2016 in sumo

Last updated September 17, 2023

The following were the events in professional sumo during 2016.

Tournaments

Hatsu basho

Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 10 January – 24 January^[1]

2016 Hatsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
12	-	3	-	0		Harumafuji	Y		Hakuho	12	-	3	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Kakuryū	Y	ø
9	-	6	-	0		Kisenosato	O	ø	Terunofuji	3	-	3	-	9
14	-	1	-	0		Kotoshogiku	O		Gōeidō	4	-	11	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Tochiozan	S		Yoshikaze	8	-	7	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Ikioi	K		Tochinoshin	6	-	9	-	0
6	-	8	-	1		Aminishiki	M1		Shōhōzan	5	-	10	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Takarafuji	M2		Aoiyama	7	-	8	-	0
2	-	13	-	0		Ichinojō	M3		Kaisei	5	-	10	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Kyokushūhō	M4		Kotoyūki	9	-	6	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø	Ōsunaarashi	M5		Sōkokurai	8	-	7	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Tokushōryū	M6		Okinoumi	10	-	5	-	0
12	-	3	-	0		Toyonoshima	M7		Tamawashi	5	-	10	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Myōgiryū	M8		Takayasu	11	-	4	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Sadanoumi	M9		Gagamaru	7	-	8	-	0
5	-	7	-	3		Chiyootori	M10		Mitakeumi	5	-	8	-	2
1	-	6	-	8	ø	Endō	M11		Amūru	7	-	8	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Chiyotairyū	M12		Shodai	10	-	5	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Takekaze	M13		Takanoiwa	9	-	6	-	0
2	-	4	-	9	ø	Jōkōryū	M14		Toyohibiki	8	-	7	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Homarefuji	M15		Kitataiki	7	-	8	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Kagayaki	M16

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Haru basho

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 13 March – 27 March^[1]

2016 Haru basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
9	-	6	-	0		Harumafuji	Y		Hakuho	14	-	1	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Kakuryū	Y	ø
8	-	7	-	0		Kotoshogiku	O		Kisenosato	13	-	2	-	0
12	-	3	-	0		Gōeidō	O		Terunofuji	8	-	7	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Yoshikaze	S		Toyonoshima	3	-	12	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Tochiozan	K		Takarafuji	6	-	9	-	0
12	-	3	-	0		Kotoyūki	M1		Takayasu	5	-	10	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Okinoumi	M2		Tochinoshin	6	-	9	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Aoiyama	M3		Aminishiki	7	-	8	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Ikioi	M4		Sōkokurai	5	-	8	-	2
6	-	9	-	0		Kyokushūhō	M5		Shōhōzan	4	-	11	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Myōgiryū	M6		Shodai	9	-	6	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Takekaze	M7		Kaisei	11	-	4	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Takanoiwa	M8		Chiyotairyū	3	-	12	-	0
3	-	12	-	0		Toyohibiki	M9		Sadanoumi	7	-	8	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Gagamaru	M10		Tamawashi	9	-	6	-	0
11	-	4	-	0		Ichinojō	M11		Amūru	7	-	8	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Tokushōryū	M12		Hidenoumi	7	-	8	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Chiyootori	M13		Mitakeumi	10	-	5	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Daishōmaru	M14		Daieisho	10	-	5	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Satoyama	M15		Kitataiki	3	-	12	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Akiseyama	M16

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Natsu basho

Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 8 May – 22 May^[1]

2016 Natsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
15	-	0	-	0		Hakuho	Y		Kakuryū	11	-	4	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Harumafuji	Y	ø
13	-	2	-	0		Kisenosato	O		Gōeidō	9	-	6	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Kotoshogiku	O		Terunofuji	2	-	13	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Kotoyūki	S		Ikioi	4	-	11	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kaisei	K		Okinoumi	6	-	9	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Myōgiryū	M1		Takarafuji	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Shodai	M2		Ichinojō	5	-	10	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Aoiyama	M3	ø	Aminishiki	1	-	2	-	12
7	-	8	-	0		Yoshikaze	M4		Tochinoshin	10	-	5	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Tochiozan	M5		Takayasu	9	-	6	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Takanoiwa	M6		Tamawashi	4	-	11	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Toyonoshima	M7		Ōsunaarashi	9	-	6	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø	Kyokushūhō	M8		Mitakeumi	11	-	4	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Sōkokurai	M9		Daieisho	6	-	9	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Sadanoumi	M10		Tokushōryū	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Chiyootori	M11		Shōhōzan	11	-	4	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Takekaze	M12		Amūru	3	-	8	-	4
9	-	6	-	0		Daishōmaru	M13		Hidenoumi	5	-	10	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Nishikigi	M14		Seirō	5	-	10	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Gagamaru	M15		Endō	11	-	4	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Chiyotairyū	M16

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Nagoya basho

Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, 10 July – 24 July^[1]

2016 Nagoya basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
10	-	5	-	0		Hakuho	Y	ø	Kakuryū	2	-	2	-	11
13	-	2	-	0		Harumafuji	Y	ø
12	-	3	-	0		Kisenosato	O	ø	Kotoshogiku	1	-	6	-	8
7	-	8	-	0		Gōeidō	O		Terunofuji	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Kaisei	S		Tochinoshin	6	-	9	-	0
2	-	13	-	0		Kotoyūki	K		Takayasu	11	-	4	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Mitakeumi	M1		Tochiozan	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Okinoumi	M2		Takarafuji	10	-	5	-	0
0	-	1	-	14	ø	Ōsunaarashi	M3		Myōgiryū	7	-	8	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Shōhōzan	M4		Ikioi	5	-	10	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Shodai	M5		Yoshikaze	10	-	5	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Aoiyama	M6		Endō	3	-	12	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Ichinojō	M7		Daishōmaru	7	-	8	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Chiyoōtori	M8		Takekaze	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	5	-	2	ø	Chiyonokuni	M9		Sōkokurai	6	-	9	-	0
12	-	3	-	0		Takanoiwa	M10		Sadanoumi	7	-	8	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø	Toyonoshima	M11		Daieisho	5	-	10	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Tamawashi	M12		Tokushōryū	6	-	9	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Toyohibiki	M13	ø	Aminishiki	0	-	0	-	15
7	-	8	-	0		Kagayaki	M14		Nishikigi	9	-	6	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Kitaharima	M15		Sadanofuji	4	-	11	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Arawashi	M16

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Aki basho

Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 11 September – 25 September^[1]

2016 Aki basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
12	-	3	-	0		Harumafuji	Y	ø	Hakuho	0	-	0	-	15
10	-	5	-	0		Kakuryū	Y	ø
10	-	5	-	0		Kisenosato	O		Terunofuji	4	-	11	-	0
15	-	0	-	0		Gōeidō	O		Kotoshogiku	9	-	6	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Takayasu	S		Takarafuji	4	-	11	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Kaisei	K		Tochiozan	7	-	8	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Okinoumi	M1		Yoshikaze	7	-	8	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Tochinoshin	M2		Shodai	7	-	8	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Takanoiwa	M3	ø	Ichinojō	0	-	0	-	15
5	-	10	-	0		Myōgiryū	M4	ø	Chiyoōtori	1	-	10	-	4
9	-	6	-	0		Aoiyama	M5		Mitakeumi	10	-	5	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Chiyonokuni	M6		Tamawashi	10	-	5	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Shōhōzan	M7		Ikioi	7	-	8	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Daishōmaru	M8		Kotoyūki	10	-	5	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Nishikigi	M9		Takekaze	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Arawashi	M10		Sadanoumi	8	-	7	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Sōkokurai	M11	ø	Homarefuji	0	-	4	-	11
5	-	10	-	0		Gagamaru	M12		Chiyoshōma	8	-	7	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Amakaze	M13		Toyohibiki	6	-	9	-	0
13	-	2	-	0		Endō	M14		Kagayaki	9	-	6	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Tokushōryū	M15		Kyokushūhō	8	-	7	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Daieisho	M16

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Kyushu basho

Fukuoka Kokusai Center, Kyushu, 13 November – 27 November^[1]

2016 Kyushu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
11	-	4	-	0		Harumafuji	Y		Kakuryū	14	-	1	-	0
11	-	4	-	0		Hakuho	Y	ø
9	-	6	-	0		Gōeidō	O		Kisenosato	12	-	3	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Kotoshogiku	O		Terunofuji	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Takayasu	S		Okinoumi	5	-	10	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Mitakeumi	K		Tamawashi	10	-	5	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Tochiozan	M1		Aoiyama	4	-	11	-	0
3	-	12	-	0		Kaisei	M2		Yoshikaze	6	-	9	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Endō	M3		Shodai	11	-	4	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Kotoyūki	M4		Chiyonokuni	5	-	10	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Shōhōzan	M5		Takarafuji	9	-	6	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Nishikigi	M6		Tochinoshin	10	-	5	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Takekaze	M7		Takanoiwa	6	-	9	-	0
3	-	12	-	0		Sadanoumi	M8		Ikioi	10	-	5	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Myōgiryū	M9		Kagayaki	6	-	9	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Chiyoshōma	M10		Arawashi	11	-	4	-	0
3	-	12	-	0		Kyokushūhō	M11		Hokutofuji	9	-	6	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Daishōmaru	M12		Chiyoōtori	6	-	9	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Hidenoumi	M13		Ichinojō	7	-	8	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Sōkokurai	M14		Chiyotairyū	7	-	8	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Ishiura	M15		Toyohibiki	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Gagamaru	M16

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

News

January

7: Yokozuna Hakuhō, Harumafuji and Kakuryū perform the hono dohyo-iri or New Year ring-entering ceremony before crowds at the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo.^[2]
10: Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko attend the first day of the New Year tournament in Tokyo, and express their sadness over the recent death of the Sumo Association chairman, Kitanoumi.^[3]
24: Kotoshōgiku defeats all three yokozuna to win his first top division championship, becoming the first Japanese born wrestler to win the top division championship since Tochiazuma in 2006.^[4] He finishes with a 14–1 record. His only defeat is to maegashira Toyonoshima. Toyonoshima is the runner-up on 12–3, shared with Hakuhō and Harumafuji. Toyonoshima is also given the Outstanding Performance award. The Fighting Spirit Award goes to Shōdai, who scores 10–5 on his top division debut. Yoshikaze achieves an 8–7 record in his sekiwake debut. Hidenoumi, two tournaments after being demoted to jūryō, gets his first sekitori championship with an 11–4 record and will be promoted back to the top division next tournament. Two promising young Japanese wrestlers, Jokoryu (2–4–9) and Endo (1–6–8), both pull out through injury and will be demoted to the second division. Ōzeki Terunofuji also withdraws and will be kadoban in March, alongside Gōeidō who scores only 4–11.

February

7: The 40th Fuji TV Grand Sumo exhibition tournament takes place at the Kokugikan. In addition to the usual knock-out tournament featuring active wrestlers (won by Hakuho who defeats Harumafuji in the final), there are three matches featuring oyakata: Takamisakari (Furiwake Oyakata) vs Hōmashō (Tatsutagawa), Kyokutenhō (Oshima) vs Tokitsuumi (Tokitsukaze), and Kotoōshū (Naruto) vs Kotonishiki (Asahiyama).
29 The banzuke for the upcoming tournament in Osaka is released. Toyonoshima returns to the sekiwake rank for the first time since 2012. There are two makuuchi debutants, amateur champion Daishōmaru and journeyman Akiseyama, while Satoyama, Daieishō and Hidenoumi return to the top division. Ōsunaarashi, Jokoryu and Endo lose makuuchi status due to absence through injury, as do Homarefuji and Kagayaki. There are no new sekitori, but Shōtenrō returns to juryo at the expense of Tokitenkū, who is having treatment for lymphoma.

March

24: Shibatayama Oyakata and one of his wrestlers are ordered by the Tokyo District Court to pay 32.4 million yen (287,500 USD) in compensation to a former wrestler who the court ruled had faced "daily abuse" since joining in 2008 and had to undergo four surgeries for a detached retina, eventually losing sight in the eye in 2013. Shibatayama says he will appeal the ruling.^{[ citation needed ]}
26: On the final day of the Osaka tournament, Hakuho wins his 36th yusho, and first since July 2015 in Nagoya, by sidestepping Harumafuji at the initial charge. Having won fourteen straight matches after an opening day defeat to Takarafuji, he finishes on 14–1, one win ahead of ozeki Kisenosato on 13–2. Gōeidō has his best tournament as an ozeki, with a 12–3 score. Kotoshogiku, by contrast, finishes on 8–7, his yokozuna hopes dashed. The Outstanding Performance Award goes to Kotoyuki who scores 12–3 and has defeated a yokozuna and two ozeki. Ikioi scores 10–5 but fails to win on the final day and so misses out on the Fighting Spirit Prize. Osunaarashi wins the juryo division championship with a 13–2 record, ensuring his immediate return to makuuchi. The makushita champion is won by Satō with a perfect 7–0 record, guaranteeing his promotion to juryo next time.
28: The results of elections to the Sumo Association's board of directors are announced. Hakkaku Oyakata is confirmed as chairman, a position he has already been in since the death of the previous incumbent Kitanoumi in November last year. His only rival for the post, Takanohana, receives the backing of only two directors, with Hakkaku winning the support of six.
30: The various roles of the new board are announced. Oguruma Oyakata is the senior executive manager, Nishonoseki is the new head of the judging department, replacing Isegahama, Takanohana is in charge of jungyo (regional tours), Kasugano is head of PR, and Kagamiyama will head the planning department.
30: Promotions to juryo are announced. Joining Sato are Ura, a former amateur competitor from Kwansei Gakuin University, and the returning Tamaasuka, a veteran who is being promoted to juryo for the seventh time.

April

The spring regional tour visits the following locations:
- 3: Ise Shrine (Honozumo ceremonial tournament held in the shine’s precincts), Mie Prefecture
- 4: Iga, Mie Prefecture
- 5: Izumisano, Osaka Prefecture
- 6: Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture
- 7: Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture
- 8: Tatebayashi, Gunma Prefecture
- 9: Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture
- 10: Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture
- 12: Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture
- 13: Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture
- 14: Machida, Tokyo
- 16: Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture
- 17: Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture
- 18:Yasukuni Shrine (Honozumo ceremonial tournament held in the shrine’s precincts), Tokyo
- 19: Saku, Nagano Prefecture
- 20: Toyama, Toyama Prefecture
25: The banzuke for the May tournament is released. Ikioi and Kotoyuki both make their debuts at sekiwake.^[5] Kaisei becomes the first wrestler from Brazil to reach komusubi.^[5] Nishikigi will make his top division debut, while Osunaarashi, Endo and Seiro all return.^[5]

May

22: Hakuho wins his 37th championship with a perfect 15–0 record, his twelfth zensho-yusho (and first since January 2015). Kisenosato is once again runner-up, with a 13–2 score. He is the first ozeki to win at least thirteen bouts in two consecutive tournaments and not get promoted to yokozuna since Hakuho in 2006.^[6] Tochinoshin wins his first Technique Prize, while the Fighting Spirit Award goes to Mitakeumi. Terunofuji, struggling with injuries, loses 13 consecutive matches from Day 3 onwards and finishes on 2–13, equal to the worst ever record for an ozeki. The juryo division championship is won by Chiyonokuni.

June

27: The rankings for the upcoming July tournament in Nagoya are released. As in May there are two wrestlers making their debuts at sekiwake, Tochinoshin and Kaisei. This is the first time since 1943/44 that there have been two consecutive tournaments featuring two sekiwake debuts.^[6] Kitaharima makes his top division debut 85 tournaments after his professional debut, the ninth-slowest in history.^[7] Chiyonokuni returns to the top division for the first time in 13 tournaments, having at one point dropped to the rank of sandanme 28 – the second lowest rank that a wrestler making a successful makuuchi return has fallen since World War II.^[7] Toyohibiki, Kagayaki, Sadanofuji and Arawashi also return to the top division. Making their juryo debuts are Daiki and Shimanoumi (formerly Hamaguchi), while Onosho, Kyokutaisei and Kotoeko return.

July

24: On the final day of the Nagoya tournament, Harumafuji wins his eighth career championship by defeating Hakuho (10–5) to finish on 13–2, avoiding the need for a playoff with maegashira Takanoiwa and yokozuna candidate Kisenosato, who are runners-up on 12–3.^[8] With 38 wins over the last three tournaments, Kisenosato will be in contention for promotion once again next time if he wins the championship.^[9] The Fighting Spirit Award is shared between Takanoiwa and Takarafuji, who scores 10–5 and also brought to an end Hakuho's winning streak on Day 5. Both are first time winners. Yoshikaze, who defeated Harumafuji, wins his second Outstanding Performance Prize. Takayasu wins his first Technique Award.
31: The 58th Yokozuna Chiyonofuji, Kokonoe Oyakata, dies of pancreatic cancer at the age of 61.^[10] He won 31 career championships, third on the all-time list behind Hakuho's 37 and Taiho's 32. 19 of his championships were won after the age of 30, and he also set records for longest post-war winning streak (53 bouts) and most career wins (1045).^[10]
31: The summer tour begins in Gifu.

August

The summer tour visits the following locations:
- 2: Fukui, Fukui Prefecture
- 4: Tachikawa, Tokyo Prefecture
- 5: Tamura, Fukushima Prefecture
- 6: Tainai, Niigata Prefecture
- 7: Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture
- 8: Shirakawa, Fukushima Prefecture
- 9: Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture
- 10: Fukushima, Fukushima Prefecture
- 11: Sagae, Yamagata Prefecture
- 12–13: Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture
- 14: Morioka, Iwate Prefecture
- 16: Akita, Akita Prefecture
- 17: Hirakawa, Aomori Prefecture
- 18: Osaki, Miyagi Prefecture
- 19: Hakodate, Hokkaido Prefecture
- 20: Tomakomai, Hokkaido Prefecture
- 21: Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture
- 25–26: Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture
- 27: Higashimatsuyama, Saitama Prefecture
- 28: KITTE Basho, Tokyo Prefecture

3: Former ozeki Chiyotaikai takes over as stablemaster of Kokonoe stable following the death of Chiyonofuji, changing his name from Sanoyama to Kokonoe Oyakata.^[11]
7: The funeral of Chiyonofuji is held at Kokonoe stable, with around 1000 guests attending.^[12]
26: Tokitenkū, who has been absent from the dohyo since November 2015 because of ongoing treatment for malignant lymphoma, announces his retirement.^[13] He is staying in sumo as a coach at Tokitsukaze stable, under the name Magaki Oyakata. After acquiring Japanese citizenship he had purchased the toshiyori or elder stock from former yokozuna Wakanohana Kanji II in May 2014, the first Mongolian born wrestler to do this (Kyokutenho had made arrangements with his stablemaster Oshima Oyakata to inherit the Oshima stock and so had no need to make a purchase.).
29: The banzuke for the September 2016 tournament is released. Both Goeido and Kotoshogiku are kadoban, or in danger of demotion from ozeki rank. There are two new sekiwake (Takayasu and Takarafuji) for the third straight tournament.^[14] Chiyoshoma and Amakaze make their top division debuts, while Homarefuji, Gagamaru, and Kyokushuho return. There are no juryo debuts, but Kizenryu and Wakanoshima return to the paid ranks. Makuuchi veterans Toyonoshima and Aminishiki drop to juryo through injury, as does Osunaarashi.

September

9: Hakuho announces that he will undergo surgery on the toe injury that hampered him from the ninth day of the Nagoya basho and led to his withdrawal from the forthcoming Aki tournament.^[15] He was carrying a number of other injuries that he aggravated on the summer tour – a damaged tendon, inflammation to his right ankle, and left knee joint derangement according to a medical certificate released by the Sumo Association.^[15]
25: Goeido, who clinched his first top division championship with victory over Tamawashi on the 14th day, defeats Kotoshogiku to finish with a perfect 15–0 record or zensho yusho. He is the first ozeki who was kadoban, or in danger of demotion, to take the yusho with an undefeated record and the first since Musashimaru in 1994 to claim his first championship 15–0.^[16] He is also the first Japanese wrestler in exactly 20 years to zensho-yusho, the last being Takanohana. Runner-up on 13–2 is Endo, who is awarded the Technique Prize. Okinoumi, who defeated both yokozuna and three ozeki, gets the Outstanding Performance Award, while Takayasu is rewarded for a 10–5 performance in his sekiwake debut with the Fighting Spirit Prize. In the juryo division, Daiki takes the yusho with a 12–3 record. Kizenryu will be demoted back to the makushita division after he can score only 5–10 at Juryo 11 – this is the fifth time out of five that he has lasted only one tournament in juryo, a record.
28: The wrestlers promoted to the juryo division for November are announced. There are three newcomers: Oyanagi of Tokitsukaze stable, Daishoho (Oitekaze) and Meisei (Tatsunami). Also, former maegashira Yamaguchi (who fell to sandanme) and former Juryo 12 Ryuden (who fell to jonokuchi) return.

October

The autumn tour visits the following locations:
- 5: Sosa, Chiba
- 6: Chiba, Chiba
- 7: Iruma, Saitama
- 8: Saitama, Saitama
- 9: Kofu, Yamanashi
- 10: Tsuchiura, Ibaraki
- 14: Toyohashi, Aichi
- 15: Kanazawa, Ishikawa
- 16: Osaka, Osaka
- 18: Wakayama, Wakayama
- 19: Yokkaichi, Mie
- 20: Kyoto, Kyoto
- 21: Kobe, Hyogo
- 22: Kōchi, Kōchi
- 23: Matsuyama, Ehime
- 24: Tokushima, Tokushima
- 25: Takamatsu, Kagawa
- 26: Shobara, Hiroshima
- 27: Izumo, Shimane
- 28: Kurashiki, Okayama
- 29: Hiroshima, Hiroshima
- 30: Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi
31: The banzuke for the Kyushu tournament is released. Mitakeumi makes his sanyaku debut at komusubi. Hokutōfuji (formerly known as Daiki) and Ishiura make their makuuchi debuts, while Hidenoumi and Chiyotairyu return. Hokutofuji reached makuuchi ten tournaments after his professional debut, which is the equal second fastest rise since the six tournaments a year system was established in 1958. Former maegashira Yamaguchi [ ja ] returns to the juryo division after 15 tournaments having fallen to Sandanme 65, but he is outdone by Ryūden, who returns to juryo after 24 tournaments having fallen to Jonokuchi 17, the third lowest rank ever before a successful juryo return. Oyanagi, Meisei and the Mongolian Daishoho make their juryo debuts. Oyanagi is the first sandanme tsukedashi entrant to reach juryo.

November

Banners announcing the Kyushu 2016 tournament [yori] noLi .jpg — Banners announcing the Kyushu 2016 tournament

26:Kakuryu wins the Kyushu tournament, defeating ozeki Goeido to move to an unassailable two-win lead, having seen his closest rival Harumafuji lose to Hakuhō in the match immediately preceding his.^[17] He hands Goeido, who had been looking for yokozuna promotion at the start of the tournament, his fifth defeat.
27: Kakuryu defeats Harumafuji to finish with a 14–1 record. He wins his third Emperor's Cup, and second from the yokozuna rank. The runner-up is Kisenosato for the 12th time, which is a record for someone who has never won a yusho. Kisenosato also finishes with the highest number of wins for the calendar year with 69; no one else has achieved this without winning a tournament in the six basho a year era. Third place is shared by a number of wrestlers on 11–4, including Harumafuji, Hakuhō, and Shōdai, who shares the Fighting Spirit Prize with Ishiura. Isihiura had a ten bout winning streak on his top division debut, and finishes on 10–5.^[18] The Technique Award goes to Tamawashi; it is his first ever special prize after 44 top division tournaments. He also denies Endō, who had beaten a yokozuna and three ozeki, the Outstanding Performance Award by sending him to his eighth defeat. Goeido, the winner of the previous tournament, finishes on a mediocre 9–6 while Kotoshogiku will be kadoban in January after scoring only 5–10. The juryo division championship is won by Satō. In the sandanme division former komusubi Jōkōryū begins his comeback from injury by taking the championship with a perfect 7–0 record.

December

The winter tour visits the following locations:
- 4: Oita, Oita
- 5: Nakatsu, Oita
- 6: Nogata, Fukuoka
- 7: Sasebo, Nagasaki
- 8: Omuta, Fukuoka
- 9: Amakusa, Kumamoto
- 10: Kumamoto, Kumamoto
- 11: Miyakonojo, Miyazaki
- 13: Saga, Saga
- 15: Amami, Kagoshima
- 17–18: Ginowan, Okinawa
- 20–21: Miyakojima, Okinawa

26: The banzuke for the Hatsu tournament in Tokyo next year is released. There is a newcomer to the juryo division, Terutsuyoshi, who is attracting attention because he was born on the same day as the Kobe earthquake – January 17, 1995.^[19] He becomes the sixth current sekitori from Isegahama stable. There are two wrestlers making their sekiwake debuts – Tamawashi, who took 77 career tournaments to make the rank, and Shodai, who took just 17, the second quickest after Konishiki.^[20] There are also two wrestlers making their top division debuts – Takakeishō, formerly known as Sato, and Chiyoō.^[20]

Deaths

10 March: Former maegashira 2 Kotowaka [ ja ], aged 61, of gallbladder cancer.

Related Research Articles

Hakuhō Shō is a former professional sumo wrestler (rikishi) from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Making his debut in March 2001, he reached the top makuuchi division in May 2004. In May 2007, at the age of 22, he became the second native of Mongolia, and the fourth non-Japanese overall, to be promoted to the highest rank in sumo, yokozuna.

Hōmashō Noriyuki, is a former sumo wrestler. He turned professional in March 2004 and reached the top makuuchi division in May 2006 as the first sekitori from Shikoroyama stable, without any losing scores on his record. His highest rank was komusubi. He earned seven special prizes in his top division career and was a runner-up in three tournaments. In March 2014 he took the championship in the jūryō division. Hōmashō was a popular wrestler among sumo fans, and was noted for his deep and graceful bow at the end of a match. Upon his retirement in January 2015 he became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name of Tatsutagawa.

Kotoshōgiku Kazuhiro is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler. Wrestling for Sadogatake stable, he made his professional debut in 2002, and reached the top division in 2005. In 2011 he achieved the standard for promotion to the second highest rank of ōzeki by winning 33 bouts over three tournaments, and was formally promoted by the Japan Sumo Association on 28 September.

Toyonoshima Daiki is a former professional sumo wrestler from Sukumo, Kōchi, Japan. He made his professional debut in January 2002, reaching the top makuuchi division in September 2004. He was a runner-up in five tournaments, and earned ten special prizes. His highest rank was sekiwake, which he first reached in September 2008 and held for five tournaments in total. Following a suspension in July 2010 he was demoted to the jūryō division, but upon his return to makuuchi in November 2010 he took part in a playoff for the championship. He won four kinboshi or gold stars awarded for yokozuna upsets, three of them earned by defeating Harumafuji from 2013 to 2015. He wrestled for Tokitsukaze stable. He retired in 2020 and was an elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name of Izutsu-oyakata until his departure from the association in January 2023.

Kakuryū Rikisaburō is a former professional sumo wrestler from Sükhbaatar Province, Mongolia. He was a member of the top makuuchi division from November 2006 until his retirement in March 2021, and was the 71st yokozuna in history.

Tochiōzan Yūichirō is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Aki, Kōchi. He made his professional debut in January 2005 and reached the top makuuchi division in March 2007, retiring in July 2020. At one point he was regarded as one of the most promising Japanese rikishi during a period of domination by foreign born wrestlers. His highest rank was sekiwake. His best performance came in May 2012 when he tied with Kyokutenhō after fifteen days but was beaten in a play-off. He earned six special prizes for his achievements in tournaments and six gold stars for defeating yokozuna. He made twenty-five appearances in the san'yaku ranks.

Yoshikaze Masatsugu is a former sumo wrestler from Saiki, Oita Prefecture, Japan. His highest rank was sekiwake. A former amateur sumo champion, he turned professional in 2004, reaching the top division two years later. Until his promotion to komusubi in May 2014 he had the active record for the longest serving makuuchi wrestler who had never reached a titled rank. His best performance in a tournament came in July 2015 when he was the runner-up and scored twelve wins against three losses. In the following tournament in September 2015 he defeated two yokozuna and won special prizes for Outstanding Performance and Technique. Yoshikaze is in second place for the slowest promotion from makuuchi debut to the third highest sekiwake rank in history, behind only his stablemate Takekaze. He won ten special prizes in total, and eight gold stars for defeating yokozuna. He retired in September 2019 and is now an elder of the Japan Sumo Association, known as Nakamura Oyakata.

Gōeidō Gōtarō is a former sumo wrestler from Osaka Prefecture, Japan. He made his professional debut in January 2005 and reached the top makuuchi division in September 2007. Long regarded as one of the most promising Japanese wrestlers in sumo, Gōeidō holds the modern record for the most consecutive appearances at sumo's third highest rank of sekiwake, at 14 tournaments. He was finally promoted to the rank of ōzeki following the July 2014 tournament, after scores of twelve wins against three losses in two of the previous three tournaments. However, he only managed to win ten or more bouts in a tournament as an ōzeki on six occasions, and was kadoban, or in danger of demotion, eight times. He won his only top division tournament in September 2016 with a perfect 15–0 record and was a runner-up seven times in his career. He retired in January 2020 after two consecutive losing records that would have seen him demoted, to become an elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name of Takekuma.

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2009.

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2007.

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2005.

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2010.

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2011.

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2012.

2014 in sumo saw the traditional six major tournaments or basho held in January, March, May, July, September and November as usual. The yokozuna Hakuhō won five of the six tournaments taking his total of yūshō to 32 to equal the record of Taihō. Kakuryū's victory in March saw him promoted to become the sport's 71st yokozuna. Consistent performances at the rank of sekiwake saw Gōeidō being promoted to ōzeki for the September tournament. The most notable retirement was that of the former ōzeki Kotoōshū.

The following were the events in professional sumo during 2015.

The following were the events in professional sumo during 2017.

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2018.

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2019.

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2020.

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 "Grand Tournament Schedule". Japan Sumo Association.
↑ "Top sumo wrestlers stomp in new year". Reuters. 7 January 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
↑ "Imperial couple in the audience on Day 1 of New Year sumo tournament". AJW/Asahi Shimbun. 11 January 2016. Archived from the original on 25 January 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
↑ "SUMO/ Kotoshogiku triumphs on Day 15 to become first Japan-born champion in 10 years". AJW/Asahi Shimbun. 24 January 2016. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
1 2 3 "Kotoyuki, Ikioi reach sekiwake rank". Japan Times. 25 April 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
1 2 "2016 July Grand Sumo Tournament Banzuke Topics". Japan Sumo Association. July 2016. Archived from the original on July 7, 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
1 2 "2016 July Grand Sumo Tournament Banzuke Topics – Tables" (PDF). Japan Sumo Association. July 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
↑ "SUMO/ Harumafuji beats Hakuho to claim 8th title". Asahi Shimbun. 24 July 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
↑ "Harumafuji captures title at Nagoya Basho". Japan Times. 24 July 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
1 2 "Sumo great former yokozuna Chiyonofuji dies at age 61". Asahi Shimbun. 1 August 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
↑ "Sumo: Former ozeki Chiyotaikai takes over as stablemaster Kokonoe". The Mainichi. 3 August 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-08-19. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
↑ "Hundreds gather to pay final respects to late yokozuna Chiyonofuji". Japan Times. 7 August 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
↑ "Tokitenku accepts retirement due to cancer battle". Japan Times. 29 August 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
↑ "2016 September Grand Sumo Tournament Banzuke Topics". Japan Sumo Association. Archived from the original on 3 September 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
1 2 "Hakuho to undergo toe surgery". Japan Times. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
↑ "Goeido makes history with unbeaten record in tournament win". Reuters. 25 September 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
↑ "SUMO/ Yokozuna Kakuryu wins Kyushu tourney on 14th day". Asahi Shimbun. 26 November 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
↑ "Yokozuna Kakuryu caps Kyushu title with final-day win". Japan Times. 27 November 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
↑ "Born on day of 1995 Hanshin quake, sumo wrestler Terutsuyoshi feels heavy responsibility". The Mainichi. November 30, 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
1 2 "Sumo: Sekiwake debutants add contrast to New Year tourney". The Mainichi. 26 December 2016. Archived from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2017.

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[tournaments-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Grand Tournament Schedule". Japan Sumo Association.

[2] "Top sumo wrestlers stomp in new year". Reuters. 7 January 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2016.

[3] "Imperial couple in the audience on Day 1 of New Year sumo tournament". AJW/Asahi Shimbun. 11 January 2016. Archived from the original on 25 January 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2016.

[4] "SUMO/ Kotoshogiku triumphs on Day 15 to become first Japan-born champion in 10 years". AJW/Asahi Shimbun. 24 January 2016. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2016.

[sekiwake-5] 1 2 3 "Kotoyuki, Ikioi reach sekiwake rank". Japan Times. 25 April 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.

[topics-6] 1 2 "2016 July Grand Sumo Tournament Banzuke Topics". Japan Sumo Association. July 2016. Archived from the original on July 7, 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2016.

[tables-7] 1 2 "2016 July Grand Sumo Tournament Banzuke Topics – Tables" (PDF). Japan Sumo Association. July 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2016.

[8] "SUMO/ Harumafuji beats Hakuho to claim 8th title". Asahi Shimbun. 24 July 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.

[9] "Harumafuji captures title at Nagoya Basho". Japan Times. 24 July 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.

[asahi-10] 1 2 "Sumo great former yokozuna Chiyonofuji dies at age 61". Asahi Shimbun. 1 August 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2016.

[chiyotaikai-11] "Sumo: Former ozeki Chiyotaikai takes over as stablemaster Kokonoe". The Mainichi. 3 August 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-08-19. Retrieved 10 August 2016.

[12] "Hundreds gather to pay final respects to late yokozuna Chiyonofuji". Japan Times. 7 August 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2016.

[13] "Tokitenku accepts retirement due to cancer battle". Japan Times. 29 August 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2017.

[14] "2016 September Grand Sumo Tournament Banzuke Topics". Japan Sumo Association. Archived from the original on 3 September 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016.

[surgery-15] 1 2 "Hakuho to undergo toe surgery". Japan Times. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016.

[16] "Goeido makes history with unbeaten record in tournament win". Reuters. 25 September 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2016.

[17] "SUMO/ Yokozuna Kakuryu wins Kyushu tourney on 14th day". Asahi Shimbun. 26 November 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2016.

[18] "Yokozuna Kakuryu caps Kyushu title with final-day win". Japan Times. 27 November 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2016.

[19] "Born on day of 1995 Hanshin quake, sumo wrestler Terutsuyoshi feels heavy responsibility". The Mainichi. November 30, 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2017.

[debutants-20] 1 2 "Sumo: Sekiwake debutants add contrast to New Year tourney". The Mainichi. 26 December 2016. Archived from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2017.

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