The Sumo Association tweeted the top division match ups and posted their full torikumi on the Sumo Association website. This full torikumi includes a list of all of the kensho on the left but I’ve focused this image on the half with the bouts. This portion also has a list of all of the yusho prizes that are on the line during tonight’s action.
As Leonid mentioned three Makushita wrestlers will come up to fight Juryo bouts. Hakuyozan will fight Takakento, Shimazuumi will fight Hidenoumi, and Kotokuzan will Fukuzaki. Toshinofuji did, in fact, win his bout while the other three are fighting their bouts tonight. With that win, Toshinofuji is in. It will be interesting to see who earns their way up to join him. Enho will try again for promotion in Osaka, possibly with a more forgiving path.
Wakanosho will fight Fujiryoga for the yusho. If Fujiryoga plays is spoiler role right, stablemate Fujiseiun will fight Wakanosho in a playoff — if he can win his own bout against Tohakuryu.
Makuuchi Yusho Race
Now, the reason you’re here. Before we get to the “halftime” shimpan shuffle, Atamifuji will fight Oshoumi in an early bout with yusho implications. Then, we get to our sanyaku yusho bouts. We knew the final two bouts of the day already. Onosato will fight Hoshoryu and Aonishiki will fight Kotozakura. Kirishima will take on Abi, with the winner awarded the arrows.
Other sanyaku bouts include Churanoumi versus Takayasu, Oho versus Takanosho, and Wakamotoharu fighting Onokatsu in a Darwin bout with Wakamotoharu’s sanyaku rank at stake.
So, if Atamifuji wins that puts pressure on Aonishiki to win his bout to earn a spot in a play-off. Otherwise, Atamifuji will win the yusho outright. If Atamifuji loses, Aonishiki can win the yusho outright with a win over Kotohachinana (Kotozakura). If both men lose, there will be a playoff with Oshoumi, which would also include the winner of the Kirishima-Abi fight and possibly Onosato, if he beats Hoshoryu. So, we could have a two-man playoff, an outright victory, or a bigger playoff with up to five guys. Chaos!
Got it? Good. There will be a quiz.