We received the news today that Onosato’s promotion to Ozeki is official. The Kyokai made them stand there and wait for a half-hour before getting down to business. The actual ceremony lasted about 50 seconds. I mean, the kid isn’t used to waiting. He didn’t even wait to get an oicho-mage before earning this promotion. But they waited so long, he might be able to get one now.
Leonid predicted the six Juryo promotions correctly. It did end up being six promotions, not seven. We will probably not know who was demoted, and who escaped, until the banzuke comes out. Do you think Kiryuko stays? The list of promotees is:
Wakaikari (Isenoumi)
Aonishiki (Ajigawa)
Kotoeiho (Sadogatake)
Tochitaikai (Kasugano)
Chiyomaru (Kokonoe)
Nabatame (Futagoyama)
The first three are new to the division. Kototebakari changed his shikona to Kotoeiho. The character for “ei” is the same for Sakae, as in his Saitama Sakae High School. Hō is the same as in his brother’s shikona, Kotoshoho.
The Kokugikan Barber Shop will be busy in 2025. Aki Basho 2024 has become a real turning point for professional sumo. We have been discussing a “changing of the guard,” and three popular wrestlers have decided to call it a career. When Takakeisho announced his retirement mid-basho, it was rather apparent that others would follow.
On Tuesday, we learned that two more sekitori would trade in their mawashi for blue jackets and become elders in the Japan Sumo Association: Myogiryu and Aoiyama. Fans of oshi-tsuki are losing three top Pusher-Thrusters in one fell swoop. These announcements come just before the Kyokai will make the Kyushu banzuke and announce Juryo promotions.
Takakeisho
Takakeisho, the former Ozeki, retired in the middle of the tournament after going kyujo. His injuries were too great, and he had lost the ability to compete at this high level. His childhood dream was always to become Yokozuna, so it was very hard to let it go and call it a career when he was so tantalizingly close to achieving it. Demotion plus kyujo meant he would be chasing the dream from the rank-and-file in Kyushu and the goal was slipping farther from his grasp.
He had started his career as Sato back it 2014 in Takanohana-beya. Starting in maezumo, he rose up the ranks relatively quickly, securing three yusho in Jonokuchi, Jonidan and Juryo on his way to his Makuuchi debut in 2017. His rise was well timed as the stable was ensnared in the Harumafuji, Takanoiwa, Takanofuji, and Takagenji scandals.
His career and his success, along with stablemate Takanosho, likely served as a bouy for current Tokiwayama-oyakata during those difficult times as he took the reigns from Takanohana. There may have been storm clouds all around but T-Rex was on the straight-and-narrow, and will serve the Kyokai well. Takakeisho will remain with the Kyokai as Minatogawa-oyakata.
Myogiryu
Myogiryu (Sakaigawa-beya) was a successful amateur wrestler from the prolific Saitama Sakae High School who then joined the sumo powerhouse Nihon Sports Science University (NittaiDai). His career earned him a Makushita debut and he rose quickly to Juryo in 2010, but was injured in his debut tournament.
He fell back to Sandanme as he recovered but rose into Makuuchi where he established himself as a regular and a favorite. He was regularly in sanyaku during his prime, topping out at the rank of Sekiwake. His six kinboshi and six technique prizes help to pad his resume and monthly bonus check. The knee injury continued to plague him and forced him to drop out of this latest tournament. He will become Furiwake-oyakata.
Aoiyama
Aoiyama (Kasugano-beya), one of the few wrestlers from Europe (Bulgaria), was always a big hit with foreign sumo fans. Like Takakeisho and Myogiryu, Aoiyama was known for his oshi-zumo. When that V-Twin was fired up, opponents would get battered or slapped to the ground with no mercy granted. He rose quickly through the ranks, winning yusho in Jonokuchi, Jonidan, and Makushita.
Aoiyama blasted his way into the top division at Kyushu in 2011, taking 11 wins and going home with a special prize. He had been a Top Division mainstay until injuries really took their toll earlier this year. His peak rank was Sekiwake. Hat tip to reader, Checkit, for reminding me to include his future plans. He will take on the elder name, Iwatomo.
More to come?
Kabu-watch is in full swing. I will bring you more retirement news as soon as I hear it. With all of these announcements, I will update you with news on when the ceremonies will be. They won’t happen before 2025, that’s for sure. These guys need time to promote the events.
The Makushita yusho went to Ms16e Hatsuyama. Hatsuyama is ranked just a single rung below where a 7-0 record would normally lead to Juryo promotion, but see below. He debuted as a Sandanme tsukedashi back in March 2022 and has spent two years in Makushita, getting as high as Ms4.
In the Ms1-Ms5 promotion zone, six rikishi went kachi-koshi, qualifying them for a shot at a Juryo slot. They are top-ranked Ms1e Tochitaikai (4-3), young Ukrainian sensation Ms4w Aonishiki (6-1), His Roundness Ms3w Chiyomaru (5-2), Ms2w Wakaikari (4-3), Ms5w Kototebakari (5-2), and Ms4e Nabatame (4-3). We could spend time debating the exact pecking order among them, but it doesn’t really matter—they should all be promoted. That’s because there are nominally seven openings in Juryo. One is created by Takakeisho’s retirement, sliding everyone below him up a rung. The other six, in rough order of demotion probability, are J13w Chiyosakae (0-4-11), J9w Myogiryu (0-0-15), J12w Kiryuko (4-11), J3w Asanoyama (0-0-15), J13e Aoiyama (5-10), and J14w Oshoumi (6-9). The first three are going down for sure, as are two of the last three. But does one get to stay, and if so, who, or do they go with an unconventional 7th promotion? The options there are the above-mentioned Hatsuyama, Ms6w Kaisho (4-3), Ms9w Kamito (5-2), and Ms13w Miyagi (6-1). I don’t really like any of these, but something has to give.
We’ll get to satisfy our curiosity regarding who’s going up in a couple of days, but if it’s just the six (or fewer), we won’t know whom they’ve opted to save until banzuke day.
