there by the most recent debutant, Ms24w Ryusho, who improved on his first two 5-2 basho with a 6-1 performance, losing only to Kazuma in the yusho final. Finally, Jd12 Kakueizan (originally Urayama), who missed July and September with a knee injury, went 7-0 in his first comeback basho, losing the 5th-division playoff to heya-mate Ryuho. He will continue his journey in Sandanme in January, when we should also get some new Ms60TD debutants for the first time since Ryusho started in July.
Huge, late developing news from the infirmary is that Onosato is kyujo. He was wincing in pain after yesterday’s loss. Sounds like a dislocated shoulder. That hands Hoshoryu the default victory. Aonishiki has to win his bout to earn the right to contest the yusho against Hoshoryu. Sometimes the sumo kami are as cruel as the golf gods.
Just to add insult to injury, early Makuuchi bout coverage was pre-empted by coverage of the Keio/Waseda rugby game where my Keio boys got absolutely thrashed. When I was an English teacher in Hiyoshi, some of my students played rugby for Keio HS. Some of their kids might have played in today’s game.
Entering today’s action, the Association announced the Special Prize winners. Aonishiki and Yoshinofuji were awarded Technique prizes. Other Special Prizes came with conditions. Kirishima and Ichiyamamoto could each win Fighting Spirit prizes if they win today. Kirishima will face Ura and Ichiyamamoto will face Wakamotoharu. Aonishiki was also given a chance to win an Outstanding Performance Prize if he wins the yusho.
Fujiryoga defeated Hatsuyama to win the Juryo yusho in his debut. Asanoyama won his bout against Kitanowaka to finish 12-3. Leonid will have a better idea of who earned promotion as well as who has to be demoted. There seem to be a lot of demotion candidates and promotion candidates, without enough folks to take their places.
Kinbozan (6-8) defeated Sadanoumi (4-10). Sadanoumi pulled on Kinbozan’s right arm but Kinbozan spun and slapped Sadanoumi down. Hatakikomi.
Gonoyama (9-6) defeated Abi (5-10). Gonoyama assaulted Abi with tsuppari. Gonoyama thrust hard into Abi’s right shoulder, turning Abi around. Abi was just able to get righted but had no way to counter as Gonoyama shoved him out. Oshidashi.
Churanoumi (8-7) defeated Ryuden (7-8). Darwin bout. Churanoumi earned his kachi-koshi by getting a good belt grip and twisting Ryuden down. Shitatehineri.
Onokatsu (7-8) defeated Shonannoumi (3-12). Onokatsu was able to overpower Shonannoumi along the edge and walked him out. Yorikiri.
Atamifuji (8-7) defeated Mitakeumi (7-8). Our second, and last Darwin bout of the evening. Mitakeumi tried a pull but Atamifuji didn’t fall for it. Atamifuji drove Mitakeumi back and over the bales. Oshidashi.
Halftime
Tamawashi (7-8) defeated Fujinokawa (9-6). Tamawashi’s tsuppari was to powerful for Fujinokawa and Tamawashi thrust him out. Fujinokawa spent most of the bout running away. With the win, Tamawashi passed Takanohana for the 10th most makuuchi victories, at 702. Oshidashi.
Oshoma (4-11) defeated Hiradoumi (4-11). Hiradoumi got a migi-sashi and drove forward. However, Oshoma slapped him down as he leapt into the air. Gunbai Oshoma. Mono-ii. After a review, Hiradoumi’s body was determined to have touched first, confirming the gyoji’s call. I’m not going to say anything about Aonishiki/Onosato here. I’ll let dead bodies lie. Tsukiotoshi.
Ichiyamamoto (11-4) defeated Wakamotoharu (8-7). Ichiyamamoto came out swinging for Wakamotoharu’s throat. He thrust Wakamotoharu’s left shoulder as Wakamotoharu tried to throw a slap, forcing Wakamotoharu to stumble forward and off the dohyo. Ichiyamamoto won his second Fighting Spirit prize. Okuritaoshi.
Kirishima (11-4) defeated Ura (8-7). Ura’s pull attempt ceded position but allowed him to brace along the edge. Kirishima pursued and tried to shove him out. Ura slipped right to escape but stumbled and rolled out. Kirishima won his third Fighting Spirit prize. Oshitaoshi.
Wakatakakage (7-8) defeated Roga (8-7). Hazu-oshi start with both guys thrusting into each other. Wakatakakage backed to the right and tried to slap Roga down. Roga caught his footing and tried to re-engage but WTK was in hot-pursuit and shoved Roga out. Oshidashi.
Hakuoho (6-9) defeated Shodai (4-11). Hakuoho hit Shodai hard at the tachiai, rocking Shodai back. Hakuoho pressed quickly and forced Shodai out. Yorikiri.
Sanyaku
Hoshoryu (12-3) default win over Onosato (11-4). If there’s an absence in the final scheduled bout, they shuffle it a few bouts early so the action doesn’t end with a fusen. This meant neither Yokozuna were present for the kore-yori-sanyaku which is a cool ceremony before the final three bouts on senshuraku.
Takayasu (8-7) defeated Yoshinofuji (9-6). The bout started with a brawl, tsuppari flying. Yoshinofuji tried to settle into a grapple with a left-hand inside grip. Takayasu’s left-hand grip seemed more secure and he drove forward as Yoshinofuji tried to pull. Takayasu threw Yoshinofuji off the dohyo. Takayasu won the arrows and saves a spot in sanyaku. He might even move up to Sekiwake? Oshitaoshi.
Oho (7-8) defeated Takanosho (5-10). Oho used good tsuppari and footwork to earn position at the center of the ring and force Takanosho to the edge. Takanosho tried a pull and wanted to escape to his left but Oho shoved him out. Oho got the bow strings. Oshidashi.
A consequence of shifting the musubi-no-ichiban was that Kotozakura/Aonishiki suddenly was musubi-no-ichiban and had a ton of kensho. The yobidashi would walk around the ring, step down, and grab another set of banners to display. I don’t know why but the guy with the One Cup Ozeki banner always seems to be a couple of steps slower than everyone else. Anyway, the winner will get a bigger pay day than they were expecting. Will that make Kotozakura fight harder for the win?
Aonishiki (12-3) defeated Kotozakura (8-7). Solid tachiai and the two men settled into a grapple. Kotozakura had a left-hand uwate while Aonishiki had his right-hand inside. Kotohachinana’s right knee was within range of Aonishiki’s left hand so Aonishiki swept the knee and forced the Ozeki forward. (Hat tip to jbipes for the brilliant nickname.) What a way to force a playoff. Uchimuso!
Playoff
Aonishiki defeated Hoshoryu! Aonishiki did it again! Aonishiki Yusho!!!! Hoshoryu pulled after trading tsuppari. Aonishiki sprung forward and wrapped up Hoshoryu from behind, dragging him to the deck. What the hell was that?
Wrap-up
Well, Aonishiki broke his string of 11-wins by picking up #12 against Kotozakura. He claimed an Outstanding Performance Prize for the mantle, next to the yusho. This will be absolutely heart-breaking for Hoshoryu. He missed out on his first yusho as Yokozuna and gets beaten again by the Sekiwake.
And even better, Aonishiki has earned promotion to Ozeki. We’ll bring more of the official announcement when it comes before Thanksgiving, hopefully grab some tai from the butcher to celebrate…or at least some taiyaki from the freezer.
Time to revisit an old post about the Japanese phrase, “aikuchi ga warui” and “aikuchi ga ii.” Aonishiki certainly has Hoshoryu’s number, so we should say, “aikuchi ga ii” when we talk about Aonishiki’s record against Hoshoryu. He does very well facing Hoshoryu, doesn’t he?
Only the two final bouts matter: Aonishiki (11-3) vs. Kotozakura and the Yokozuna clash between Onosato (11-3) and Hoshoryu (11-3). A win by Aonoshiki gets him a spot in a playoff, while a loss eliminates him from contention. His Ozeki chances may also hang in the balance—the shimpan department has announced that they’ll hold a special meeting to discuss a potential promotion after the basho. The head-to-head favors the Sekiwake 2-1. The outcome of the last regulation bout will either determine the other playoff participant or the outright winner. The head-to-head in regulation favors Hoshoryu 7-1, with Onosato also winning their most recent meeting in the September playoff.
Sanyaku
K1e Takanosho (5-9) will vacate his spot. S1w Oho (6-8) and K1w Takayasu (7-7) both need final-day wins to stay in the named ranks. And as discussed above, there is a chance that Aonishiki’s spot could open up via promotion. So we could have anywhere between one and four new sanyaku members. M2e Kirishima (10-4) should be a lock for the first open spot, regardless of his day 15 result. The other contenders are M2w Wakamotoharu (8-6), M5e Yoshinofuji (9-5), M3w Ura (8-6), and perhaps M8e Ichiyamamoto (10-4). Yoshinofuji fights Takayasu tomorrow in what looks like an exchange bout. Kirishima faces Ura, and Wakamotoharu takes on Ichiyamamoto.
Meisei, Shonannoumi, and Sadanoumi are fully booked on the Juryo barge, with nonrefundable tickets. In their place, Asanoyama will make his long-awaited return to the top division, where he’ll be joined by his heya-mate Asahakuryu and by Hatsuyama, both of whom will be making their Makuuchi debuts. The final two spots will almost certainly go to the winners of the two day 15 crossover bouts that pit Kotoeiho against Asakoryu and Oshoumi against Fujiseiun. Daiseizan has rapidly dropped from first to 6th in the promotion queue and should be out of luck even with a win—which would be a rare miss for a 10-5 J3, but there’s no room at the inn.
