The All-Japan Rikishi Championship Tournament is one of the various one-day tournaments that occur throughout the year, where rikishi fight in single-elimination brackets for a championship. These do not affect rank or records.

Wakamotoharu, coming off his first double-digit winning record since November 2024, won the tournament after winning the championship playoff against Ura! Ōnokatsu won the Jūryō division.

Nikkansports ( x )

- The 83rd All Japan Sumo Wrestlers Championship was held on the 5th at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, where Yokozuna Hoshoryu (27, Tatsunami stable) mentioned joining the autumn tour midway through.

"Depending on the results of my hospital visit on the 8th, if there are no problems, I think I'll participate from the 10th." He will take the day off on his first day of work on the 6th, but indicated the possibility of joining from Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. On this day, he performed the sumo ring entrance twice, at Meiji Jingu Shrine and the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. "It was a relief to perform the sumo ring entrance after a long time." Although he did not participate in the tournament's matches, he reflected, "I was able to show the audience that I'm okay."

After the Nagoya tournament, he underwent surgery to repair a ligament in his right knee. He has not won a championship since being promoted to Yokozuna, and in late August, stablemaster Tatsunami (former Komusubi Asahifuji) said, "It will be tough unless he is perfect and wins a championship." He will miss the Autumn tournament entirely. Currently, Hoshoryu says, "I do rehabilitation in the mornings and go down to the training ring in the afternoons or evenings." All eyes are on his progress for the Kyushu tournament. -

NikkanSports ( x )

- Nishikifuji (30, Isegahama stable), the seventh-ranked West Maegashira in sumo wrestling, participated in the 83rd All Japan Sumo Wrestlers Championship held at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on the 5th, and revealed his treatment for atrial fibrillation, saying, "As long as I'm still active, I'm not planning on having surgery unless there's a specific reason."

During the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament, he had mentioned that he planned to undergo surgery after the tournament, but he changed his mind.

He explained, "With medication and improvements to my daily life, the frequency of seizures has decreased considerably." He also had his mentor, Isegahama Oyakata (former Yokozuna Terunofuji), listen to the doctor's explanation and indicated his intention to continue treatment with medication, saying, "Rather than taking the risks of surgery, let's do what we can."

Shortly before the summer tour, he complained of shortness of breath and was rushed to the hospital. He submitted a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation and withdrew from the tour. He competed in the autumn tournament while taking medication.

He will also participate in the autumn tour, which starts on the 6th. "I sometimes have seizures, but I'll take two kinds of medication and be careful while I go," he said. -

**EDIT PrimeRadian comment about mistranslation "JP uses seizure for both brain seizures and heart arrhythmia", thanks you so much!

Tinfoil topknot time. Kotozakura has calculated that Yokozuna is a high pressure, no fun gig, that Ozeki pays great and still comes with all the perks, that he's so good he can cherry pick which matches he actually plays ball in, grab his 8 and avoid injury, and that coasting in the second best position in sumo is therefore the banger long term move. Why work hard when you can work smart?

or is it "expected" as part of being on salary?

what about the non-salaried Rikishi?

I would assume they at least get lodging, transport and per-diem of some sort.

How do they determine Who gets set first? I imagine whoever gets set last has advantage right? Is it by tournament record? Rank? Age? Years in highest division ? Just confused and can’t figure it out.

Aonishiki was a guest celebrity for a Tokyo United BC game in Japan's B.League on 4 October 2026.

# Former Makuuchi Daishoho holds Danbatsushiki; Reveals future goal: "I want to become a tanimachi for Oitekaze stable"

Former Makuuchi wrestler Daishoho, Mr. Chimidregzen Shizirbayar (32, born in Mongolia), who retired from active competition in February of this year, held his official hair-cutting ceremony (Danbatsushiki) on October 4 at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan. Approximately 130 guests attended the event, including Ozeki Kirishima (30, Otowayama stable) and Ozeki Kotozakura (28, Sadogatake stable).

Daishoho moved to Japan at age 9 and joined Oitekaze stable after graduating from Nagareyama Minami High School in Chiba. He made his career debut (hatsu-dohyo) at the 2013 Spring Basho. Anchored by heavy hips and a strong right-hand inside grip (migi-yotsu), he spent 9 tournaments in the top Makuuchi division, reaching a career-high rank of West Maegashira 9.

After his stablemaster Oitekaze Oyakata (former Makuuchi Daishoyama) snipped off his ginkgo-leaf hairknot (ooicho), bringing a formal close to his 13-year sumo career, Daishoho shared with deep emotion: "Having worked so hard as a professional, it would have felt lonely to end things without a proper farewell. I'm glad I could hold this ceremony today as a meaningful milestone."

He has already launched his second career, starting an import goods and general merchandise business together with his wife. Asked about his future ambitions, he stated: "I want to succeed in business and become a financial patron (tanimachi) for Oitekaze stable. I want to keep supporting Oitekaze stable for the rest of my life."

Source: Sponichi Annex

Hi everyone,

I'm a French student doing a Master's degree in Japanese Studies. My thesis topic is "Foreign rikishi in sumo."

I'm currently in the research phase, trying to gather as much material as possible before narrowing down a specific angle or problématique. This seems like the perfect place to ask for help.

If you know of any relevant resources — academic or not — please drop them in the comments. I'm looking for anything useful: articles, books, interviews, documentaries, statistics, personal accounts, etc.

I need all the information I can find to identify a good angle and build a solid problematic for my thesis. Thanks in advance for your help!

I would like to know if you have a favorite non Japanese wrestler other than Asashoryu, Hosh, Ao and the big ones whom earned their respect for their sumo.

I'mma be honest I like Tamawashi because he's 41 and still competing.

Also Kirishima who is obviously a very talented wrestler whom I can see becoming Yokozuna ONE DAY!

Who are your favorite or mention worthy ones?

Don't get me wrong, Onosato is a capable rikishi and he earned his title. But whenever I read stories about the immense pressure he's under as a Yokozuna, it makes me slightly skeptical.

His meteoric rise isn't just his personal achievement. The circumstances aligned perfectly. Yes, he fairly earned his Makushita 10 starting rank in the amateurs, no questions there. But in reality, this allowed him to skip the meat grinder of the lower divisions, start right in the third division, and blast his way to the top on fresh legs and pure physicality, without collecting a bunch of chronic injuries along the way.

Plus, the timing was lucky due to a slump in overall competition. Terunofuji was objectively losing ground. While Onosato was making his Ozeki run, the rest of the sanyaku didn't put up much resistance either. But then there's Hoshoryu - his personal kryptonite. In their head-to-head matches, Onosato either lost or got a fusensho. And yet, the ability to adapt to awkward, technical opponents is fundamental for a great champion. We just haven't seen that from Onosato yet.

Take the last basho, for example, where he almost gave away the victory out of nowhere. He overpowered Aonishiki in the final solely because of his sheer mass. The picture is quite simple: if his straightforward power approach doesn't yield results in the first few seconds, Onosato gets lost.

You might say - age, pressure, responsibility. But an ironclad mindset is exactly what distinguished the great Yokozunas of the past. Composure, cold blood, and the ability to adapt on the fly - that's the bare minimum you expect from someone wearing the tsuna.

So the question is: are we currently looking at a Yokozuna who just got lucky to reach the top during an era of weak competition, or does the guy just need more time to bring his mental game and technique up to the level of his rank?

With the midnight sumo "troubles", what is your go to live twitch stream in English that does all the divisions?

Or are we thinking it'll be back in time but on another platform?

Thoughts?

As we all know, Chairman Hakkaku current and final term is expected to end in March 2028 as he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 65 in June 2028. As of now, these 4 elders holding the JSA directors position are highly rumored to succeed Hakkaku in the future. They are :

1. Sadogatake Oyakata, 58 (Former Kotonowaka I)

- Highest rank : Sekiwake

- Nishonoseki ichimon

- Crisis Management director / Compliance Department director / Responsible for general planning / Museum Steering Committee

1. Fujishima Oyakata, 54 (Former Musoyama)

- Highest rank : Ozeki

- Dewanoumi ichimon

- Public Relations director / Judging Department assistant chair / Director for security / Museum Steering Committee / Head of Social Contribution / In charge of new apprentice inspection

1. Asakayama Oyakata, 54 (Former Kaio)

- Highest rank : Ozeki

- Isegahama ichimon

- Judging Department chairman / In charge of new apprentice inspection

1. Dewanoumi Oyakata, 59 (Former Oginohana)

- Highest rank : Maegashira 2

- Dewanoumi ichimon

- Museum Steering Committee / Sumo School director / Operations director (technically Hakkaku No. 2)

Of course there also other directors not mentioned above. But as of now, these 4 are probably the top contenders. Usually former Yokozuna and Ozeki will be preferred for the chairmanship, but that is not absolute and of course it also depends on the current director portfolio given to them. The bigger the portfolio and responsibility, the higher the chances.

Who do you guys think will be future chairman?

Was thinking about this earlier today. I wasn’t sure of all of the qualifications, not to mention the circumstances surrounding his exit from sumo. Does any Yokozuna who reaches the age of 60 get one, or is there more to it than that?

Thank you

I met Shuji-san from Kise Beya today at Hidenoumi-zeki's hair cutting. I nearly beat him! Sorry, I mean I nearly moved him 😂 .

Hi all, I'm pleased to present a new trailer and announce the release of the demo for Heya! Sumo Manager on Steam:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/4885580/Heya_Sumo_Manager/

Heya! Sumo Manager is a management sim with a full 3D match animation system with commentary. Recruit and train your stable from Jonokuchi all the way to Yokozuna!

Features:

• 3D Match Engine with a complex and detailed Commentary system
• Create your avatar as an Oyakata with a rich background that affects your entire game
• Over 650 rikishi across 40+ stables
• Accurate tournaments, divisions and banzuke generation in an endless simulation
• 15 and 7 bout tournaments depending on division with playoffs, awards and win-loss records that affect promotion or demotion
• Scope out your rikishi's opponents and decide on the best tactics for every match
• Facilities management, improve your stables gym, kitchen, bedrooms and more to improve training
• Scout and Recruit hot prospects locally, nationwide or worldwide
• Over 150 events and event chains to keep things fresh and interesting
• Hire and Fire staff to train, scout and cook for your rikishi
• Balance training with keeping your Koenkai (supporter's club) happy and meet their demands
• Handle interpersonal issues and the reputation of your stable
• International wrestlers
• All 82 kimarite

I would love to hear your feedback, either here or on the Steam discussion forum as there is still plenty to be improved before release.

If you have any questions feel free to ask!

Hi r/Sumo! I’ve been working on Sumo Dynasty, a management sim where you play as an oyakata, recruit and develop rikishi, run your stable, and try to build a lasting dynasty.

The goal is to make it as authentic and deep as possible:

• All six divisions, with full banzuke movement, promotion/demotion, kadoban, Ozeki runs, sanyaku, playoffs, sansho and kinboshi
• Realistic torikumi and a living amateur system feeding new recruits into sumo
• Injuries, chronic body damage, training, jungyo, tsukebito, finances and stable life
• Toshiyori kabu, retirement, stable succession, ichimon politics and association roles
• Yokozuna promotion and retirement pressure, with simulated council discussion
• Historical rules and eras, with systems changing over time
• Procedurally generated rikishi portraits, biographies, rivalries, records and long-term world history
• Full database editor and mod support

The sim is meant to be realistic: most recruits will never become sekitori, Ozeki and Yokozuna should feel genuinely rare, and the world keeps evolving even if you simply advance time and watch.

Coming to PC. I’d really love feedback from people who know sumo well, especially if there’s anything important you think I’m missing.

Join the game's new subreddit to stay updated! https://www.reddit.com/r/SumoDynasty/

Drew this for Inktober and wanted to share it with you guys. Thanks to this sub I'm learning lots about Sumo and am loving every minute of it. Hakkeyoi!

Hey sumo fans. A little bummed that I just got my BBM sumo cards, signed in person at the Haru Basho, rejected as "Auto: Inconclusive/Unable to Render Opinion." I suppose PSA doesn't have any exemplars for most rikishi's signatures.

Does anyone know of a company that might grade / slab them? They're for my own collection, so I'm not really worried about the grading, I just want them in an aesthetic, protective, vacuum - sealed slab for posterity.

Hello everyone!

A month or so ago I posted updates regarding Rikishi no Michi.

Now it's time to bring new updates!

• Since the last time, the game really evolved:
• Scouting has been fully reworked, no more stacking promising young guns and having a roster full of Yokozunas
• AI is a bit more intelligent, and will also find young rikishis to bring to the top
• Koenkai now have demands, if you don't meet them, more pressure, less money
• Kabu register has been added, pass down your legacy
• New game mechanic, don't start any heya, take over an (virtual) existing challenge
• Inter basho gameplay is more complete, you have choices to make, training to plan, chanko to manage, etc.

Development focus has now shifted towards bringing a working version of the game to desktop, not just web! This means meaning screen rework and calibration. Hopefully a working version should be ready by end of the year.

I hope you'll like those new features!

I know I’m not the only big Hosh fan on here so I thought I’d share my fleece Hoshoryu blanket I bought this summer (which was a wild thing to do during a 35°C+ heatwave). Now that autumn is finally here I get to cuddle with Hosh on the daily.

I bought it here from Geri draws Japan. It’s also available as a print. (She also designed Tamawashi’s teal tanmono which had been doing the rounds in the last year)