maezumō 前相撲
Debut bouts for new recruits who aren't on the banzuke yet.
Maezumō is where new recruits start, before they have a line on the banzuke. It isn't a division. Recruits fight these bouts during a tournament, and since 1994 one win has been enough to earn a place in jonokuchi on the next banzuke. The results don't count as official records.
Related words
- jonokuchi 序ノ口
- The sixth and lowest division, where new recruits first appear.
- shin-deshi 新弟子
- A new recruit.
- banzuke 番付
- The official ranking list, published before each tournament.