THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
January 26, 2025 at 19:09 JST
Hoshoryu defeats Oho in a playoff at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan on Jan. 26. (Yasumasa Kikuchi)
In a dramatic come-from-behind victory, ozeki Hoshoryu clinched his second championship on Jan. 26, virtually ensuring his promotion to yokozuna.
The 25-year-old forced out fellow ozeki Kotozakura in the final bout on Day 15 to end the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament with a 12-3 tally at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan.
He then defeated rank-and-filers Kinbozan and Oho, who both tied with 12 wins, in the first three-way playoffs since the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in 2022.
The Japan Sumo Association is expected to decide Hoshoryu’s promotion to the 74th yokozuna at an extraordinary meeting of the board of directors on Jan. 29.
Terunofuji, who was the only yokozuna, announced his retirement from the sport on Jan. 17 after two wins and two losses in the latest tournament.
The Mongolian Hoshoryu was promoted to ozeki, the sport’s second-highest rank, after winning his first championship at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament in 2023.
Hoshoryu and Oho, maegashira No. 3, entered the final day following Kinbozan, maegashira No. 14, who had led with two losses.
Oho pushed Kinbozan out of the ring before Hoshoryu’s victory over Kotozakura.
Hoshoryu, a nephew of former yokozuna Asashoryu, made his professional debut at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in 2018 and was promoted to the highest makuuchi division at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament in 2020.
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SUMO/ Yokozuna, ozeki all lose on 1st day for the 1st time since Showa Era
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SUMO/ Mongolian Hoshoryu wins his first career title to become ozeki
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SUMO/ Takerufuji grabs title on makuuchi debut, breaks 110-year record
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SUMO/ Hoshoryu fulfills uncle’s command to win his first championship
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