Sumo avoids chasm at top with yokozuna promotion

Congratulations to Hoshoryu!

His three-consecutive victories on Sunday were certainly thrilling, and his yokozuna promotion will continue the streak of foreign-born wrestlers continuously holding the yokozuna rank since March 1993.

Hoshoryu’s final bout on Sunday was against Oho, repeatedly described by NHK and print media as “the 24-year-old grandson of former yokozuna Taiho.”

Sumo followers have noted how NHK commentators and print media are going to extremes to describe Oho as the grandson of former yokozuna Taiho instead of the son of his own father, former sekiwake Takatoriki, who won the spring 2000 tournament and had seven victories over former yokozuna Akebono. 

Why? Well, Takatoriki was dismissed from the Japan Sumo Association (JSA) in 2010 for his role in an illegal gambling scandal and has since started his own YouTube channel, on which he not only offers sumo insights but also frequently criticizes the JSA. 

However, if DNA is important, Oho has significantly more DNA from his father than his grandfather.

Known as the bad boy of sumo, Asashoryu frequently clashed with the sport's authorities …. He was forced to retire in 2010 after breaking a man's nose in a drunken brawl outside a Tokyo nightclub.

Similarly, we often see Hoshoryu compared to his ill-behaved uncle Asashoryu.

But Hoshoryu, like Oho, is his own man with his own journey.

Congrats again, Hoshoryu! Looking forward to seeing how your journey plays out.

Hoshoryu has a grand aura of confidence he carries into his matches. It intimidate the opposition which are mostly heavier but with opponents smaller he show great respect after the bout which is void with bigger opponents.

Big up to Yokozuna Hoshoryu!

With two tournament wins, he is still learning and improving all the time - which is expected of a Yokozuna. . But if he works hard he will be very successful.

If he ends up even half as skilful as his uncle, Hoshoryu will do his new rank justice.

What a relief

There was no reason to rush this promotion but the Yokozuna Deliberation Council did anyway.

@deanzaZZR--no reason? Having no yokozuna for the first time in forever is a major reason. It would be like NPB saying they could not decide who should win the annual MVP award. Fans would be incensed at that kind of dithering attitude.

The general rule is two consecutive championships. Exceptions have been made for a championship followed by an impressive runner-up finish like Terunofuji did losing the last match of the tournament to Hakuho to finish 14-1.

I understand the business side of wanting a Yokozuna but I thought we loved sumo for its tradition and values not dollars and yen.

As Asiaman7 points out, the three victories on the final day must have ended most doubts among the judges. I am glad to see their flexibility in awarding promotion based on an extaordinary effort in one tournament. And a good incentive for the other rikishi to keep plugging away.

Congratulations Hoshoryu, for a well deserved promotion. Please, keep it up.

There is a slight element of risk, sure, but on balance a gamble they must be willing to take.

From what I have seen of his drive, his energy, his attitude and his technique, Hoshoryu really does deserve this promotion. Good luck to him!

There was no reason to rush this promotion but the Yokozuna Deliberation Council did anyway.

I'd be stunned if there would be much opposition to Hoshoryus promotion. His utter dominance in the basho just past made him virtually impossible to ignore for the promotion to Yokozuna.

The journalists, scholars, professors, politicians, and company Presidents who make up the 9-person Yokozuna Deliberation Council absolutely know what they're doing here.

Good on ya, mate!

Except...they're not really "Grand Champions" anymore, are they? Yokozuna, like Ozeki, have seen their requirements for promotion steadily watered down over recent years.

I remember when a rikishi had to win back-to-back victories as Ozeki to be promoted to the top spot. No more. The last Yokozuna to be required to do that was...wait for it...Harumafuji, way back in 2012! From then on, "runner-up" plus a win started being the new "gold" standard (Kakuryu), and the Association was so desperate to finally have a Japanese Grand Champion again that they threw even that away for the utterly disappointing and unprepared Kisenosato. Terunofuji won back to back Yuushos, but the first was as Sekiwake, so he didn't get it until, suddenly, his next tourney "runner-up" status was enough to qualify?

As for Hoshoryu, his "qualifications" are sub-standard at best. Kachi-koshi records only in 2024 (never winning a single basho), a single victory in January and...he's "Grand Champion?"

LOL No. Nuh-uh.... And the lowering of standards continues....

@Hito Bito

As for Hoshoryu, his "qualifications" are sub-standard at best. Kachi-koshi records only in 2024 (never winning a single basho) …

You are mistaken. Hoshoryu has attained a “kachi-koshi” winning record in each of the last 19 consecutive tournaments stretching back to January 2022, winning the July 2023 and January 2025 bashos.

—

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C5%8Dsh%C5%8Dry%C5%AB_Tomokatsu

I enjoy the January tournament the last day was great theater. Congratulations Yokozuna Hoshoryu.

Congratulations Hoshoryu!

He (Asashyoru) was forced to retire in 2010 after breaking a man's nose in a drunken brawl outside a Tokyo nightclub.

Had forgotten this happened ;-

豊昇龍" (Hōshōryū) roughly = "豊" (Hō) "abundant" and "昇龍" (Shōryū) = "ascending dragon, coolest name ever or what?

Someone has been generously awarding minuses to posts which recognize Hoshoryu's abilities.

Why? Speak up! You all have a voice here!