This page will be a consolidated spot for all links to content related to Hatsu 2024. This tournament, taking place 1/14-1/28, opens with Ozeki Kirishima in position for Yokozuna promotion with a yusho. Sekiwake Kotonowaka could also earn promotion, this for the rank of Ozeki, with a strong 13-wins. The tournament is ongoing so this page is subject to change on a frequent basis.
Banzuke
Guess the Banzuke is not only a popular game run by Moti, it’s a lot of fun. Leonid Kruglyak is our resident expert for all the banzuke machinations. So, for simplicity, I’ve got links to Leonid’s banzuke prediction content: Looking ahead, Banzuke Crystal Ball, Postmortem. Here is the Makuuchi Division ranking sheet.
| East | Rank | West |
|---|---|---|
| Terunofuji | Yokozuna | |
| Kirishima | Ozeki | Hoshoryu |
| Ozeki | Takakeisho | |
| Kotonowaka | Sekiwake | Daieisho |
| Takayasu | Komusubi | Ura |
| Wakamotoharu | Maegashira 1 | Atamifuji |
| Midorifuji | Maegashira 2 | Abi |
| Gonoyama | Maegashira 3 | Hokutofuji |
| Tobizaru | Maegashira 4 | Shodai |
| Ryuden | Maegashira 5 | Nishikigi |
| Kinbozan | Maegashira 6 | Shonannoumi |
| Ichiyamamoto | Maegashira 7 | Asanoyama |
| Hokuseiho | Maegashira 8 | Hiradoumi |
| Mitakeumi | Maegashira 9 | Meisei |
| Tamawashi | Maegashira 10 | Sadanoumi |
| Tsurugisho | Maegashira 11 | Oho |
| Takanosho | Maegashira 12 | Myogiryu |
| Churanoumi | Maegashira 13 | Endo |
| Kotoshoho | Maegashira 14 | Onosho |
| Tomokaze | Maegashira 15 | Onosato |
| Takarafuji | Maegashira 16 | Bushozan |
| Shimazuumi | Maegashira 17 | Aoiyama |
Match Day Coverage
Day-to-day coverage is found here at the links in the table below. No need for the “infinite scroll.” YAY!
Special Prizes and Awards
At the beginning of the tournament, Kirishima was awarded the Rikishi of the Year, presented by Hochi News. Atamifuji was presented with the award for New Rikishi of the Year from Chunichi Sports.
Hatsu 2024 Sansho
At the end of the action, Wakamotoharu was awarded his first Outstanding Performance prize (shukun-sho) while Kotonowaka just missed out. Wakamotoharu’s principle achievement was to accumulate 10 wins from the maegashira 1 rank. Those ten wins included upsets of Terunofuji, Takakeisho, and Kotonowaka.
There is something a bit poetic in this accomplishment as he defeated a current, future, and former Ozeki (w/ Takayasu as the former). Kotonowaka needed to win the yusho in order to win it. That was a rather high bar. Shodai’s upset of Terunofuji and Midorifuji’s upset of Kirishima impacted the yusho race but their otherwise poor records meant they were not anywhere close to earning a prize.
Onosato won the Fighting Spirit prize (kanto-sho) and Shimazuumi had a chance but came up just short. Onosato led the charge of rank-and-filers who shook up the yusho race in his first tournament in the top division. Aside from his Day 3 loss to Onosho, his only losses were to Kotonowaka, Hoshoryu, and a humbling against Terunofuji.
Kotonowaka won his first Technique prize (gino-sho) as he employed a variety of six different kimarite in his wins, including the old standards of oshidashi, yorikiri and hatakikomi, as well as uwatenage, katasukashi, and okuridashi.
Lower division titles
Lower division yusho races featured a number of prospects. The Juryo title was claimed by Terunofuji’s stablemate, Takerufuji, who joined the Yokozuna in the yusho parade car. Makushita was won by Wakatakakage as he jump starts his comeback after a shaky 5-2 in Kyushu. Fujiseiun won in Sandanme while Ajigawa’s prospects, Aonishiki and Anhibiki, won Jonidan and Jonokuchi.
Retirements
Azumaryu retired after the banzuke came out. It was clear that he would fall from Juryo.
Azumaryu
Chiyoarashi
Itadaki
Recruiting Class (Maezumo)
Notes in the comments come from a TBS source, shared by Asashosakari. Thank you!
| Name (Shikona) | Heya | Shusshin | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akiyama Ren (Akiyama) | Takekuma | Tokyo | 167cm, 98kg, 18 |
| Nishida Takumi (Kyokutairyu) | Oshima | Hokkaido | 177cm, 138kg, 17 |
| Koguchi Jiro (Kyokutendo) | Oshima | Chiba | 177cm, 139kg, 18 |
| Onozawa Ayato (Onozawa) | Oitekaze | Saitama | 167cm, 141kg, 18 |
| Sato Riku (Nishikio) | Nishikido | Tokyo | 173cm, 141kg, 18 |
| Inami Koki (Inami) | Onoue | Kagoshima | 189cm, 145kg, 23 |
| Usufbayal Demidejamutsu (Demi)* | Miyagino | Mongolia | 192cm, 127kg, 23 |
| Kato Teni (Kato) | Nishonoseki | Akita | 182cm, 112kg, 18 |
| Shibuya Ikkyo (Shibuya) | Nishonoseki | Ibaragi | 184cm, 113kg, 18 |
| Suzuki Ruichi (Suzunofuji) | Isegahama | Shizuoka | 183cm, 133kg, 18 |
| Ichikizaki Daisuke (Ayanofuji) | Isegahama | Kagoshima | 184cm, 158kg, 18 |