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2025 in sumo

Overview of the events of 2025 in sumo From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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The following are the events in professional sumo during 2025.

Tournaments

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Hatsu basho

Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 12 January – 26 January[1]

More information Result, East ...
ø – Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yūshō Winner
* Won 3-way Playoff

Playoff

(Two consecutive victories required to win the Playoff and the yūshō)

Haru basho

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 9 March – 23 March[1]

More information Result, East ...
ø – Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yūshō Winner
* Won Playoff

Natsu basho

Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 11 May – 25 May[1]

More information Result, East ...
ø – Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yūshō Winner

Nagoya basho

Aichi International Arena, Nagoya, 13 July – 27 July[1]

More information Result, East ...
ø – Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yūshō Winner

Aki basho

Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 14 September – 28 September[1]

Kyushu basho

Fukuoka Kokusai Center, Kyushu, 9 November – 23 November[1]

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January

  • 11: The Japan Sumo Association announces that 2,955 envelopes of prize money (called kenshō-kin) will be distributed to winning wrestlers at the upcoming January grand sumo tournament, setting an all-time record.[2] On the following day–the first day of the tournament–244 prize money envelopes are distributed, establishing a single-day record.[3] Among the sponsor banners paraded during the tournament are those promoting the future Major League Baseball Tokyo Series games, featuring photos of Shohei Ohtani and other Japanese baseball players.[4]
  • 12: Maegashira competitors Rōga and Hokutofuji withdraw at the start of the January tournament. Roga suffered a torn thigh muscle a week earlier and is reported to be considering entry into the tournament while it is in progress, while Hokutofuji has spine and knee issues that are expected to take until the end of the month to heal.[5]
  • 16: Yokozuna Terunofuji withdraws on the fifth day of the January tournament after suffering a first-day loss to Wakatakakage and conceding a gold star to Tobizaru on Day 4. It is his 13th absence in 21 tournaments at sumo's highest rank.[6] Later that day, Japanese media learn through sources at the Sumo Association that Terunofuji has decided to retire.[7]
  • 17: The Sumo Association officially announces Terunofuji's retirement.[8] His retirement threatens to leave the sport's ranking without a yokozuna for the first time since the March 1993 tournament, when Akebono was promoted to the supreme rank and occupied the position left vacant since Hokutoumi's retirement in May 1992.[9][10] He will remain with the Sumo Association coaching at Isegahama stable under his ring name of Terunofuji, which his status as a former yokozuna allows him to do.[8]
  • 18: Rōga withdraws for a second time after re-entering the January tournament on Day 5 and suffering two consecutive losses.[11]
  • 19: The Sumo Association announces that it will hold a sumo exhibition in the Accor Arena of Paris in June 2026, following the announcement of a 2025 London tour. The Sumo Association will be returning to Paris for the third time in its history, a first since 1995.[12]
    On Day 8 of the January tournament, maegashira Kitanowaka loses his match after getting his right foot trapped on the straw bales as he retreats from the attack of Takerufuji. Kitanowaka is removed from the dohyō in a wheelchair and is subsequently diagnosed with a broken ankle, forcing his withdrawal.[13]
  • 26: Ōzeki Hōshōryū (12–3), the nephew of the 68th yokozuna Asashōryū, stages a late comeback on the final day of the January 2025 tournament to win his second Emperor's Cup and, as a result, is set to become the sport's 74th yokozuna. The Mongolian entered Day 15 tied with maegashira Ōhō and one win behind maegashira and tournament leader Kinbōzan. Hōshōryū first needed help from Ōhō, who defeated Kinbōzan in their regularly-scheduled final day contest, to remain in contention. With a playoff between Kinbōzan and Ōhō assured, Hōshōryū joined the playoff by defeating struggling ōzeki Kotozakura. In the three-way playoff, a wrestler needs to win two consecutive matches to claim victory. Kinbōzan and Hōshōryū drew first, and Hōshōryū powered himself to victory by force-out. In the second match Ōhō denied Hōshōryū his favorite grip from the outset; after a stalemate, Hōshōryū sent Ōhō down to the dohyō to clinch the tournament win. Hōshōryū's victory ensures that the lack of a yokozuna following the retirement of Terunofuji will be brief, as the Yokozuna Deliberation Council will meet on 27 January and is expected to formally recommend Hōshōryū's promotion. Two days after that, the full board of the Sumo Association is expected to give their final approval. The two runner-ups in the top division receive their first special prizes for their efforts, with Kinbōzan receiving the Kantō-shō (Fighting Spirit prize) and Ōhō receiving the Ginō-shō (Technique prize). A second Fighting Spirit prize is given to former ōzeki Kirishima, who remained in contention for the championship until he was defeated on Day 14 and finished with 11 wins. Meanwhile Kotozakura, the other yokozuna candidate, suffers a losing record and will need to win eight matches at the next tournament in March to hold on to his ōzeki rank.[14][15]
    Ukrainian Shishi (13–2) takes his first career championship in professional sumo, winning the jūryō division and likely securing a return promotion to the top division.[16]
  • 27: In a unanimous decision, the Yokozuna Deliberation Council recommends Hōshōryū's promotion to yokozuna.[17]
  • 29: The Sumo Association accepts the recommendation of the Yokozuna Deliberation Council and unanimously promotes Hōshōryū to become the sport's 74th yokozuna.[18] The date also marks the 22nd anniversary of the promotion of Hōshōryū's uncle, Asashōryū, to the same rank. In his customary acceptance speech, Hōshōryū said that he will "continue to work hard with a strong determination in order not to tarnish" his new rank.[19]
    There are five promotions to the second-highest jūryō division announced by the Sumo Association. Three are promoted for the first time. One is 23-year-old Kusano, a former Nihon University student who is a National Student Sumo champion and subsequent makushita tsukedashi entrant into the sport. The others are 21-year-olds Wakanoshō [ja] and Ōtsuji [ja], both of whom had placed third in the National Junior High School Sumo championships. Kazekenō [ja] returns to the second division after competing in jūryō last May, while four-time lower division champion Hitoshi [ja] returns for the first time since November 2023.[20]
  • 30: Fuji Television decides to withdraw its broadcast of the Japan Grand Sumo Tournament, a 49-year-old charity event to be held on 9 February at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. The decision comes after the sexual misconduct scandal of television presenter and former SMAP member Masahiro Nakai, and the subsequent withdrawal of sponsors from Fuji TV programming.[21]
    The Japan Sumo Association announces the suspension of Kimura Kankurō, a jūryō-ranked gyōji, for the March tournament and a pay cut after he was found to be the perpetrator of a physical assault on one of his apprentices at the November 2024 tournament.[22]
  • 31: With Asashōryū among the family members in attendance, Hōshōryū's first ring-entering ceremony as a yokozuna is held at Meiji Shrine. Stablemate Meisei serves as the dew sweeper, and Hiradoumi is the sword bearer.[23]

February

  • 1: The retirement ceremony for former maegashira Tokushōryū is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.[24]
  • 8: The NHK charity sumo tournament is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan with around 4,500 people attending.[25]
  • 9: The 49th Japan Grand Sumo Tournament, a one-day competition for professional sumo wrestlers, is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. Although organizer and broadcaster Fuji Television decided to withdraw the broadcast of the tournament after the scandal involving Masahiro Nakai, the tournament was sold out.[26] Several changes were made to the tournament's usual organization, including the discontinuation of matches between toshiyori (retired wrestlers), radio broadcasting and post-match prize-giving.[27] The tournament winner is Takayasu—who wins this tournament for the third time—with the former ōzeki defeating opponents such as new yokozuna Hōshōryū, before winning the championship match against Wakamotoharu.[26]
  • 25: The rankings are released for the March grand sumo tournament in Osaka, marking the yokozuna debut of Hōshōryū. One of the two promotions in the san'yaku division is January runner-up Ōhō, who is elevated to the sekiwake rank for the first time in his career. Former ōzeki Kirishima is promoted to komusubi after having been demoted to maegashira in the previous tournament. Brothers Wakatakakage and Wakamotoharu find themselves ranked together as the top maegashira competitors, both demoted from san'yaku after suffering losing records in January. Entering the top division from jūryō are six wrestlers, including one promoted for the first time. Two-time lower division champion Aonishiki reaches the top division in nine tournaments, joining Takerufuji and the former Jōkōryū for the fastest promotion to that level since their debut. Aonishiki is also the second Ukrainian to be promoted to the top division—the first being Shishi, who returns to maegashira after winning the January jūryō title. With the two competing in makuuchi, Ukraine becomes the seventh foreign country in the history of the sport (after the United States, Mongolia, Georgia, Russia, Bulgaria and South Korea) to have two or more wrestlers reaching the top division.[28] Ryūden, Sadanoumi and Asakōryū all return to the top division after having just been demoted, while Shirokuma returns for the first time in two tournaments.[29][30][31] Hokutofuji, who sat out of the January tournament due to health issues, drops to jūryō after spending over eight years in the top division.[32]

March

  • 18: Hōshōryū becomes the first yokozuna since the former Futahaguro in 1986 to withdraw from their first tournament at sumo's highest rank. After being defeated on the opening day by komusubi Abi, Hōshōryū conceded three kinboshi over a five-day stretch to Chiyoshōma, Takayasu and Ichiyamamoto before pulling out on Day 10. His official paperwork cites a neck sprain and right elbow injury, requiring two weeks of recovery.[33]
  • 20: The jūryō championship is mathematically clinched on Day 12 of the March 2025 tournament by the bottom-ranked Kusano, who maintains a perfect record and a three-win advantage over his closest opponents. The 23-year-old Nihon University graduate earlier became the first wrestler in sumo history to win his first ten matches as a new jūryō competitor. He is also the third wrestler in the history of the 15-day tournament system, after former ōzeki Yutakayama in 1961 and former maegashira Kotonofuji in 1977, to clinch the jūryō title in 12 days.[34] His perfect win record is broken on Day 13.[35]
  • 23: Ōzeki Ōnosato defeats former ōzeki Takayasu in a playoff to secure his third championship in the top division. The two were tied entering the final day of competition, and each won their regularly-scheduled Day 15 bouts to finish at 12–3. Takayasu defeated Ōnosato on Day 10, but in the title-deciding playoff it was Ōnosato who emerged victorious by rear push out after Takayasu grabbed his belt and failed in an attempt to execute a throw. With his first title as an ōzeki, the 24-year-old Ōnosato becomes a candidate for promotion to the highest rank of yokozuna at the next tournament in May. Takayasu has yet to win a top-division championship, but does earn a gold star for defeating Hōshōryū and receives his third Technique prize. Two other maegashira competitors that were in contention–Churanoumi and Ukrainian top-division newcomer Aonishiki–each finished with 11 wins and their first Fighting Spirit prize. Despite being defeated by Ōnosato in the final tournament match before the playoff, ōzeki Kotozakura finishes with eight wins to escape kadoban status.[36]
  • 26: The Sumo Association holds their May rankings meeting and announces four promotions to the second-highest jūryō division. One of three new promotions is 26-year-old Miyagi, who followed the former Yoshikaze to the recently established Nakamura stable. Upon the release of the May rankings Miyagi will change his shikona to Miyanokaze [ja], using the "kaze" from his stablemaster's former ring name. The other two competitors new to the division are both 23 years of age: Mudōhō [ja], who won the makushita championship last January, and Mita [ja], who is promoted to jūryō in his fifth tournament after entering sumo as a makushita tsukedashi. Former maegashira Daiamami returns to the second-highest division after just being demoted.[37]

The spring jungyō (regional tours) were held at the following locations in March:[38]

April

  • 10: With YouTube channels of heya increasing in popularity, the Sumo Association publishes official YouTube management guidelines. Under the association's rules, sumo stables with YouTube channels are expected to "protect the traditions and credibility of sumo." Prohibited practices include video releases during honbasho, live streams, online donations, collaborations with other stables, and videos that "damage sumo culture and the dignity of wrestlers" such as practical jokes. Stables that violate the rules will be prohibited from using social media.[39] To meet the new requirements, a training course for all association members was subsequently scheduled for June 2, led among others by Shunichi Tokura, commissioner for Cultural Affairs of Japan.[40]
  • 15: The Sumo Association announces the death of jonidan-ranked wrestler Wakatozakura at the age of 33 from necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating disease). It is the first death of an active sumo wrestler in five years.[41]
  • 28: The rankings for the May 2025 grand sumo tournament are released by the Sumo Association. The top division sees two former ōzeki earn promotions in san'yaku, with Kirishima returning to sekiwake for the first time in three tournaments and Takayasu–the runner-up in the last tournament to yokozuna candidate Ōnosato–returning to komusubi for the first time since January 2024. Wakatakakage, who was last ranked in san'yaku two years ago when he sat out due to a knee injury and was subsequently relegated, returns to the rank of komusubi. There are two new wrestlers promoted to the makuuchi ranks. The first is 25-year-old Kayō, who entered sumo three years ago after finishing in the top eight in both the All Japan Sumo Championships and National Student Sumo Championships, thus qualifying him under the sandanme tsukedashi system. He is the first top division wrestler for Nakamura stable since its founding last year by former sekiwake Yoshikaze. The other is 25-year-old Tochitaikai, who won back-to-back lower division titles in his first two ranked tournaments in 2018. His makuuchi promotion is the first for Kasugano stable in 14 years. Rōga and Tamashōhō, both of whom were demoted to jūryō after the January 2025 tournament, return to the top division. March jūryō champion Kusano is promoted to jūryō 1, while former ōzeki Mitakeumi drops to jūryō after spending almost ten years in the top division. This will also mark the final tournament as a stablemaster for Isegahama (the 63rd yokozuna Asahifuji), who will reach sumo's mandatory retirement age of 65 in early July.[42][43][44]

The spring jungyō (regional tours) were held at the following locations in April:[38]

May

  • 11: On the opening day of the May tournament it is announced that maegashira Kotoshōhō will be absent due to a bicep injury.[45] He would join the competition on Day 6.[46]
  • 15: Former komusubi Hokutofuji announces his retirement, ending a 10-year professional sumo career. He will remain with the Sumo Association and Hakkaku stable as an elder under the name Ōyama.[47]
  • 23: Ōzeki Ōnosato clinches his second straight top division championship of the year, and fourth title overall, with a victory on Day 13 and a three-win lead over his nearest opponents. The result all but assures that the 24-year-old will become sumo's 75th yokozuna, with his formal promotion expected to occur a few days after the end of the tournament. He will be the first Japanese yokozuna since his stablemaster Nishonoseki (the 72nd yokozuna Kisenosato) ascended to the top rank in 2017.[48]
  • 24: 48-year-old former makushita Satonofuji, best known as the wrestler who holds the record for the most bow-twirling ceremony performances, announces that he will end his professional sumo career spanning nearly three decades.[49]
  • 25: Ōnosato (14–1) collects the Emperor's Cup as the May 2025 top division champion following his defeat at the hands of yokozuna Hōshōryū (12–3), who denied Ōnosato from finishing the tournament with a perfect record. The Sumo Association hands out four special prizes: Aonishiki (11–4) and Sadanoumi (10–5) both take home the Fighting Spirit prize, while Kirishima (11–4) and Wakatakakage (12–3) both receive the Technique prize.[50][51] The process of Ōnosato's promotion to join Hōshōryū at sumo's highest rank formally begins, with Sumo Association president Hakkaku (the 61st yokozuna Hokutoumi) approving the request of the judging department to hold an extraordinary board meeting on 28 May.[52]
    Kusano (13–2) clinches his second straight championship in jūryō, and a likely promotion to the top division for July. He is the fourth competitor since 1989 to win two consecutive tournaments after being promoted to jūryō for the first time.[53]
  • 26: In a meeting that lasted only six minutes, the Yokozuna Deliberation Council unanimously recommends Ōnosato's promotion to yokozuna.[54][55]
  • 27: It is reported by Nikkan Sports that the Sumo Association's compliance committee is investigating allegations that a gyōji who manages the reserve fund of the rikishi-kai (wrestlers' association, composed of active sekitori competitors) embezzled money from that fund. According to the report, the gyōji repeatedly deferred requests by the rikishi-kai to disclose the fund's books and balance, and later confessed to spending tens of millions of yen on gambling and other activities. Portions of the fund were designated to support children affected by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[56] It is later reported that the gyōji submitted his resignation to the Sumo Association, which was not accepted pending the outcome of the investigation.[57]
  • 28: Ōnosato officially becomes professional sumo's 75th yokozuna after his promotion by the Sumo Association's board of directors.[58] Similar to what was said in his ōzeki promotion speech in September 2024, Ōnosato says that he will strive to be a yuiitsu-muni (唯一無二, 'one-of-a-kind' or 'unique') yokozuna.[59]
    The Sumo Association announces two promotions to jūryō for July: Ōtsuji [ja], who won the May makushita title with a perfect record after having just been demoted, and former maegashira Kōtokuzan, who returns to salaried status for the first time in two years.[60]
  • 29: The Japan Sumo Association announces a one-day tournament on October 7 at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan to commemorate the centenary of the association's founding, modelled on a 1995 Heian-era inspired tournament.[40]
  • 30: Ōnosato performs his first ring-entering ceremony as a yokozuna at Meiji Shrine, with Ryūden as the dew sweeper and Takayasu as the sword bearer. It is announced beforehand that the inner shrine grounds would be closed to the public due to weather concerns, marking the first time that this has happened in the history of such an event, excluding Terunofuji's ceremony which was held during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, approximately 1,000 people gather at the entrance to witness the ceremony.[61][62]
  • 31: The retirement ceremony for former maegashira Kotoekō is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.[63] Ōnosato performs his first public yokozuna dohyō-iri at the event.[64]

June

  • 1: Retirement ceremonies are held for former komusubi Ōnoshō at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan, and for former maegashira Kyokutaisei at a hotel in Tokyo.[65][66]
  • 2: At an extraordinary board meeting, the Sumo Association considers the resignation of 45-time top division champion Miyagino (the 69th yokozuna Hakuhō), deciding to accept it effective on 9 June.[67] On that date, Isegahama (the 63rd yokozuna Asahifuji) will take over the Miyagino kabu, or elder stock, and the Isegahama name and stable will be transferred to the 73rd yokozuna Terunofuji.[68][69] The former Asahifuji will remain affiliated with Isegahama stable as a coach, and upon reaching his 65th birthday the following month will retire and immediately start his re-employment with the Sumo Association as a san'yo (consultant).[70]
    The Sumo Association board dismisses makuuchi-gyōji Kimura Ginjirō, identified as the individual who embezzled money from the reserve fund of the rikishi-kai.[71]
  • 4: The Sumo Association opens an office at the new Aichi International Arena in Nagoya ahead of the July grand sumo tournament. The Nagoya basho is set to move to the new arena this year from the nearby Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.[72]
  • 9: The departure of Hakuhō from the Sumo Association is finalized. In a press conference, Hakuhō expresses his wish to develop sumo from an outside perspective and share sumo's appeal with many people around the world.[73]
  • 27: The Chiba District Court dismisses a lawsuit brought by Daisuke Yanagihara (former sandanme Kotokantetsu) against the Japan Sumo Association. The suit, filed in 2023, alleged that Yanagihara was forced to retire as a professional sumo wrestler when he was told he could not withdraw from the January 2021 sumo tournament because of his concerns over contracting COVID-19.[74] It was reported the following month that Yanagihara declined to file an appeal.[75]
  • 30: The Sumo Association releases the banzuke for the July 2025 grand sumo tournament–the first to be held at the new Aichi International Arena. The new arena will see a 25-year-old, Ōnosato, make his debut at sumo's top rank of yokozuna. Ōnosato and Hōshōryū become sumo's first yokozuna pair in four years. With Kotozakura now the lone ōzeki competitor, the rankings committee adds a third sekiwake: May runner-up Wakatakakge, who returns to sekiwake and becomes the third wrestler in sumo history after Kotokaze and Terunofuji to return to that rank after previously falling below jūryō. Following a ten-win performance at the rank of maegashira 6, and with top-ranked maegashira faring poorly in the May tournament, Mongolian Ōshōma is promoted all the way up to komusubi. It is the first san'yaku promotion for Naruto stable, which was founded in 2017 by former ōzeki Kotoōshū. Ukrainian Aonishiki jumps from maegashira 9 to the top of the rank-and-file after his fourth straight tournament with double-digit wins. Five wrestlers are promoted from jūryō to maegashira, including three joining the top division for the first time. As expected, one is the back-to-back jūryō champion Kusano, who enters the top division in just his eighth professional tournament after joining professional sumo last year as a makushita tsukedashi competitor. The second is 20-year-old Wakaikari, the son of Kabutoyama (former maegashira Ōikari), who takes on the new shikona Fujinokawa [ja]. The third is 21-year-old Kotoeihō [ja], who in 2022 won back-to-back lower division championships in his first two professional tournaments. Two wrestlers return to the top division: One is former ōzeki Mitakeumi, who returns after having just been demoted. The other is Hidenoumi, the elder brother of Tobizaru who returns for the first time since his suspension by the Sumo Association in January 2022 for participation in illegal gambling.[76][77]

July

  • 11: Two top division wrestlers from Oitekaze stable, sekiwake Daieishō and maegashira Endō, pull out of the July tournament. Daieishō's stablemaster says that Daieishō injured himself during training at the stable, which worsened while at their training grounds in Yokkaichi ahead of the tournament. While he initially leaves open the possibility that Daieishō could re-enter the tournament at some point, Daieishō's official medical certificate later indicates that he will need about 2 months of treatment. Meanwhile, Endō is expected to be out of action for 1-2 months after undergoing knee surgery the previous day.[78][79]
  • 13: Nikolay Ivanov, the former maegashira Amūru, is one of two men arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and robbery against a woman at a karaoke bar in Tokyo.[80]
  • 17: Two more top division wrestlers, yokozuna Hōshōryū and maegashira Hidenoumi, withdraw on day 5 of the July tournament. Hōshōryū conceded three straight kinboshi to rank-and-filers from the second day, and becomes the third yokozuna in modern sumo history to withdraw twice in their first three tournaments at sumo's highest rank. Hōshōryū's stablemaster later says that the yokozuna has a bone crack in his left big toe.[81] Hidenoumi pulls out after going winless in his first four matches, with a right calf injury in his Day 4 contest as the reason for the pullout.[82] He returned to competition on Day 8.[83]
  • 22: The July tournament's remaining yokozuna, Ōnosato, yields his third kinboshi to Tamawashi. The 40-year-old Tamawashi becomes the oldest maegashira-ranked competitor in sumo history to record a gold star win by defeating a yokozuna.[84]

August

The summer jungyō (regional tours) will be held at the following locations:[38]

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