16: After suffering three straight losses in the Hatsu tournament, Kisenosato announces his retirement. He had been unable to recover from a left arm injury sustained in the March 2017 tournament, which caused him to miss or withdraw from eight consecutive tournaments from May 2017 to July 2018. His record as a yokozuna was 36 wins against 35 losses, with 97 bouts missed. He is staying in sumo as a coach under the Araiso
elder name.[3]
18: Kakuryū pulls out with a recurrence of his ankle problem.[4]
20: Emperor
Akihito and
Empress Michiko attend Day 8, the 23rd and last time before the Emperor's abdication in April that they have watched sumo in an official capacity.[5]
26: Hakuho withdraws with knee and ankle injuries, meaning all three yokozuna have failed to complete 15 days for the second tournament in a row.[6]
27: Sekiwake
Tamawashi is the surprise tournament champion with a 13–2 record, sealing his first yusho by defeating
Endō on the final day.[7] At 34 he is the second oldest first-time yusho winner in the six tournaments per year era (post-1958), after 37 year-old
Kyokutenhō in 2012.[7] Takakeisho could have taken part in a playoff if Tamawashi had lost and he had won, but in the event he finished two wins behind on 11–4 after losing to Gōeidō. That defeat, and a 9–6 record in September 2018, means he will not be promoted to ōzeki despite winning 33 bouts in three tournaments and being the sole runner-up here.[8] Tamawashi receives special prizes for Outstanding Performance and Fighting Spirit, while Takakeisho wins the Technique Award.[8]Mitakeumi is awarded a share of the Outstanding Performance Prize for defeating all three yokozuna and Tamawashi despite missing some of the tournament through injury.[8] The jūryō division championship is won by
Shimanoumi. Retiring along with Kisenosato are
Takanoiwa, former sekiwakeTakekaze, and Sasayama, the brother of jūryō wrestler Daiseidō.
30: Promotions to the jūryō division for the forthcoming March tournament are announced. Returning are
Daiseidō [
ja] and
Takanofuji (who changed his shikona from Takayoshitoshi in January). There are two newcomers –
Michinoku stable's
Kiribayama from Mongolia, and
Arashio stable's
Wakamotoharu. The latter has two brothers in sumo, one of whom (
Wakatakakage) is already in jūryō. This means there will be three sets of brothers in the jūryō division in March (
Hidenoumi and
Tobizaru, and Takanofuji and
Takagenji being the others).
February
9: The 52nd NHK charity ozumo tournament is held at the Kokugikan.
10: The 43rd Fuji TV one day tournament is held at the Kokugikan.
Takayasu defeats
Yoshikaze in the final. (Hakuho is knocked out in the second round.)
March
24: The Haru tournament in Osaka concludes with Hakuhō defeating his rival yokozuna Kakuryū with a shitatenage underarm throw to clinch his 42nd career championship and his 15th with a perfect 15–0 score. His victory means he has won at least one tournament every year since 2006.[9] However, he injures his right arm in the process and is seen holding the bicep afterwards. He finishes one win ahead of maegashiraIchinojō, who did not get to fight the yokozuna during the tournament. His 14–1 runner-up performance is recognized with the Outstanding Performance prize. SekiwakeTakakeishō not only wins the Technique Award but also promotion to ōzeki, after he defeats
Tochinoshin to finish on 10–5, giving him 34 wins over the last three tournaments. Tochinoshin, conversely, is demoted from ōzeki after two consecutive make-koshi or losing records. The Fighting Spirit Prize goes to maegashiraAoiyama for his fine 12–3 record. In the jūryō division
Shimanoumi wins his second championship in a row and is guaranteed promotion to the top division for the first time in May at the age of 29. Down in the jonidan division former ōzekiTerunofuji, long sidelined by injuries, loses a playoff for the division championship after both he and Russian-Mongolian wrestler
Rōga finish with perfect 7–0 records. It is Terunofuji's first appearance since May 2018. Former maegashiraTenkaiho retires and becomes Hidenoyama Oyakata.
28: Hakuhō and his stablemaster
Miyagino are summoned by the Sumo Association to explain why Hakuhō led the crowd in a display of sanbon-jime hand-clapping after his victory speech on Sunday, seen as a breach of etiquette because it preceded the kami-okuri ceremony that concludes the tournament.[10] Hakuhō had wanted to acknowledge
Emperor Akihito, as it was the final tournament of the
Heisei era. Hakuhō was also criticized in November 2017 when he led the crowd in cheers in the midst of the
Harumafuji assault affair.[10]
31: The spring regional tour begins with a tournament in the
Ise Shrine. Hakuhō performs the dohyō-iri but does not participate in any bouts due to his injury, confirmed a muscle tear in the upper right arm.[11]
April
The spring regional tour visits the following locations:[12]
29:
Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture. On the last day of the tour, 25 wrestlers born in the
Showa era (1926–89), including Hakuhō, pose for a photo to mark the last
Showa Day of the Heisei era.[13]
12:It is reported that the Sumo Association are arranging for
President of the United StatesDonald Trump to visit on the final day of the May tournament as part of his trip to Japan, after hearing of his request to watch a bout.[14]
12: WakaimonogashiraHakuryū [
ja] turns 65 and retires. As a wrestler from the
Kagamiyama stable he spent 47 tournaments in jūryō, a record for someone who never made the top makuuchi division (his highest rank was jūryō 1).
24: Hakuhō is given an official reprimand, the lightest of the seven punishments available, in response to the sanbon-jime incident on the last day of the March tournament. His stablemaster
Miyagino is given a salary cut of ten percent for three months.[15]
30: On the last day of the Heisei era, the banzuke for the May tournament is published, with Takakeishō listed as ōzeki for the first time.[16] There are two newcomers to the top division,
Shimanoumi and
Enhō. Some 50 kg lighter, and 15 cm shorter, than the average top division wrestler, Enhō is the first sekitori from
Kanazawa Gakuin University.[17]
May
Video of the May 2019 tournament, which was attended by President
Donald Trump
1: Dressed in their black montsuki hakama, 69 of the 70 sekitori use their bodies to spell out the kanji for the new imperial era,
Reiwa.[13]
14: Further reports on President
Donald Trump's visit on the final day of the May tournament suggest he will present a custom-made trophy to the winner, the "Trump Cup."[18]
26: Donald Trump is in attendance for the final five matches of the final day of the May tournament.[19] He presents the new trophy, officially called the President's Cup,[20] to the winner of the championship, maegashiraAsanoyama, who finishes with a 12–3 record and special prizes for Outstanding Performance and Fighting Spirit. He is the first winner without any previous sanyaku experience since
Sadanoyama in 1961.[21] He finishes one win ahead of Kakuryū (11–4). Tochinoshin, despite a controversial call by the judges in his Day 13 match with Asanoyama which reversed the referee's decision and declared that his heel had stepped out of the ring, finishes with a 10–5 record, enough to return him immediately to the ōzeki rank. Other notable performers are
Abi and top division debutant
Shimanoumi who share the Fighting Spirit prize with Asanoyama, and
Ryūden who wins the Technique prize.[22] The jūryō division championship is won by
Takagenji with a 13–2 record. Among the retirements are former jūryō wrestlers
Dewahayate [
ja] and
Tochihiryu [
ja]. Two days earlier, former ozeki Terunofuji continued his climb back up the banzuke with a 6–1 result in Sandanme, ensuring his promotion to makushita for the next tournament in July.
29: Promotions to jūryō for the Nagoya tournament in July are announced. There are four newcomers, the most high profile of whom is
Kotonowaka, the son of Sadogatake Oyakata (ex-sekiwakeKotonowaka) who has changed his shikona from Kotokamatani to that of his father. The other debutants are
Kizakiumi [
ja], who is the younger brother of
Churanoumi making them the 21st pair of brothers in history to both reach sekitori status,[23]Ichiyamamoto the first from
Nishonoseki stable to reach jūryō since
Shohozan in 2010, and
Onoe stable's
Ryuko [
ja].[24] There is one returnee,
Takanofuji, who won the makushita championship with a perfect 7–0 record.
June
24: The July banzuke is published, with Takakeisho kadoban, Tochinoshin returning to ozeki and Asanoyama just missing out on a sanyaku debut, instead being ranked at maegashira 1. The only top division debut is Takagenji at maegashira 10.[25]
July
16: 40-year-old
Aminishiki announces his retirement from sumo after a 22-year career. He had been absent since the third day of the July tournament with a knee injury and faced demotion from the jūryō division.[26]
17: For the first time since the beginning of the
Showa era, all four ōzeki are absent from a tournament.[27]Takayasu withdraws due to an elbow injury suffered against
Tamawashi, giving Hakuhō a default win. Earlier in the tournament
Gōeidō and
Tochinoshin both withdrew, and
Takakeishō was absent from the beginning and will drop to sekiwake for the September tournament.
21: Kakuryū defeats Hakuhō in the final match of the tournament to win his sixth top division championship, with a 14–1 record.[28] Hakuhō finishes second on 12–3, his first runner-up performance since January 2016 (he has won seven yūshō since then). He shares the jun-yūshō with two maegashira,
Terutsuyoshi and
Tomokaze. Terutsuyoshi wins the Fighting Spirit Prize, and Tomokaze who was the only man to defeat Kakuryū receives the Outstanding Performance Award.[29] The Technique Prize is shared between
Endō and
Enhō.[29] The jūryō division championship is won by former amateur competitor
Tsurugishō who is likely to be promoted to the top division for the first time as a result.[29] Former maegashiraChiyono-ō [
ja] wins the makushita championship. Former ozeki Terunofuji posted a 6–1 record in lower makushita, continuing his climb back up the banzuke. The chief tokoyama, Tokohachi of the
Miyagino stable, retires due to turning 65 years of age, after 52 years in sumo.[30]
27: The banzuke for the September tournament is released, with Takakeishō dropping to sekiwake. Three wrestlers are promoted to the top division, the returning
Ishiura and
Yutakayama, and Tsurugishō who is the only newcomer. Kakuryū is the East Yokozuna, the highest position on the banzuke, and is competing in his 33rd tournament as a Yokozuna, moving him into the top ten all-time.[31]
September
Hoshoryu was promoted to juryo after the September tournament
3: Takanofuji is suspended from the forthcoming Aki tournament by his stablemaster
Chiganoura while the Sumo Association investigates reports that he assaulted an attendant at his stable after practice on August 31. He has already served a previous suspension for a similar incident in 2018.[32]
3: Hakuhō announces that he has acquired
Japanese citizenship, which will enable him to stay in the Sumo Association after retirement and run his own
stable.[33]
12: Former
sekiwakeYoshikaze, who has missed the last two tournaments through injury, announces his retirement. He is staying in sumo under the elder name of Nakamura Oyakata.
22:
Mitakeumi wins his second championship after a playoff with
Takakeisho, both men finishing with identical 12-3 records.[34] Takakeisho successfully returns to the ozeki rank but
Tochinoshin will be demoted after only scoring 6–9. The Outstanding Performance Prize is shared between Mitakeumi and
Asanoyama while the Fighting Spirit Prize goes to
Okinoumi and newcomer
Tsurugisho. In juryoIkioi wins the yusho while
Chiyonokuni takes the makushita title, beating former ozeki Terunofuji in his final bout. Terunofuji finishes with a 6–1 record and will be ranked in upper makushita for November. Former maegashiraDaikiho [
ja] and
Homarefuji announce their retirements. Homarefuji becomes Tateyama Oyakata. Also retiring at the age of 24 is the nephew of Musashigawa Oyakata, the former yokozunaMusashimaru, who fought as Musashikuni and is returning to
Hawai'i after six years in sumo.[35] He sustained an ankle injury in November 2018 from which he had failed to recover properly.[36]
25:Promotions to the jūryō division for November are announced. Making their debuts will be
Kotoshoho (formerly known as Kototebakari) and Mongolian
Hoshoryu, nephew of the former yokozunaAsashoryu. Returning to the paid ranks are
Wakamotoharu,
Akua, and
Akiseyama.
28:
Takanofuji is told to retire voluntarily by the Sumo Association after the compliance committee's report finds that he struck his attendant, a jonidan ranked wrestler, on the forehead for preceding him in the bath and his general attitude. However Takanofuji holds a press conference in which he says he will not retire, saying he is sorry for what he did but "this penalty is too severe and I cannot accept it."[37] The Sumo Association has already decided to take disciplinary action at a later date, which could include expulsion.[38]
11: After his initial resistance to the Sumo Association's recommendation, Takanofuji submits his retirement papers and ends his sumo career at the age of 22. His change of heart ensures that he will receive severance pay.[39]
25: The head yobidashi, Takuro, is suspended for two tournaments for hitting a junior yobidashi over the head after he caught him eating in the customer seating area on jungyo. His request to retire has also been accepted. The Sumo Association's director of public relations,
Shibatayama, said that violent acts were no longer to be tolerated and it is "regrettable that such a senior official gave such guidance."[40]
28: The rankings for the Kyushu tournament are released. For the first time since November 2006 there are four wrestlers at komusubi, with Hokutofuji and Asanoyama joining Abi and Endō at the rank. The only newcomer to the top division is
Wakatakakage, while
Takanosho,
Chiyomaru and
Daishomaru return.[41]
November
9:
Abi is reprimanded by the
Japan Sumo Association after he posted an image on
Instagram of his friend and fellow wrestler
Wakamotoharu tied up and gagged with tape as a prank. Abi and Wakamotoharu apologize in person to JSA chairman
Hakkaku and the board for the incident. The JSA has advised wrestlers not to post on their individual social media in future, although accounts run by the stables are not affected.[42]
17: In the Kyushu tournament, Takayasu withdraws shortly before his scheduled bout on Day 8 because of lower back pain. He is the seventh top division wrestler to pull out of the tournament, following
Ichinojo (before the tournament, back injury),
Kakuryū (the morning of Day 1, back),
Goeido (Day 2, ankle),
Tomokaze (Day 3, knee dislocation),
Wakatakakage (Day 5, ankle), and
Tochinoshin (Day 5, rib)
23: Hakuhō secures his 43rd top division championship by defeating
Mitakeumi, the winner of the previous tournament with a sotogake outside leg trip to move to an unassailable two bout lead at 13–1.[43]
24: On the final day Hakuhō defeats Takakeishō (9–6) in a bout lasting over a minute to finish on 14–1, three wins ahead of his nearest rivals.[44] Runners-up are
Shodai and
Asanoyama who both finish on 11–4 after Shodai wins their match today. Shodai receives the Fighting Spirit Prize while Asanoyama gets the Technique Prize.[44] Asanoyama also has the most top division wins in the year 2019.[44] His total of 55 is however, the lowest ever winning total (for comparison, Hakuhō had 86 wins in 2009).[45] The Outstanding Performance Prize goes to
Daieisho (8–7) as the only wrestler to defeat Hakuhō. The jūryō division championship is won by
Azumaryu who wins a four-way playoff also involving
Kaisei,
Ikioi and
Kiribayama, after all finish with identical 11–4 records. The makushita division championship is won by ex-ōzekiTerunofuji, his first championship since his comeback from injury began in March, and he is guaranteed a return to the sekitori ranks in the next tournament.
27: The jūryō promotions for the January 2020 tournament are announced. There are no wrestlers making their jūryō debuts, but five are returning – Terunofuji,
Chiyootori,
Churanoumi Yoshihisa,
Asagyokusei, and
Sakigake [
ja]. It took Sakigake 29 tournaments to return to the paid ranks after his demotion in January 2015, the fourth slowest ever.
24: The rankings for the January 2020 Hatsu tournament are released. Asanoyama makes his debut at sekiwake, the first from Toyama Prefecture since
Kotogaume in 1986.
Daieisho makes his komusubi debut. Five wrestlers return to the top division,
Azumaryu, Ikioi,
Tochiozan, Kaisei and
Tokushoryu. There is one newcomer, Mongolian Kiribayama from
Michinoku stable. Making way for them are six wrestlers demoted to jūryō, Tomokaze, Ichinojo and Wakatakakage who all suffered injuries, plus
Nishikigi,
Daishomaru and
Daishoho.[46]
14 February: Former maegashiraTokitsunada, aged 49, of heart failure.
16 February: Former makushita 20 Suginoyama, aged 41, of a hemorrhage caused by a blow to the head with a karaoke remote control.[48][49] His attacker, former professional boxer Tomoaki Hashizume, is sentenced to seven years imprisonment in December 2019.[50]
6 April: Former jūryō
Saigo [
ja], aged 43, of a suspected heart attack.[51]
20 April: Former maegashiraKiyonomori, also former Kise Oyakata, aged 84, of pneumonia.[52]
25 April: Former sekiwakeKurohimeyama, also former Tatekuma Oyakata, aged 70, of pneumonia.[53]
16 September: Former sekiwakeSakahoko, current Izutsu Oyakata, aged 58, of pancreatic cancer.[54]
^"リモコンで元力士を殴打死 元ボクサーの男に懲役7年" [A former wrestler is beaten and killed with a remote control.]. Sanspo (in Japanese). 19 December 2019. Archived from
the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
16: After suffering three straight losses in the Hatsu tournament, Kisenosato announces his retirement. He had been unable to recover from a left arm injury sustained in the March 2017 tournament, which caused him to miss or withdraw from eight consecutive tournaments from May 2017 to July 2018. His record as a yokozuna was 36 wins against 35 losses, with 97 bouts missed. He is staying in sumo as a coach under the Araiso
elder name.[3]
18: Kakuryū pulls out with a recurrence of his ankle problem.[4]
20: Emperor
Akihito and
Empress Michiko attend Day 8, the 23rd and last time before the Emperor's abdication in April that they have watched sumo in an official capacity.[5]
26: Hakuho withdraws with knee and ankle injuries, meaning all three yokozuna have failed to complete 15 days for the second tournament in a row.[6]
27: Sekiwake
Tamawashi is the surprise tournament champion with a 13–2 record, sealing his first yusho by defeating
Endō on the final day.[7] At 34 he is the second oldest first-time yusho winner in the six tournaments per year era (post-1958), after 37 year-old
Kyokutenhō in 2012.[7] Takakeisho could have taken part in a playoff if Tamawashi had lost and he had won, but in the event he finished two wins behind on 11–4 after losing to Gōeidō. That defeat, and a 9–6 record in September 2018, means he will not be promoted to ōzeki despite winning 33 bouts in three tournaments and being the sole runner-up here.[8] Tamawashi receives special prizes for Outstanding Performance and Fighting Spirit, while Takakeisho wins the Technique Award.[8]Mitakeumi is awarded a share of the Outstanding Performance Prize for defeating all three yokozuna and Tamawashi despite missing some of the tournament through injury.[8] The jūryō division championship is won by
Shimanoumi. Retiring along with Kisenosato are
Takanoiwa, former sekiwakeTakekaze, and Sasayama, the brother of jūryō wrestler Daiseidō.
30: Promotions to the jūryō division for the forthcoming March tournament are announced. Returning are
Daiseidō [
ja] and
Takanofuji (who changed his shikona from Takayoshitoshi in January). There are two newcomers –
Michinoku stable's
Kiribayama from Mongolia, and
Arashio stable's
Wakamotoharu. The latter has two brothers in sumo, one of whom (
Wakatakakage) is already in jūryō. This means there will be three sets of brothers in the jūryō division in March (
Hidenoumi and
Tobizaru, and Takanofuji and
Takagenji being the others).
February
9: The 52nd NHK charity ozumo tournament is held at the Kokugikan.
10: The 43rd Fuji TV one day tournament is held at the Kokugikan.
Takayasu defeats
Yoshikaze in the final. (Hakuho is knocked out in the second round.)
March
24: The Haru tournament in Osaka concludes with Hakuhō defeating his rival yokozuna Kakuryū with a shitatenage underarm throw to clinch his 42nd career championship and his 15th with a perfect 15–0 score. His victory means he has won at least one tournament every year since 2006.[9] However, he injures his right arm in the process and is seen holding the bicep afterwards. He finishes one win ahead of maegashiraIchinojō, who did not get to fight the yokozuna during the tournament. His 14–1 runner-up performance is recognized with the Outstanding Performance prize. SekiwakeTakakeishō not only wins the Technique Award but also promotion to ōzeki, after he defeats
Tochinoshin to finish on 10–5, giving him 34 wins over the last three tournaments. Tochinoshin, conversely, is demoted from ōzeki after two consecutive make-koshi or losing records. The Fighting Spirit Prize goes to maegashiraAoiyama for his fine 12–3 record. In the jūryō division
Shimanoumi wins his second championship in a row and is guaranteed promotion to the top division for the first time in May at the age of 29. Down in the jonidan division former ōzekiTerunofuji, long sidelined by injuries, loses a playoff for the division championship after both he and Russian-Mongolian wrestler
Rōga finish with perfect 7–0 records. It is Terunofuji's first appearance since May 2018. Former maegashiraTenkaiho retires and becomes Hidenoyama Oyakata.
28: Hakuhō and his stablemaster
Miyagino are summoned by the Sumo Association to explain why Hakuhō led the crowd in a display of sanbon-jime hand-clapping after his victory speech on Sunday, seen as a breach of etiquette because it preceded the kami-okuri ceremony that concludes the tournament.[10] Hakuhō had wanted to acknowledge
Emperor Akihito, as it was the final tournament of the
Heisei era. Hakuhō was also criticized in November 2017 when he led the crowd in cheers in the midst of the
Harumafuji assault affair.[10]
31: The spring regional tour begins with a tournament in the
Ise Shrine. Hakuhō performs the dohyō-iri but does not participate in any bouts due to his injury, confirmed a muscle tear in the upper right arm.[11]
April
The spring regional tour visits the following locations:[12]
29:
Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture. On the last day of the tour, 25 wrestlers born in the
Showa era (1926–89), including Hakuhō, pose for a photo to mark the last
Showa Day of the Heisei era.[13]
12:It is reported that the Sumo Association are arranging for
President of the United StatesDonald Trump to visit on the final day of the May tournament as part of his trip to Japan, after hearing of his request to watch a bout.[14]
12: WakaimonogashiraHakuryū [
ja] turns 65 and retires. As a wrestler from the
Kagamiyama stable he spent 47 tournaments in jūryō, a record for someone who never made the top makuuchi division (his highest rank was jūryō 1).
24: Hakuhō is given an official reprimand, the lightest of the seven punishments available, in response to the sanbon-jime incident on the last day of the March tournament. His stablemaster
Miyagino is given a salary cut of ten percent for three months.[15]
30: On the last day of the Heisei era, the banzuke for the May tournament is published, with Takakeishō listed as ōzeki for the first time.[16] There are two newcomers to the top division,
Shimanoumi and
Enhō. Some 50 kg lighter, and 15 cm shorter, than the average top division wrestler, Enhō is the first sekitori from
Kanazawa Gakuin University.[17]
May
Video of the May 2019 tournament, which was attended by President
Donald Trump
1: Dressed in their black montsuki hakama, 69 of the 70 sekitori use their bodies to spell out the kanji for the new imperial era,
Reiwa.[13]
14: Further reports on President
Donald Trump's visit on the final day of the May tournament suggest he will present a custom-made trophy to the winner, the "Trump Cup."[18]
26: Donald Trump is in attendance for the final five matches of the final day of the May tournament.[19] He presents the new trophy, officially called the President's Cup,[20] to the winner of the championship, maegashiraAsanoyama, who finishes with a 12–3 record and special prizes for Outstanding Performance and Fighting Spirit. He is the first winner without any previous sanyaku experience since
Sadanoyama in 1961.[21] He finishes one win ahead of Kakuryū (11–4). Tochinoshin, despite a controversial call by the judges in his Day 13 match with Asanoyama which reversed the referee's decision and declared that his heel had stepped out of the ring, finishes with a 10–5 record, enough to return him immediately to the ōzeki rank. Other notable performers are
Abi and top division debutant
Shimanoumi who share the Fighting Spirit prize with Asanoyama, and
Ryūden who wins the Technique prize.[22] The jūryō division championship is won by
Takagenji with a 13–2 record. Among the retirements are former jūryō wrestlers
Dewahayate [
ja] and
Tochihiryu [
ja]. Two days earlier, former ozeki Terunofuji continued his climb back up the banzuke with a 6–1 result in Sandanme, ensuring his promotion to makushita for the next tournament in July.
29: Promotions to jūryō for the Nagoya tournament in July are announced. There are four newcomers, the most high profile of whom is
Kotonowaka, the son of Sadogatake Oyakata (ex-sekiwakeKotonowaka) who has changed his shikona from Kotokamatani to that of his father. The other debutants are
Kizakiumi [
ja], who is the younger brother of
Churanoumi making them the 21st pair of brothers in history to both reach sekitori status,[23]Ichiyamamoto the first from
Nishonoseki stable to reach jūryō since
Shohozan in 2010, and
Onoe stable's
Ryuko [
ja].[24] There is one returnee,
Takanofuji, who won the makushita championship with a perfect 7–0 record.
June
24: The July banzuke is published, with Takakeisho kadoban, Tochinoshin returning to ozeki and Asanoyama just missing out on a sanyaku debut, instead being ranked at maegashira 1. The only top division debut is Takagenji at maegashira 10.[25]
July
16: 40-year-old
Aminishiki announces his retirement from sumo after a 22-year career. He had been absent since the third day of the July tournament with a knee injury and faced demotion from the jūryō division.[26]
17: For the first time since the beginning of the
Showa era, all four ōzeki are absent from a tournament.[27]Takayasu withdraws due to an elbow injury suffered against
Tamawashi, giving Hakuhō a default win. Earlier in the tournament
Gōeidō and
Tochinoshin both withdrew, and
Takakeishō was absent from the beginning and will drop to sekiwake for the September tournament.
21: Kakuryū defeats Hakuhō in the final match of the tournament to win his sixth top division championship, with a 14–1 record.[28] Hakuhō finishes second on 12–3, his first runner-up performance since January 2016 (he has won seven yūshō since then). He shares the jun-yūshō with two maegashira,
Terutsuyoshi and
Tomokaze. Terutsuyoshi wins the Fighting Spirit Prize, and Tomokaze who was the only man to defeat Kakuryū receives the Outstanding Performance Award.[29] The Technique Prize is shared between
Endō and
Enhō.[29] The jūryō division championship is won by former amateur competitor
Tsurugishō who is likely to be promoted to the top division for the first time as a result.[29] Former maegashiraChiyono-ō [
ja] wins the makushita championship. Former ozeki Terunofuji posted a 6–1 record in lower makushita, continuing his climb back up the banzuke. The chief tokoyama, Tokohachi of the
Miyagino stable, retires due to turning 65 years of age, after 52 years in sumo.[30]
27: The banzuke for the September tournament is released, with Takakeishō dropping to sekiwake. Three wrestlers are promoted to the top division, the returning
Ishiura and
Yutakayama, and Tsurugishō who is the only newcomer. Kakuryū is the East Yokozuna, the highest position on the banzuke, and is competing in his 33rd tournament as a Yokozuna, moving him into the top ten all-time.[31]
September
Hoshoryu was promoted to juryo after the September tournament
3: Takanofuji is suspended from the forthcoming Aki tournament by his stablemaster
Chiganoura while the Sumo Association investigates reports that he assaulted an attendant at his stable after practice on August 31. He has already served a previous suspension for a similar incident in 2018.[32]
3: Hakuhō announces that he has acquired
Japanese citizenship, which will enable him to stay in the Sumo Association after retirement and run his own
stable.[33]
12: Former
sekiwakeYoshikaze, who has missed the last two tournaments through injury, announces his retirement. He is staying in sumo under the elder name of Nakamura Oyakata.
22:
Mitakeumi wins his second championship after a playoff with
Takakeisho, both men finishing with identical 12-3 records.[34] Takakeisho successfully returns to the ozeki rank but
Tochinoshin will be demoted after only scoring 6–9. The Outstanding Performance Prize is shared between Mitakeumi and
Asanoyama while the Fighting Spirit Prize goes to
Okinoumi and newcomer
Tsurugisho. In juryoIkioi wins the yusho while
Chiyonokuni takes the makushita title, beating former ozeki Terunofuji in his final bout. Terunofuji finishes with a 6–1 record and will be ranked in upper makushita for November. Former maegashiraDaikiho [
ja] and
Homarefuji announce their retirements. Homarefuji becomes Tateyama Oyakata. Also retiring at the age of 24 is the nephew of Musashigawa Oyakata, the former yokozunaMusashimaru, who fought as Musashikuni and is returning to
Hawai'i after six years in sumo.[35] He sustained an ankle injury in November 2018 from which he had failed to recover properly.[36]
25:Promotions to the jūryō division for November are announced. Making their debuts will be
Kotoshoho (formerly known as Kototebakari) and Mongolian
Hoshoryu, nephew of the former yokozunaAsashoryu. Returning to the paid ranks are
Wakamotoharu,
Akua, and
Akiseyama.
28:
Takanofuji is told to retire voluntarily by the Sumo Association after the compliance committee's report finds that he struck his attendant, a jonidan ranked wrestler, on the forehead for preceding him in the bath and his general attitude. However Takanofuji holds a press conference in which he says he will not retire, saying he is sorry for what he did but "this penalty is too severe and I cannot accept it."[37] The Sumo Association has already decided to take disciplinary action at a later date, which could include expulsion.[38]
11: After his initial resistance to the Sumo Association's recommendation, Takanofuji submits his retirement papers and ends his sumo career at the age of 22. His change of heart ensures that he will receive severance pay.[39]
25: The head yobidashi, Takuro, is suspended for two tournaments for hitting a junior yobidashi over the head after he caught him eating in the customer seating area on jungyo. His request to retire has also been accepted. The Sumo Association's director of public relations,
Shibatayama, said that violent acts were no longer to be tolerated and it is "regrettable that such a senior official gave such guidance."[40]
28: The rankings for the Kyushu tournament are released. For the first time since November 2006 there are four wrestlers at komusubi, with Hokutofuji and Asanoyama joining Abi and Endō at the rank. The only newcomer to the top division is
Wakatakakage, while
Takanosho,
Chiyomaru and
Daishomaru return.[41]
November
9:
Abi is reprimanded by the
Japan Sumo Association after he posted an image on
Instagram of his friend and fellow wrestler
Wakamotoharu tied up and gagged with tape as a prank. Abi and Wakamotoharu apologize in person to JSA chairman
Hakkaku and the board for the incident. The JSA has advised wrestlers not to post on their individual social media in future, although accounts run by the stables are not affected.[42]
17: In the Kyushu tournament, Takayasu withdraws shortly before his scheduled bout on Day 8 because of lower back pain. He is the seventh top division wrestler to pull out of the tournament, following
Ichinojo (before the tournament, back injury),
Kakuryū (the morning of Day 1, back),
Goeido (Day 2, ankle),
Tomokaze (Day 3, knee dislocation),
Wakatakakage (Day 5, ankle), and
Tochinoshin (Day 5, rib)
23: Hakuhō secures his 43rd top division championship by defeating
Mitakeumi, the winner of the previous tournament with a sotogake outside leg trip to move to an unassailable two bout lead at 13–1.[43]
24: On the final day Hakuhō defeats Takakeishō (9–6) in a bout lasting over a minute to finish on 14–1, three wins ahead of his nearest rivals.[44] Runners-up are
Shodai and
Asanoyama who both finish on 11–4 after Shodai wins their match today. Shodai receives the Fighting Spirit Prize while Asanoyama gets the Technique Prize.[44] Asanoyama also has the most top division wins in the year 2019.[44] His total of 55 is however, the lowest ever winning total (for comparison, Hakuhō had 86 wins in 2009).[45] The Outstanding Performance Prize goes to
Daieisho (8–7) as the only wrestler to defeat Hakuhō. The jūryō division championship is won by
Azumaryu who wins a four-way playoff also involving
Kaisei,
Ikioi and
Kiribayama, after all finish with identical 11–4 records. The makushita division championship is won by ex-ōzekiTerunofuji, his first championship since his comeback from injury began in March, and he is guaranteed a return to the sekitori ranks in the next tournament.
27: The jūryō promotions for the January 2020 tournament are announced. There are no wrestlers making their jūryō debuts, but five are returning – Terunofuji,
Chiyootori,
Churanoumi Yoshihisa,
Asagyokusei, and
Sakigake [
ja]. It took Sakigake 29 tournaments to return to the paid ranks after his demotion in January 2015, the fourth slowest ever.
24: The rankings for the January 2020 Hatsu tournament are released. Asanoyama makes his debut at sekiwake, the first from Toyama Prefecture since
Kotogaume in 1986.
Daieisho makes his komusubi debut. Five wrestlers return to the top division,
Azumaryu, Ikioi,
Tochiozan, Kaisei and
Tokushoryu. There is one newcomer, Mongolian Kiribayama from
Michinoku stable. Making way for them are six wrestlers demoted to jūryō, Tomokaze, Ichinojo and Wakatakakage who all suffered injuries, plus
Nishikigi,
Daishomaru and
Daishoho.[46]
14 February: Former maegashiraTokitsunada, aged 49, of heart failure.
16 February: Former makushita 20 Suginoyama, aged 41, of a hemorrhage caused by a blow to the head with a karaoke remote control.[48][49] His attacker, former professional boxer Tomoaki Hashizume, is sentenced to seven years imprisonment in December 2019.[50]
6 April: Former jūryō
Saigo [
ja], aged 43, of a suspected heart attack.[51]
20 April: Former maegashiraKiyonomori, also former Kise Oyakata, aged 84, of pneumonia.[52]
25 April: Former sekiwakeKurohimeyama, also former Tatekuma Oyakata, aged 70, of pneumonia.[53]
16 September: Former sekiwakeSakahoko, current Izutsu Oyakata, aged 58, of pancreatic cancer.[54]
^"リモコンで元力士を殴打死 元ボクサーの男に懲役7年" [A former wrestler is beaten and killed with a remote control.]. Sanspo (in Japanese). 19 December 2019. Archived from
the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2019.