Promotion watch 昇進

Kyushu 2026, before day 1. Who can reach the usual benchmark for ōzeki or yokozuna, and which ōzeki have the rank at stake.

Kyushu 2026

1 to watch

Sekiwake 1 WestAtamifujiōzeki 大関Champion, the second-highest rank. More on ōzeki run: 12 at Nagoya, 8 at Aki20 of 3313 more reaches the usual 33

Atamifuji: ōzeki run

The usual benchmark for ōzeki is 33 wins over three basho in a row at sekiwake or komusubi. Atamifuji has 20 from the two before this one, so 13 wins here would reach 33. It's a guideline, and the association's board makes the call after the basho.

Atamifuji: the basho behind this
Basho	Rank	W-L
Nagoya 2026	Sekiwake 1 East Sekiwake	12-3
Aki 2026	Sekiwake 1 East Sekiwake	8-7

How promotion works

ōzeki 大関Champion, the second-highest rank. More on ōzeki. The usual benchmark is 33 wins over three basho in a row at sekiwake 関脇The third rank, just below ōzeki. More on sekiwake or komusubi 小結The fourth rank, the lowest of the named ranks above maegashira. More on komusubi. It's a guideline: we found no Sumo Association page that states it as a rule. The association's board makes each promotion at a special meeting after the basho.

yokozuna 横綱Grand champion, the top rank. A yokozuna can't be demoted. More on yokozuna. The Yokozuna Shingi Iinkai 横綱審議委員会The Yokozuna Deliberation Council, which recommends promotions to yokozuna. More on yokozuna shingi iinkai's usual standard is two titles in a row as ōzeki, or a record it judges equal to that. The council recommends and the board decides. A yokozuna is never demoted.

kadoban 角番An ōzeki who must win at least eight bouts or lose the rank. More on kadoban. An ōzeki with a losing record must win eight in his next basho to keep the rank. A second losing record in a row drops him to sekiwake. That has been the rule since July 1969.

Back to ōzeki. A demoted ōzeki who wins 10 or more in his first basho back at sekiwake gets the rank back.