Ms3e Asahakuryu (7-0) took the yusho with a straightforward yorikiri victory over former maegashira Yago. His win also made his sekitori at Aki absolutely certain.
As for the others, the current promotion order is Ms2e Ishizaki (5-1), Ms1e Kyokukaiyu (4-2), Ms1w Asanoyama (4-2), Ms3w Kitanowaka (4-2), and Ms5e Nishinoryu (4-2). The first 3 are up against endangered Juryo incumbents tomorrow, but should be coming up even if they don’t win. This would result in a rare triple promotion for Takasago beya, whose only current sekitori is Ishizaki’s brother, Asakoryu, who used to fight as Ishizaki himself. Expect some sort of Asa- shikona for the brother as well. Kitanowaka has been saved for day 15, while Nishonoryu fights Ms10 Toseiryu tomorrow. He must win and then hope for a loss by Kitanowaka and 5 demotions from Juryo to even have a chance.
On the Juryo side, the demotion queue is J10w Nabatame (0-0-13), J10e Mitoryu (0-5-8), J12e Shimanoumi (3-10), J12w Otsuji (4-9), J13w Daiamami (5-8), J11e Shiden (5-8), and J14w Miyanokaze (7-6). Shimanoumi must win out and hope for two stronger demotion candidates (who’d have to be Daiamami and Otsuji) and a lot of luck. Tomorrow’s bouts are Ishizaki-Miyanokaze, Asanoyama-Daiamami, and Kyokukaiyu-Shiden. Wins by Miyanokaze and Shiden would remove them from the demotion conversation. Kitanowaka should fight whoever is most endangered but not fully ticketed for demotion after tomorrow’s results.
That’s probably it for my in-basho Makushita coverage; thank you for following, and come back after day 15 to see how the promotion race ended. I also have a post in the works to review how the Ms60 debutants from 2024-25 have fared.
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Thank you, Leonid! I’m eager to see how these shake out. I definitely have my favorites who I hope to see promoted and a few “not-so-favorites” whom I would not miss so much. And thanks again for stepping in while I was out!
Ishizaki took up a notch in this basho! Maybe got more control over his nerves.
I would like it so much to see him in Juryo, finally. The exchange bout with Miyanokaze is not to my pleasure, though, because I wanted him to make his third win for KK… Ishizaki lost to him (Miyagi then) in march – hope this time he succeeds.
It’s hard to see him missing out even if he finishes 5-2.
Yes, but I don‘t want to lose him a bout anyway :)
My goodness, what a tournament in Makushita in this basho! Thank you for your coverage, Leonid. It’s greatly appreciated!
Kudos to Yago for fighting far better than I thought he would too. Those Juryo exchange bouts are definitely going to be interesting to watch.
I‘ve only seen two of Asanoyama‘s seven bouts, those with juryo rikishi.
He was beaten easily by Kotokuzan and won a seesaw battle against Daiamami, which he could also have lost. In that shape his return to the joi won’t be a given.
I’m not even sure his return to the top division is a given.
I’ve got a new One to Watch: Koseiryu, from Otowayama heya (Kirishima’s stable). 5-2 in his first two basho. Not only does he have good shiko, he also apparently studied rocket science in the United States. Of course, the last rikishi I called out like this retired two basho afterwards….