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. 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.
Chiyonoumi 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.With the release of the
2025 tournament schedule, the Sumo Association announces that the annual Nagoya tournament will move from the
Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium to the under-construction
Aichi International Arena in July 2025. • 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: • 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: • 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.
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: • 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. • 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
maegashira's 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==