Yokozunas and Ozekis for January 2027

[Jejima]

As in January 2024 AND January 2025, there will be four rikishi in the top two ranks of Ozumo for January 2026. But what will it look like, one year later in January 2027?

Please leave your actual prediction for the top two ranks for the January 2027 banzuke in the comments below, like this....

Simba      Y1  Scar
Nala         Y2  Mufasa
Pumbaa    O1   Zazu
Timon      O2   

etc

- then we can see who came the closest at the end of the year - and it might be used as a 'tie-breaker'.

[Fashiritētā]

Kotozakura will lose his Ozeki rank in 2026 

Yokozunas will be Hoshoryu , Onosato and Aonishiki

Yoshinofuji will be an Ozeki by Kyushu 26

 

[Godango]

I think Kotozakura will hang onto the Ozeki slot. 

I also expect Aonishiki to step up by Hatsu 2027.

I think we will have 1-2 other Ozeki. Too early for Asashifuji to deliver on his hype... I'm holding off on locking in Yoshinofuji just yet even though it's certainly plausible. The optimist in me wants to put Takayasu to regain but as much as I'd love to I can't. 

I think Kirishima will regain, finally, by Nagoya. Ah bugger it, and I think Yoshinofuji will JUST get there too, first basho at the rank will be Hatsu 2027.

Onosato   Y1  Aonishiki   
Hoshoryu Y2  
Kirishima O1  Kotozakura
                  O2  Yoshinofuji

Edited November 25 by Godango
Adding 2027 Hatsu Prediction

[Reonito]

40 minutes ago, Godango said:

Too early for Asashifuji to deliver on his hype

Fastest possible timeline: Jk Hatsu26 7-0, Jd Haru26 7-0, Sd Natsu26 7-0, Ms15 (optimistic) Nagoya26 (7-0), Juryo Aki26, Makuuchi (optimistic) Kyushu26, and then with an Onosato/Aonishiki trajectory, Ozeki Aki 2027. The closest we've had is Aonishiki himself, or Terunofuji's comeback from Jonidan. It took both of them 3 basho to get through Makushita and 2 through Juryo. Ozeki by Haru 2028?

[Gurowake]

1 hour ago, Reonito said:

then with an Onosato/Aonishiki trajectory,

While I admit it would be a bit harder to do if you don't get two basho in Juryo such that your second basho is from the top of the division, Ichinojo managed to get to Sekiwake in 1 basho in Makuuchi.  You don't need to be Sekiwake though - a 15-0 from anywhere in Makuuchi will certainly get you in the joi (see how they overpromoted Tokushoryu and Terunofuji after their M17 yushos), and from there 3 solid basho would be plenty; 2 more 15-0s might even do it.

But certainly he's not getting Ozeki in 2026, which makes him irrelevant for this particular poll.  It's simply not possible.

[Reonito]

8 minutes ago, Gurowake said:

While I admit it would be a bit harder to do if you don't get two basho in Juryo such that your second basho is from the top of the division, Ichinojo managed to get to Sekiwake in 1 basho in Makuuchi.  You don't need to be Sekiwake though - a 15-0 from anywhere in Makuuchi will certainly get you in the joi (see how they overpromoted Tokushoryu and Terunofuji after their M17 yushos), and from there 3 solid basho would be plenty; 2 more 15-0s might even do it.

But certainly he's not getting Ozeki in 2026, which makes him irrelevant for this particular poll.  It's simply not possible.

Yup, it's theoretically possible to get there one basho earlier, and perhaps two depending on what they might do with 2 zensho (or even yusho) in the joi. My timeline assumed the most aggressive possible path to Makuuchi followed by the fastest actual paths from there to Ozeki, accomplished only by Terunofuji, Onosato, and (presumptively) Aonishiki. Terunofuji could possibly have done it one basho faster if he didn't have to go kyujo at Aki 2020. It's an interesting thought experiment of what would happen if you put a fully healthy Onosato at the bottom of the banzuke right now—my guess is that he still wouldn't zensho his way all the way to Ozeki in 10-11 basho.

[Wakawakawaka]

Onosato Y Hoshoryu

Aonishiki O

Kotozakura will pull out of a basho early and then fail to clear kadoban next time around.

[Ryoshishokunin]

Onosato Y Hoshoryu
Aonishiki Y
                 O Kotozakura

[Kintamayama]

Kazuma will be Ozeki as well.

[Shatsume]

Onosato Y Hoshoryu 

Aonishiki O Kotozakura 

I see no change at the top. I don't even think that Kotozakura will go kadoban. Post Hakuho power vacuum is now filled! 

Bonus hot take: Yoshinofuji on Ozeki run for Jan 27.

[Churaumi]

I predict Hoshoryu and Onosato will be yokozuna, Aonishiki will remain ozeki, Kotozakura won't, and I really can't pick someone to be another ozeki.

[Jakusotsu]

On 30/11/2025 at 07:59, Kintamayama said:

Kazuma will be Ozeki as well.

By January 2027? That would be even quicker than Onosato.

[Bunbukuchagama]

1 hour ago, Jakusotsu said:

By January 2027? That would be even quicker than Onosato.

Math is hard. 

[Jakusotsu]

19 minutes ago, Bunbukuchagama said:

Math is hard. 

7 basho from Juryo debut compared to Onosato's 8 - what's so hard about that?

[Kintamayama]

5 hours ago, Jakusotsu said:

7 basho from Juryo debut compared to Onosato's 8 - what's so hard about that?

We shall see..

[Bunbukuchagama]

7 hours ago, Jakusotsu said:

7 basho from Juryo debut compared to Onosato's 8 - what's so hard about that?

It's definitely hard to achieve it. He would have to start his Ozeki run in Nagoya; good luck getting high enough by that point for it to count. 

Also, this: Query result

And this: Query result

This is not possible nowadays (and there is no way in hell he will starts as high as J11 in Hatsu): Query result

[Jakusotsu]

12 hours ago, Bunbukuchagama said:

It's definitely hard to achieve it.

Of course it is. But what's so hard about the math?

Edit: Ok, now I see. It's not my math you doubted but Kintamayama's bold statement. Hard to disagree with that...

Edited December 2 by Jakusotsu

[Andreas21]

Onosato   Y1 Aonishiki
Hoshoryu Y2
                 O1 Kotozakura

Onosato's injury will help Aonishiki's cause but will be healed by the end of the year.

While I see Yoshinojuji, Fujiroga, Kazuma as legit challengers for the Ozeki rank in 2027, Jan 27 is too early.

As much as I root for Kirishima, I simply don't see consistent double digit results, especially with healthy YO quadruples. Sorry, no.

As much as I want to be cautious about the rise of Aonishiki, and it's likely that one or the other is figuring him out, the trajectory is just ... too much.

 

[Washuyama]

Onosato Y Hoshoryu

Aonishiki 0 Kotozakura

Tamawashi 02 (He's finally got everyone where he wants them and can/will make his move)