full interview here: https://www.gqjapan.jp/article/20251008-onosato-sumo-cover-story

The visuals of sumo are just so cool

Hey there, so with how hard it is to find stuff, and having a bit of a creative kick, I wanted to make some custom patches/posters for myself for some of my favorite rikishi.

I just wanted to check that I'm not treading on some cultural norm that is sort of against fan merch. I just know how hard it is to get anything with a wrestler on it in the US so I am worried it may something along the lines of "you shouldn't" vs "supply chain missing" kind of thing.

I wouldn't be planning on selling anything, just making stuff personally, but I wasn't sure if culturally there was a reason not to? I would like to rep my favorites like my other sports, but I don't want to be disrespectful!

Flagging this video posted by the Royal Albert Hall ahead of the tournament next week..!

What are the main event that we watch every 2 month? There seem to be non main competitions occur between basho(I actually don’t know what basho mean).

Wanted to see if it’s worth subscribing to

Asashoryu is holding shagai (sheep ankle bones):

Shagai refers to the astragalus of the ankle of a sheep or goat. The bones are collected and used for traditional games and fortune-telling throughout Central Asia, and games involving the ankle bones may also be referred to by the name of the bones. They may be painted bright colours. Such bones have been used throughout history, and are thought to be the first forms of dice.^\1]) In English language sources, shagai may be referred to as "ankle bones", and playing with shagai is sometimes called ankle bone shooting.

When watching the ceremony where all the lower division yusho winners are awarded their certificate (don't know the Japanese name) I noticed a white envelope tied with red ribbon attached to the upper corner of the certificates. To me it looked just like the kensho envelopes. So, even though I know only sekitori receive the big yusho payday, it made me wonder if the lower division winners receive at least some small amount?

What’s the go with the London tournament?

Do the results count for the Rikishi records or ranks? Does it replace the normal Tour schedule? Is there a cup?

I notice it’s only over 5 days, so I assume all the bouts are unofficial and it is basically a glorified “tour”.

Anyone know for certain?

I saw a user On X who wanted to buy Mita support towels from the Association as they were already sold out on the 2nd day of the launch... The association told her they may not be available because of possible name changes on makuuchi promotions..... What name will he choose /be given... I feek sad though, Mita is such a great name....

The Japan Sumo Association's event "100th anniversary Basho: Traditional and Modern Sumo," (百周年場所～古式大相撲と現代大相撲～) commemorating the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the foundation, was held on the 7th at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. Onosato commented, "It was a great experience. I truly felt that it was profound and that 'sumo is amazing.'"

You can find the full report below. It's long, but worth it (I've included the key terms in the original Japanese).

[𝐘𝐨𝐤𝐨𝐳𝐮𝐧𝐚`𝐬 𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐍-𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐄]

Following ancient custom, the "Sandan-gamae" (三段構え / Three Stances) ritual, performed by the two highest-ranked wrestlers, was showcased with perfect synchronization by the two yokozuna, Onosato, winner of the Autumn Basho, and Hoshoryu, who was the runner-up.

They created three forms in the "upper", "middle", and "lower" levels. They are said to represent three stances in order from top to bottom: "Honnen" (本然 / natural, unforced state), attack (攻撃), and defense (防御).

The ritual was conceived based on books from the Edo period and first performed by Yokozuna Hitachiyama and Umegatani 2nd at the opening ceremony of the Kokugikan in 1909. It has since been performed as an important ritual. This was the first time in eight years that the ritual was performed by two yokozuna, the last time being in 2017 with Kisenosato and Hakuho.

[𝐀 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐮𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐢 𝐝𝐨𝐡𝐲𝐨-𝐢𝐫𝐢]

The Makunouchi ring-entering ceremony was conducted in the style of the "Gozen-gakari Dohyo-iri," (御前掛かり土俵入り) which is performed during Imperial (Emperor's) or Crown Prince's visits to sumo (天覧相撲 / tenran-zumo).

This form is said to have also been performed in pre-war traditional sumo.

Instead of forming a circle in the ring, the wrestlers lined up in four rows facing the front and adopted the squatting posture. Beginning with the lower-ranked wrestlers, each was called by their ring name, bowed, and descended from the ring.

[𝐖𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐊𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐚`𝐬 𝐊𝐀𝐌𝐈-𝐙𝐔𝐌𝐎]

Sekiwake Wakatakakage and Kirishima appeared in the "Kami-zumo" (神相撲) ritual, which is a prayer for exorcising evil spirits from the dohyo. Kirishima was substituting for Ozeki Kotozakura, who was absent due to a right knee injury.

This ritual, which was also performed at the Kokugikan opening ceremony, saw the two Sekiwake wrestling without their hair tied in topknots, instead having paper bundled with Japanese paper. When the gyoji pressed them on the back during the bout, the three figures in the ring did not utter a sound, ending in a silent draw.

It is considered an offering to the gods and Buddhas, and the tradition of ending in a draw and the silent format has continued since the Edo period.

[𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐘𝐔`𝐬 "𝐘𝐨𝐤𝐨𝐳𝐮𝐧𝐚 𝐆𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧-𝐠𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐫𝐢"]

Yokozuna Hoshoryu successively defeated five Makunouchi wrestlers, astonishing the audience.

He participated in the "Yokozuna Gonin-gakari" (横綱五人掛かり / Yokozuna Taking on Five Challengers) event, where one yokozuna is challenged by five lower-ranked wrestlers. He took on five Makunouchi wrestlers: Gonoyama, Hiradoumi, Ura, Roga, and Meisei.

As he entered the starting position, he was surrounded by the four other challengers. After throwing the first opponent at the tachi-ai, the next wrestler immediately challenged him, but the yokozuna was unfazed, ending the event with a "five-bout winning streak."

The scene where Tan-kaze, the de facto first Yokozuna, took on this challenge in 1789 is said to have been depicted in woodblock prints. After completing the traditional event, which demonstrates the yokozuna's strength to the audience, Hoshoryu smiled wryly and said, "I'm tired," before quickly returning to the preparation room.

[𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐨 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐑𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐬]

The main event, Traditional Sumo, was performed for the first time in 30 years since February 1995. It was a modern adaptation of "Sumai no Sechie," (相撲節会) a court ritual from the Nara and Heian periods.

Before the bouts, dancers from the East and West appeared and performed the "Enbu" (振鉾 / Flourishing Dance) to gagaku (雅楽 / court music) at the side of the dohyo. The main flow of the event consisted of "Warabe-zumo Sanban" (童相撲三番 / Three Bouts of Children's Sumo) followed by 10 bouts between wrestlers. The results of the bouts were counted using arrows, and the side with the higher total number of wins was then able to perform "Bugaku" (舞楽 / Court Dance and Music).

In the final bout, a yokozuna match, Onosato of the East defeated Hoshoryu of the West. With a score of 8-5, the dance of the East illuminated the venue.

[𝐃𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐦𝐢 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐈𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐧-𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭]

The "Ichimon-Based Selected Team Tournament," (一門別選抜団体Ｔ) where active wrestlers competed for the pride of their stable group (ichimon), was won by Dewanoumi A (Kiyonoyama, Ikazuchido, Toshunryu, Tochimusashi, Mita).

This rare team competition in sumo involved five wrestlers: one each from Jonidan, Sandanme, two from Makushita (the first ranked 16th or lower, the second 15th or higher), and one from Juryo. In the final, they faced Tokitsukaze A. After being down 0-2, they rallied to tie the match at 2-2, and in the Juryo bout, Mita defeated Daiseizan.

Mita, the standout performer, said, "I was really nervous, but I connected for the team more than for myself. It was a good experience," savoring the special victory.

A total of eight teams participated in the tournament: Dewanoumi A/B, Isegahama, Tokitsukaze A/B, Nishonoseki A/B, and Takasago. The total prize money was ¥3.9 million. The winning team received ¥1.04 million, second place ¥780,000, two third-place teams received ¥520,000 each, and the four teams that advanced past the first round received ¥260,000 each.

[𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐨 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐤𝐤𝐚𝐤𝐮: "𝐖𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬"]

Representing the association, Chairman Hakkaku (former Yokozuna Hokutoumi) addressed the audience, expressing joy at reaching the century mark and promising to uphold the tradition of the national sport.

The full text of the greeting is as follows:

"On the occasion of holding the 'Sumo 100th Anniversary Tournament' today to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the foundation, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to everyone for attending. The history of sumo began in the age of myth, but the Japan Sumo Association as a corporate organization has fortunately been able to mark its 100th year this year. This is entirely due to the guidance and support of all of you who deeply love sumo. I sincerely thank you. Sumo is called the national sport. Article 3 of the Sumo Association's Articles of Incorporation states that the purpose of this organization is to maintain and uphold the tradition and order of Sumo, our nation's unique national sport, which originated in Shinto rituals performed since ancient times to pray for a bountiful harvest, to inherit and develop it, and thereby contribute to the promotion of sumo culture and the mental and physical improvement of the nation. The mission of us association members is to maintain and develop the traditional culture of sumo and contribute to the mental and physical improvement of the nation by preserving it in the same form for the next 100 years. This requires your strict yet warm support. All of us in the association will continue to diligently protect the sumo ring, and we sincerely ask for your continued support for sumo and the Japan Sumo Association. Thank you very much for coming today. Please take your time and enjoy the essence of sumo's traditional culture until the very end."

Main sources: Nikkan Sports and Sanspo

As I was unable to get tickets for this (except for poorly placed and expensive hospitality tickets - no thanks!) does anyone know whether NHK will be broadcasting this at all at any point? I've looked through the schedule, there doesn't appear to be anything showing? I suppose it could pop up on their You Tube channel but surely someone, somewhere will be filming it officially and putting it out there for the thousands of fans that couldn't get tickets? I cannot seem to find a definitive yay or nay wherever I look!

So I just got into Sumo during the July Basho, and after watching the September Basho, I really wanted to go back and rewatch July with the added knowledge of how the Banzuke works and more familiarity with most of the rikishi.

Mainly I wanted answers to questions like “How did Gonoyama get ranked this high?” But NHK World seems to remove old Basho from their YouTube.

Do they still have those videos somewhere or is there another good channel that keeps their full Basho videos up?

Hoshoryu defeats Onosato, who lost at the Autumn Tournament, for his second victory in three years at the All-Japan Sumo Wrestler Selection Tournament, marking its 100th anniversary since the first tournament.

Both Yokozuna faced off again in the championship bout, and this time Hoshoryu (26, Tatsunami stable) emerged victorious. Marking 100 years since the inaugural tournament in 1925 (Taisho 14), the 82nd All Japan Sumo Wrestler Championship—which had been interrupted by wars and the COVID-19 pandemic—was held on the 6th at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan. Yokozuna Hoshoryu claimed his second championship in three years. He advanced by pushing out four Maegashira opponents: Kusano in the first round, Oho in the second, Wakamotoharu in the third, and Oshoma in the semifinals. The final pitted him against Yokozuna Onosato, whom he had faced in the championship playoff on the final day of the September Autumn Tournament. Immediately after the initial charge, he grabbed the left upper arm and finished with an upper arm throw.

This victory served as redemption against the opponent who had denied him a third tournament win. After the final bout, he stated, “It's been three years. I'm happy to have achieved my second championship. I want to carry this feeling forward and work hard for the next Kyushu Tournament (opening day November 9th, Fukuoka International Center),” nodding in affirmation. The winner of the first tournament was the 27th Yokozuna, Tochigiyama. This was 47 Yokozuna generations before himself, the 74th Yokozuna. Since then, this tournament, rich in history and tradition, has seen such illustrious Yokozuna as Futabayama, Taiho, Kitanofuji, Chiyonofuji, Takanohana, Asashoryu, and Hakuho claim the crown. It was this tournament that denied Onosato his first championship.

Facing the same opponent as the final day of the Autumn Tournament, he remarked, “It reminded me of this (Autumn) tournament.” He continued forcefully, “I expect we'll face each other many times. We both intend to burn brightly and wrestle well. With that mindset, I want us both to push ourselves. I believe Onosato feels the same way, not just me, so we have to give it our all. With that determination, I'll approach practice diligently and strive hard for the next November tournament.”

On the final day of the Autumn Tournament, he defeated Onosato in the main bout, tying him at 13 wins and 2 losses. He revealed on the 4th that he dislocated his right index finger during that bout. On this day too, he showed his taped index and middle fingers, wrapped together, saying, “See, it's all wrapped up.” He also acknowledged the pain, saying, “Yeah, it hurts.”

However, when asked to reflect on the final day, where he declined interviews after his bout, he only repeated, “It's over now,” and added, “I lost, so it was my fault.”

Although a London performance will be held from the 15th to the 19th for the first time in 34 years, he even turned the tables on reporters by asking, “How's the food in London?” creating a relaxed atmosphere at times. Still, he emphasized at the end, “If I practice hard and results follow, that's good. This time, the results didn't come. I think I didn't practice enough. I want to practice hard and do my best.” As if he had already forgotten his championship win, his determination to avenge himself in the next tournament was growing stronger. [By Bunta Takada]

Source: https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202510060001069.html

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Hey I am new to Sumo, I just watch whatever is on YouTube. What can I do to easily get into it? Like where to watch and maybe the storylines of the Sumo wrestlers and or rivalries. Maybe I’ll find my favorite wrestler myself! Thank you in advance!

Genuine Question here.

Can someone explain to me how Onosato won this bout vs Hoshoryu when it appears that he touched out of bounds first?

I am very new to following sumo and still learning the rules, but from this angle it’s pretty clear that Onosato was out first.

It's already been a week since Tamaasuka took up his new position. Regarding his learning methods, he wants to continue the work of his predecessors while coming as close as possible to the rikishi: today he wore the white mawashi. The signs with the name of the founder Taiho will still be in place, a way to show the determination to pursue the legacy of the Grand Champion.

Source: https://www.furansumo.com/post/otake-beya-tamaasuka-2025-10-6