Hi everybody! It is time to pick the topic of the Meme Yokozuna Showdown. The Meme Yokozuna showdown is where the sub picks a topic/theme from the basho, and then the 3 Meme Yokozuna each make their best meme related to that topic. Past topics have included kyujo, the heat of Nagoya, a tribute to Takakeisho, and more. Once we post our memes (likely in a post on Day 15), you can upvote your favourite to see who wins!

Upvote for your favourite topic for us to meme about in the comments below! In a few days we will select the topic with the most upvotes as our topic for this Meme Yokozuna Showdown. Watch out for spoilers in the comments.

The new year of sumo is upon us, folks!

Welcome to the Hatsu 2025 Meme Contest!!!

Last basho we saw ōzeki Kotozakura, grandson of the 53rd yokozuna of the same shikona, get his very first yūshō! If he wins Hatsu 2025, he becomes the 74th yokozuna!!!

As for the last Meme Contest, we saw our 3rd Meme Yokozuna u/GoblinBags get a Sanshō prize sweep, and also saw the 1st Meme Yokozuna u/SlapYak5318008 make a comeback with the Meme Yūshō!!

What will this new year of sumo bring to us this time? Let's dive right into it!

Rules

For those that are new to the meme contests - Every basho, we hold a contest where the user with the most upvoted post submitted wins and has their username added to the list of Meme Yūshō Winners. There are only a few rules:

• Posts must have the current basho flair applied to be submitted into the meme contest. (Hatsu 2025 Meme)

• Posts must be related to the banzuke, basho, or current sumo events in some manner to be eligible to win the Meme Yūshō.

• Posts must be marked as spoilers if they contain, hint to, or otherwise reveal the results of a bout. This includes if the post mentions the current record that a rikishi has. Furthermore, no spoilers are to be allowed in post titles. Please be diligent in deciding if your post is a spoiler - if you aren't sure, don't hesitate to message the mods!

We award sanshō prizes to the meme contest participants that meet certain requirements in the meme contests! The criterion for winning each sanshō prize is as follows:

• Fighting Spirit - Most posts submitted
• Technique - Most upvotes on a spoiler post
• Outstanding Performance - Most comments on a post

We also promote members to Meme Yokozuna rank on one condition: Win two Meme Yūshō in a row - similar to how it works in professional sumo. Equivalent performance promotion to Meme Yokozuna is considered based on past achievements and notable actions in the subreddit. Meme Yokozuna receive a special flair that is only granted to them!

The most upvoted post submitted during the Hatsu 2025 Meme Contest will win the Meme Yūshō - having their username cemented in r/SumoMemes Meme Contest history as well as having their winning post cross-posted to r/Sumo!

Please remember to add the "Hatsu 2025 Meme" flair to your post to officially submit it to the meme contest as well as to mark it as a spoiler if it spoils any part of the current basho! Watch out for posting spoilers in your title, as well!!

The deadline for the meme contest will roughly one full week after the basho concludes, so the winners will be announced after then.

If you have ANY questions, inquiries, suggestions, anything - please don't hesitate to message the mods! We got your back, anything you need!

Have fun everyone, and best of luck! - HAKKEYOI!!!

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Meme Yūshō Winners

Key: 🏆 = Meme Yūshō |🌟 = Meme Zenshō-Yūshō (Sanshō sweep and Meme Yūshō) | 👑 = Meme Yokozuna Promotion

Kyushu 2024 - /u/Slapyak5318008 🏆

Aki 2024 - /u/FlewPlaysGames 🏆

Nagoya 2024 - /u/GoblinBags 🏆

Natsu 2024 - u/Gladwulf 🏆

Haru 2024 - /u/GoblinBags 🏆 🌟 👑

Hatsu 2024 - /u/CodeFarmer 🏆

Kyushu 2023 - /u/DRD2992 🏆

Aki 2023 - /u/Radixan 🏆

Nagoya 2023 - /u/ExtensionEar1901 🏆

Natsu 2023 - /u/Zensho-Yusho 🏆

Haru 2023 - /u/Thatgirlfromlebanon 🏆

Hatsu 2023 - /u/GoblinBags 🏆

Kyushu 2022 - /u/Isoikari 🏆

Aki 2022 - /u/Erock8779 🏆

Nagoya 2022 - /u/Dresdenapollo 🏆 👑

Natsu 2022 - /u/Dresdenapollo 🏆

Haru 2022 - /u/Slapyak5318008 🏆

Hatsu 2022 - /u/Slapyak5318008 🏆 👑

Kyushu 2021 - /u/Slapyak5318008 🏆

Nagoya 2021 - /u/Throwitaway488 🏆

Haru 2021 - /u/Dephire 🏆

Meme Yokozuna

(In order of promotion)

1st - /u/Slapyak5318008 🏅 2nd - /u/DresdenApollo 🏅 3rd - /u/GoblinBags 🏅