Ozeki Watch

Kadoban Ozeki Takakeisho (7-5) still needs a win to save his rank after today’s loss to the main promotion contender, Sekiwake Kiribayama (10-2), who has now hit the promotion target he was set and should be our newest Ozeki. Daieisho (8-4), who entered the tournament with 22 wins in his previous two basho, could still reach the 11 wins he needs to total 33 over 3, but he must win out, and it’s not clear in his case that 33 would be enough given that his current “run” started at maegashira. Wakamotoharu (8-4) and Hoshoryu (8-4) will be looking to post double-digit totals to keep their runs going into July.

San’yaku

All four Sekiwake will at the very least hold their ranks. But we might be looking for some new Komusubi, with absent Wakatakakage guaranteed to fall deep into the rank and file, while Kotonowaka (5-7) need to win out and Shodai (6-6) can only afford a single loss. At the moment, M1e Abi (6-6) and M6e Meisei (8-4) lead the potential promotion queue.

Makuuchi Men in Danger

M13w Ichinojo has retired. Ms16e Mitoryu (4-8), M17e Kagayaki (5-7), and Ms15e Ichiyamamoto (4-8) all must win out to avoid a demotable score, and given the strength of the promotion cases in Juryo, lucky escapes with less are unlikely this time. A couple of others (including absent 1-9-1 M5w Kotoshoho) are not completely out of the woods yet.

Juryo Promotion Contenders

At the moment, we have only one open slot in the top division, but at least two very strong promotion cases. Yusho race co-leader J1e Gonoyama (11-1) is a lock. J1w Shonannoumi (9-3) will be hard to deny, though whose place he would take is still an open question. The other leader, J8w Ochiai (11-1), and J3e Bushozan (8-4) still need a win apiece to mount a strong promotion challenge, and their chances will depend on how the endangered men in Makuuchi fare the rest of the way. Two more wins would add J8e Atamifuji (10-2) to the promotable list, while J4e Oshoma (7-5) and J4w Roga (7-5) must win out and hope for favorable results by others.

Juryo Men in Danger

J5e Tochinoshin has retired. His intai and Ichinojo’s create two openings in the second division. Winless veteran J9w Chiyonokuni (0-10-2), who may be next on the intai watch, has pulled out, and is facing certain demotion. The other winless rikishi, J3w Enho, is also kyujo, though his higher rank holds out some hope that he could survive, depending on the number of promotion cases in Makushita. Last tournament’s lucky escapee, J14w Tsushimanada (5-6), still needs 3 more wins for safety. The others in most danger are J11e Hidenoumi (4-8), J10e Chiyomaru (4-8), and J14e Tokihayate (6-6). As for who is vying to replace them, see yesterday’s Makushita update.