Konbanwa to our friends and readers! The final day of the basho is upon us. Thanks to those who might have enjoyed, or at least entertained or even tolerated the match previews earlier in the basho. Unfortunately I have been entertaining business associates the last few days in Tokyo, and while some of you might have punished me by handing in my intai papers like a mad oyakata, Andy has been tolerant enough to let me come and go.

It is, however, 2am here in Japan at the time of writing, so let’s just get down to business in a manner that I will try to abbreviate in spite of my long winded nature. Who’s going to win the yusho?! We can’t not preview Senshuraku, surely?!

Day 15 Matches

Kitanowaka (3-11) vs Churanoumi (6-8): Kitanowaka has ended up where I thought Daiamami would. Churanoumi has been…. fine? This match isn’t really all that relevant, as Kitanoumi is going down and Churanoumi will stay up. It’s a battle of pride and positioning for May, although Kitanowaka does at least appear to have started to look like he could eventually belong at this level. I think we’ll see him back here in Nagoya.

Ichiyamamoto (6-8) vs Ryuden (6-8): Another dead rubber. I’m not massively surprised at these results, although Ryuden did start the basho well in terms of his performance. He’s really tailed off. These two have massively opposing styles, with Ryuden wanting the belt and Ichiyamamoto wanting him away from it. Ryuden leads the series 3-2.

Endo (5-9) vs Mitakeumi (8-6): 23rd meeting of the two on the dohyo, with Mitakeumi up 14-8 in the series. Endo is heading to Juryo, whether he will fight there is anyone’s guess. Mitakeumi is probably happy to get kachi-koshi. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Endo take this bout. Three straight double-digit losses to get dumped out of the top division would be some indignity for one of the enduring names of the last decade.

Shodai (7-7) vs Nishikifuji (8-6): Shodai should have his kachi-koshi sewn up long ago, and has no one else to blame for a series of uninspired performances punctuated by one or two displays of authority. Nishikifuji has done well to keep himself up. This might be a match with a few meaty arms swinging around. I can see Nishikifuji wanting to run up the score, so it might not be easy for Shodai, despite the fact he’s the one with anything to fight for. Shodai’s won both prior meetings.

Roga (7-7) vs Kotoshoho (7-7): Hell yeah! It’s a Darwin match, one of only two on the day. It’s also a first time matchup of two guys who can feel fairly happy to have basically held serve going into the next tournament. Kotoshoho has developed himself as a bit of an all-rounder but he’s still more comfortable off the belt whereas Roga will want to land a grip, which should make it somewhat of an intriguing encounter.

Hokutofuji (5-9) vs Shonannoumi (9-5): Another nothing matchup, two guys jostling for banzuke placement. Hokutofuji has been desperately disappointing but he does at least go out every day giving it all he has. With Shonannoumi, that’s somewhat unclear, of course, due to his calm nature. These guys have opposing styles, but also opposing energies. It’s easier to root for the guy who goes buck wild so hopefully Hokutofuji can stem the bleeding a bit and leave himself in a somewhat decent position for Natsu with a win here.

Daiamami (7-7) vs Takayasu (10-4): If you told me after four days that Daiamami would still be in with a shout of a kachi-koshi on senshuraku, I might have asked you where you got whatever you were smoking, and which countries is it legal in. Takayasu has had a very good tournament, honestly I think if he goes to 11 then he deserves to be in the sansho conversation. I don’t think this will be easy for Takayasu because Daiamami is on the bubble and at one of the few positions where 7-8 probably won’t be good enough. Have they met before? No they have not.

Myogiryu (6-8) vs Tamawashi (6-8): This match has far more potential consequences for Myogiryu than Tamawashi. There will be a combined age of 76 on the dohyo here, wowzers. What a weird stat. Anyway, Tamawashi leads the series 12-7, it will be a nothing burger of a match for him, but Myogiryu will need a win to be absolutely sure of not going down to Juryo.

Takerufuji (12-2) vs Gonoyama (10-4): At the time of writing, we haven’t seen any updates on Takerufuji, who exited Saturday’s match in big wheelchair thanks to his defeat to reformed bad boy Asanoyama. Gonoyama doesn’t seem to properly get the love of the local crowd compared to other Kansai dudez™, but I think he’s done very well. You’d think the key here would be all in the tachiai but the foot injury from Takerufuji makes the question of how much power he can exert a very poignant one. On normal form you’d back Takerufuji to turn away Gonoyama’s thrusting advances and claim the yusho, but we may be looking at a playoff if he isn’t fit, and you’d fear for him in that scenario. Tachiai friend Kintamayama questioned whether we may see a kyujo yusho. That would be very sad, and I don’t think it will come to that.

Midorifuji (7-7) vs Sadanoumi (7-7): Our second and final Darwin match sees Midorifuji taking on an opponent he’s beaten 5 times out of 6. That sort of dominance didn’t help him yesterday, and I think these kinds of matches are a one-off. That said, Midorifuji has kept up a strong level of performance, whereas Sadanoumi has faded badly in the second week, so the small man has somehow got to be the favourite here. It would be nice to sign off the basho with yet another signature katasukashi win from him.

Tobizaru (8-6) vs Onosho (8-6): Not a ton to say here, Tobizaru has won 4 out of 6 against Onosho. Both have had good tournaments and have well deserved winning records.

Takanosho (5-9) vs Meisei (5-9): Meisei leads the series 10-4. Both want two arms inside, both had pretty forgettable tournaments (apart from a kinboshi).

Ura (6-8) vs Oho (6-8): I think Oho’s done unbelievably well to get to this record. I wasn’t totally convinced by the call on Ura’s Day 14 loss. I did, however, tip him for a 6-9 and that’s taking into account that Oho is the kind of opponent I thought he would beat. I think he will be trying to put some smiles on the faces of the Osaka fans after yesterday’s disqualification. Ura has so far beaten Oho on all four occasions they’ve lined up.

Kinbozan (6-6-2) vs Nishikigi (2-12): Nishikigi might have been thinking he should have taken three days off in the middle of this basho like Kinbozan, it certainly couldn’t have hurt him! Kinbozan has come back very strongly from that injury layoff: in spite of the fact he’s make-koshi, he would have been heading to Juryo, and a win here could well preserve his same rank. Saying all that, this just feels like the kind of match Nishikigi should win, he’s won 2 out of their 3 meetings to date. Nishikigi will want to fight this match at close range whereas Kinbozan will be more comfortable in oshi-zumo circumstances.

Abi (8-6) vs Atamifuji (8-6): Abi has taken the foot off the gas pedal since falling out of the yusho race, but he will be promoted to Sekiwake so the basho can be counted as a success. Atamifuji, equally, has done well, and will want a 9th win to put himself in the san’yaku frame (however unlikely). Atamifuji has won both prior meetings, and again this will be a case of opposing styles, and whether the oshi guy can keep the yotsu guy away.

Asanoyama (9-5) vs Wakamotoharu (8-6): Asanoyama is coming back to san’yaku and Wakamotoharu is sliding over to the east side Sekiwake slot, and so this should be somewhat of a victory lap for both yotsu-zumo practitioners. Asanoyama has won all 3 meetings to date, but there’s not a ton on the line here.

Daieisho (6-8) vs Hiradoumi (8-6): This should be a spirited encounter. Daieisho has beaten Hiradoumi on both prior matchups, and Daieisho needs a win to limit his demotion to Komusubi. Hiradoumi has done well to get kachi-koshi, and is more or less just fighting for pride. That said, I still expect a fiery tachiai and hopefully the good Daieisho will show up. He has a reason to want it more, and if he can keep Hiradoumi from getting his arms inside or a belt grip, he should win.

Onosato (11-3) vs Hoshoryu (10-4): What a horrible matchup to come at this stage of the day, but this really should be the musubi-no-ichiban. Onosato will know what he needs to do before he emerges down the hanamichi, which could change the circumstances in any number of ways. Hoshoryu seemed gutted to have been bounced from the yusho race on Day 14 by Kotonowaka, he’d have felt like he had a chance to win this yusho especially after Takerufuji’s injury. I do not think he will go easy on Onosato in any case, he will view him as a potential future rival that he will want to put in his place. Onosato will likely try and drive Hoshoryu straight back from the tachiai, but Hoshoryu has been giving opponents that position all basho long in order to get the kind of hand placement that can lead to a twisting throw at the edge. It’s a fascinating encounter, because Onosato could well punch a san’yaku ticket with 12 wins depending on other results. He could also land himself in a winnable yusho playoff against a crocked opponent. Hoshoryu won their only prior meeting. This yusho will be won by a future star, the question is, if it’s in play, can Onosato spring a major upset to make himself that star?

Kirishima (4-10) vs Kotonowaka (10-4): I get that there’s a sequence to uphold, but it’s a bit of a travesty to make this the final match over its predecessor. Kirishima has been a mess, Kotonowaka has done exactly what’s expected. This should be his final bout before taking his grandfather’s Kotozakura shikona, and he’ll probably mark it with a win over an opponent who needs to probably sort out his physicals and mentals before a critical basho in Tokyo.

If there’s a playoff, it will be Takerufuji against Onosato. In the circumstances of Takerufuji’s injury, Onosato would be favourite, but let’s hope great sumo is the winner no matter what!