r/Sumo

# Yokozuna Hoshoryu joins Autumn Jungyo tour: "They welcomed me so warmly, I feel deeply grateful" — Missed last basho following right knee surgery

The Grand Sumo Autumn regional tour (Aki Jungyo) made its stop on October 10 at Air Water Arena Matsumoto in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, where Yokozuna Hoshoryu (Tatsunami stable) joined the tour.

Hoshoryu underwent right knee surgery in late July and missed the entirety of the Autumn Basho. He was also absent from the opening days of the Autumn tour, but received clearance from his doctor following an examination on October 8. Smiling during his first tour appearance since the Spring tour in March-April, he remarked, "It feels nostalgic." Upon entering the training area, he was greeted with applause from the spectators, expressing his gratitude: "They welcomed me so warmly, and I felt that people were truly waiting for my return. I feel deeply grateful."

While he did not participate in exhibition matches (torikumi) today, he carefully performed shiko stamping on the dohyo and engaged in contact drills (butsukari-keiko) with fellow Yokozuna Onosato (Nishonoseki stable). "I just did what needed to be done. I'm not sure if I'm in top condition yet, but I think I'll get a better feel for it bit by bit." He indicated plans to adjust his training moving forward from October 11 while monitoring his physical condition.

Sports Hochi

# Yokozuna Hoshoryu to join Autumn Jungyo tour on October 10 following right knee surgery; Hakunofuji leaves tour due to leg injury

It has been confirmed that Yokozuna Hoshoryu (27, Tatsunami stable) will join the ongoing Autumn regional tour (Aki Jungyo) midway, starting with the Matsumoto event in Nagano Prefecture on October 10 as scheduled. Jungyo Director Takadagawa Oyakata (former Sekiwake Akinoshima) stated: "He will arrive tonight and join the group starting tomorrow."

Hoshoryu underwent surgery on his right knee in late July and missed the entirety of the recent Autumn Basho. Having now missed three consecutive basho, his stablemaster Tatsunami Oyakata (former Komusubi Asahutaka) holds high hopes for him to win the championship (yusho) in his return basho.

Meanwhile, Komusubi Hakunofuji (Isegahama stable) departed from the tour starting today. Director Takadagawa explained the decision: "He reported feeling discomfort in his Achilles tendon. Rather than having him push through half-heartedly, we decided it was best for him to recover fully before coming back, so we sent him home."

Source: Daily Sports

# How will Asahifuji and Ryuho fare? Recent new Juryo wrestlers struggle across the board… The wall that stands right after promotion

■ **Grabbing new Juryo status with unstoppable momentum**

The final official basho of the year, the Grand Sumo Kyushu Basho (Fukuoka International Center), is scheduled for November 8–22. Entering this tournament as newly promoted Juryo wrestlers are Asahifuji and Ryuho.

Asahifuji (24), who joined Isegahama stable as a trainee in spring 2021, took roughly 4.5 years to make his official career debut (hatsu-dohyo) at the 2025 Kyushu Basho due to the JSA rule limiting foreign-born wrestlers to one per stable. However, starting from the very next tournament, he won four consecutive divisional championships (yusho). Entering the last basho as West Makushita 1, he posted a commanding 6-1 record to secure his Juryo promotion in style.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old former Middle School Yokozuna Ryuho made his hatsu-dohyo at the 2025 Nagoya Basho and logged winning records (kachikoshi) for six consecutive basho through Nagoya 2026. Entering last tournament as East Makushita 4, he posted a 4-3 record, benefiting from banzuke movement to capture his new Juryo slot.

Given their momentum, both wrestlers seem poised to perform well at the upcoming Kyushu Basho. However, to do so, they must overcome a specific obstacle that recent Juryo debutants have run into.

■ **Does the second half of the 15-day basho become a roadblock...?**

Over the past year (2025 Kyushu Basho through 2026 Nagoya Basho), a total of 10 wrestlers stepped onto the dohyo as new Juryo. Their records, including the tournament prior to promotion, are as follows:

**2025 Kyushu**

* **Himukamaru:** West Makushita 2 (5-2) → East Juryo 13 (5-10) *(2-6, 3-4)*

* **Fujiryoga:** West Makushita 5 (6-1) → West Juryo 13 (13-2) *(8-0, 5-2)*

**2026 Hatsu (Jan)**

* **Dewanoryu:** West Makushita 3 (5-2) → West Juryo 13 (8-7) *(5-3, 3-4)*

* **Kazuma:** West Makushita 15 (7-0) → West Juryo 14 (8-7) *(4-4, 4-3)*

**2026 Haru (Mar)**

* **Toshinofuji:** West Makushita 2 (5-2) → West Juryo 11 (10-5) *(5-3, 5-2)*

* **Fujitensei:** West Makushita 3 (5-2) → West Juryo 13 (5-10) *(4-4, 1-6)*

**2026 Natsu (May)**

* **Okaryu:** West Makushita 2 (6-1) → East Juryo 13 (3-12) *(2-6, 1-6)*

**2026 Nagoya (Jul)**

* **Arashifuji:** East Makushita 2 (5-2) → East Juryo 13 (11-4) *(7-1, 4-3)*

**2026 Aki (Sep)**

* **Tanji:** East Makushita 1 (4-3) → West Juryo 10 (9-6) *(5-3, 4-3)*

* **Tokifudo:** West Makushita 2 (4-3) → West Juryo 13 (7-8) *(4-4, 3-4)*

With 6 wrestlers securing kachikoshi and 4 falling to makekoshi, there appears to be no obvious pattern at first glance. However, take a closer look at the figures in parentheses.

The figures in parentheses split each 15-day record into the first half (Days 1–8) and the second half (Days 9–15, Senshuraku). While the 10 wrestlers combined for a strong 46-34 record in the first half, their performance flipped in the second half to a negative 33-37. Wrestlers like Fujitensei and Tokifudo were even at .500 through Day 8, but suffered makekoshi after falling apart in the second half.

In sumo, wrestlers in Makushita and below fight roughly 7 bouts over 15 days. Salaried sekitori in Juryo and above fight 1 bout per day for a total of 15. More than doubling the number of bouts clearly leads to stamina fatigue running out of gas in the second half.

Furthermore, additional bouts mean opponents have far more film and data to analyze wrestling styles and exploit weaknesses. Overcoming this is necessary for growth, but navigating scouted matchups on a brand-new stage presents a formidable challenge.

■ **Blowing past uncertainty toward even greater strides**

At the previous tournament, Asahifuji suffered a defeat on Day 2 against East Juryo 14 Tochiohmi, while Ryuho was defeated on Day 4 by East Juryo 12 Tamashoho and on Day 7 by West Juryo 14 Nishikigi. With both Tochiohmi and Nishikigi virtually guaranteed demotion to Makushita for the upcoming Kyushu Basho, dropping bouts to wrestlers facing demotion serves as another lingering concern alongside the fatigue factor mentioned earlier.

Fortunately, neither wrestler has shown any signs of getting carried away by their promotion to Juryo. Regarding Asahifuji, it was reported that he maintained a stern expression during his promotion press conference, remarking that "the quality of my sumo was terrible." His relentless drive for improvement offers strong hope that he will blow these concerns away.

Having made lightning-fast ascensions since their debuts, will these two promising wrestlers deliver results in their Juryo debuts and continue their meteoric rise?

Masato Shibata

Source: The Sporting News

# 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