The Sumo Association's Banzuke Reorganization Committee convened this morning to redo the banzuke rankings for the Haru basho in March. In order to give those promoted to the Juryo ranks time to prepare for the life of a sekitori, the rikishi promoted to Juryo are announced early. Grabbing the bulk of the headlines is Tosayutaka, who has reached sekitori status in just 6 basho in the sport, a mark that puts him in a tie for first place all time in terms of speed (Sakai set the initial record in 1980). Tosayutaka received some press mid-basho as he broke the record for number of consecutive wins as a non-sekitori at 27. He extended his streak to 30 before losing to fellow Makushita rikishi, Aran. Tosayutaka is 22 years old and fights from the Tokitsukaze-beya. The other Juryo first-timer is Hokutokuni, another 22 year-old who fights from the Hakkaku-beya. Making their return to the Juryo ranks are Kyokunankai and Sagatsukasa.

In other news, the three rikishi from the Tokitsukaze-beya who are being investigated for their role in the death of Tokitaizan and who sat out the Kyushu basho and the Hatsu basho will not be demoted further down the ranks for the Haru basho.  The rikishi were demoted once for the Hatsu basho, but since they are cooperating with the police investigation, the board of directors decided at a special meeting that they will not demote the three further for the upcoming basho.

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