Kyushu basho banzuke: Churanoumi makes Okinawa sumo history as Tamawashi, 41, returns to top flight

The Japan Sumo Association published the rankings, or banzuke, for the November Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday 26 October. The Kyushu basho runs from 8 to 22 November at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center and is the last tournament of the year. The new list makes Churanoumi the first sanyaku wrestler from Okinawa and brings Tamawashi, now 41, back to the top division.

The top of the banzuke

There are still two yokozuna. Onosato is ranked east and Hoshoryu west. The order did not change after the September Aki basho, which Onosato won while Hoshoryu sat out injured. How fit Hoshoryu is will be one of the main questions in Fukuoka.

Three wrestlers hold ozeki rank. Aonishiki is first on the east side, Kotozakura is ozeki 1 west, and Kirishima is ozeki 2 east. Aonishiki and Kirishima have swapped places since September, and Aonishiki would strengthen any talk of promotion to yokozuna by winning the title.

At sekiwake, Fujinokawa now ranks east, ahead of Atamifuji. In September, in his first tournament at sekiwake, Fujinokawa went 11-4 and won the Fighting Spirit Prize (Kanto-sho). Atamifuji was the one under ozeki-promotion discussion at the Aki basho, and Hungarian site Szumo.info expects similar attention to shift to Fujinokawa in Fukuoka.

Churanoumi breaks new ground

Churanoumi, of Kise stable, is promoted to komusubi for the first time. He went 10-5 at maegashira 3 west in September and won the Fighting Spirit Prize. The 33-year-old from Uruma is the first wrestler from Okinawa Prefecture to reach the sanyaku ranks. He came into professional sumo from Nihon University, and Szumo.info says his 63 tournaments from debut to sanyaku are the slowest climb by a university entrant, beating the 61 taken by Yoshikaze.

Yoshinofuji is the other komusubi. He first held the rank in July. Former ozeki Asanoyama is maegashira 1 east after a 10-5 record at maegashira 6, the highest he has been ranked since March 2024. Injury and a suspension had dropped him as far as the fourth division before his climb back.

Tamawashi's remarkable return

Tamawashi is the standout story among the top-division returnees. The Mongolian-born two-time makuuchi champion fell to juryo after going 2-13 in May. He came back up by going 9-6 and then 10-5 in the second division. He turns 42 on 16 November, during the tournament, and Szumo.info says he is the oldest wrestler to return to makuuchi since the Showa era began in 1926.

Tamawashi is also known for his durability. He set the all-time record for consecutive bouts in 2024, and his only enforced absence was a COVID-19 quarantine in July 2022.

Kitanowaka, who won the juryo title with an 11-4 record in September, and Daiseizan also return to the top division.

Three makuuchi debutants

Three wrestlers are making their top-division debuts:

• Dewanoryu (Dewanoumi stable) is the highest-ranked newcomer and the stable's first new makuuchi wrestler in 11 years.
• Arashifuji, who used to compete as Matsui, has posted winning records in 14 of his 16 tournaments and went 10-5 at juryo 5 in September.
• Kyokukaiyu started from the sixth division in January 2024 and has one of the best win rates among current top-division wrestlers.

Dewanoryu and Kyokukaiyu are Mongolian-born, and Szumo.info says they are the 34th and 35th Mongolian-born wrestlers to reach makuuchi.

Juryo is full of well-known names. Former ozeki Shodai and Mitakeumi are there, along with former sekiwake Wakatakakage, who had surgery in the summer and may not compete.

Key takeaways

• The Kyushu basho runs 8-22 November in Fukuoka. Onosato and Hoshoryu remain the two yokozuna.
• Churanoumi is promoted to komusubi and becomes Okinawa's first sanyaku wrestler.
• Fujinokawa moves ahead of Atamifuji at sekiwake after going 11-4 in September.
• Tamawashi returns to makuuchi and turns 42 during the tournament.
• Dewanoryu, Arashifuji and Kyokukaiyu make their top-division debuts.

FAQ

When does the 2026 Kyushu basho start? Day one is Sunday 8 November at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center, and the tournament ends on 22 November.

Who is the first sanyaku wrestler from Okinawa? Churanoumi of Kise stable, promoted to komusubi on the Kyushu banzuke after a 10-5 record in September.

How old is Tamawashi? He was born on 16 November 1984, so he turns 42 during the Kyushu basho.

Sources: Szumo.info, Sumo.cool, Tachiai, Sumostats, Wikipedia