Kashunowaka

Thanks! I only searched makuuchi and juryo, should have said that.

12-9-11 is too weak for an ozeki promotion, even with the lax standards applied over the last ~10 years. After the 60s, the only rikishi to promoted with just 20 wins over the last two basho is Goeido, at which time he had 14 consecutive basho as sekiwake. W10e would have 3. 12-9-12 is borderline considering the 9-6 in the middle. If that happens, I don't think it's an automatic promotion.

Katasukashi is to Midorifuji what yorikiri or oshidashi is to other rikishi - he wins 25% of the time with it. The closest I could find is 13%.

There is also https://sumodb.sumogames.de/Results.aspx?b=197507&d=15, where none of the rikishi had cleared kachikoshi when the soroibumi was performed, but two of them won their bout to go 8-7.

When I saw the west side perform the sanyaku soroibumi today - Mitakeumi, Shodai and Abi - I thought that it was an unusually sorry lot. None of them had reached kachikoshi and Abi then went on to lose his bout. This is the first time* that a "soroibumi group" (i.e. three rikishi fighting the last bouts on senshuraku from either the east or the west side) all finish with a losing record. *in the modern era

No entirely unexpected. Takanosho has the tools to become an ozeki from the neck down. Hopefully he can learn from the experience and be better mentally prepared next time.

I also think Takanosho should get a sansho. But if they hand out more, I'd rather see Daieisho got one.

Thank you. I startled when I got to that bout in Sekitoto, didn't expect to see another makushita rikishi.

Is this Kaisei's final basho? He can still save himself in juryo but it's starting to look dicey. When he retires, I think Shodai wants to take over the A/B kabu.

This is only the fourth time in the modern era that the leading result after day 8 is no better than 6-2. The previous three times the basho has been won with 13-2 (twice) and 12-3. The last time was when Shodai managed to win out in the second week to go 13-2. Somehow I very much doubt that anyone will be able to repeat that in this basho. But stranger things have happened, Tamawashi has even done it before. As it stands, I would happily take a 12-3 yusho, 11-4 in makuuchi is really meh.

True, but I think that the potential is about the same. Plenty of time to prove me wrong, of course.

I expect Kotonowaka.

I'd say that his record over the last two years is already ozeki level. If he can be a yusho-challenging ozeki: good, but not all ozeki have to be that.

Colour me unsurprised.

Shodai - Chiyoshoma was a surprisingly good meaningless bout.