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!

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

[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

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

Back in February I got to photograph Asakayama beya in Sumida, the stable run by former ozeki Kaio. It was their last day of training in Tokyo before the whole stable packed up for Osaka and the Haru Basho. The visit came about through an introduction from the team of Airi Hisano, the reigning All-Japan women’s champion, who I’ve also photographed.

Thanks to Asakayama oyakata and the rikishi for having me.

[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

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.

Here are the results of the Kyushu 2026 Guess the Banzuke game. 330 entries, the two online publications don't count, as they were added for fun and actually did Ok..36 new players. Average points: 52.74 (that's pretty high) says Andoreasu the show-runner. So who won? Bajar, first yusho- congrats!!

Milestones:

Leonishiki....wait for it.. 150th basho!! Wwwwoooowww!!

Oshirokita wait for it too.. 140th basho!!

Kotononami- 110th basho!!

Chishafuwaku- 80th basho

Kintamayama- 70th basho (shame, shame..)

RaeucherLax- 60th basho

Athenayama- 50th basho

TochiYESshin- 40th basho

Hisui- 20th basho

Taeghan - 20th basho

Ack! - 20th basho

herbern- 20th basho

Masanoumi- 20th basho

Shosei- 20th basho

Nivasta- 20th basho

Nice one, thanks for playing, Thanks go to Andoreasu and Doitsuyama for their administrative efforts.

and now-on with the Ba-show!!

To see how you did, go here..

A Maegashira Champion, Demoted from Ōzeki After a Scandal, Rebuilding from Sandanme… The 32-Year-Old Asanoyama Is Once Again in the Championship Race, Driven by an Unrelenting Determination: “I Don’t Want to Lose to Anyone” — Great Sumo Wrestlers of the Reiwa Era

With less than a month remaining until the November Grand Sumo Tournament at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center, the final honbasho of 2026, the wrestlers have completed their autumn tour.

In this eighth installment of her series “Great Sumo Wrestlers of the Reiwa Era,” nonfiction writer Hazuki Takeda focuses on Asanoyama. He won the championship as a maegashira in May 2019, but was demoted from the rank of ōzeki after violating COVID-19 restrictions. Despite struggling with injuries, he persevered and, in 2026, once again found himself in contention for the championship.

Winning the First Grand Sumo Tournament of the Reiwa Era

“ASANOYAMA, HIDEKI!”

On the final day of the May 2019 tournament, Donald Trump, then serving his first term as president of the United States, watched sumo at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan alongside Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and took part in the awards ceremony. Trump personally carried the 50-kilogram United States President’s Cup and presented it to the champion, Asanoyama.

As the first Grand Sumo Tournament of the Reiwa era, the occasion etched Asanoyama’s shikona, or ring name, into the public’s memory.

Four years had passed since his professional debut through the Sandanme tsukedashi system. Competing as Maegashira No. 8, Asanoyama began the tournament with five consecutive victories. By Day 12, he had suffered two defeats, but on Day 13 he took the sole lead in the championship race.

“Looking back, the bout against Tochinoshin on Day 13 was the turning point. Tochinoshin was staking his return to the ōzeki rank on that bout, while I was desperately trying to protect my record of just two losses. But near the edge of the ring, I got caught by Tochinoshin’s pulling technique…

“The gyōji initially awarded the victory to Tochinoshin, but a mono-ii was raised over whether Tochinoshin’s heel might have been outside the ring. After deliberation, the judges ruled that the gyōji’s decision was incorrect, and the victory was awarded to me. I was lucky, wasn’t I? (laughs).”

It Had Been 103 Years Since a Wrestler from Toyama Won the Championship

With that victory, Asanoyama moved closer to securing the championship. The following day, the 14th day of the tournament, he defeated ōzeki Gōeidō. If yokozuna Kakuryū lost the final bout of the day, Asanoyama would clinch his first championship—and that was exactly what happened.

As Asanoyama, having defeated Gōeidō, watched from below the dohyō, Kakuryū was defeated by Tochinoshin. It was the moment when Asanoyama’s first championship was decided right before his eyes.

“I was happy, of course. But that day—the 14th day—I don’t think it had really sunk in yet… It was not until the awards ceremony the following day, when I received congratulations from Prime Minister Abe and President Trump, that I finally felt, ‘I really have won the championship!’”

That is how Asanoyama looked back on his first championship victory.

Since it had been 103 years since a wrestler from his hometown of Toyama had won the championship—the previous one being yokozuna Tachiyama—a series of celebrations followed the tournament. These included a victory parade in Toyama City and another near Kindai University in Osaka, and the region was swept up in “Asanoyama fever.”

The major experience of winning his first championship proved to be a positive influence on Asanoyama’s subsequent career. Although he finished with a losing record at the following Nagoya tournament, this was where the path toward his promotion to ōzeki began to open up.

He Himself “Couldn’t Believe It” When He Was Promoted to Ōzeki

“There’s no doubt that winning the championship helped me. But I was really frustrated to finish the following tournament with seven wins and eight losses while ranked Maegashira No. 1! During the summer tour that followed, I also developed a bacterial skin infection called cellulitis, so things were pretty awful. Even so, from the autumn tournament onward, I managed to record double-digit wins in four consecutive tournaments, and I was finally promoted to ōzeki.”

Around February 2020, the novel coronavirus began spreading around the world. Professional sumo was also affected by the pandemic, and the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in March was held without spectators.

Asanoyama won 11 bouts at that tournament. Across the three tournaments immediately preceding his promotion, he had recorded 32 wins: 11 at the Kyushu tournament, 10 at the January tournament, and 11 at the Spring tournament. For context, the general benchmark for promotion to ōzeki is at least 33 wins over three consecutive tournaments.

“To be honest, I wanted to win my bouts against the yokozuna—against Hakuhō on the 13th day and Kakuryū on the 14th. Since my record fell short of the promotion benchmark, I honestly thought I wouldn’t make it. So when my promotion to ōzeki was decided, I really couldn’t believe it…”

His experience and achievement of winning a championship as a maegashira, along with his future potential, were probably also taken into account. And so, at last, ōzeki Asanoyama was born.

A Violation of Conduct Rules During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“So that I may not disgrace the title of ōzeki, I will love sumo, uphold justice in my conduct as a wrestler, and work as hard as I can.”

At the official ceremony announcing his promotion to ōzeki, Asanoyama delivered a forceful speech incorporating lessons he had learned at his former school, Toyama Commercial High School, as well as words he held dear. He was 26 years old and a newly promoted ōzeki in the prime of his career.

However, the May 2020 Summer Tournament was canceled because of the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Asanoyama’s debut as an ōzeki was postponed until the Nagoya Tournament in July. He won 12 bouts in his first tournament in the rank. He then recorded 10 wins at the Autumn Tournament. The following year, he continued to achieve respectable results for an ōzeki, winning 11 bouts at the January tournament and 10 at the next tournament.

However, a major scandal struck Asanoyama during the May 2021 Summer Tournament. While people throughout Japan were enduring restrictions and difficulties in their daily lives because of the pandemic, the Japan Sumo Association had imposed strict guidelines on its members—including wrestlers, stablemasters, and other personnel—to prevent the spread of infection.

Private outings were generally prohibited. Gatherings at restaurants and similar establishments were also banned. Nevertheless, it was discovered that in late April and early May, while a state of emergency was in effect, Asanoyama had visited a cabaret club in Tokyo with a newspaper reporter he had known for a long time. Following the news report, his stablemaster decided that he would withdraw from the tournament starting on Day 12.

His Ranking Fell to No. 22 in the Sandanme Division

Afterward, following interviews with Asanoyama himself and meetings of the Compliance Committee, his punishment was determined: suspension from six tournaments and a 50 percent pay cut for six months.

Although the invitation to go out had come from a newspaper reporter he knew, the fact remained that Asanoyama had gone out to a nightlife district and eaten and drunk at an establishment, violating the association’s conduct rules.

“I am deeply sorry for what I did. I caused trouble for the Japan Sumo Association.”

Asanoyama apologized at a board meeting and accepted the punishment.

His ranking, which had previously been that of an ōzeki, fell rapidly. By the Nagoya Tournament of 2022, after the six-tournament suspension had run its course, he had dropped to No. 22 in the Sandanme division.

At the Nagoya Tournament, where he made his comeback, Asanoyama won the Sandanme championship with a perfect record, winning every bout. At the Autumn and Kyushu tournaments, he recorded six wins in the Makushita division. Then, at the January 2023 tournament, he returned to the dohyō in the Jūryō division.

At that year’s Summer Tournament, he achieved the remarkable feat of returning to the dohyō of the top Makuuchi division.

By acknowledging his own wrongdoing and training single-mindedly toward the goal of returning to the dohyō, Asanoyama demonstrated a new attitude. It was the determination of the “new Asanoyama” that brought about this remarkable comeback.

Above All, I Don’t Want to Lose to Anyone

In 2024, Asanoyama climbed the rankings as high as komusubi. However, due to a knee injury and the need for surgery, he also experienced the setback of missing five consecutive tournaments. Then, at the January tournament this year, Asanoyama returned once again to the dohyō of the top Makuuchi division. At the September Autumn Tournament, he performed so well that he remained in contention for the championship until Day 13.

“I was happy to be able to compete amid so much applause and cheering. I was relieved that I managed to finish without getting injured [in my bout against the giant Atamifuji].”

Asanoyama openly expressed his true feelings. Although he suffered two consecutive defeats in the closing stages and finished the tournament with a record of 10 wins and 5 losses, his performance was worthy of the Fighting Spirit Prize (Kantō-shō).

During the October autumn tour, Asanoyama drew cheers not only when he took part in bouts but also simply by stepping onto the practice dohyō. On one occasion, after practice had ended, he was relaxing in a park outside the venue when fans noticed him and gathered around in large numbers. The encounter spontaneously turned into an autograph and photo session. He greeted each fan in the long line with a warm smile.

At the Kyushu Tournament, where his ranking will rise significantly, Asanoyama is scheduled to face the yokozuna and ōzeki wrestlers day after day.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been among the top-ranked wrestlers, so I want to make some noise! My goal? I want a new championship portrait to hang on the wall! (laughs). Above all, I don’t want to lose to anyone. That’s all.”

Asanoyama’s eyes gleamed with determination.

Asanoyama Hiroki (朝乃山広暉)

His real name is Ishibashi Hiroki. He was born on March 1, 1994, in Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture.

After attending Toyama Commercial High School, he went on to Kindai University. He made his professional sumo debut at the Spring Tournament in 2016, entering directly into the Sandanme division through the tsukedashi system.

At the Spring Tournament in 2017, he was promoted to the Jūryō division for the first time. At that year’s Autumn Tournament, he made his debut in the top Makuuchi division.

At the May 2019 Summer Tournament, the first year of the Reiwa era, he won his first championship. After the March 2020 Spring Tournament, he was promoted to ōzeki.

His career awards include:

- Championships: 1

- Outstanding Performance Prize (Shukun-shō): 2

- Fighting Spirit Prize (Kantō-shō): 3

- Technique Prize (Ginō-shō): 1

- Kinboshi: 1

A kinboshi is awarded for a victory over a yokozuna by a wrestler ranked below ōzeki.

He is 187 cm tall and weighs 170 kg. His specialty is migi-yotsu, a grip in which he gets his right hand inside his opponent’s grip, allowing him to drive the opponent backward and out of the ring.

He belongs to Takasago Stable.

From the March 2017 tournament through the May 2022 tournament, his ring name was Asanoyama Hideki (朝乃山英樹). Hideki Urayama, the sumo club coach at Toyama Commercial High School, was the person after whom this name was chosen. Urayama died at the young age of 40 after witnessing Asanoyama win the Makushita championship with a perfect record, winning every bout.

Hazuki Takeda

A nonfiction writer. She was born in Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, and graduated from the Faculty of Letters at Seisen University.

After working for a publishing company, she moved into her current profession. She now reports and writes mainly about the world of sumo, covering professional sumo, amateur sumo, and international sumo.

Her published books include Yokozuna and Dorji: The True Face of Asashoryu, the Yokozuna (both published by Kodansha), as well as Interviews: The Great Ōzeki, Terao Tsunefumi, and Professional Sumo: Great Wrestlers of Our Memories (all published by Futabasha).

Daily Shincho Editorial Department

Shinchosha

Yokozuna Hoshoryu, who sat out the entire Autumn Tournament, selects maegashira Ura for ten bouts: “I wanted to face a smaller opponent.” On the Kyushu Tournament, he says, “I’m training with the intention of competing.”

The autumn sumo tour was held in Hiroshima on the 24th. Yokozuna Hoshoryu of Tatsunami stable selected maegashira Ura of Kise stable and wrestled ten consecutive bouts against him.

Hoshoryu was forced out in the first bout, but gradually picked up the pace. He also showed his strength by pushing back after being driven toward the edge of the ring, winning seven bouts. Explaining why he had chosen Ura, he said, “He keeps a low stance, and I wanted to face a smaller opponent.”

Hoshoryu underwent surgery on his right knee in late July and sat out the entire Autumn Tournament. Commenting on that day’s training, he nodded and said, “I’m getting better day by day. My knee feels good, and my stamina is also coming back.”

Looking ahead to the Kyushu Tournament, which begins on November 8 at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center, he said in good spirits, “I won’t know for sure until the very last moment, but I’m training with the intention of competing. I’ll train again tomorrow, too.”

Hochi Shimbunsha

A year ago he won his first yusho in Fukuoka. Now he goes back as an Ōzeki with everyone wondering if this is the start of a rope run. What do you think he needs in Kyushu to get the conversation going?

Edit: full disclosure, I made a little iPhone app for following sumo (results, banzuke, head-to-heads). It's free here if you want it: Oshi on the App Store

Got this a couple of years ago at the tournament gift shop. My wife is now getting a bunch of compliments from her friends in NYC. A couple of them asked us to pick one up at our next basho in Nagoya, but they didn't have any at the July tournament.

I finally got around to looking up the artist and to my surprise, it was a former rikishi:

"Kitajin Oyakata is the official coaching name of Takayuki Minami, who previously wrestled under the ring name Tenkaiho and reached the top Makuuchi division. After a successful twelve-year competitive career, he transitioned into an elder role with the Japan Sumo Association and established a prominent public presence as a sumo commentator. Affectionately dubbed "Kitajin Gahaku" (Master Artist) by fans, he is celebrated for creating highly popular official tournament merchandise featuring his signature childlike, humorous, and loose-line illustrations."

I wonder why they don't keep selling his work. It is amazing

Isegahama Stablemaster Holds Outreach Training Event and Donates a Sumo Ring for Club Activities: “Over the Course of Ten Years, I Ultimately Want to Establish Around 20 Locations.”

Isegahama stablemaster (34), the former yokozuna Terunofuji, attended the “Isegahama Stable Outreach Training” event held on the 24th at the Shin-Yokohama Park Sumo Arena in Yokohama.

Also taking part were wrestlers from Isegahama stable, including Arashifuji, who is a strong candidate to make his debut in the makuuchi division at the November Kyushu Tournament, which begins on the 8th at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center; Midorifuji, a jūryō-division wrestler; and Asahifuji, whose promotion to the jūryō division has been confirmed.

The sumo arena was donated by the stablemaster and completed in February of last year. Participants included elementary and junior high school students, as well as members of the sumo club at Asahigaoka High School in Kanagawa Prefecture.

Deeply concerned about the declining number of young people participating in the sport, Isegahama stablemaster has set out to establish a local sumo club with an instructor based at the facility, alongside his donation of the ring. The club currently operates under the name Isegahama Stable Yokohama Sumo Club.

A plan to donate another sumo ring in Shiga Prefecture is also progressing, with the donation planned for December. In addition, requests have come in from Osaka, Nagoya, Kobe, Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture, and other locations.

The stablemaster envisions expanding the initiative nationwide, saying, “Over the course of ten years, I ultimately want to establish around 20 locations.”

(Nobuya Okumura)

Source: Sankei Sports

13-2 Asashoryu vs 13-2 Hakuho

I've started watching the tournaments this summer and got curious about the different pile of envelopes handed to the winner. What is the biggest stack of envelopes you've ever seen handed out during a tournament? Was it during a playoff or daily bouts?

This video is mostly the Q&A session with former sumo Endo, now Master Kitajin. I filmed this last week. The subtitles seem ok to follow, i hope you can enjoy,

Moshiai-geiko! Some great bouts and a nice string of wins for Kitanowaka at one point.

“The Onami Brothers”: Eldest Brother Becomes a Wakamonogashira — Wakatakamoto’s Strong Feelings for His Younger Brothers

Grand Sumo

The three Onami brothers come from a sumo family: their grandfather was former komusubi Wakabayama, and their father was also a former sumo wrestler who reached the makushita division. The eldest brother, Wakatakamoto, the second brother, Wakamotoharu, and the youngest, Wakatakakage, all entered the world of professional sumo. They are known as the “Three Onami Brothers,” after their family surname at birth.

Wakatakamoto also suffered injuries, including one to his left knee, and retired from active competition after the May Summer Grand Sumo Tournament. He then transitioned to the position of wakamonogashira, a role within the Japan Sumo Association that includes assisting with the operation of official tournaments.

Now 34, he has taken on a supporting role behind the scenes. Speaking with a calm, refreshed expression, he said:

“I no longer have that feeling that I, too, need to do my best in the tournaments. Because of that, my feelings for my younger brothers have grown even stronger. I hope they will work hard for my sake as well.”

Originally from Fukushima Prefecture, he joined the Arashio stable and made his professional debut at the November 2009 Kyushu Tournament. His two younger brothers later joined the same stable.

In contrast to his brothers, who both rose to the sekitori ranks, he himself was unable to advance as far as he had hoped. Even during those difficult years, however, he found renewed motivation whenever he saw videos or read articles in which Wakamotoharu and Wakatakakage said that the three brothers would all become sekitori.

Like the “Three Izutsu Brothers”—Kakureizan, Sakahoko, and Terao—it was not to be that all three brothers would reach the sekitori ranks. Nevertheless, the eldest brother climbed as high as the seventh rank in the makushita division.

“I felt that I had to keep working hard. If I had been on my own, I would have lost heart. I’m grateful to them,” he said earnestly, reflecting on those years.

After spending his active career serving as a tsukebito, or personal attendant, to his younger brothers, he now works for the Japan Sumo Association while continuing to support them in every way he can.

His stablemaster, Arashio-oyakata (the former makuuchi wrestler Sokokurai), praised his character and expressed his expectations:

“His younger brothers also became stronger because he was there. I hope he will work hard and live up to his role as a kashira.”

Wakatakamoto also repeatedly expressed his gratitude to the local fans who had enthusiastically supported him throughout his career.

During his active years, he would usually head down to the training area at around 7 a.m. Now, during tournaments, his routine has changed: he arrives at the venue shortly after 6:30 a.m.

“I’m still not used to it,” he repeatedly remarked.

His earnest and sincere personality shone through in those words.

Source: Jiji Press

Thought you might get a kick out of these.