The yusho race has been decided. Kazuma accepted Ryusho’s invitation to make the final a yotsu bout, with both fighters going for an inside left. Kazuma wrapped up his opponent and moved him toward the tawara. Ryusho used his lateral mobility to avoid immediate defeat, but Kazuma kept him centered and powered him over the edge to win by yorikiri. Kazuma took full advantage of his Ms15w ranking—the last spot in the extended promotion zone—to earn a fast-track Juryo promotion. His career record is now 31-2, not counting absences, and he should be an early favorite for the Hatsu Juryo yusho.
A bit of bonus coverage: Kaki won the Sandanme yusho, becoming only the 8th rikishi to start his career with three straight yusho. We’ll see Kaki in Makushita, and hopefully in the yusho bracket, in January. Something about his build and style reminds me of Kusano/Yoshinofuji.
Of the ten rikishi ranked in the Ms1-Ms5 promotion zone, one retired (Endo), and six others are make-koshi. Ms1w Kyokukaiyu (4-2) and Ms3w Dewanoryu (5-1) are set to join Kazuma in Juryo at Hatsu regardless of the results of their final bouts. The only other rikishi who still has a chance at a winning record is Ms5w Seihakuho, 3-3, but at that rank, he is not likely to go up with a 4-3 record unless there is an extra opening in Juryo that has to be filled.
On the Juryo side, injured J14e Shiden (5-7-1) is guaranteed to drop, and he should be joined in Makushita by hapless rookie J13e Himukamaru (3-10) and injury victim J3e Mita (0-3-8). I don’t think J10e Hakuyozan (4-9) can pass either of them in the demotion queue even if he loses twice, though if he loses tomorrow, I would expect him to be pitted against Seihakuho on senshuraku in a potential exchange bout.
Thanks for following Tachiai’s November coverage of Makushita. With the yusho race decided and the promotion picture largely settled, the next update will likely come after the basho concludes. I also plan to take another look at how the Ms60TD debutants of the last couple of years fared in Kyushu.
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Finally I can say it: Told U so! But with Kazuma‘s record that wasn’t too difficult.
And I agree with U that he‘ll probably be one of the juryo favorites.
Kaki sounds very interesting, too. Maybe a makushita favorite?
According to sumoDB he started with three yusho, but in Jk of all divisions it was only with a 6-1.
Thanks, I just assumed it was 7-0 but should have checked. Corrected now.
I‘ve just noticed that among the seven others before him there are the short Enho and the very long Hokuseiho!
Thank you Iksumo, for once again patiently delving into and explaining the intricacies of the lower divisions, and for bringing to our attention rikishi to watch out for as they move towards Juryo and Makuuchi !
Funny that Hakuyozan is still in danger of demotion and at the same time he‘s been the only one with a win against Fujiryoga.
A strange torikumi for day 15 in juryo. No matchup between Hakuyozan and Seihakuho, which means they could both lose and Mita would stay in the division!?
And an eighth bout for Daiamami.
I think it means they decided Hakuyozan gets to stay no matter what, and Seihakuho isn’t getting promoted, though who know.
Well here we go. Not my preferred outcome, but Aonishiki deserved a break. Hoshoryu needs to find a way to overcome him. He was far to straight up and because of that his centre of gravity was to high. That is a recipe for a loss, which was proven. The Sumo Gods corrected it all and Kotozakura was the means to do it. To be fair a didn’t give him a chance to get a kachikoshi a week ago let alone win a match with Onosato. But again what do I know.
In the wrong article, I will copy it so not to have it write again. Second time this day, my brain wanted to have fun with me.