The following are the events in professional sumo during 2012.
Tournaments
Hatsu basho, Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 8 – 22 January
Haru basho, Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 11 – 25 March
Natsu basho, Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 6 – 20 May
Nagoya basho, Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, 8 – 22 July
Aki basho, Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 9 – 23 September
Kyushu basho, Fukuoka Kokusai Center, Kyushu, 11 – 25 November
News
January
6: Yokozuna Hakuho performs the dohyo-iri ceremony at the Meiji Shrine in front of hundreds of sumo fans to mark the New Year. 8: A CD of a song performed by a group of ten sumo coaches calling themselves the "Oyakata All-Stars" and also featuring the Sumo Association's official mascot goes on sale at the Kokugikan. 11: On the fourth day of the Hatsu basho a gyōji, the 10th Kimura Shōzaburō, is knocked out of the dohyo during a bout between Baruto and Wakakoyu, hitting his head and losing consciousness. He is taken away on a stretcher and is later revealed to have suffered a concussion. 20: Ozeki Baruto wins his first top division yusho or championship with two days to spare, moving to an unassailable 13–0 lead whilst Hakuho suffers his third defeat of the tournament to Kotooshu. 20: Sakumayama is handed the first defeat of his professional career in the makushita division by , ending a record run of 27 consecutive victories since his debut. 22: On the final day, Hakuho defeats Baruto to finish on 12–3, two wins behind the Estonian. Georgian Gagamaru also finishes a runner-up on 12–3 and receives his second Fighting Spirit prize. The Technique prize goes to Myogiryu, whilst Kakuryu gets the Outstanding Performance award for handing Hakuho his first defeat on Day 10. The jūryō championship is won by Chiyotairyu in his first tournament in the division. The makushita yusho is won by Sakumayama at his first attempt in a series of playoffs after eight men finish on 6–1. 22: Former sekiwake Tochinonada retires and becomes Takenawa Oyakata. 28: The danpatsu-shiki or official retirement ceremony of Sekinoto Oyakata, the former komusubi Iwakiyama who retired in September 2010, is held at the Kokugikan. 31: In the Japan Sumo Association's board elections, Kitanoumi returns as chairman, replacing Hanaregoma who is stepping down as he will reach the mandatory retirement age of 65 next year. Kitanoumi, who previously served as the JSA head from 2002 until 2008, is the first man to hold the post more than once.
February
5: Hakuho wins the 36th Ozumo one day knock out competition at the Kokugikan, defeating Goeido in the final and winning the ¥2.5 million prize. Goeido had defeated him in the last tournament held in 2010. 13: Tagonoura Oyakata (former maegashira Kushimaumi), head of Tagonoura stable, dies suddenly at the age of 46. 17–18: A special exhibition tournament is held in Bangkok, Thailand at the CentralWorld shopping complex, to celebrate the 84th birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. It is the first time sumo has come to the country. 27: The banzuke for the first Osaka tournament since March 2010 is released. Gagamaru makes his san'yaku debut at komusubi, and Ikioi of Isenoumi stable reaches the makuuchi division. Newcomers to jūryō are Chiyootori, the fifth jūryō debut from Kokonoe stable in the last five tournaments, and , the first wrestler from the former Oshio's Shikihide stable to reach sekitori level since it opened in 1992. 29: Former maegashira Hamanishiki retires. He becomes the head of the Kasugayama stable, with the former Kasugafuji, now on the Sumo Association's board of directors, moving to the Ikazuchi name.