Yubinhaad

Only four shikona changes on this banzuke, and three of them for sekitori which must be quite unusual. Kusano is now Yoshinofuji, while the two shin-Juryo changes were announced along with their promotion after the Aki basho. Down in Jonidan, Otowayama-beya's most recent recruit Nishimura changes to Ryuho. (Nikkan initially wrote it with this 凰 kanji, but eventually corrected it to match the Kyokai with 鳳) M5e Kusano > Yoshinofuji (義ノ富士, よしのふじ) J13e Nagamura > Himukamaru (日向丸, ひむかまる) J13w Goshima > Fujiryoma (藤凌駕, ふじりょうが) Jd45w Nishimura > Ryuho (竜鳳, りゅうほう) One rikishi changes the given name of his shikona: Jd15w Asahabataki Shoji > Tomito (富登, とみと)

Here are some pictures from various danpatsu-shiki following the Aki basho. Asadoji was the youngest active rikishi when he joined Takasago-beya just over a decade ago. Along with stablemate Asahabataki, he became a high school graduate in June after studying with Seisa International High School, a correspondence school in Kashiwa, Chiba prefecture. Chiyotenfu joined one basho later than Asadoji and was the second-youngest rikishi. In Nagoya last year he suffered a knee injury which required ACL reconstruction surgery, so he dropped down to the Jonokuchi division where he won the yusho in March this year. I've read he has a job in the construction industry lined up for the future. Tsubakifuji was the oldest active Heisei-born rikishi and spent over 21 years on the dohyo, joining what was then Ajigawa-beya under former Yokozuna Asahifuji. Kyokutaizan was out of action for over a year due to a serious neck injury. He has fully recovered physically and was able to return to the keikoba recently to work up a sweat, but couldn't overcome his worries and so decided to move on to a second path. And finally to Isenoumi-beya for Hakuyo's danpatsu-shiki.

All 34 of our remaining Showa Survivors started the Aki basho, with a marginally worse return than the previous basho. Nine kachi-koshi again, with 105 wins and 152 losses in total. We'll have one less survivor on the next banzuke though - Takarafuji hangs up his mawashi after a slide of five double-digit losses in a row which would have ended his 15-year sekitori stint, most of which was spent in the Maegashira ranks. He contested 1,398 consecutive bouts in his career, the 6th-longest streak at the moment. Katsunofuji was competing in Jonidan for the first time in over 18 years (and that was due to a four-basho kyujo), but he put together a 5-2 kachi-koshi to book an immediate return to Sandanme. Terunosato - 1,300th career bout and 700th career loss, Day 15. Fujiazuma - 600th career loss, Day 3. Full results for 2025 Aki in banzuke order:

Further promotions have been announced so I've updated the post. All of them take effect on December 22nd, the release date for the 2026 Hatsu banzuke. Gyoji: Kimura Mitsunosuke > to Makuuchi Shikimori Kazuki > to Juryo Kimura Ryunosuke > to Sandanme Kimura Shunta > to Sandanme Yobidashi: Katsuyuki > to Tate yobidashi Shiro > to Fukutate yobidashi Shiro is older than Katsuyuki, so Fukutate will be his final position. Tokoyama: Tokoyoshi > to Tokuto (special class) Tokoharu > to Nito (2nd class) Tokokuma > to Nito Tokotakumi > to Santo (3rd class)

FWIW the first two kanji of Himukamaru are taken from Hyuga Province (日向国), the old name for what is now Miyazaki prefecture. Where the reading comes from, I have no idea.

Only realized now that Tomosaburo (pre-debut) and Seia were also observing during the jonokuchi bouts of the first two days, before maezumo began. Abema put them on close-up at one point during Day 2 (Seia on the left, Tomosaburo on the right): Seia's entry is now official so we'll see him during the Kyushu basho as Kimura Senshin (木村 先進). 16 years old from Minato-ku, Tokyo.

Yes. He told Nikkan he had no particular reason for doing so, it was just a feeling of wanting to try it so he bought some clippers and did it himself after returning home on Day 12. The following day, the other shimpan were caught by surprise by the overnight change of appearance. Tanigawa isn't worried: "It'll grow back soon. I'm just doing what I want to do. I think I'll grow my hair long next time." Still in good shape. Previously:

Nishikimaru has had another case of cellulitis. Katsunonishiki had to have an incision to drain an abscess around the area of the buttocks.

Plenty of comings and goings in the lower divisions as we reach the final round of lower division action. Three rikishi return to the dohyo, three more withdraw, and one makes a late entry to keep his place on the banzuke. Entering/Returning: Ms43w Naya (withdrew Day 9) Ms53w Fukai (fusenpai Day 3, withdrew Day 5) Sd5e Kinotsukasa (fusenpai Day 10, withdrew Day 11) Jk8e Kyokuhayate - absent since suffering an ankle injury during the Natsu basho. Withdrawing: Sd73e Soga (fusenpai Day 11) Jd99e Nishikimaru (fusenpai Day 11) Jk9e Katsunonishiki (fusenpai Day 12) Assuming they aren't retiring, these four rikishi will drop off the banzuke for the Kyushu basho: Jk1w Amanofuji Jk7w Daikinryu Jk16w Tanino Jk22w Wakasei (not on the Nishiiwa-beya website any more so I don't think he'll be coming back)

Nikkan wrote an article about this unexpected retirement. The shisho (former Sekiwake Tamakasuga) said over the phone that Tamatensho has found what he wants to do next, and that they respect his decision. A danpatsu-shiki will take place at the heya's senshuraku party. Heyagashira Tamawashi, for whom Tamatensho served as tsukebito, added that Tamatensho kept trying despite suffering several shoulder dislocations in his career, and had never been discouraged or thought about giving up because of that.

Two rikishi withdraw from the lower divisions ahead of Day 11: Sd5e Kinotsukasa (fusenpai Day 10) - a sprained right ankle in his last bout, he heard something pop at the end and hobbled away, he can walk but not able to do sumo yet, according to Ikazuchi-oyakata (former Komusubi Kakizoe). Sd12e Kotetsu - had a fusenpai on Day 7, lost his next bout on Day 10 and is now kyujo. Down in Jonidan, Anzakura limped away after his already-wrapped right knee buckled in his bout today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU98v7jObCw

I don't think I've heard of a rikishi leaving on a stretcher and returning to the basho a few days later, but here we are! One rikishi is back in action, but three others have to withdraw ahead of Day 9. Returning: Ms11w Narutaki (withdrew Day 7) Withdrawing: Ms43w Naya Jd22e Chiyotenfu - had a fusenpai back on Day 3 but didn't withdraw, two more losses since then and now kyujo. Jd28w Tamatensho (fusenpai Day 8) Sd12e Kotetsu had a fusenpai on Day 7 but hasn't withdrawn from the basho at this point. Oh, and Jonidan gyoji Kimura Ryunosuke returned to duty on Day 7.

Narutaki suffered a left ankle injury, according to the press. Matsugashima suffered a concussion in his fall from the dohyo and will take the rest of the basho off as a precaution, however he was able to celebrate his 23rd birthday today.

Mostly mentioned already, half a dozen rikishi have withdrawn from the lower divisions ahead of Day 5: Ms14e Gyotoku (fusenpai Day 4) - I've read that he was unwell before the basho so probably isn't feeling fit enough to continue. Ms39w Tochiseiryu - seems to be a right knee injury, he was taken away in the wheelchair. A Makushita constant for about eight years. Ms53w Fukai (fusenpai Day 3) Sd17e Yurikisho Sd77w Oatari (fusenpai Day 3) - really sad, this was his Sandanme debut after 10 years as a rikishi. Jk25w Higohikari Ms25e Tokitenran and Jd22e Chiyotenfu both had fusenpai on Day 3, but haven't withdrawn from the basho at this stage.

I haven't seen an official announcement but Kumagatani has now transferred to Otake-beya ahead of his takeover following the Aki basho. According to this Nikkan article, in which he runs the rule over the rikishi of the heya, the transfer happened on September 1st.