September 26, 2026 / a Day 14 viewing note on the championship flag.
The championship flag is a familiar part of the final-day presentation ceremony. Look near its top, though, and there is another detail: narrow fabric strips that carry a record of the tournament and its winner.
The record goes on strips, not directly onto the flag
The Makuuchi championship flag has strips bearing the tournament and the wrestler’s name. The names are recorded this way rather than embroidered directly onto the body of the flag.
What might look like decoration from a distance also tells us “when” and “who.” It is a small detail to look for when the presentation ceremony begins.
Presented on the final day, returned on the next opening day
The flag is passed on rather than kept permanently by each winner. It is returned on the opening day of the next tournament, after the yokozuna ring entrance.
That gives the same object two moments to watch for: its presentation at the end of one tournament, and its return at the start of the next. Following the flag is a quiet way to notice how the tournaments connect.
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Official references checked on September 26, 2026.