A More Wide-Open Contest Than in Previous Years: Will Someone Become Only the Seventh Wrestler in History to Win Back-to-Back Titles? Individual Competition at the National Student Sumo Championships

The 104th National Student Sumo Championships, organized by the Mainichi Shimbun, the Japan Sumo Federation, and other organizations, with sponsorship from Taisho Pharmaceutical and Ito En, will be held on October 31 and November 1 at Ryogoku Kokugikan, the sacred home of sumo. This article previews the battle for the title in the individual competition, which takes place on October 31. By Kenichi Omura.

The winner of the individual competition receives the title of “Student Yokozuna.” The top eight finishers can qualify for a tsukedashi debut in professional sumo at the equivalent of the lowest rank in the Makushita division, while the top 16 can qualify for tsukedashi at the equivalent of the lowest rank in the Sandanme division.

This season, no competitor has produced overwhelmingly dominant results across the various tournaments, making this year’s contest more wide open than usual.

Yuma Abe, a third-year student at Komazawa University and former student of Fukushima Gakuho High School, won the individual competition at the East Japan Championships in June. In August, he also won the over-135-kilogram division at the National Individual Weight-Class Championships, one of the most competitive categories, which featured many leading wrestlers. He has built an impressive record at major tournaments.

Abe is aiming to bring Komazawa its first title in 52 years, since Shizuo Ogata won in 1974. Ogata later competed in professional sumo under the shikona Amanoyama and reached the Makuuchi division as a maegashira.

Hiroki Sugimoto, a fourth-year student at Nippon Sport Science University (Nittaidai) and former student of Asahigaoka High School, affiliated with the Niina Academy, is aiming to win consecutive titles. If successful, he would become the first wrestler to do so in 28 years, since Keiji Tamiya of Nihon University won in 1997 and 1998, and only the seventh wrestler in history to achieve the feat.

Sugimoto finished second in the adult men’s individual competition at the National Sports Festival of Japan (Kokusupo) in September. In October, he also won the Kariya Sumo Tournament, which brings together university and corporate teams, showing that he has been raising his level of performance.

Nittaidai also has three other strong contenders: Bayarbold, a third-year student and former student of Kibogaoka High School; Delgerbat, also a third-year student and former student of Asahigaoka High School, affiliated with the Niina Academy; and Turbold, a second-year student and former student of Niigata Kaiyo High School.

Nihon University’s wrestlers have also been performing well in major tournaments. They include the second-year duo of Daiki Nishide, a former student of Wakayama Commercial High School, and Munkhbilguun, a former student of Tottori Johoku High School, as well as Shinnosuke Iga, a third-year student and former student of Saitama Sakae High School.

The emergence of new talent is also anticipated, including Haruto Asada, a first-year student at Toyo University and former student of Minoshima High School, who won a world junior championship title while still in high school.

Source: Mainichi Shimbun

Hoshoryu to “Make a Careful Decision” About Competing in the Kyushu Tournament; Fights 15 Practice Bouts Against Makushita and Lower-Division Wrestlers

Yokozuna Hoshoryu, who has been absent from competition for three consecutive tournaments, wrestled for the first time since arriving in Fukuoka Prefecture on the 27th. The session took place at Tatsunami stable in Itoshima, Fukuoka Prefecture. He faced wrestlers from the Makushita division and lower divisions in 15 bouts, winning 13 and losing two.

Regarding whether he will compete in the Grand Sumo Tournament in Kyushu, which begins on November 8 at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center, he said, “I’m training with the intention of competing. We won’t know until the very last moment, but I’ll talk with my stablemaster [Tatsunami Oyakata, the former komusubi Asahiyutaka] and make a decision.”

Speaking about his right knee, which underwent surgery in late July, he said, “It’s getting better day by day.”

When he made a sharp initial charge and secured a left-handed overarm grip on his opponent’s mawashi, Hoshoryu showed his natural strength. However, there were also moments when opponents attacked from a low stance and drove him back, causing him to step out of the dohyo—the sumo ring—without much resistance.

“I’m considering going to other stables for practice, but I haven’t decided when I’ll start,” he added.

Source: Kyodo News

Wakatakakage Is Prepared to Miss the Entire Kyushu Tournament to Prioritize His Health: “There’s No Point in Rushing.” After Missing Two Consecutive Tournaments, He Fell from Sekiwake to Juryo; If He Also Sits Out Kyushu, a Makushita Ranking in Next January’s Tournament Is Virtually Certain [Professional Sumo]

Wakatakakage, a 31-year-old Juryo-division wrestler from Arashio stable, spoke to the press on the 27th after morning practice at the stable’s lodgings in Sue, Fukuoka Prefecture. He did not disclose whether he would compete in the Kyushu Tournament.

Before the Nagoya Tournament, when he held the rank of sekiwake, Wakatakakage injured his left thigh and underwent emergency surgery for traumatic compartment syndrome of the left thigh.

Having missed two consecutive tournaments, he said, “There’s no point in rushing, so I’ll take things step by step.”

Regarding the timing and decision about whether to compete, he said, “I’ll discuss it with my stablemaster,” referring to Arashio Oyakata, the former Makuuchi wrestler known by the ring name Sokokurai.

For the Kyushu Tournament, which will be his first appearance in Juryo since the May 2024 Summer Tournament, Wakatakakage is ranked Juryo No. 5 on the west side. If he sits out the entire tournament, there is a strong possibility that he will lose his position among the sekitori, wrestlers in the two highest divisions of professional sumo. Even so, he is reluctant to force himself to compete before he has recovered.

In October, he resumed butsukari-geiko, a training exercise involving repeated charges and pushing against an opponent. He is now considering resuming moshiai practice bouts as well.

According to his stablemaster, if the initial medical treatment had been delayed by just an hour and a half or two hours, there would have been a high likelihood that Wakatakakage would have lost his leg. He underwent four surgical procedures.

In March 2023, during the Spring Tournament, Wakatakakage also suffered a serious injury to his right knee, damaging his anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus. He missed four consecutive tournaments but rebuilt his career from the Makushita division.

He climbed back up the rankings to reach sekiwake once again, matching the highest rank of his career, and won his second championship this May at the Summer Tournament.

Drawing on his experience of overcoming such hardships, Wakatakakage intends to keep carefully assessing his physical condition until the last possible moment before making a decision.

Source: Chunichi Sports.

I have watched matches at random when they come across my feed and I have developed a genuine interest in Sumo but I don't know where to start. I know there is a 'where to watcb' thread here but I am more interested in getting really deep into this sport.

Can you all recommend me places/people to watch that explain sport rules and history, great commentators (JP or ENG), and maybe a wiki or something to read up on current athletes?

Thanks so much!!

The joi is full of new match-ups for the first time in a while, I am hyped.

Announcement on lead actor's Instagram (Wataru Ichinose) : https://www.instagram.com/p/De71pSxkTJ7/

Announcement on Netflix Japan socials :

• https://x.com/NetflixJP/status/2114492201312845950?s=20
• https://www.instagram.com/p/De6pL_sFy_S/

[Professional Sumo] Hoshoryu Has Concerns About His Right Knee; Onosato and Aonishiki Are the Main Contenders in the Title Race… Hidenoyama Oyakata Looks Ahead to the Kyushu Tournament

The Grand Sumo Kyushu Tournament begins on November 8 at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center. At this tournament, yokozuna Onosato (26, Nishonoseki stable) will aim to win consecutive championships, while the top-ranked wrestlers, including ozeki Aonishiki (22, Ajigawa stable), are also determined to capture the Emperor’s Cup.

Meanwhile, the participation of yokozuna Hoshoryu (27, Tatsunami stable) remains uncertain as he continues recovering from surgery on his right knee.

In his regular column, “Gaburi Talk,” Hidenoyama Oyakata (42, former ozeki Kotoshogiku and a commentator for this newspaper) reports on the Autumn Jungyo tour, which he attended as a member of the judging department. Drawing on his observations of the sekitori’s training sessions, he looks ahead to the final major tournament of the year.

[Hidenoyama Oyakata — Gaburi Talk]

Hello, readers!

In October, I also participated in the Autumn Jungyo tour as a member of the judging department. I would like to look ahead to the Kyushu Tournament based on my impressions of watching the sekitori train up close during the tour.

Let’s start with the two yokozuna. Hoshoryu, who is aiming to return after surgery on his right knee, is not yet in peak condition and is still assessing how his body feels. His movements during practice also seemed more repetitive than usual, and I had the impression that he was wrestling cautiously.

The knee is a crucial part of the body because it affects a wrestler’s drive off the starting line, ability to keep his center of gravity low, and movements to stay in the bout. In particular, when a relatively light wrestler such as Hoshoryu injures his knee, his physical vulnerability tends to become more apparent.

Hoshoryu himself will probably approach his next tournament with the determination to put his continued career on the line. If he still has any concerns by the opening day, I think it would also be reasonable to devote another tournament to recovery.

In terms of ability, Onosato is the clear favorite in the title race. At the Autumn Tournament, he lifted the Emperor’s Cup for the first time in a year. On the other hand, he also had bouts in which he retreated too much or rushed to win and ended up defeating himself. Compared with the time when he was promoted to yokozuna, I found his performance somewhat disappointing.

Even watching his training during the tour, I still saw many bouts in which he seemed to react to his opponent’s movements rather than take the initiative. From here, he needs to continue training and regain the kind of sumo in which he moves forward on his own initiative and overwhelms his opponents. If he can do that, he should become much more formidable and consistent.

Among the ozeki, I believe Aonishiki will also be involved in the title race. During the tour, he followed his own pace in preparing, exercising mainly below the dohyo rather than on it. He is not the type of wrestler who trains intensely all the time, but one of his defining characteristics is that he delivers results when it matters in competition.

Another major strength is that he has his own established style: he pushes forward with his upper body leaning forward. Alongside Onosato, I see him as one of the central figures in the title race.

Among the sekiwake and wrestlers ranked below them, I was particularly impressed by Fujinokawa’s energetic training during the tour. He never let up, even in the practice ring, and his single-minded dedication was clear to everyone watching.

At every stop on the tour, he received loud cheers from the audience, reminding me just how high expectations for him have become.

At the previous tournament, Fujinokawa competed as a newly promoted sekiwake and earned 11 wins, providing an excellent starting point for his bid to reach ozeki. I have a feeling that he could also become one of the tournament’s surprise protagonists.

There are also many other distinctive and talented wrestlers among the upper ranks, including Kirishima and Atamifuji, who were disappointed by their results at the previous tournament; Churanoumi, the new komusubi; and former ozeki Asanoyama.

The yokozuna and ozeki will have to remain alert as well, since they will face a succession of difficult bouts. I believe fans are in for 15 days of compelling sumo.

I hope all the wrestlers will greatly enliven the dohyo with exciting contests and bring the year’s final tournament to a memorable close.

Until next time!

(Published periodically.)

Hidenoyama Oyakata

Source: Tokyo Sports WEB

Isegahama Stable Reaches 10 Sekitori for the First Time in 30 Years Among Wrestlers from a Single Stable; Isegahama Oyakata Says, “More Than Just Numbers, I Hope One or Two Wrestlers Will Become Flagship Stars of the Association”

On the 26th, the Japan Sumo Association announced the new rankings for the Grand Sumo Kyushu Tournament, which begins on November 8 at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center. At Isegahama stable, Asahifuji, who has inherited the ring name of the 63rd yokozuna, was promoted to the Juryo division. This brought the stable’s total number of sekitori to 10: sekiwake Atamifuji and komusubi Yoshinofuji; Makuuchi wrestlers Hakunofuji, Takerufuji, Nishikifuji, Toshinofuji, and Arashifuji; and Juryo wrestlers Midorifuji, Enho, and Asahifuji.

The last time a single stable had 10 sekitori was at the January 1996 tournament, when Futagoyama stable achieved the feat. This is a remarkable accomplishment that has been repeated after approximately 30 years.

On this day, Isegahama Oyakata, the former yokozuna Terunofuji and stablemaster, attended a press conference for Arashifuji, who is making his Makuuchi debut. The event was held in Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture. He assessed the achievement as follows:

“Many of the wrestlers already have excellent natural abilities. Some of them had been struggling to make progress. I have therefore been talking with them regularly about how they can bring out their true abilities and what they need to do to become even stronger. I have also considered their attitudes toward training and all those other aspects. I see this result as the outcome of that work.”

The stablemaster also believes that having more sekitori creates a significant positive effect on the other wrestlers.

“When one wrestler performs well, it motivates the others to think, ‘Now it’s my turn.’ Even the young wrestlers aiming for the Sandanme and Makushita divisions become more motivated. In that sense, everyone is pushing one another to improve, and I think the atmosphere here is a good one.”

Looking ahead, he expressed his hope that the stable would produce its first ozeki since he took over its leadership:

“It’s not just about the number of sekitori. We also now have two wrestlers who have reached the san’yaku ranks. I hope that even one or two wrestlers will emerge as flagship stars of the Association. If that happens, I believe their stablemates will see them as rivals and be inspired to climb the rankings themselves.”

Source: Hochi Shimbun (報知新聞社).

Takamisakari’s career highlight was undoubtedly the 2003 Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament where despite only going 9-6 he downed two yokozuna and two ozeki and won the outstanding performance prize.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2020/03/10/sumo/despite-goofball-reputation-takamisakari-solid-career/

Hey everyone. If you need something to fill the gap between now and the start of the basho, maybe you are interested in an in-depth retrospective of the first ever Nagoya Basho in 1958. I am still learning how to properly make videos, so be kind with me, but I have built a small backlog to check out. In any case, I appreciate every second of your time.

Can anyone identify this Tegata? Google lens seems to think it’s Kakuryu, but I’m not really sure that is correct.

https://www.sumo.or.jp/EnHonbashoBanzuke/index/

Saw this at the Art Institute of Chicago yesterday and thought it would be interesting to other sumo fans as well!

[New Kyushu Basho Rankings] Joshoyu Climbs More Than 100 Places; Kobayashi Rises 74 Places and Ten 87 — Outstanding

Wrestlers in the Lower Divisions

The Japan Sumo Association announced the new rankings for the Grand Sumo Kyushu

Tournament on the 26th. The tournament begins on November 8 at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center. At the Autumn Tournament, Joshoyu (22, Minatogawa stable), who won the Jonokuchi division championship with a perfect record of seven wins, climbed 110 places in the rankings.

Among the materials distributed to the press by the association was a table titled “Promotions of Outstanding Wrestlers in the Divisions Below Makushita.” It lists wrestlers who achieved excellent results at the September Autumn Tournament and made substantial gains in the rankings. The list includes wrestlers who finished with either seven wins and no losses or six wins and one loss.

Kobayashi of Kasugano stable, the Sandanme division champion, rose 74 places, while Ten of Shikoroyama stable, the Jonidan division champion, climbed 87 places.

The promotions of outstanding wrestlers in the lower divisions are listed below. The information in parentheses after each ring name indicates the wrestler’s stable, record at the Autumn Tournament, and number of places gained compared with the previous ranking.

Makushita

Inami (Onoe, 7 wins and 0 losses — Makushita division champion, up 24 places)

Tenshoyama (Tamanoi, 6 wins and 1 loss, up 7 places)

Ryusho (Oitekaze, 6 wins and 1 loss, up 16 places)

Haruyama (Onoe, 6 wins and 1 loss, up 25 places)

Yumenofuji (Isegahama, 6 wins and 1 loss, up 31 places)

Ikazuchido (Ikazuchi, 6 wins and 1 loss, up 33 places)

Kobayashi (Kasugano, 7 wins and 0 losses — Sandanme division champion, up 74 places)

Shosei (Nakamura, 6 wins and 1 loss, up 35 places)

Shoryu (Otowayama, 6 wins and 1 loss, up 41 places)

Daishinkai (Otake, 6 wins and 1 loss, up 44 places)

Yoshiyasu (Kise, 6 wins and 1 loss, up 45 places)

Sandanme

Naya (Otake, 6 wins and 1 loss, up 50 places)

Tenkei (Takadagawa, 6 wins and 1 loss, up 51 places)

Ten (Shikoroyama, 7 wins and 0 losses — Jonidan division champion, up 87 places)

Ikazuchiarashi (Ikazuchi, 6 wins and 1 loss, up 56 places)

Asashinjo (Takasago, 6 wins and 1 loss, up 59 places)

Kakizoe (Ikazuchi, 6 wins and 1 loss, up 60 places)

Asahabataki (Takasago, 6 wins and 1 loss, up 61 places)

Kiboho (Otake, 6 wins and 1 loss, up 65 places)

Tochiaoi (Kasugano, 6 wins and 1 loss, up 66 places)

Kenshin (Sakaigawa, 6 wins and 1 loss, up 67 places)

Suigafuji (Isegahama, 6 wins and 1 loss, up 68 places)

Ogawa (Tamanoi, 6 wins and 1 loss, up 70 places)

Jonidan

Kakuho (Otowayama, 6 wins and 1 loss, up 75 places)

Joshoyu (Minatogawa, 7 wins and 0 losses — Jonokuchi division champion, up 110 places)

Biganzan (Hibiki, 6 wins and 1 loss, up 77 places)

Shinseido (Hibiki, 6 wins and 1 loss, up 78 places)

Hokuto (Hakkaku, 6 wins and 1 loss, up 83 places)

Taiga (Kise, 6 wins and 1 loss, up 83 places)

Source: Nikkan Sports

Decided to share on this sub too! Seeing how touched and emotional this last yusho got him really made me soften up about Onosato. It is so moving to see any rikishi so passionate about the sport, and he truly did dominate in the ring. I can’t wait to see both Yokozuna fight again at full capacity 🤞I love to paint powerful expressions and this certainly is one!

I can never deny that he is an absolute power house, I just think the time I started watching sumo (immediately after he went out injured) really didn’t help me get attached to him lol. Last basho he was still weak but the most recent one really showed me the Onosato intensity that everyone’s talked about for so long. It almost felt silly to ever root against him.

(Gouache on paper, 7x10in)

Churanoumi Becomes the First Wrestler from Okinawa to Reach the San’yaku Ranks — The Last of Japan’s 47 Prefectures to Achieve This Milestone. Professional Sumo

The new rankings (banzuke) for the Kyushu Tournament, which begins on November 8 at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center, were announced on the 26th. Churanoumi, who recorded 10 wins and 5 losses at the September Autumn Tournament while ranked third among the maegashira, has been promoted to komusubi for the first time, taking the East komusubi position. This makes him the first wrestler from Okinawa Prefecture to reach the san’yaku ranks. Until now, Okinawa had been the only one of Japan’s 47 prefectures to have never produced a wrestler ranked in san’yaku.

Churanoumi graduated from Nihon University. His promotion to san’yaku came after 63 tournaments since his professional debut, setting the record for the slowest promotion in history among wrestlers from university sumo. At 33 years and 5 months old, he also became the fourth-oldest wrestler to reach san’yaku in the postwar era.

Yoshinofuji, who recorded 9 wins at the previous tournament while ranked second among the maegashira, has been promoted to West komusubi, returning to the san’yaku ranks after just one tournament.

The three wrestlers making their makuuchi debuts are Dewanoryu and Kyokukaio, both from Mongolia, and Arashifuji, from Fukuoka Prefecture. Tamawashi, who will turn 42 during the Kyushu Tournament, will return to the makuuchi division at the oldest age recorded since the beginning of the Showa era. Kitanowaka and Daiseizan have also returned to the top division.

By Hiroshi Takano

Source: Mainichi Shimbun

I follow Wataru Ichinose on Instagram and he just posted that season 2 is happening. Season 1 was my intro to sumo and been a fan ever since. Let's gooo!

Source: Sumo Stats

Yokozuna Hōshōryū Finishes Autumn Tour Saying He Feels “Good”; Regarding Participation in the Kyushu Tournament, He Says, “I Won’t Know Until the Very Last Moment, but I’ll Prepare as Though I Intend to Compete”

The autumn tour of professional sumo came to an end on the 25th in Ube, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Yokozuna Hōshōryū of Tatsunami stable did not participate in sumo bouts and instead performed basic physical exercises. “My body is in good shape. There were also many things I was able to learn,” he said. Due to the effects of surgery on his right knee, he missed the previous tournament entirely and joined the tour on the 10th in Matsumoto. “It’s getting better,” he said with a nod.

Regarding the Kyushu Tournament, which begins on November 8 at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center, he stated, “I won’t know until the very last moment, but I’ll keep preparing with the intention of competing.” He plans to continue fine-tuning his physical condition right up until the tournament begins. After consulting with his stablemaster, Tatsunami-oyakata (former komusubi Asahiyutaka), he intends to decide whether he will be able to compete.

Hochi Shimbunsha

Fantasy Basho is live for the November tournament. Join our Public League or create a private league to play with family, friends, and/or enemies. If you've played before, I hope you play again. If you haven't, this is a simple game that can perfectly get that sumo-skeptical person in your life into the sport. Just pick four rikishi according to a budget and get points for Wins, Kinboshi, and Special Prizes.

[New Rankings for the Kyushu Tournament] Kanpūzan Becomes Ikawasakura, Imamura Becomes Inanoyama… Two Makushita Wrestlers Change Names; Two Wrestlers from Kise Stable Also Make Changes — Ring Name Changes

The Japan Sumo Association announced the new rankings (banzuke) for the professional sumo Kyushu Tournament, which begins on November 8 at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center, on the 26th.

Four wrestlers changed the first part of their ring names (shikona). Takano, in the jonokuchi division, changed his name to Kōtōryū (Kise stable). Inoue, in the jonidan division, changed his name to Taiga (Kise stable). Kanpūzan, in the makushita division, changed his name to Ikawasakura (Nakamura stable), while Imamura adopted the name Inanoyama (Nishonoseki stable).

The wrestlers who also changed the final part of their ring names are listed below:

- Chiyonoteru Ryūsei → Chiyonoteru Ryūsei (Kokonoe stable). The kanji in the name changed from 琉 to 龍, although the pronunciation remains Ryūsei.

- Takano Hironari → Kōtōryū Kōsei (Kise stable).

- Inoue Taiga → Taiga Shinobu (Kise stable).

Source: Nikkan Sports