The official Japanese Sumo Directory. Imported from Japan. These directories include lots of pictures and sumo statistics.
The 2024 Directory was released in January, 2024. It features the sole Yokozuna, Terunofuji, and the three Ozeki, Takakeisho, Kirishima, and Hoshoryu on the cover. The content format is similar to the 2023 January Directory but updated to account for promotions, demotions, and retirements along with updated information from the 2023 tournaments. It includes color photographs for the top 2 divisions (Makuuchi and Juryo) along with their English language name. Also included are black and white pictures of all wrestlers by heya (stable) along with coaches and gyoji. For those who know Hiragana they have included the Hiragana spelling of each wrestler's name including all of the lower ranked wrestler's whose English letter name is not listed. A5 size with 160 pages.
The 2023 September Directory was released in September, 2023. It features the sole Yokozuna, Terunofuji, with three Ozeki, Hoshoryu, Takakeisho, and Kirishima, on the cover. The directory contains color photographs of the top 2 division wrestlers. Top division wrestlers from Yokozuna through maegashira 4 have full pages. Maegashira 5 and below through Juryo have half pages. Many of the wrestlers are pictured in their colorful yukata showing a more casual character for the wrestlers. Also included are color headshots of all wrestlers, coaches, gyoji (referees), yobidashi, and tokoyama (hair dressers) for all stables (heya).
This directory is published in the larger format (11.5" tall by 8.5" wide). Unlike some prior editions this one is all in Japanese. Names are often provided in Kanji and Hiragana. 116 pages.
The 2023 Directory was released in January, 2023. It features the sole Yokozuna, Terunofuji, and the sole Ozeki, Takakeisho, on the cover. The content format is similar to the 2022 January Directory but updated to account for promotions, demotions, and retirements along with updated information on the 2022 tournaments. It includes color photographs for the top 2 divisions (Makuuchi and Juryo) along with their English language name. Also included are black and white pictures of all wrestlers by heya (stable) along with coaches and gyoji. For those who know Hiragana they have included the Hiragana spelling of each wrestler's name including all of the lower ranked wrestler's whose English letter name is not listed. A5 size with 144 pages.
The 2022 September Directory was released in September, 2022. It is based on the September rankings. It features Yokozuna Terunofuji on the cover along with Ozeki Takakeisho, Mitakeumi, and Shodai.
This directory is quite different from prior directories as it is much larger at 11.5" high by 8.25" wide (A4). It has color images of the top two division wrestlers. The highest ranks from Yokozuna down to maegashira 4 are represented one wrestler per page. Maegashira 5 down through Juryo are two wrestlers per page. All information is in Japanese with their names also being listed in hiragana.
Just like prior issues there are headshot pictures of all wrestlers, coaches, gyoji, and yobidashi for each heya AND they are in color (older directories are in black and white). With the larger pages the headshots are larger than before for a wonderfully improved directory. It is softback and 114 pages.
The directories below are softback and have about 144 pages. Almost all of the writing is in Japanese except for the full color photos that include the wrestler's English letter name. They are 8.5" high by 6" wide.
The 2022 January Directory was released in January, 2022. It features new and only Yokozuna Terunofuji on the cover along with Ozeki Shodai and Takakeisho. The content format is similar to the 2021 Directory but updated to account for promotions, demotions, and retirements along with updated information on the 2021 tournaments. For those who know Hiragana they have included the Hiragana spelling of each wrestler's name including all of the lower ranked wrestler's whose English letter name is not listed.
The 2021 Directory was just released in January, 2021. It features yokozuna Hakuho and Kakuryu on the cover along with ozeki Takakeisho, Asanoyama, and Shodai. The content format is similar to the 2020 Directory but updated to account for promotions, demotions, and retirements along with updated information on the 2020 tournaments.
The 2020 Directory opens with a picture of Kisenosato at his retirement ceremony with Hakuho behind him. It has full color wrestler photos based on the January 2020 rankings for the top two divisions (Makuuchi and Juryo). The Yokozuna, Ozeki, Sekiwake, and Komusubi wrestlers have a near full page full color picture whle the rest of the wrestlers have quarter page full color pictures all in their kesho mawashi. Also included are black and white photos of the prior year tournament winners, special prize winners, and lower division champions along with stats. Most impressively it includes b&w photos of all wrestlers, coaches, and gyoji grouped by stable.
It also includes a lot of statistics and records. However, almost all of the writing is in Japanese except for the full color photos that include the wrestler's English letter name.
This softback has 144 pages. It was originally released early 2020.
