Tokyo, January 26, 2025, The 2025 Hatsu Basho, held at Ryōgoku Kokugikan from January 12 to 26, delivered drama, change, and a reshaping of sumo’s top ranks. From an iconic bokashi (turning point) in the championship race to retirement announcements and long-awaited promotions, this tournament will be remembered as one that ushered in a new era. Source
Key Highlights
A Three-Way Playoff for the Title
- The top division (Makuuchi) championship came down to a three-way playoff between Hōshōryū, Oho and Kinbōzan, each finishing the regular 15 days with a 12-3 record. Source
- Hōshōryū (ranked Ozeki) defeated Kinbōzan in the first playoff bout, then bested Oho to clinch his second Emperor’s Cup. Source
Yokozuna Retirement: The End of an Era
- Terunofuji, the sole yokozuna entering the tournament, announced his retirement on January 17, 2025, citing chronic back and knee pain. His exit left the top rank vacant during the tournament. Source
Promotion to Yokozuna
- With Terunofuji’s retirement and Hōshōryū’s strong performance, winning the Hatsu Basho via play-off after a 12-3 record — he was promoted to become the 74th Yokozuna. Source
Notable Performances & Rising Stars
- Kinbōzan and Oho earned distinction through their performances. Kinbōzan, newly returned to the top division from Jūryō, pushed hard until the end. Source
- Other rikishi with strong showings included Daieishō (11-4), Meisei, Gonoyama, Hakuōhō, and Takerufuji. Source
Tournament Structure & Prelude
- The tournament ran the standard 15 days for professional grand sumo in Japan, with rankings (banzuke) established beforehand, and Ryōgoku Kokugikan serving as the stage. Source
- Matches spanned all divisions: Makuuchi, Jūryō, Makushita, and the lower ranks. Source
What This Means for Sumo
The retirement of a yokozuna and the promotion of a new one are rare and significant events. With Terunofuji gone, Hōshōryū steps into sumo’s highest rank, carrying both expectation and pressure. The competitive depth demonstrated by wrestlers like Kinbōzan and Oho underscores how the sport’s future may hinge not only on established stars but emerging talent. The Hatsu Basho of 2025 has thus become both an ending and a beginning, a changing of the guard in many respects. Source
Final Thoughts
The January 2025 Hatsu Basho brought with it one of sumo’s most compelling narratives in recent memory: illness and retirement at the top, fierce competition among contenders, and the elevation of a new yokozuna. It reaffirmed why sumo remains both steeped in tradition and alive with unexpected turns. Source
