July 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament, Day 15 (Sunday 28 July 2024)

(Looking for a different day? Try the master list!)

Compiled from: JSA's postings for makuuchi, juryo, makushita, sandanme, jonidan and jonokuchi; JSA's absence list, JSA's tournament leader list, JSA's tournament champions list and JSA's Day 15 program in Japanese.

There are 114 bouts listed on the schedule today. It's an odd-numbered day which means the east side is first to get called.

Check the appendices at the end of the schedule for more useful information!

What our fave toriteki are doing today

If you want a toriteki (non-salaried rikishi from divisions 3 to 6) added to this watch list, get in touch!

Appearing on day 15: Agora, Amakaze, Aonishiki, Chiyooga, Hayashiryu, Kaihiryu, Kaiseijo, Kanzaki, Kawamura, Kawazoe, Kazeyuki, Kenho, Kiryuko, Kitadaichi, Kokuryunami, Kotokuzan, Miyagi, Najima, Obara, Satonofuji, Sawayaka, Shunkaku, Taiga, Tanji, Taranami, Wakaikari

Having a rest on day 15: Asakiryu, Asanowaka, Asasorai, Asonoyama, Dewanojo, Enho, Furanshisu, Hagane, Hananoumi, Hogasho, Hokuyozan, Ikazuchido, Kakuho, Kamito, Kazeeidai, Kazuto, Kikuchi, Kitanosho, Koki, Kototebakari, Kyokutaisei, Mineyaiba, Moriurara, Nakashima, Nikko, Nobehara, Rinko, Satsumao, Sazanami, Shoketsu, Shoran, Shotaimu, Shunrai, Souga, Suyama, Tatsuosho, Tochimaru, Toshunryu, Tsukubayama, Urutora, Wakamiyabi, Wakatakamoto, Yamato, Yoshii, Yukiamami, Yuma

Kyujo on day 15: Arise, Kokiryu, Raiho, Yago

Note: Each division also has its own mini-report for who's on the schedule and who's kyujo!

Kyujo rikishi

The following 40 rikishi are kyujo on day 15: Arauma, Arise, Asabenkei, Asanoyama, Chiyodaigo, Chiyorozan, Chiyotenfu, Daikisho, Daishoki, Fujihara, Fujitoshi, Gonoumi, Hokutoiwa, Hokutoshu, Hoshoryu, Kaorufuji, Kazuma, Kenyu, Kobayashi, Kokiryu, Komanokuni, Kotetsu, Kotohanashiro, Kototora, Michihaya, Nishikio, Onosho, Oshoryu, Oyamazakura, Raiho, Reonmaru, Ryusei, Satotanaka, Takabaho, Takayasu, Takerufuji, Teraoumi, Tomokaze, Tsuru, Yago

Absences

Takayasu left the tournament on day 2 with a torn left pectoral muscle (source). Onosho went absent from day 4 with ankle injury and damage to the cruciate ligament in his right knee. Asanoyama went absent from day 5 with a torn ACL, and is expected to be absent for the next three tournaments (source).

Chiyoshoma started the tournament absent but returned from day 6. March champion Takerufuji also started the tournament absent but returned from day 8.

Tomokaze went absent on day 12, possibly reaggravating his right knee injury (source). Hoshoryu went absent on day 13 (source).

Salary promotions and demotions

Congratulations to Nabatame and Kayo for making it to juryo in May, and to Fujiseiun for making it back to juryo.

Retirements

Former sekitori Asabenkei announced his retirement mid-tournament. Best wishes and good luck in his future endeavours!

Maezumo

Goseizan, Furuta and Kumanishiki were presented on day 8's new rikishi ceremony by Kimura Narimasa. Congratulations to them and best wishes for their sumo careers!

According to Boss Jonokuchi, final maezumo results for this tournament were as follows: Nakashima 3-0, Fujiizumi 3-1, Goseizan 3-1, Furuta 2-3, Aoifuji 1-3, Kumanishiki 0-4 (source)

Division winners!

Congratulations to Daiseizan, Inami, Seihakuho and Shimizuumi for winning the toriteki yushos!

Daiseizan should also be advancing to juryo next tournament, so double well done to him!

Start at 10:15AM

Jonokuchi 序ノ口 (Division 6)

Official JSA fixtures, results and winning techniques for jonokuchi

Shimpan are Tamagaki (komusubi Tomonohana), Futagoyama* (ozeki Miyabiyama), Tanigawa (sekiwake Hokutoriki), Tokitsukaze* (maegashira #1 Tosayutaka), Hidenoyama (ozeki Kotoshogiku)

Yobidashi is Akitaka (Ajigawa stable); Gyoji is Kimura Yunosuke (Tagonoura stable)

Gyoji is Shikimori Kazenosuke (Oshiogawa stable)

Jonidan 序二段 (Division 5)

Official JSA fixtures, results and winning techniques for jonidan

Coming up: Kaihiryu, Kawazoe, Kenho, Kokuryunami, Najima, Satonofuji, Sawayaka, Shunkaku, Taranami

Gyoji is Shikimori Kisaburo (Tokitsukaze stable)

Gyoji is Shikimori Komei (Naruto stable)

Gyoji is Kimura Shunta (Shikoroyama stable)

Gyoji is Kimura Ryunosuke (Kokonoe stable)

Shimpan shift change

Shimpan are Onaruto (ozeki Dejima), Edagawa (maegashira #1 Aogiyama), Asahiyama* (sekiwake Kotonishiki), Naruto* (ozeki Kotooshu), Takekuma* (ozeki Goeido)

Gyoji is Kimura Keitaro (Musashigawa stable)

Gyoji is Kimura Katsunosuke (Oshima stable)

Gyoji is Kimura Narimasa (Ikazuchi stable)

Gyoji is Shikimori Kainosuke (Isenoumi stable)

Sandanme 三段目 (Division 4)

Official JSA fixtures, results and winning techniques for sandanme

Coming up: Agora, Chiyooga, Hayashiryu, Kazeyuki

Gyoji is Shikimori Tatsunosuke (Takadagawa stable)

Gyoji is Shikimori Seisuke (Isegahama stable)

Gyoji is Kimura Sakuranosuke (Shikihide stable)

Shimpan shift change

Shimpan are Tatekawa (sekiwake Tosanoumi), Hanaregoma* (sekiwake Tamanoshima), Azumazeki (komusubi Takamisakari), Ikazuchi* (komusubi Kakizoe), Ajigawa* (sekiwake Aminishiki)

Gyoji is Shikimori Seiichiro (Isegahama stable)

Gyoji is Kimura Kintaro (Nishikido stable)

Gyoji is Kimura Kazuma (Nishiiwa stable)

Gyoji is Shikimori Kinosuke (Sadogatake stable)

Gyoji is Shikimori Tomokazu (Oshima stable)

Gyoji is Kimura Ennosuke (Nishonoseki stable)

Makushita 幕下 (Division 3)

Official JSA fixtures, results and winning techniques for makushita

Coming up: Amakaze, Kaiseijo, Kanzaki, Kawamura, Miyagi, Taiga, Tanji

Shimpan shift change

Shimpan are Urakaze (maegashira #1 Shikishima), Takenawa (sekiwake Tochinonada), Oshima* (sekiwake Kyokutenho), Takasago* (sekiwake Asasekiryu), Nishonoseki* (the 72nd yokozuna Kisenosato)

Yobidashi is Soichi (Yamahibiki stable)

Gyoji is Kimura Satoshi (Takasago stable)

Yobidashi is Yohei (Dewanoumi stable)

Yobidashi is Keisuke (Shibatayama stable); Gyoji is Shikimori Kazuki (Arashio stable)

Yobidashi is Fujio (Isegahama stable)

Gyoji is Kimura Hideaki (Tokiwayama stable)

Yobidashi is Shigetaro (Kokonoe stable)

Yobidashi is Tasuke (Yamahibiki stable); Gyoji is Kimura Kozaburo (Hakkaku stable)

Yobidashi is Satoru (Hanaregoma stable); Gyoji is Kimura Zennosuke (Kasugano stable)

Juryo dohyo-iri at 1:40PM

Makushita Joi 幕下上位 (Division 3)

Official JSA fixtures, results and winning techniques for makushita

Coming up: Aonishiki, Kitadaichi, Obara

Shimpan are Kokonoe* (ozeki Chiyotaikai) facing away on mic, Onaruto (ozeki Dejima), Asahiyama* (sekiwake Kotonishiki), Naruto* (ozeki Kotooshu), Takekuma* (ozeki Goeido)

Yobidashi is Masao (Nishiiwa stable); Gyoji is Kimura Chishu (Dewanoumi stable)

Yobidashi is Rokuro (Nishonoseki stable); Gyoji is Kimura KANKURO (Yamahibiki stable)

Yobidashi is Hiroyuki (Nishiiwa stable); Gyoji is Kimura Kichijiro (Shibatayama stable)

Juryo 十両 (Division 2)

Official JSA fixtures, results and winning techniques for juryo

Coming up: Kiryuko, Kotokuzan, Wakaikari

Yobidashi is Matsuo (Hanaregoma stable); Gyoji is Shikimori Shinnosuke (Hanaregoma stable)

Yobidashi is Kunio (Takasago stable); Gyoji is Kimura Yukihiro (Tamanoi stable)

Yobidashi is Mitsuaki (Tagonoura stable); Gyoji is Kimura Mitsunosuke (Takadagawa stable)

Yobidashi is Rikinojo (Takasago stable); Gyoji is Kimura Takao (Tagonoura stable)

Yobidashi is Koji (Asakayama stable); Gyoji is Kimura Asanosuke (Takasago stable)

Yobidashi is Teruki (Isegahama stable); Gyoji is Shikimori Kiichiro (Oitekaze stable)

Sumo Association Greeting with Chairman Hakkaku

Yobidashi is Daikichi (Hakkaku stable); Gyoji is ❤️ Kimura Yonosuke ❤️ (Hakkaku stable)

Playoffs and prize presentations for juryo and below

See tournament leaders list for division hopefuls and tournament champions list for division winners.

Intermission at 3:15PM: Makuuchi dohyo-iri and yokozuna dohyo-iri

Makuuchi 幕内 (Division 1)

Official JSA fixtures, results and winning techniques for makuuchi

Shimpan are Kumegawa (komusubi Kotoinazuma) facing away on mic, Hanaregoma* (sekiwake Tamanoshima), Azumazeki (komusubi Takamisakari), Ikazuchi* (komusubi Kakizoe), Ajigawa* (sekiwake Aminishiki)

Yobidashi is Kotoyoshi (Sadogatake stable); Gyoji is Kimura Ginjiro (Shibatayama stable)

Yobidashi is Kotozo (Sadogatake stable); Gyoji is Shikimori Kindayu (Hanaregoma stable)

Yobidashi is Ryuji (Isegahama stable); Gyoji is Kimura Akijiro (Kasugano stable)

Yobidashi is Akira (Oshima stable); Gyoji is Kimura Motoki (Minato stable)

Yobidashi is Kokichi (Oshima stable); Gyoji is Shikimori Kandayu (Asahiyama stable)

Shimpan shift change

Shimpan are Takadagawa* (sekiwake Akinoshima) facing away on mic, Takenawa (sekiwake Tochinonada), Oshima* (sekiwake Kyokutenho), Takasago* (sekiwake Asasekiryu), Nishonoseki* (the 72nd yokozuna Kisenosato)

Yobidashi is Goro (Otake stable); Gyoji is Kimura Hisanosuke (Oshima stable)

Yobidashi is Shigeo (Kokonoe stable); Gyoji is Kimura Konosuke (Kokonoe stable)

Yobidashi is Shiro (Otake stable); Gyoji is Kimura Shotaro (Kasugano stable)

Final 3 matches of the basho

Includes shiko ceremony with final six competitors

Yobidashi is Katsuyuki (Shibatayama stable); Gyoji is Kimura Yodo (Kokonoe stable)

Yobidashi is Jiro (Kasugano stable); Gyoji is Kimura Shonosuke (Takadagawa stable)

Bow-twirling with Satonofuji

Makuuchi play-offs

Playoffs if required, after a few minutes' delay.

Senshuraku ceremonies

National prizes

Regional, media and other prizes

Special prizes (Sansho)

Fighting Spirit, Outstanding Performance and Technique prizes!

Prize recipients are:

Prizes given by Japan Sumo Association

Closing ceremonies

Appendices

General knowledge

Wikipedia has a list of winning techniques like oshidashi, yorikiri, etc and a sumo glossary, the heaviest grand sumo competitors ever, and an English-language page for just about every sekitori there is or was.

SumoDB has the entire banzuke in both Japanese and English. SumoDB also contains information about historical results and head to head matchups.

Nihon Sumo Kyokai (Japan Sumo Association) links: current rankings Japanese/English; yobidashi (ushers & attendants) Japanese/English; gyoji (referees) Japanese/English; oyakata (coaches) Japanese/English; heya (training stables) Japanese/English. NSK homepage in English; retirees - Japanese only but only requires hiragana knowledge

Fred Pinkerton's promotion/demotion charts show who's moving where in top division.

News sources and blogs: Tachi-Ai sumo blog (in English); Japan Times sumo coverage (in English); Nikkan Sports sumo articles (in Japanese); Sponichi sumo articles (in Japanese); Chunichi sumo articles (in Japanese). Hochi.news sumo articles (in Japanese). Useful Japanese terms to search in the highlights page for: 休場 (kyujo, absence); コロナ (korona, COVID).

Japanese language resources: DeepL for translating entire articles; Jisho for looking up specific words and kanji; the 10ten extension for Firefox lets you mouse over particular Japanese text of interest on websites.

Curiosities: that time half a stable went AWOL because the stablemaster's wife was being too harsh on them; interview with a yobidashi; countdown until Onokuni reaches mandatory retirement age

And finally a list of amateur sumo events around Japan (in Japanese).

Videos

Miscellaneous

A comprehensive gallery featuring head shots and bios of rikishi, oyakata, gyoji, yobidashi and more (correct to the beginning of 2023). Pre-bout rituals explained; What do the gyoji say?

Sumo match announcements

  1. Yobidashi sings the names of the rikishi about to bout in turn, then rikishi ascend the dohyo
  2. Once rikishi are on the dohyo, gyoji hollers their names in turn while gesturing their way
  3. Announcer clearly announces each rikishi's starting side (nishi/higashi-gata rikishi), name, place of origin (-shusshin) and training stable (-beya) as they perform shikiri and throw salt
  4. Once timekeeper judge says to begin, gyoji commands rikishi into position, then officiates the match
  5. (optional) If the outcome is unclear or in dispute by a judge, a mono-ii is called and head judge reports on their findings; gyoji announces a rematch if that's what the judges want
  6. Gyoji announces winner's name turning to them and possibly giving them envelopes full of sponsor cash.
  7. Once winner is decided, announcer says who won and what the kimarite (deciding technique) was (technique de rikishi name no kachi) - this can be delayed by up to a few matches if the technique is hard to determine!

Understanding the judges' reports

Mono-ii reports are very formulaic! They're usually a couple of long run-on sentences that go something like this:

  1. Now we're going to explain our conference. Tadaima wa kyogi ni tsuite setsumei itashimasu or similar
  2. The gyoji pointed (one way or another), but.. Gyoji gunbai wa higashigata/nishigata/(rikishi name) arimashita ga..
  3. We had a conference about (something that affects the outcome of the match), the result of that conference was.. (???) mono-ii ga tsuki, kyougi shita kekka..
  4. (The findings of that discussion) (???)-te ori/orazu
  5. (The outcome of that discussion and the rightful winner of the bout if one was determined.)

Matters for discussion and findings may include a touchout (te ga dete ori/orazu..), a simultaneous landing for both rikishi (doutai or ryousha), or even a disqualification (hansoku).

Helpful words to listen out for to get the gist of the report:

Body parts

Actions and other stuff

Verdicts

The outcome can go three ways:

Who's that shimpan (ringside judge)?

Click the name of the shimpan to see what they look like. (You may need to middle-click it to open the link in a new window.) Thanks to the maintainer of this page for providing these images!

Shimpan groups

Oshima is back ringside for July 2024!

Stablemasters have * after their name; everyone else is a coach.

Senior shimpan

Members of this senior group join up with other shimpan groups to act as head shimpan after the juryo ring entrance ceremony & intermission. This month's senior shimps are:

Who's that off-schedule yobidashi

The official program only lists sekitori yobidashi from Soichi onwards. Even after their match-calling shifts, these youngsters work throughout the day as attendants.

There's a slightly outdated gallery of yobidashi headshots with bios at Heyaaz - it's missing Kumajiro because he debuted during 2023.

To help spot them, here's links to screencaps of the non-sekitori yobidashi in their order of appearance, including onscreen bios in Japanese: