Ulaanbaatar
Hoshoryu Byambasuren Promoted to 74th Yokozuna
Sports
Ulaanbaatar, January 29, 2025 /MONTSAME/. Hoshoryu Byambasuren, the winner of the January 2025 Hatsu Basho (Grand Sumo Tournament), was officially promoted to the rank of Yokozuna by the Japan Sumo Association (JSA) on January 29, 2025.
In the previous tournament, Hoshoryu secured second place with a 13-2 record. This time, he clinched the championship with a 12-3 record, meeting the requirements to become the 74th Yokozuna in professional sumo history. Following his victory, the Yokozuna Deliberation Council, an advisory body within the Japan Sumo Association, convened and unanimously endorsed his promotion with a 9-0 vote. The JSA Board of Directors later ratified the decision, leading to his official promotion as the 74th Yokozuna.
The association dispatched Sakaigawa Oyakata and Oonaruto Oyakata as representatives to formally deliver the decision. The sumo officials were received by stablemaster Tatsunami Oyakata, along with his wife. Upon hearing the news, Hoshoryu expressed his gratitude, saying:
“I humbly accept this great honor. I will dedicate myself wholeheartedly to upholding the dignity of Yokozuna and will do my utmost to meet the expectations placed upon me. Thank you all very much.”
Hoshoryu, now the 74th Yokozuna in professional sumo and the sixth Mongolian-born grand champion, began his sumo career in January 2018. He was promoted to the Juryo division in January 2019 and made his debut in the Makuuchi division during the Aki Basho (Autumn Tournament) in 2020. After winning the Nagoya Basho in 2023, he attained the rank of Ozeki. Having competed in 42 professional tournaments, he has now reached the pinnacle of sumo as a Yokozuna.
His promotion is the sixth fastest in sumo history, meaning he is the sixth wrestler to achieve the Yokozuna rank in such a short period. In comparison, his uncle, legendary sumo champion Asashoryu Akinori (Dagvadorj Dolgorsuren), reached the rank of Yokozuna after competing in 25 tournaments.
Since the first Mongolian wrestler stepped onto the dohyo (sumo ring) during the 1992 Haru Basho (Spring Tournament), this marks the sixth time in 33 years that Mongolia has produced a Yokozuna. The decision to grant Hoshoryu the title was made in just eight minutes. Despite initial concerns over his 12-3 record, his two additional playoff victories were highly valued by the council, ultimately securing his promotion.
