2025 in sumo


The following are the events in professional sumo during 2025.

Tournaments

Hatsu ''basho">honbasho">basho''

Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 12 January – 26 January

Playoff

Match 1: Hōshōryū defeated KinbōzanMatch 2: Hōshōryū defeated Ōhō

Haru ''basho''

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 9 March – 23 March

Natsu ''basho''

Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 11 May – 25 May

Nagoya ''basho''

Aichi International Arena, Nagoya, 13 July – 27 July

Aki ''basho''

Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 14 September – 28 September

Kyushu ''basho''

Fukuoka Kokusai Center, Kyushu, 9 November – 23 November

News

January

  • 11: The Japan Sumo Association announces that 2,955 envelopes of prize money will be distributed to winning wrestlers at the upcoming January grand sumo tournament, setting an all-time record. On the following day–the first day of the tournament–244 prize money envelopes are distributed, establishing a single-day record. Among the sponsor banners paraded during the tournament are those promoting the future Major League Baseball Tokyo Series games, featuring photos of Shohei Ohtani and other Japanese baseball players.
  • 12: competitors Rōga and Hokutofuji withdraw at the start of the January tournament. Roga suffered a torn thigh muscle a week earlier and is reported to be considering entry into the tournament while it is in progress, while Hokutofuji has spine and knee issues that are expected to take until the end of the month to heal.
  • 16: Terunofuji withdraws on the fifth day of the January tournament after suffering a first-day loss to Wakatakakage and conceding a gold star to Tobizaru on Day 4. It is his 13th absence in 21 tournaments at sumo's highest rank. Later that day, Japanese media learn through sources at the Sumo Association that Terunofuji has decided to retire.
  • 17: The Sumo Association officially announces Terunofuji's retirement. His retirement threatens to leave the sport's ranking without a for the first time since the March 1993 tournament, when Akebono was promoted to the supreme rank and occupied the position left vacant since Hokutoumi's retirement in May 1992. He will remain with the Sumo Association coaching at [Isegahama Isegahama stable (2007)|stable (2007)|Isegahama stable] under his ring name of Terunofuji, which his status as a former allows him to do.
  • 18: Rōga withdraws for a second time after re-entering the January tournament on Day 5 and suffering two consecutive losses.
  • 19: The Sumo Association announces that it will hold a sumo exhibition in the Accor Arena of Paris in June 2026, following the announcement of a 2025 London tour. The Sumo Association will be returning to Paris for the third time in its history, a first since 1995.
    On Day 8 of the January tournament, Kitanowaka loses his match after getting his right foot trapped on the straw bales as he retreats from the attack of Takerufuji. Kitanowaka is removed from the in a wheelchair and is subsequently diagnosed with a broken ankle, forcing his withdrawal.
  • 26: Hōshōryū, the nephew of the 68th Asashōryū, stages a late comeback on the final day of the January 2025 tournament to win his second Emperor's Cup and, as a result, is set to become the sport's 74th. The Mongolian entered Day 15 tied with Ōhō and one win behind and tournament leader Kinbōzan. Hōshōryū first needed help from Ōhō, who defeated Kinbōzan in their regularly scheduled final day contest, to remain in contention. With a playoff between Kinbōzan and Ōhō assured, Hōshōryū joined the playoff by defeating struggling Kotozakura. In the three-way playoff, a wrestler needs to win two consecutive matches to claim victory. Kinbōzan and Hōshōryū drew first, and Hōshōryū powered himself to victory by force-out. In the second match Ōhō denied Hōshōryū his favorite grip from the outset; after a stalemate, Hōshōryū sent Ōhō down to the to clinch the tournament win. Hōshōryū's victory ensures that the lack of a following the retirement of Terunofuji will be brief, as the Yokozuna Deliberation Council will meet on 27 January and is expected to formally recommend Hōshōryū's promotion. Two days after that, the full board of the Sumo Association is expected to give their final approval. The two runner-ups in the top division receive their first special prizes for their efforts, with Kinbōzan receiving the and Ōhō receiving the . A second Fighting Spirit prize is given to former Kirishima, who remained in contention for the championship until he was defeated on Day 14 and finished with 11 wins. Meanwhile Kotozakura, the other candidate, suffers a losing record and will need to win eight matches at the next tournament in March to hold on to his rank.
    Ukrainian Shishi takes his first career championship in professional sumo, winning the division and likely securing a return promotion to the top division.
  • 27: In a unanimous decision, the Yokozuna Deliberation Council recommends Hōshōryū's promotion to.
  • 29: The Sumo Association accepts the recommendation of the Yokozuna Deliberation Council and unanimously promotes Hōshōryū to become the sport's 74th. The date also marks the 22nd anniversary of the promotion of Hōshōryū's uncle, Asashōryū, to the same rank. In his customary acceptance speech, Hōshōryū said that he will "continue to work hard with a strong determination in order not to tarnish" his new rank.
    There are five promotions to the second-highest division announced by the Sumo Association. Three are promoted for the first time. One is 23-year-old Kusano, a former Nihon University student who is a National Student Sumo champion and subsequent entrant into the sport. The others are 21-year-olds and, both of whom had placed third in the National Junior High School Sumo championships. returns to the second division after competing in last May, while four-time lower division champion Hitoshi returns for the first time since November 2023.
  • 30: Fuji Television decides to withdraw its broadcast of the Japan Grand Sumo Tournament, a 49-year-old charity event to be held on 9 February at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. The decision comes after the sexual misconduct scandal of television presenter and former SMAP member Masahiro Nakai, and the subsequent withdrawal of sponsors from Fuji TV programming.
The Japan Sumo Association announces the suspension of Kimura Kankurō, a -ranked, for the March tournament and a pay cut after he was found to be the perpetrator of a physical assault on one of his apprentices at the November 2024 tournament.

February

  • 1: The retirement ceremony for former Tokushōryū is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.
  • 8: The NHK charity sumo tournament is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan with around 4,500 people attending.
  • 9: The 49th Japan Grand Sumo Tournament, a one-day competition for professional sumo wrestlers, is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. Although organizer and broadcaster Fuji Television decided to withdraw the broadcast of the tournament after the scandal involving Masahiro Nakai, the tournament was sold out. Several changes were made to the tournament's usual organization, including the discontinuation of matches between, radio broadcasting and post-match prize-giving. The tournament winner is Takayasu—who wins this tournament for the third time—with the former defeating opponents such as new Hōshōryū, before winning the championship match against Wakamotoharu.
  • 25: The rankings are released for the March grand sumo tournament in Osaka, marking the debut of Hōshōryū. One of the two promotions in the division is January runner-up Ōhō, who is elevated to the rank for the first time in his career. Former Kirishima is promoted to after having been demoted to in the previous tournament. Brothers Wakatakakage and Wakamotoharu find themselves ranked together as the top competitors, both demoted from after suffering losing records in January. Entering the top division from are six wrestlers, including one promoted for the first time. Two-time lower division champion Aonishiki reaches the top division in nine tournaments, joining Takerufuji and the former Jōkōryū for the fastest promotion to that level since their debut. Aonishiki is also the second Ukrainian to be promoted to the top division—the first being Shishi, who returns to after winning the January title. With the two competing in, Ukraine becomes the seventh foreign country in the history of the sport to have two or more wrestlers reaching the top division. Ryūden, Sadanoumi and Asakōryū all return to the top division after having just been demoted, while Shirokuma returns for the first time in two tournaments. Hokutofuji, who sat out of the January tournament due to health issues, drops to after spending over eight years in the top division.

March

  • 18: Hōshōryū becomes the first since the former Futahaguro in 1986 to withdraw from their first tournament at sumo's highest rank. After being defeated on the opening day by Abi, Hōshōryū conceded three over a five-day stretch to Chiyoshōma, Takayasu and Ichiyamamoto before pulling out on Day 10. His official paperwork cites a neck sprain and right elbow injury, requiring two weeks of recovery.
  • 20: The championship is mathematically clinched on Day 12 of the March 2025 tournament by the bottom-ranked Kusano, who maintains a perfect record and a three-win advantage over his closest opponents. The 23-year-old Nihon University graduate earlier became the first wrestler in sumo history to win his first ten matches as a new competitor. He is also the third wrestler in the history of the 15-day tournament system, after former Yutakayama in 1961 and former Kotonofuji in 1977, to clinch the title in 12 days. His perfect win record is broken on Day 13.
  • 23: Ōnosato defeats former Takayasu in a playoff to secure his third championship in the top division. The two were tied entering the final day of competition, and each won their regularly scheduled Day 15 bouts to finish at 12–3. Takayasu defeated Ōnosato on Day 10, but in the title-deciding playoff it was Ōnosato who emerged victorious by rear push out after Takayasu grabbed his belt and failed in an attempt to execute a throw. With his first title as an, the 24-year-old Ōnosato becomes a candidate for promotion to the highest rank of at the next tournament in May. Takayasu has yet to win a top-division championship, but does earn a gold star for defeating Hōshōryū and receives his third Technique prize. Two other competitors that were in contention–Churanoumi and Ukrainian top-division newcomer Aonishiki–each finished with 11 wins and their first Fighting Spirit prize. Despite being defeated by Ōnosato in the final tournament match before the playoff, Kotozakura finishes with eight wins to escape kadoban status.
  • 26: The Sumo Association holds their May rankings meeting and announces four promotions to the second-highest division. One of three new promotions is 26-year-old Miyagi, who followed the former Yoshikaze to the recently established Nakamura stable. Upon the release of the May rankings Miyagi will change his to, using the "" from his stablemaster's former ring name. The other two competitors new to the division are both 23 years of age:, who won the championship last January, and, who is promoted to in his fifth tournament after entering sumo as a. Former Daiamami returns to the second-highest division after just being demoted.
The spring jungyō were held at the following locations in March:

April

  • 10: With YouTube channels of increasing in popularity, the Sumo Association publishes official YouTube management guidelines. Under the association's rules, sumo stables with YouTube channels are expected to "protect the traditions and credibility of sumo." Prohibited practices include video releases during, live streams, online donations, collaborations with other stables, and videos that "damage sumo culture and the dignity of wrestlers" such as practical jokes. Stables that violate the rules will be prohibited from using social media. To meet the new requirements, a training course for all association members was subsequently scheduled for June 2, led among others by Shunichi Tokura, commissioner for Cultural Affairs of Japan.
  • 15: The Sumo Association announces the death of -ranked wrestler Wakatozakura at the age of 33 from necrotizing fasciitis. It is the first death of an active sumo wrestler in five years.
  • 28: The rankings for the May 2025 grand sumo tournament are released by the Sumo Association. The top division sees two former earn promotions in, with Kirishima returning to for the first time in three tournaments and Takayasu–the runner-up in the last tournament to candidate Ōnosato–returning to for the first time since January 2024. Wakatakakage, who was last ranked in two years ago when he sat out due to a knee injury and was subsequently relegated, returns to the rank of. There are two new wrestlers promoted to the ranks. The first is 25-year-old Kayō, who entered sumo three years ago after finishing in the top eight in both the All Japan Sumo Championships and National Student Sumo Championships, thus qualifying him under the system. He is the first top division wrestler for Nakamura stable since its founding last year by former Yoshikaze. The other is 25-year-old Tochitaikai, who won back-to-back lower division titles in his first two ranked tournaments in 2018. His promotion is the first for Kasugano stable in 14 years. Rōga and Tamashōhō, both of whom were demoted to after the January 2025 tournament, return to the top division. March champion Kusano is promoted to 1, while former Mitakeumi drops to after spending almost ten years in the top division. This will also mark the final tournament as a stablemaster for Isegahama, who will reach sumo's mandatory retirement age of 65 in early July.
The spring jungyō were held at the following locations in April:

May

  • 11: On the opening day of the May tournament it is announced that Kotoshōhō will be absent due to a bicep injury. He would join the competition on Day 6.
  • 15: Former Hokutofuji announces his retirement, ending a 10-year professional sumo career. He will remain with the Sumo Association and Hakkaku stable as an elder under the name Ōyama.
  • 23: Ōnosato clinches his second straight top division championship of the year, and fourth title overall, with a victory on Day 13 and a three-win lead over his nearest opponents. The result all but assures that the 24-year-old will become sumo's 75th, with his formal promotion expected to occur a few days after the end of the tournament. He will be the first Japanese since his stablemaster Nishonoseki ascended to the top rank in 2017.
  • 24: 48-year-old former Satonofuji, best known as the wrestler who holds the record for the most bow-twirling ceremony performances, announces that he will end his professional sumo career spanning nearly three decades.
  • 25: Ōnosato collects the Emperor's Cup as the May 2025 top division champion following his defeat at the hands of Hōshōryū, who denied Ōnosato from finishing the tournament with a perfect record. The Sumo Association hands out four special prizes: Aonishiki and Sadanoumi both take home the Fighting Spirit prize, while Kirishima and Wakatakakage both receive the Technique prize. The process of Ōnosato's promotion to join Hōshōryū at sumo's highest rank formally begins, with Sumo Association president Hakkaku approving the request of the judging department to hold an extraordinary board meeting on 28 May.
    Kusano clinches his second straight championship in, and a likely promotion to the top division for July. He is the fourth competitor since 1989 to win two consecutive tournaments after being promoted to for the first time.
  • 26: In a meeting that lasted only six minutes, the Yokozuna Deliberation Council unanimously recommends Ōnosato's promotion to.
  • 27: It is reported by Nikkan Sports that the Sumo Association's compliance committee is investigating allegations that a who manages the reserve fund of the embezzled money from that fund. According to the report, the repeatedly deferred requests by the to disclose the fund's books and balance, and later confessed to spending tens of millions of yen on gambling and other activities. Portions of the fund were designated to support children affected by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. It is later reported that the submitted his resignation to the Sumo Association, which was not accepted pending the outcome of the investigation.
  • 28: Ōnosato officially becomes professional sumo's 75th after his promotion by the Sumo Association's board of directors. Similar to what was said in his promotion speech in September 2024, Ōnosato says that he will strive to be a yuiitsu-muni.
    The Sumo Association announces two promotions to for July:, who won the May title with a perfect record after having just been demoted, and former Kōtokuzan, who returns to salaried status for the first time in two years.
  • 29: The Japan Sumo Association announces a one-day tournament on October 7 at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan to commemorate the centenary of the association's founding, modelled on a 1995 Heian-era inspired tournament.
  • 30: Ōnosato performs his first ring-entering ceremony as a at Meiji Shrine, with Ryūden as the dew sweeper and Takayasu as the sword bearer. It is announced beforehand that the inner shrine grounds would be closed to the public due to weather concerns, marking the first time that this has happened in the history of such an event, excluding Terunofuji's ceremony which was held during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, approximately 1,000 people gather at the entrance to witness the ceremony.
  • 31: The retirement ceremony for former Kotoekō is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. Ōnosato performs his first public at the event.

June

  • 1: Retirement ceremonies are held for former Ōnoshō at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan, and for former Kyokutaisei at a hotel in Tokyo.
  • 2: At an extraordinary board meeting, the Sumo Association considers the resignation of 45-time top division champion Miyagino, deciding to accept it effective on 9 June. On that date, Isegahama will take over the Miyagino, or elder stock, and the Isegahama name and stable will be transferred to the 73rd Terunofuji. The former Asahifuji will remain affiliated with Isegahama stable as a coach, and upon reaching his 65th birthday the following month will retire and immediately start his re-employment with the Sumo Association as a .
    The Sumo Association board dismisses Kimura Ginjirō, identified as the individual who embezzled money from the reserve fund of the.
  • 4: The Sumo Association opens an office at the new Aichi International Arena in Nagoya ahead of the July grand sumo tournament. The Nagoya is set to move to the new arena this year from the nearby Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.
  • 9: The departure of Hakuhō from the Sumo Association is finalized. In a press conference, Hakuhō expresses his wish to develop sumo from an outside perspective and share sumo's appeal with many people around the world.
  • 27: The Chiba District Court dismisses a lawsuit brought by Daisuke Yanagihara against the Japan Sumo Association. The suit, filed in 2023, alleged that Yanagihara was forced to retire as a professional sumo wrestler when he was told he could not withdraw from the January 2021 sumo tournament because of his concerns over contracting COVID-19. It was reported the following month that Yanagihara declined to file an appeal.
  • 30: The Sumo Association releases the for the July 2025 grand sumo tournament–the first to be held at the new Aichi International Arena. The new arena will see a 25-year-old, Ōnosato, make his debut at sumo's top rank of. Ōnosato and Hōshōryū become sumo's first pair in four years. With Kotozakura now the lone competitor, the rankings committee adds a third : May runner-up Wakatakakge, who returns to and becomes the third wrestler in sumo history after Kotokaze and Terunofuji to return to that rank after previously falling below. Following a ten-win performance at the rank of 6, and with top-ranked faring poorly in the May tournament, Mongolian Ōshōma is promoted all the way up to. It is the first promotion for Naruto stable, which was founded in 2017 by former Kotoōshū. Ukrainian Aonishiki jumps from 9 to the top of the rank-and-file after his fourth straight tournament with double-digit wins. Five wrestlers are promoted from to, including three joining the top division for the first time. As expected, one is the back-to-back champion Kusano, who enters the top division in just his eighth professional tournament after joining professional sumo last year as a competitor. The second is 20-year-old Wakaikari, the son of Kabutoyama, who takes on the new Fujinokawa. The third is 21-year-old Kotoeihō, who in 2022 won back-to-back lower division championships in his first two professional tournaments. Two wrestlers return to the top division: One is former Mitakeumi, who returns after having just been demoted. The other is Hidenoumi, the elder brother of Tobizaru who returns for the first time since his suspension by the Sumo Association in January 2022 for participation in illegal gambling.

July

  • 11: Two top division wrestlers from Oitekaze stable, Daieishō and Endō, pull out of the July tournament. Daieishō's stablemaster says that Daieishō injured himself during training at the stable, which worsened while at their training grounds in Yokkaichi ahead of the tournament. While he initially leaves open the possibility that Daieishō could re-enter the tournament at some point, Daieishō's official medical certificate later indicates that he will need about 2 months of treatment. Meanwhile, Endō is expected to be out of action for 1–2 months after undergoing knee surgery the previous day.
  • 13: Nikolay Ivanov, the former Amūru, is one of two men arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and robbery against a woman at a karaoke bar in Tokyo.
  • 17: Two more top division wrestlers, Hōshōryū and Hidenoumi, withdraw on day 5 of the July tournament. Hōshōryū conceded three straight to rank-and-filers from the second day, and becomes the third in modern sumo history to withdraw twice in their first three tournaments at sumo's highest rank. Hōshōryū's stablemaster later says that the has a bone crack in his left big toe. Hidenoumi pulls out after going winless in his first four matches, with a right calf injury in his Day 4 contest as the reason for the pullout. He returned to competition on Day 8.
  • 22: The July tournament's remaining, Ōnosato, yields his third to Tamawashi. The 40-year-old Tamawashi becomes the oldest -ranked competitor in sumo history to record a gold star win by defeating a.
  • 25: Ōnosato loses to Kotoshōhō, setting a new record for the most conceded by a in their debut at sumo's highest rank.
    Two additional wrestlers pull out of the July tournament. One is Takerufuji, who appeared to injure his right arm after defeating Sadanoumi the previous week. He competed for six more days before pulling out due to arm pain, and was later diagnosed with a bicep tear which will require about two months of treatment. The other withdrawal, Tobizaru, reportedly suffered right elbow injuries in morning practice the day before and will require about four weeks of rest and treatment.
  • 26: Ura, who had already secured a winning record, becomes the sixth top-division wrestler to pull out of the July tournament. He withdraws after he injures his knee in his Day 13 loss to Wakatakakage.
  • 27: Kotoshōhō clinches his first Emperor's Cup and fourth overall championship at the July 2025 tournament in Nagoya. The 25-year-old, who first entered the top division in May 2020, entered the final day of competition as the sole leader ahead of Ukrainian Aonishiki and newcomer Kusano, which meant the Emperor's Cup trophy was guaranteed to go to a first-time winner. Facing Aonishiki on Day 15, Kotoshōhō used a strong shoulder charge before thrusting Aonishiki down to the. In addition to the Emperor's Cup, Kotoshōhō was handed the Outstanding Performance prize and Fighting Spirit prizes for his efforts. Aonishiki finished his third consecutive tournament in the top division with 11 wins and a special prize, taking home his first Technique prize. Kusano is awarded both the Fighting Spirit and Technique prizes in his first top-division tournament. Another wrestler who debuted in the top division in July, Fujinokawa, gets 10 wins and receives the Fighting Spirit prize. The Outstanding Performance prize is also awarded to 40-year-old Mongolian sumo veteran Tamawashi, who becomes the oldest wrestler in history to receive a special prize. Despite yielding four, Ōnosato finishes his first tournament at sumo's highest rank of with 11 wins. Among the other strong finishers is Wakatakakage, who can earn promotion to sumo's second-highest rank of if he can win 11 matches at the next tournament in September.
    23-year-old, a entrant last September, wins the championship for his first professional sumo title.
  • 30: The Sumo Association announces that five wrestlers have been promoted to for the September tournament. One is former Asanoyama, who returned to status at the start of 2023 but was sidelined in September 2024 after he tore his ACL. The other four are promoted to for the first time, including two from Takasago stable where Asanoyama trains: Mongolian, who won the July title with a perfect record, and, a entrant who will take on the Asasuiryū. Another Mongolian,, enters the ranks in his eleventh professional tournament. Also promoted is 24-year-old, whose first bout was at the end of 2018.
  • 31: The Sumo Association approves a transfer of elder stock, with Kumagatani taking the Ōtake name and becoming stablemaster of Ōtake stable by exchanging with former Dairyū. The change will be effective on 29 September, one day before Dairyū reaches sumo's mandatory retirement age of 65.

August

  • 29: The former Hakuhō announces plans for the Hakuhō Cup, a junior sumo event inaugurated in 2010, to return in February 2026 at the Toyota Arena Tokyo. It will be the first time in the history of the event that a women's competition will be held, as females were not permitted to participate when the event took place at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.
The summer jungyō were held at the following locations:

September

  • 1: The Japan Sumo Association publishes the rankings for the September 2025 grand sumo tournament. At the top of the, July runner-up Ōnosato moves to the east side in his second tournament at sumo's highest rank of, swapping places with Hōshōryū. The ranks see the promotion of another July runner-up, Aonishiki, to. The Ukrainian is the first promotion for Ajigawa stable. He becomes the fastest to go from their debut tournament to the ranks above since the introduction of the six-tournament system in 1958, doing so in 12 tournaments. The previous record of 14 tournaments was held by former Asashōryū and former Konishiki and Kotoōshū. Wakatakakage moves from west to east as he bids for 11 wins, which would earn him a promotion to sumo's second-highest rank of. The July top division champion Kotoshōhō jumps ten places in the rankings to 5. There is one wrestler promoted to the top division for the first time: 28-year-old Hitoshi, a four-time champion in the lower divisions who has posted winning records since his promotion to jūryō in March, including a 10-win performance in July. The four others returning to all finished with winning records as the top-ranked jūryō competitors in July: Shōnannoumi, Tomokaze, Nishikigi and Ryūden.
  • 7: The retirement ceremony for former Aoiyama is held in the main hall at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.
  • 12: Takerufuji, who is continuing to recover after suffering a bicep tear during the July tournament, officially withdraws from the September tournament. His likely demotion to jūryō threatens a unbroken streak dating back to 1883 of wrestlers from Aomori Prefecture appearing in the top division of every, unless fellow Aomori natives Nishikifuji or Takarafuji are able to do well enough in the September tournament to be promoted to.
  • 19: His Royal Highness Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, and his wife Duchess Sophie are in attendance at the tournament during the division matches.
    Former Mitoryū retires from professional competition.
  • 27: One day after handing Hōshōryū his second straight loss, Kotozakura withdraws from the September tournament. The medical certificate indicates ligament damange in his right knee, requiring three weeks of recovery time. The withdrawal hands a default win to Ōnosato, who enters the final day of the tournament with a one-win lead over Hōshōryū.
  • 28: Ōnosato defeats fellow Hōshōryū in a playoff to clinch his first top division championship at sumo's highest rank, his third of 2025 and the fifth in his 2 1/2-year professional career. Coming into the last scheduled match of the tournament down by one win, Hōshōryū leveled himself with Ōnosato at 13 wins with a force out victory. In the first playoff between two since Asashōryū and Hakuhō in January 2009, Ōnosato was able to counter Hōshōryū's throwing strategy, winning by crush out. Despite finishing as the runner-up, Hōshōryū's performance was his best as since his elevation to the rank earlier this year. 21-year-old Ukrainian Aonishiki finishes with 11 wins for the fourth tournament in a row. He also takes home a special prize for the fourth tournament in a row, receiving his second Technique Prize. Other special prizes go to Takanoshō, who picks up his fifth Fighting Spirit Prize, and Hakuōhō, who despite securing just an 8-win record takes home the Outstanding Performance Prize, as he notched his second straight against Ōnosato during the tournament.
    New wrestler takes the championship in sumo's second-highest division with 13 wins.
  • 30: The Sumo Association announces the retirement of an unnamed belonging to Nishonoseki stable, who had been under investigation by Sumo's compliance committee for financial issues. A severe warning was issued to stablemaster Nishonoseki for lack of supervision.

October

  • 1: The Sumo Association formally announces the retirement of 15 wrestlers, among which is former Takarafuji. The 38-year-old spent over 16 years as a professional sumo competitor, with the last 15 years as a. He finished the recently concluded September tournament with five wins in, and was in danger of dropping to the next-lowest division. He will remain with Isegahama stable as a coach under the elder name Kiriyama.
    The Sumo Association also announces that four wrestlers will be promoted to the division, including two for the very first time. One of the new promotions is 22-year-old, who began his professional career in March of this year as a competitor after high placings in several amateur championships. Starting from the next tournament he will take the new Fujiryōga. The other new promotion is 21-year-old, who will take on the new Himukamaru. The native of Miyazaki Prefecture has competed in sumo for just under three years, with one lower-division title. Two others, former Kitanowaka and former, return to status following injury-related demotions earlier this year.
  • 2: The Sumo Association announces the promotions of supporting personnel, including, and . Among the, Katsuyuki and Shirō are promoted to the top positions of and, respectively. The promotions will take effect on 22 December, the date of the release of the January 2026.
  • 4: The retirement ceremony for former Takakeishō is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.
  • 5: The retirement ceremony for former Myōgiryū is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.
  • 6: Hōshōryū wins the All Japan Championship, a charity tournament organized by Meiji Shrine, winning the tournament for the first time in three years by defeating Ōnosato.
  • 7: The JSA is commemorating the centenary of its founding by organizing a special four-hour tournament at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. Named "Centennial Tournament — Ancient and Modern Sumo", the event is held as a tribute to sumo tournaments of the Heian period, with all participants wearing costumes from that era. It marked the first time in 30 years that the association had organized a tournament paying tribute to sumo wrestling from ancient times. Among the tournament's unique features are specific characteristics rarely seen in professional sumo. matches are held, with their ending traditionally stopping as a draw. A special demonstration match is also held with Hōshōryū wrestling against five other lower-ranked wrestlers. Wrestlers are introduced following the ceremony, usually reserved for tournaments attended by the emperor or crown prince. Finally, a performed by the two is held, a first since 2017 where the ceremony was performed by Hakuhō and Kisenosato. As a sporting entertainment, a tournament was held between teams formed according to, with the Dewanoumi A team emerging victorious. The event also features traditional dances from the repertoire, including an and, the latter concluding the event.
  • 15: A five-day tournament sanctioned by the Sumo Association begins at Royal Albert Hall in London. Ōnosato and Hōshōryū are among the winners on the first day, along with Ukrainian Aonishiki. It is the first time since 1991 that a professional sumo tour has taken place in London. Since then, attempts by the Sumo Association to return to London were cancelled twice: in 2009 during the global financial crisis, and in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • 19: The London sumo tournament is won by Hōshōryū, who beats fellow Ōnosato by rear push out in the final match to finish with a perfect 5-win record. Special prizes, usually awarded at the end of a 15-day grand sumo tournament, are awarded at the end of this competition: Takayasu wins the Fighting Spirit prize, Tobizaru wins the Outstanding Performance prize, and Ura wins the Technique prize. Additionally, Ura wins a special award as the audience favourite by way of an online vote held over the five days of the tournament.
  • 26: 41-year-old coach Kitajin retires and leave the Japan Sumo Association. His retirement is announced the next day.
  • 27: The for the final grand sumo tournament of the year is officially released. Aonishiki–who scored 11 wins and received a special prize in all four of his tournaments in the top division this year–is promoted to the rank of. Having reached the rank in 13 tournaments, this is the fastest promotion to the rank in sumo history, surpassing the previous record of 14 tournaments achieved by former Konishiki. Joining Aonishiki at is Ōhō, who returns to that rank for the first time since March of this year. Takanoshō is promoted to, returning to for the first time in over three years, while former Takayasu retains his rank despite finishing the previous tournament with seven wins. 24-year-old Kusano is listed on the at a personal best of 5 under the new ring name of Yoshinofuji. One wrestler is promoted from jūryō to the top division for the very first time: 24-year-old Ōshōumi, a professional sumo competitor of over five years with two lower-division championships. He had a nine-win performance in September at the top of sumo's second-highest division. Chiyoshōma returns to the top division after he was demoted in the last tournament. Nishikifuji is promoted again to the top division after three tournaments. With the relegation of Takerufuji to jūryō due to injury, Nishikifuji's promotion maintains a 142-year record of wrestlers from Aomori Prefecture ranked in sumo's top division.

November

  • 1: The Sumo Association announces the retirement from competition of former and two-time top division runner-up Endō. The 35-year-old had been forced to sit out of the last two tournaments due to injury, eventually falling out of status on the November. Endō officially assumes the elder name Kitajin, which had most recently been borrowed by Tenkaihō until his departure from the Sumo Association a week earlier.
  • 8: Former Meisei withdraws from the November tournament from the first day. His medical certificate with the Sumo Association indicates that he underwent surgery the previous month for a disc herniation, and will need one month of rehabilitation. Stablemaster Tatsunami says that there's a chance Meisei could participate midway through the tournament. During the second week of the tournament, it was reported that Meisei would be participating.
  • 23: Aonishiki becomes the first Ukrainian to take home the Emperor's Cup with his playoff victory at the November 2025 tournament. One day earlier, Aonishiki secured his 11th win of the meet with his third straight victory over Hōshōryū. He sat in a three-way tie for the lead with both Hōshōryū and Ōnosato, with the Sumo Association's Judging Department already scheduling an emergency meeting to discuss whether Aonishiki should be recommended for promotion to. Day 15 begins with the surprise injury withdrawal of Ōnosato due to a dislocated shoulder, which allows Hōshōryū to win their scheduled contest by default. Aonishiki ensures a playoff against Hōshōryū by defeating Kotozakura with the winning technique of . In the deciding match, Aonishiki wins by to remain undefeated versus Hōshōryū in four career contests. Aonishiki becomes the second-fastest to reach their maiden victory in the top division, doing so in 14 tournaments. At 21 years and 8 months of age, he is the fourth youngest to win the title in modern sumo history, while Ukraine becomes the seventh country in history to have produced a sumo champion in the top division. At the end of the tournament, it was announced that Aonishiki's performance of 34 wins over three tournaments–the last two at ranks–was good enough for the Judging Department to recommend Aonishiki's promotion to, which will be discussed at a Sumo Association meeting on 26 November. Aonishiki took home his first Outstanding Performance prize and his third Technique prize, tying Ōnosato by collecting a special prize in each of his first five tournaments in the top division. Former Kirishima, seeking to return to status after having just been demoted, finishes with 11 wins and his third Fighting Spirit prize. Another former, Takayasu, will hold on to his ranking following his eighth tournament victory. Yoshinofuji, who lost to Takayasu on Day 15, finishes with nine wins. The former Kusano also collected his first career gold star during the tournament, and wins his second Technique Prize. The last of the special prizes goes to Ichiyamamoto, who collects his second Fighting Spirit prize. Despite pulling out on the last day, Ōnosato finishes 2025 with 71 victories, the most in the top division, along with two playoff wins.
    New jūryō competitor takes home the championship in sumo's second-highest division with a 13–2 record.
  • 26: The Sumo Association unanimously approves Aonishiki's promotion to the rank of. In his customary acceptance speech, Aonishiki says that he will strive to live up to his new rank and "aim even higher."
    Three promotions to are announced. Moving up to sumo's second-highest division for the first time is 24-year-old, a Nihon University graduate who won several amateur sumo titles and took home three professional championships in the lower divisions since returning from injury in May of this year. The other first-time promotion is 24-year-old Mongolian, a six-year veteran with one championship in early in his career. 25-year-old Mongolian returns to jūryō after having just been demoted.
  • 27: The Sumo Association approves the transfer of Tokiwayama stable from former Takamisugi, who will turn the mandatory retirement age of 65 in March of next year, to Minatogawa. The stable name will change to Minatogawa stable on the transfer date of 26 January 2026.

December

  • 22: The Sumo Association publishes the for the first grand sumo tournament of 2026, to be held next month in Tokyo. The tournament sees new Aonishiki listed alongside Kotozakura, marking the first time since Ōnosato's promotion at the end of May that two wrestlers are at sumo's second-highest rank. Former Kirishima jumps from 2 to after an 11-win performance in November, marking his return to that rank after having just been demoted from it. Joining him at is another former, 35-year-old veteran Takayasu, who returns to sumo's third-highest rank for the first time in three years. Wakamotoharu returns to the ranks for the first time since last January, ranked at. The other competitor is Ōhō, who drops from. Ichiyamamoto and Yoshinofuji each secure personal bests with their promotions to the top of the division. Former Asanoyama returns to the top division for the first time since July 2024. He becomes the first wrestler in history to drop from the top division to the third lowest division, and then return to the top division, on two separate occasions. There are also two new promotions to the top division: The first is 26-year-old Mongolian, who notched back-to-back lower-division championships in 2025. The other is 26-year-old, a entrant from March 2022 with one lower-division title. Also of note in the rankings as a whole is the change in for nine wrestlers at Isegahama stable, who adopt the stable's traditional suffix of. Eight of those are formerly associated with Miyagino stable, including the -ranked Hakuōhō, who now goes by the name of Hakunofuji.
  • 25: The Sumo Association announces disciplinary action against stablemaster Kise, demoting him in sumo's hierarchy over an incident in which a Kise stable wrestler in the lower divisions punched a fellow wrestler while they were in Kyushu for the November 2025 tournament. The Sumo Association accepted the retirement of the attacking wrestler, adding that they would have imposed a two-tournament suspension had he stayed, while Kise was cited for violation of supervisory duties.
The winter jungyō will be held at the following locations:

Deaths