49th Fuji TV (?) Grand Sumo Tournament (2025)

[Asashosakari 19,426]

(2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015)

https://www.fujitv.co.jp/events/grandsumo/index.html

Normally it would be time for the sumo world and us to get ready for the annual Fuji TV-promoted one-day prize money knockout tournament, as it is scheduled for Sunday next week (February 9th), but things aren't going ahead as expected. For those who haven't heard: Fuji TV has been embroiled in a public and media frenzy for the past month, stemming from a badly mishandled sexual harassment case involving one of its most prominent TV hosts. Some background courtesy of the Japan Times here, and well as personnel fallout that happened a couple of days ago here.

In any case, as the storm was brewing the network has found itself boycotted by nearly every corporation that normally books advertising time on its broadcasts, so I've had doubts about the viability of this year's Grand Sumo Tournament for the past week or so. Today the tournament website confirmed (and Nikkan reported) that the event will only partly go ahead as planned. The usual TV broadcast of the makuuchi tournament will not be done, and while the live event itself will ostensibly still happen, various (thus far unnamed) changes to the proceedings will occur. At this point you won't be surprised to hear that all non-Fuji sponsors and other organizations supporting the event have been scrubbed from the site (for comparison: last year), though at least the prize money is currently still listed unchanged.

Further details are likely to emerge in the coming days.

Edited February 1 by Asashosakari

[Asashosakari 19,426]

The event programme has been confirmed today, and there are indeed some differences to past years, although it's hard to say what parts of them are due to Fuji TV's troubles. (I didn't see the provisional programme listing before this week's hasty revisions.)

Happening:

• Jinku and shokkiri
• Chanko sales - this time in Sakaigawa (soy sauce) and Sadogatake (shio) varieties

Not happening:

• Photo opportunities with sekitori
• "Old boys" matches between oyakata

Occasioned by Hoshoryu's promotion, a tsuna-tying demonstration has been announced as a specific replacement for the oyakata matches.

In addition the timetable shows a taiko drumming session to start the proceedings at noon - doors open at 11 - which wasn't on there in past years, but I'm not sure if that's actually new or just wasn't listed previously.

The competitive parts are unchanged: An open-draw juryo tournament featuring all available rikishi from the Hatsu banzuke that will play down to three finalists battling for the title in a tomoe-sen playoff, followed by a makuuchi tournament in a standard knockout bracket (likely with 8 seeds as usual) leading to a regular two-man final. The cultural programme will be presented in between the two tournaments.

According to the official website the draws will be made no earlier than Thursday, February 6, so we've got a few more days until we learn who's actually in and who's been sidelined by injury.

[dingo 1,265]

Maybe Fuji TV is hoping the sumo event will cleanse their collective sins and shame resulting from the scandal 

Also, big pressure to perform well for the new yokozuna? 

[code_number3 706]

The AC Japan ads are everywhere

[Asashosakari 19,426]

Thursday brought the expected publication of the tournament pairings, as well as the announcement of the event programme available for purchase at the Kokugikan. Having gone for a cover of (and interview with) Kyushu yusho winner Kotozakura as the main feature looks oddly out of place now, but I'm sure the production deadlines didn't support a more timely focus on Hoshoryu.
 

The matches:

Juryo

kyujo: Bushozan, Mitoryu

Preliminary Round

Daishoho - Nabatame
Kotoeiho - Wakaikari

Last 24

Shiden - Kiryuko
Asakoryu - Hatsuyama
Ryuden - Tohakuryu
Tsurugisho - Hakuyozan

Shirokuma - Daiamami
Shishi - Oshoumi
Shimanoumi - Shimazuumi
Daishoho / Nabatame - Kayo

Aonishiki - Daiseizan
Hidenoumi - Fujiseiun
Tomokaze - Tochitaikai
Kotoeiho / Wakaikari - Sadanoumi

Takadagawa-beya's Hakuyozan and Ryuden might get to meet in the second round, Hatsuyama and Tohakuryu (Tamanoi) as well as Daiamami and Daishoho (Oitekaze) in the third. Other same-heya matchups can only be realized in the tomoe-sen final.

Makuuchi

intai: Terunofuji
kyujo: Kitanowaka

Preliminary Round

Tokihayate - Nishikifuji
Kagayaki - Tamashoho
Hakuoho - Kinbozan
Hokutofuji - Kotoshoho

Shonannoumi - Onokatsu
Nishikigi - Takerufuji
Midorifuji - Meisei
Tamawashi - Oshoma

Last 32

(1) Hoshoryu - Churanoumi
Tokihayate/Nishikifuji - Oho
(8) Takanosho - Kagayaki/Tamashoho
Endo - Takayasu

(6) Abi - Hakuoho/Kinbozan
Chiyoshoma - Hiradoumi
Kirishima - Hokutofuji/Kotoshoho
Ichiyamamoto - Daieisho (5)

(2) Kotozakura - Takarafuji
Shonannoumi/Onokatsu - Gonoyama
Ura - Shodai
Nishikigi/Takerufuji - Wakatakakage (7)

(4) Wakamotoharu - Mitakeumi
Midorifuji/Meisei - Tobizaru
Atamifuji - Tamawashi/Oshoma
Roga - Onosato (3)

The seedings look a bit odd as they've tended to do in the past as well, although they do appear to support a suspicion I had all the way back in 2020: It looks like proper seed placement is only done with yokozuna and ozeki, and the remaining seeds are distributed randomly. I'm not sure if Takanosho (who was only maegashira on the Hatsu banzuke) was actually seeded 8th, or if he just ended up in the right part of the draw (albeit an odd spot) by coincidence. M1e Endo in 2020 certainly looked like a proper 8th seed, so who knows.

I'm listing new yokozuna Hoshoryu as the presumptive top seed even though he was ranked behind Kotozakura on the Hatsu banzuke; his place in the draw supports that assumption and it would certainly be odd if the publicly announced promotion decision wasn't incorporated even acknowledging that the Fuji tournament draws normally go by the Hatsu rankings.

The only same-heya meetings that can happen before the semifinal round are potential Isegahama-beya quarterfinal clashes between Takarafuji and Takerufuji or between Midorifuji and Atamifuji, so the draw wasn't very kind to us this year with relatively few such matches to hope for in the top division.

Edited February 6 by Asashosakari

[code_number3 706]

5 hours ago, Asashosakari said:

I'm listing new yokozuna Hoshoryu as the presumptive top seed even though he was ranked behind Kotozakura on the Hatsu banzuke;

Did Kisenosato seeded in 2017 tournament? Or the seeding just been done in recent years?

[Kintamayama 45,203]

Juryo won by Ryuuden. He beat Daishouhou and Hidenoumi in a three-way playoff. 500,000 yen ($3300) prize. The TV broadcast was cancelled a while ago as sponsors pulled out because of a scandal involving Masahiro Nakai and a woman. The show itself was sold out.

Edited February 9 by Kintamayama

[Akinomaki 40,622]

No TV cameras installed (optionally space for cameras or wheelchairs) - an ideal event for press coverage

oo o 

o  

juryo yusho Ryuden

o

camera lights flashing when the Fuji TV kesho mawashi appears - Juryo Hatsuyama came with one sponsored by Fuji TV, and Mihamaumi used that of Fujiazuma, who got one with a mascot from a volley ball tournament

o o

related to the PAN-AM cup on display at the museum in the kokugikan ?

o

Playlist from the sumochannel000 (the channel already has more videos from the event, but not yet in the playlist)

 

a try at live coverage (it worked only for impressions from the sumo museum) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swgrdZAhlwU

the main event try stopped after 2 min youtube.com/@ozumodaisuki/streams

Edited February 9 by Akinomaki

[Kintamayama 45,203]

Houshouryuu lost in  the fourth round to Takayasu, who eventually won the tournament.

Edited February 9 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 45,203]

Report of what was different because of the scandal:

 

Although Fuji Television canceled its broadcast of the event, it was a great success, with a sold-out audience of 9,630 people. Ryuuden won the Juryo tournament, and Takayasu won the Makuuchi tournament. A series of problems have arisen surrounding Fuji Television, triggered by trouble between former entertainer Nakai Masahiro and a woman. Sponsorship companies withdrew one after the other, and no company names were listed on the tournament's official website, and on January 30th the cancellation of the broadcast was announced. As a result of the cancellation of the broadcast, there were no reports on the hanamichi or interviews with the winners. The traditional old boys match was not held, and was replaced by a tsuna tying show.. The sponsors' prize banners and the yobidashi's kimono with the sponsor's name written on them were changed to plain colors. The "Fuji Television Award", which in the past involved a cow as a prize, was not awarded as well..

There were also major changes to the pamphlet. Last year, a greeting from Hieda Hisashi, chairman of the Japan Grand Sumo Tournament Executive Committee and representative of the Fujisankei Group, was printed at the beginning, but this year it was only Hakkaku's greeting. Despite being the organizer, there was no mention of Fuji Television or the group's symbol. There were no advertising pages whatsoever. Even inside the Kokugikan, "Fuji Television" was not announced. According to a source, "Fuji Television refrained from doing so in light of the uproar." This was an unusual tournament in which Fuji Television's influence was completely hidden. Prize money was the same as in previous years, with 2.5 million yen awarded to the winner of the Makuuchi tournament. This was because the prize money was not provided by sponsors, but rather raised by the Fuji Television business division.

There was a disturbance in the kitchen.

Edited February 9 by Kintamayama

[Chartorenji 237]

42 minutes ago, Kintamayama said:

Houshouryuu lost in  the fourth round to Takayasu, who eventually won the tournament.

He can do anything BUT win a Yusho.

[Kintamayama 45,203]

7 minutes ago, Chartorenji said:

He can do anything BUT win a Yusho.

Which of them are you referring to?

[Chartorenji 237]

Takayasu, probably should have specified it with "Makuuchi" Yusho haha

4 minutes ago, Kintamayama said:

Which of them are you referring to?

 

[Kintamayama 45,203]

Just now, Chartorenji said:

Takayasu, probably should have specified it with "Makuuchi" Yusho haha

 

Well, he did win this yusho.. Maybe this is a sign of what may come..

[Akinomaki 40,622]

56 minutes ago, Chartorenji said:

Takayasu, probably should have specified it with "Makuuchi" Yusho haha

 

That was the makuuchi yusho, at this tournament, the 49th Nihon ozumo tournament. Takayasu already won the makuuchi yusho at the 43rd and 44th edition of this tournament https://www.fujitv.co.jp/events/grandsumo/rikishi02.html

without anything to come of it at a honbasho

[Kintamayama 45,203]

Takayasu beat Endou in the second round, Takanoshou in the third round, and in the fourth round, he beat Houshouryuu by yoritaoshi.. In the semi-finals, he beat Abi via tsukiotoshi. In the finals, he beat Wakamotoharu by yorikiri.  "I never thought I would be able to win. I'll take this as encouragement and continue to train my body with good vibes for Haru." Looking back on the bout in which he defeated Houshouryuu, he said, "I was able to concentrate. I'm happy I was able to beat the Yokozuna," he said while smiling.

Edited February 9 by Kintamayama

[Akinomaki 40,622]

flashback

On 10/02/2019 at 16:30, Kintamayama said:

"I'm happy, since it's a major tournament.. I usually do well in Fuji TV's tournaments. It feels good to get a yusho," Takayasu said. "I know that it was just hanazumo and it doesn't really count Basie, but it's important to win even during these tournaments. I will do my best and go all the way during the basho as well. It puts me in a yusho mode.."  said Takayasu.

[Akinomaki 40,622]

Maybe the last we'll see of him

o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9d5ueHbG8o

[Asashosakari 19,426]

The full results were posted today.

Juryo

kyujo: Bushozan, Mitoryu

Preliminary

Daishoho      yorikiri        Nabatame
Kotoeiho      yorikiri        Wakaikari

Last 24

Shiden        yorikiri        Kiryuko
Asakoryu      tsuridashi      Hatsuyama
Ryuden        yorikiri        Tohakuryu
Tsurugisho    oshidashi       Hakuyozan

Shirokuma     yorikiri        Daiamami
Shishi        yorikiri        Oshoumi
Shimanoumi    yorikiri        Shimazuumi
Daishoho      yorikiri        Kayo

Aonishiki     yorikiri        Daiseizan
Hidenoumi     yorikiri        Fujiseiun
Tomokaze      uwatenage       Tochitaikai
Kotoeiho      yorikiri        Sadanoumi

Last 12

Shiden        yorikiri        Hatsuyama
Ryuden        yorikiri        Hakuyozan
Shirokuma     yorikiri        Shishi
Shimazuumi    yorikiri        Daishoho
Daiseizan     uwatedashinage  Hidenoumi
Tomokaze      yorikiri        Sadanoumi

Last 6

Shiden        yorikiri        Ryuden
Shishi        yorikiri        Daishoho
Hidenoumi     yorikiri        Sadanoumi

Tomoe-sen final

Ryuden        oshidashi       Daishoho
Ryuden        yorikiri        Hidenoumi

Makuuchi

intai: Terunofuji
kyujo: Kitanowaka

Preliminary

Tokihayate    yorikiri        Nishikifuji
Kagayaki      yorikiri        Tamashoho
Hakuoho       uwatedashinage  Kinbozan
Hokutofuji    yorikiri        Kotoshoho

Shonannoumi   yorikiri        Onokatsu
Nishikigi     yorikiri        Takerufuji
Midorifuji    oshidashi       Meisei
Tamawashi     oshidashi       Oshoma

Last 32

Hoshoryu      yorikiri        Churanoumi
Nishikifuji   utchari         Oho
Takanosho     yorikiri        Kagayaki
Endo          yorikiri        Takayasu

Abi           yorikiri        Hakuoho
Chiyoshoma    yorikiri        Hiradoumi
Kirishima     yorikiri        Kotoshoho
Ichiyamamoto  yorikiri        Daieisho

Kotozakura    yorikiri        Takarafuji
Onokatsu      oshidashi       Gonoyama
Ura           oshidashi       Shodai
Nishikigi     tsuridashi      Wakatakakage

Wakamotoharu  tsukidashi      Mitakeumi
Meisei        yorikiri        Tobizaru
Atamifuji     oshidashi       Tamawashi
Roga          yorikiri        Onosato

Last 16

Hoshoryu      yorikiri        Oho
Takanosho     yorikiri        Takayasu
Abi           uwatedashinage  Hiradoumi
Kirishima     oshidashi       Ichiyamamoto

Kotozakura    yorikiri        Onokatsu
Ura           okuridashi      Nishikigi
Wakamotoharu  yorikiri        Meisei
Tamawashi     oshidashi       Onosato

Quarterfinals

Hoshoryu      yoritaoshi      Takayasu
Abi           hikiotoshi      Ichiyamamoto
Kotozakura    yorikiri        Ura
Wakamotoharu  oshidashi       Tamawashi

Semifinals

Takayasu      tsukiotoshi     Abi
Kotozakura    oshidashi       Wakamotoharu

Final

Takayasu      yorikiri        Wakamotoharu

Was the kanto-sho not awarded this year?

[Reonito 1,470]

A little surprised not to see more kyujo, given what we saw at Hatsu, but I guess they don't have to be 100% to participate in a knockout semi-exhibition event...

[Gurowake 4,088]

The huge percentage of yorikiri wins compared to honbasho suggests that most of these guys aren't giving it the same effort in each case.

[Asashosakari 19,426]

After Hatsu basho, I can't say I expected Daishoho to rattle off four straight wins even with the exhibition nature of the event...

[Akinomaki 40,622]

The main visuals

4K https://www.youtube.com/@orangepom/search?query="【日本大相撲トーナメント】"

4K https://www.youtube.com/@twilight.melancholy/search?query="大相撲トーナメント2025"

https://www.youtube.com/@MMIZUKI/search?query="大相撲トーナメント (Feb 09%2C 2025)"

@fooo_sumo https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrMrwGN_a06Tcby04N_4rF489VAeE2Xw2

@sumochannel000 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL60ei_akshMhsng95btxqMtHSHyyt1vhT (the first playlist above was a dead end)

@MyJetSetLife https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfjKhBMdi67pHwFfEjIvWrGXyFDJlY_g4

ATM the newest 4 on https://www.youtube.com/@tomotomogochannel/videos

All contents except 2 shorts on the channel: https://www.youtube.com/@miyabisumo/search?query="2025年 大相撲トーナメント"

the channel with the live streams I mentioned earlier https://www.youtube.com/@ozumodaisuki/search?query=" 2025 大相撲トーナメント"

- not unique naming convention, Hatsu basho videos at the end of the search

[Akinomaki 40,622]

9630 spectators - pics

o 

tsunashime & dohyo-iri

o o o   o
Takayasu-Hoshoryu

o o o o o 

the final against Wakamotoharu

oo o o o

oo o

o o o  

 

Fuji TV only on  kesho mawashi

o  o o