We last visted the Makushita yusho and promotion races after Day 9, when we were left with 4 undefeated 5-0 wrestlers. The semifinal bouts were as follows:

• Ms16e Hatsuyama vs. Ms28w Kyokukaiyu
• Ms42w Mudoho vs. Ms55w Asakoki

Hatsuyama and Asakoki prevailed and will battle it out for the title on Day 13. Hatsuyama is ranked just a single rung below where a 7-0 record would lead to Juryo promotion. He debuted as a Sandanme tsukedashi back in March 2022 and has now spent two years in Makushita, getting as high as Ms4. His opponent is a 33-year-old veteran who’s been fighting in the lower divisions since 2009, including 51 basho in Makushita, with a career-high rank of Ms11.

Of the ten rikishi in the Ms1-Ms5 promotion zone, seven are still mathematically in the running for a Juryo slot, though the odds are slim for Ms5e Daishomaru (3-3). Top-ranked Ms1e Tochitaikai (3-3) will return to Juryo with a win, but will be eliminated from consideration with a loss. The current promotion queue for the other five stands roughly as follows: Ms4w Aonishiki (5-1), Ms3w Chiyomaru (4-2), Ms2w Wakaikari (3-3), Ms5w Kototebakari (4-2), Ms4e Nabatame (3-3). Chiyomaru visits Juryo tomorrow to take on endangered J14w Oshoumi (5-6). We’ll have to wait until Day 13 or later for the rest of the promotion race action to unfold.

See yesterday’s post for the state of the Makushita yusho and promotion races going into Day 9.

After nine days, we are left with 4 undefeated 5-0 wrestlers who will battle it out for the title. The favorite among the final eight, Ms3w Chiyomaru, got upset by Ms16e Hatsuyama, and the semifinal bouts, which will take place on Day 11, are as follows:

• Ms16e Hatsuyama vs. Ms28w Kyokukaiyu
• Ms42w Mudoho vs. Ms55w Asakoki

The first bout matches two prospects. Hatsuyama debuted as a Sandanme tsukedashi back in March 2022 and has now spent two years in Makushita, getting as high as Ms4. The awkwardly named Kyokukaiyu has to be the remaining favorite—he debuted in January, and his record so far is 29-4, with a Sandanme yusho in May. I guess Mudoho, Oho’s younger brother, is also still a prospect at 22; he’s been toiling in the third division for four years. Rounding out the semifinalists is 33-year-old Asakoki, who’s been fighting in the lower divisions since 2009, including 51 basho in Makushita, with a career-high rank of Ms11.

Of the ten rikishi in the Ms1-Ms5 promotion zone, eight are still mathematically in the running for a Juryo slot, though the odds are slim for Ms5e Daishomaru (2-3) even if he wins out. Top-ranked Ms1e Tochitaikai (2-3) will return to Juryo with two more wins, but will be eliminated from consideration with another loss. The current promotion queue for the other six stands roughly as follows: Ms3w Chiyomaru (4-1), Ms2w Wakaikari (3-2), Ms4w Aonishiki (4-1), Ms4e Nabatame (3-2), Ms3e Dewanoryu (2-3), and Ms5w Kototebakari (3-2). None are in action on Day 10, so come back after the Day 11 bouts for the next update on the yusho and promotion races!

We begin our coverage of the third division on Day 8. As a reminder, the Makushita yusho race is essentially a seven-round single-elimination tournament in which the 120 or so rikishi are reduced by half over two-day rounds until one man with a 7-0 record takes the title (occasionally, same-heya rikishi and other wrinkles throw a wrench into the works, and we end up with a playoff and a 6-1 champion).

After eight days, four rounds have been completed, leaving us with 8 undefeated wrestlers. This group is led by none other than His Roundness, former sekitori mainstay Ms3w Chiyomaru. His 4 wins already give him a good chance of returning to the salaried ranks, and one more win should all but ensure it. The quarterfinal bouts, which take place on Day 9, are as follows:

• Ms3w Chiyomaru vs. Ms16e Hatsuyama
• Ms21w Kaiseijo vs. Ms28w Kyokukaiyu
• Ms42w Mudoho vs. Ms51e Anosho
• Ms55w Asakoki vs. Ms60w Sazanami

Kaiseijo and Asakoki are lower-division lifers. Mudoho is Oho’s younger brother, and Sazanami is best-known as the occasional star of Sumo Prime Time. The other three are prospects, with the awkwardly named Kyokukaiyu the most impressive of the bunch—he debuted in January, and his record so far is 28-4, with a Sandanme yusho in May.

Some notable names are already out of the race. Of the four newcomers to the division profiled by Justin, Ms31 Inami is 3-1, Ms33 Tokitenran has struggled to a 1-3 record, Ms57 Hogasho is likewise 1-3 and not looking at all Godzilla-like, while Ms60 tsukedashi debutant Mita recovered after a nervous first loss to go 3-1. Ukrainian sensation Ms4w Aonishiki (3-1) was knocked out of the race by Ms5w Kototebakari (2-2), who then fell to Chiyomaru. Ms1w Satorufuji (1-3) picked up his first loss when he visited Juryo to fight Kayo. Ms2w Wakaikari (2-2) was another one of Chiyomaru’s victims. Others I am watching include Ms17 Kusano (3-1), Ms23 Matsui (3-1), and Ms29 Ishizaki (Asakoryu’s brother), who’s slumped to 1-3 after his 6-1 debut basho in Nagoya.

In the Ms1-Ms5 promotion zone, top-ranked Tochitaikai (2-2) can return to Juryo with two more wins. Fellow Ms1 Satorufuji must win out to have a shot, as does Ms2e Akua (1-3). Wakaikari and Ms3e Dewanoryu (2-2) needs two more wins, we’ve already discussed Chiyomaru, the Ms4 duo of Nabatame (3-1) and Aonishiki should have strong claims if they can run their win totals to five, and Kototebakari must win out and hope for favorable banzuke luck. All are in action tomorrow, and most are matched head-to-head by record, so come back after the Day 9 bouts to see where the yusho and promotion races stand!