Yūshō Winner
*Won Playoff|}Haru basho
Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 10 March – 24 March
| ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank | | winning record in bold | | Yūshō Winner | |
Natsu basho
Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 12 May – 26 May
| ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank | | winning record in bold | | Yūshō Winner | |
Nagoya basho
Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, 14 July – 28 July
| ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank | | winning record in bold | Yūshō Winner
*Won Playoff|}Aki basho
Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 8 September – 22 September
Kyushu basho
Fukuoka Kokusai Center, Kyushu, 10 November – 24 November
News
January
- 16: Komusubi and former ōzeki Takayasu withdraws on Day 3 of the January 2024 tournament due to lower back pain.[2] He returned on Day 6,[3] but would withdraw again on Day 8 after coming down with the flu.[4]
- 17: Ōzeki Takakeishō withdraws on Day 4 of the January 2024 tournament, citing a pinched nerve. His stablemaster later informs reporters that there are no plans for Takakeishō to re-enter the tournament.[5]
- 19: Maegashira Hokuseihō withdraws from the January 2024 tournament after winning two matches in the first five days.[6] The following day he announces that he will undergo surgery next month because of a meniscus injury in his right knee.[7]
- 20: Bulgarian maegashira and former sekiwake Aoiyama, who was defeated in his first six matches at the January 2024 tournament, announces his withdrawal on Day 7 due to a suspected injury to his right ACL.[8]
- 22: The January tournament loses two more makuuchi competitors with the Day 9 withdrawals of former ōzeki Asanoyama and former komusubi Hokutofuji. On the previous day, Asanoyama—who had been the sole tournament leader—appeared to twist his right knee in his loss to Tamawashi, while Hokutofuji landed awkwardly at the end of his match against Hōshōryū and suffered a right knee contusion.[9] [10] Takasago immediately indicated that Asanoyama's ankle was swollen and opened the possibility that he could return to the tournament.[11] Asanoyama did indeed return to the tournament on Day 13 (26 January), securing an eighth win over Gōnoyama that day.[12]
- 26: The Japan Sumo Association announces that the election of directors and deputy directors for the new two-year term at the head of the organization will not be subject to a vote, as the number of candidates matches the number of positions up for election. It has also been announced that the exact occupancy of the positions will be revealed after the March tournament.[13]
- 27: Yokozuna Terunofuji gets a day of rest on the second to last day of the January tournament after his ōzeki opponent, Hōshōryū, withdraws due to a knee ligament injury.[14] [15] A Day 15 showdown for the Emperor's Cup is set between the yokozuna and two others: the last ōzeki remaining in the tournament, Kirishima, and aspiring ōzeki candidate Kotonowaka.
The jūryō division title is decided on Day 14, with newly promoted Takerufuji securing a 2-win margin over his opponents for his third championship since debuting at the end of 2022.[16]
- 28: Terunofuji (13–2), fully completing just his second tournament since finishing as the runner-up in July 2022, wins his ninth Emperor's Cup with a playoff victory over Kotonowaka (13–2). In their regularly scheduled Day 15 match, Kotonowaka won against Tobizaru to eliminate ōzeki and yokozuna contender Kirishima from the title picture. Terunofuji then dispatched Kirishima (11–4) to notch his 11th win in 11 matches against his fellow Mongolian. This set up the playoff in which Terunofuji, having defeated Kotonowaka two days earlier, beat the sekiwake by force out.[17] All three of the special prizes are awarded at this tournament. The Shukun-shō (Outstanding Performance award) is given to Wakamotoharu (10–5), who defeated several top-ranked opponents including Terunofuji in his san'yaku return. New makuuchi competitor Ōnosato (11–4) receives the Kantō-shō (Fighting Spirit prize), and Kotonowaka receives the Ginō-shō for using a variety of winning sumo techniques.[18]
While Kotonowaka lost out on the makuuchi championship, the win in his scheduled Day 15 match gave him a total of 33 wins in the last three tournaments at the san'yaku ranks, which is the de facto standard to earn promotion to sumo's second-highest rank of ōzeki. The promotion is expected to be finalized on 31 January; coincidentally, it is Kotonowaka's father Sadogatake (former Kotonowaka Terumasa) who makes the formal promotion recommendation to the Sumo Association as head of the judging department. It is also expected that the new ōzeki will keep his shikona (ring name) for a while to honor his father, whose highest rank in competition was sekiwake, before adopting the name of his late yokozuna grandfather Kotozakura.[19]
- 31: The Sumo Association approves the promotion of Kotonowaka to the rank of ōzeki. He becomes the first ōzeki from Chiba Prefecture since the promotion of Matsunobori after the Autumn tournament in 1955.[20] In his acceptance speech, Kotonowaka says: "With a feeling of gratitude I will devote myself to the way of sumo in order to live up to the title of ōzeki."[21] He also confirmed that he will keep his current name of Kotonowaka for the next tournament in March, before changing his shikona to Kotozakura in May.[22]
The Sumo Association announces that four wrestlers are promoted again to the second-highest rank of jūryō. One of the wrestlers is former sekiwake Wakatakakage. The younger brother of Wakamotoharu, Wakatakakage returns to sekitori status after clinching the January 2024 championship in makushita with a perfect record of 7 wins. His last competition in the top division was in March 2023 at sekiwake, when a late ACL and meniscus injury forced him to withdraw; he subsequently dropped down the rankings until his return in November. Another wrestler returning to sekitori status is 20-year-old former maegashira Hakuōhō, who challenged for the top-division championship in only his fourth professional tournament in July 2023 before taking off the remainder of the year due to a shoulder injury. In his return tournament in January, Hakuōhō finished behind Wakatakakage in the makushita division with 6 wins. 30-year-old Tsushimanada returns to sumo's second-highest division after three tournaments, while 37-year-old Kitaharima, a one-time maegashira competitor with a 22-year history in professional sumo, returns to jūryō for the first time in years.[23]
February
- 1: The Japan Sumo Association donates ¥10 million to Ishikawa Prefecture after the effects of the 2024 Noto earthquake. Additionally, ¥5 million collected from spectators at the January tournament in Tokyo is also donated.[24]
- 4: The retirement ceremony for former ōzeki Tochinoshin is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.[25]
- 9: It is reported that the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament will move from Dolphins Arena (also referred to as the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium) to the new IG Arena, currently under construction, starting in 2025. With 12,000 seats, the new arena will have a larger seating capacity than the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.[26] The Sumo Association will refer to the new building as the "Aichi International Arena."
- 11: The 48th Japan Grand Sumo Tournament, a one-day competition for professional sumo wrestlers, is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. The winner is Hōshōryū, with the ōzeki defeating such opponents as Abi and Takayasu before winning the championship match against Hiradoumi.[27]
At the same time, the first edition of the Dream Girls Cup, a sumo competition open to girls from the first year of elementary school to the third year of secondary school, is held at the Sumida City Gymnasium, with around 200 participants and the patronage of former yokozuna Hakuhō.[28]
The retirement ceremony for former sekiwake Ichinojō is held in a Tokyo hotel.[29]
- 21: After Hokuseihō's withdrawal from the January tournament, it is announced by the Sumo Association that Hokuseihō assaulted several stablemates, and that an investigation had been launched after one of them made a formal complaint. Summoned to inform him that disciplinary proceedings had been launched against both him and his stablemaster Miyagino, Hokuseihō simply told the press that he was "honestly remorseful".[30] [31] The Sumo Association is expected to hold a board meeting on 23 February, with news reports suggesting that the board will discuss a recommendation for Hokuseihō to retire and demote Miyagino in sumo's hierarchy.[32] [33]
- 22: Hokuseihō submits his retirement notification the day before the full Sumo Association board is scheduled to meet to discuss his actions.[34]
- 23: At an extraordinary board meeting of the Sumo Association, Hokuseihō's retirement is accepted before the board can issue a formal recommendation.[35] Stablemaster Miyagino (the former Hakuhō) is demoted from iin (committee member) to the lowest ranking of toshiyori (elder) and receives a salary cut of 20 percent for three months. The board also takes actions that effectively relieve him of his duties as stablemaster for the time being, announcing that members of the Isegahama ichimon will oversee the Miyagino stable wrestlers for an unspecified amount of time.[36] [37]
Former komusubi Hōmashō inherits Shikoroyama stable after the death of the previous stablemaster (former sekiwake Terao).[38]
- 26: The Sumo Association releases the banzuke for the spring grand sumo tournament in Osaka, the haru basho. The tournament will feature four faces at the second-highest rank of ōzeki, with newly promoted Kotonowaka joining Hōshōryū, Kirishima and demotion-threatened Takakeishō. The other two of the san'yaku ranks see three returning rikishi, all of whom had recently been demoted from that group. Wakamotoharu, who put in a 10-win performance with a gold star as the top rank-and-filer in January, returns to the sekiwake rank. Abi, who had just been demoted from komusubi, and Nishikigi, who was demoted from komusubi after the September 2023 tournament, both return to that rank after securing 8-win records in January. At the top of the maegashira ranks is former ōzeki Asanoyama, who secures a personal best on the banzuke since his return from suspension in July 2022. A new competitor in the maegashira ranks is 24-year-old Takerufuji. The Kanagi, Aomori native made his maezumo debut in September 2022 and has three lower-division titles under his belt: his first two competitive tournaments, and the jūryō championship at the most recent tournament in January. Four other wrestlers see a return to the top makuuchi division: Nishikifuji, Kitanowaka and Rōga all return after having just been demoted, while Daiamami returns for the first time since July 2022.[39]
It is reported that starting with the March 2024 tournament, the Sumo Association will have emergency medical technicians permanently stationed near the dohyō. The measures build on first aid procedures that were strengthened after the death of, who struck his head on the floor of the dohyō in a bout during the March 2021 tournament and died the following month.[40]
Tamagaki (former komusubi Tomonohana), a coach at Ōshima stable, is appointed acting master of Miyagino stable for the March 2024 tournament in the place of the former Hakuhō.[41]
March
- 13: Maegashira Shimazuumi withdraws on Day 4 of the March tournament after being diagnosed with a tear in a part of his left calf requiring about three weeks of treatment.[42]
- 14: Two more maegashira withdraw on Day 5 after suffering injuries the day before. Tsurugishō is expected to miss about two months after he reinjured his left knee in his Day 4 bout and was taken away from the dohyō in a wheelchair. Kinbōzan pulls out with a neck sprain and was expected to miss seven days,[43] but returns to competition after just three days of rest.[44]
- 16: Yokozuna Terunofuji withdraws after losing four matches in the first six days, including three straight gold stars conceded to maegashira competitors. It is his ninth withdrawal from a grand sumo tournament since being elevated to yokozuna in October 2021.[45]
- 18: Former maegashira Terutsuyoshi retires, ending a 14-year career limited by his battle with diabetes.[46]
- 19: It is announced that current maegashira and former sekiwake Tamawashi has officially acquired Japanese citizenship, which is required for foreign sumo wrestlers to remain in the Sumo Association as a coach upon retirement.[47]
Maegashira Tobizaru withdraws on Day 10 of the March tournament due to symptoms of enteritis, though his stablemaster Oitekaze says that he should return to competition the following day.[48]
- 20: Maegashira Takerufuji ties the professional sumo record of 11 wins in the first 11 days by a newly promoted top division wrestler set in January 1960 by Taihō.[49]
- 23: Prior to the start of the Day 14 matches, Takakeishō–who secured eight wins and thereby escaped demotion from the ōzeki rank again–withdraws from competition after suffering a pectoral muscle injury in his win over fellow ōzeki Kotonowaka the day before.[50]
- 24: Takerufuji (13–2) escapes an injury withdrawal scenario and shows up to the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium on the last day of the March tournament to defeat Gōnoyama (10–5), becoming the first newly promoted makuuchi competitor since Ryōgoku II in 1914 to win the top division championship. He also becomes the fastest competitor to win their first Emperor's Cup since the introduction of the six-tournament system in 1958. Takerufuji had been diagnosed with a ligament injury in his right ankle following his loss to Asanoyama the day before. Despite the suggestion from his stablemaster Isegahama (the 63rd yokozuna Asahifuji) to withdraw, he says that he would have regretted it for the rest of his life if he did. Takerufuji is rewarded by the Sumo Association for his efforts with all three special prizes for outstanding performance, fighting spirit and technique, becoming the first to sweep the prizes since the former Kotomitsuki in November 2000. Two additional awards for fighting spirit and technique are awarded to amateur sumo champion Ōnosato (11–4), who was the runner-up for the majority of what is just his second tournament in the top division. Elsewhere in the top division, Asanoyama secures nine wins to likely ensure his return to the san'yaku ranks in May, while Kirishima faces kadoban status in the next tournament to keep his ōzeki rank after winning just five matches.[51] [52]
Former maegashira Mitoryū (12–3) secures his second championship in jūryō and a likely return to the rank-and-file at the next tournament.[53]
- 25: Elections for the board of directors of the Japan Sumo Association are held. The Dewanoumi ichimon secures the election of Dewanoumi, Kasugano and Sakaigawa when the second largest clan, the Nishonoseki ichimon, secures that of Shibatayama, Sadogatake and names for the first time Takadagawa at that rank. The Tokitsukaze ichimon appoints only two directors with Isenoumi and Katsunoura, who will serve his first term as director. The two smaller clans (Takasago and Isegahama) each nominate just one, with respectively Hakkaku (for the Takasago ichimon) and Asakayama (for the Isegahama ichimon), the latter also becoming director for the first time.[54] It was also decided to reappoint Hakkaku to a fifth consecutive term as chairman of the association.[55]
- 27: The Sumo Association announces promotions to the second-highest rank of jūryō, three of whom are promoted to sekitori status for the very first time. 24-year-old won the jonokuchi title in his first tournament in May 2022 and clinched the makushita championship at the recently concluded March tournament with a perfect record of seven wins. 23-year-old Mongolian entered professional sumo after winning the student yokozuna title while at Nippon Sport Science University, and debuted last November at makushita 15 under the former makushita tsukedashi system. 24-year-old has competed in professional sumo for years with two lower-division championships; the junior high school yokozuna won several team championships at Saitama Sakae High School with classmates including Ōhō and Kotoshōhō. In the May 2024 tournament, Tsukahara will take the ring name . 17-year sumo veteran Chiyomaru, the January 2014 jūryō champion and former maegashira, returns to jūryō after he was demoted to makushita for the March tournament.[56]
At the Sumo Association's board meeting, Takekuma (former ōzeki Gōeidō) is appointed a member of the judging department and will serve as a ringside judge starting in the May tournament.[57] It was previously reported that Otowayama (the 71st yokozuna Kakuryū) would also be joining the judging department.[58]
- 28: In the aftermath of physical abuse at Miyagino stable from the former Hokuseihō and the subsequent demotion in sumo's hierarchy of its stablemaster, the 69th yokozuna Hakuhō, the Sumo Association announces the closure of Miyagino stable for the foreseeable future and the transfer of wrestlers and coaches to Isegahama stable.[59]
Also approved by the Sumo Association is the closure of Michinoku stable on 2 April, and the transfer of those wrestlers to other stables within the Tokitsukaze ichimon. Among the transfers are current ōzeki Kirishima, who will move to the former Kakuryū's Otowayama stable. Michinoku's stablemaster, former ōzeki Kirishima Kazuhiro, faces mandatory retirement from the Sumo Association on his 65th birthday on 3 April, but he will remain with the association in a consultant role.[60]
April
- 8: The first training session is held at Isegahama stable following the move-in of personnel from Miyagino stable the previous day. Isegahama now has a total of about 40 wrestlers, the largest among all professional sumo stables.[61]
- 16: The Japan Sumo Association organizes its first charity sumo tournament (kanjin-sumo) in 62 years to raise additional donations following the 2024 Noto earthquake.[62]
- 17: The Sumo Association announces the retirement of Furiwake (former maegashira Sadanofuji) as a sumo elder. He had served as a coach at Sakaigawa stable upon concluding his competitive sumo career in 2017.[63]
- 19: The Sumo Association reintroduces athletics tests to judge the admission of new recruits for the first time in 12 years, since the abolition of the height and weight prerequisite system at the end of 2023. The test is based on seven physical tests (back strength, grip strength, repeated horizontal jump, handball throw, handstand, standing long jump and 50-meter run).[64] Thanks to the new physical prerequisites, the test saw the recruitment of the first wrestler under since the post-war era, Kōsei Motomura––who joined Sadogatake stable.[65]
- 22: Ōnosato is issued a strict warning by the Sumo Association along with his stablemaster Nishonoseki, after Nishonoseki reported that Ōnosato had been drinking with an underage wrestler in his stable back in September 2023.[66]
- 30: The Sumo Association publishes the for the May grand sumo tournament in Tokyo, also known as the . At the second-highest rank of, Kotonowaka officially becomes Kotozakura after taking the ring name used by his late grandfather, the 53rd Kotozakura Masakatsu. The rank sees the return of Abi for the first time in two years. Former Asanoyama, who suffered a knee injury near the end of the spring regional tour a few days prior, is promoted to the rank of . This marks Asanoyama's return to for the first time since his return from suspension in July 2022. Joining him at that rank for the first time is 23-year-old Ōnosato, who reaches in his seventh professional tournament. The March tournament champion, Takerufuji, is promoted to 6 for his efforts. Entering the top division for the first time are two competitors. One is 27-year-old Mongolian Ōshōma, who entered professional sumo in November 2021 after winning several amateur titles and has won championships in and . The other is 27-year-old Tokihayate, a five-year professional competitor with two lower-division championships. Three others return to the rank-and-file: Mitoryū returns for the first time in one year, while both Tomokaze and Takarafuji return after having just been demoted. Two veteran competitors drop down to : Myōgiryū falls from the top division after almost years, while Endō drops down for the first time in just over eight years. It also marks Endō's fifth professional tournament outside of in his 11-year career.[67] [68]
The spring jungyō (regional tours) were held at the following locations:[69]
- 31 March: Ise Shrine, Mie (Ceremonial tournament)
- 1: Minoh, Osaka
- 2: Shin'onsen, Hyōgo
- 3: Ichinomiya, Aichi
- 4: Inuyama, Aichi
- 5: Fukui
- 7: Toyama
- 11: Gotemba, Shizuoka
- 12: Kawagoe, Saitama
- 13: Fujisawa, Kanagawa
- 14: Saitama
- 15: Yasukuni Shrine, Tokyo (Ceremonial tournament)
- 16: Machida, Tokyo
- 18: Urayasu, Chiba
- 19: Kawasaki, Kanagawa
- 20: Yokohama, Kanagawa
- 21: Maebashi, Gunma
- 25: Kisarazu, Chiba
- 26: Mito, Ibaraki
- 27: Tokorozawa, Saitama
- 28: Fukaya, Saitama
May
- 1: Following the abuse case and the retirement of Hokuseihō, the Japan Sumo Association summons the rikishi-kai and holds a conference on the problems of violence in the stables.[70]
Following the charity tournament (kanjin-sumo) held on 16 April, the Sumo Association donates ¥27 million to Ishikawa Prefecture to support reconstruction efforts after the 2024 Noto earthquake.[71]
- 8: Despite returning to status for the first time in three years, it is announced that Asanoyama will withdraw from the upcoming May tournament as he continues recovering from a knee injury suffered near the end of the spring regional tour.[72]
It is announced that Oguruma (former ōzeki Kotokaze) decides not to make use of his full period of re-employment and will retire for good at the age of 67. The Sumo Association makes his retirement official three days later. He entrusts the management of the elder share Oguruma to his original stable, Sadogatake stable.[73] [74]
- 9: Maegashira Takerufuji decides not to take part in the May tournament in order to heal his injured ankle.[75]
- 12: The opening day of the May 2024 tournament is marked by numerous upsets of top-ranked wrestlers. The only competitor ranked above to win their match is new Ōnosato, who defeats Terunofuji.[76] It is the first time since the Shōwa era that all and competitors are defeated on the first tournament day, as well as the first time since September 2006 that and wrestlers have lost on the same day in a tournament with at least five such competitors combined.[77]
- 13: Terunofuji and Takakeishō both withdraw from the May tournament due to injuries, after suffering defeats on the opening day.[78]
- 14: Maegashira and former Takayasu withdraws from the May tournament on Day 3 after injuring his back during morning practice.[79] He returns on Day 9, defeating Hōshōryū.[80]
- 17: Former Kotoekō decides to retire, ending a 17-year professional sumo career. He plans to take the Oguruma elder name most recently held by former Kotokaze.[81]
- 18: Two other top-ranked wrestlers, Wakamotoharu and Kirishima, withdraw from the May tournament.[82] Kirishima, as a, faces demotion to and will have to win ten matches in July to return to sumo's second-highest rank.[83] Wakamotoharu does not rule out returning to the competition,[84] and returns on Day 11.[85]
- 19: In an editorial published in Sports Hochi, former ōzeki Kotokaze advocates for a return to non-impact breaks for the ranking in the event of injury. The plea follows the absence of five of the nine wrestlers making up the ranks, a first since the 2018 November tournament.[86]
- 22: Mitoryū withdraws on Day 11 of the May 2024 tournament due to osteoarthritis in both of his knees.[87]
It is announced that Mongolian former Chiyoshōma acquires Japanese citizenship, which is required to remain in the Sumo Association as a coach upon retirement.[88]
- 26: Ōnosato (12–3) wins the May top-division championship. He breaks the record recently set by March tournament champion Takerufuji as the fastest wrestler to win their first Emperor's Cup since their debut in the history of professional sumo, doing so in seven tournaments, and also becomes the first wrestler since the late Haguroyama in 1957 to win a top-division championship immediately after promotion to . Ōnosato entered the final day of the tournament as the sole leader, with four others one win behind at the time: Kotozakura (11–4) and Hōshōryū (10–5), Abi (10–5), and top Daieishō (11–4). A loss by Ōnosato to Abi would have forced a playoff. However, the 23-year-old Ōnosato quickly dispatches his opponent in the tournament's penultimate match by spinning him to the side and pushing him out. Ōnosato receives the Outstanding Performance prize and his second straight Technique prize for his efforts, becoming the first wrestler in 25 years to win a special prize in each of their first three top-division tournaments. Mongolian Ōshōma (10–5) wins the Fighting Spirit prize in his top-division debut.[89] [90]
The division is won by former Wakatakakage (14–1),[91] the younger brother of current Wakamotoharu.
- 29: The Sumo Association holds their ranking meeting, and announces three promotions to the division for July. One of the two new promotions to status is 24-year-old Okinawa native, a graduate of Nippon Sport Science University who entered professional sumo in May 2022 as a competitor. The other new is 22-year-old, who entered the professional sumo world at the beginning of 2020 and becomes the second salaried wrestler for Futagoyama stable. Returning to after one year is 26-year-old . The Fujishima stable competitor has won a total of four lower-division championships, including two this year after returning from injury.[92]
Among the 13 retirements announced by the Sumo Association, besides Kotoekō, are four lower-division wrestlers originally from Miyagino stable. The four had all been transferred to Isegahama stable following Miyagino's temporary closure earlier in the year.[93]
- 30: The Sumo Association approves the request of Nakamura (former Yoshikaze) to branch off from Nishonoseki stable and create his own stable. Wrestlers transferring to the new Nakamura stable include Tomokaze, who followed Yoshikaze from the former Oguruma stable, and recent promotion Kayō.[94]
June
- 1: The retirement ceremony for former Ishiura is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.[95]
- 2: The retirement ceremony for former Akiseyama is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.[96]
- 8: The retirement ceremony for former Chiyonokuni is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.[97]
- 23: The retirement ceremony for former Terutsuyoshi is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.[98]
- 30: 67-year-old Minatogawa (former Daitetsu) retires early from his consultant role with the Sumo Association.[99]
July
- 1: The Sumo Association releases the for the July grand sumo tournament, which is scheduled to be the final Nagoya tournament held in the current Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium (Dolphins Arena) before it moves to the new Aichi International Arena (IG Arena) in 2025. The rankings see the demotion of Kirishima from to after consecutive losing tournaments. The Mongolian will need a 10-win record to restore his status. Meanwhile, Takakeishō once again finds himself needing a winning record to keep his rank. May's top division champion Ōnosato is promoted to for his eighth professional sumo tournament. At the ranks are May runner-up Daieishō, returning to after he was just demoted to the top rank, and Hiradoumi, who moves up to for the first time in his eight-year career. May's champion Wakatakakage returns to the top division for the first time since being relegated while recovering from an ACL injury. He joins his older brother Wakamotoharu, marking the first tournament in one year that the two are listed together in the top division rankings. Four others return to the top division: Former Endō returns after having just been demoted in May, Bushōzan returns after two tournaments, and both Chiyoshōma and Kagayaki return after four tournaments. Of the wrestlers that are relegated, former Asanoyama drops from to 12, and March's top division champion Takerufuji falls from 6 to 2. Neither competed in the May tournament due to injury.[100] [101]
- 12: Before the opening day matches are decided for the July tournament, it is announced that Chiyoshōma has withdrawn from the competition.[102] It is later reported that the Mongolian underwent surgery to repair a herniated disc on 28 June.[103] March's top-division champion Takerufuji also withdraws from the competition.[104] Both wrestlers return on Day 6 and Day 8, respectively.[105] [106]
- 15: and former Takayasu withdraws on Day 2 of the July tournament. He was seen clutching his chest after losing to Kirishima in his opening day contest,[107] and was later diagnosed with a partial tear of his left pectoral muscle.[108]
- 17: After losing his first three matches, and former Ōnoshō withdraws on Day 4 of the July tournament. His medical certificate with the Sumo Association indicated right ankle arthritis and ligament damage in his right knee.[109]
- 18: Asanoyama withdraws on Day 5 of the July tournament. The former, who made his way back up to the top division in May 2023 following a one-year suspension from the ring for violating COVID-19 protocols, injured his left ACL in his Day 4 contest against Ichiyamamoto. His medical certificate said that the injury would need about two months of treatment, but stablemaster Takasago said it could take more than six months for Asanoyama to fully recover and return to competition.[110]
- 28: Terunofuji wins a playoff over Takanoshō to secure his tenth top-division championship at the July 2024 tournament. Having taken the sole lead and built a two-win advantage during the tournament, Terunofuji faltered in his last two regularly-scheduled matches. One of those losses came on Day 14 against Takanoshō, who notched his third over the . With both of their records level at 12–3 after their Day 15 matches, Terunofuji wins the playoff by slipping free from Takanoshō's grasp and driving him out of the ring. Takanoshō receives one of the three special prizes, the Fighting Spirit prize, for his efforts. New Hiradoumi (10–5) gets his first career special prize, receiving the Technique prize. The Outstanding Performance prize goes to new Ōnosato (9–6), who defeated Terunofuji on Day 11 and becomes the first wrestler to receive one of the three special prizes in his first four top-division tournaments.[111]
The championship in the division goes to 25-year-old Shirokuma (12–3), who won his final contest to avoid a three-way playoff for the title.[112]
- 31: Three promotions to the division are announced by the Sumo Association after their ranking meeting, including two who enter salaried status for the first time. One is 21-year-old, who enters after three years of professional sumo and one title. Kiryūkō's father is former Tokitsuumi, who was the former head of Tokitsukaze stable until his departure from the Sumo Association in early 2021. The other new promotion is 24-year-old from China. He entered professional sumo in 2021 at the urging of his stablemaster, former Sōkokurai, and was the champion at the recently-concluded July tournament. 23-year-old, who won five matches in July after he had just been demoted to, returns to .[113]
August
- 1: The Sumo Association announces that Yūji Horasawa (the 3rd Kimura Yōdō) will be promoted to the rank of and become the 42nd Shikimori Inosuke. The promotion takes effect on 26 August, when the rankings for the September tournament are published. It will mark the first time since 2015 that both of the ranks are occupied.[114]
The summer jungyō (regional tours) will be held at the following locations:
- 4: Saku, Nagano
- 5: Tonami, Toyama
- 6: Gifu
- 7: Fujieda, Shizuoka
- 8: Tachikawa, Tokyo
- 9: Hitachi, Ibaraki
- 10: Iwaki, Fukushima
- 11: Obanazawa, Yamagata
- 12-13: Sendai
- 14: Hanamaki, Iwate
- 15: Aomori
- 17-18: Sapporo
- 21: Tsugaru, Aomori
- 22: Fukushima
- 23: Ōta, Tokyo
- 24: Zama, Kanagawa
- 25: Yokosuka, Kanagawa
Deaths
- 13 January: Three-time amateur yokozuna (former head of the International Sumo Federation and former Nihon University chairman and sumo club coach), aged 77, of natural causes.[115] [116]
- 24 February: Former maegashira Kotogatake, aged 71, of heart failure.[117]
- 10 March: Former sekiwake Myōbudani, aged 86, of old age.[118]
- 6 April: The 64th yokozuna Akebono, aged 54, of heart failure.[119] [120] [121]
- 25 May: Former Ōshio, aged 76.[122]
- 20 June: Former Takamishū, aged 56.[123]
- 6 July: Former Kimurayama, aged 42.[124]
See also
References
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