Asashosakari

@Doitsuyama A couple of small errata: Urayama's given name is Shūsei, not Shōsei, and Tanaka's is Sora, not Sōra. (Although I see that kanji is usually read with a long vowel....) And in Buyantogtokh's profile there's an errant ? in his name. Day 4 The rather low amount of resistance that heavily knee-strapped Chiyoryusei put up yesterday should perhaps have been a clue - he's already out of the competition, having done the minimum required to feature on the next banzuke. We're continuing with just 11 participants here. Yesterday's lopsided match outcomes necessitated several movements ahead of today's matches: winless Azuma competed from the East side, while 1-win duo Shimogama and Tosoumi were shuffled over to the West. Results: Mz4 Azuma (1-1) Mz6 Tanino (0-2) Mz9 Suetomi (1-1) Mz7 Minami (0-2) Mz6 Tanino (1-2) Mz12 Nakaie (0-2) Mz1 Daibasho (2-0) Mz5 Shimogama (1-1) Mz3 Kaki (2-0) Mz8 Tosoumi (1-1) Mz10 Tanaka (1-1) Mz11 Yabugasaki (2-0) Somewhat more competitive action today as expected, although Hidenoyama's new pair Tanino and Minami still looked rather overmatched against their heftier opponents in the first two bouts. That led into the first rikishi needing to pull double duty this basho - Tanino found an aite more to his liking in Nakaie, and flung him around in typical lightweight matchup fashion. (Side note: What a massive vocal improvement by Shikimori Tomosaburo compared to yesterday...at least for the first call ahead of Tanino - Nakaie. He slipped a bit again for subsequent ones, but his newbie predecessor Kimura Yunosuke needed months to get anywhere near that level of voice projection, so that bodes well. Now, on to remembering the shikona every time...) Great action in Daibasho - Shimogama followed in bout number four. Almost a shame that it didn't lead to any winner, but the torinaoshi was a fair decision, IMHO. The rematch was shorter but no less energetic, eventually to be won by returnee Daibasho. I'm actually a bit surprised that his highest KK rank so far was only Jd75; the eye test makes him look more skilled than that to me. The arguably expected outcomes in the final two matches with clear victories for Kaki and Yabugasaki, although their opponents Tosoumi and Tanaka proved to be no pushovers. Standings: Mz1 Daibasho Oitekaze 2-0 E | Mz4 Azuma Ajigawa 1-1 W | Mz2 Chiyoryusei Kokonoe 0-1-1 W Mz3 Kaki Oitekaze 2-0 E | Mz5 Shimogama Sakaigawa 1-1 E | Mz7 Minami Hidenoyama 0-2 W Mz11 Yabugasaki Yamahibiki 2-0 W | Mz6 Tanino Hidenoyama 1-2 W | Mz12 Nakaie Yamahibiki 0-2 W Mz8 Tosoumi Tamanoi 1-1 E Mz9 Suetomi Sakaigawa 1-1 E Mz10 Tanaka Nishonoseki 1-1 E They're gonna need to fill in that fourth spot in tomorrow's two 2-0 matches, the choice being either double duty for a 1-2 or 0-3 loser (hopefully not the latter, because that would probably be a foregone conclusion), or using one of the 1-1 rikishi straight up and having the extra appearance take place in the lesser matches. Scheduling straight down the order would mean Daibasho - Yabugasaki as the first 2-0 match, but that would give Yabugasaki the chance to jump ahead of Kaki in the qualifier queue, which they might want to avoid. On the other hand, if it's Daibasho vs random pick and Kaki - Yabugasaki, we're dooming one of the arguably best two participants to a delayed finish, so maybe also not that desirable. Should be interesting to see which way they go. Incidentally, I forgot to mention him yesterday: The young guy who was seated behind shimpan Takekuma then, and right behind the gyoji position today, ought to be Tatsunami's gyoji applicant Seia. Presumably it's going to take a while until we see him in action; Tomosaburo was an observer for no less than three tournaments before he was officially hired.

Bonus content: The session shot live from the West side by Lulit, and the Kyokai's two-part picture reference. Let's hope this all embeds in one go...

Ugh, so the claim that Buyantogtokh is from Tokyo has actually made it into the released data... That's not getting fixed on their site until July now, I guess. Hopefully at least Inakawa's misspelled real name will be addressed faster. Meanwhile, the Kyokai profile data uses 崎 in Yabugasaki, but a Kyokai tweet about the maezumo start used 﨑... For those who may not have seen it yet: Doitsuyama already added the shindeshi profiles to the DB. Day 3 Only the two shindeshi with tomena real names have adopted proper shikona immediately; Inakawa -> Tōsōumi 東颯海 was already mentioned in the thread, and Nakamura -> Azuma 安寿真 is the other one (kanji confirmed, reading assumed based on yobidashi/gyoji). The 10 rookies are being joined by two returnees, namely Oitekaze's Daibasho (joining heyamate Kaki) and Kokonoe's Chiyoryusei. Both last competed in November, although they fell off the banzuke after different basho. They're almost four years apart in age (Daibasho 17, Chiyoryusei turned 21 today), but they're actually both from the same debut class, Haru 2023, and this is in fact their first maezumo participation as that was one of the Haru classes who had their bouts cancelled due to pandemic precautions. Chiyoryusei has not fought under his present shikona yet; in his last dohyo appearance he was still known as Chiyorozan. And on with the first of probably five days of maezumo action. Like last time, should you find yourself wanting to watch all days in one go without having to scroll through this thread, a Youtube playlist will have them in order. Results: Mz1 Daibasho (1-0) Mz2 Chiyoryusei (0-1) Mz3 Kaki (1-0) Mz4 Azuma (0-1) Mz5 Shimogama (1-0) Mz6 Tanino (0-1) Mz8 Tosoumi (1-0) Mz7 Minami (0-1) Mz9 Suetomi (0-1) Mz11 Yabugasaki (1-0) Mz10 Tanaka (1-0) Mz12 Nakaie (0-1) Well, that's two rookie mistakes out of the way for new gyoji Shikimori Tomosaburo; gotta remember which rikishi belongs to which side and what their shikona is! (Actually, since the gunbai nearly went the wrong way in his second bout as well, I wonder if, rather than East/West confusion, the first error was what I suspect I would struggle with if I were to referee a bout...you're looking for one rikishi doing a thing you should make your judgement on, i.e. step out / touch down, but then you're expected to immediately point to the other rikishi's side after your mind was just focused on the loser.) It's obvious what took Chiyoryusei out of action; do we know why Daibasho was out? Confident start for the latter, in any case, and as a "was competitive in lower-mid jonidan" known quantity he should be a good yardstick for judging the true rookies this week. As the only collegiate debutant down here in Mz and with no huge pedigrees among the younger newbies, it's probably safe to anoint Kaki as the favourite for a 3-0 finish. It remains to be seen if anybody else can come through undefeated; with normal scheduling we'll only enter Day 5 with three 2-0 scores, so one of them may still get taken down then. Anyway, just based on size and hailing from one of the more prominent high school programmes, Yabugasaki is presumably the second favourite for a 3-0...either in addition to Kaki or perhaps even as a potential threat to him, should the schedule happen to match them up. In other observations: Tosoumi and Tanaka looked strong, but weren't really tested today. Suetomi is pretty massive for a middle schooler at 143 kg and even though he wasn't able to resist even bigger and older Yabugasaki, he'll likely find beatable opposition soon. Everybody else wasn't able to show much yet (including the one winning rikishi I haven't mentioned, Shimogama), hopefully the Day 4 pairings prove a little less lopsided in nature. Standings: Mz1 Daibasho Oitekaze 1-0 E | Mz2 Chiyoryusei Kokonoe 0-1 W Mz3 Kaki Oitekaze 1-0 E | Mz4 Azuma Ajigawa 0-1 W Mz5 Shimogama Sakaigawa 1-0 E | Mz6 Tanino Hidenoyama 0-1 W Mz8 Tosoumi Tamanoi 1-0 E | Mz7 Minami Hidenoyama 0-1 W Mz10 Tanaka Nishonoseki 1-0 E | Mz9 Suetomi Sakaigawa 0-1 E Mz11 Yabugasaki Yamahibiki 1-0 W | Mz12 Nakaie Yamahibiki 0-1 W

Shikimori Tomosaburo looking a bit pensive ahead of his dohyo debut in today's maezumo session (screencap from the Abema stream): Flanked by the other two young jonokuchi-ranked gyoji, Shikimori Kazenosuke (joined in 2023) on the left and Kimura Yunosuke (joined in 2024) on the right.

And now that I've had time to check...Day 2 also clocked in as the third-most successful day in Seki-Quad ever at 95.2% (79 winners out of 83). Even better were just Day 10 of Hatsu 2019 (96.9%, 62/64) and Day 1 of Nagoya 2014 (95.7%, 67/70).

Seki-Oracle (play): Kaito (Ye 6-9) Y - chishafuwaku (O1e 7-8) O Choshu-yuki (O2w 7-8) ScreechingOwl (S2e 9-6) S1 Bunbukuchagama (M1w 11-4 D) Asashosakari (K2e 9-6) S2 Andoreasu (O1w 4-11) joaoiyama (K1e 8-7) K1 Torafujii (K1w 8-7) Beeftank (M1e 10-5) K2 Wamahada (M2w 10-5) Pandaazuma (S1e 7-8) M1 Norizo (S1w 7-8) Flohru (M4e 9-6) M2 Balon (M3e 8-7) Hisui (M11w 11-4 Y) M3 DeRosa (K2w 7-8) Gansekiiwa (M9w 10-5) M4 Kishikaisei (M2e 7-8) Oshirokita (M6e 8-7) M5 Frinkanohana (M8w 9-6) Kobashi (M12w 10-5) M6 Yarimotsu (M13e 10-5) Bill (M11e 9-6) M7 GONZABUROW (M9e 8-7) Ganzohnesushi (M5e 6-9) M8 Asapedroryu (M12e 9-6) BlackPinkMawashi (M8e 7-8) M9 TochiYESshin (M3w 4-11) Pitinosato (M6w 6-9) M10 Shatsume (M14w 8-7) itchynotoe (J3w 13-2) M11 Mariohana (M10w 7-8) Kitakachiyama (M7e 5-10) M12 Kakushoyama (M7w 5-10) Susanoo (M5w 3-12) M13 Oortael (M4w 2-13) Athenayama (J2e 11-4) M14 Papayasu (M13w 7-8) Kachikoshi (J5e 12-3) M15 Sakura (J6e 12-3) Holleshoryu (J2w 10-5) M16 - Warusaru (J5w 10-5) J1 Ruziklao (M16e 7-8) Andrasoyama (M10e 4-11) J2 Sukubidubidu (J1w kosho) Profomisakari (M14e 5-10) J3 Unkonoyama (M15e 5-10) Kirinoumi (M15w 5-10) J4 Joputosu (J1e 7-8) Takanorappa (J7w 9-6) J5 Metzinowaka (J9e 9-6) Oskahanada (Ms2w 12-3) J6 Anjoboshi (J10w 9-6) Kasamatsuri (J8w 8-7) J7 Hakase (J4w 7-8) lonewolf (J11w 9-6) J8 Fujisan (J12w 9-6) Kotononami (J6w 7-8) J9 Andonishiki (J7e 7-8) Saruyama (J3e 5-10) J10 Terarno (J14e 9-6) Terukaze (J8e 7-8) J11 Kaiowaka (J4e 5-10) Akagitsune (J9w kosho) J12 Tyerenex (Ms1w 9-6) Hakunojo (J10e 7-8) J13 ballerscuba (J13w 7-8) reeeen (J13e 6-9) J14 Doreikishi (J11e 5-10) Gusoyama (J12e 5-10) Ms1 Multimikstar (J14w 6-9) Umihiyama (NR 5-10) Ms2 HueyLewdist (NR 4-11) TBJ_28 (NR 4-11) Ms3 WAKATAKE (Ms1e 0-0-15)

Seki-Quadrumvirate (play): Norizo (O1w 9-6) O1 Ganzohnesushi (O1e 7-8) Kobashi (O2w 7-8) O2 Kaito (O2e 6-9) ScreechingOwl (S2e 8-7) S Jakusotsu (S2w 8-7) Unkonoyama (M1w 9-6) K1 joaoiyama (S1e 7-8) Oortael (S1w 7-8) K2 Bunbukuchagama (M2e 8-7) Choshu-yuki (M2w 8-7) M1 Kitakachiyama (M7w 10-5) Athenayama (M3e 8-7) M2 TochiYESshin (M3w 8-7) Oskahanada (M6w 9-6) M3 Bill (M9e 10-5) Andrasoyama (M4w 8-7) M4 Flohru (K2e 7-8) Frinkanohana (M5e 8-7) M5 Achiyama (M5w 8-7) reeeen (M14e 11-4 D) M6 Pandaazuma (K1e 6-9) Kuroimori (K1w 6-9) M7 Kishikaisei (M11e 9-6) Gernobono (M7e kosho) M8 Ketsukai (M4e 6-9) Mariohana (M1e 4-11) M9 Asashosakari (M12e 8-7) chishafuwaku (M6e 6-9) M10 BlackPinkMawashi (M8w 7-8) Kamibaka (M10w kosho) M11 Susanoo (J1w 10-5) Asapedroryu (M9w 7-8) M12 GONZABUROW (M8e 6-9) Hogashi (M11w kosho) M13 Balon (M16e 8-7) Gansekiiwa (M10e 6-9) M14 Warusaru (J4w 10-5) Kyodaitimu (M12w 7-8) M15 Hakase (J2w 9-6) Kotononami (M13e 7-8) M16 Andoreasu (J6e 10-5) Terarno (M15e 7-8) J1 DeRosa (M15w 7-8) Kaiowaka (M13w 6-9) J2 Kajiyanosho (J3w 8-7) lonewolf (M14w 6-9) J3 Hironoumi (J9e 10-5) Gusoyama (J7w 9-6) J4 Kakushoyama (J5w 8-7) Chocshoporyu (J2e 7-8) J5 Rowitoro (J4e 7-8) Metzinowaka (J5e 7-8) J6 Kachikoshi (J3e 6-9) Andonishiki (J1e 5-10) J7 Furanohana (J10w 8-7) Kasamatsuri (J6w 7-8) J8 Sukubidubidu (J11e 8-7) Joputosu (J11w 8-7) J9 Beeftank (Ms5e 11-4 Y) Papayasu (J12e 8-7) J10 Saruyama (J8e 7-8) Jejima (J14w 9-6) J11 KonyaGaYamada (J12w 8-7) Doreikishi (Ms3w 10-5) J12 Hisui (J13w 8-7) Sakura (Ms2w 9-6) J13 Oyama (J8w 6-9) WAKATAKE (Ms3e 9-6) J14 Fujisan (Ms1e 8-7) Takanorappa (J7e 5-10) Ms1 Akagitsune (Ms2e 8-7) itchynotoe (J9w 6-9) Ms2 Getayukata (J13e kosho) Holleshoryu (Ms5w 9-6) Ms3 Tetsukabe (Ms4e 8-7) Kintamayama (J10e 5-10) Ms4 Ruziklao (J14e 6-9) Hakunojo (Ms9e 9-6) Ms5 Terukaze (Ms7e 8-7) Tyerenex (Ms7w 8-7) Ms6 Profomisakari (Ms1w 6-9) Anjoboshi (Ms8w 8-7) Ms7 Nantonoyama (Ms4w 7-8) Unagiyutaka (Ms6e 7-8) Ms8 ballerscuba (Ms6w 7-8) Umihiyama (NR 7-8) Ms9 aderechelseamaru (Ms8e 0-0-15) Multimikstar (Ms10e kosho) Ms10 -

Ugh, why did I have to look...

It might have if ozeki were actually selectable on Day 1.

The wakaimonogashira and sewanin lists have seen headshots added this weekend. No personal profiles yet though.

12 Onosato + Aonishiki - Inami 10 Daieisho + Kusano - Mishima + Hakuoho + Tochimusashi + Enho - Daiyusho - Tenei 9 Takayasu - Takerufuji - Tochitaikai + Kazekeno + Mita TB 14

As you've surely deduced by now, I'm not attempting (and failing) to do all-around realtime coverage this basho. Cutting and uploading the good matches isn't the problem, the time to watch everything first and find the cut-worthy ones is. So, only stuff that follows well-defined selection rules for now, and then hopefully the random good stuff will follow in its own time after the tournament. For today, the first official honbasho appearances by last basho's seven maezumo rookies, plus the two new direct entrants in makushita. As mentioned elsewhere, Asakawasumi had to wait an unusually long amount of time. Day 1 Jk17e Seiseigo (0-0) Aoki Jk16w Day 1 Jk15e Kaitoma (0-0) Hikarumusashi Jk14w Day 1 Sd1w Soma (0-0) Fukuzaki Ms60TD Day 2 Jk18e Akenoyama (0-0) Uchiumi Jk17w Day 2 Jk14e Sunasaka (0-0) Tenrosei Jk13w Day 2 Ms60TD Goshima (0-0) Chiyooga Sd1e Day 4 Jk18e Akenoyama (1-0) (0-0) Asakawasumi Jk18w Bonus: the first bouts back by Asanoyama and Chiyosakae, after having been out since July and September respectively. Next update on Day 8 with the lower division yusho racers in their fourth matches.

It was probably mentioned somewhere around the forum last basho, but Oshoryu completed the unsalaried divisions yusho set when he won makushita; the other three titles had come all the way back in 2019. He is the 8th rikishi to do so, the others were: Haguroyama (in 1935-1936, career high rank yokozuna) Shinzan (1960-1966, J18) Itai (1978-1982, komusubi) Tochiazuma (1995, ozeki) Kuniazuma (1995-2000, J4) Ryuden (2012-2015, komusubi) Hokuseiho (2020-2021, M6)

And some bonus collections...about half of these bouts were previously uploaded in various contexts, the rest are new to the thread. The four lower division yusho winners: Ms28e Oshoryu (7-0) Sd21w Asanoyama (7-0) Jd4e Daikisho (7-0) Jk7w Chiyotenfu (7-0) The two Haru 2025 makushita tsukedashi debutants: Ms60TD Goshima (6-1) Ms60TD Fukuzaki (5-2) The four rikishi who secured a makushita debut for Natsu: Sd6e Goseizan (5-2) Sd19e Murayama (5-2) Sd23e Daishinkai (6-1) Sd23w Ikarigata (6-1) The three rikishi who secured a sandanme debut for Natsu: Jd32w Gonosho (5-2) Jd35e Wakaikazuchi (6-1) Jd47e Niiya (6-1)

Day 15 Highlights Jk14w Hikarumusashi (4-2) Shoryu Jk12w [kimarite: tsukitaoshi] Jd79e Shotaimu (5-1) Shinseido Jd76w Jd78e Ujiie (4-2) Goseimaru Jd73w I thought the eventual winner won the first one as well... Sd49e Akatora (2-4) Kuwae Sd54w Sd38e Kiyonoumi (2-4) Nikko Sd44e Sd37e Terutaka (2-4) Kaiyuma Sd40e I normally don't cap bouts just because of a spectacular fall, but this one...yeesh. Sd6e Goseizan (4-2) Hakuonada Sd8w Ms36e Kazuto (4-2) Yoshii Ms41w Ms33e Dewataikai (2-4) Hokutenkai Ms29w Ms26e Chiyotora (4-2) Kaiseijo Ms21w J14e Otsuji (5-9) (4-2) Mita Ms4w

Day 14 Highlights Jd89e Togyokuko (3-3) Harimaumi Jd95e Jd81e Akinishiki (4-2) Hirose Jd85w So much for the shimpan thinking they could overrule the gunbai without getting up for a mono-ii... Jd59w Wakaonehara (1-5) Sawayaka Jd58w Jd69e Wakasei (1-5) Tsurunoumi Jd56w Jd60w Tokio (2-4) Wakatozakura Jd52w Sd78w Ikazuchiarashi (3-3) Hakuryu Sd76w Sd56e Daikinryu (3-3) Tochimitsuru Sd58e Sd50e Higonomaru (2-4) Harimao Sd56w [kimarite: koshikudake] Sd25e Akinoyama (3-3) Kotohaguro Sd30w Ms47e Mikazuchiyama (4-2) Kurohimeyama Ms50w Ms30e Oyamada (2-4) Sazanami Ms33w [kimarite: kakenage] Ms24e Obara (4-2) Toseiryu Ms27e Ms9e Kyokukaiyu (4-2) Mudoho Ms3w I was going to record Wakatozakura's last ever bout no matter what, but it turned out to be an excellent match in its own right...

I was recently asked about personnel movements in the shimpan department, and to my dismay I realized that I had completely lost track of changes that happened as little as a year ago. And researching that stuff on the forum turned out to be quite arduous, because so far shimpan updates have been posted in all manner of places (the kabu thread, rikishi status, basho talk, completely separate threads...), which makes them rather hard to find later if you don't already know what you're looking for. So, I'm hoping that this thread may become the future one-stop place for shimpan news. In addition, there will be each basho's shimpan shift lineups, so if you're ever watching a live broadcast and wondering who's sitting around the dohyo at that moment, this thread will hopefully allow you to find the answer. All data is sourced from the official torikumi sheets, such as this one from Nagoya 2017 Day 1.

File updated for Natsu basho: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JGiQgS_s7butYRdV5P1tTnn2STRHDzbukZTmi0XzUwA/

This stone, yes. There is another one with the first 46. (pictures quickly grabbed from Tripadvisor)

https://www.sumo.or.jp/EnHonbashoBanzuke/index/ I realized too late that the current posting issues on the forum would affect my ability to post the banzuke tables the usual way, so as a quick fix I've had to remove all links to rikishi DB profiles. Sorry about that. Anyway... Makuuchi Hoshoryu (Y1e 5-5-5) Y - Onosato (O1e 12-3 Y) O Kotozakura (O1w 8-7) Daieisho (S1e 9-6) S Kirishima (K1e 8-7) Takayasu (M4e 12-3 D) K Wakatakakage (M1e 9-6) Wakamotoharu (M1w 9-6) M1 Oho (S1w 6-9) Abi (K1w 6-9) M2 Gonoyama (M2e 7-8) Tamawashi (M7w 10-5) M3 Hiradoumi (M6e 9-6) Takerufuji (M6w 9-6) M4 Ichiyamamoto (M4w 7-8) Ura (M5e 7-8) M5 Chiyoshoma (M2w 6-9) Oshoma (M8w 9-6) M6 Tobizaru (M3e 6-9) Hakuoho (M9e 9-6) M7 Churanoumi (M14w 11-4) Onokatsu (M12w 10-5) M8 Kinbozan (M5w 6-9) Aonishiki (M15e 11-4) M9 Midorifuji (M11e 9-6) Meisei (M11w 9-6) M10 Shodai (M7e 6-9) Endo (M9w 7-8) M11 Shishi (M13w 9-6) Atamifuji (M8e 6-9) M12 Takanosho (M3w 3-12) Tokihayate (M18e 10-5) M13 Sadanoumi (M15w 8-7) Kotoshoho (M16w 8-7) M14 Roga (J3e 11-4) Ryuden (M14e 6-9) M15 Shonannoumi (M10w 4-11) Kayo (J2e 9-6) M16 Nishikigi (M10e 3-12) Tamashoho (J1e 8-7) M17 Asakoryu (M16e 6-9) Tochitaikai (J3w 9-6) M18 - Simple style full banzuke:

A list of all rikishi who are active in Natsu but had not been before (= missed at least the end of Haru), and how long they had been out, multi-basho absences in bold: Y1e Hoshoryu - Haru Day 10 J5e Nishikifuji - Haru Day 2 Ms1e Kitanowaka - Hatsu Day 9 Ms43w Shimazuumi - start of Haru Ms45w Bushozan - start of Hatsu Ms48w Kotokenryu - start of Haru Sd9w Nihonyanagi - Hatsu Day 9 Jd21e Mineyaiba - start of Kyushu 2024 Jd86w Kenho - Haru Day 9 Jd101e Sonoshun - start of Haru Jk7e Kazuma - Nagoya 2024 Day 11 Jk7w Jokoki - start of Hatsu Jk8e Okuniiwa - start of Haru Profile links

Worked out from the Day 1/2 torikumi, not officially released yet, so caution is advised. Absent at the start of the basho, beginning of absence mentioned if it's not new for this basho: M14e Kotoshoho Ms3w Hokutofuji - Haru Day 15 Ms6w Kiryuko - Haru Day 7 Ms10e Hokutomaru Ms32w Kotodaigo Ms43e Suzaki Ms60e Wakatakamoto Sd33e Onojo Sd68w Raiho - Haru Day 9 Sd77e Tatsuosho - start of Hatsu Jd7e Takanoryu - start of Haru Jd26w Hamadayama Jd28e Gonowaka - start of Haru Jd43w Chiyokozan Jd63e Wakayahara Jd81w Tsurunoumi Jd85w Kakuho Jd90e Nakashima - Hatsu Day 3 Jd96e Kyoda - Kyushu 2024 Day 3 Jd98w Ono Jk3e Wakasasaki Jk3w Uchiumi - Haru Day 9 Jk4w Sadanojo - joined only mid-basho in the last 11 tournaments Jk5w Nishikimaru - kyujo since start of Kyushu 2024, joined for one bout in Hatsu and Haru Jk6e Kikuchi - start of Haru Jk6w Fujihara - start of Haru Jk8w Kumanohana - start of Haru Profile links In addition, Wakatozakura (still ranked at Jd72e for the basho) sadly passed away between tournaments.

The new yokozuna leads the way - will he make it to 20 kachikoshi and with how many wins? 1. Hoshoryu 19 [score?] 2. Onosato 11* [score?] 3. Aonishiki 8* 4. Tochimaru 6 5. Inami 6* 6. Daieisho 5 [score?] 7. Kusano 5* 8. Takakento 5 9. Okaryu 5* 10. Noda 5* 11. Mishima 5 12. Yurikisho 5 13. Hakuoho 4 TB: [pick?] (* marks rikishi with no makekoshi since debut) The scoring and thus your game assignment: For sanyaku: Please predict an exact record for each rikishi. The target record will be calculated after the deadline and will be chosen so that it bisects the predictions as evenly as possible. The predictions will then be converted into + and - votes as usual; one point for each correct prediction. For lower-ranked rikishi: Please predict for each rikishi if he will finish KK or MK; one point for each correct prediction. (For clarification: If you're expecting an outright makekoshi for one of the sanyaku high-rankers, just predict MK, exact records are only needed on the kachikoshi side of things.) First tie-breaker: From among those 13 guys up there and the further 11 rikishi who are currently just shy of a 5-KK streak (9 'veterans' + 1 newcomer from maezumo + tsukedashi Ishizaki), please guess how many KK you expect in total. Your tie-breaker guess may be anything from 0 to 24. Only exactly correct guesses qualify at this tie-breaker stage. Note: Sanyaku count as correct for the tie-breaker if they achieve KK, they do not need to meet their target records. Next 12 tie-breakers if needed: Correctly predicted rikishi, one-by-one in ballot order, i.e. starting at Hoshoryu. Extra tie-breakers, should two or more players have entered identical ballots: Proximity of their tie-breaker guesses to the correct number, followed by proximity of their sanyaku rikishi guesses to the correct records (one-by-one in ballot order). Final tie-breaker: earliest entry. Note: Rikishi who show up on the before-shonichi kyujo list will be excluded from scoring (even if they end up joining the basho later), so it is not necessary to re-submit your entry if you picked such a rikishi as a KK; he will not count for points anyhow. You may, however, notify me if you'd like to reduce your tie-breaker guess by one point to compensate for the "missing" rikishi. Your position on the entry list (for final tie-breaker purposes) will be deemed unchanged in this special situation. Any other changes to a ballot will be considered a new entry, with correspondingly lower priority for the final tie-breaker. Deadline: Shonichi 2pm JST. ----- Simplified entry template: 1. Hoshoryu W-L 2. Onosato W-L 3. Aonishiki KKMK 4. Tochimaru KKMK 5. Inami KKMK 6. Daieisho W-L 7. Kusano KKMK 8. Takakento KKMK 9. Okaryu KKMK 10. Noda KKMK 11. Mishima KKMK 12. Yurikisho KKMK 13. Hakuoho KKMK TB xx ----- Good luck!

Scores for banzuke purposes: Asashosakari 12 (11+Top) Bunbukuchagama 10 Yarimotsu 9 Athenayama 8 Fashiritētā 8 Hakuryuho 8 chishafuwaku 7 Holleshoryu 7 Profomisakari 7 ryafuji 7 Ryoshishokunin 7 Sakura 7 Jejima 6 Oskanohana 6 WAKATAKE 5 (4+TB) Total: 114 / 15 = 7.60 ---> no adjustment Very clear split even if there's a bit of a makekoshi excess. The banzuke for Natsu 2025: chishafuwaku (Ye 7-8) Y --- Yarimotsu (O2e 9-6) O1 Holleshoryu (O1w 7-8) Sakura (O2w 7-8) O2 Oskanohana (O1e 6-9) Asashosakari (Kw 12-3 Y) S Bunbukuchagama (Sw 10-5 J) Athenayama (M2e 8-7) K ryafuji (Se 7-8) Hakuryuho (M3e 8-7) M1 Profomisakari (Ke 7-8) Fashiritētā (M3w 8-7) M2 Ryoshishokunin (M1w 7-8) Jejima (M2w 6-9) M3 WAKATAKE (M1e 5-10) Four straight tournaments of the yokozuna alternating 8-7 and 7-8 scores, here's hoping Natsu basho is on the positive side again (ideally with more than 8 wins, too). Yarimotsu was on a tsunatori carried over from Kyushu basho (where he took the yusho) via a Hatsu kosho, and while his third-place finish hasn't been enough to secure the rope, it's a strong enough result to lead to another opportunity in the upcoming basho. The other three ozeki luckily weren't kadoban for Haru, but they are now. No ozeki promotions this time around. Neither Asashosakari (Hatsu 7-8, 3x 8-7 before that) nor Bunbukuchagama (2x 8-7) have any particular promotion credentials beyond this most recent performance, so their chance will have to come next time. Haru champion ryafuji unfortunately went makekoshi altogether, so he's back to square one.

Day 15 Senshuraku was only of limited interest in LKS, but held much greater relevance for Onosato - defeating fellow ozeki Kotozakura he secured a playoff spot against Takayasu and proceeded to win his third makuuchi yusho within the last six tournaments (and first as ozeki), opening a challenge for the big white rope for May. That result also left Bunbukuchagama as the edition's sole runner-up after all, well done. The final standings: Day 15: 13/13 Decisions, TB 11 Pos Player Pts TB 1 Asashosakari 11 14 2 Bunbukuchagama 10 16 3 Yarimotsu 9 15 4 Athenayama 8 16 4 Fashiritētā 8 14 4 Hakuryuho 8 14 7 chishafuwaku 7 14 7 Holleshoryu 7 12 7 Profomisakari 7 13 7 ryafuji 7 15 7 Ryoshishokunin 7 14 7 Sakura 7 13 13 Jejima 6 16 13 Oskanohana 6 17 15 WAKATAKE 4 11 I'm not quite sure what to say about that tie-breaker outcome... The new ballot for Natsu 2025: Hoshoryu 19 1. Onosato 12* 2. Aonishiki 9* Tochimaru 6 3. Inami 7* 4. Daieisho 6 5. Kusano 6* Takakento 5 Okaryu 5* Noda 5* 6. Mishima 6 Yurikisho 5 7. Hakuoho 5 8. Tochimusashi 5 9. Enho 5 10. Daiyusho 5 11. Tenei 5 --- 12. Takayasu 4 13. Takerufuji 4 14. Tochitaikai 4 15. Kazekeno 4 16. Mita 4* The ballot and off-ballot rikishi may not have done so hot in Haru, but thankfully we're getting major - and majorly interesting - reinforcements from the sekitori ranks via accelerated 4-KK joins. Takayasu will keep the number of LKS sanyaku rikishi at three despite Hoshoryu's departure, Takerufuji is set to properly contend against the joi for the first time ever, and Tochitaikai and Mita are making debuts in their respective new divisions, makuuchi and juryo. Even Kazekeno should prove intriguing as his 8-7 Haru score won't be moving him up so much that he can consider himself established in juryo yet.