2026 January Grand Sumo Tournament
2026 January Grand Sumo Tournament Banzuke Topics
Ozeki DebutAonishiki
- This is the first Ozeki debut since the promotion of Onosato in November 2024.
- Aonishiki is the first newly promoted Ozeki from Ajigawa Stable since the current Shisho founded it.
- He is the first Ukrainian-born Rikishi as well as the 14th foreign-born Rikishi to achieve this. The previous one was Hoshoryu, promoted in September 2023.
- Taking only 14 tournaments since his professional debut means the fastest promotion. (Table 1)
- Reaching the Ozeki rank in only 5 tournaments since his Makuuchi debut means tying the postwar record for the fastest promotion. (Table 2)
- At 21 years and 8 months of age, Aonishiki is now the fourth youngest newly promoted Ozeki. (Table 3)
- Staying without a losing record from his professional debut has not been accomplished since Haguroyama in January 1940. (Excluding Makushita Tsukedashi.)
- Aonishiki is only the fourth Rikishi since the Showa era to make his Ozeki debut in the tournament immediately following his Sekiwake debut. The previous Rikishi were Futabayama, Haguroyama, and most recently Itsutsushima in the January tournament of 1941.
Sekiwake ReturnKirishima
- Kirishima returns to the Sekiwake rank he previously held in September 2025, after two tournaments. He also returns to Sanyaku after two tournaments.
Sekiwake ReturnTakayasu
- Takayasu returns to the Sekiwake rank he previously held in January 2023, after 18 tournaments. This marks his fifth consecutive tournament in Sanyaku.
KomusubiOho
- Oho is Komusubi for the first time. (He previously spent two tournaments as Sekiwake). He is in Sanyaku for two consecutive tournaments.
Komusubi ReturnWakamotoharu
- Wakamotoharu returns to the Komusubi rank he previously held in November 2024, after seven tournaments. He returns to Sanyaku after six tournaments.
Makuuchi DebutAsahakuryu
- Asahakuryu is the first Rikishi from Takasago Stable to be promoted to Makuuchi since Asakoryu in November 2024.
- He is the 32nd Mongolian-born Rikishi to reach Makuuchi. The previous one was Tamashoho, who was promoted in January 2025.
- Asahakuryu is the fourth former student of Takushoku University to make his Makuuchi debut. The previous one was Tochinonada, promoted in the May tournament of 1997.
Makuuchi DebutHatsuyama
- Hatsuyama is the first Rikishi from Tamanoi Stable to be promoted to Makuuchi since Tohakuryu in the November 2023 tournament.
- He is the 35th Rikishi from Tokyo to achieve this post WWII, following Hitoshi, who was promoted in the September 2025 tournament.
- He is the seventh former student of Toyo University to achieve this, also following Tohakuryu.
Makuuchi ReturnAsanoyama
- Asanoyama returns to Makuuchi for the first time since July 2024.
- He is the first Rikishi in history to fall from Makuuchi to Sandanme and return to Makuuchi - twice.
Juryo DebutDewanoryu
- Dewanoryu is the first Rikishi from Dewanoumi Stable to be promoted to Juryo since Mitakeumi in the July 2015 tournament.
- He is the 41st Mongolian-born Rikishi to achieve this post WWII, following Asahakuryu and Kyokukaiyu, both promoted in September 2025.
Juryo DebutKazuma
- Kazuma from Kise Stable makes his Juryo debut. He follows Himukamaru who was promoted in the previous tournament.
- He is the 46th Rikishi from Osaka Prefecture post WWII to achieve this, following Asasuiryu and Nishinoryu, who were promoted in September 2025.
- He is also the 60th former student of Nihon University to achieve this, the previous one being Kusano (current Yoshinofuji), who was promoted in the March 2025 tournament.
Juryo ReturnKyokukaiyu
- Kyokukaiyu returns to Juryo, where he previously held a rank in September 2025.
