The following are the events in professional sumo during 2021.
Tournaments
January
Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 10 January – 24 January
2021 Hatsu basho results - Makuuchi DivisionEastRankWest 0 - 0 - 15 ø HakuhōY ø Kakuryū 0 - 0 - 15 2 - 8 - 5 ø TakakeishōO Shōdai 11 - 4 - 0 11 - 4 - 0 AsanoyamaO ø 0 - 0 - 0 11 - 4 - 0 TerunofujiS Takanoshō 9 - 6 - 0 9 - 6 - 0 TakayasuK Mitakeumi 9 - 6 - 0 7 - 8 - 0 HokutofujiM1 Daieishō 13 - 2 - 0 9 - 6 - 0 TakarafujiM2 ø Wakatakakage 0 - 0 - 15 2 - 13 - 0 KotoshōhōM3 Ōnoshō 9 - 6 - 0 4 - 11 - 0 TochinoshinM4 Tamawashi 6 - 9 - 0 7 - 8 - 0 EndōM5 Okinoumi 7 - 8 - 0 4 - 11 - 0 RyūdenM6 Kagayaki 6 - 9 - 0 8 - 7 - 0 MeiseiM7 Tobizaru 6 - 9 - 0 3 - 12 - 0 TokushōryūM8 Kiribayama 8 - 7 - 0 0 - 0 - 15 ø ChiyonokuniM9 Myōgiryū 8 - 7 - 0 9 - 6 - 0 ShimanoumiM10 Aoiyama 6 - 9 - 0 0 - 0 - 15 ø ChiyotairyūM11 Kotoeko 6 - 9 - 0 9 - 6 - 0 IchinojōM12 Terutsuyoshi 7 - 8 - 0 5 - 10 - 0 AkuaM13 ø Chiyoshōma 0 - 0 - 15 9 - 6 - 0 HōshōryūM14 Midorifuji 9 - 6 - 0 7 - 8 - 0 YutakayamaM15 Kotonowaka 10 - 5 - 0 9 - 6 - 0 AkiseyamaM16 ø Kaisei 0 - 0 - 15 5 - 10 - 0 SadanoumiM17 ø 0 - 0 - 0 ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rankwinning record in boldYūshō Winner
March
Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 14 March – 28 March
Originally scheduled to take place at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, the tournament was moved to Tokyo due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021 Haru basho results - Makuuchi DivisionEastRankWest 2 - 1 - 12 ø HakuhōY ø Kakuryū 0 - 0 - 10 7 - 8 - 0 ShōdaiO Asanoyama 10 - 5 - 0 10 - 5 - 0 Takakeishō O ø 0 - 0 - 0 12 - 3 - 0 TerunofujiS Takanoshō 8 - 7 - 0 10 - 5 - 0 TakayasuK Mitakeumi 8 - 7 - 0 0 - 0 - 0 ø K Daieishō 8 - 7 - 0 3 - 12 - 0 TakarafujiM1 Ōnoshō 4 - 11 - 0 9 - 6 - 0 HokutofujiM2 Wakatakakage 10 - 5 - 0 10 - 5 - 0 MeiseiM3 Shimanoumi 4 - 11 - 0 7 - 8 - 0 KiribayamaM4 Myōgiryū 7 - 8 - 0 5 - 5 - 5 ø EndōM5 Okinoumi 3 - 12 - 0 5 - 10 - 0 TamawashiM6 Ichinojō 7 - 8 - 0 7 - 8 - 0 TochinoshinM7 Kagayaki 6 - 9 - 0 6 - 9 - 0 KotonowakaM8 Tobizaru 10 - 5 - 0 8 - 5 - 2 ø ChiyonokuniM9 Hōshōryū 8 - 7 - 0 5 - 10 - 0 MidorifujiM10 Ryūden 6 - 9 - 0 6 - 9 - 0 ChiyotairyūM11 Kotoshōhō 1 - 6 - 8 7 - 8 - 0 AkiseyamaM12 Aoiyama 11 - 4 - 0 8 - 7 - 0 TerutsuyoshiM13 Chiyoshōma 8 - 7 - 0 8 - 7 - 0 KotoekoM14 Tsurugishō 9 - 6 - 0 4 - 10 - 1 ø YutakayamaM15 Hidenoumi 10 - 5 - 0 8 - 7 - 0 KaiseiM16 Daiamami 9 - 6 - 0 ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rankwinning record in boldYūshō Winner
May
Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 9 May – 23 May 2021 Natsu basho results - Makuuchi DivisionEastRankWest 0 - 0 - 15 ø HakuhōY ø 0 - 0 - 0 7 - 5 - 3 ø AsanoyamaO Takakeishō 12 - 3 - 0 9 - 6 - 0 ShōdaiO Terunofuji* 12 - 3 - 0 10 - 5 - 0 TakayasuS Takanoshō 5 - 10 - 0 10 - 5 - 0 MitakeumiK Daieishō 6 - 9 - 0 9 - 6 - 0 WakatakakageM1 Hokutōfuji 6 - 9 - 0 8 - 7 - 0 MeiseiM2 Tobizaru 5 - 10 - 0 4 - 3 - 8 AoiyamaM3 ø Chiyonokuni 0 - 4 - 11 6 - 9 - 0 KiribayamaM4 Myōgiryū 6 - 9 - 0 7 - 8 - 0 HōshōryūM5 Ōnoshō 7 - 8 - 0 5 - 10 - 0 HidenoumiM6 Ichinojō 9 - 6 - 0 5 - 10 - 0 TochinoshinM7 Takarafuji 7 - 8 - 0 4 - 11 - 0 TsurugishōM8 Endō 11 - 4 - 0 7 - 8 - 0 ShimanoumiM9 Kagayaki 6 - 9 - 0 7 - 8 - 0 TamawashiM10 Terutsuyoshi 7 - 8 - 0 7 - 8 - 0 KotonowakaM11 Chiyoshōma 8 - 7 - 0 9 - 6 - 0 KotoekōM12 Okinoumi 9 - 6 - 0 1 - 7 - 7 ø AkiseyamaM13 Daiamami 7 - 8 - 0 0 - 0 - 15 ø RyūdenM14 Chiyotairyū 10 - 5 - 0 9 - 6 - 0 KaiseiM15 ø Midorifuji 0 - 0 - 15 7 - 8 - 0 IshiuraM16 Chiyomaru 8 - 7 - 0 5 - 10 - 0 AkuaM17 ø 0 - 0 - 0 ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rankwinning record in boldYūshō Winner*Won Playoff
July Nagoya
Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, 4 July – 18 July
2021 Nagoya basho results - Makuuchi DivisionEastRankWest 15 - 0 - 0 HakuhōY ø 0 - 0 - 0 14 - 1 - 0 TerunofujiO ø Takakeishō 1 - 2 - 12 8 - 7 - 0 ShōdaiO ø Asanoyama 0 - 0 - 15 7 - 6 - 2 TakayasuS Mitakeumi 8 - 7 - 0 5 - 10 - 0 WakatakakageK Meisei 8 - 7 - 0 1 - 4 - 10 ø EndōM1 Daieishō 5 - 10 - 0 8 - 7 - 0 TakanoshōM2 Ichinojō 10 - 5 - 0 8 - 7 - 0 HokutōfujiM3 Tobizaru 4 - 11 - 0 2 - 13 - 0 KotoekōM4 Chiyotairyū 4 - 11 - 0 5 - 10 - 0 OkinoumiM5 Hōshōryū 10 - 5 - 0 7 - 8 - 0 ŌnoshōM6 Kiribayama 9 - 6 - 0 5 - 10 - 0 MyōgiryūM7 Chiyoshōma 8 - 7 - 0 8 - 7 - 0 TakarafujiM8 Aoiyama 7 - 8 - 0 7 - 8 - 0 HidenoumiM9 Shimanoumi 8 - 7 - 0 11 - 4 - 0 TamawashiM10 Terutsuyoshi 8 - 7 - 0 6 - 9 - 0 KaiseiM11 Kotonowaka 12 - 3 - 0 7 - 8 - 0 TochinoshinM12 Kagayaki 7 - 8 - 0 6 - 9 - 0 ChiyomaruM13 Ura 10 - 5 - 0 4 - 11 - 0 DaiamamiM14 7 - 8 - 0 8 - 7 - 0 TsurugishōM15 Tokushōryū 7 - 8 - 0 7 - 8 - 0 ChiyonokuniM16 Ishiura 9 - 6 - 0 8 - 7 - 0 IchiyamamotoM17 ø 0 - 0 - 0 ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rankwinning record in boldYūshō Winner
September
Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 12 September – 26 September
2021 Aki basho results - Makuuchi DivisionEastRankWest0-0-15øHakuhōYTerunofuji13-2-08-7-0ShōdaiOTakakeishō8-7-09-6-0MitakeumiSMeisei8-7-00-0-15øAsanoyamaSø0-0-04-8-3øTakayasuKIchinojō8-7-05-8-2HōshōryūM1Takanoshō7-8-02-3-10øHokutofujiM2Kiribayama9-6-09-6-0WakatakakageM3øKotonowaka3-7-56-9-0TamawashiM4Daieishō10-5-05-10-0ChiyoshōmaM5Takarafuji8-7-07-8-0UraM6Ōnoshō10-5-08-7-0ShimanoumiM7Terutsuyoshi5-10-010-5-0OkinoumiM8Tobizaru7-8-07-8-0AoiyamaM9Hidenoumi7-8-07-8-0ChiyotairyūM10Myōgiryū11-4-011-4-0EndōM11Kotoeko8-7-00-0-15øIshiuraM12Tochinoshin7-8-07-8-0KagayakiM13Tsurugishō5-10-06-9-0KaiseiM14Yutakayama8-7-04-11-0IchiyamamotoM15 4-11-08-7-0ChiyomaruM16Tokushōryū4-11-09-6-0ChiyonokuniM17ø0-0-0 ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rankwinning record in boldYusho Winner
November Kyushu
Fukuoka Kokusai Center, Kyushu, 14 November – 28 November 2021 Kyushu basho results - Makuuchi DivisionEastRankWest 15 - 0 - 0 TerunofujiY ø 0 - 0 - 0 9 - 6 - 0 ShōdaiO Takakeishō 12 - 3 - 0 11 - 4 - 0 MitakeumiS Meisei 7 - 8 - 0 5 - 10 - 0 IchinojōK Kiribayama 6 - 9 - 0 8 - 7 - 0 DaieishōM1 Wakatakakage 8 - 7 - 0 5 - 10 - 0 ŌnoshōM2 Takanoshō 11 - 4 - 0 7 - 8 - 0 OkinoumiM3 Myōgiryū 2 - 13 - 0 5 - 10 - 0 TakarafujiM4 Endō 8 - 7 - 0 6 - 9 - 0 TakayasuM5 Hōshōryū 7 - 8 - 0 5 - 10 - 0 ShimanoumiM6 Tamawashi 9 - 6 - 0 10 - 5 - 0 UraM7 Chiyoshōma 8 - 7 - 0 3 - 12 - 0 KotoekōM8 Tobizaru 7 - 8 - 0 4 - 11 - 0 AoiyamaM9 Hidenoumi 8 - 7 - 0 6 - 9 - 0 ChiyotairyūM10 ø Asanoyama 0 - 0 - 15 6 - 9 - 0 KotonowakaM11 Terutsuyoshi 7 - 8 - 0 7 - 8 - 0 IshiuraM12 Hokutofuji 11 - 4 - 0 7 - 8 - 0 YutakayamaM13 Tochinoshin 6 - 6 - 3 5 - 10 - 0 KagayakiM14 Chiyonokuni 9 - 6 - 0 8 - 7 - 0 ChiyomaruM15 Abi 12 - 3 - 0 9 - 6 - 0 AkuaM16 Sadanoumi 9 - 6 - 0 7 - 8 - 0 KaiseiM17 Shōhōzan 4 - 11 - 0 ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rankwinning record in boldYūshō Winner
News January 1: The Japan Sumo Association announces that eleven additional members of Arashio stable have tested positive for COVID-19, including its stablemaster Arashio Oyakata (the former maegashira Sōkokurai), a hairdresser, jūryō wrestler Wakamotoharu and eight wrestlers from the lower divisions. It had been announced the previous day that top division wrestler Wakatakakage tested positive for the virus. It is unclear whether the wrestlers in the stable will be able to compete in the upcoming January 2021 tournament. The Sumo Association said it would issue another warning to association members concerning the virus. 5: The Sumo Association announces that yokozuna Hakuhō has tested positive for COVID-19, making it unlikely that he will appear in the January 2021 tournament. He had reported a loss of the sense of smell the day before. The Sumo Association said it would test other members of Miyagino stable that were in close contact with him. It is also announced that because of rising coronavirus infections, ticket sales for the January basho would be stopped on the afternoon of 6 January and there would be no sales of same-day tickets during the tournament. 6: It is announced that the COVID test results of the other members of Miyagino stable that were screened have come back negative, but Sumo Association communications director Shibatayama said it was not certain whether those in close contact with Hakuhō would still be permitted to compete in the January 2021 tournament. Shibatayama also said that the Sumo Association was waiting to discuss how they would respond to a new state of emergency expected to be declared for Tokyo and three surrounding prefectures due to rising coronavirus infections. 7: The Sumo Association announces it will require COVID testing of all of wrestlers and stablemasters prior to the start of the January 2021 tournament. Shibatayama said the association would decide on the course of action once all of the test results are known. While a state of emergency has been made official for Tokyo and surrounding prefectures, the January basho is expected to proceed with spectators as the new emergency guidelines call for a cap of 5,000 people or 50% capacity at events - limits similar to what had already been in place at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. 8: Yokozuna Kakuryū officially withdraws from the January 2021 tournament due to lower back issues. He had previously been warned by the Yokozuna Deliberation Council over his recent lack of performances as a yokozuna. This was the third consecutive tournament both yokozuna were absent. 9: The Sumo Association announces that five wrestlers have tested positive for COVID-19 from the tests mandated on 7 January. The positives include maegashira wrestler Chiyoshōma, jūryō wrestler Chiyoōtori and two lower-ranked wrestlers from Kokonoe stable, as well as one lower-division wrestler from Tomozuna stable. These stables, along with Miyagino stable and Arashio stable, will all withdraw from the January 2021 tournament due to COVID-19 infections. Tournament organizer Oguruma suggested that the basho could be cancelled if there are additional virus infections. Lower division wrestler Kotokantetsu, who had previously undergone heart surgery, retires from sumo after being told by the Sumo Association that fear of getting infected while competing was not sufficient grounds for withdrawal from the tournament. 10: The January 2021 tournament opens with 65 wrestlers withdrawn due to either testing positive for COVID-19 or for being in close contact with those who did. The 16 sekitori missing from the first day (15 for COVID-19 reasons, plus Kakuryū) is a postwar record. In his opening speech, Sumo Association chairman Hakkaku apologized for concerns caused by the infection of the wrestlers and said that preventative measures have been implemented. 22: Following an incident during the January tournament in which makushita division wrestler Shōnannoumi was allowed to continue with his match despite a clash of heads during a false start that appeared to leave him concussed, the Sumo Association announces that in future there will be no rematch in such circumstances. Previously it had been up to the wrestler to decide if he wanted to continue.