The mighty behemoths of the sumo ring, Yoshibayama and Kagamisato, will head the new ranking of the Japan Professional Sumo Association when the spring tourney opens in Osaka on March 6.
    Yokozuna-ranking Azumafuji and Chiyonoyama have been placed on the “haridashi” status as a result of their unimpressive showings in the January tourney in Tokyo.
    The Osaka tourney is scheduled to run for 15 days and constitutes one of the four main events of the sumo wrestling year.
    Some fear is felt that Yoshibayama, suffering from a liver ailment, may not be able to start although he is expected to join the lists some time during the tourney. Yoshibayama won the January championship by scoring a grand slam record and being boosted to Yokozuna status.

Leading ranking men of the East and West teams are as follows: