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The lower ranks

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The Sumo FAQ only briefly mentions the lower ranks Ichi-ban Shusse and Ni-ban Shusse, saying the rikishi names will be on the next banzuke. How does this work? How many Ichi-ban and Ni-ban rikishi are there and what's the system - are they promoted to the Jo-no-Kuchi to replace demoted rikishi, or what?

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There is no restriction to the number. These just are the new rikishi starting next basho in Jonokuchi after successful participating in mae-zumō. Normally those shin-deshi aren't differentiated in two categories since there aren't too many of them. The Haru-basho is the exception since here mae-zumō sees a lot of applicants for the Jonokuchi division. In this basho the best participants of mae-zumō build the ichiban shusse, the rest the niban shusse ("first promotion" and "second promotion") and they are exhibited to the public on two different occasions.

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Occasionally there's even sanban-shusse. Practically always in Osaka, I believe, since March is the traditional time of the year to start a career in ozumo. Doesn't this have something to do with the school curriculums? :-P

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Japanese school year begins in March, and ends in february. So all the school kids who join sumo directly after their compulsory education do it in March... I guess all the students that come from ama-zumo ranks, too.

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So Ichi-ban shusse and Ni-ban shusse are not really ranks, but lists of future Jo-no-Kuchi rikishi.

Can one get demoted from Jo-no-Kuchi (to mae-zumo)? And how bad a blow is that to ones sumo career?

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Can one get demoted from Jo-no-Kuchi (to mae-zumo)? And how bad a blow is that to ones sumo career?

Yes, that sometimes happens. I'm not 100% sure about this but I have a strong recollection of having read about banzuke-gai returning back on to banzuke. It probably happens only after a severe injury since repeated 0-7's are likely to keep you just on the very bottom of the banzuke.

I feel decaffeinated...

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You feel wise! You must have been very observant. :-D

Thank you, Kotoseiya-zeki and others.

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Japanese school year begins in March, and ends in february.

Actually the school year starts in April and ends in March... I think the reason for "many shin-deshi in March" is something like you do job-hunting or have job-interviews prior to your graduation so your course has already been decided when you acutally finish your shool educations.

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Can one get demoted from Jo-no-Kuchi (to mae-zumo)? And how bad a blow is that to ones sumo career?

Yes, this happens all the time. All rikishi ranked in Jonokuchi are removed from the banzuke if they don't compete in this basho. In other words, a single bout is sufficient to stay on the banzuke, even if you lose it and don't participate in the rest of the basho. And yes, obviously this rule affects almost solely injured rikishi. The removed rikishi subsequently are called banzuke-gai (out of banzuke) and may participate in mae-zumō again when they are healthy.

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Actually the school year starts in April and ends in March...

Ah, give or take a month...  (Blush...)  (Baaa...)

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The removed rikishi subsequently are called banzuke-gai (out of banzuke) and may participate in mae-zum

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