Intro
Hi! My log is heavily inspired by Chimmsen’s slow and cozy Japanese Journey - I started reading their log when I was preparing for the N2 test last (last?) year. When I got really burnt out, it got me to rethink how I could change the way I study Japanese, because it looked like they were having so much fun reading.
I promised myself that I would start my own ‘cozy journey’ if I passed, so yay! here I am.
My health is also in a not-great place right now, and on bad days drawing silly stuff distracts me from the awful stuff, so unfortunately I’m also going to inflict my sketches (tagentially related to Japanese & the stuff I’m reading) on you guys.
TLDR: Let’s see how long I can avoid prepping for N1 by reading, sketching, journalling random thoughts etc. Let’s procrastinate (in an enjoyable, yet enriching (??) way) together!
Thank you for reading 
Im the past year or so my brother has been really into professional sumo (大相撲) as a spectator sport. I wrote it off as a odd (but endearing) quirk of his, until he came with goodies from the January tournament this year. The Japanese Sumo Association’s merchandising is fantastically on point - I’ve been poring over r/sumo and wikipedia ever since, trying to learn more about the sport because of how adorable these tea bags are:
Makuuchi (幕内) ranks
I’ve been trying to wrap my head around the ranking system in the top division (幕内), so I made this chart:
Some interesting points:
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Yokozuna (横綱) is the highest rank, and unlike the lower ranks, is a permanent title (though underperforming yokozunas are ‘encouraged’ to retire)
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A sumo wrestler (力士) in the top division starts from maegashira (前頭) and, depending on their win/loss record & special awards received in each tournament, is either promoted or demoted through the ranks
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This includes dropping out of the top division (幕内) altogether, though demoted rikishi can always be promoted back into the top division
There are a number of rather convoluted, semi-formalised rules that form the criteria for promotion/demotion, more info on which can be found on wikipedia here.
The current top 4 rikishi (力士)
As of the start of March 2026, there are 2 yokozunas and 2 ōzekis:
Hōshōryū - 豊昇龍
A Mongolian rikishi with a particularly storied pedigree - his uncle was the 68th yokozuna Asashōryū. I don’t know much about him yet, besides the fact that he has a formidable staredown face, though outside of the ring he seems really smiley and laidback. Made the 74th yokozuna in Jan 2025.
Recommended viewing: Hōshōryū and baby
Ōnosato - 大の里
Born in Ishikawa, made the 75th yokozuna in May 2025 after winning back-to-back tournaments as an ōzeki. Arguably the most adorable-looking/baby-faced of the four rikishis here. The ‘の里’ portion of his ring name is derived from his stable master’s (72nd yokozuna Kisenosato 稀勢の里), who in turn got it from his stable master (59th yokozuna Takanosato 隆の里).
Recommended viewing: Ōnosato, glorious in pink
Kotozakura II - 琴櫻
Another rikishi who comes from an impressive lineage - Kotozakura’s maternal grandfather was the 53rd yokozuna Kotozakura I, and his father the sekiwake Kotonowaka I (琴ノ若). In a particularly confusing sequence of affairs, Kotozakura II first took on the name Kotokamatani (琴鎌谷) when he started wrestling professionally, before taking on his father’s name when he was promoted to sekitori (thus becoming Kotonowaka II), then finally his grandfather’s name after some time as ōzeki.
Another salient feature of Kotozakura II are his, uh, quadruple chest prominences. Please see here and here.
Aonishiki - 安青錦
Since his professional debut in Sep 2023, Aonishiki has been breaking records left and right, culminating in consecutive top division championships in November 2025 and January 2026. It’s a fairytale come true, considering he first came to Japan as a Ukrainian war refugee at 17, living with the family of a fellow amateur rikishi he had met at a junior sumo competition.
It’s highly anticipated that Aonishiki will be promoted to Yokozuna if he wins/does sufficiently well at the upcoming March 2026 tournament. Because of his meteoric rise, he has been name-dropped in Empress Masako’s birthday speech, and was recently featured in his first advertisement.
See his slightly awkward, but charming Pocari Sweat advertisement here.
I guess there’s that for my first entry. Right now I’m looking forward to watching the March tournament, which starts this Sunday. I’m not entirely sure how fruitful my log will be to my Japanese learning, but it has certainly been diverting so far. I hope you found this enjoyable to read too! Thank you
