The Banzuke is released and sumo is right around the corner. While you wait for the actual sumo to start on July 14th, sign up for Fantasy Basho on Fantasizr and check out thrip review of all 42 Makuuchi rikishi below.
01 Yokozuna East Terunofuji
Terunofuji Haruo | 照ノ富士 春雄
Isegahama | Mongolia
Birthdate: November 29, 1991
Height: 192 cm | 6' 4""
Weight: 174 kg | 384 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Yokozuna East
Natsu 2024 Record: 0-2-13
The Yokozuna lasted exactly one match in May, bowing out on Day Two with what was officially cited as a rib problem AND a knee issue. As it turned out, losing to Onosato actually wasn't an embarassment. Terunofuji was just clearly hurting too bad to continue. Maybe he'll be better by Nagoya, but no one should count on it.
02 Ozeki #1 East Kotozakura
Kotozakura Masahiro | 琴櫻 傑太
Sadogatake | Chiba
Birthdate: November 19, 1997
Height: 189 cm | 6' 2""
Weight: 176 kg | 388 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Ozeki #1 West
Natsu 2024 Record: 11-4 Jun Yusho
As an Ozeki, Kotozakura has a 21-9 record. That is befittingly solid, and his fundamentals make him impossible to dominate. His lack of spectacularity limits his ability to dominate sometimes, but he is one of the yusho contenders and seems like he will be for awhile.
03 Ozeki #1 West Hoshoryu
Hoshoryu Tomokatsu | 豊昇龍 智勝
Tatsunami | Mongolia
Birthdate: May 22, 1999
Height: 188 cm | 6' 2""
Weight: 142 kg | 313 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Ozeki #1 East
Natsu 2024 Record: 10-5
Hoshoryu went 10-5, a perfectly respectable record for an Ozeki, which included beating Yusho winner Onosato. He also lost his first two matches and his final match to Kotozakura, a matchup to determine which Ozeki got a Jun-Yusho. Hoshoryu is able to beat anyone at his best, but also seems unable to keep up his best over 15 days right now.
04 Ozeki #2 West Takakeisho
Takakeisho Takanobu | 貴景勝 貴信
Tokiwayama | Hyogo
Birthdate: August 5, 1996
Height: 175 cm | 5' 9""
Weight: 165 kg | 364 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Ozeki #2 East
Natsu 2024 Record: 0-2-13
The injury bug hit Takakeisho once again, and he will have another basho as a kadoban Ozeki. His pattern has been to recover just enough to get a winning record and keep his rank. That can't continue forever, and the cumulative inuuries are clearly already taking a toll.
05 Sekiwake #1 East Abi
Abi Masatora | 阿炎 政虎
Shikoroyama | Saitama
Birthdate: May 4, 1994
Height: 186 cm | 6' 1""
Weight: 158 kg | 348 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Sekiwake West
Natsu 2024 Record: 10-5
5-4 after 9 matches, Abi put himself on the fringes of contention with a five match winning streak. On Day 15, he had a chance to create playoff chaos by beating Onosato. He didn't, but Abi did get 10 wins and a chance to stay at Sekiwake for another tournament.
06 Sekiwake #1 West Onosato
Onosato Daiki | 大の里 泰輝
Nishonoseki | Ishikawa
Birthdate: June 7, 2000
Height: 192 cm | 6' 4""
Weight: 177 kg | 390 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Komusubi West
Natsu 2024 Record: 12-3 Yusho; Outstanding Performance; Technique Prize
Onosato took control of the basho in just his third top division tournament, winning 12 matches, two Special Prizes, and most importantly the Emperor's Cup. His Makuuchi record is now 34-11, with one Yusho, one Jun-Yusho, and five Special Prizes. His ceiling is ""best rikishi in sumo,"" and it feels like a matter of time until he reaches it.
07 Sekiwake #2 East Kirishima
Kirishima Tetsuo | 霧島 鐵雄
Otowayama | Mongolia
Birthdate: April 24, 1996
Height: 186 cm | 6' 1""
Weight: 143 kg | 315 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Ozeki #2 West
Natsu 2024 Record: 1-6-8
Kirishima looked awful at the start of the tournament, but he eventually went out with neck pain. That is the exact kind of injury that can feel good enough in training, but impacts a wrestler's ability to be 100% in top matches. If Kirishima finds his fitness, he could return to the form that made him the best rikishi in sumo in 2023.
08 Komusubi East Daieisho
Daieisho Hayato | 大栄翔 勇人
Oitekaze | Saitama
Birthdate: November 10, 1993
Height: 182 cm | 6' 0""
Weight: 164 kg | 362 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #1 West
Natsu 2024 Record: 11-4, Jun-Yusho
Daieisho dropped out of Sanyaku for the first time in over a year, and he earned himself a Jun-Yusho. He is already 30, reliant on pushing almost exclusively, and he has never quite been good enough for Ozeki. Don't let that blind you to the fact that he has regularly had winning records against the toughest schedule possible. 10 wins could be his again back in Sanyaku.
09 Komusubi West Hiradoumi
Hiradoumi Yuki | 平戸海 雄貴
Sakaigawa | Nagasaki
Birthdate: April 20, 2000
Height: 177 cm | 5' 10""
Weight: 135 kg | 298 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #2 East
Natsu 2024 Record: 9-6
Hiradoumi is not often considered with the youth movement because of his smaller stature and lack of dominance compared to Onosato, Takerufuji, and Atamifuji. So let's recognize this is a 24 year old rikishi who is making his Sanyaku debut after four straight winning records. He's good and should get better.
10 Maegashira #1 East Meisei
Meisei Chikara | 明生 力
Tatsunami | Kagashima
Birthdate: July 24, 1995
Height: 180 cm | 5' 11""
Weight: 154 kg | 340 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #5 West
Natsu 2024 Record: 10-5
Meisei won 10 matches in May. He also only faced two Sanyaku men, losing to both Kotozakura and Abi. This probably does not bode well for his July, since he has moved up the Banzuke to where he will definitely face quite a few Sanyaku men.
11 Maegashira #1 West Atamifuji
Atamifuji Sakutaro | 熱海富士 朔太郎
Isegahama | Shizuoka
Birthdate: September 3, 2002
Height: 185 cm | 6' 1""
Weight: 176 kg | 388 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #1 East
Natsu 2024 Record: 7-8
Atamifuji's losing record pales in comparison to someone like Onosato (or Takerufuji's Yusho in March), but 7-8 at the top Maegashira slot is impressive. Atamifuji is eighteen months younger than Onosato and is hanging in with the top ranked men. He hasn't figured out quite how to use his physical gifts and abilities against men who are also huge and skilled. Good thing for him is he has time.
12 Maegashira #2 East Wakamotoharu
Wakamotoharu Minato | 若元春 港
Arashio | Fukushima
Birthdate: October 5, 1993
Height: 187 cm | 6' 2""
Weight: 147 kg | 324 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Sekiwake East
Natsu 2024 Record: 4-8-3
Wakamotoharu's return to Sekiwake was interrupted with a toe injury, which can't be fun in a sport where large barefoot men collide into each other. He missed Days 7 through 10, then came back and lost four of his last five. Maybe the time between basho has allowed his toe to heel and return him to form.
13 Maegashira #2 West Mitakeumi
Mitakeumi Hisashi | 御嶽海 久司
Dewanoumi | Nagano
Birthdate: December 25, 1992
Height: 179 cm | 5' 10""
Weight: 170 kg | 375 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #7 West
Natsu 2024 Record: 8-7
Mitakeumi's re-establishment as a solid Maegashira continued apace. As a former Ozeki, that is mildly disappointing, but he's still one of the best at keeping his match on his terms. He may only need an extra trick or two to keep things going for awhile.
14 Maegashira #3 East Takayasu
Takayasu Akira | 高安 晃
Tagonoura | Ibaraki
Birthdate: February 28, 1990
Height: 188 cm | 6' 2""
Weight: 183 kg | 403 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #3 East
Natsu 2024 Record: 7-3-5
When he competed, Takayasu was nearly untouchable. The problem was that Takayasu did not compete all 15 days, After Day Twelve, he was undefeated on the dohyo despite only having six wins total. It was like May was a perfect representation of post-Ozeki Takayasu--dominant when he can actually make it to the dohyo.
15 Maegashira #3 West Gonoyama
Gonoyama Toki | 豪ノ山 登輝
Takekuma | Osaka
Birthdate: April 7, 1998
Height: 177 cm | 5' 10""
Weight: 154 kg | 340 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #2 West
Natsu 2024 Record: 6-9
Gonoyama seems to still have trouble sorting out the higher end of the Banzuke. He never really got himself going at Maegashira #2, and his quick-hard-shove sumo probably needs a better plan B than he currently owns. At least against most Maegashira, his Plan A often succeeds.
16 Maegashira #4 East Tobizaru
Tobizaru Masaya | 翔猿 正也
Oitekaze | Tokyo
Birthdate: April 24, 1992
Height: 174 cm | 5' 9""
Weight: 135 kg | 298 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #3 West
Natsu 2024 Record: 6-9
The Flying Monkey's 6-9 wasn't even as good as that record sounds, since he had a fusensho over Kirishima and beat Maegashira #12 and #13 in the last three days. He also beat Abi on Day One, so at least he showed anything can still happen in his matches.
17 Maegashira #4 West Ura
Ura Kazuki | 宇良 和輝
Kise | Osaka
Birthdate: June 22, 1992
Height: 175 cm | 5' 9""
Weight: 143 kg | 315 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #4 West
Natsu 2024 Record: 7-8
The Pink Prince of Technique got a bare make-koshi, so he continues to fall further away from the joi. Not facing the top tankers is probably best for Ura. He can unleash the spectacular, but he can also get overwhelmed by speed and strength.
18 Maegashira #5 East Onosho
Onosho Fumiya | 阿武咲 奎也
Onomatsu | Aomori
Birthdate: July 4, 1996
Height: 177 cm | 5' 10""
Weight: 165 kg | 364 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #5 East
Natsu 2024 Record: 7-8
Onosho has become a guy who can hang around mid-Maegashira. He'll beat a lot of fellow Maegashira on his day, but can also be guided forward and over too easily. Of course, hanging around .500 does mean lucking in to a few extra wins over 15 matches occasionally.
19 Maegashira #5 West Shonannoumi
Shonannoumi Momotaro | 湘南乃海 桃太郎
Takadagawa | Kanagawa
Birthdate: April 8, 1998
Height: 193 cm | 6' 4""
Weight: 186 kg | 410 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #10 East
Natsu 2024 Record: 9-6
Shonannoumi was the actual yusho leader after Day Eleven. He then lost his last four matches to fall off the pace. But it did show his growth into a guy who knows how to use his size and strength to beat other Maegashira, and that part should continue in the next few basho.
20 Maegashira #6 East Takanosho
Takanosho Nobuaki | 隆の勝 伸明
Tokiwayama | Chiba
Birthdate: November 14, 1994
Height: 183 cm | 6' 0""
Weight: 170 kg | 375 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #8 East
Natsu 2024 Record: 8-7
Takanosho was 0-4 and 2-6 during this basho, yet somehow wound up with a winning record. He's approaching his 30th birthday, and his Sanyaku days have been behind him for awhile. Yet obviously he can still put together a run when he gets on form.
21 Maegashira #6 West Oho
Oho Konosuke | 王鵬 幸之介
Otake | Tokyo
Birthdate: February 14, 2000
Height: 190 cm | 6' 3""
Weight: 179 kg | 395 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #4 East
Natsu 2024 Record: 6-9
Oho continues to struggle in upper Maegashira. There's a really good rikishi in here, but he seems to be a second slower than opponents. Largely, that seems to be working out how he should approach a situation. Maybe he'll learn what his best plan of attack is and go with it.
22 Maegashira #7 East Kotoshoho
Kotoshoho Yoshinari | 琴勝峰 吉成
Sadogatake | Chiba
Birthdate: August 26, 1999
Height: 191 cm | 6' 3""
Weight: 161 kg | 355 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #8 West
Natsu 2024 Record: 8-7
As usual, an 8-7 from Kotoshoho hardly reflects actual consistency. He lost his first three matches and his last three matches around an 8-1 stretch. When he keeps his feet set, he's as good as anyone. His Makuuchi record shows that he doesn't always do that.
23 Maegashira #7 West Sadanoumi
Sadanoumi Takashi | 佐田の海 貴士
Sakaigawa | Kumamoto
Birthdate: May 11, 1987
Height: 182 cm | 6' 0""
Weight: 142 kg | 313 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #11 East
Natsu 2024 Record: 9-6
Sadanoumi got 9 wins, and all were legitimate--no fusensho. The veteran did manage it without facing anyone ranked above Maegashira #7, however. Still, he's 37, and 100% knows exactly what he is doing out there.
24 Maegashira #8 East Ryuden
Ryuden Goshi | 竜電 剛至
Takadagawa | Yamanashi
Birthdate: November 10, 1990
Height: 188 cm | 6' 2""
Weight: 155 kg | 342 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #14 East
Natsu 2024 Record: 10-5
It felt somewhat inevitable that Ryuden got 10 wins while languishing at Maegashira #14. He is an odd rikishi, weirdly slow and with long arms he seems most comfortable wrapping around his opponent in some strange position. But he's used to it, and infrequent opponents just aren't.
25 Maegashira #8 West Kinbozan
Kinbozan Haruki | 金峰山 晴樹
Kise | Kazakhstan
Birthdate: June 24, 1997
Height: 192 cm | 6' 4""
Weight: 181 kg | 399 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #10 West
Natsu 2024 Record: 8-7
Kinbozan is big even for sumo, but he's not giant for sumo. That has been the Kazakh's problem on the dohyo. He can beat the smaller rikishi but seems to have few plans against men of his own size and little ability to make adjustments. Yet he also knows how to apply his size and it worked just enough in May.
26 Maegashira #9 East Oshoma
Oshoma Degi | 欧勝馬 出気
Naruto | Mongolia
Birthdate: April 9, 1997
Height: 187 cm | 6' 2""
Weight: 132 kg | 291 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #14 West
Natsu 2024 Record: 10-5
Oshoma made a splash in his Makuuchi debut at the Natsu basho with 10 wins and a Fighting Spriit Prize. He is 27 years old and a hatakikomi specialist of all things, so his ceiling might be limited. He has definitely proven he can handle Makuuchi.
27 Maegashira #9 West Tamawashi
Tamawashi Ichiro | 玉鷲 一朗
Kataonami | Mongolia
Birthdate: November 16, 1984
Height: 189 cm | 6' 2""
Weight: 174 kg | 384 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #9 East
Natsu 2024 Record: 7-8
No, Tamawashi did not get a winning record again, but he doesn't fall far. So he is still on track to make it to November's Kyushu basho (and his 40th birthday) as a Maegashira. He'll keep taking a nodowa to an opponent and keep it up.
28 Maegashira #10 East Shodai
Shodai Naoya | 正代 直也
Tokitsukaze | Kumamoto
Birthdate: November 5, 1991
Height: 184 cm | 6' 0""
Weight: 161 kg | 355 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #9 West
Natsu 2024 Record: 7-8
Shodai still looks like Shodai, just in the ""why can't this guy win more?"" version from before his Ozeki promotion rather than how he looked during his Ozeki run. He is awkward, out of sorts, and yet also able beat someone with a special combination of strength and skill.
29 Maegashira #10 West Midorifuji
Midorifuji Kazunari | 翠富士 一成
Isegahama | Shizuoka
Birthdate: August 30, 1996
Height: 171 cm | 5' 7""
Weight: 116 kg | 256 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #6 West
Natsu 2024 Record: 5-10
Midorifuji only collected 5 wins during May's tournament, after losing records in January and March. He is a strange rikishi, small for sumo, but also not especially fast. He is a master of the katasukashi, or under-shoulder swing down, but it appears rikishi can be ready to avoid that.
30 Maegashira #11 East Ichiyamamoto
Ichiyamamoto Daiki | 一山本 大生
Hanaregoma | Hokkaido
Birthdate: October 1, 1993
Height: 187 cm | 6' 2""
Weight: 144 kg | 317 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #12 East
Natsu 2024 Record: 8-7
Ichiyamamoto is keeping on keeping on with his two-arm thrusts as much and fast as possible brand of sumo. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, and he usually can't go that far. But boy, is it fun to watch.
31 Maegashira #11 West Nishikigi
Nishikigi Tetsuya | 錦木 徹也
Isenoumi | Iwate
Birthdate: August 25, 1990
Height: 185 cm | 6' 1""
Weight: 180 kg | 397 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #7 East
Natsu 2024 Record: 5-10
Nishikigi's late-career renaissance may be coming to an end. He is looking increasingly overwhelmed by more athletic opponents. Of course, everyone in Makuuchi always seemed to be more athletic and Nishikigi just bottled them up and worked them out. Maybe he can still get back to it.
32 Maegashira #12 East Asanoyama
Asanoyama Hiroki | 朝乃山 広暉
Takasago | Toyama
Birthdate: March 1, 1994
Height: 189 cm | 6' 2""
Weight: 168 kg | 370 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Komusubi East
Natsu 2024 Record: 0-0-15
Asanoyama sat out the entirety of the May basho with an MCL problem, which doesn't seem like a small injury. Yet he also was supposed to only need three weeks to heal and be ready for July. We shall see, but his hopes of returning to Ozeki are getting slimmer and slimmer with each passing basho.
33 Maegashira #12 West Churanoumi
Churanoumi Yoshihisa | 美ノ海 義久
Kise | Okinawa
Birthdate: May 6, 1993
Height: 176 cm | 5' 9""
Weight: 130 kg | 287 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #13 West
Natsu 2024 Record: 8-7
After two 7-8s, Churanoumi reversed that record in May for second Makuuchi winning record. Churanoumi is more functional than fantastic, but he's kept his Makuuchi status for four basho now. He's now out of immediate Juryo-drop-danger.
34 Maegashira #13 East Hokutofuji
Hokutofuji Daiki | 北勝富士 大輝
Hakkaku | Saitama
Birthdate: July 15, 1992
Height: 184 cm | 6' 0""
Weight: 158 kg | 348 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #11 West
Natsu 2024 Record: 7-8
Hokutofuji will turn 32 in the basho, and he has a varied injury history. He is likely on the downside of his career. He also still has good size and a tough pushing style that makes it unpleasant for any opponent.
35 Maegashira #13 West Takarafuji
Takarafuji Daisuke | 宝富士 大輔
Isegahama | Aomori
Birthdate: February 18, 1987
Height: 186 cm | 6' 1""
Weight: 171 kg | 377 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #16 West
Natsu 2024 Record: 9-6
Takarafuji returned to the top division after a one-basho trip to Juryo and reclaimed his place. Perhaps it was the decade-plus experience in Makuuchi or maybe just luck, but he's got a cushion before a Juryo drop. He will certainly not beat himself.
36 Maegashira #14 East Wakatakakage
Wakatakakage Atsushi | 若隆景 渥
Arashio | Fukushima
Birthdate: December 6, 1994
Height: 182 cm | 6' 0""
Weight: 132 kg | 291 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Juryo #6 West
Natsu 2024 Record: 14-1
Wakatakakage fell from Sekiwake after a terrible knee injury in March 2023. Returning to the dohyo last November,he now has a Makushita and a Juryo yusho. That last one was a 14-1 in May. Is he ready for Makuuchi? Is Makuuchi ready for him again?
37 Maegashira #14 West Endo
Endo Shota | 遠藤 聖大
Oitekaze | Ishikawa
Birthdate: October 19, 1990
Height: 184 cm | 6' 0""
Weight: 150 kg | 331 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Juryo #3 East
Natsu 2024 Record: 12-3
Remember the Endo who was a master technician that could handle any kind of match? He got 12 wins in Juryo in May! The question remains if he can do that bouncing back to Makuuchi, but it would be fun if he could.
38 Maegashira #15 East Chiyoshoma
Chiyoshoma Fujio | 千代翔馬 富士雄
Kokonoe | Mongolia
Birthdate: July 20, 1991
Height: 184 cm | 6' 0""
Weight: 137 kg | 302 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Juryo #3 East
Natsu 2024 Record: 12-3
Chiyoshoma's back! The Henka Master is turning 32 in the tournament and has been alternating stretches between Makuuchi and Juryo for the last few years. So who knows what he's going to do in Nagoya after 12 (!) wins in May.
39 Maegashira #15 West Roga
Roga Tokiyoshi | 狼雅 外喜義
Futagoyama | Russia
Birthdate: March 2, 1999
Height: 185 cm | 6' 1""
Weight: 154 kg | 340 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #15 West
Natsu 2024 Record: 7-8
Roga is somewhere between the 35th and 45th best rikishi in sumo, so he is right on the line between Makuuchi and Juryo. He got a losing record in Makuuchi in May, but at 7-8 that allowed him to stay in the top division. Barely.
40 Maegashira #16 East Kagayaki
Kagayaki Taishi | 輝 大士
Takadagawa | Ishikawa
Birthdate: June 1, 1994
Height: 193 cm | 6' 4""
Weight: 156 kg | 344 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Juryo #5 East
Natsu 2024 Record: 11-4
Kagayaki was a Makuuchi mainstay, but has become a yo-yo competitor in recent years. His May featured an 11 win performance, but he's mostly been middling of late.
41 Maegashira #16 West Bushozan
Bushozan Kotaro | 武将山 虎太郎
Fujishima | Ibaraki
Birthdate: December 6, 1995
Height: 171 cm | 5' 7""
Weight: 171 kg | 377 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Juryo #2 East
Natsu 2024 Record: 9-6
Bushozan has popped back up for a fourth chance at Makuuchi. In his previous three Maegashira basho, he has won 5, 4, and 3 matches. So even his best top-division performance ever might not keep him up."
42 Maegashira #17 East Nishikifuji
Nishikifuji Ryusei | 錦富士 隆聖
Isegahama | Aomori
Birthdate: July 22, 1996
Height: 184 cm | 6' 0""
Weight: 149 kg | 328 lbs
Natsu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #12 West
Natsu 2024 Record: 5-10
Nishikifuji just survived by a hair's breadth, largely because there weren't quite 42 men who deserved to be ranked higher. He did not do well in May, and despite being above average in height, he often seems small on the dohyo. He possibly needs to reinvent his sumo to remain in Maegashira.
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