Natsu 2025 Rikishi Preview
Take a look at the vital information for all 42 Makuuchi wrestlers before sumo starts.
The Natsu basho begins on May 11. While you debate who will make your initial lineup for Fantasy Basho on Fantasizr, here’s a preview of all 42 Makuuchi rikishi to help you decide. Each wrestler has their rank, full name, stable, home region/country, birthdate, height, weight, and the previous basho’s rank and record. Below that is a few sentences about each wrestler.
01 Yokozuna East Hoshoryu
Hoshoryu Tomokatsu | 豊昇龍 智勝
Tatsunami | Mongolia
Birthdate: May 22, 1999
Height: 188 cm | 6' 2"
Weight: 148 kg | 326 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Yokozuna East
Haru 2025 Record: 5-5-5
Hoshoryu's debut Yokozuna basho was less than ideal to say the least. He lost his very first match against Abi, gave up his first kinboshi on Day Five to Chiyoshoma, and went out injured on Day Ten. Obviously, he hopes this is a blip and not a sign of things to come. If he's healthy, he should be a top rikishi again soon.
02 Ozeki East Onosato
Onosato Daiki | 大の里 泰輝
Nishonoseki | Ishikawa
Birthdate: June 7, 2000
Height: 192 cm | 6' 4"
Weight: 185 kg | 407 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Ozeki East
Haru 2025 Record: 12-3 Yusho
Onosato is on the verge of Yokozuna in just his eighth Makuuchi and thirteenth career basho. A 12 win playoff isn't the most dominant win, but it's an Emperor's Cup and he is clearly the best rikishi going now. He is also about to enter the last basho before he turns 25, so he also probably has a little more room for growth.
03 Ozeki West Kotozakura
Kotozakura Masahiro | 琴櫻 傑太
Sadogatake | Chiba
Birthdate: November 19, 1997
Height: 189 cm | 6' 2"
Weight: 181 kg | 398 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Ozeki West
Haru 2025 Record: 8-7
Kotozakura got his 8 wins to get out of kadoban and remain an Ozeki. That's not to say he looked Ozeki-like the whole time, as he is clearly still dealing with the injury issues that plagued him in January. Kotozakura's lower-body strength was obviously not at his best, so it's worth watching.
04 Sekiwake East Daieisho
Daieisho Hayato | 大栄翔 勇人
Oitekaze | Saitama
Birthdate: November 10, 1993
Height: 182 cm | 6' 0"
Weight: 164 kg | 361 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Sekiwake East
Haru 2025 Record: 9-6
Daieisho got a quiet 9-6 in March, because that is just what he does. He was around the yusho race for a minute, but mostly served as a gatekeeper for lower-ranked contenders. Daieisho's thrusting is so solid that he can just keep doing this at Sekiwake. At 31, he could keep it up for a few years more.
05 Sekiwake West Kirishima
Kirishima Tetsuo | 霧島 鐵雄
Otowayama | Mongolia
Birthdate: April 24, 1996
Height: 186 cm | 6' 1"
Weight: 150 kg | 330 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Komusubi East
Haru 2025 Record: 8-7
Kirishima's 8-7 means he has yet another Sanyaku tournament in May. Making Ozeki again looks perilous for the now-29 year old, because it requires such a high level of performance across a string of basho. But he's definitely in the top group of rikishi who can challenge for a cup when on form.
06 Komusubi East Takayasu
Takayasu Akira | 高安 晃
Tagonoura | Ibaraki
Birthdate: February 28, 1990
Height: 188 cm | 6' 2"
Weight: 175 kg | 385 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #4 East
Haru 2025 Record: 12-3 Jun-Yusho; Technique Prize
March could have been Takayasu's moment, finally. Instead, he fell on Day 14 to Churanoumi and in a playoff on the final day to Onosato. He gets his record 9th Jun-Yusho without an Emperor's Cup, a dubious but also impressive distinction. He's 35 and has a rough injury record, but he's one of the contenders for May.
07 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
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #1 East
Haru 2025 Record: 9-6
Wakatakakage started 0-4, but finished 9-6. That means he was at a yusho-winning level for the last two-thirds of the basho. Post serious knee injury and on the wrong side of 30, Wakatakakage's ceiling is not as high as it once was. But he can still be a force.
08 Maegashira #1 East Wakamotoharu
Wakamotoharu Minato | 若元春 港
Arashio | Fukushima
Birthdate: October 5, 1993
Height: 187 cm | 6' 2"
Weight: 150 kg | 330 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #1 West
Haru 2025 Record: 9-6
Wakamotoharu, like his brother, was a Maegashira #1 who went 9-6 in March. His basho was a little more up and down than his younger brother's, but he too proved successful on the edge of Sanyaku. He even put a loss on Onosato by getting sideways and just digging in.
09 Maegashira #1 West Oho
Oho Konosuke | 王鵬 幸之介
Otake | Tokyo
Birthdate: February 14, 2000
Height: 191 cm | 6' 3"
Weight: 180 kg | 396 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Sekiwake West
Haru 2025 Record: 6-9
Oho's sanyaku debut was not very good, although he had the standout moment of beating Onosato on Day Thirteen. Oho is a pusher, but not completely and overwhelmingly so. That kind of gets him into some trouble, because he can get away from his particular sumo when he gets in his head.
10 Maegashira #2 East Abi
Abi Masatora | 阿炎 政虎
Shikoroyama | Saitama
Birthdate: May 4, 1994
Height: 186 cm | 6' 1"
Weight: 166 kg | 365 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Komusubi West
Haru 2025 Record: 6-9
Abi started his basho off by beating Hoshoryu in Hoss' Yokozuna debut and winning his next two against Tobizaru and Kotozakura. Then he won two more, but fell away completely with a five match losing streak to real contenders. He can beat anyone on his day, although as he's now 31 it's fair to point out he can lose to anyone else on their day as well.
11 Maegashira #2 West Gonoyama
Gonoyama Toki | 豪ノ山 登輝
Takekuma | Osaka
Birthdate: April 7, 1998
Height: 178 cm | 5' 10"
Weight: 164 kg | 361 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #2 East
Haru 2025 Record: 7-8
Gonoyama just sort of kind of proved he can hang in the joi-jin. He got absolutely hammered in the first week by the Sanyaku, but 5-2 after Day Eight. A bare make-koshi does mean a small demotion, but he’s got pretty much the same schedule in May to try and improve on his performance.
12 Maegashira #3 East Tamawashi
Tamawashi Ichiro | 玉鷲 一朗
Kataonami | Mongolia
Birthdate: November 16, 1984
Height: 189 cm | 6' 2"
Weight: 178 kg | 392 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #7 West
Haru 2025 Record: 10-5
Tamawashi got 10 wins in his third basho as a 40 year old. Commenting on Tamawashi's age is almost passe at this point, but you shouldn't overlook it. He isn't just competing at an age no one else has (besides Kyokutenho), he is hanging around the yusho race.
13 Maegashira #3 West Hiradoumi
Hiradoumi Yuki | 平戸海 雄貴
Sakaigawa | Nagasaki
Birthdate: April 20, 2000
Height: 178 cm | 5' 10"
Weight: 139 kg | 306 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #6 East
Haru 2025 Record: 9-6
Hiradoumi had a small recovery last basho, after three straight losing basho. He did only face one Sanyaku wrestler, a win Ozeki Kotozakura on Day Fourteen when Kotozakura already had 8 wins. But he has just turned 25, has already made Sanyaku, and should be getting better. Keep an eye on Hiradoumi.
14 Maegashira #4 East Takerufuji
Takerufuji Mikiya | 尊富士 弥輝也
Isegahama | Aomori
Birthdate: April 9, 1999
Height: 184 cm | 6' 0"
Weight: 148 kg | 326 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #6 West
Haru 2025 Record: 9-6
Takerufuji was on the fringes of the yusho race through Day 11, when he stood at 9-2. After that, he lost four straight to Onosato, Kotozakura, Aonishiki, and Wakamotoharu. Takerufuji is hard to figure, since he's clearly talented and a former yusho winner, while also being inconsistent since his return from injury.
15 Maegashira #4 West Ichiyamamoto
Ichiyamamoto Daiki | 一山本 大生
Hanaregoma | Hokkaido
Birthdate: October 1, 1993
Height: 188 cm | 6' 2"
Weight: 150 kg | 330 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #4 West
Haru 2025 Record: 7-8
Ichiyamamoto was hanging in through Day 10, sitting at 6-4 with consecutive wins over Hoshoryu (kinboshi!) and Kotozakura (still good). Then he lost four straight and his chance at a winning record. So he isn't a contender, but is a threat to anyone.
16 Maegashira #5 East Ura
Ura Kazuki | 宇良 和輝
Kise | Osaka
Birthdate: June 22, 1992
Height: 175 cm | 5' 9"
Weight: 139 kg | 306 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #5 East
Haru 2025 Record: 7-8
Ura seemed determined to end every match, win or lose, by rolling off the dohyo. He ended on a 7-8 aided by a fusen win as Hoshoryu left the basho. He was 4-7 after Day Eleven, so he finished strong but couldn't save a winning record.
17 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: 139 kg | 306 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #2 West
Haru 2025 Record: 6-9
Maegashira #2 is Chiyoshoma's highest career rank (he also made it in 2017), which showed. Honestly for a 33 year old who was in Juryo four months ago, 6-9 against the top wrestlers isn't bad. It's just clear Chiyoshoma is outgunned. You know, except when he handed Hoshoryu his first-ever kinboshi.
18 Maegashira #6 East Oshoma
Oshoma Degi | 欧勝馬 出気
Naruto | Mongolia
Birthdate: April 9, 1997
Height: 190 cm | 6' 3"
Weight: 167 kg | 367 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #8 West
Haru 2025 Record: 9-6
Oshoma is still making his steady way up the Banzuke as a 28 year old. He is a weird package in other ways,since he always wants to get sideways on an opponent. He is also fairly streaky, having a five match win streak, a four match losing streak, and a three match winning steak in March.
19 Maegashira #6 West Tobizaru
Tobizaru Masaya | 翔猿 正也
Oitekaze | Tokyo
Birthdate: April 24, 1992
Height: 173 cm | 5' 8"
Weight: 135 kg | 297 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #3 East
Haru 2025 Record: 6-9
At some point, Tobizaru's trickery is going to quit working against the top rikishi. He may even be there already. Of course, no one will ever know what the Flying Monkey is doing, and that's always a strategic advantage.
20 Maegashira #7 East Hakuoho
Hakuoho Tetsuya | 伯桜鵬 哲也
Miyagino | Tottori
Birthdate: August 22, 2003
Height: 181 cm | 5' 11"
Weight: 155 kg | 341 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #9 East
Haru 2025 Record: 9-6
Hakuoho is getting back on track after his surgery, and there are glimmers of the guy that set the sumo world on fire on his debut. Although that was nearly two years ago and he has been overshadowed by others, Hakuoho is also still just 21. He can greatly improve from here, and he's already good.
21 Maegashira #7 West Churanoumi
Churanoumi Yoshihisa | 美ノ海 義久
Kise | Okinawa
Birthdate: May 6, 1993
Height: 177 cm | 5' 10"
Weight: 145 kg | 319 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #14 West
Haru 2025 Record: 11-4 Fighting Spirit Prize
Churanoumi was on the verge of crashing back into Juryo. Instead, he was in the yusho race most of the tournament and earned a Fighting Spirit Prize. March 2025 will likely be his career high point, especially with wins over Takayasu and Daieisho on the final two days, but we get to enjoy the Kise man a little more.
22 Maegashira #8 East Onokatsu
Onokatsu Kazuhiro | 阿武剋 一弘
Onomatsu | Mongolia
Birthdate: May 5, 2000
Height: 185 cm | 6' 1"
Weight: 167 kg | 367 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #12 West
Haru 2025 Record: 10-5
Onokatsu's ceiling is probably still unclear, as he's already 25 and is only just now making it into the single digit Maegashira ranks. But he was a Makushita-tsukedashi for a reason, and he showed he can compete in Osaka.He is absurdly yorikiri focused, but it means he almost always gets his kind of match.
23 Maegashira #8 West Kinbozan
Kinbozan Haruki | 金峰山 晴樹
Kise | Kazakhstan
Birthdate: June 24, 1997
Height: 195 cm | 6' 5"
Weight: 180 kg | 396 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #5 West
Haru 2025 Record: 6-9
Kinbozan did not follow up his impressive January with a similar score, but he didn't crash and burn either. In fact, he was even after Day 10, and closed with a 1-4. At 27, his room for growth is limited, so he needs to make the most of his next few basho.
24 Maegashira #9 East Aonishiki
Aonishiki Arata | 安青錦 新大
Ajigawa | Ukraine
Birthdate: March 23, 2004
Height: 180 cm | 5' 11"
Weight: 136 kg | 299 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #15 East
Haru 2025 Record: 11-4 Fighting Spirit Prize
Aonishiki was an historically young debutant as he turned 21 on the basho's last day. Then he also had a great debut. The only debutants to do better than 11-4 since 2001 were Hakuho, Ichinojo, and Takerufuji. He's good, he's only going to get better, and his career will unfold in front of us.
25 Maegashira #9 West Midorifuji
Midorifuji Kazunari | 翠富士 一成
Isegahama | Shizuoka
Birthdate: August 30, 1996
Height: 174 cm | 5' 9"
Weight: 114 kg | 251 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #11 East
Haru 2025 Record: 9-6
Midorifuji managed 9 wins, which puts him more solidly into the mid-Maegashira mix. Four of his nine wins were by his signature katasukashi, the under-shoulder-swing-down. For most rikishi, that's extreme. For Midorifuji, it's par for the course.
26 Maegashira #10 East Meisei
Meisei Chikara | 明生 力
Tatsunami | Kagashima
Birthdate: July 24, 1995
Height: 180 cm | 5' 11"
Weight: 157 kg | 345 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #11 West
Haru 2025 Record: 9-6
Meisei might be in the process of rediscovering himself just a little bit. At the least, he is arresting any further slide towards Juryo. Pushing 30 makes it unlikely he'll recover his Sanyaku form, but he's a veteran who knows what he's doing now.
27 Maegashira #10 West Shodai
Shodai Naoya | 正代 直也
Tokitsukaze | Kumamoto
Birthdate: November 5, 1991
Height: 184 cm | 6' 0"
Weight: 170 kg | 374 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #7 East
Haru 2025 Record: 6-9
Shodai had another lackluster basho, although 6-9 from Maegashira #7 still keeps him solidly in Makuuchi. Shodai's tachiai was below average when he was at his peak, and it hasn't improved. His defensive instincts and recovery are still outstanding, so if he doesn't get overwhelmed Shodai can still beat plenty of people these days.
28 Maegashira #11 East Endo
Endo Shota | 遠藤 聖大
Oitekaze | Ishikawa
Birthdate: October 19, 1990
Height: 184 cm | 6' 0"
Weight: 150 kg | 330 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #9 West
Haru 2025 Record: 7-8
Endo could do absolutely nothing when he went backwards in March, which meant he was often stepping awkwardly off the dohyo. He still got 7 wins anyway, which is a testament to his skills despite whatever is going on with his body.
29 Maegashira #11 West Shishi
Shishi Masaru | 獅司 大
Ikazuchi | Ukraine
Birthdate: January 16, 1997
Height: 193 cm | 6' 4"
Weight: 170 kg | 374 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #13 West
Haru 2025 Record: 9-6
Shishi returned to Makuuchi after a Juryo-yusho and held his own. Since his previous Makuuchi basho was a 5-10, that is a marker of real progress. He is quickly getting overshadowed by countryman Aonishiki, and he's already 28. You should still expect the Big Ukrainian to hang out in Makuuchi for a little bit.
30 Maegashira #12 East Atamifuji
Atamifuji Sakutaro | 熱海富士 朔太郎
Isegahama | Shizuoka
Birthdate: September 3, 2002
Height: 185 cm | 6' 1"
Weight: 188 kg | 414 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #8 East
Haru 2025 Record: 6-9
Atamifuji is still trying to re-find the sumo that put him on such a run in 2023. He still has great size and strength (possibly more size), but his capabilities with it have changed. The book is out that he can be out-quicked and out-worked, and he is in trouble if he can't change it.
31 Maegashira #12 West Takanosho
Takanosho Nobuaki | 隆の勝 伸明
Tokiwayama | Chiba
Birthdate: November 14, 1994
Height: 184 cm | 6' 0"
Weight: 173 kg | 381 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #3 West
Haru 2025 Record: 3-12
Takanosho got absolutely clobbered in March, which keeps happening to him when he has to face the best of the best. When he drops just outside the joi (hint, hint,), Takanosho can do some amage.
32 Maegashira #13 East Tokihayate
Tokihayate Hideki | 時疾風 秀喜
Tokitsukaze | Miyagi
Birthdate: August 25, 1996
Height: 179 cm | 5' 10"
Weight: 131 kg | 288 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #18 East
Haru 2025 Record: 10-5
Tokihayate just kept his Makuuchi place for March, but then made the most of it with a ten win performance. On the small end for a rikishi, he exacerbates his size disadvantage by almost always grabbing on to the other guy. He made it work in March, though, so maybe he's found somethng in his sumo.
33 Maegashira #13 West Sadanoumi
Sadanoumi Takashi | 佐田の海 貴士
Sakaigawa | Kumamoto
Birthdate: May 11, 1987
Height: 182 cm | 6' 0"
Weight: 143 kg | 315 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #15 West
Haru 2025 Record: 8-7
Sadanoumi got the bare kachi-koshi to keep himself at Maegashira. He'll turn 38 during this basho, so he probably can't do too much better. Of course, he's still just the third oldest rikishi in the top division, and he has been good in the somewhat recent past.
34 Maegashira #14 East Kotoshoho
Kotoshoho Yoshinari | 琴勝峰 吉成
Sadogatake | Chiba
Birthdate: August 26, 1999
Height: 191 cm | 6' 3"
Weight: 172 kg | 378 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #16 West
Haru 2025 Record: 8-7
Kotoshoho just held on to Maegashira-hood in March, and he gets another chance to shoot back up the Banzuke in May. Believing in much of a future for Kotoshoho seems to be a thing of the past. He's 25 and fighting to keep himself in the top division, although the once-future star still shines through occasionally.
35 Maegashira #14 West Roga
Roga Tokiyoshi | 狼雅 外喜義
Futagoyama | Russia
Birthdate: March 2, 1999
Height: 185 cm | 6' 1"
Weight: 154 kg | 339 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Juryo #3 East
Haru 2025 Record: 11-4
Roga dropped from Makuuchi in January thanks to injury, and he spent March proving he was too good for Juryo. He was far behind the yusho winner Kusano, who dominated the division, but he was very good. This is a mid-Maegashira ranked as a lower Maegashira, which could mean a strong opening week.
36 Maegashira #15 East Ryuden
Ryuden Goshi | 竜電 剛至
Takadagawa | Yamanashi
Birthdate: November 10, 1990
Height: 189 cm | 6' 2"
Weight: 162 kg | 356 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #14 East
Haru 2025 Record: 6-9
Ryuden did just enough to not fall back to Juryo, although more in the "Be thankful others were worse" way. Ryuden was unathletic as a 20-something, and he has a less than ideal injury history. His awkward, bendy grappling can only cover for his deficiencies for so much longer.
37 Maegashira #15 West Shonannoumi
Shonannoumi Momotaro | 湘南乃海 桃太郎
Takadagawa | Kanagawa
Birthdate: April 8, 1998
Height: 194 cm | 6' 4"
Weight: 185 kg | 407 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #10 West
Haru 2025 Record: 4-11
Shonannoumi was a disaster in March, and it looks like he's lost the ability to impose his size on the opposition. Since he never had the kind of athleticism to run around with other Maegashira, he needs to rediscover his power game.
38 Maegashira #16 East Kayo
Kayo Yasutoki | 嘉陽 快宗
Nakamura | Okinawa
Birthdate: July 14, 1999
Height: 171 cm | 5' 7"
Weight: 168 kg | 370 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Juryo #2 East
Haru 2025 Record: 9-6
Kayo comes up to Makuuchi for the first time in May, although he has had one Makuuchi opponent in each of the last three basho. Kayo is a squat widebody with some variety to his sumo, so he should at least provide a fun watch.
39 Maegashira #16 West Nishikigi
Nishikigi Tetsuya | 錦木 徹也
Isenoumi | Iwate
Birthdate: August 25, 1990
Height: 186 cm | 6' 1"
Weight: 188 kg | 414 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #10 East
Haru 2025 Record: 3-12
Nishikigi was an absolute disaster in March, and as a 35 year old with an up-and-down career, you have to think he's coming on the end. Of course, the last time he was on the verge of Juryo, he went 11-4. So who knows what he'll do.
40 Maegashira #17 East Tamashoho
Tamashosho Manpei | 玉正鳳 萬平
Katanoami | Mongolia
Birthdate: March 6, 1993
Height: 189 cm | 6' 2"
Weight: 124 kg | 273 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Juryo #1 East
Haru 2025 Record: 8-7
Tamashoho sneaks back up to Makuuchi after 8 wins from the top slot in Juryo. Juryo was odd (Tamashoho beat both Oshoumi and Nabatame AFTER they returned from injury), and he didn't dominate. But a promotion is a promotion.
41 Maegashira #17 West Asakoryu
Asakoryu Takuma | 朝紅龍 琢馬
Takasago | Osaka
Birthdate: September 24, 1998
Height: 177 cm | 5' 10"
Weight: 125 kg | 275 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Maegashira #16 East
Haru 2025 Record: 6-9
Asakoryu survived as a Maegashira largely because no one deserved the spot more. Of course, his third Makuuchi tournament should mean a slight bit more experience. He needs something to improve on his 12-18 career top division record.
42 Maegashira #18 East Tochitaikai
Tochitaikai Yu | 栃大海 雄
Kasugano | Saitama
Birthdate: October 12, 1999
Height: 193 cm | 6' 4"
Weight: 165 kg | 363 lbs
Haru 2025 Rank: Juryo #3 West
Haru 2025 Record: 9-6
Tochitaikai makes his Makuuchi debut after an up-and-down career in the lower divisions. Tochitaikai is big even by sumo standards and greatly prefers thrusting at his opponents. At 25, he is just coming into his prime and could stick in Makuuchi for a little bit.