January • 4: The
Japan Sumo Association (JSA) announces that
Tagonoura stable will withdraw from the January 2022 tournament after four individuals at the stable, including the stablemaster (former
maegashira Takanotsuru), test positive for
COVID-19. The announcement means that
makuuchi division competitor and former
ōzeki Takayasu will be unable to participate. • 7:
Maegashira Hidenoumi and
jūryō are interviewed by
Saitama Prefectural Police as part of an investigation into an
illegal gambling establishment in
Sōka that was
raided in September 2021. Both wrestlers were withdrawn from the January 2022 tournament in December. Media reports later suggest that prosecutors will likely not press charges against either of them. • 9:
Nishikido stable withdraws from the January 2022 tournament due to a COVID-19 case within the stable. A follow-up PCR test confirms that stablemaster Nishikido (former
sekiwake Mitoizumi) has contracted the virus. • 12:
Ōzeki Takakeishō withdraws from the January 2022 tournament after spraining his ankle in his Day 3 loss to
Ura. It is the eighth time in his career that he has had to pull out of a
basho. • 15: Japanese media outlets report that the Sumo Association's compliance committee, after holding hearings, concluded that Hidenoumi and Shiden participated in illegal gambling. The association's board of directors is expected to take up the issue at their meeting on 27 January. The committee's report recommends a suspension of one tournament for Hidenoumi and no suspension for Shiden, but the board could determine otherwise. • 22: The
penultimate day of the January 2022 tournament ends with four wrestlers —
yokozuna Terunofuji,
sekiwake Mitakeumi and
rank-and-filers Abi and
Kotonowaka — all in contention for the
Emperor's Cup. • 23:
Sekiwake Mitakeumi (13–2) claims his third career
yūshō in the top division after defeating
yokozuna Terunofuji (11–4) in the final match and also receives his third
Ginō-shō special prize for technique. His championship marks the first time since
2015 that the January yusho did not go to a first-time winner. With 33 victories in his last three tournaments, Mitakeumi meets the
de facto requirement for promotion to the second-highest rank of
ōzeki. Refereeing department chairman Isegahama (the 63rd
yokozuna Asahifuji) officially requested that the Sumo Association meet on 26 January to discuss Mitakeumi, making
ōzeki promotion all but certain. Meanwhile both of the current
ōzeki,
Shōdai (6–9) and
Takakeishō (1–3–11), will enter the March
basho at demotion-threatened
kadoban status. Tournament runner-up
Abi (12–3), who secured his sixth consecutive winning record since returning from suspension in March 2021 and picked up a
kinboshi against Terunofuji on Day 14, is awarded his first
Shukun-shō (Outstanding Performance prize).
Kotonowaka (11–4), eliminated from Emperor's Cup contention when he was defeated by Abi on Day 15, is awarded his first
Kantō-shō (Fighting Spirit prize). Former rank-and-filer
Kotoshōhō (11–4) wins the
jūryō division championship, eventually resulting in his return to
maegashira after one year. • 26: Mitakeumi's
ōzeki promotion is finalized by the Sumo Association. The 29-year-old is the sixth oldest
ōzeki in sumo history, as well as the first
ōzeki from
Nagano Prefecture in 227 years (since
Raiden Tameemon). In his customary acceptance speech, Mitakeumi said he would embrace gratitude, express his own style and devote himself to the way of sumo.Four promotions to
jūryō are announced. Newly promoted are 19-year-old
Atamifuji and 25-year-old
Shimazuumi. Atamifuji made his
professional debut in November 2020 and won the
jonokuchi and
jonidan championships in his first two tournaments. He advances to
sekitori after just seven
basho, all with
winning records. Shimazuumi entered sumo in 2012 and had been struggling in the lower divisions with various injuries. He is the first
sekitori for the
Hanaregoma stable under its new owner, former
sekiwake Tamanoshima. Returning to
jūryō is
Ryūden, who had been suspended for violating
COVID-19 protocols before returning to secure the November 2021
makushita championship. He has a combined record of 13-1 in his last two
basho.
Takakentō also returns to sumo's second-highest division after two tournaments at
makushita.51-year-old
Hanakaze is among the retirements announced by the Sumo Association. Having debuted at the age of 15 in 1986, he is the final sumo wrestler to retire from the
Shōwa Era. He competed in a total of 214 tournaments, but never rose above the third-lowest
sandanme division.The Sumo Association announces that
Kakuryū (the 71st
yokozuna) and one
gyōji have tested positive for
COVID-19. • 27: The Sumo Association's board of directors accepts the committee's report regarding illegal gambling by
maegashira Hidenoumi and
jūryō . Hidenoumi is handed a one-tournament suspension retroactive to the January 2022 tournament along with a 20% salary cut for two months. Shiden is not issued any formal suspension, but his
kyūjō from the January
basho will likely result in his demotion from
sekitori status and a loss of salary. Stablemaster Kise (former
maegashira Higonoumi) is handed a warning.Takekuma (former
ōzeki Gōeidō), whose
retirement ceremony is scheduled for 29 January, is approved to open a new stable,
Takekuma stable.Tomozuna (former
sekiwake Kyokutenhō) and Ōshima (former
sekiwake Kaiki) will swap
elder names, resulting in
Tomozuna stable being renamed Ōshima stable from 1 February.The Sumo Association announces it plans to increase the daily spectator limit for the May 2022 tournament at the
Ryōgoku Kokugikan to 9,265—or about 87% capacity—after submitting a
COVID-19 infection control and safety plan to the
Tokyo Metropolitan Government. • 30: The
retirement ceremony of Kiyomigata (former
sekiwake Tochiōzan) takes place at the Kokugikan, the day after the same ceremony was held for Takekuma (former
ōzeki Gōeidō). • 31: Five days after his promotion was finalized, the Sumo Association announces that new
ōzeki Mitakeumi has tested positive for COVID-19. Sumo Association spokesman Shibatayama (the 62nd
yokozuna Ōnokuni) says that depending on the situation, members who participated in the retirement ceremonies of both
Gōeidō and
Tochiōzan on 29 and 30 January, respectively, will be tested for the coronavirus since Mitakeumi took part in snipping both of their
topknots in the
dohyo.
February • 2: The Sumo Association announces that six more
sekitori from three different stables have tested positive for COVID-19 –
Daieishō,
Tobizaru,
Tsurugishō and
Daiamami from
Oitekaze stable,
Aoiyama from
Kasugano stable and
Takanoshō from
Tokiwayama stable. • 3:
Takayasu and
Okinoumi take part in the
Setsubun bean-throwing ceremony at the
Narita-san Shinshō-ji temple. • 4:
Yokozuna Terunofuji,
ōzeki Takakeishō and former
ōzeki Tochinoshin are among 17 additional individuals from nine
stables announced by the Sumo Association as testing positive for COVID-19. Those also testing positive from the
sekitori ranks include
Hōshōryū,
Ichiyamamoto,
Tokushōryū,
Wakamotoharu and
Wakatakakage. Spokesman Shibatayama says that the retirement ceremony for Nakamura (former
sekiwake Yoshikaze) will be held as scheduled on 5 February, but additional sumo events scheduled at the
Kokugikan—including the
Fuji TV-sponsored Grand Sumo Tournament on 6 February and the
NHK charity tournament on 11 February—are eventually cancelled. • 7:
Oguruma stable closes, with Oshiogawa Oyakata (ex-
sekiwake Takekaze) taking six Oguruma wrestlers with him and establishing his own
Oshiogawa stable. The remaining eight wrestlers are transferring along with the former Yoshikaze to
Nishonoseki stable. • 9: The Sumo Association announces that
ōzeki Shōdai is among 48 additional sumo personnel, including nine
sekitori and eleven
elders, testing positive for COVID-19. Since the start of the January 2022 tournament a total of 252 out of the association's approximately 900 members, including half of all of the wrestlers ranked in the
makuuchi division, have tested positive for the virus. Spokesman Shibatayama told reporters that symptoms of
sore throat and
fever were reported, but there were also quite a few cases that were
asymptomatic. He said that the Sumo Association would consult with infectious disease experts as it prepares for the next
basho in Osaka. • 10:
Maegashira Ura and
jūryō Hiradoumi test positive for COVID-19. • 14: Due to COVID concerns, the March
maezumō for new sumo wrestlers is cancelled for the second year in a row. The new wrestler inspections scheduled for 25 February are also postponed. New wrestlers will be ranked for the May
basho in Tokyo after their applications have been submitted and scrutinized by the Sumo Association. • 19: The
retirement ceremony is held for Tateyama (former
maegashira Homarefuji) at the Kokugikan. • 25: The
Saitama Prefecture Public Prosecutor's Office announces that it will not prosecute wrestlers
Hidenoumi and , who had been suspected of illegal gambling. • 26: The Sumo Association announces that three
oyakata—Nakamura (former
sekiwake Yoshikaze), Nakagawa (former
maegashira Asahisato) and Inagawa (former
komusubi Futen'ō)—have tested positive for COVID-19. Additional tests will be made on approximately 570 members of the Sumo Association with the March
basho in Osaka just two weeks away. • 28: The
banzuke for the March 2022 tournament in Osaka is released by the Sumo Association.
Mitakeumi is officially listed for the first time at sumo's second-highest rank of
ōzeki, while the two others at the rank—
Shōdai and
Takakeishō—fight to avoid demotion.
Abi, who finished as the top division runner-up twice in a row, finds himself vaulted all the way from
maegashira 6 to a new career high at sumo's third-highest rank of
sekiwake. It marks Abi's return to ''
san'yaku since being ranked at komusubi for four tournaments in 2019 and 2020. Also making his sekiwake
debut is Wakatakakage, who returns to san'yaku
after being ranked at komusubi
last July. Hōshōryū, the nephew of former yokozuna Asashōryū, makes his san'yaku
debut at komusubi
. He joins Takanoshō, who was demoted from sekiwake
after an eight-loss performance in January. Japanese-Filipino wrestler Kōtokuzan, who had double-digit wins in jūryō in the last two tournaments, is the only new promotion to the makuuchi division. Three wrestlers are promoted again to makuuchi
: Kotoshōhō, who returns after five tournaments (and securing the jūryō'' championship in the last tournament),
Nishikigi, returning after nine tournaments, and
Kagayaki, who returns after he had just been demoted.
March • 12: After stating the previous day that there were no positive tests for COVID-19 among those scheduled to participate in the March 2022 tournament, the Sumo Association announces that
Onoe stable will miss the March
basho after two lower-ranked wrestlers come down with the virus. • 18:
Yokozuna Terunofuji withdraws on Day 6 of the March
basho citing issues with his right heel and left knee, both of which he has injured in the past. The withdrawal comes after suffering defeats to
Daieishō and, for the second straight tournament,
Tamawashi. It is his first
kyūjō since his promotion to sumo's highest rank. • 27: New
sekiwake Wakatakakage (12–3) defeats
maegashira and former
ōzeki Takayasu (12–3) in a
playoff to clinch the March 2022
top division championship. Both wrestlers entered the final day in Osaka with 12 wins and the chance to win their first
yūshō along with a third competitor,
maegashira Kotonowaka, who started the day with 11 wins and could only hope to participate in a two or three-way playoff. First up was Kotonowaka (11–4), who was taken out of the
yūshō picture with a loss to new
komusubi Hōshōryū (8–7); the nephew of the 68th
yokozuna Asashōryū secured his much needed
winning record to stay in the
san'yaku ranks. Next was Takayasu, who was pushed out by new
sekiwake Abi (8–7) in his match. Wakatakakage then had the chance to win the Emperor's Cup outright in the final bout of the tournament but was driven out of the ring by
ōzeki Shōdai (9–6) who, like fellow
ōzeki Takakeishō (8–7), secured enough wins to be taken out of
kadoban status. This set up the playoff match in which Wakatakakage eventually avoided Takayasu's charge and used a pulling overarm throw to secure the victory. In addition to his maiden top division championship, Wakatakakage earns his third
ginō-shō (Technique prize). The other two in contention for the Emperor's Cup both receive the
kantō-shō (Fighting Spirit prize); it is the tenth overall
sanshō prize for Takayasu and the third Fighting Spirit prize for Kotonowaka. The
jūryō championship is won by former
komusubi Ryūden (13–2), who has now won both a
makushita and
jūryō division title since he was suspended last year for violating
COVID-19 protocols. • 28: The Japan Sumo Association conducts the biannual elections for its board of directors. Newly elected to the board are Sadogatake (former
sekiwake Kotonowaka, whose
son presently competes in the
top division) and Isenoumi (former
maegashira Kitakachidoki). The board then elects Hakkaku (the 61st
yokozuna Hokutoumi) to a fourth full term as chairman of the Sumo Association. • 30: The Sumo Association announces two promotions to the second-highest
jūryō division for May. Newly promoted is 29-year-old , an 11-year sumo veteran whose
maezumo took place alongside such wrestlers as
yokozuna Terunofuji and former
sekiwake Meisei.
Chiyoarashi returns to
jūryō after one tournament at
makushita.Former
jūryō is among fifteen wrestler retirements announced by the Sumo Association.The refereeing department of the Sumo Association appoints Nishonoseki (the 72nd
yokozuna Kisenosato) and Naruto (former
ōzeki Kotoōshū) as
shimpan (ringside judges). • 31: At a board meeting in Tokyo, the refereeing department of the Sumo Association decides to reduce the number of total
sandanme wrestlers from 100 on either side of the
banzuke to 90 (180 total). Spokesperson Shibatayama (the 62nd
yokozuna Ōnokuni) explained that the change was made because the number of participants had become unbalanced, suggesting that the number could be lowered further to 80 on each side in the future.The Sumo Association also decides to open the July tournament in
Nagoya to full capacity (7,448 per day) with same-day ticket sales, and to resume regional sumo tours following the Nagoya
basho for the first time since the 2019 winter tour with
COVID-19 prevention measures in place.
April • 15: Among the new recruits passing the entrance exam for the May 2022 tournament is 24-year-old Hotaka Suyama, the first ever student of the elite
University of Tokyo to join professional sumo. • 25: The
banzuke for the May tournament is released by the Sumo Association. There are few changes in ''
san'yaku, with January 2021 makuuchi champion Daieishō returning to komusubi after competing at that rank earlier this year. Former ōzeki Takayasu, who had been in contention for the March championship until losing to sekiwake Wakatakakage in a playoff, is promoted to the top maegashira rank. There are no new promotions from jūryō to makuuchi
, but three wrestlers return to the top division: Ōhō returns after just being demoted, Midorifuji returns after five tournaments, and Azumaryū returns after 11 tournaments.Former ōzeki
Asanoyama is ranked at makushita'' 42 for his final suspended tournament. He was handed a six-tournament ban in June 2021 for violating
COVID-19 protocols and for
covering up his violations to investigators.
May • 3: Top
rank-and-filer and former
sekiwake Ichinojō is withdrawn from the May 2022 tournament after testing positive for
COVID-19. • 13:
Maegashira Tamawashi defeats
Terunofuji in their scheduled match, becoming the first sumo wrestler to earn three consecutive
kinboshi against the same
yokozuna since Daigō (ex-
Wakamisugi) achieved the feat in 1965. • 22: Four wrestlers entered the final day of the May 2022 tournament with the chance to win the
Emperor's Cup, but in the end it was sole
yokozuna Terunofuji (12–3) who lifted the trophy for the seventh time in his career. The
Mongolian clinched his first
yūshō of the year with a win over
ōzeki Mitakeumi in the tournament's final match. The co-leader entering the final day,
rank-and-filer Takanoshō (11–4), was defeated in his bout by
Sadanoumi (11–4); the two, along with
komusubi Daieishō (11–4), would have participated in a four-way
playoff if Terunofuji had lost. The three
ōzeki had poor performances, with
Takakeishō (8–7) the only one able to secure a
winning record. The other two
ōzeki, Mitakeumi (6–9) and
Shōdai (5–10), will enter the next tournament in
Nagoya at demotion-threatened
kadoban status. All three runners-up in the top division are awarded
sanshō prizes, with both Daieishō and Takanoshō awarded the
Shukun-shō (Outstanding Performance prize) and Sadanoumi awarded the
Kantō-shō (Fighting Spirit prize). In the second-highest
jūryō division the winner is Terunofuji's stablemate, 25-year-old
Nishikifuji (11–4), who secured his fourth championship in sumo with a playoff victory over former
maegashira Daiamami. • 25: The Sumo Association announces three new promotions to the
jūryō division. One is , who recently joined the
stable run by former
ōzeki Gōeidō and will take the new
shikona of Gōnoyama (豪ノ山) in the next tournament. The other two new promotions are , who entered sumo in November 2021 as
makushita tsukedashi and most recently won the
makushita division championship, and 13-year sumo veteran .
Hokuseihō will return to
jūryō after competing in just one match at that rank in November 2021, suffering a ligament injury.Former
jūryō wrestlers and are among the retirements announced by the Sumo Association. • 28: The
retirement ceremony of Izutsu (former
sekiwake Toyonoshima) is held at the
Ryōgoku Kokugikan. • 29: The
retirement ceremony of Ajigawa (former
sekiwake Aminishiki) is held at the
Ryōgoku Kokugikan.
June • 5: Nishonoseki (the 72nd
yokozuna Kisenosato) opens the new
Nishonoseki stable building in
Ibaraki Prefecture, where he grew up. • 8: The
Tokyo District Court awards the Japan Sumo Association ¥98 million in damages following a lawsuit involving a former Sumo Association advisor. The court agreed with the Sumo Association's contention that the advisor and his company received money from a
slush fund related to a business contract to conduct renovation work on the
Ryōgoku Kokugikan. • 22: Former
komusubi Shōhōzan retires after a 16-year career in professional sumo. • 27: The Sumo Association releases the
banzuke for the July tournament in Nagoya. Two wrestlers swap ranks in ''
san'yaku, with Daieishō promoted to sekiwake following his 11-win performance in May, and Abi dropping to komusubi after posting a losing record. Kiribayama and Takanoshō, both of whom posted double-digit wins in May, are elevated to the top maegashira rank. Consequently Ichinojō, who sat out of the May tournament after testing positive for COVID-19, is dropped one position to maegashira
2. Nishikifuji is promoted to the makuuchi division for the first time. The Isegahama stable wrestler, who made his debut in November 2016 winning back-to-back tournaments, joins the top division following his jūryō championship in May. Chiyomaru returns to makuuchi
after just being demoted, Tsurugishō returns after two tournaments, and Daiamami returns after five tournaments.Former ōzeki Asanoyama is ranked at west sandanme'' 22 in his return to professional sumo after completing his one-year suspension for violating COVID protocols. He also changes his
ring name, switching the first name of Hideki to his real given name of Hiroki. • 29: The Sumo Association has announced that
maegashira and former
ōzeki Takayasu has tested positive for
COVID-19 along with a junior stablemate. Regular health inspections will be conducted on
Tagonoura stable to determine whether or not those wrestlers will be able to participate in the upcoming July tournament.
July • 2: The Sumo Association announces that
Tagonoura stable, which includes
Takayasu, will be withdrawn from the July tournament after another junior wrestler in the stable tests positive for
COVID-19. • 9: Sumo Association Chairman Hakkaku (the 61st
yokozuna Hokutoumi) offers his condolences following the
assassination of former
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe the day before. Hakkaku specifically recalled Abe's attendance on the final day of the May 2019 tournament at the
Ryōgoku Kokugikan with then
U.S. President Donald Trump. • 10: The first Sumo tournament in two and a half years without
COVID-related spectator limits begins in
Nagoya. A
moment of silence is held for the late Shinzo Abe prior to the start of
top division matches. • 16:
Ōzeki Mitakeumi is forced to withdraw from the remainder of the Nagoya
basho after another member of
his stable tests positive for
COVID-19. Later the same day, it is announced that Mitakeumi himself tests positive for the virus. As it is the first case of a wrestler having to withdraw in the middle of a tournament for COVID reasons, the Sumo Association will have to decide how to rank Mitakeumi — who is also in
kadoban status — for the next tournament in September. • 17: New
jūryō wrestler tests positive for COVID-19 in a Nagoya hospital after winning his scheduled Day 8 match. As a result, the Sumo Association announces that all
Naruto stable wrestlers will withdraw from the remainder of the Nagoya
basho. • 18:
Hanaregoma stable, which includes
maegashira wrestler
Ichiyamamoto, is the third stable forced to withdraw during the Nagoya
basho after stablemaster Hanaregoma (former
sekiwake Tamanoshima) tests positive for COVID-19. Including
Tagonoura stable, a total of four
heya have withdrawn from the tournament under COVID protocols. The Sumo Association also announces that starting on Day 10, spectators would no longer be permitted to eat or drink alcoholic beverages while they are in their seats. • 19:
Musashigawa stable becomes the fifth stable to withdraw from the Nagoya
basho due to COVID-19 infections. • 20:
Sadogatake stable and
Tamanoi stable pull out of the Nagoya basho due to COVID infections, bringing the total number of stables withdrawn under COVID protocols to seven. In the
top division, three
rank-and-filers —
Kotoekō,
Kotonowaka and
Kotoshōhō — are all forced to withdraw. In total, about one in five wrestlers have been forced to withdraw from the
basho under COVID protocols. • 21:
Asakayama stable becomes the eighth stable to withdraw from the Nagoya
basho because of COVID infections. It is also announced that a ''san'yaku
gyōji'', Kimura Yodo, has tested positive for COVID-19. However, the wrestlers in his stable (
Kokonoe stable) can continue to compete. The total number of wrestlers forced to withdraw this tournament now stands at 134. • 22: Four additional stables are forced to withdraw due to COVID protocols on Day 13 of the Nagoya tournament:
Isenoumi stable,
Kataonami stable,
Oitekaze stable and
Shibatayama stable. Seven
top division wrestlers are forced to exit:
Daiamami,
Daieishō,
Endō,
Nishikigi,
Tamawashi,
Tobizaru and
Tsurugishō. Tamawashi's withdrawal interrupts his streak of 1,448 consecutive matches since his debut in January 2004, but his streak will officially be kept alive by the Sumo Association. A total of 158 wrestlers from thirteen stables, including 13
sekitori wrestlers, are now out of the tournament under COVID protocols.Former
ōzeki Asanoyama wins all seven of his scheduled matches and the
sandanme division
yūshō in his return to professional sumo following a one-year suspension. • 23: Top-ranked
jūryō division wrestler
Ryūden defeats
maegashira Myōgiryū to secure his second
jūryō championship in the last three tournaments. Ryūden, a former
komusubi, was suspended for three
basho in 2021 for violating COVID protocols. He has won three
yūshō in his last five tournaments, including his comeback tournament at
makushita in November 2021. • 24:
Mongolian Ichinojō, who was forced to sit out of the last tournament after contracting
COVID-19, wins his first Emperor's Cup with a record of 12–3 at the July 2022 tournament in Nagoya. It is Ichinojō's best win record in a
basho since March 2019, when he finished with 14 victories as the runner-up to
Hakuhō.
Yokozuna Terunofuji (11–4) had the chance to force a playoff, but was defeated in the final match of the tournament by
ōzeki Takakeishō (11–4), who had been in mathematical contention for the
yūshō entering the final day. Ichinojō receives the
Shukun-shō (Outstanding Performance Prize), as well as a
gold star for defeating Terunofuji earlier in the tournament. The other
special prize goes to
Nishikifuji, who receives the
Kantō-shō (Fighting Spirit prize) after completing his first tournament in the top division with 10 wins – the last of which was earned by
default after his final day opponent,
Hokutofuji, withdrew following a COVID case at
Hakkaku stable. Hakkaku's withdrawal meant that stablemate
Okinoumi pulled out of his final match, and also meant that stablemaster Hakkaku (the 61st
yokozuna Hokutoumi) could not present the Emperor's Cup trophy to Ichinojō in his capacity as Chairman of the Sumo Association. Instead, the duties were handled by Michinoku (former
ōzeki Kirishima). • 27: Three promotions to
jūryō are announced by the Sumo Association. Newly promoted for the first time are
Kinbōzan, who becomes the first
sekitori from
Kazakhstan, and Kanno, who will take the new
shikona of in September.
Takakentō will return to
jūryō after spending the previous tournament in
makushita.The Sumo Association's refereeing department meets to discuss the rankings for the September 2022 tournament. In particular, the department had to decide the future rankings of the 174 wrestlers who were forced to withdraw from the July
basho under COVID protocols. Department chairperson Isegahama (the 63rd
yokozuna Asahifuji) later tells reporters that the September
banzuke, in principle, will not be disclosed until the scheduled announcement date of 29 August. He states that the department took into consideration various factors, including whether or not the determination of a
winning or
losing record for each individual wrestler would have been known at the time of their withdrawal. • 28: The Sumo Association announces that retired
yokozuna Hakuhō will assume the Miyagino
toshiyori and become the stablemaster of
Miyagino stable, which is the stable that he has belonged to for the duration of his sumo career. He assumes the elder name from former
maegashira Chikubayama, who will reach the mandatory retirement age of 65 in August. • 30: The
retirement ceremony for former
komusubi Gagamaru is held in Tokyo.
August • 2: The JSA launches its first official English-language sumo
YouTube channel, "Sumo Prime Time," presented by
NHK commentator Hiro Morita. • 7: The
retirement ceremony for former
maegashira Sagatsukasa is held in
Numazu. • 20: The retirement ceremony for former
maegashira Seirō is held in
Tokyo. • 29: The Sumo Association releases the
banzuke for the September sumo tournament in
Tokyo. The new rankings took into account wrestlers who were forced to withdraw before and during the last tournament in July under
COVID protocols. One such wrestler is
Mitakeumi, whose status as a
kadoban ōzeki is extended to the September tournament. The
banzuke also sees three wrestlers each at
sekiwake and
komusubi for the first time in 23 years.
Daieishō keeps his
sekiwake rank after his COVID withdrawal in July, joined by
Wakatakakage and newly-promoted
Hōshōryū, who reaches the best rank of his career. Joining
Abi at
komusubi are defending
makuuchi champion
Ichinojō and fellow Mongolian
Kiribayama, who both return to ''
san'yaku'' for the first time since November 2021. Two wrestlers debut in sumo's
top division:
Hiradoumi, following ten victories in
jūryō in the previous tournament, and former All-Japan Sumo Champion
Mitoryū.
Ryūden returns to
makuuchi after he was suspended in May 2021 for violating COVID protocols, as he is promoted to
maegashira 12.Brazilian former
sekiwake Kaisei announces his retirement from professional sumo after sixteen years. • 31: The Sumo Association reports that following PCR tests conducted in advance of the September tournament,
komusubi Abi and
Shikoroyama stable coach Tatsutagawa (former
komusubi Hōmashō) are among several individuals testing positive for
COVID-19. Positive test results were also confirmed for lower ranked wrestlers in Shikoroyama stable,
Miyagino stable and
Sakaigawa stable. The Sumo Association has not yet determined whether the affected individuals will be able to participate in the upcoming September tournament. Abi would eventually withdraw just before the tournament began due to knee and ankle injuries. The first
jungyō (regional tours) since November 2019 were held at the following locations: • 5:
Tachikawa, Tokyo • 6:
Funabashi, Chiba • 7:
Saitama, Saitama • 11:
Koga, Ibaraki • 14:
Kasukabe, Saitama September • 5: Retired
yokozuna Hakuhō (now Miyagino
oyakata) announces plans for his
retirement ceremony, to be held on 28 January 2023 at the
Ryōgoku Kokugikan. • 9: Following the Japanese government's update to COVID isolation guidelines, the Sumo Association announces a revision to its COVID policy. Association members, including sumo wrestlers, that are designated as close contacts to an individual that tests positive will only need to isolate for three days. Those that do not physically reside in a sumo stable, such as some
sekitori and stablemasters, will no longer be considered close contacts and are no longer required to isolate even if another person in the stable tests positive. This replaces the former COVID policy that required a stable to enter one week of isolation if one member tested positive, as well as the withdrawal of the entire stable from a sumo tournament. A total of 23
sekitori were forced to withdraw from the previous
basho in July under the former policy. Public relations manager Shibatayama (the 62nd
yokozuna Ōnokuni) said that "the most important thing for wrestlers is to be seen by the audience," adding that the Sumo Association wanted to avoid having a future impact on sumo events. • 16: On the sixth day of the September tournament,
yokozuna Terunofuji and the three
ōzeki (
Mitakeumi,
Shōdai and
Takakeishō) lose their scheduled matches. It is the first time in 16 years that
yokozuna and
ōzeki wrestlers have all lost on the same day. • 19: Mongolian
maegashira Tamawashi competes in his 1,457th consecutive sumo match, passing former
sekiwake Takatōriki for third on the all-time list. Despite having to withdraw near the end of the July tournament, the Sumo Association has allowed Tamawashi to continue the streak because his withdrawal was due to COVID protocols. • 20:
Yokozuna Terunofuji withdraws from the September tournament on day 10, citing injuries on both of his knees. His stablemaster Isegahama (the 63rd
yokozuna Asahifuji) raises the possibility of surgical intervention.For the third time in the September tournament, the
yokozuna (with his day 10
default counted as a loss) and the
ōzeki wrestlers are all defeated on the same day. Tamawashi's win over
ōzeki Mitakeumi makes him the first wrestler in 37 years to defeat all
yokozuna and
ōzeki on the
banzuke in the same tournament. The last wrestler to pull off this feat was
Kōji (the 60th
yokozuna Futahaguro) in 1985. • 24: Despite losing his Day 14 contest, new
jūryō competitor maintains a two-win gap to claim the championship in sumo's second-highest division. It is the first career
yūshō for the 23-year-old native of
Iruma. He entered professional sumo in March 2021 as a
sandanme tsukedashi, which allowed him to skip the bottom two sumo divisions. • 25:
Tamawashi (13–2) secures his second career top-division
yūshō on the final day of the September tournament by defeating the only remaining wrestler in contention, former
ōzeki Takayasu (11–4), in his final match. At the age of 37 years and 10 months, Tamawashi is the oldest person to win the Emperor's Cup since the six-tournament system was introduced in 1958. It is also the first time since 1991 that consecutive tournaments have been won by
maegashira. Both Tamawashi and Takayasu, who are regular training partners, receive
sanshō prizes: Tamawashi receives his second
Shukun-shō (Outstanding Performance prize), while Takayasu receives his sixth
Kantō-shō (Fighting Spirit prize) and ties former
ōzeki Tochinoshin for the most number of
sanshō prizes among current competitors. Top
maegashira Tobizaru (10–5) also receives the
Shukun-shō, while
sekiwake Wakatakakage (11–4) collects his fourth
Ginō-shō (Technique prize).
Ryūden completes his first tournament in
maegashira since his 2021 COVID suspension with 11 wins.
Takakeishō (10–5) is the only one of the three
ōzeki to secure a
winning record.
Shōdai (4–11) will be in demotion-threatened
kadoban status for November, while
Mitakeumi (4–11) will be demoted to
sekiwake needing ten wins to move back up to the
ōzeki rank. • 28: The Sumo Association announces that
Rōga and
Tsushimanada will be the two sumo wrestlers promoted to the second-highest
jūryō division for the November tournament. Rōga is the first sumo wrestler from Russia to be newly promoted to
jūryō since
Amūru in 2012, and becomes the first
sekitori for
Futagoyama stable since its establishment in 2018.Former
komusubi Jōkōryū is among the retirements officially announced by the Sumo Association. Jōkōryū had announced his retirement at the conclusion of his September tournament matches in the
makushita division.
October • 1: The
retirement ceremony for former
ōzeki Kotoshōgiku is held at the
Ryōgoku Kokugikan. • 2: The retirement ceremony for former
maegashira Sōkokurai is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. • 3: Fourth-year
Nippon Sport Science University student Daiki Nakamura wins the Sumo Wrestling event at the
National Sports Festival of Japan held in
Tochigi Prefecture. Having also won the All Japan Sumo Championships in December 2021, he
qualifies to start his sumo career–which he is planning to enter upon his graduation–in the third-highest division at
makushita 10. • 5: The retirement ceremony for former
komusubi Chiyoōtori is held inside a hall at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. In an unusual twist made at Chiyoōtori's request, twenty members of the general public who each paid ¥30,000 for a seat to the ceremony are all allowed to take part in the snipping of Chiyoōtori's
topknot. • 7: The two-day Sumo Fan Festival concludes at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. It is the first time in 17 years that such an event is held, which includes fan interactions with sumo wrestlers and demonstration events. Approximately 9,000 people attend, most of whom were members of the Sumo Association's official fan club. During the festival, two official
Guinness World Records are set: Miyagino (the 69th
yokozuna Hakuhō) sets the world record of creating 104
tegata hand prints in one minute, and Kabutoyama (former
maegashira Ōikari) leads approximately 400 wrestlers and members of the public in
shiko leg stomps. • 18:
Yokozuna Terunofuji, who withdrew in the middle of the September tournament, undergoes
endoscopic surgery on both knees. Stablemaster Isegahama (the 63rd
yokozuna Asahifuji) says that Terunofuji will not return to competition until he has fully healed. • 31: The Sumo Association releases the
rankings ahead of the November sumo tournament in
Fukuoka–a tournament that will likely see the
withdrawal of
yokozuna Terunofuji following his knee surgery. There are a total of seven competitors at the ranks of
komusubi (4 wrestlers) and
sekiwake (3 wrestlers) for the first time in 30 years. September's top division champion
Tamawashi is rewarded with a promotion to
komusubi, marking his return to the ''
san'yaku ranks after three years. Joining him is Tobizaru, who reaches san'yaku
for the first time in his career. Kiribayama and demoted Daieishō round out the komusubi
competitors. Former ōzeki Mitakeumi, who had three consecutive losing records–one of which was not considered for ranking purposes under COVID protocols at the time–is officially demoted to sekiwake
. Under the kadoban system, Mitakeumi will need to secure 10 wins at the upcoming tournament in order to have his ōzeki
rank restored for January. Current ōzeki
Shōdai enters his fifth tournament at kadoban
status and will need to secure 8 wins to avoid relegation to sekiwake
. 20-year-old Atamifuji is newly promoted to the top division, having had just one losing record in professional sumo since making his debut two years ago. Azumaryū and Kagayaki both return to makuuchi'' after two tournaments. The autumn regional tours were held on the following dates: • 20: Former
komusubi Chiyotairyū retires from professional sumo on Day 8 the November tournament after accumulating five losses at the
maegashira rank. • 25:
Kadoban ōzeki Shōdai suffers his eighth defeat on Day 13 of the November tournament in Fukuoka, which will result in his future demotion to
sekiwake. With fellow
ōzeki Takakeishō already having established a winning record and
sekiwake Mitakeumi unable to secure enough wins for promotion back to sumo's second-highest rank, the next tournament in January 2023 will see just one
yokozuna (
Terunofuji) and one
ōzeki on the
banzuke for the first time in 125 years. • 27: In a November tournament that came down to three wrestlers with 12–3 records,
maegashira and former
sekiwake Abi clinches his first career top-division
yūshō over former
ōzeki Takayasu and current
ōzeki Takakeishō. Takayasu had the opportunity to win the Emperor's Cup outright with a victory over Abi in their scheduled Day 15 contest, but Abi shoved Takayasu down to the
dohyo for the victory. Takakeishō then defeated
sekiwake Wakatakakage to set up the first three-way
playoff in the top division since 1994, in which a wrestler is required to win two matches in a row to claim the
yūshō. The playoff only needed two matches, as Abi would go on to defeat Takayasu and Takakeishō in consecutive fashion. Takayasu appeared stunned in his playoff match after slamming his head into Abi's chest during the
tachi-ai, and needed assistance to stand up from the ring. Abi, who was suspended in 2020 for violating sumo's
COVID-19 protocols and had to work his way back to
makuuchi from the third-highest
makushita division, said that his first top-division championship seemed like a dream that didn't seem true. Abi was also given one of the three
special prizes, receiving his fourth
Kantō-shō (Fighting Spirit prize) for his efforts. Takayasu, who fell short of the championship once again with his seventh career runner-up performance in
makuuchi, receives his fourth
Shukun-shō (Outstanding Performance prize). Mongolian
sekiwake Hōshōryū, who had been in contention for the
yūshō until late in the tournament, finishes with a record of 11–4 and his second
Ginō-shō (Techinque prize) as he attempts to make his case for future
ōzeki promotion. Professional sumo competition in the top division finishes 2022 with six different wrestlers winning each of the six tournaments for the first time in 31 years, as well as rank-and-file
maegashira competitors winning three consecutive tournaments for the first time in recorded history. Also for the first time in 31 years, a wrestler in the top division–
Terutsuyoshi–goes 0-for-15 in a single tournament, becoming the fifth wrestler since the creation of the 15-day tournament system to suffer such a fate. Mongolian clinches the
jūryō division championship with a record of 11–4 in just his seventh career sumo tournament, having begun his career as
makushita tsukedashi the previous November. • 28: Former
maegashira Yutakayama announces his retirement from sumo. • 30: The Sumo Association announces that former
ōzeki Asanoyama, who was suspended from competing for one year for violating
COVID-19 protocols and was relegated on the
banzuke accordingly, will return to
sekitori as a
jūryō competitor in the January 2023 tournament following consecutive 6–1 performances in
makushita. Newly promoted to
jūryō is 24-year-old
Shōnannoumi, who was inspired to enter professional sumo after watching a drama about the 58th
yokozuna Chiyonofuji. is also promoted, returning to
jūryō after four tournaments.
December • 1: Ajigawa (former
sekiwake Aminishiki) becomes independent from
Isegahama stable and forms
his own stable. • 3: The
retirement ceremony for former
maegashira Asahishō is held at the
Ryōgoku Kokugikan. • 22: The compliance committee of the Japan Sumo Association announces it had interviewed
Ichinojō and his stablemaster Minato (former
maegashira Minatofuji) concerning allegations published the previous month in the
Shūkan Bunshun that Ichinojō assaulted his stablemaster's wife. The Board of Directors of the Sumo Association schedules an extraordinary meeting for 26 December to discuss the matter. • 26: The Sumo Association releases the
banzuke for the January 2023 tournament in
Tokyo. For the first time in 125 years there is only one
yokozuna (
Terunofuji) and one
ōzeki (
Takakeishō) in the rankings, and for the first time since January 1993 only two wrestlers occupy the first two ranks (on that occasion it was two
ōzeki,
Akebono and
Konishiki). Below Terunofuji and Takakeishō, there are four wrestlers at the rank of
sekiwake and four at the rank of
komusubi. Former
ōzeki Takayasu, the runner-up in the last two
basho, returns to
sekiwake for the first time since July 2021.
Shōdai is demoted to
sekiwake, needing ten wins to return to sumo's second-highest rank under the
kadoban system. The rank of
komusubi includes two wrestlers promoted to ''
san'yaku for the first time in their careers in Kotonowaka and Wakamotoharu (brother of sekiwake
Wakatakakage). Meisei returns to the komusubi
rank for the first time in one year. November tournament champion Abi moves up a few spots on the rank-and-file ladder to maegashira 3. The banzuke
also sees some wrestlers return to the top division: Mitoryū and Tsurugishō both return after one tournament, and Chiyomaru returns after two tournaments.As there is just one ōzeki
on the banzuke
, Terunofuji is designated yokozuna-ōzeki
. It is just the second time since 1982 that this designation is used, and the first in nearly three years.On the same day that the banzuke'' is released, the Sumo Association Board of Directors meets to discuss the allegations concerning
Ichinojō. While the board partially confirmed the facts and stated that the assault against his stablemaster's wife was not malicious, they did find that Ichinojō violated
COVID-related restrictions that had been imposed by the Sumo Association by going out to restaurants on two occasions in November 2020 and August 2021. The board decided to suspend Ichinojō for one tournament (January 2023) after he expressed remorse for his actions and because he had visited the restaurants for just a short period of time. His stablemaster Minato received a 20% salary reduction for three months.Isegahama (the 63rd
yokozuna Asahifuji) resigns from the Board of Directors after it was confirmed that two junior wrestlers in
his stable acted violently against younger wrestlers and that he did not report the incidents to the Sumo Association. One of the two wrestlers held responsible had already submitted his retirement papers, while the other is handed a two-tournament suspension. Isegahama would vacate his role as head of the judging department and later be demoted two ranks in
sumo's hierarchy to
yakuin taigu iin (executive member). • 27: Sumo Association spokesman Shibatayama (the 62nd
yokozuna Ōnokuni) announces that COVID rules restricting cheering by spectators will be relaxed ahead of the January 2023 tournament in Tokyo. Limits on purchases of alcoholic beverages will also be eased. Spectators will still be asked to wear masks and be silent when eating and drinking in their seats. The winter regional tours were held on the following dates: • 3:
Nagasaki • 4:
Ashikita, Kumamoto • 6:
Beppu, Ōita • 7:
Kitakyushu, Fukuoka • 10:
Sōja, Okayama • 12:
Hirakata, Osaka • 13:
Nagaokakyō, Kyoto • 14:
Yokkaichi, Mie ==Deaths==