Please see my previous post for an introduction to the Makushita yusho and promotion races. First, a brief Juryo update: November’s top Makushita graduate, J10e Takerufuji, has been absolutely steamrolling people and leads the Juryo yusho race with an 8-0 record. Although he hasn’t gotten the same attention as Onosato and Hakuoho, the Isegahama prospect is fighting in just his 8th professional basho and sports a career record of 51-6. It’s not out of the question that he could reach the 13 or so wins he needs to achieve the rare feat of reaching the top division after only a single basho in Juryo (accomplished only 4 times in the six-basho era, most recently by Endo in 2013).

Back to the Makushita yusho race. After 8 days and 4 rounds of bouts, seven men stand undefeated at 4-0. They will fight it out on Day 9 for spots in the semifinals, joined by the highest-ranked undefeated Sandanme rikishi to round out the numbers. Here’s the quarterfinal bracket:

• Ms1w Wakatakakage vs. Ms8e Onokatsu
• Ms18e Dewanoryu vs. Ms25w Mudoho
• Ms37w Omoto vs. Ms41w Haruyama
• Ms53e Akinoyama vs. Sd1e Tanji

The headliner is former Sekiwake Wakatakakage, on the comeback trail after his March knee injury. He is up against Onokatsu, who debuted at Ms15TD in November and who knocked out Hakuoho from the yusho race on Day 5 and prevailed in a tough battle against Ms9w Hokutomaru on Day 8. Onokatsu must go 7-0 to be promoted. Dewanoryu and Mudoho are 22-year-old former prospects who’ve struggled in Makushita; Mudoho also happens to be Oho’s younger brother. I hadn’t paid attention to Haruyama, but maybe it’s time to start: he debuted last May with a 7-0 yusho in Jonokuchi and has lost only 4 times since in 32 career bouts. Omoto has been toiling in the lower divisions since 2015, but that’s nothing compared to Akinoyama, who’s been in professional sumo since 2008; both have a career-high rank of Ms13. Finally, Tanji, who eliminated “Sumo Prime Time” star Ms55e Sazanami in the round of 16, will seek his 4th victory against a Makushita opponent this basho! Did I mention he is only 17? Definitely one to watch, his 1-6 record at Ms29 in November notwithstanding.

Here is how things stand in the Ms1-Ms5 promotion zone. Although the details vary from one banzuke to the next depending on the number of openings, generally, a 4-3 record at Ms1-Ms2 is good enough for Juryo promotion, while it’s a tossup at Ms3 and usually insufficient below. 5-2 should do it at Ms3-Ms4, and 6-1 is typically needed at Ms5. With that in mind, Wakatakakage and Ms2e Tsushimanada (4-1) have probably done enough, Ms1e Kayo (2-2) needs two more wins, and so does Ms2w Kitaharima (2-2). Ms4e Chiyonoumi (2-2) and Ms5w Hakuoho (3-1) may need to win out, while the 1-3 trio of Ms3w Satorufuji (the November champion), Ms4w Hatsuyama, and Ms5e Kiryuko must win the rest of their bouts and hope for good banzuke luck. All except Tsushimanada are in action on Day 9, with Kayo taking on Kitaharima, Satorufuji and Kiryuko matched in an elimination bout, and a fun bout featuring Hakuoho against up-and-comer Ms8w Kototebakari (the little bro of Kotoshoho, who also started out fighting under that shikona).

Come back tomorrow for an update on the yusho and promotion races!