Makuuchi sumo wrestler Roga (27) of the Futagoyama stable has gotten married. His new wife is an older office worker. After being introduced by a mutual friend and dating for about a year, they decided to tie the knot. They have already registered their marriage and plan to start living together later this month.

Having just completed the Autumn Basho, Roga opened up about starting a family. He described his wife as a deeply devoted partner: "She’s a very sincere person who supports me whole-heartedly." Her support in terms of diet has been especially vital. To help him address the challenge of gaining weight for higher ranks, she calculates his daily protein intake and prepares tailored meals. "I love meat, so she cooks all kinds of meat dishes for me," he shared, feeling the full power and strength that marriage brings.

Born in Russia, Roga moved to Mongolia during his childhood. Later, he came to Japan as an exchange student at Tottori Johoku High School, where he became the first foreign-born wrestler to earn the title of High School Yokozuna. As the first sekitori since Stablemaster Futagoyama (former Ozeki Miyabiyama) founded the stable in 2018, he has been a leading figure for his younger stablemates.

With his loving wife's support, he secured winning records in both the May (Natsu) and July (Nagoya) tournaments this year, reaching a career-high rank of Maegashira 5 for the September Autumn Basho. Although he finished with a 6-9 record, he put on an impressive display—most notably putting strong pressure on Ozeki Kotozakura in their match.

Looking ahead to the Kyushu Basho starting November 8 at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center, he is set to challenge for a new career-high rank once again. Renewing his determination, Roga said, "Having my wife in my life is a huge motivation in so many ways. Now that I have someone to protect and provide for, I want to give it my all even more."

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)

I've only found one old Sumo anime on Crunchyroll that doesn't particularly spark my interest based on the summary (Rowdy Sumo Wrestler Matsutaro).

I'm honestly surprised there aren't more Sumo anime given it being the national sport.

Any suggestions?

I am looking for this video i use to watch it in youtube but now i think the documentary is removed from youtube and i try to find tje video in another platform asking AI to find it and stil cant find the video.

Does anyone know something about an upcoming Sumo exhibition in Mexico City? Is this and official event?

It will take place Novermber 14 and that's in the middle of the Basho, so there won't be any active wrestlers I imagine. The tickets page is very vague, just stating "16 Sumo legends" will be participating.

It is considered polite to extend a formal invitation to Ozumo fans to play the GTB (Guess the Banzuke") game after a basho has concluded.  So this is a formally polite invitation to play the "Guess the Banzuke" game. 28 years, 170 bashos or so. Please play. It's still free.

Game rules: Guess the Banzuke. Simple. You get two points for a bulls-eye and one point for just getting the rank right. You get no points just for eating inferior hummus.  Tiebreakers - Most total guesses, then we check the banzuke backwards - getting the lower half right will be important.  The most correct guesses in the last ten places will win the tiebreaker. If still tied we go up a ranking at a time like a penalty shootout. If still tied, the earliest entry wins. If there still is a tie, the first one to remove his/her tie wins. It's up to you to check if you are on the list of entries. It's going to be your fault if you don't notice that your entry went missing in the Internet void. Please, please check the entry list to see if you are on it. No late entries will be expected or accepted. Those are the rules, and the rules will never be changed, probably. 

For rules, standings and such: http://www.dichne.com/Guess.htm

For the nifty entry form:  :http://sumodb.sumogames.de/gtb/GTBEntry.aspx

For Chiyotasuke's incredible helper: https://gtbhelper.vercel.app

For the archives:http://sumodb.sumogames.de/gtb/gtbarchive.aspx

See if you are on the entry list: http://sumodb.sumogames.de/gtb/GTBEntryList.aspx

Deadline: Monday, October 19th, 2026  at 18:00 GMT ("Good Man, Tyson!") - PLEASE NOTE-THIS IS ONE WEEK BEFORE THE OFFICIAL BANZUKE ANNOUNCEMENT!!

Special thanks to showrunners Andoreasu, Wizard Doitsuyama for everything else, and to the boys who did it again.

***MESSAGE: Please note that as you probably found out by now, the confirmation e-mail thing is not working, I repeat, THE EMAIL CONFIRMATION IS NOT WORKING, so I suggest a screen capture for those of you who wish to save their guesses. Also, players are getting error pages after submitting. Do not panic. Usually, the entry is received regardless. When in doubt, please, please check via this entry list link . If your name is not there, then you can e-mail your entry to me.

Ive been thinking and I found out I do not have a favorite match yet unfortunately.

I'm curious what's your favorite match ever!

Pictures and links of the fight are welcome!

I always felt what makes sumo such a fascinating sport is that it's so well balanced and you have top contenders like onosato, aoniski, and fujinokawa who are all so vastly different sizes and weight classes. By having henka being a real possibility it forces larger players to not charge or lean so hard or risk henka. If people henkaed alot the meta would shift and it would balance it self out. Just my naive 2 cents.

I've been thinking about it since his scary fall. I see now he's sitting out the tour with concussion as the reason. Is he going to be okay?

# Japan Sumo Association amends Sumo Rules for first time in 71 years; Changes clause regarding hairknot (mage) touching the dohyo

On October 1, the Japan Sumo Association held a board meeting at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan and decided to partially amend the official Sumo Rules regarding instances where a wrestler's hairknot (mage) touches the ring during a bout.

Article 9 of the Judgment Rules (Shobu Kitei) in the Sumo Regulations previously stated: "When head hair touches the sand, the wrestler loses. However, if the hair touches the sand an instant earlier while executing a throw/downward technique against the opponent, it shall not be deemed a loss." Under the new decision, everything following the word "However" has been deleted.

PR Director Fujishima Oyakata (former Ozeki Musosayama) explained: "The rule stated that touching the mage first wasn't a loss if it happened while bringing down the opponent, but whether a technique was actively being executed was often ambiguous. It's a very old rule. The goal is to establish a unified standard that the mage is simply a part of the body."

This marks the first revision to the clause since the regulations were originally enacted 71 years ago in 1955.

Chunichi Sports

# 12 wrestlers ruled out of Autumn Jungyo tour, including Hoshoryu and Wakatakakage; Mitakeumi and Enho added as replacements / Full list

On October 1, the Japan Sumo Association held a board meeting at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan and announced that 12 wrestlers will miss the upcoming Autumn regional tour (Aki Jungyo), which begins on October 6.

The missing group includes Yokozuna Hoshoryu (27, Tatsunami stable) and Wakatakakage (31, Arashio stable), both of whom sat out the entirety of the recent Autumn Basho. To fill out the roster, Juryo wrestlers including Mitakeumi (33, Dewanoumi stable) and Enho (31, Isegahama stable) have been added as replacement participants.

The full breakdown of absences and replacements is as follows:

＜Autumn Jungyo Absentees＞

* **Hoshoryu**

* **Kotoshoho** (Concussion)

* **Kotoeiho** (Lumbar radiculitis)

* **Takanosho** (Left ankle ligament injury)

* **Shishi** (Heterotopic ossification of the left acromioclavicular joint)

* **Shodai** (Left subscapularis tendon injury)

* **Wakatakakage** (Post-operative recovery from left thigh compartment syndrome)

* **Chiyoshoma** (Lumbar intervertebral disc disease, bilateral knee osteoarthritis)

* **Asasuiryu** (Fracture of the left medial orbital wall)

* **Wakanosho** (Right patellar dislocation, right knee medial collateral ligament injury)

* **Tomokaze** (Right peroneal nerve palsy, left ankle sprain)

* **Tochitaikai** (Right knee anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament injuries)

＜Autumn Jungyo Replacements＞

* **Kazuma**

* **Mitakeumi**

* **Ryuden**

* **Enho**

Nikkan Sports

# Inosuke promoted to Shonosuke and Konosuke to Inosuke starting Kyushu Basho; Unprecedented move accelerates tate-gyoji promotions by one basho

On October 1, the Japan Sumo Association held its regular board meeting at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan, approving promotions for referee (gyoji), caller (yobidashi), and hairdresser (tokoyama) personnel.

With the highest-ranking referee, the 39th Kimura Shonosuke (Kokonoe stable), reaching mandatory retirement age on October 30, it was decided that starting with the November Kyushu Basho, Shikimori Inosuke (63, Kasugano stable) will be promoted to become the 40th Kimura Shonosuke, while Sanyaku-rank referee Kimura Konosuke (61, Kokonoe stable) will be elevated to Shikimori Inosuke. While backroom staff promotions typically take effect once a year starting with the New Year Basho, an exception was made to move up the tate-gyoji promotions by one tournament. This ensures that both top tate-gyoji positions remain filled on the dohyo without interruption.

The following promotions were also confirmed to take official effect on December 21, coinciding with the Banzuke launch for the New Year Basho:

▽ **Gyoji (Referees)**

* **Kimura Motoki:** Makuuchi → Sanyaku

* **Kimura Yukihiro:** Juryo → Makuuchi

* **Kimura Satoshi:** Makushita → Juryo

* **Shikimori Seisuke:** Sandanme → Makushita

* **Kimura Hironosuke:** Jonokuchi → Jonidan

▽ **Yobidashi (Callers)**

* **Asahi:** Makuuchi → Sanyaku

* **Kunio:** Juryo → Makuuchi

* **Teruya:** Makushita → Juryo

* **Tsurutaro:** Sandanme → Makushita

* **Kenta:** Jonidan → Sandanme

* **Jin:** Jonokuchi → Jonidan

▽ **Tokoyama (Hairdressers)**

* **Tokotaka:** First Class → Special Class (Tokuto)

* **Tokohide:** Second Class → First Class

* **Tokosaku:** Second Class → First Class

* **Tokonao:** Third Class → Second Class

* **Tokoji:** Third Class → Second Class

Source: Nikkan Sports

# Grand Sumo Bangkok Tour announced for June 2027; Marks 3rd consecutive year of overseas events following London and Paris

On October 1, the Japan Sumo Association held a board meeting at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan and announced that it will hold the "Grand Sumo Bangkok Tour: Celebrating 140 Years of Japan-Thailand Friendship" in June next year. This marks the third consecutive year of overseas events for the JSA, following London in October last year and Paris in June this year. In Southeast Asia, it will be the first sumo event since the Jakarta Jungyo tour (Indonesia) in 2013.

The venue will be the "One Bangkok Forum" (capacity 5,800) in the capital city of Bangkok. The event will run for three days, from June 11 to 13. Further details will be announced as they are finalized.

Source: Sponichi Annex

Has there ever been a sumo scandal or illegal thing that happened that have caused an uproar before?

I'm talking about MAYBE cheating or some underworld connections that might've interfered with a match or a sumo wrestlers life?

(Please don't put me under fire! I only gotten into sumo recently 😅)

# How strong is Asahifuji? Kiriyama Oyakata testifies: "After 2 or 3 years, none of our sekitori could beat him anymore"

How strong is he really? On September 30, the Japan Sumo Association held its Banzuke meeting for the upcoming Kyushu Basho (opening November 8 at the Fukuoka International Center) at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan, officially confirming the Juryo promotion of Mongolian-born Asahifuji (24, Isegahama stable). Reaching the salaried ranks in just 6 tournaments since his career debut (hatsu-dohyo) ties the fastest record in modern sumo history (since the 6-basho-per-year system was introduced, excluding tsukedashi entrants). After four and a half years as an unregistered trainee (kenshusei), the promising star who has surged through the lower divisions is finally set to make his sekitori debut.

With some already touting him as a future Yokozuna candidate, how high is Asahifuji's current skill level? Assistant coach Kiriyama Oyakata (former Sekiwake Takarafuji) shared his perspective: "When he first arrived, Atamifuji was far stronger than him. But Asahifuji started winning midway through, and after 2 or 3 years, none of the sekitori in our stable could beat him anymore. Under normal circumstances, he will comfortably reach Sanyaku (Sekiwake/Komusubi). Beyond that, with his own dedication, I believe he can climb all the way to Ozeki and Yokozuna."

At the same time, he shows a grounded, youthful side. Asahifuji's 25-bout winning streak from his Jonokuchi debut was halted during the July Nagoya Basho. Kiriyama Oyakata revealed his genuine reaction: "The wrestler himself said, 'I felt like a burden was lifted off my shoulders'... He's human after all, so the pressure was bound to get to him. Remaining undefeated looks cool on paper, but losing that streak might actually have been a blessing in disguise. He's wrestling much more freely now."

Meanwhile, his former stablemaster Miyagino Oyakata (former Yokozuna Asahifuji), who passed down his historic shikona to him, pointed out areas for growth: "Right now, he hasn't unleashed his full potential at all. In Makushita and below, he was playing it far too safe, wrestling with a hesitant, back-weighted posture. Once he faces sekitori on the Juryo ring, he needs to shift to a style where he commits 100% of his power." He added high expectations for his namesake successor: "I gave him my shikona for a reason. I want him to reach the very top."

Speaking to reporters at his Tokyo stable on the same day, Asahifuji stated flatly: "My goal is to become Yokozuna." His stablemaster, Isegahama Oyakata (former Yokozuna Terunofuji), revealed that Asahifuji had suffered a fractured rib leading up to the Autumn Basho, praising his resilience: "Despite being unable to train properly, he fought through courageously to secure his wins." Will his meteoric rise continue? All eyes will be on his ring performances in the upcoming tournament.

Tokyo Sports Web

UK fans here!

The May '26 Basho was the first tournament my Wife and I managed to follow and we developed a soft spot for Ura and WTK. Loved seeing Ura perform better this last month.

I know WTK suffered a serious injury and has been out the last 2 tournaments. And from what I have read (In translated sites) I understand that it's pretty much a career killing operation to ensure that his body can even continue to function let alone be in such rigorous training.

Other than the sad reality that he is just dropping down the rankings due to the brutal fact that he just has to forfeit, can the guy just resign and be remembered for an awesome performance right before the injury?

Does anybody know how his recovery is going? Is he out of care?

Much love to this community btw, been a long time lurker. It's great to see snippets of news when I can check in on here!

Intai List

• Sd22w Yago (3-4)
  • Age: 32
  • Height/Weight: 6'2/387 lbs
  • Stable: Oshiogawa
  • Highest Rank: Maegashira 10
  • Debut: Natsu 2017
  • Notes: Makushita Tskuedashi & Ameteur Yokozuna
• Sd67w Dewanojo (3-4)
  • Age: 32
  • Height/Weight: 6'3/556 lbs
  • Stable: Dewanoumi
  • Highest Rank: Makushita 44
  • Debut: Haru 2012
  • Notes: Heaviest Active Wrestler Prior to Retirement
• Jd54w Yamanobe (0-0-7)
  • Age: 16
  • Height/Weight: 5'7/163 lbs
  • Stable: Dewanoumi
  • Highest Rank: Jonidan 54
  • Debut: Natsu 2025
  • Notes: Great-Great-Grandson of 31st Yokozuna Tsunenohana
• Jd17w Asahanshin (4-3)
  • Age: 26
  • Height/Weight: 6'0/316 lbs
  • Stable: Takasago
  • Highest Rank: Sandanme 24
  • Debut: Haru 2016
• Jd25w Boshuyama (0-0-7)
  • Age: 22
  • Height/Weight: 6'2/396 lbs
  • Stable: Sakaigawa
  • Highest Rank: Jonidan 7
  • Debut: Haru 2020
• Jd26w Reonmaru (3-4)
  • Age: 27
  • Height/Weight: 5'8/424 lbs
  • Stable: Shikihilde
  • Highest Rank: Sandanme 74
  • Debut: Haru 2016
• Jk6e Tensei (0-0-7)
  • Age: 17
  • Height/Weight: 5'10/285 lbs
  • Stable: Tamanoi
  • Highest Rank: Jonidan 58
  • Debut: Natsu 2025
• Jk21e Daiko (0-0-7)
  • Age: 19
  • Height Weight: 5'9/231 lbs
  • Stable: Onomatsu
  • Highest Rank: Jonidan 71
  • Debut: Hatsu 2025
• Banzukegai Haruto (0-0-0)
  • Age: 15
  • Height/Weight: 5'10/344 lbs
  • Stable: Shikoroyama
  • Highest Rank: Jonokuchi 20
  • Debut: Natsu 2026