The New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in January will feature only one yokozuna and a single ozeki for the first time in 125 years, according to the latest rankings released Monday by the Japan Sumo Association.
For the Jan. 8-22 tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan, injury-plagued Terunofuji remains the sole grand champion, while Takakeisho is the only ozeki after Mitakeumi in September and Shodai in November both suffered demotion from the second-highest rank following two straight losing records.
The last time only two wrestlers occupied the top two ranks was in January 1993 when Akebono and Konishiki wrestled as ozeki, without a yokozuna.
Kotonowaka and Wakamotoharu both won promotion to the fourth-highest rank of komusubi for the first time.
The JSA, meanwhile, suspended No. 7 maegashira Ichinojo from the New Year tournament after July's Nagoya meet champion was found to have breached coronavirus-related rules in November 2020 and August 2021.
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