Somehow, we’ve already passed the midpoint of the March tournament. With seven days of action still left, a lot can still change, but let’s take a look at where things stand and what stories we’ll be following down the stretch.

Yusho Race

Rookie M17e Takerufuji (8-0) is the only Makuuchi man to reach kachi-koshi on Nakabi. The Isegahama man has already tied a record by reaching the top division in only his 9th basho after starting at the bottom, posting a 64-8 record along the way and never losing more than two bouts in a tournament. The schedulers are obviously taking him seriously, as he gets Komusubi Abi (6-2) on Day 9; a double-digit maegashira hasn’t met a san’yaku opponent this early in over 30 years. In second place, we have M5w Onosato (7-1) in his sophomore Makuuchi basho, followed by 7 rikishi with 6 wins—the three Ozeki not named Kirishima, Abi, and three double-digit maegashira (though one of them, M10w Mitakeumi, is a former Ozeki with 3 Emperor’s Cups to his name).

Ozeki

O1e Kirishima (2-6) is in serious danger of being kadoban in May. O2e Takakeisho (6-2) looks set to reach the 8 wins he needs to keep his rank, and O1w Hoshoryu (6-2) and newcomer O2w Kotonowaka (6-2) are performing as befits their rank.

San’yaku

K1e Abi needs two more wins to reach 8, and looks set to at least defend his rank and possibly move up, either if a Sekiwake slot opens up or if he can force one with 11 wins. It would take a miracle for K1w Nishikigi (1-7) to hold his rank, so at least one san’yaku slot should come open. At Sekiwake, S1w Wakamotoharu (5-3) is on the right side of .500, while S1e Daieisho (4-4) is right on the line. I’d favor both to stay Sekiwake, but they have most of their toughest fights still to come, so this will be something to watch down the stretch. At the moment, Onosato has the best case for the first open san’yaku slot.

Makuuchi Dropouts

We have two injured rikishi who are unlikely to return. M6e Tsurugisho’s two wins should be just enough to keep him in the top division, while M12w Shimazuumi (0-4-4) is ticketed for a return to Juryo. Also near the head of the queue for the demotion barge is M14w Kitanowaka (1-7), who would need to win 6 of his last 7 to reach safety, and M16e Endo (2-6), who needs 5 more wins to avoid Juryo, where he’s spent only two basho in his entire career—one on his way up, in 2013, and one injury-induced visit in 2016. At the moment, the top four replacement candidates in Juryo are J2w Mitoryu (6-2), the sole yusho race leader J8e Asakoryu (8-0), and the J1 duo of Tokihayate and Takarafuji, both 4-4. Former Sekiwake J10w Wakatakakage (7-1) has fallen off the pace after his surprise loss to bottom-ranked J14w Chiyosakae, who had the luckiest escape in history from Makushita demotion last time, and can probably afford only a single loss from here on out to have a shot at Makuuchi in May. I’ll probably cover the Juryo-Makushita exchange picture tomorrow, as there are multiple consequential bouts scheduled for Day 9.