2023 In Sumo

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2023.

Tournaments

Hatsu '' basho''

Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 8 January – 22 January

Haru ''basho''

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 12 March – 26 March

Natsu ''basho''

Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 14 May – 28 May

Nagoya ''basho''

Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, 9 July – 23 July

Aki ''basho''

Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 10 September – 24 September

Kyushu ''basho''

Fukuoka Kokusai Center, Kyushu, 12 November – 26 November

News

January

*4: Former '' sekiwake'' Toyonoshima, who had retired from professional sumo in April 2020, quits as a member of the Sumo Association in order to pursue a '' tarento'' career.
*6: '' Yokozuna'' Terunofuji withdraws from the upcoming January tournament—his second straight absence from an entire '' basho''—as he continues to recover from surgery on both of his knees.
*14: Former ''sekiwake'' Okinoumi retires, ending an 18-year career in professional sumo competition. He withdrew from the January 2023 ''basho'' the previous day after he was defeated in his first five matches.
*22: The top division championship is won by Takakeishō, who defeats '' maegashira'' 13 Kotoshōhō in the final bout. Both wrestlers had come into the final day with identical 11–3 records. It is Takekeishō's third career championship and first since November 2020, and puts him in a strong position to seek promotion to ''yokozuna'' in the following tournament. Kotoshōhō, who had not produced a '' kachi-koshi'' or winning record since March 2022, wins his first Fighting Spirit Prize. He shares runner-up honours with Kiribayama, who also finishes on 11–4 and wins his first Technique Prize. Ōnoshō, who led the tournament outright on Day 12 at 10–2, finishes on 10–5 and misses out on a share of the Fighting Spirit Prize after defeat to Hōshōryū. Former ''ōzeki'' Shōdai, who was hoping to return to the rank by scoring at least ten wins, can only manage a 6–9 record. Another former ''ōzeki'', Asanoyama, wins the '' jūryō'' division championship with a 14–1 record.
*25: Promotions to the ''jūryō'' division are announced. The winner of the '' makushita'' division title, two-time high school ''yokozuna'' Ochiai, is promoted just one tournament after making his professional debut as a '' makushita tsukedashi'' entrant. It is the first time since the beginning of the Showa era that a wrestler has been promoted to in one tournament. The winner of the 2022 All Japan Corporate Sumo Championship, Ochiai is the first new '' sekitori'' for Miyagino stable since the former Hakuhō took over as stablemaster. The other ''jūryō'' debutant is 29-year-old Tamashōhō from Mongolia, who is the brother-in-law of Tamawashi. There are also two wrestlers returning to – Tokushōryū after just one tournament, and Tomokaze, who returns for the first time since a long injury layoff beginning in November 2019 saw him drop from the top division down to '' jonidan.''
*28: The retirement ceremony for the 69th '' yokozuna'' Hakuhō is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. He performs the ''yokozuna dohyō-iri'', or ring entering ceremony, for the last time with ''ōzeki'' Takakeishō and ''sekiwake'' Hōshōryū serving as the '' tachimochi'' (sword bearer) and '' tsuyuharai'' (dew sweeper), respectively. About 300 people take turns to cut the '' ōichōmage'' bun.
*29: The retirement ceremony for former '' maegashira'' Toyohibiki is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.

February

*1: Ikazuchi (former '' komusubi'' Kakizoe) officially takes over the stable previously owned by Irumagawa (former '' sekiwake'' Tochitsukasa) ahead of the latter reaching Sumo's mandatory retirement age of 65 at the end of April. The renamed Ikazuchi stable is the first incarnation of the stable in over six decades.
*4: The NHK charity sumo tournament is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan for the first time in three years. It was cancelled in 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
*11: The retirement ceremony for former '' komusubi'' Shōhōzan is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.
*27: The Sumo Association releases the '' banzuke'' for the March 2023 tournament in Osaka, also known as the Haru (spring) ''basho''. There is no change in the top two ranks, with '' yokozuna'' Terunofuji expected to return to action after missing two tournaments (he would later withdraw), and the January champion—'' ōzeki'' Takakeishō—seeking to join him at sumo's top rank with a strong March performance. January runner-up Kiribayama is elevated to '' sekiwake'' for the first time in his career. Daieishō and Tobizaru, who were both demoted from '' komusubi'' for the January tournament, return to that rank for March. The top division sees three new faces: Kinbōzan, who enters ''makuuchi'' after just eight tournaments in professional sumo and is the first top division wrestler in history from Kazakhstan, Mongolian-born Hokuseihō, who was encouraged to enter sumo by his now-stablemaster Miyagino, and nine-year sumo veteran Bushōzan. One other wrestler, Daishōhō, returns to the top division for the first time since November 2019. Asanoyama, who has been climbing the sumo ladder again since completing his one-year (six tournament) suspension and had won the '' jūryō'' title in January, just misses promotion to ''makuuchi'' and is ranked at ''jūryō'' 1 for March.

March

*2: Daisuke Yanagihara (former '' sandanme'' Kotokantetsu) files a lawsuit against the Japan Sumo Association and his former stablemaster Sadogatake (former '' sekiwake'' Kotonowaka) seeking over ¥4.1 million in monetary damages. Among his claims, the 25-year-old says he was forced to retire when he was told he could not withdraw from the January 2021 sumo tournament because of his concerns over contracting COVID-19. This occurred shortly after the Japanese government declared its second state of emergency over the virus in Tokyo and surrounding prefectures. Yanagihara also alleges mistreatment of lower-division wrestlers in Sadogatake stable.
*10: Terunofuji withdraws from the March 2023 tournament, one day after stablemaster Isegahama suggested that there was "still something missing" upon observing the training of his Mongolian '' yokozuna''. Terunofuji underwent knee surgery last October and has not participated in a professional sumo match since Day 9 of the September 2022 ''basho''.
*18: '' Ōzeki'' Takakeishō withdraws on Day 7 of the March 2023 ''basho'' after three losses, ending his bid for promotion to sumo's top rank. He had suffered a left knee injury during his Day 3 victory over Shōdai, which he aggravated when losing to Mitakeumi on Day 6. Takakeishō's withdrawal leaves the sumo tournament with no competing ''yokozuna'' or ''ōzeki'' for the first time since the start of the Shōwa era in 1926.
*26: Mongolian ''sekiwake'' Kiribayama defeats ''komusubi'' Daieishō twice on the final day of the March 2023 tournament–once in their final scheduled match, and again in a playoff–to win the first top-division championship of his career. The playoff was set after Kiribayama's Day 15 victory left both him and Daieishō with 12–3 records. In the playoff, Kiribayama–who had a day of rest due to a default the previous day–used the same thrust down technique he used to defeat Daieishō the first time. The ringside judges had to make sure that Kiribayama did not accidentally step out of the ''dohyō'' before confirming the victory. The 26-year-old said after the competition that he didn't understand anything that was going on when he entered sumo in 2015, but "somehow, eight years later, I've made it this far." Kiribayama, who becomes sumo's ninth '' makuuchi'' champion from Mongolia, is now in a position to pursue promotion to the second-highest rank of '' ōzeki'' with a strong performance at the May ''basho''. For using a variety of winning '' kimarite'' both Kiribayama and Daieishō receive the ''Ginō-shō'' (Technique prize) for the second and first time, respectively. The other special prize goes to new ''maegashira'' Kinbōzan of Kazakhstan, who received the ''Kantō-shō'' (Fighting Spirit prize) after securing 11 victories in his top-division debut.
Another Mongolian, Ichinojō (14–1), secures the '' jūryō'' championship. The former ''sekiwake'' had just been demoted to the second-highest division after serving a one-tournament COVID-19-related suspension. Right behind Ichinojō in the ''jūryō'' standings is former ''ōzeki'' Asanoyama (13–2), who seeks to return to sumo's top division for the first time after COVID violations resulted in his suspension for one year.
*29: The Sumo Association announces three promotions to the second-highest rank of '' jūryō'' for May. One of two newly promoted '' sekitori'' is , who entered sumo two years ago. With the exception of a playoff loss, he went undefeated in his first three tournaments, with a ''jonokuchi'' and ''sandanme'' championship to his name. The other new ''jūryō'' competitor is Tokihayate, who started sumo in 2019 and clinched the ''jonidan'' championship in his second tournament. 14-year veteran returns to ''jūryō'' after he was just demoted, having secured five wins at the rank of ''makushita'' 2 in the March tournament.
Among the retirements announced by the Sumo Association is former ''maegashira'' Kagamiō, who concludes a two-decade career. Kagamiō fell off of the ''banzuke'' rankings after the July 2021 ''basho'' due to injury.

April

*14: Stablemaster Arashio (former ''maegashira'' Sōkokurai) announces that ''sekiwake'' Wakatakakage will be sidelined for up to one year after undergoing reconstructive surgery on his right knee. He had damaged his right ACL and meniscus near the end of the March 2023 tournament during his match against ''komusubi'' Kotonowaka, forcing his withdrawal.

The spring '' jungyō'' (regional tours) were held at the following locations:
*2: Ise Shrine, Mie (Ceremonial tournament)
*3: Minoh, Osaka
*4: Okazaki, Aichi
*5: Inazawa, Aichi
*6: Fukui
*8: Jōetsu, Niigata
*9: Nagano
*15: Fujisawa, Kanagawa
*16: Machida, Tokyo
*17: Yasukuni Shrine, Tokyo (Ceremonial tournament)
*22: Yokohama, Kanagawa
*23: Takasaki, Gunma
*28: Narita, Chiba
*29: Kawasaki, Kanagawa
*30: Kamisu, Ibaraki

May

*1: The '' banzuke'' for the May 2023 tournament in Tokyo, called the Natsu ''basho'', is published by the Sumo Association. The ''basho'' marks the return of '' yokozuna'' Terunofuji, who previously indicated that he intends to compete following injury-related absences in all or part of the last four tournaments. '' Sekiwake'' Kiribayama, the March champion, seeks a double-digit winning record in May which would likely result in promotion to the second-highest rank of '' ōzeki''. Conversely, current ''ōzeki'' competitor Takakeishō needs eight wins in the May ''basho'' to hold on to his rank. Wakamotoharu, the older brother of injured Wakatakakage, is promoted to ''sekiwake'' for the first time in his career. It is the fourth time in sumo history that two brothers have reached the third-highest ''sekiwake'' rank, and the first since ''yokozuna'' brothers Takanohana and Wakanohana in the early 1990s. March runner-up Daieishō returns to ''sekiwake'' for the first time since last September. Former ''ōzeki'' Shōdai returns to the '' san'yaku'' ranks at '' komusubi'' after notching ten wins in March. Returning to '' makuuchi'' for the first time since 2021 is Asanoyama, the former ''ōzeki'' who has been making a comeback since serving a six-tournament suspension and had spent the first two tournaments of the year in the second-highest '' jūryō'' division. Former ''sekiwake'' Ichinojō, who was suspended in January and then won the ''jūryō'' championship in March, makes a quick return to the top division.
*4: Former ''sekiwake'' Ichinojō submits his retirement papers, ending a career spanning over nine years with one championship and two runner-up performances in the top division. Ichinojō suffered from chronic lower back pain and reportedly sought treatment after winning his second ''jūryō'' championship in March, but his condition eventually left him unable to travel from his home to Minato stable in order to practice. Although he has acquired Japanese citizenship, Ichinojō did not acquire elder stock and will not remain in the Sumo Association as a coach.
*9: Another violence scandal erupts as Michinoku stable is the subject of a controversy. A senior wrestler, Kirinofuji, assaulted another young wrestler, Yasunishi, in January with a frying pan and whipped him with a jump rope. Stablemaster Michinoku (former '' ōzeki'' Kirishima) is accused to have covered the violence by directly allowing the aggressor to remain within his stable and allowing him to perform a hair cutting ceremony in April despite the fact that the information was relayed to the Compliance Department. Hanakago (former ''sekiwake'' Daijuyama), the director of the Compliance Department, is also the subject of controversy for letting the aggressor retire without punishment and for declaring the incident closed after the retirement despite a formal complaint (later withdrawn) filed by the victim during the same month of April.
*14: Takayasu withdraws on the opening day of the May 2023 tournament after suffering a right leg injury during morning practice. Although the medical certificate called for three weeks of treatment, Takayasu announced on 23 May his return for the eleventh day of the tournament.
*19: Georgian wrestler Tochinoshin retires from professional sumo, ending a career spanning 17 years. The 35-year-old former '' ōzeki'' injured his shoulder in the January 2023 tournament and was subsequently demoted from ''makuuchi''. At the May tournament he was unable to secure a win after competing in five ''jūryō'' matches. He concludes his career with one championship and four runner-up performances in the top division.
*23: Kotoshōhō withdraws on Day 10 of the summer tournament after having suffered eight consecutive defeats. The reason for his absence is a patellar subluxation in his left knee. He also had sprained his right ankle during the spring '' jungyō''. He would later re-enter the tournament on Day 14.
Former '' makuuchi'' wrestlers and current '' jūryō'' Enhō and Chiyonokuni also withdraw from the summer tournament due to injuries. Enhō was diagnosed with a herniated disc in his neck, which will require approximately three months of treatment. Chiyonokuni is suffering from meniscus injuries in both knees and from osteoarthritis in his left knee.
*25: ''Sekiwake'' Kiribayama secures his tenth win at the May 2023 tournament. With his 33rd victory in his last three tournaments, Kiribayama meets the requirements to be considered for promotion to the second-highest rank of '' ōzeki''.
*27: '' Yokozuna'' Terunofuji wins his eighth top division championship by defeating '' sekiwake'' Kiribayama and securing a two-win advantage over his competitors with one day remaining in the May 2023 tournament. It is the first time since 1989 (when the '' yūshō'' was won by ''yokozuna'' Hokutoumi–now Sumo Association president Hakkaku) that a wrestler has won the top division championship after being absent for three consecutive tournaments.
*28: Terunofuji collects his eighth Emperor's Cup trophy after dispatching ''ōzeki'' Takakeishō in the final match to finish with a 14–1 record. Despite the loss, Takakeishō (8–7) will hold on to his ''ōzeki'' rank after securing a winning record. Finishing as the runner-up is Asanoyama (12–3) in his first top division tournament since returning from his COVID suspension. Kiribayama finishes behind him with 11 wins and his third straight ''Ginō-shō'' (Technique prize). Another Technique prize is awarded to Wakamotoharu, who wins his first special prize after finishing his first tournament at the ''sekiwake'' rank with 10 wins. The final special prize is awarded to Meisei (8–7), who after securing his first gold star is awarded the ''Shukun-shō'' (Outstanding Performance prize) for the first time.
Following the tournament, Sumo Association chairman Hakkaku accepted the request of Refereeing Department head Sadogatake (former ''sekiwake'' Kotonowaka) to convene a special meeting on 31 May, where Kiribayama's ''ōzeki'' promotion is expected to be finalized.
The ''jūryō'' championship is decided in a playoff, with top-ranked Gōnoyama defeating 19-year-old Ochiai to clinch his second championship in sumo. It is the first time since 15-day tournaments began in 1949 that the ''jūryō'' championship is decided in a playoff between two wrestlers with 14–1 records.
*31: Kiribayama is officially promoted to ''ōzeki'' and makes his formal acceptance speech when notified of the Sumo Association's decision at his stable. It is also announced that Kiribayama has changed his '' shikona'' (ring name) to Kirishima, inheriting the name previously used by his stablemaster Michinoku (former ''ōzeki'' Kirishima).
With the ranking meeting completed, the Sumo Association announces five promotions to the ''jūryō'' division for July. Included in the promotions is 26-year-old Shishi, who will become the first ever '' sekitori'' from Ukraine. Also promoted to ''jūryō'' for the first time is top ''makushita'' wrestler Kawazoe Keita, who will change his ''shikona'' to Kihō, as well as 24-year-old . returns to ''jūryō'' after he was first promoted in January 2022 but did not compete. returns to the second-highest division after 12 tournaments in ''makushita''.

June

*1: Former ''maegashira'' Ishiura retires, ending a 10-year career after suffering from a pinched nerve at the March 2022 tournament. The injury forced him to withdraw from competition for a year, dropping him to the rank of ''jonidan'' 60. Ishiura acquired an elder stock from his former master Chikubayama and will remain in the Sumo Association under the elder name Magaki.
*3: The retirement ceremony of the 71st '' yokozuna'' Kakuryū is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. Kakuryū performs his final ''yokozuna dohyō-iri'', or ring entering ceremony, with former ''ōzeki'' Shōdai and newly promoted ''ōzeki'' Kirishima serving as the '' tsuyuharai'' (dew sweeper) and '' tachimochi'' (sword bearer), respectively. Some 380 people take turns in cutting Kakuryū's '' ōichōmage'', including all three of the other ''yokozuna'' from Mongolia: Asashōryū, Harumafuji and Miyagino ( Hakuhō).
*4: The retirement ceremony of former ''sekiwake'' Ikioi (now Kasugayama) is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.
The retirement ceremony of former ''maegashira'' Kyokushūhō is held at the Tobu Hotel Levant in Tokyo.
*10: The retirement ceremony of former ''maegashira'' Kagamiō is held in a reception room at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. About 270 people took part in the hair-cutting ceremony with Kagamiyama stablemaster (former ''sekiwake'' Tagaryū) making the final cut.
*23: The Sumo Association concludes its investigation into the allegations of assault at Michinoku stable. Stablemaster Michinoku is handed a 20% salary cut for three months and resigns his post as Operations director in the Sumo Association.
*25: The retirement ceremony of former ''maegashira'' Yutakayama is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.
*26: The Sumo Association releases the '' banzuke'' for the July 2023 tournament in Nagoya, with newly promoted Kirishima (previously known as Kiribayama) formally listed for the first time at sumo's second-highest rank of '' ōzeki''. Abi is promoted to '' komusubi'' for the third time in his career. Entering the top '' makuuchi'' division in his fourth career sumo tournament is Ochiai, under his new '' shikona'' Hakuōhō. Nicknamed the " Reiwa monster" in the press, the 19-year-old entered professional sumo as a '' makushita tsukedashi'' entrant in January and is the sixth-youngest competitor since 1990 to reach the top division. Hakuōhō is one of three wrestlers promoted to the top division for the first time, the others being the top-ranked '' jūryō'' wrestlers in May: Gōnoyama, who defeated then-Ochiai in the May ''jūryō'' playoff, and nine-year sumo competitor Shōnannoumi. Bushōzan returns to '' maegashira'' after competing in ''jūryō'' in May.

July

*7: Takakeishō withdraws from the July tournament citing cartilage damage in both his knees requiring around 3 weeks' treatment. Knee injuries had already cost him a withdrawal from the March tournament and had plagued him at the May tournament.
*9: The newly promoted ''ōzeki'' Kirishima sits out the first day of the July tournament because of inflammation on the back of his shoulder blade. Although his medical certificate indicates that he bruised his right ribs and would need three weeks of treatment, his stablemaster leaves open the possibility that Kirishima could return to the tournament later. This absence is a first since Musōyama at the May 2000 tournament that a newly promoted ''ōzeki'' had to withdraw on the first day of a tournament, and the fifth time in total since the start of the Shōwa era. Due to the absence of the other ''ōzeki'', Takakeishō, the July 2023 tournament is presumed to be the first in the written history of sumo (since the Shōwa era) to be held without an ''ōzeki'' from day one. Kirishima would later compete on Day 4 of the tournament, picking up his first win at the ''ōzeki'' rank.
*12: ''Yokozuna'' Terunofuji withdraws on Day 4 of the July tournament after conceding back-to-back gold stars to top rank-and-filers Nishikigi and Tobizaru. It is his sixth withdrawal in the last ten tournaments.
*16: Asanoyama pulls out on Day 8 of the July tournament after partially tearing his left bicep in his loss to ''sekiwake'' Hōshōryu the day before. He returned to competition on Day 12.
*21: Former ''maegashira'' Chiyonokuni retires, ending a 17-year career marked by repeated injuries.
*22: Three wrestlers – Hōshōryū, Hokutofuji and newly promoted Hakuōhō – are tied for the top-division lead with eleven wins each after Day 14 of the July tournament. With the Sumo Association's Refereeing Department deciding on the Day 15 matches, Ryūden and Nishikigi – both one win behind the leaders – are eliminated from Emperor's Cup contention. Should Hokutofuji win his contest, it would result in a playoff for the championship against the winner of the match between Hōshōryū and Hakuōhō.
Newly promoted ''ōzeki'' Kirishima suffers his sixth loss at the hands of former ''ōzeki'' Asanoyama. As he was absent for two days, Kirishima will be at '' kadoban'' status for the next tournament in September, where he will need eight wins to retain his rank.
*23: Mongolian '' sekiwake'' Hōshōryū defeats Hokutofuji in a playoff to secure his first top-division championship, and with it a likely promotion to sumo's second-highest rank of '' ōzeki''. The playoff match was forced when Hokutofuji defeated Nishikigi in their scheduled Day 15 contest to finish with a 12–3 record. Hōshōryū then fended off the challenge of 19-year-old Hakuōhō using an overarm throw to also finish with 12 wins. In the playoff Hokutofuji, who had already beaten Hōshōryū three days earlier, could not stop the Mongolian's advance and was pushed out of the ''dohyō''. Hōshōryū, who could not contain his emotions after winning the playoff, secured 33 wins in his last three tournaments at the '' san'yaku'' ranks. He is poised for promotion to sumo's second-highest rank on 26 July after the request for an extraordinary board meeting of the Japan Sumo Association is granted. A total of eight special prizes are awarded at the end of the tournament. The ''Shukun-shō'' (Outstanding Performance prize) is awarded to Nishikigi (10–5), who defeated most of the wrestlers ranked above him–including '' yokozuna'' Terunofuji–and was in the hunt for the top-division championship until the final days. New ''makuuchi'' wrestler Hakuōhō (11–4) is awarded both the ''Kantō-shō'' (Fighting Spirit prize) and the ''Ginō-shō'' (Technique prize) for his efforts, becoming the first wrestler since Ichinojō in 2014 to win two special prizes in their top-division debut. The Fighting Spirit prize is also awarded to five other competitors: tournament champion Hōshōryū and runner-up Hokutofuji, Kotonowaka (11–4), and new ''makuuchi'' competitors Gōnoyama (10–5) and Shōnannoumi (10–5).
The '' jūryō'' championship also goes to a playoff, with top-ranked Atamifuji (11–4) defeating Daiamami and likely securing a return to the top division.
*26: The Sumo Association unanimously approves the promotion of Hōshōryū to ''ōzeki''. He is the seventh wrestler from Mongolia to reach sumo's second-highest rank.
It is announced that five wrestlers will be promoted to ''jūryō'' for the September tournament. There are four new promotions, two of which are from Nishonoseki stable: 23-year-old Ōnosato, a '' makushita tsukedashi'' competitor and amateur ''yokozuna'' champion who was a highly regarded prospect when he entered professional sumo earlier this year, and 24-year-old Takahashi. They are the first two recruited by their stablemaster, the 72nd ''yokozuna'' Kisenosato, to become '' sekitori''. The other two new promotions are Miyagino stable's , who will take on the new '' shikona'' Tenshōhō (天照鵬) in September, and Takasago stable's , who will now compete under the name Asakōryū (朝紅龍). Tokihayate, who had just been demoted to '' makushita'' in July and won that division's championship, is promoted to ''jūryō'' again.
*27: The Sumo Association announces that the Yokozuna Deliberation Council's training session for wrestlers on 2 September at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan will be open to the general public. It will be the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic that the public will be permitted to attend the session.

The summer '' jungyō'' (regional tours) were held at the following locations in July:
*29: Toyota, Aichi
*30: Numazu

August

*10: Former ''maegashira'' Akiseyama retires, ending a 15-year professional sumo career. He acquires the vacant Izutsu elder stock and will remain as a coach at Kise stable.
*28: The Sumo Association releases the '' banzuke'' for the upcoming autumn Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo. Three wrestlers are listed at the second-highest rank of '' ōzeki'': Mongolian Hōshōryū will compete in his first tournament at the ''ōzeki'' rank, while Takakeishō and Kirishima both hope to secure a winning record and avoid relegation. Kotonowaka, coming off of an 11-win performance in July, earns a promotion to the third-highest rank of '' sekiwake'' for the first time. July tournament contender Nishikigi receives his first promotion to '' san'yaku'' in a career spanning 17 years. Joining Nishikigi at the rank of '' komusubi'' is Tobizaru, who returns to that rank for the first time in three tournaments. There are no newly promoted wrestlers from '' jūryō'' to Makuuchi, although two are returning to the top division. Atamifuji, the winner of the ''jūryō'' championship in July, returns after four tournaments, while Kagayaki returns after having just been demoted.

The summer '' jungyō'' (regional tours) were held at the following locations in August:
*2: Tachikawa, Tokyo
*3: Ryūgasaki, Ibaraki
*4: Naraha, Fukushima
*5: Fukushima city
*6: Sendai
*8: Ōshū, Iwate
*9: Kuji, Iwate
*12: Hakodate
*13: Sapporo
*14: Asahikawa
*15: Eniwa, Hokkaido
*19: Nagaoka, Niigata
*20: Oyama, Tochigi
*25: Kurobe, Toyama
*26: Kanazawa
*27: Himi, Toyama

September

*2: The Yokozuna Deliberation Council's open training session is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan, with about 4,000 people in attendance. Following the training session, Hakkaku (the 61st '' yokozuna'' Hokutoumi) performs his '' kanreki dohyō-iri'' joined by Hokutofuji and ex- Okinoumi (now Kimigahama) as his '' tsuyuharai'' and '' tachimochi'', respectively. Hakkaku's 60th birthday was on 22 June, but he elected to hold the ''kanreki dohyō-iri'' in September to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the founding of his stable.
*4: Hakuōhō withdraws from the upcoming September tournament after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder on 31 August. Hakuōhō had been experiencing problems with his shoulder since the conclusion of the July tournament, and had withdrawn from the entirety of the summer regional tours. Reports suggest he may need the rest of the year to fully recover.
*7: The Sumo Association announces the retirement of Sendagawa '' oyakata''. The former Tōki competed in professional sumo from 1991 until 2006, and reached the fourth-highest rank of '' komusubi'' in September 2003. At the time of his retirement he was working in various departments within the Sumo Association, including as a ringside judge.
*8: Terunofuji withdraws from the September tournament. It is his seventh '' kyūjō'' since being promoted to the '' yokozuna'' rank two years ago.
*12: Former ''maegashira'' and ''makuuchi'' championship winner Tokushōryū retires at the age of 37, after a 14-year career. He succeeds the recently retired Tōki by using the Sendagawa name in his stable to become coach.
*24: '' Ōzeki'' Takakeishō (11–4) defeats 21-year-old Atamifuji (11–4) in a playoff to win his fourth championship in the top division. Competing at '' maegashira'' 15, Atamifuji became one of the September tournament's headliners, holding a two-win advantage after 11 days of competition before consecutive defeats. Entering the final day with a one-win advantage, Atamifuji could have won the '' yūshō'' outright with a victory, but was defeated by former ''ōzeki'' Asanoyama (9–6). Meanwhile, four others–Takakeishō, Daieishō, Takayasu and Hokuseihō–all entered the final day just one win behind at 10–4, with up to three of them potentially facing Atamifuji in the playoff. Takakeishō, who already had enough wins to avoid demotion, defeated Daieishō (10–5) in their scheduled match by rear pushout. Takayasu (10–5) was defeated by ''ōzeki'' Kirishima (9–6), who also avoided relegation, while Hokuseihō (10–5) lost to Hōshōryū (8–7), who barely secured a winning record in his debut at sumo's second-highest rank. This set up the playoff between Takakeishō and Atamifuji, in which the 27-year-old ''ōzeki''–who had defeated Atamifuji two days earlier–quickly stepped to the side at the '' tachi-ai'' and slapped his opponent to the ground. Takakeishō, who called Atamifuji a "young, wonderful talent," is the fourth wrestler to win the top-division championship with four losses since the six-tournament system was introduced in 1949. With the tournament results Atamifuji is the only wrestler to take home a special prize, receiving the ''Kantō-shō'' (Fighting Spirit prize).
In the second-highest '' jūryō'' division, the winner is former top-division competitor Ichiyamamoto (13–2). The runner-up is new ''jūryō'' competitor and former amateur ''yokozuna'' Ōnosato, who earned 12 victories in his third professional tournament.
*27: The Sumo Association holds a meeting to set the '' banzuke'' (rankings) for the next tournament in November and announces three promotions to ''jūryō''. Newly promoted to sumo's second highest rank is . The 26-year-old entered sumo in 2021 after officials waived the maximum age limit for him to compete professionally. After winning the '' jonidan'' championship in his second career tournament, he was sidelined for half a year due to a neck injury. He then won three more lower-division championships–most recently the title in '' makushita''. Two other wrestlers are promoted back to ''jūryō'' after having just been demoted: former top-division competitor Hidenoumi, who has not returned to '' makuuchi'' since his January 2022 suspension for participation in illegal gambling, and nine-year sumo competitor .
*28: The Sumo Association announces that it will change the ''tsukedashi'' qualification system for top college and university sumo competitors. The top 8 finishers in designated tournaments will be uniformly given the lowest ''makushita'' rank, while those who finish in 9th-16th place in such tournaments will be given the lowest ''sandanme'' rank. It is also announced that two high school tournaments will be eligible for the ''tsukedashi'' system, with the top four finishers in the National High School Championship and the National Athletic Meet for high school boys offered the lowest ''sandanme'' rank. With this, the current qualifications for ''makushita tsukedashi'' 10–a system that has promoted only Kiyoseumi, Endō, Mitakeumi and Ōnosato since its introduction in 2001–and ''makushita tsukedashi'' 15–a promotion system whose four latest beneficiaries are Ōshōma, Kihō, Hakuōhō and Ōnokatsu–will be abolished.
Additionally, the Sumo Association announces changes regarding the height and weight requirements for new sumo recruits. Under the new standards, prospective recruits that do not meet the minimums of and can still qualify to enter professional sumo by passing a physical fitness exam.
Promotions are announced for '' gyōji'' (sumo referees) effective 25 December, the date that the January 2024 '' banzuke'' will be published. The current 41st Shikimori Inosuke, Hideki Imaoka, will be promoted to become the 38th Kimura Shōnosuke, marking the first time in 8 years that the upper of the two ''tate-gyōji'' ranks will be used. Imaoka is expected to hold his new title until September 2024, when he reaches sumo's mandatory retirement age of 65. Also, the current Kimura Hisanosuke, Toshikazu Hata, will be promoted to the ''san'yaku-gyōji'' rank. At the same time, promotions for '' yobidashi'' (ushers) are also announced. Jirō ( Kasugano stable) becomes, by jumping two ranks, the first ''tate-yobidashi'' (chief ''yobidashi'') promoted since October 2019. Katsuyuki ( Shibatayama stable) is promoted to the second rank of the hierarchy by becoming ''fuku-tate-yobidashi'' (deputy chief).
*29: The 6th Kimura Tamajirō, Masashi Takeda, submits his retirement papers to the Sumo Association ending a 47-year career. The 62-year-old, who was ranked just below the current Shikimori Inosuke, was not included in the list of promoted '' gyōji'' announced the day before.
*30: The '' danpatsu-shiki'' (retirement ceremony) of Okinoumi is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.

October

*1: The '' danpatsu-shiki'' (retirement ceremony) of Kaisei is held before invited guests at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.
*2: '' Ōzeki'' Kirishima wins the annual All Japan Rikishi Tournament, a one-day single-elimination tournament held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.
*24: Kokonoe (former ''ōzeki'' Chiyotakai) is suspended for an undetermined amount of time after an underage '' makushita'' wrestler from his stable got drunk earlier in the month during the autumn regional tour. The wrestler in question is also suspended, and those involved in the drinking spree are expelled from the tour along with Kokonoe. A second wrestler from the stable is suspended the following day. Two days after the initial suspensions were announced, the Sumo Association sends warnings to all stables and calls for thorough measures to prevent drinking and smoking by those under the legal age of 20.
*30: The Sumo Association releases the '' banzuke'' for the November 2023 tournament in Fukuoka. There are no changes to the top three ranks of '' yokozuna'', '' ōzeki'' and '' sekiwake''. Two wrestlers are promoted again to the fourth-highest rank of '' komusubi'': Abi, who had just been demoted from that rank in September, and Hokutofuji, who returns to the '' san'yaku'' ranks for the first time since March 2020. For the first time in 10 years there are four new promotions from '' jūryō'' to '' makuuchi''. 2018 All Japan Student Sumo champion Tōhakuryū is the first ''makuuchi'' competitor from Tamanoi stable since 2013. With three lower-division championships, Churanoumi becomes the fifth top-division competitor from Okinawa Prefecture in the post-war era. Rōga, who won consecutive '' jonokuchi'' and '' jonidan'' championships in 2019, becomes the sixth ''makuuchi'' competitor from Russia and the first for stablemaster Futagoyama (former '' ōzeki'' Miyabiyama). Kitanowaka, whose 23rd birthday will fall on the first day of the November tournament, is Hakkaku stable's first top-division promotion in seven years. Additionally, two others return to the ''makuuchi'' ranks: Ichiyamamoto, who spent the last two tournaments in ''jūryō'' and had just won the September championship in that division, and Tomokaze, who competed in five tournaments in 2019 at the top division before a knee injury and subsequent recovery resulted in his demotion to ''jonidan''.
The unveiling of the ''banzuke'' is also an occasion for change in the sumo world. Kasugano stable ends its 56-year continuous presence of one of its wrestlers in the ''makuuchi'' division with the demotion of Bulgarian Aoiyama to the ''jūryō'' division. Saitama Prefecture also becomes the second prefecture in sumo history, after Aomori, to have three native wrestlers ranked in the '' san'yaku'' ranks with Daieishō, Abi and Hokutofuji.

The autumn '' jungyō'' (regional tours) were held at the following locations:
*4: Ōta, Tokyo
*6: Matsumoto, Nagano
*7: Kōfu, Yamanashi
*9: Isehara, Kanagawa
*11: Chichibu, Saitama
*12: Yaizu, Shizuoka
*13: Nishio, Aichi
*14: Kasugai, Aichi
*15: Ōbu, Aichi
*17: Tajimi, Gifu
*18: Ōtsu, Shiga
*19: Kyoto
*20: Sakurai, Nara
*21: Wakayama
*22: Takamatsu
*23: Tokushima
*24: Kōchi
*25: Okayama
*26: Izumo, Shimane
*27: Maniwa, Okayama
*28: Hiroshima
*29: Kadoma, Osaka

November

*9: Terunofuji withdraws from the upcoming November tournament, marking his eighth absence since being promoted to the rank of '' yokozuna''. He finishes 2023 having fully competed in just one of the year's six grand sumo tournaments–the May tournament, which he won.
*10: Former '' ōzeki'' and current top rank-and-filer Asanoyama announces he will sit out the start of the November tournament due to slow recovery of his left calf muscle, which had been torn last month during the regional tours. Asanoyama would eventually enter the tournament on Day 8, defeating '' ōzeki'' Takakeishō in his first match.
*21: '' Maegashira'' Kotoekō withdraws on Day 10 of the November tournament due to an injury to his left MCL, ending his streak of 1,043 consecutive sumo matches since beginning his career in 2007.
*22: '' Maegashira'' and former '' sekiwake'' Takanoshō pulls out on Day 11 of the November tournament after appearing to suffer an injury to his right knee in his Day 10 match against Myōgiryū. His medical certificate reported a damaged right meniscus and ACL.
*26: Mongolian '' ōzeki'' Kirishima (13–2) wins his second career top-division championship at the November 2023 sumo tournament in Fukuoka. Kirishima and Atamifuji opened up a two-win advantage on their competitors after 12 days, the latter being one of the tournament's main '' yūshō'' challengers for the second straight time. Kirishima defeated Atamifuji in their Day 14 contest, and officially locked up his second '' makuuchi'' title when Atamifuji lost his scheduled Day 15 bout to '' sekiwake'' Kotonowaka. In the final bout of the tournament, Kirishima beat fellow ''ōzeki'' Takakeishō. While September champion Takakeishō failed in his bid for '' yokozuna'' promotion with a 9–6 record, Kirishima will now seek ascension to sumo's highest rank at the next tournament in January. The Sumo Association hands out three ''Kantō-shō'' (Fighting Spirit) special prizes to the three runner-ups, all finishing at 11–4: Atamifuji, Kotonowaka and Ichiyamamoto. Despite sitting out the beginning of the July tournament, Kirishima finishes 2023 with 62 victories, the most in the top division.
The championship in the '' jūryō'' division goes to former '' maegashira'' Kotoshōhō (12–3), who defeats 23-year-old '' tsukedashi'' entrant Ōnosato (12–3) in a playoff. With his third title in the second-highest division, Kotoshōhō–the top-ranked ''jūryō'' competitor–appears likely to return to the top division in January.
*27: ''Yokozuna'' Terunofuji–who competed in just one full tournament in 2023–is requested by the Yokozuna Deliberation Council to compete at the next tournament in January. The council indicated that they would make a comment should Terunofuji not compete, which could including issuing a formal notice.
*29: The Sumo Association holds its ranking meeting and announces four promotions from '' makushita'' to '' jūryō'' for January. Two wrestlers reach '' sekitori'' status for the very first time. 24-year-old Takerufuji is from Aomori and is a graduate of Tottori Jōhoku High School and Nihon University, with two lower-division championships since starting sumo at the end of last year; to date he has won 43 of his 49 professional matches. 22-year-old Ishikawa native also has two lower-division championships, registering winning records in all tournaments since returning from a shoulder ligament injury in July 2022. 12-year sumo veteran returns to the second-highest division after just having been demoted to ''makushita'', while returns for the first time in five tournaments.

December

*18: One day after the death of former '' sekiwake'' Terao, coach Tatsutagawa (former ''komusubi'' Hōmashō) announces his intention to inherit the Shikoroyama '' toshiyori'' and stable. On 28 December, the Sumo Association announced that Tatsutagawa became acting master of the stable in charge of managing and supervising wrestlers.
*25: The Sumo Association releases the official rankings for the January 2024 tournament. The '' san'yaku'' ranks see the promotion of Ura, who reaches a career best with his elevation to '' komusubi''. Joining Ura at sumo's fourth-highest rank is veteran and former '' ōzeki'' Takayasu, who returns to ''san'yaku'' for the first time since last January's tournament. September and November top division runner-up Atamifuji is promoted to a personal best for his recent efforts, reaching the top of the '' maegashira'' ladder. Two wrestlers are promoted to the '' makuuchi'' division for the first time: 23-year-old Ōnosato, who becomes the first top-division competitor for Nishonoseki stable under the 72nd '' yokozuna'' Kisenosato, and 27-year-old Shimazuumi, the first ''makuuchi'' wrestler for Hanaregoma stable since being taken over by former ''sekiwake'' Tamanoshima. Three wrestlers return to the top division: Kotoshōhō, who had just been demoted in November and won the championship in '' jūryō'', Bushōzan, who returns after three tournaments, and former ''sekiwake'' Aoiyama, who won 8 matches at the top ''jūryō'' rank in November.
On the same day 36-year-old Mongolian Azumaryū, having just been demoted out of ''sekitori'' status, retires from professional sumo. The former ''maegashiras retirement ends a 15-year career in which he spent 11 tournaments in the top division.
*27: The Sumo Association approves the 71st '' yokozuna'' Kakuryū's acquisition of the Otowayama elder stock previously held by former ''maegashira'' Tenkaihō. The former Kakuryū will branch off from Michinoku stable to form his own stable, Otowayama stable. It is also announced that two coaches in Sakaigawa stable will swap elder stock, with former ''maegashira'' Hōchiyama becoming Dekiyama-'' oyakata'' and former ''maegashira'' Sadanofuji becoming Furiwake-''oyakata''.

The winter '' jungyō'' (regional tours) were held at the following locations:

*3: Yatsushiro, Kumamoto
*4: Kikuyō, Kumamoto
*5: Miyazaki
*6: Ōita
*8: Kasuga, Fukuoka
*9: Sasebo, Nagasaki
*10: Ōmura, Nagasaki
*12: Matsuyama, Ehime
*15: Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima
*16: Fukuyama, Hiroshima
*17: Sakai, Osaka
*19: Habikino, Osaka
*20: Amagasaki, Hyōgo
*24: Tochigi

Deaths

*2 April: Former '' maegashira'' Asaarashi, aged 79, of a heart attack.
*22 June: Sōkichi Kumagai, the 27th Kimura Shōnosuke ('' tate-gyōji''), aged 97, of natural causes.
*2 November: Former '' ōzeki'' Asashio IV, aged 67, of small intestine cancer.
*17 December: Former '' sekiwake'' Terao, aged 60, of arrhythmia.

See also

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

References

{{Years in sumo

Sumo by year
Sumo
2023 sport-related lists