The Next Yokozuna, 2025

The annual look at who could possibly be sumo's next grand champion--and why most will fail.

The Kyushu basho begins on January 12. Before the sumo starts, pick your Fantasy Basho team on Fantasizr. Or Create Your Own League to play with friends.

This is the sixth year in a row Fantasy Basho has published a piece trying to identify the “Next Yokozuna.” The original research put out before Hatsu 2020 is something I still can appreciate, as it examined the 9 Yokozuna promoted from 1993 to 2020, their path to the rope, the “Near Yokozuna,” who would not be Yokozuna, and some predictions for who would take the rope next. Those first three all hold up, and I urge anyone to read those. In particular, it’s worth looking at to remember why rikishi without lower division dominance, University sumo competitors, and wrestlers who are past prime age are bad candidates for making Yokozuna.

I am less enthusiastic about revisiting the predictions from that series or even subsequent years. In my time doing a review of who may be the Next Yokozuna, there has been one Yokozuna promotion. Terunofuji got listed in 2021 as a “Wild Card,” just before he stormed to sumo’s ultimate rank. In fairness, he has a story unlike anyone else. Missing him in 2020 made some sense, as he was still recovering from a series of terrible injuries.

Someone who has been on every list but won’t be on this one is Takakeisho. He is now retired. He will also be known as “Former Ozeki Takakeisho” as an elder. Currently, he’s Minatogawa-oyakata, but even if he takes on other elder names he will always be “Former Ozeki.” Takakeisho never made Yokozuna, despite having three yusho as an Ozeki. He never got the consecutive yusho (or yusho-equivalent required to earn the promotion.

Compared to other rikishi who were once on these lists but no longer are, Takakeisho was a good call. Take his schoolboy rival Onosho. He, too, is retired as of this basho after a series of injuries. He once was ahead of Takakeisho’s pace, making Sanyaku before Takakeisho. He never made it past Komusubi, with a career made largely of what-ifs and could-have-beens. That’s still better than some former candidates on the Next Yokozuna who have crashed out of sumo like Setonoumi (stalling out in Makushita after injuries) or Toma (weight issues in lower divisions) or Hokuseiho (general assholery as a Maegashira).

What those three had in common were very impressive early careers. “Who is Still Young But Has Been Good So Far” isn’t as catchy a title, and it doesn’t capture the romanticism of trying to find the Next Yokozuna. In reality, we have to accept that very, very few young rikishi will become a Yokozuna. There have officially been 73 in total, beginning in the mid-seventeenth century. Only 29 men have made it to the very top in the 65 years since sumo began the modern six-basho-a-year system in 1958.

Having one Yokozuna promotion in the last five years isn’t strange. Having just one in the next five years wouldn’t be surprising. This list still feels like it has a strong group compared to previous years. There are three Ozeki who all feel like they could make the leap. Some young Maegashira have the potential to make it to the very top. Some lower division wrestlers are exciting. A Yokozuna or two or three must be lurking below.

But the odds of any individual rikishi listed below making it to Yokozuna are slim. Never forget that simple fact.

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
Career High Rank: Ozeki
Career Record: 375-238-14

Kotozakura has by far the easiest path to making Yokozuna. Since he won the yusho with a 14-1 in November, we can confidently say what it takes. He wins in January, and he gets to be the second Yokozuna Kotozakura. For the unfamiliar, his maternal grandfather was the first.

Winning back-to-back yusho is much easier said than done. The people who have done it in the modern era fit into two categories: 1) they were already Yokozuna, or 2) they were Ozeki during the first yusho and the second one earned them promotion to the top rank. Kotozakura needs to keep up what he did in Kyushu, where he fought better than he ever has and got a career-high win total to lift his first Emperor’s Cup.

Kotozakura is decidedly unflashy, and he has steadily risen through the ranks. Despite being on a Yokozuna run, he falls behind his two fellow Ozeki in the race for Yokozuna-dom for many fans. A big body who keeps his feet wide and rarely makes mistakes isn’t the most thrilling rikishi. But he is very, very good and in his prime. A repeat yusho isn’t the most likely outcome, but Kotozakura is in place to get many more chances to be a Yokozuna even if he falls short in January.

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
Career High Rank: Ozeki
Career Record: 318-197-5

Actually, Hoshoryu could also make Yokozuna by March. His 13-2 Jun-Yusho after losing on the final day in November to Kotozakura was a “Yusho Equivalent.” It also means we have a possibility of a double promotion if we once again see Hoshoryu and Kotozakura square off on Day Fifteen with the yusho on the line. Hoshoryu comes out victorious this time, and then we have two new Yokozuna.

Hoshoryu has some distinct advantages over Kotozakura if you want to predict who will retire with the better overall career. He’s 18 months younger, got his first yusho earlier, and has a much bigger bag of tricks. Right now, though, they’re even and Kotozakura got the better of their matchup in November by a hair.

This also seems weird to say about an Ozeki with a yusho to his name, but it’s hard not to think Hoshoryu can get better. He doesn’t even really need to change his sumo. He can throw anybody he sees, out-muscle the smaller opponents, and out-quick the bigger ones. He just needs consistency. He was much better on that front in November.

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
Career High Rank: Ozeki
Career Record: 99-35

Unlike the other two Ozeki, Onosato has no chance of being a Yokozuna by March. On the other hand, it would not be stunning if he won the next two tournaments and pipped his nearest competitors to the rope. He is that talented and has been that good in his short career. Onosato is built like the model sumotori, and he fights like the model sumotori.

An Onosato promotion anytime will be history making, but that’s nothing new for him. He was the best amateur sumo competitor in history without question, winning 13 amazumo titles. He shot to Makuuchi in four professional basho. In his sole year of top division sumo, he won two yusho, a jun-yusho, and eight special prizes. That got him an Ozeki promotion—the fastest Ozeki promotion from debut in the history of sumo.

Should he make Yokozuna, he’ll make even more history. If it’s in the next year, he’ll be the fastest wrestler to make Yokozuna from entry to sumo in the modern era. He’ll also be the second University graduate to make Yokozuna after one-of-a-kind 1970s champion Wajima. Onosato’s path to the rope will also be unique. He’s already blazed a trail unlike anyone else. Just watch him and enjoy the ride.

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
Career High Rank: Maegashira #1
Career Record: 177-123-4

Over the last year, Atamifuji has gone 43-47. That is less than impressive compared to some of the years of others on this list, so two things must be kept in mind. He did all of that between Maegashira #1 and Maegashira #3, and he only turned 22 in September.

This could cast some doubt on his ultimate ceiling, along with the fact he has already been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in his knees. If you want to wonder about Atamifuji’s potential, there are good reasons. Yet he’s also a very large and relatively young wrestler with a decent track record of success. His back-to-back Jun-Yusho were just over a year ago. He’s also historically needed some adjustment time to a new level before taking a huge leap. Any kind of leap from where he is now would be an Ozeki run.

Another thing to watch for Atamifuji is his streakiness. In his Makuuchi career, he has rarely lost one match to just bounce back with a win. He tends to get two or three at a time. That’s a mental and strategic problem that can be solved with age. 2025 could be his year to figure it all out.

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
Career High Rank: Maegashira #1
Career Record: 256-208

In the original research for the first Next Yokozuna edition, there were a few exclusionary criteria based on the Yokozuna since Akebono. No University wrestlers, no one without a record of dominance in the lower divisions, and no one over thirty (or close enough and far enough from Yokozuna to make it work by their 30th birthday). That is all a way of explaining Oho is here because he can’t really be excluded just yet.

Oho rose through the ranks with Hoshoryu, who is now firmly ahead of him on the Banzuke. He has also had a relatively lackluster Maegashira career, with no Jun-Yusho or Special Prizes. So why not just go ahead and say “Oho has no shot at ever making Yokozuna?”

Because he probably hasn’t lost his absolute chance, it’s just vanishingly slim. Oho will turn 25 after the Hatsu basho and is at Maegashira #3 for this tournament. If 2025 is Oho’s career year, he could be Ozeki by the end of it while entering his prime. But if he has a couple of 6-9’s, he’s too far behind the other candidates in Makuuchi and getting too near his prime without being good. He has the ability, but he has never put it together right. Think of this listing as a way of warning that he still could for at least a little bit.

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
Career High Rank: Maegashira #6
Career Record: 94-18-27

There are lots of reasons to doubt Takerufuji’s ability to even make Ozeki, much less Yokozuna. As a University competitor, he is behind the age curve. He is just one month younger than Hoshoryu. He has also already battled a serious ankle injury that made him drop to the foot of Juryo and climb back up. He will also be directly competing with all of the men listed above him here.

Yet when he has mounted the dohyo, Takerufuji has gone 94-18. As a Sekitori, his record is 51-12. He won his very first Makuuchi basho, picking up 2 Special Prizes. Takerufuji has never had less than 10 wins in a Juryo or Makuuchi basho when he’s competed all 15 days. Who knows what his ultimate ceiling is because of injuries and the fact he is essentially near prime. But if he keeps performing like he has and doesn’t miss too many matches, he’s an Ozeki.

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
Career High Rank: Maegashira #9
Career Record: 90-40-34

After the July 2023 basho, Hakuoho was a popular favorite for Next Yokozuna. He was a not-quite-yet-20 year old who had rushed into Makuuchi after being an Amatuer Yokozuna that went 11-4 with a Special Prize in his debut. Subsequently, he had shoulder surgery, got demoted back to Makushita, and his stable (Miyagino) went under the auspices of Isegahama-beya thanks to the Hokuseiho bullying scandal. Meanwhile, Onosato and Takerufuji have shown that other former amateur standouts were also capable of impressive debuts.

So it’s been quite the last year and a half for Hakuoho. Now he’s back in Makuuchi, we can take him where he’s at. He is a 21 year old with a track-record of success when healthy. In particular, he has the kind of lower body strength that means any leverage from below means a match is over. When he’s on, his tachiai is also quick enough that he can get the belt grip he needs. If he is at full strength, he will be excellent. He also has plenty of time.

Juryo #5 West Aonishiki
Aonishiki Arata | 安青錦 新大

Ajigawa | Ukraine
Birthdate: March 23, 2004
Height: 180 cm | 5' 11"
Weight: 125 kg | 275 lbs
Career High Rank: Juryo #5
Career Record: 48-9

Aonishiki started his sumo career in Jonokuchi in November 2023. He immediately won the yusho in his first two basho, then went 6-1 in his next four basho. That got him to Juryo from the very bottom of the rankings in a year. In his debut as a Sekitori, he went 10-5. What he does is win, with a combo of grappling and pushing techniques. The only possible question is his good-not-great size, which doesn’t seem to diminish his power. He can wrap up and hold onto almost any opponent.

Also, his off-dohyo story is amazing. Aonishiki is a Ukrainian war refugee who found a place in Japan through amateur sumo connections. While training informally with the Kansai University sumo club, he was spotted by Ajigawa-oyakata (former Aminishiki). His shikona, which loosely translated means “The Blue Badge,” came from the color of his eyes and his stablemaster’s ring name. That would be a nice piece of romanticism if he was just okay.

But he is better than just okay. He could be great, and we may know sooner rather than later. If he gets another 10-5 or better at Juryo #5, he could see Makuuchi in March.

Juryo #13 East Wakaikari
Wakaikari Seigo | 若碇 成剛

Isenoumi | Kyoto
Birthdate: February 22, 2005
Height: 176 cm | 5' 9"
Weight: 117 kg | 257 lbs
Career High Rank: Juryo #13
Career Record: 56-29

Wakaikari capped his 2024 with a 7-8 Juryo debut after five straight 4-3 records in Makushita. That might not scream “future star” on first blush, but he is also just 19 and won’t be 20 until after this upcoming basho. At an age where most people are just out of high school, Wakaikari is competing at essentially an even level with grown men who have been professionals for years.

Of course, that doesn’t mean he has a rocket to the top. Wakaikari is on the small end for a high-level rikishi, and he didn’t storm the lower divisions. He has mostly been good at avoiding the bad basho rather than absolutely dominating. In fact, his first losing record was in November. He’s the son of former Maegashira Oikari, who is now a coach at Isenoumi-beya. This is a rikishi who has a great sumo background and a ton of skills. He has used a wide range of kimarite already, which shows he can beat people lots of ways. That’s at least a recipe for being a good Maegashira.

(And as a general note, Wakaikari’s younger brother Chugo has just joined Isegahama-beya himself. He has a better amateur track record, while also carrying more weight. Wakaikari may get overshadowed by his sibling, but right now he is here.)

Juryo #13 West Kotoeiho
Kotoeiho Taiki | 琴栄峰 太希

Sadogatake | Chiba
Birthdate: July 8, 2003
Height: 184 cm | 6' 0"
Weight: 131 kg | 288 lbs
Career High Rank: Juryo #13
Career Record: 79-47-1

Speaking of brothers in sumo, Kotoeiho is the younger brother of Maegashira Kotoshoho. Much like his older brother, Kotoeiho set the lower divisions on fire under the ring name “Kototebakari.” In upper Makushita, he stalled out a little. He did get his promotion to Juryo in November, earning a new shikona, and going 7-8. As a 21-year-old with a foothold in Juryo, this is is still a rikishi who is more potential than anything even if it feels like he’s been around awhile.

Kotoeiho is athletic, quick, and still has decent size at 184 cm. The on-paper package for him is good, but he’s got to be consistent and focused. His older brother has not figured that out partly because of injuries. That is why he is no longer on this list as a 25 year old. But Kotoshoho is a solid Maegashira with a Jun-Yusho under his belt. If Kotoeiho comes close to that, he’s had a good career. A little bit better, and he’s in range of an Ozeki run. A lot better, and he’s in the Yokozuna conversation.

All of that is entirely still possible for Kotoeiho. He is extremely talented, plus he is young enough for more development to happen.

Makushita #1 East Wakanosho
Wakanosho Eido | 若ノ勝 栄道

Tokiwayama | Tochigi
Birthdate: August 22, 2003
Height: 178 cm | 5'10"
Weight: 136 kg | 300 lbs
Career High Rank: Makushita #1
Career Record: 77-42

Wakanosho has made it to the very top of Makushita extremely quickly, even though he hasn’t won a yusho yet. That steady success isn’t as exciting as domination, but it does get you through the ranks pretty fast. Wakanosho is 21 and gets to be in Juryo with a winning record.

He may be limited in the end, but he also should not be slept on. He is slightly below ideal size, and he is over-reliant on pushing techniques. He also fights uncannily like Daieisho, who is a former yusho winner. As a member of Tokiwayama-beya, Wakanosho will also get coaching from a pushing master in the former Takakeisho. All it takes is just the right breaks to turn the excellent careers of men like Daieisho and Takakeisho into the exceptional career of a Yokozuna.

Makushita #19 East Satorufuji
Satorufuji Teppei | 聖富士 哲平

Isegahama | Shizuoka
Birthdate: May 29, 2004
Height: 178 cm | 5'10"
Weight: 168 kg | 370 lbs
Career High Rank: Makushita #1
Career Record: 52-25

Satorufuji blasted through the lowest divisions in a year from his debut in January 2023. His 2024 was less impressive as he languished in upper Makushita. But he was floating around upper Makushita as a 19 and 20 year old, still achieving a 22-20 record over the year. He is still in position to get into Juryo at a young age, then possibly shoot up from there. He just needs to gather his sumo.

Satorufuji might have to get a more focused brand of sumo. He certainly has a range of abilities, winning often with both pushing and grappling maneuvers. He has also used a wide variety of throws. That’s the sign of a rikishi who can take on a variety of opponents, but also doesn’t always have a clear Plan A. If he’s won two-thirds of his matches already, though, he can clearly execute a ton of different plans.

Makushita #21 East Tanji
Tanji Jun | 丹治 純

Arashio | Fukushima
Birthdate: June 5, 2006
Height: 184 cm | 6' 0"
Weight: 137 kg | 302 lbs
Career High Rank: Makushita #18
Career Record: 69-41-2

If you want to know why Tanji is on this list, it’s pretty simple. He is in mid-Makushita, has a strong career record, and is just 18. Really, it’s that last fact that makes Tanji stand out the most. He is in the middle of Makushita, and he is younger than anyone else on this list. In fact, there is no one older than Tanji ranked ahead of him on the entire Banzuke.

He hasn’t been blasting aside the competition, but Tanji is more than holding his own against men much older than he is. At every level, he has been well ahead of the curve. He is also a well-built wrestler who could add weight (or some height, since he is just 18) quite easily. He also has a clear preference for working the belt, which sets him up to know what he is doing in every match. So while he isn’t setting the sumo world on fire, he could quietly be holding his own in Juryo before he turns 21 by just staying on track. He could be a young phenom with just one or two small improvements.

Makushita #32 East Anosho
Anosho Yamato | 安大翔 大和

Ajigawa | Miyagi
Birthdate: March 2, 2005
Height: 175 cm | 5' 9"
Weight: 159 kg | 350 lbs
Career High Rank: Makushita #30
Career Record: 42-21

Anosho is already getting overshadowed by stablemate Aonishiki, who is becoming a phenomenon. Anosho is worth watching as well. He is a squat widebody who has been very good so far. He started out with a bang, winning a Jonokuchi and Jonidan yusho in his first two basho. Since then, he’s steadily climbed up the ladder to mid-Makushita.

The early performance combined with incredible size is what makes Anosho exciting. What could be slightly worrying is that he might get too wide, even for sumo. If he can keep himself in solid enough shape, this is someone who has the chance of being something special.

Sandanme #8 West Noda
Noda Tenga | 野田 典雅

Fujishima | Wakayama
Birthdate: November 27, 2005
Height: 185 cm | 6' 1"
Weight: 124 kg | 273 lbs
Career High Rank: Sandanme #8
Career Record: 21-7

Noda has the makings of someone who could be on a path to flying up into upper Makushita quickly. He’s 19, with a good build, and has won a lot in his short career. Noda is the kind of young wrestler who looks like he’s miles ahead of most of his competition in the lower divisions. Overwhelmingly a yorikiri man, Noda just seems to know what he’s doing out there.

Really, though, Noda is here less because he is assured of shooting up the rankings than that he is one of the best candidates to do so. Yes, if he goes 6-1 in each of the next three basho, he’s a prime contender. That is by no means guaranteed.

Sandanme #60 East Goseizan
Goseizan Minoru | 豪聖山 穣

Takekuma | Mongolia
Birthdate: July 30, 2005
Height: 184 cm | 6' 0"
Weight: 147 kg | 324
Career High Rank: Sadanme #60
Career Record: 12-0-2

Goseizan is the current undefeated wrestler in the lower divisions. In his two basho, he has not dropped a match. However, he does only have 12 career wins, because he missed two matches in the last basho. That is not the best sign moving forward, but at least it wasn’t a major injury.

Goseizan is the resident Mongolian at the former Goeido’s Takekuma-beya. Unlike a lot of rikishi who begin extremely hot, Goseizan is not an older former amateur standouts relying on skill that lower divisions wrestlers can’t handle. He is 19 with good size, and he mostly wins with yorikiri. That shows he can bulldoze everyone else at his level so far. That’s a sign he may be able to keep plowing through people on his way up. Time will tell.