2014 in sumo saw the traditional six major tournaments or basho held in January, March, May, July, September and November as usual. The yokozuna Hakuhō won five of the six tournaments taking his total of yūshō to 32 to equal the record of Taihō. Kakuryū's victory in March saw him promoted to become the sport's 71st yokozuna. Consistent performances at the rank of sekiwake saw Gōeidō being promoted to ōzeki for the September tournament. The most notable retirement was that of the former ōzeki Kotoōshū.
Tournaments
Hatsu basho Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 12 January – 26 January 2014 Hatsu basho results - Makuuchi DivisionEastRankWest0 -0 -15øHarumafujiYHakuhō*14 -1 -07 -8 -0KisenosatoOKakuryū14 -1 -09 -6 -0KotoshōgikuOø8 -7 -0GōeidōSKotoōshū8 -7 -00 -4 -11øMyōgiryūKTochiōzan11 -4 -08 -7 -0ToyonoshimaM1Okinoumi7 -8 -04 -11 -0ChiyotairyūM2Ikioi6 -9 -06 -9 -0AoiyamaM3Toyohibiki5 -10 -06 -9 -0AminishikiM4Takekaze6 -9 -09 -6 -0ShōhōzanM5Kyokutenhō6 -9 -08 -7 -0TamawashiM6Kaisei8 -7 -07 -8 -0TakarafujiM7øHōmashō0 -0 -157 -8 -0KitataikiM8Tochinowaka9 -6 -09 -6 -0TakayasuM9Fujiazuma5 -10 -06 -9 -0SadanofujiM10Endō11 -4 -02 -13 -0ShōtenrōM11Yoshikaze10 -5 -08 -7 -0GagamaruM12Chiyoōtori10 -5 -05 -10 -0KyokushūhōM13Tokitenkū4 -11 -06 -9 -0KagamiōM14Masunoyama7 -8 -08 -7 -0TokushōryūM15Takanoiwa7 -8 -09 -6 -0ŌsunaarashiM16Satoyama7 -8 -00 -0 -15øKotoyūkiM17ø ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rankwinning record in boldYusho Winner *Won Playoff
Haru basho Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 9 March – 23 March 2014 Haru basho results - Makuuchi DivisionEastRankWest12 -3 -0HakuhōYHarumafuji12 -3 -014 -1 -0KakuryūOKotoshōgiku8 -7 -09 -6 -0KisenosatoOø12 -3 -0GōeidōSøKotoōshū1 -10 -4øSTochiōzan9 -6 -05 -10 -0ToyonoshimaKShōhōzan5 -10 -06 -9 -0EndōM1Tamawashi5 -10 -04 -11 -0OkinoumiM2Tochinowaka4 -11 -06 -9 -0KaiseiM3Takayasu5 -10 -010 -5 -0YoshikazeM4Ikioi7 -8 -09 -6 -0ChiyoōtoriM5Aoiyama9 -6 -08 -7 -0AminishikiM6Takekaze9 -6 -06 -9 -0ToyohibikiM7Chiyotairyū9 -6 -09 -6 -0TakarafujiM8Kyokutenhō9 -6 -06 -9 -0KitataikiM9Gagamaru6 -9 -08 -7 -0MyōgiryūM10Terunofuji8 -7 -08 -7 -0ŌsunaarashiM11Tokushōryū9 -6 -08 -7 -0ChiyomaruM12Sadanofuji2 -13 -00 -0 -15øFujiazumaM13Jōkōryū8 -7 -06 -9 -0AzumaryūM14Masunoyama8 -7 -03 -8 -4øTenkaihōM15Takanoiwa10 -5 -05 -10 -0KagamiōM16Satoyama5 -10 -0 ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rankwinning record in boldYusho Winner
Natsu basho Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 11 May – 25 May 2014 Natsu basho results - Makuuchi DivisionEastRankWest14 -1 -0HakuhōYHarumafuji11 -4 -09 -6 -0KakuryūYø13 -2 -0KisenosatoOKotoshōgiku5 -10 -08 -7 -0GōeidōSTochiōzan10 -5 -06 -9 -0YoshikazeKChiyoōtori5 -10 -08 -7 -0AoiyamaM1Takekaze6 -9 -04 -11 -0ChiyotairyūM2Takarafuji4 -11 -010 -5 -0AminishikiM3Kyokutenhō3 -12 -07 -8 -0EndōM4øToyonoshima4 -9 -28 -7 -0ShōhōzanM5Ikioi11 -4 -08 -7 -0KaiseiM6Tamawashi8 -7 -09 -6 -0HōmashōM7Tokushōryū6 -9 -08 -7 -0MyōgiryūM8Takayasu6 -9 -09 -6 -0TerunofujiM9Okinoumi6 -9 -010 -5 -0ŌsunaarashiM10Tochinowaka9 -6 -08 -7 -0ToyohibikiM11Chiyomaru5 -10 -03 -12 -0TakanoiwaM12Jōkōryū9 -6 -04 -11 -0MasunoyamaM13Kitataiki9 -6 -07 -8 -0GagamaruM14Tokitenkū7 -8 -09 -6 -0KyokushūhōM15Sōkokurai8 -7 -07 -8 -0ArawashiM16øChiyonokuni0 -2 -1310 -5 -0SadanoumiM17ø ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rankwinning record in boldYusho Winner
Nagoya basho Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, 13 July – 27 July 2014 Nagoya basho results - Makuuchi DivisionEastRankWest13 -2 -0HakuhōYHarumafuji10 -5 -011 -4 -0KakuryūYø9 -6 -0KisenosatoOKotoshōgiku12 -3 -012 -3 -0GōeidōSøTochiōzan2 -6 -73 -12 -0AminishikiKAoiyama6 -9 -05 -10 -0IkioiM1Shōhōzan4 -11 -01 -5 -9øHōmashōM2Yoshikaze7 -8 -05 -10 -0KaiseiM3Ōsunaarashi7 -8 -03 -12 -0TamawashiM4Takekaze9 -6 -06 -9 -0ChiyoōtoriM5Endō8 -7 -09 -6 -0TerunofujiM6Myōgiryū11 -4 -05 -10 -0TochinowakaM7Jōkōryū10 -5 -010 -5 -0ChiyotairyūM8Toyohibiki8 -7 -09 -6 -0TakarafujiM9Kitataiki6 -9 -04 -11 -0TokushōryūM10Toyonoshima10 -5 -06 -9 -0SadanoumiM11Takayasu11 -4 -06 -9 -0KyokutenhōM12Kyokushūhō6 -9 -06 -8 -1øOkinoumiM13Sōkokurai7 -8 -06 -9 -0KagamiōM14Azumaryū7 -8 -05 -10 -0GagamaruM15Tokitenkū7 -8 -05 -10 -0WakanosatoM16Chiyomaru8 -7 -010 -5 -0ArawashiM17ø ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rankwinning record in boldYusho Winner
Aki basho Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 14 September – 28 September 2014 Aki basho results - Makuuchi DivisionEastRankWest14 -1 -0HakuhōYKakuryū11 -4 -03 -2 -10øHarumafujiYø9 -6 -0KotoshōgikuOKisenosato9 -6 -0øOGōeidō8 -7 -00 -0 -15øMyōgiryūSTakekaze7 -8 -04 -11 -0JōkōryūKøChiyotairyū1 -10 -46 -9 -0TerunofujiM1Endō3 -12 -07 -8 -0TakayasuM2Toyonoshima6 -6 -310 -5 -0AoiyamaM3Yoshikaze7 -8 -08 -7 -0TakarafujiM4Ōsunaarashi7 -8 -08 -7 -0ToyohibikiM5Ikioi10 -5 -010 -5 -0AminishikiM6Kaisei8 -7 -06 -9 -0ShōhōzanM7Chiyoōtori8 -7 -011 -4 -0TochiōzanM8Arawashi5 -10 -07 -8 -0TamawashiM9Tochinowaka4 -11 -013 -2 -0IchinojōM10Kitataiki7 -8 -04 -11 -0ChiyomaruM11Takanoiwa7 -8 -08 -7 -0SadanoumiM12Sadanofuji4 -11 -00 -0 -15øHōmashōM13Sōkokurai7 -8 -08 -7 -0KyokutenhōM14øAzumaryū0 -0 -157 -8 -0KyokushūhōM15Okinoumi10 -5 -06 -9 -0TokitenkūM16Kagamiō6 -9 -0 ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rankwinning record in boldYusho Winner
Kyushu basho Fukuoka Kokusai Center, Kyushu, 9 November – 23 November 2014 Kyushu basho results - Makuuchi DivisionEastRankWest14 -1 -0HakuhōYKakuryū12 -3 -011 -4 -0HarumafujiYø6 -9 -0KotoshōgikuOKisenosato11 -4 -0øOGōeidō5 -10 -08 -7 -0AoiyamaSIchinojō8 -7 -02 -13 -0TakekazeKøIkioi6 -9 -08 -7 -0TochiōzanM1Aminishiki6 -9 -08 -7 -0TakarafujiM2Toyohibiki5 -10 -010 -5 -0TakayasuM3Terunofuji8 -7 -07 -8 -0KaiseiM4Yoshikaze4 -8 -36 -9 -0ChiyoōtoriM5Ōsunaarashi4 -6 -58 -7 -0ToyonoshimaM6Jōkōryū8 -7 -08 -7 -0OkinoumiM7Sadanoumi7 -8 -011 -4 -0TochinoshinM8Endō10 -5 -09 -6 -0ChiyotairyūM9Tokushōryū4 -11 -07 -8 -0ShōhōzanM10Tamawashi8 -7 -09 -6 -0MyōgiryūM11Kyokutenhō10 -5 -03 -12 -0KitataikiM12Homarefuji8 -7 -03 -12 -0TakanoiwaM13Arawashi8 -7 -05 -10 -0AmuruM14Sōkokurai9 -6 -03 -12 -0TochinowakaM15Kyokushūhō9 -6 -08 -7 -0KotoyūkiM16Chiyomaru8 -7 -0 ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rankwinning record in boldYusho Winner News
January
3: Kazakhstani makushita Kazafuzan of the Nishikido stable is arrested and detained at the Azabu Police Station for destruction of property after getting drunk and destroying a Roppongi restaurant's kadomatsu. The Sumo Association promises strict precautions against the wrestler and his stablemaster, former sekiwake Mitoizumi, who apologized and called the incident "highly regrettable." 7: Kotoōshū and Tokitenkū acquire Japanese citizenship, respectively becoming the first European wrestler and third Mongolian wrestler to do so. 10: Yokozuna Harumafuji, the winner of the November 2013 tournament, withdraws from the January 2014 tournament due to a left ankle injury, the first time in over a year he will not appear alongside fellow yokozuna Hakuhō. The previous yokozuna to withdraw from a tournament following a championship victory was Asashōryū, who was suspended from participating in the September 2007 tournament after winning the July 2007 tournament. 12: On the first day of the New Year tournament, Hakuhō defeats Tochiōzan and achieves 800 total wins across 76 tournaments, breaking Taihō's record for the fastest time in reaching the milestone. At the same time, he is tied with Musashimaru for the most wins for a foreign wrestler in the makuuchi division at 706. 13: Hakuhō defeats Toyonoshima on the second day of the New Year tournament, surpassing Musashimaru's record for the most makuuchi wins for a foreign wrestler with 707 wins. He also ranks 5th in the most makuuchi wins for any wrestler. 15: In the fight between Tokitenkū and Sadanofuji on the fourth day of the New Year tournament, Sadanofuji's mawashi loosened twice, a rare occurrence. Sadanofuji urged fellow maegashira Yoshikaze to assist in the second retightening effort. Later, in the fight between Tokitenkū and Shōtenrō on the ninth day, which was held on January 20, Shōtenrō's mawashi also loosened twice. 18: The Japan Sumo Association announces an election to decide candidates for directors and deputy directors for the Association's transition to a public interest incorporated foundation. Former sekiwake Daijuyama is appointed chairman of the election administration committee. 21: Former sekiwake Kotonishiki announces that he will change his elder name to "Nakamura" and move from the Sadogatake stable to the Oguruma stable. On the 10th day of the New Year tournament, Kyokutenhō becomes the oldest active wrestler in post-war history at 39 years and four months old. He also holds the third highest number of appearances at 1,731. 25: Former jūryō announces his retirement. 26: Former maegashira Kimurayama announces his retirement and adopts the elder name "Iwatomo". Chiyomaru wins the jūryō championship. His younger brother Chiyoōtori was the previous jūryō champion, making them the first pair of brothers to win consecutive championships. Terunofuji comes second to Chiyomaru with a score of 12–3 at the top jūryō rank, assuring his makuuchi debut in March. Ōzeki Kisenosato withdraws for the first time in his career due to an injury to his right big toe, ending his consecutive appearance streak at 953. Hakuhō wins his 28th makuuchi championship with a playoff victory against Kakuryū, after both men finish with identical 14–1 records. 27: The Cabinet Office announces that the Japan Sumo Association will be certified as a public interest incorporated foundation the following day. 30: The Japan Sumo Association approves the establishment of the Asakayama stable and a change of stablemaster at the Dewanoumi stable.
February 1: Former ōzeki Miyabiyama's retirement ceremony is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. 8: Former ōzeki Baruto's retirement ceremony is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. 14: The Japan Sumo Association approves the introduction of Nihon University amateur yokozuna Shōgo Kawabata as a makushita tsukedashi.
March
20: On the 12th day of the spring tournament, Kyokutenhō, at 39 years and six months old, achieves a winning record, becoming the oldest makuuchi wrestler to do so since the establishment of six annual tournaments. Former ōzeki Kotoōshū announces his retirement after posting nine consecutive losses in the spring tournament as sekiwake. 23: Kakuryū defeats Kotoshōgiku on the spring tournament's final day and wins his first top division championship with a 14–1 record. Chairman Kitanoumi decides to consult the Yokozuna Deliberation Council concerning Kakuryū's promotion to yokozuna. 24: The Yokozuna Deliberation Council unanimously recommends Kakuryū's promotion to yokozuna. The Japan Sumo Association holds its first board and council since becoming a public interest incorporated foundation, and Kitanoumi is reappointed as chairman. 26: The summer tournament banzuke meeting is held, as well as a board meeting in which it is decided that Kakuryū would become the 71st yokozuna. He is the fourth Mongolian and sixth foreign wrestler in history to achieve this rank. 28: Kakuryū's yokozuna promotion ceremony is held at the Meiji Shrine.
April 3: The Japan Sumo Association's first division of duties since becoming a public interest incorporated foundation is carried out, with Hakkaku selected as business manager, Takanohana as general planning manager, and Dekiyama as public relations manager. The disposition of five stablemasters (including two who have died) who had been suspended for promotion due to baseball gambling, match-fixing and drunk driving is lifted, and they are promoted to committee members and chiefs. 26: Former maegashira Kimurayama's retirement ceremony is held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.
May 11: The May tournament opens to a full house for the first time since 1997. 16: The sixth day of the May tournament is the first weekday in the May tournament's first half to see a full house since 1997. 20: Former jūryō retires.