The yusho was decided today. Ms50 Daiyusho, who’s never been ranked above Ms25, was no pushover, using a strong tachiai to drive back Ms20 Shimazuumi—a former maegashira on the road back from injury. Shimazuumi resisted, reversed the field, and chased Daiyusho around the ring before dispatching him by oshitaoshi as both tumbled off the dohyo. I guess Daiyusho was a pushover after all. I’ll be here all week, folks. The yusho is Shimazuumi’s first in any division, and it should see him rise well into the Ms1-Ms5 promotion zone. Daiyusho’s consolation prize should be a new career-high rank.

Here’s how things stand in the promotion zone:

The promotion order is roughly as follows: Kitanowaka, Nagamura, Otsuji, Wakanosho, Goshima, Takakento. The contenders are taking turns visiting Juryo in potential “exchange bouts.” Today, the visitors were Kitanowaka and Takakento, who both lost. This doesn’t really affect Kitanowaka, who is guaranteed to be first in the promotion queue and will return to the paid ranks, but it at least temporarily bumps Takakento to the end of the line, as any of the remaining quartet of contenders will be ahead of him with a win. Nagamura and Otsuji will take their turns tomorrow, with Wakanosho and Goshima presumably slotted in on senshuraku.

In Juryo, absent Endo will be demoted, and J10w Miyanokaze (3-10) now has a demotable record. Kyokukaiyu, Shiden, and Takarafuji need to win out to be safe, while Tsurugisho, Nishinoryu, and Hakuyozan need one apiece. Tomorrow’s action pits Nagamura against Miyanokaze and Otsuji against Shiden.