Hatsu 2025 Rikishi Preview
Learn a little something about each rikishi before the sumo begins for the Hatsu basho.
The Hatsu 2025 basho begins on January 12. While you ponder your initial lineup on Fantasizr, read this preview for all 42 Makuuchi rikishi.
01 Yokozuna East Terunofuji
Terunofuji Haruo | 照ノ富士 春雄
Isegahama | Mongolia
Birthdate: November 29, 1991
Height: 192 cm | 6' 4"
Weight: 174 kg | 383 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Yokozuna East
Kyushu 2024 Record: 0-0-15
Once again, Terunofuji missed the entire tournament with injury. He is still the lone Yokozuna, and he did win the last time he participated fully. Time seems to be running out on both of those staying true.
02 Ozeki #1 East Kotozakura
Kotozakura Masahiro | 琴櫻 傑太
Sadogatake | Chiba
Birthdate: November 19, 1997
Height: 189 cm | 6' 2"
Weight: 176 kg | 387 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Ozeki #1 East
Kyushu 2024 Record: 14-1; Yusho
After his best career basho and first yusho with a 14-1, Kotozakura is on the precipice of a Yokozuna promotion. That is easier said than done, especially for someone with Ozeki rivals like Hoshoryu and Onosato. This is still a big, fundamentally excellent 27 year old in his prime performing as well as he ever has even if he doesn’t get the rope this time.
03 Ozeki #1 West Hoshoryu
Hoshoryu Tomokatsu | 豊昇龍 智勝
Tatsunami | Mongolia
Birthdate: May 22, 1999
Height: 188 cm | 6' 2"
Weight: 142 kg | 312 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Ozeki #1 West
Kyushu 2024 Record: 13-2; Jun-Yusho
Hoshoryu was thisclose to a chance at a Yokozuna promotion, but his Day Fifteen loss to Kotozakura gave him just a Jun-Yusho. In theory, a 14-1 or 15-0 yusho could still earn the rope. 13 is his career best win total, but at 25 another level of sumo is certainly possible.
04 Ozeki #2 West Onosato
Onosato Daiki | 大の里 泰輝
Nishonoseki | Ishikawa
Birthdate: June 7, 2000
Height: 192 cm | 6' 4"
Weight: 177 kg | 389 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Ozeki #2 West
Kyushu 2024 Record: 9-6
Onosato went 9-6 in his Ozeki debut as a 24 year old with a year and a half of pro sumo under his mawashi.The fact that seems like a disappointing is as telling as anything. Onosato had the most wins and an Ozeki promotion in 2024, and all indications are he will only get better in 2025.
05 Sekiwake East Wakamotoharu
Wakamotoharu Minato | 若元春 港
Arashio | Fukushima
Birthdate: October 5, 1993
Height: 187 cm | 6' 2"
Weight: 147 kg | 323 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Komusubi East
Kyushu 2024 Record: 10-5
Wakamotoharu's 10 wins in November means he has a theoretical Ozeki run going into 2025. That would seem wildly improbable for the 31 year old, especially since he’d need 12 wins or better. But then, his Maegashira career and Sanyaku basho were fairly improbable too, and he keeps defying expectations.
06 Sekiwake West Daieisho
Daieisho Hayato | 大栄翔 勇人
Oitekaze | Saitama
Birthdate: November 10, 1993
Height: 182 cm | 6' 0"
Weight: 164 kg | 361 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Sekiwake West
Kyushu 2024 Record: 8-7
Daieisho went 8-7 as a Sekiwake by throwing himself into slapfests, which feels like it's what Daieisho does. That's not nothing, and he's had a winning record for four straight basho and in eleven of the last twelve. He's still one extremely tough customer.
07 Komusubi East Abi
Abi Masatora | 阿炎 政虎
Shikoroyama | Saitama
Birthdate: May 4, 1994
Height: 186 cm | 6' 1"
Weight: 158 kg | 348 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #3 East
Kyushu 2024 Record: 11-4; Outstanding Performance Prize
Abi got 11 wins AND an Outstanding Performance Prize despite looking especially chaotic. He had more than one sort-of-henka and beat Hoshoryu on Day Seven by stealing an uncalled false start. Still, he got to 11 because he has real pushing chops on top of an increasingly sneaky approach as he gets older.
08 Komusubi West Wakatakakage
Wakatakakage Atsushi | 若隆景 渥
Arashio | Fukushima
Birthdate: December 6, 1994
Height: 182 cm | 6' 0"
Weight: 132 kg | 290 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #2 East
Kyushu 2024 Record: 10-5;Technique Prize
Wakatakakage has had three basho back in Makuuchi since his return from injury, and he has 11, 12, and 10 wins. He's now facing the absolute toughest slate possible (except for his brother, of course.) Don't expect another double-digit win total, but don't rule out Wakatakakage either.
09 Maegashira #1 East Takanosho
Takanosho Nobuaki | 隆の勝 伸明
Tokiwayama | Chiba
Birthdate: November 14, 1994
Height: 183 cm | 6' 0"
Weight: 170 kg | 374 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #6 East
Kyushu 2024 Record: 11-4; Fighting Spirit Prize
Takanosho has gone 12-3, 4-11, and 11-4 over his last three basho. That 11 wins at Kyushu belies his performance, as he was 10-1 after beating Onosato on Day Eleven. He then lost to Kirishima, Kotozakura, and Daieisho in succession to fall from yusho contention. He will likely struggle again in the joi-jin.
10 Maegashira #1 West Kirishima
Kirishima Tetsuo | 霧島 鐵雄
Otowayama | Mongolia
Birthdate: April 24, 1996
Height: 186 cm | 6' 1"
Weight: 143 kg | 315 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Sekiwake East
Kyushu 2024 Record: 6-9
Kirishima's Ozeki hopes may have just vanished with only 6 wins. While a return to sumo's second rank may be too much for him, he could easily be a yusho contender again if he's on form. Despite the injuries, he's still on the right side of 30 and hasn't lost his wide-ranging bag of tricks.
11 Maegashira #2 East Tobizaru
Tobizaru Masaya | 翔猿 正也
Oitekaze | Tokyo
Birthdate: April 24, 1992
Height: 174 cm | 5' 9"
Weight: 135 kg | 297 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #5 East
Kyushu 2024 Record: 9-6
Tobizaru had a funny 9-win-basho, as he lost three straight and then won three straight to close his tournament. He still seems totally outgunned by the truly top guys, but he's just too much for most Maegashira. Pity the poor rikishi that is facing the Flying Monkey, but make sure to watch the match.
12 Maegashira #2 West Atamifuji
Atamifuji Sakutaro | 熱海富士 朔太郎
Isegahama | Shizuoka
Birthdate: September 3, 2002
Height: 185 cm | 6' 1"
Weight: 176 kg | 387 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #3 West
Kyushu 2024 Record: 8-7
Atamifuji got an 8-7 after a string of three straight 7-8s. That arrested his slide down the Banzuke and keeps him in the joi-jin. Despite his modest 2024, it's worth remembering Atamifuji is only recently 22, blessed with great size, and has two Jun-Yusho to his name. He's still one to watch for the future.
13 Maegashira #3 East Gonoyama
Gonoyama Toki | 豪ノ山 登輝
Takekuma | Osaka
Birthdate: April 7, 1998
Height: 177 cm | 5' 10"
Weight: 154 kg | 339 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #8 West
Kyushu 2024 Record: 11-4
Gonoyama had a return to form in Kyushu. Not only was his first-to-action style back, he earned double-digit wins with some impressive individual victories on the way. He gets another chance in January to prove he could compete with a full Sanyaku slate.
14 Maegashira #3 West Oho
Oho Konosuke | 王鵬 幸之介
Otake | Tokyo
Birthdate: February 14, 2000
Height: 190 cm | 6' 3"
Weight: 179 kg | 394 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #1 East
Kyushu 2024 Record: 6-9
Oho's chance at making Sanyaku faded away with a 2-6 start, but he recovered enough to not drop too far. Rival Hoshoryu's Ozeki-dom and Onosato's meteoric rise has overshadowed Oho. At his best, he may be able to compete with the best, but he needs to be at his best more often.
15 Maegashira #4 East Shodai
Shodai Naoya | 正代 直也
Tokitsukaze | Kumamoto
Birthdate: November 5, 1991
Height: 184 cm | 6' 0"
Weight: 161 kg | 354 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Komusubi West
Kyushu 2024 Record: 4-11
Shodai elevated himself to Komusubi and immediately got rocked back down the Banzule with a 4-11. The former Ozeki does occasionally show that top-guy skill. He just also seems surprised by the tachiai or an opponent's strength too often.
16 Maegashira #4 West Ura
Ura Kazuki | 宇良 和輝
Kise | Osaka
Birthdate: June 22, 1992
Height: 175 cm | 5' 9"
Weight: 143 kg | 315 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #2 West
Kyushu 2024 Record: 5-10
Ura once again was must see TV while only winning a third of his matches. Against the top of the top, Ura is at a height/strength/power disadvantage against most opponents. With this demotion, the Pink Prince of Technique could be seeing some opponents who will be surprised by his range of approaches to sumo.
17 Maegashira #5 East Hiradoumi
Hiradoumi Yuki | 平戸海 雄貴
Sakaigawa | Nagasaki
Birthdate: April 20, 2000
Height: 177 cm | 5' 10"
Weight: 135 kg | 297 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #1 West
Kyushu 2024 Record: 4-11
Hiradoumi had the ignominious honor of the horrible-record-good-looking-matches basho for November. Some of this is down to his all-out style, which puts him in every match by making it chaotic in a way that doesn't always benefit him.
18 Maegashira #5 West Chiyoshoma
Chiyoshoma Fujio | 千代翔馬 富士雄
Kokonoe | Mongolia
Birthdate: July 20, 1991
Height: 184 cm | 6' 0"
Weight: 137 kg | 301 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #14 East
Kyushu 2024 Record: 11-4
Against all odds and expectations, Chiyoshoma earned 11 wins in Kyushu after spending most of the last year in Juryo. Chiyoshoma has not become more refined as he ages, but he is deploying the wackiness somewhat more occasionally. Unpredictably is also frequently a tactical advantage, and Chiyoshoma has that in spades.
19 Maegashira #6 East Takayasu
Takayasu Akira | 高安 晃
Tagonoura | Ibaraki
Birthdate: February 28, 1990
Height: 188 cm | 6' 2"
Weight: 183 kg | 403 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #9 West
Kyushu 2024 Record: 8-7
Takayasu gamely soldiers on, holding up well enough to compete in most matches.The 34 year old is obviously struggling, while also looking like he could dominate anyone if he wasn't struggling. If he is moving well, watch out.
20 Maegashira #6 West Ichiyamamoto
Ichiyamamoto Daiki | 一山本 大生
Hanaregoma | Hokkaido
Birthdate: October 1, 1993
Height: 187 cm | 6' 2"
Weight: 144 kg | 317 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #10 East
Kyushu 2024 Record: 8-7
Ichiyamamoto's all out thrusting style should not age well. It's too intense, too singular, and too easily outmatched. Except that Ichiyamamoto is basically even over the last year.
21 Maegashira #7 East Endo
Endo Shota | 遠藤 聖大
Oitekaze | Ishikawa
Birthdate: October 19, 1990
Height: 184 cm | 6' 0"
Weight: 150 kg | 330 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #7 East
Kyushu 2024 Record: 7-8
Enzo has once again settled into mid-Maegashira-dom after a bounce down to Juryo last year. He's weird to watch now because sometimes he is obviously outclassed athletically but still has a bag of skills. Since he's aged into experienced veteran now, Endo can be quite dangerous in the right match.
22 Maegashira #7 West Mitakeumi
Mitakeumi Hisashi | 御嶽海 久司
Dewanoumi | Nagano
Birthdate: December 25, 1992
Height: 179 cm | 5' 10"
Weight: 170 kg | 374 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #7 West
Kyushu 2024 Record: 7-8
Mitakeumi looked like he could barely move at times during the last basho due to accumulated lower body injuries. Despite that, he clawed out 7 wins. He knows exactly what to do on the dohyo still, but his body can't always follow through.
23 Maegashira #8 East Roga
Roga Tokiyoshi | 狼雅 外喜義
Futagoyama | Russia
Birthdate: March 2, 1999
Height: 185 cm | 6' 1"
Weight: 154 kg | 339 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #8 East
Kyushu 2024 Record: 7-8
Roga is becoming the very definition of Solid Maegashira, both in rank and style. His good-but-not-overwhelming size means he can matchup with anyone. He just rarely seems able to take control of the proceedings.
24 Maegashira #8 West Takarafuji
Takarafuji Daisuke | 宝富士 大輔
Isegahama | Aomori
Birthdate: February 18, 1987
Height: 186 cm | 6' 1"
Weight: 171 kg | 376 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #10 West
Kyushu 2024 Record: 8-7
Takarafuji's veteran staying power is getting seriously overshadowed by Tamawashi, but he's doing great all things considered. He doesn't get pushed around or dominated, despite the fact he's close to 38 years old. You won't get spectacular sumo from him, but that was never what the solid, redoubtable Takarafuji was ever about.
25 Maegashira #9 East Churanoumi
Churanoumi Yoshihisa | 美ノ海 義久
Kise | Okinawa
Birthdate: May 6, 1993
Height: 176 cm | 5' 9"
Weight: 130 kg | 286 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #4 East
Kyushu 2024 Record: 4-11
Churanoumi hit a career high rank of Maegashira #4 as a 31 year old, so his 4-11 there in November seems like it was bound to happen. With a demotion, Churanoumi could return to the double-digit winning ways of July. What is certain is he will go all out against bigger opponents, which is almost everyone.
26 Maegashira #9 West Oshoma
Oshoma Degi | 欧勝馬 出気
Naruto | Mongolia
Birthdate: April 9, 1997
Height: 187 cm | 6' 2"
Weight: 132 kg | 290 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #4 West
Kyushu 2024 Record: 4-11
Oshoma did not do well at a career-high rank in November, although unlike Churanoumi he may have more to show in the future. Oshoma is a talented, but odd, rikishi. His most common winning kimarite is the hatakikomi, or slap-down, and he really seems to like getting sideways to an opponent.
27 Maegashira #10 East Tamawashi
Tamawashi Ichiro | 玉鷲 一朗
Kataonami | Mongolia
Birthdate: November 16, 1984
Height: 189 cm | 6' 2"
Weight: 174 kg | 383 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #11 East
Kyushu 2024 Record: 8-7
Tamawashi turned 40 in November, and if he can make it another year he'll be the oldest Maegashira in the modern era surpassing Kyokutenho. His winning record in November shows he does have more in the tank. No one has wanted to take his nodowa (throat thrust) in years, and that doesn't seem to be changing.
28 Maegashira #10 West Meisei
Meisei Chikara | 明生 力
Tatsunami | Kagashima
Birthdate: July 24, 1995
Height: 180 cm | 5' 11"
Weight: 154 kg | 339 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #11 West
Kyushu 2024 Record: 8-7
Meisei stabilized his slide down the Banzuke with a bare kachi-koshi in November. His style is more "fighting spirit" than "technique," which means he is usually fighting uphill. He has enough talent for that to work half the time if he is on.
29 Maegashira #11 East Midorifuji
Midorifuji Kazunari | 翠富士 一成
Isegahama | Shizuoka
Birthdate: August 30, 1996
Height: 171 cm | 5' 7"
Weight: 116 kg | 255 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #9 East
Kyushu 2024 Record: 7-8
Midorifuji won on Day One against Gonoyama with his signature katasukashi (under shoulder swing down), then lost the next three by being slapped down, crushed out, and forced out by arm bar. This speaks to Midorifuji's November and overall performance now. He is a smaller rikishi with one excellent trick, but everyone knows it's coming.
30 Maegashira #11 West Takerufuji
Takerufuji Mikiya | 尊富士 弥輝也
Isegahama | Aomori
Birthdate: April 9, 1999
Height: 184 cm | 6' 0"
Weight: 143 kg | 315 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #16 West
Kyushu 2024 Record: 10-5
Takerufuji competed in Makuuchi for the first time since his record setting debut yusho win in March, thanks to an ankle injury. For anyone who didn't have a historic debut, Takerufuji's November performance was excellent. He was in the yusho race until the final days, and he racked up 10 wins with his usual quick tachiai and powerful yotsu-zumo.
31 Maegashira #12 East Nishikigi
Nishikigi Tetsuya | 錦木 徹也
Isenoumi | Iwate
Birthdate: August 25, 1990
Height: 185 cm | 6' 1"
Weight: 180 kg | 396 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #6 West
Kyushu 2024 Record: 5-10
Age could be catching up to Nishikigi at 34, especially as he was never the most athletic rikishi in the top division. Of course, his 5-10 in November follows a 10-5 in September that would show he's still plenty competitive. He has also looked done at multiple points in his career only to have resurgences.
32 Maegashira #12 West Onokatsu
Onokatsu Kazuhiro | 阿武剋 一弘
Onomatsu | Mongolia
Birthdate: May 5, 2000
Height: 185 cm | 6' 1"
Weight: 160 kg | 352 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #15 East
Kyushu 2024 Record: 9-6
Onokatsu stormed through the lower divisions only to have a less than stellar Makuuchi debut in September. He likely only competed as a Maegashira in November because of retirements and other poor performances. So his 9 wins was a nice result, as well as a sign he is able to make some noise in the top division.
33 Maegashira #13 East Shonannoumi
Shonannoumi Momotaro | 湘南乃海 桃太郎
Takadagawa | Kanagawa
Birthdate: April 8, 1998
Height: 193 cm | 6' 4"
Weight: 186 kg | 409 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #13 West
Kyushu 2024 Record: 8-7
Shonannoumi reestablished himself with a winning record in Kyushu. On the other hand, the big man just scraped together 8 wins. So far in his career, he has performed significantly better as a lower Maegashira than anywhere higher up the Banzuke.
34 Maegashira #13 West Kotoshoho
Kotoshoho Yoshinari | 琴勝峰 吉成
Sadogatake | Chiba
Birthdate: August 26, 1999
Height: 191 cm | 6' 3"
Weight: 161 kg | 354 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #5 West
Kyushu 2024 Record: 3-11-1
The bad version of Kotoshoho was present for Kyushu, then he pulled out for the last two days with an injury. There is still an excellent sumotori in here, but he runs so hot and cold that his career isn't progressing. In some good news, he is only 25. The better part of his career should still be in front of him, as long as he can stabilize a bit.
35 Maegashira #14 East Hokutofuji
Hokutofuji Daiki | 北勝富士 大輝
Hakkaku | Saitama
Birthdate: July 15, 1992
Height: 184 cm | 6' 0"
Weight: 158 kg | 348 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #12 East
Kyushu 2024 Record: 7-8
If anyone is hoping Hokutofuji can storm back towards the Sanyaku, that ship has likely sailed. He is still a solid thruster who knows exactly what he wants to do out there. In mid-Maegashira, that's alot.
36 Maegashira #14 West Kinbozan
Kinbozan Haruki | 金峰山 晴樹
Kise | Kazakhstan
Birthdate: June 24, 1997
Height: 192 cm | 6' 4"
Weight: 181 kg | 398 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Juryo #1 West
Kyushu 2024 Record: 12-3
Kinbozan had a rough few basho and got sent down to Juryo for the November tournament. That was apparently the cure for what ailed him, because he won twelve matches and the Juryo yusho. The Kazakh is not getting any smaller, but he may be figuring out how to use his giant bulk much more effectively.
37 Maegashira #15 East Hakuoho
Hakuoho Tetsuya | 伯桜鵬 哲也
Miyagino | Tottori
Birthdate: August 22, 2003
Height: 181 cm | 5' 11"
Weight: 162 kg | 356 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Juryo #2 West
Kyushu 2024 Record: 10-5
Hakuoho is finally back after almost a year out of the top division thanks to shoulder surgery. In the meanwhile, his stable got put under Isegahama-beya because of a bullying scandal by former stablemate Hokuseiho. The "Reiwa Monster" has been eclipsed by Onosato and Takerufuji in the meantime. So it's important to remember he is still only 21 and has a track record of incredible success in the top division.
38 Maegashira #15 West Kitanowaka
Kitanowaka Daisuke | 北の若 大輔
Hakkaku | Yamagata
Birthdate: November 12, 2000
Height: 190 cm | 6' 3"
Weight: 146 kg | 321 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Juryo #1 East
Kyushu 2024 Record: 9-6
Slowly making his way back from a Juryo excursion, Kitanowaka is a Maegashira again. Despite an up and down sekitori career so far, Kitanowaka just turned 24. He has his best years ahead of him, and he has a good combo of size and skills.
39 Maegashira #16 East Tamashosho
Tamashosho Manpei | 玉正鳳 萬平
Katanoami | Mongolia
Birthdate: March 6, 1993
Height: 188 cm | 6' 2"
Weight: 121 kg | 266 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Juryo #4 East
Kyushu 2024 Record: 10-5
Tamashoho makes his long-awaited Makuuchi debut for January. The undersized Mongolian has spent almost two years in Juryo after a long climb to sekitori status. He also will get to share Maegashira-hood with his brother-in-law Tamawashi. (For those curious, he transferred to Katanoamai after a heya closure, so it can have two Mongolians.)
40 Maegashira #16 West Kagayaki
Kagayaki Taishi | 輝 大士
Takadagawa | Ishikawa
Birthdate: June 1, 1994
Height: 193 cm | 6' 4"
Weight: 156 kg | 343 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Juryo #2 East
Kyushu 2024 Record: 9-6
Kagayaki is back after a one basho stint in Juryo, where he went 9-6. He still looks and often wrestles like the model sumotori. Despite that, he is right on the border of Makuuchi and Juryo, so don't expect a gaudy win total.
41 Maegashira #17 East Nishikifuji
Nishikifuji Ryusei | 錦富士 隆聖
Isegahama | Aomori
Birthdate: July 22, 1996
Height: 184 cm | 6' 0"
Weight: 149 kg | 328 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #14 West
Kyushu 2024 Record: 6-9
Nishikifuji is, once again, just hanging on to a Maegashira spot. He's in his sixth consecutive Makuuchi basho, without having been above Maegashira #12 in that time. He isn't that small, but he often looks like he's at a size disadvantage and trying unsuccessfully to outwork a bigger opponent.
42 Maegashira #17 West Tokihayate
Tokihayate Hideki | 時疾風 秀喜
Tokitsukaze | Miyagi
Birthdate: August 25, 1996
Height: 178 cm | 5' 10"
Weight: 132 kg | 290 lbs
Kyushu 2024 Rank: Maegashira #15 West
Kyushu 2024 Record: 6-9
Tokihayate just hung on to the very last Makuuchi slot by being not quite as terrible as some other candidates. That will give him the prospect of remaining a Maegashira a little longer—if he can show marked improvement from November.