The year 2024 (Reiwa 6) may be a pivotal year as it opens with one Yokozuna on the banzuke: Terunofuji. However, Ozeki Kirishima had just won the tournament in Kyushu in November so he is a promotion candidate and can join Terunofuji at the rank. Sekiwake Kotonowaka also has his eyes on higher rank. Thirteen wins is a monumental task but if he does it, Ozeki promotion will surely follow. Meanwhile, Terunofuji has been absent for several basho, only completing one tournament in 2023. Intai looms for the Kaiju.
At the same time, several promising young wrestlers are beginning to make their collective presence felt. Hakuoho, the Miyagino-beya phenom, comes back from surgery on his shoulder. Onosato makes his debut in the top division. Atamifuji hopes to build on his consecutive jun-yusho and make a run for sanyaku. Gonoyama and Kinbozan establish themselves in Makuuchi. Even with those talents and those names, there is a whole crop of other young wrestlers who can make 2024 their breakout year.
Hatsu Basho (Tokyo, 1/14-1/28)
| Topic | Wrestlers |
|---|---|
| Yusho | Makuuchi: Terunofuji (13-2) Juryo: Takerufuji (13-2) Makushita: Wakatakakage (7-0) Sandanme: Fujiseiun (7-0) Jonidan: Aonishiki (7-0) Jonokuchi: Anhibiki (7-0) |
| Special Prizes | Outstanding Performance: Wakamotoharu (1st) Fighting Spirit: Onosato (1st) Technique: Kotonowaka (1st) |
| Retirements | Azumaryu, Chiyoarashi, Keitenkai, Itadaki |
| Recruits | TBD |
| Link to Match Day Action | Click Here for Tournament Summary Page |
Post-Hatsu Hiatus
With no Jungyo in February, there are still several “off-dohyo” news stories. The Sumo Kyokai hosted several events at Kokugikan. The first week of the off-season included Tochinoshin’s retirement ceremony and the promotion announcement and ceremony for Kotonowaka, our newest Ozeki. The Kyokai also announced the names of four rikishi returning to Juryo. Though there were no “shin-juryo” debuts, we saw the eagerly anticipated returns of Wakatakakage and Hakuoho, as well as the returns of journeymen Tsushimanada and Kitaharima.
The second week of the off-season featured a pair of sumo events, the NHK Charity Sumo event and the Fuji TV tournament. Hoshoryu henka’d his way through the field to a decent pay-day while Chiyoshoma probably helped pay for his wedding ceremony and honeymoon with his Juryo title purse.
Ichinojo hosted his own danpatsushiki at a local Tokyo hotel, which was attended by a number of current and former Mongolian sekitori, including Kirishima. His haircut was not at Kokugikan, which is the usual venue for long-term sekitori retirement ceremonies, because of the fractured relationship with his former stablemaster. So, instead of having Minato-oyakata take the final snip, that honor was reserved for Ishiura’s father, who coached Ichinojo in high school.
In another sign that the world is moving past the Covid pandemic, the Kokugikan hosted its 5000 person choral and orchestral tribute to Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. The event, known as the DaiKu (第九), features many local junior and senior musicians and chorus groups, culminating in a rousing rendition of Beethoven’s 9th.
Hakuho did not attend Ichinojo’s haircut ceremony because he was too busy hosting his annual Hakuho Cup and the inaugural Dream Girls female sumo tournament. The Hakuho Cup was in its 14th iteration and features wrestlers from pre-school through middle school at Kokugikan. This year, Hakuho also created a Dream Girls female sumo competition.
Hakuho and the Kyokai were probably a bit thankful for the busy schedules because the biggest news item was yet to come. Days after these events, news broke of a bullying scandal which claimed the bintsuke-coated scalp of the stable’s top rikishi, Hokuseiho. Hokuseiho had been hastily withdrawn mid-basho in January and rumors soon swirled of scandal. After the wanpaku tournaments and the choral concert, the Compliance Committee met and announced various damning findings regarding his physical abuse of junior wrestlers.
The most surprising element of the controversy was not the swift downfall of Hokuseiho. His continued position in the sumo world was untenable. It seemed he burned many bridges with his bugspray torches and his resignation was quickly accepted by the Kyokai.
What really shocked sumo fans was news that Hakuho would also be punished, and it did not seem to be an overreaction. Hakuho had apparently known of Hokuseiho’s habitual abuse of fellow rikishi for over a year but did nothing. He was demoted to the lowest oyakata rank of toshiyori, and had his salary hit. Demotions and pay cuts are rather standard outcomes of these scandals but in an unprecedented move, the Kyokai announced that a caretaker stablemaster would assume supervision over Miyagino-beya for the upcoming March tournament and for a future period to be determined.
At the time of this update, many of the details, including the identity of the caretaker(s), are to be determined. What we do know is that that the caretaker will be from Isegahama-ichimon, so we provided a list of the potential candidates. It is unknown whether one oyakata will be tapped for this overseer role, or whether a small team will work together to train Miyagino in how to run a stable. Isegahama-ichimon will report back to the Kyokai after the tournament in Osaka and we will see what happens. Sumo fandom waits with bated breath.
In a bit of more positive leadership news, former Homasho officially inherited the Shikoroyama kabu. He has been acting stablemaster of Shikoroyama-beya and takes over full time now.
Haru Basho (Osaka, 3/10-3/24)
Before the official release of the banzuke on 2/26, Leonid discussed the promotions, demotions, and ranking-sheet issues in his Banzuke Crystal Ball. All Miyagino-beya news and speculation was put on hold during the tournament. That did not stop many outlets from spreading rumors about the imminent closure of the heya on the eve of the tournament. But after the first few days, it was clear that no change would be made now, no decision would be made now, no need to report on anything now. Wait until after the tournament. So we will wait until after the tournament.
| Topic | Wrestlers |
|---|---|
| Yusho | Makuuchi: Takerufuji (13-2) Juryo: Mitoryu (13-2) Makushita: Kazekeno Sandanme: Nagamura Jonidan: Tochimaru Jonokuchi: Chiyooga |
| Special Prizes | Outstanding Performance: Takerufuji Fighting Spirit: Takerufuji, Onosato Technique: Takerufuji, Onosato |
| Recruitments | |
| Retirements | Terutsuyoshi, Yuki |
| Link to Match Day Action | Click here for Tournament Summary Page |
This tournament began with such optimism. However, that optimism rapidly evaporated as Terunofuji and the Ozeki under-performed from opening day.
Spring Tour
The Jungyo kicked off on 3/31 at Ise Grand Shrine with a tournament won by Kotonowaka. I am tracking the action on a dedicated page, here. With Yuki’s retirement, the Kyokai needed a replacement for the bow-twirling ceremony. They may have found one in Asanowaka and he tested out his technique for the first time at the Ise Grand Shrine event.