Sekiwake Takakeisho will make his bid for promotion to ozeki at next month's Spring Grand Sumo Tournament from the prestigious east side, according to the rankings announced Monday by the Japan Sumo Association.
Takakeisho will occupy the east slot for the second consecutive tournament, which starts March 10 at Osaka's Edion Arena. Tamawashi, who won his first career title at the previous New Year tournament, remains in the sekiwake slot on the west side.
With the retirement of yokozuna Kisenosato, there will be just two yokozuna for the first time since the spring tournament of 2014. Hakuho will fill the east slot, while Kakuryu will occupy the west position.
Among the three ozeki, Tochinoshin will be fighting with "kadoban" status, meaning the Georgian needs a majority of wins to retain his rank.
Hokutofuji was promoted to komusubi, making him the first Saitama Prefecture native in the sanyaku -- the three ranks below yokozuna -- since 1959.
Former sekiwake Toyonoshima, who had dropped as far as the third-tier makushita division, returns at age 35 to the uppermost makuuchi division for the first time in 16 tournaments. Three wrestlers -- Tomokaze, Terutsuyoshi and Daishoho -- will make their debuts in the makuuchi division.
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