2019 In Sumo

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2019.

Tournaments

Hatsu basho

Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 13 January – 27 January

Haru basho

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 10 March – 24 March

Natsu basho

Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 12 May – 26 May

Nagoya basho

Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, 7 July – 21 July

Aki basho

Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 8 September – 22 September

Kyushu basho

Fukuoka Kokusai Center, Kyushu, 10 November – 24 November

News

January

*7: In a series of practice bouts held in front of the Yokozuna Deliberation Council, all three ''yokozuna'' participate. Kisenosato goes 1–3 against Kakuryū and 2–0 against Gōeidō, while Hakuhō wins all five of his bouts against November 2018 tournament winner Takakeishō.
*16: After suffering three straight losses in the Hatsu tournament, Kisenosato announces his retirement. He had been unable to recover from a left arm injury sustained in the March 2017 tournament, which caused him to miss or withdraw from eight consecutive tournaments from May 2017 to July 2018. His record as a ''yokozuna'' was 36 wins against 35 losses, with 97 bouts missed. He is staying in sumo as a coach under the Araiso elder name.
*18: Kakuryū pulls out with a recurrence of his ankle problem.
*20: Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko attend Day 8, the 23rd and last time before the Emperor's abdication in April that they have watched sumo in an official capacity.
*26: Hakuho withdraws with knee and ankle injuries, meaning all three ''yokozuna'' have failed to complete 15 days for the second tournament in a row.
*27: Sekiwake Tamawashi is the surprise tournament champion with a 13–2 record, sealing his first ''yusho'' by defeating Endō on the final day. At 34 he is the second oldest first-time ''yusho'' winner in the six tournaments per year era (post-1958), after 37 year-old Kyokutenhō in 2012. Takakeisho could have taken part in a playoff if Tamawashi had lost and he had won, but in the event he finished two wins behind on 11–4 after losing to Gōeidō. That defeat, and a 9–6 record in September 2018, means he will not be promoted to ''ōzeki'' despite winning 33 bouts in three tournaments and being the sole runner-up here. Tamawashi receives special prizes for Outstanding Performance and Fighting Spirit, while Takakeisho wins the Technique Award. Mitakeumi is awarded a share of the Outstanding Performance Prize for defeating all three ''yokozuna'' and Tamawashi despite missing some of the tournament through injury. The ''jūryō'' division championship is won by Shimanoumi. Retiring along with Kisenosato are Takanoiwa, former ''sekiwake'' Takekaze, and Sasayama, the brother of ''jūryō'' wrestler Daiseidō.
*30: Promotions to the ''jūryō'' division for the forthcoming March tournament are announced. Returning are and Takanofuji (who changed his ''shikona'' from Takayoshitoshi in January). There are two newcomers – Michinoku stable's Kiribayama from Mongolia, and Arashio stable's Wakamotoharu. The latter has two brothers in sumo, one of whom (Wakatakakage) is already in ''jūryō''. This means there will be three sets of brothers in the ''jūryō'' division in March (Hidenoumi and Tobizaru, and Takanofuji and Takagenji being the others).

February

*9: The 52nd NHK charity ozumo tournament is held at the Kokugikan.
*10: The 43rd Fuji TV one day tournament is held at the Kokugikan. Takayasu defeats Yoshikaze in the final. (Hakuho is knocked out in the second round.)

March

*24: The Haru tournament in Osaka concludes with Hakuhō defeating his rival yokozuna Kakuryū with a shitatenage underarm throw to clinch his 42nd career championship and his 15th with a perfect 15–0 score. His victory means he has won at least one tournament every year since 2006. However, he injures his right arm in the process and is seen holding the bicep afterwards. He finishes one win ahead of ''maegashira'' Ichinojō, who did not get to fight the ''yokozuna'' during the tournament. His 14–1 runner-up performance is recognized with the Outstanding Performance prize. ''Sekiwake'' Takakeishō not only wins the Technique Award but also promotion to ''ōzeki'', after he defeats Tochinoshin to finish on 10–5, giving him 34 wins over the last three tournaments. Tochinoshin, conversely, is demoted from ''ōzeki'' after two consecutive ''make-koshi'' or losing records. The Fighting Spirit Prize goes to ''maegashira'' Aoiyama for his fine 12–3 record. In the jūryō division Shimanoumi wins his second championship in a row and is guaranteed promotion to the top division for the first time in May at the age of 29. Down in the ''jonidan'' division former ''ōzeki'' Terunofuji, long sidelined by injuries, loses a playoff for the division championship after both he and fellow Mongolian Roga finish with perfect 7–0 records. It is Terunofuji's first appearance since May 2018. Former ''maegashira'' Tenkaiho retires and becomes Hidenoyama Oyakata.
*27:Promotions to ''jūryō'' are announced. They are newcomer , and two returnees, Irodori's Shikoroyama stablemate Seirō and Haru's ''makushita'' ''yusho'' winner .
*28: Hakuhō and his stablemaster Miyagino are summoned by the Sumo Association to explain why Hakuhō led the crowd in a display of '' sanbon-jime'' hand-clapping after his victory speech on Sunday, seen as a breach of etiquette because it preceded the ''kami-okuri'' ceremony that concludes the tournament. Hakuhō had wanted to acknowledge Emperor Akihito, as it was the final tournament of the Heisei era. Hakuhō was also criticized in November 2017 when he led the crowd in cheers in the midst of the Harumafuji assault affair.
*31: The spring regional tour begins with a tournament in the Ise Shrine. Hakuhō performs the ''dohyō-iri'' but does not participate in any bouts due to his injury, confirmed a muscle tear in the upper right arm.

April

The spring regional tour visits the following locations:
*1: Gojo, Nara Prefecture
*2: Nara, Nara Prefecture
*3: Kakogawa, Hyogo Prefecture
*4: Toyoka, Hyogo Prefecture
*5: Uji, Kyoto Prefecture
*6: Tsu, Mie Prefecture
*7: Nishio, Aichi Prefecture
*9: Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture
*10: Hachioji, Tokyo Prefecture
*12: Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture
*13: Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture
*14: Hitachiomiya, Ibaraki Prefecture
*15: Yasukuni Shrine ceremonial tournament, Tokyo Prefecture
*17: Ota, Tokyo Prefecture
*18: Adachi, Tokyo Prefecture
*19: Gyoda, Saitama Prefecture
*20: Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture
*21: Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture
*22: Sano, Tochigi Prefecture
*25: Hidaka, Saitama Prefecture
*26: Ome, Tokyo Prefecture
*27: Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture
*28: Machida, Tokyo Prefecture
*29: Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture. On the last day of the tour, 25 wrestlers born in the Showa era (1926–89), including Hakuhō, pose for a photo to mark the last Showa Day of the Heisei era.
*12:It is reported that the Sumo Association are arranging for President of the United States Donald Trump to visit on the final day of the May tournament as part of his trip to Japan, after hearing of his request to watch a bout.
*12: '' Wakaimonogashira'' turns 65 and retires. As a wrestler from the Kagamiyama stable he spent 47 tournaments in ''jūryō,'' a record for someone who never made the top ''makuuchi'' division (his highest rank was ''jūryō'' 1).
*24: Hakuhō is given an official reprimand, the lightest of the seven punishments available, in response to the ''sanbon-jime'' incident on the last day of the March tournament. His stablemaster Miyagino is given a salary cut of ten percent for three months.
*30: On the last day of the Heisei era, the banzuke for the May tournament is published, with Takakeishō listed as ''ōzeki'' for the first time. There are two newcomers to the top division, Shimanoumi and Enhō. Some 50 kg lighter, and 15 cm shorter, than the average top division wrestler, Enhō is the first ''sekitori'' from Kanazawa Gakuin University.

May

*1: Dressed in their black '' montsuki hakama,'' 69 of the 70 ''sekitori'' use their bodies to spell out the kanji for the new imperial era, Reiwa.
*14: Further reports on President Donald Trump's visit on the final day of the May tournament suggest he will present a custom-made trophy to the winner, the "Trump Cup."
*26: Donald Trump is in attendance for the final five matches of the final day of the May tournament. He presents the new trophy, officially called the President's Cup, to the winner of the championship, ''maegashira'' Asanoyama, who finishes with a 12–3 record and special prizes for Outstanding Performance and Fighting Spirit. He is the first winner without any previous ''sanyaku'' experience since Sadanoyama in 1961. He finishes one win ahead of Kakuryū (11-4). Tochinoshin, despite a controversial call by the judges in his Day 13 match with Asanoyama which reversed the referee's decision and declared that his heel had stepped out of the ring, finishes with a 10–5 record, enough to return him immediately to the ''ōzeki'' rank. Other notable performers are Abi and top division debutant Shimanoumi who share the Fighting Spirit prize with Asanoyama, and Ryūden who wins the Technique prize. The ''jūryō'' division championship is won by Takagenji with a 13–2 record. Among the retirements are former ''jūryō'' wrestlers and . Two days earlier, former ozeki Terunofuji continued his climb back up the banzuke with a 6-1 result in Sandanme, ensuring his promotion to makushita for the next tournament in July.
*29: Promotions to ''jūryō'' for the Nagoya tournament in July are announced. There are four newcomers, the most high profile of whom is Kotonowaka, the son of Sadogatake Oyakata (ex-''sekiwake'' Kotonowaka) who has changed his ''shikona'' from Kotokamatani to that of his father. The other debutants are , who is the younger brother of making them the 21st pair of brothers in history to both reach ''sekitori'' status, Ichiyamamoto the first from Nishonoseki stable to reach ''jūryō'' since Shohozan in 2010, and Onoe stable's . There is one returnee, Takanofuji, who won the ''makushita'' championship with a perfect 7–0 record.

June

*24: The July ''banzuke'' is published, with Takakeisho '' kadoban,'' Tochinoshin returning to ''ozeki'' and Asanoyama just missing out on a ''sanyaku'' debut, instead being ranked at ''maegashira'' 1. The only top division debut is Takagenji at ''maegashira'' 10.

July

*16: 40-year-old Aminishiki announces his retirement from sumo after a 22-year career. He had been absent since the third day of the July tournament with a knee injury and faced demotion from the ''jūryō'' division.
*17: For the first time since the beginning of the Showa era, all four ''ōzeki'' are absent from a tournament. Takayasu withdraws due to an elbow injury suffered against Tamawashi, giving Hakuhō a default win. Earlier in the tournament Gōeidō and Tochinoshin both withdrew, and Takakeishō was absent from the beginning and will drop to ''sekiwake'' for the September tournament.
*21: Kakuryū defeats Hakuhō in the final match of the tournament to win his sixth top division championship, with a 14–1 record. Hakuhō finishes second on 12–3, his first runner-up performance since January 2016 (he has won seven ''yūshō'' since then). He shares the jun-''yūshō'' with two ''maegashira'', Terutsuyoshi and Tomokaze. Terutsuyoshi wins the Fighting Spirit Prize, and Tomokaze who was the only man to defeat Kakuryū receives the Outstanding Performance Award. The Technique Prize is shared between Endō and Enhō. The ''jūryō'' division championship is won by former amateur competitor Tsurugishō who is likely to be promoted to the top division for the first time as a result. Former ''maegashira'' wins the ''makushita'' championship. Former ozeki Terunofuji posted a 6-1 record in lower makushita, continuing his climb back up the banzuke. The chief ''tokoyama'', Tokohachi of the Miyagino stable, retires due to turning 65 years of age, after 52 years in sumo.

The summer tour visits the following locations:
*29: Gifu, Gifu Prefecture
*29: Habikino, Osaka Prefecture
*30: Kusatsu, Shiga Prefecture
*31: Echizen, Fukui Prefecture

August

The summer tour continues, visiting the following locations:

*1: Toyama, Toyama Prefecture
*2: Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture
*3: Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture
*4: Togane, Chiba Prefecture
*6: Tachikawa, Tokyo Prefecture
*7: Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture
*8: Utsunomiya, Tochigi, Tokyo Prefecture
*9: Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture
*10: Fukushima, Fukushima Prefecture
*11: Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture
*12: Murayama, Yamagata Prefecture
*13: Aomori, Aomori Prefecture
*14: Kitatsugaru District, Aomori Prefecture
*16: Hakodate, Hokkaido Prefecture
*17: Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture
*18: Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture
*19: Kushiro, Hokkaido Prefecture
*25: KITTE, Tokyo Prefecture

*27: The ''banzuke'' for the September tournament is released, with Takakeishō dropping to ''sekiwake''. Three wrestlers are promoted to the top division, the returning Ishiura and Yutakayama, and Tsurugishō who is the only newcomer. Kakuryū is the East Yokozuna, the highest position on the ''banzuke'', and is competing in his 33rd tournament as a Yokozuna, moving him into the top ten all-time.

September

*3: Takanofuji is suspended from the forthcoming Aki tournament by his stablemaster Chiganoura while the Sumo Association investigates reports that he assaulted an attendant at his stable after practice on August 31. He has already served a previous suspension for a similar incident in 2018.
*3: Hakuhō announces that he has acquired Japanese citizenship, which will enable him to stay in the Sumo Association after retirement and run his own stable.
*12: Former sekiwake Yoshikaze, who has missed the last two tournaments through injury, announces his retirement. He is staying in sumo under the elder name of Nakamura Oyakata.
*22: Mitakeumi wins his second championship after a playoff with Takakeisho, both men finishing with identical 12-3 records. Takakeisho successfully returns to the ozeki rank but Tochinoshin will be demoted after only scoring 6–9. The Outstanding Performance Prize is shared between Mitakeumi and Asanoyama while the Fighting Spirit Prize goes to Okinoumi and newcomer Tsurugisho. In ''juryo'' Ikioi wins the ''yusho'' while Chiyonokuni takes the ''makushita'' title, beating former ozeki Terunofuji in his final bout. Terunofuji finishes with a 6-1 record and will be ranked in upper makushita for November. Former ''maegashira'' and Homarefuji announce their retirements. Homarefuji becomes Tateyama Oyakata. Also retiring at the age of 24 is the nephew of Musashigawa Oyakata, the former ''yokozuna'' Musashimaru, who fought as Musashikuni and is returning to Hawai'i after six years in sumo. He sustained an ankle injury in November 2018 from which he had failed to recover properly.
*25:Promotions to the ''jūryō'' division for November are announced. Making their debuts will be Kotoshoho (formerly known as Kototebakari) and Mongolian Hoshoryu, nephew of the former ''yokozuna'' Asashoryu. Returning to the paid ranks are Wakamotoharu, Akua, and Akiseyama.
*28: Takanofuji is told to retire voluntarily by the Sumo Association after the compliance committee's report finds that he struck his attendant, a ''jonidan'' ranked wrestler, on the forehead for preceding him in the bath and his general attitude. However Takanofuji holds a press conference in which he says he will not retire, saying he is sorry for what he did but "this penalty is too severe and I cannot accept it." The Sumo Association has already decided to take disciplinary action at a later date, which could include expulsion.
*29: The ''danpatsu-shiki'' or retirement ceremony of Kisenosato is held at the Kokugikan, with around 300 guests participating in the hair-cutting rituals, including Shibatayama Oyakata, his '' sempai'' Wakanosato, ex-stablemate Takanowaka, and current wrestlers Hakuhō, Kakuryu, Takayasu, Kotoshogiku and Toyonoshima. Former ''maegashira'' Satoyama has his ''danpatsu-shiki'' on the same date.

October

*The autumn tour visits the following locations:
**5: Nanao, Ishikawa
**6: Kanazawa
**7: Tonami
**8: Itoigawa
**9: Otawara
**10: Chiba
**11: Sagamihara
**12: Kofu
**13: Izu, Shizuoka (cancelled owing to Typhoon Hagibis)
**14: Yaizu
**16: Hamamatsu
**17: Tokoname
**18: Kyoto
**19: Kadoma, Osaka
**20: Himeji
**22: Aki, Kochi
**23: Kurashiki
**24: Izumo, Shimane
**25: Mihara, Hiroshima
**26: Hiroshima
**27: Fukuyama, Hiroshima

*11: After his initial resistance to the Sumo Association's recommendation, Takanofuji submits his retirement papers and ends his sumo career at the age of 22. His change of heart ensures that he will receive severance pay.
*25: The head ''yobidashi,'' Takuro, is suspended for two tournaments for hitting a junior ''yobidashi'' over the head after he caught him eating in the customer seating area on ''jungyo''. His request to retire has also been accepted. The Sumo Association's director of public relations, Shibatayama, said that violent acts were no longer to be tolerated and it is "regrettable that such a senior official gave such guidance."
*28: The rankings for the Kyushu tournament are released. For the first time since November 2006 there are four wrestlers at ''komusubi,'' with Hokutofuji and Asanoyama joining Abi and Endō at the rank. The only newcomer to the top division is Wakatakakage, while Takanosho, Chiyomaru and Daishomaru return.

November

*9: Abi is reprimanded by the Japan Sumo Association after he posted an image on Instagram of his friend and fellow wrestler Wakamotoharu tied up and gagged with tape as a prank. Abi and Wakamotoharu apologize in person to JSA chairman Hakkaku and the board for the incident. The JSA has advised wrestlers not to post on their individual social media in future, although accounts run by the stables are not affected.
*17: In the Kyushu tournament, Takayasu withdraws shortly before his scheduled bout on Day 8 because of lower back pain. He is the seventh top division wrestler to pull out of the tournament, following Ichinojo (before the tournament, back injury), Kakuryū (the morning of Day 1, back), Goeido (Day 2, ankle), Tomokaze (Day 3, knee dislocation), Wakatakakage (Day 5, ankle), and Tochinoshin (Day 5, rib)
*23: Hakuhō secures his 43rd top division championship by defeating Mitakeumi, the winner of the previous tournament with a ''sotogake'' outside leg trip to move to an unassailable two bout lead at 13–1.
*24: On the final day Hakuhō defeats Takakeishō (9–6) in a bout lasting over a minute to finish on 14–1, three wins ahead of his nearest rivals. Runners-up are Shodai and Asanoyama who both finish on 11–4 after Shodai wins their match today. Shodai receives the Fighting Spirit Prize while Asanoyama gets the Technique Prize. Asanoyama also has the most top division wins in the year 2019. His total of 55 is however, the lowest ever winning total (for comparison, Hakuhō had 86 wins in 2009). The Outstanding Performance Prize goes to Daieisho (8–7) as the only wrestler to defeat Hakuhō. The ''jūryō'' division championship is won by Azumaryu who wins a four-way playoff also involving Kaisei, Ikioi and Kiribayama, after all finish with identical 11–4 records. The ''makushita'' division championship is won by ex-''ōzeki'' Terunofuji, his first championship since his comeback from injury began in March, and he is guaranteed a return to the ''sekitori'' ranks in the next tournament.
*27: The ''jūryō'' promotions for the January 2020 tournament are announced. There are no wrestlers making their ''jūryō'' debuts, but five are returning – Terunofuji, Chiyootori, , Asagyokusei, and . It took Sakigake 29 tournaments to return to the paid ranks after his demotion in January 2015, the fourth slowest ever.

December

The winter tour visits the following locations:
*1: Nogata, Fukuoka Prefecture
*3: Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture
*4: Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto Prefecture
*5: Ukiha, Fukuoka Prefecture
*6: Oita, Oita Prefecture
*7: Oguni, Kumamoto Prefecture
*8: Kagoshima, Kagoshima Prefecture
*10: Isahaya, Nagasaki Prefecture
*11: Saga, Saga Prefecture
*14-15: Uruma, Okinawa, Prefecture

*24: The rankings for the January 2020 Hatsu tournament are released. Asanoyama makes his debut at sekiwake, the first from Toyama Prefecture since Kotogaume in 1986. Daieisho makes his komusubi debut. Five wrestlers return to the top division, Azumaryu, Ikioi, Tochiozan, Kaisei and Tokushoryu. There is one newcomer, Mongolian Kiribayama from Michinoku stable. Making way for them are six wrestlers demoted to ''jūryō'', Tomokaze, Ichinojo and Wakatakakage who all suffered injuries, plus Nishikigi, Daishomaru and Daishoho.

Deaths

*10 February: The 60th Yokozuna Futahaguro, aged 55, of chronic kidney disease (not reported until 29 March).
*14 February: Former ''maegashira'' Tokitsunada, aged 49, of heart failure.
*16 February: Former makushita 20 Suginoyama, aged 41, of a hemorrhage caused by a blow to the head with a karaoke remote control. His attacker, former professional boxer Tomoaki Hashizume, is sentenced to seven years imprisonment in December 2019.
*6 April: Former jūryō , aged 43, of a suspected heart attack.
*20 April: Former ''maegashira'' Kiyonomori, also former Kise Oyakata, aged 84, of pneumonia.
*25 April: Former ''sekiwake'' Kurohimeyama, also former Tatekuma Oyakata, aged 70, of pneumonia.
*16 September: Former ''sekiwake'' Sakahoko, current Izutsu Oyakata, aged 58, of pancreatic cancer.
*3 November: Former ''makushita'' 6 , a ''sewanin'' at Tatsunami stable, aged 53.
*13 December: Former ''maegahira'' Ushiomaru, current Azumazeki Oyakata, aged 41, of angiosarcoma.

See also

*Glossary of sumo terms
*List of active sumo wrestlers
* List of years in sumo

References

{{Years in sumo

Sumo by year
Sumo
2019 sport-related lists