All eyes were on senshuraku’s awesome musubi no ichiban. Both contenders, Takakeisho and Terunofuji, provided us great entertainment. Actually, both juryo and makuuchi brought us a fantastic finale with a playoff. Did that cause us to forget to rest of the November basho? That’s what we’re about to see…

1. The winner gets the honour of having the first question’s attention: prior to senshuraku, Takakeisho had lost just one bout. Who had defeated him?

a. Okinoumi

b. Tobizaru

c. Hokutofuji

d. Daieisho

2. Overall, makuuchi has welcomed a juryo visitor thirteen times. How many different juryo sekitori have faced a first division opponent?

a. Three

b. Four

c. Five

d. Six

3. How many makuuchi wrestlers came into that tournament while at their career highest rank?

a. Five

b. Seven

c. Nine

d. Eleven

4. And how many of them got their kashi koshi?

a. None

b. One

c. Two

d. Three

5. Which one of these rikishi also got his kashi koshi?

a. Kotoeko

b. Kaisei

c. Kotonowaka

d. Tokushoryu

6. And who could not avoid ending up make koshi?

a. Endo

b. Tamawashi

c. Onosho

d. Meisei

7. Senshuraku is usually the occasion to set up interesting bouts, pairing up 7-7 rikishi together, the winner getting a winning record, the loser ending up make koshi. How many makuuchi bouts were concerned this time?

a. Zero

b. One

c. Two

d. Three

8. The November basho saw former ozeki Kotoshogiku’s farewell. Who was his last ever opponent? (not taking into account the fusen loss)?

a. Nishikigi

b. Hidenoumi

c. Chiyonoo

d. Wakamotoharu

9. Who got the fusen win the day after?

a. Akiseyama

b. Midorifuji

c. Chiyomaru

d. Daiamami

10. Kotoshogiku ended his final basho with a 1-6-8 record. Who is the last wrestler he defeated?

a. Azumaryu

b. Shohozan

c. Churanoumi

d. Ishiura

11. Two other notable former makuuchi regulars, Shohozan and Ikioi, failed to return to winning paths. How many wins did they get combined?

a. Five

b. Seven

c. Nine

d. Eleven

12. Back to makuuchi, how many of the top ten maegashira rikishi (all maegashira ranked from M1e to M5w) have gotten a winning record?

a. One

b. Two

c. Three

d. Four

13. Only counting rikishi who fought the whole basho, Kiribayama and Enho are ranked rock bottom, with only three wins. Who got the third worst record?

a. Myogiryu

b. Kagayaki

c. Sadanoumi

d. Terutsuyoshi

14. After a honourable first week, I lost six bouts in a row and ended up 7-8, my first make koshi since last January. I’m…

a. Kiribyama

b. Wakatakakage

c. Mitakeumi

d. Sadanoumi

15. My place in makuuchi was highly uncertain after the first week. However, I finished strongly, winning six matches in a row, to secure a place in first division in January 2021. I’m…

a. Ichinojo

b. Chiyoshoma

c. Chiyotairyu

d. Chiyonokuni

The answers:

1. The winner gets the honour of having the first question’s attention: prior to senshuraku, Takakeisho had lost just one bout. Who had defeated him?

b. Tobizaru. Last basho’s surprise newcomer caused yet another upset, on day 9.

2. Overall, makuuchi has welcomed a juryo visitor thirteen times. How many different juryo sekitori have faced a first division opponent?

d. Six: Ishiura, Chiyonoo, Akiseyama, Midorifuji, Shohozan and Chiyomaru all paid visit to makuuchi at some time.

3. How many makuuchi wrestlers came into that tournament while at their career highest rank?

c. Nine: shin-ozeki Shodai, shin-sekiwake Takanosho, Kiribayama, Wakatakakage, Kagayaki, Tobizaru, Kotoshoho, Hoshoryu and shin-makuuchi wresler Akua. That’s a lot of people!

4. And how many of them got their kashi koshi?

d. Three: Takanosho (8-7), Kotoshoho (8-7) and Akua (9-6).

5. Which one of these rikishi also got his kashi koshi?

d. Tokushoryu (8-7). Kotoeko (6-9), Kaisei (6-9) and Kotonowaka (7-8) all crumbled during the last days: Kotoeko lost his last five bouts, whereas the wo other lost on day 13, 14 and 15.

6. And who could not avoid ending up make koshi?

c. Onosho (7-8). Still, some progress has seemingly been made: last time Onosho was ranked maegashira 2, he fared terribly, and did not win a single bout before day 14.

7. Senshuraku is usually the occasion to set up interesting bouts, pairing up 7-7 rikishi together, the winner getting a winning record, the loser ending up make koshi. How many makuuchi bouts were concerned this time?

b. One: Hoshoryu against Endo. Endo got the eigth win.

8. The November basho saw former ozeki Kotoshogiku’s farewell. Who was his last ever opponent? (not taking into account the fusensho loss)?

c. Chiyonoo, on day 6.

9. Who got the fusensho win the day after?

a. Akiseyama

10. Kotoshogiku ended his final basho with a 1-6-8 record. Who is the last wrestler he defeated?

b. Shohozan, with one last oshidashi on day 2.

11. Two other notable former makuuchi regulars, Shohozan and Ikioi, failed to return to winning paths. How many wins did they get combined?

d. Eleven. It could have been worse, though. If Ikioi (5-10) barely salvaged a spot in juryo with a last day win, Shohozan (6-9) won his last four bouts.

12. Back to makuuchi, how many of the top ten maegashira rikishi (all maegashira ranked from M1e to M5w) have gotten a winning record?

c. Three: Daieisho (M2w, 10-5), Hokutofuji (M4e, 11-4) and Kotoshoho (M5w, 8-7).

13. Only counting rikishi who fought the whole basho, Kiribayama and Enho are ranked rock bottom, with only three wins. Who got the third worst record?

a. Myogiryu, with four wins. Enho, by the way, will start next year in juryo.

14. After a honourable first week, I lost six bouts in a row and ended up 7-8, my first make koshi since last January. I’m…

c. Mitakeumi. Another basho to forget for him.

15. My place in makuuchi was highly uncertain after the first week. However, I finished strongly, winning six matches in a row, to secure a place in first division in January 2021. I’m…

a. Ichinojo, who impressively went from 2-7 to 8-7!