Sadly, 2020 will end up in worrying fashion, as the Sumo association just announced another case of Covid within its world.

The infected rikishi is in fact a sekitori. It’s Wakatakakage.

日本相撲協会からのお知らせです。https://t.co/dxAqC7QYfH

— 日本相撲協会公式 (@sumokyokai) December 31, 2020

Early this morning, Wakatakakage showed up, feeling badly. The case has been confirmed, and the institution’s next step will be to trace contact cases.

Above all, we’re wishing him a smooth recovery. Let’s hope that his case is isolated within the Arashio stable.

1. Can Hakuho and/or Kakuryu last the whole year ?

That first question might be answere as early as next month. If Hakuho and Kakuryu fail to get yokozuna results – and last the whole basho, they will be recommended to hand their retirement papers. But both yokozuna have shown loads of ressources in the past – Kakuryu had already faced a make or break situation, in January 2018; he went up 11-4, then 13-2 and 14-1.

For Hakuho, the situation will be new. Can they both be up to the task? And if they can, are they able to maintain yokozuna level until the end of the year? Both ageing yokozuna have had alarmingly few bouts in 2020; I believe 2021 will cast the end of two brillant careers.

My prediction: No

2. Will Takakeisho, Asanoyama and Shodai all keep their ozeki rank (or even go higher)?

Andy recently predicted that all three ozeki would get kachi koshi during the whole 2021. Arguably, sumo’s young guns (albeit Shodai is not that young) have nicely climbed through the ranks, and compose an appreciable triumvirat, that is deemed to regularly challenge for the cup. If one of these three lads can get their hands on it twice in a row, they’ll even raise higher.

But is that realistic? Takakeisho has had serious injuries, and if that now seems part of the past, one can’t be certain it truly is. If Asanoyama raises fewer concerns, I’m a bit more skeptical concerning Shodai. If his earlier speeches were nice, innocent-looking, I wonder if reaching the ozeki rank wasn’t an unlikely goal to his point of view. He should now stop daydreaming, and actually wrestle according to his rank. But can he? Fitness reports are not overly reassuring, at the eve of 2021, and Shodai seems like the weakest link of an otherwise convincing ozeki triumvirat.

My prediction: No

3. Will there be a new yokozuna?

A difficult but unavoidable question. Of course, Takakeisho has a straightforward chance to raise sumo’s ultimate level, as early as January. Whether he can sustain that challenge for fifteen days, remains to be seen.

In any case, voids tend to be filled. Since I don’t see the yokozuna staying the whole year, it’s fair to assume someone will raise up on the occasion, and become the awaited 73rd yokozuna. Takakeisho and Asanoyama definitely have potential to achieve that.

My prediction: Yes

4. Will there be a surprise yusho winner?

Admittedly, last year’s prediction on that matter could not have been more off target – chaos was still heavily perturbing makuuchi. I think the dust has more or less settled now, and we will be more focused on yokozuna candidates, rather on Tokushoryu-like tales.

Of course, a pertinent thing would be to ask: who, exactly, can be considered as a surprise winner? That debate  would easily include Terunofuji and Mitakeumi.

My prediction: No

5. Will there be a new ozeki (possibly a former one)?

That is an intriguing question; and the leading candidates may not be as easily identified as thought at first sight.

Terunofuji and Takanosho will stand right above sumo’s second highest rank in January, but can they reach dreamland?

Terunofuji’s issues are cristal clear. His knees will always be a source of bother, and his 8-5-2 record in September seems to have temporarily halted the ozeki run. Officially, that quest restarted in November, thanks to an impressive 13-2 record. Can he defy the odds by winning a third yusho in January, and get promoted right away? Or, to put it simply, does his health give him realistic chances to realise the impossible?

The second sekiwake, Takanosho, did not seem hurt at all, but Herouth recently spotted a worrying report according to which the 26 years old has hurt his ACL, and opted against knee surgery… that’s more than enough to put into jeopardy any attempt to reach the ozeki rank, or even to maintain himself at the highest level.

Apart from both sekiwake, Mitakeumi is a name that, yet again, comes into mind – more on that later. Can Daieisho sustain a real ozeki quest this time? Has Hokutofuji been transformed into a deadly yotsu rikishi? Can Kotoshoho rise quicker than expected, and have a dream year 2021?

I’m not quite sure about the latter; but I strongly believe Kotoshoho has a (very) bright future ahead of him. In general, I feel we may see new blood alongside the ozeki ranks in 2021.

My prediction: Yes

6. Another year to forget for Mitakeumi ? Where will he end up this year ?

Sumo’s living enigma will undoubtedly go on providing unanswered questions next year. With the exception of a two basho stint on the upper maegashira ranks, Mitakeumi has been in san’yaku… forever. Since March 2017, to be exact; that’ll make four years of quasi uninterrupted presence either at komusubi or sekiwake. Truly unbelievable!

And yet, 2020 has clearly been worse than 2019 for Mitakeumi. He hasn’t won a yusho this time. He did sustain another ozeki run, but I doubt anyone thought he could actually make it last September.

So, what’s up next? He just turned 28, and seemed physically far from his best in recent times. I tend to believe his stay in san’yaku won’t last for very long now – and that would be a shame, given the man’s talent.

My prediction: down the maegashira ranks.

7. Can the elders still hang on?

I admit this question is not very precisely expressed, but nevertheless raises an interesting question. Makuuchi is finally seeing some new, fresh faces along its ranks – Kotoshoho, Kotonowaka and Hoshoryu can be given as examples.

On the other hand, not speaking about the yokozuna, the old guard has suffered recently. Kotoshogiku eventually got demoted to juryo and called it a day; while Ikioi and Shohozan are currently sitting in juryo, and did not get a winning record in November. Ikioi is 34; Shohozan and Kotoshogiku experienced great difficulties, aged 36.

The oldest maegashira is currently Tamawashi, also aged 36. The former yusho winner recently performed honourably, ending the last three basho with 10-5, 5-10 and 8-7 records, and will probably find himself in the joi next time. Can he at least secure a spot in makuuchi, by the end of 2021?

Alongside other elders, Kaisei (M12w, 33 y.o.), Myogiryu (M5e, 34 y.o.) and Aoiyama (M8e, 34 y.o.) have also struggled recently. Can they regain their breath? If Tokushoryu finds himself quite safely in the middle maegashira ranks, it’s worth remembering the 8-7 he got in November was his only kachi koshi since winning the whole thing in January. True, apart from his record in March (4-11), he hasn’t had miserable records at all, ending up 7-8 twice.

Meanwhile, I’d express less concern about Okinoumi (M3w, 35 y.o.), who has showed nice combattivity until recently.

My prediction: two of the six quoted maegashira wrestlers to stay in makuuchi by the end of 2021.

8. Where will Enho end up this year ?

So, a renewal of last year’s question is on the cards here, for quite a likeable and unique rikishi. Can Enho bounce back from his disappointing relegation to juryo? If so, how far can he raise again?

Without doubt, the answer will depend on how he will manage to heal his recent troubles, and IF he takes enough time to heal. Without fully functional shoulders, Enho will find it hard to find himself in mauuchi again.

I think the current juryo field is not too scary down there, and Enho has what it takes to emerge in sumo’s first division. I don’t see him reaching the joi next year, but he should end up somewhere safely alongside the lower maegashira ranks.

9. Where will Ura end up this year ?

Ura accumplished a sensational comeback this year, and gets full credit for it. If I expected him to pile up more wins in November than he actually did (nine wins, six losses), Ura is definitely moving upwards. How far can he extend his formidable run? Can he stay fit the whole year?

My prediction will look like a U-turn, looking back at last year’s prediction: Ura will reach makuuchi without too much trouble, and should find himself in the mid-maegashira ranks by the end of 2021.

10. Six basho to be held in 2021?

Given what’s at stake, this is probably the biggest question of all – and, being no scientist, I won’t predict anything on that one.

But it’s worth mentioning the fact that the pandemic is far from over, and the current situation is actually quite worrying in Japan. The recent Covid outbreak in Tatsunami beya is the latest proof.

Above everything, let’s wish a healthy 2021 year to everyone!