Asashosakari

(With apologies to Yubinhaad - not meaning to step on your toes here.) Lower division absences not officially posted yet and won't be for another 20 hours or so, but I've had the time to derive them from the Day 1 and 2 torikumi. M8e Roga (Futagoyama) M14e Hokutofuji (Hakkaku) J7w Bushozan (Fujishima) Ms36e Tatsuosho (Tatsunami) Ms40e Kamitani (Arashio) Ms41w Asanoyama (Takasago) - injured in Nagoya Ms49w Chiyosakae (Kokonoe) - injured in Aki Ms60w Mineyaiba (Shikoroyama) - absent since Kyushu Sd23w Seigo (Shikoroyama) - absent since Kyushu Sd30e Karino (Naruto) Sd51e Okinohama (Hakkaku) - injured in Kyushu Sd56w Kyoda (Futagoyama) - injured in Kyushu Jd9w Kazuma (Kise) - injured in Nagoya Jd14e Jokoki (Musashigawa) Jd46e Kaizen (Asakayama) - absent since Aki Jd50w Daibasho (Oitekaze) Jd62w Goseiryu (Takekuma) - absent since Kyushu Jd64w Masuminato (Onomatsu) - absent since Kyushu Jd75w Shunkaku (Shikoroyama) Jd80w Shoryu (Otowayama) Jd83w Shimamura (Arashio) Jd84w Daitensho (Oitekaze) Jk2e Chiyotenfu (Kokonoe) - injured in Nagoya Jk3w Kobayashi (Kasugano) - injured in Nagoya Jk10e Sadanojo (Sakaigawa) Jk10w Chiyoryusei (Kokonoe) - injured in Kyushu Jk12w Nishikimaru (Asahiyama) - absent since Kyushu Plus possibly bottom-ranked Higohikari - impossible to tell from the schedule if he's absent or just the odd man left over. Now confirmed in. In addition, still-ranked Onosho and Kyokutaisei had previously announced their retirements. Edit: Official list now available at https://www.sumo.or.jp/EnHonbashoMain/absence/.

Terunofuji kyujo.

Day 4 - Results Another middling round with 14 wins and 12 losses, and it gets worse once you notice that the rikishi ranked in sandanme and jonidan went 5-0, which means the makushita denizens were distinctly below 50%. Akua was unfortunately responsible for two losses at once, first defeated by Hitoshi and then also in his Day 4 juryo visit. Kotokuzan didn't do any better up there the day before either, sadly. The latter is at least still well in the race for promotion, while Akua's back is already firmly against the wall. Hitoshi improved to 1-1 with that victory over Akua. Just five makushita-ranked ex-sekitori remain part of the yusho race there at this (early) stage, with some names involved that probably weren't on many shortlists. Kawazoe isn't much of a surprise, Tochimaru can arguably never be ruled out, and Kaisho is at a comparatively low rank, but I'm not sure who would have expected Chiyomaru (albeit with a Day 1 fusensho) and Tsushimanada to be 2-0. On the winless other end of the spectrum we've got Akua (as mentioned), Daishomaru, Fujiazuma, Asanowaka, Chiyonoo (presently kyujo) and Asagyokusei. For several of them it's not a result that's particularly out of the norm where they're currently ranked, but Asanowaka looks very weak again and Daishomaru also appears barely any stronger than he was in last basho's 1-6. Yago looks rather rusty to my eyes down in jonidan, so I'm not convinced he'll just streak to 7-0, but he'll surely keep adding wins. Yoshiazuma is also 2-0, but he's actually at home where he's ranked and after last basho's 3-0 -> 3-4 I'm not gonna assume that a big tournament record is lurking just around the corner. Enho easily prevailed in his second match. Rank Shikona Heya Record Hatsu 2025 Results Ms1w Kazekeno Oshiogawa 1-1 X O – – Ms2e Kotokuzan Arashio 1-1 O – X – Ms2w Akua Tatsunami 0-3 – X X X Ms3e Onosho Onomatsu intai – – – – Ms4w Hitoshi Oitekaze 1-1 X – O – Ms7e Tochimaru Kasugano 2-0 – O – O Ms7w Tenshoho Isegahama 1-1 – X – O Ms9w Takakento Tokiwayama 1-1 – O – X Ms10e Chiyomaru Kokonoe 2-0 O – O – Ms12e Yuma Onomatsu 1-1 X – O – Ms14w Tochimusashi Kasugano 1-1 O – X – Ms15w Kaisho Asakayama 2-0 – O O – Ms24w Kitaharima Yamahibiki 1-1 O – – X Ms34w Daishomaru Oitekaze 0-2 X – X – Ms36w Fujiazuma Tamanoi 0-2 X – X – Ms38w Tsushimanada Sakaigawa 2-0 O – – O Ms40w Asashiyu Takasago 1-1 – O – X Ms41w Asanoyama Takasago kyujo – – – – Ms48w Asanowaka Takasago 0-2 – X X – Ms49w Chiyosakae Kokonoe kyujo – – – – Ms51e Nionoumi Yamahibiki 1-1 – X O – Ms53w Chiyonoo Kokonoe 0-2 – X X – Ms58e Asagyokusei Takasago 0-2 – X – X Ms60e Kawazoe Isegahama 2-0 – O – O Sd4e Enho Isegahama 1-1 – X O – Sd20w Kyokutaisei Oshima intai – – – – Sd39w Amakaze Oshiogawa 1-1 – X – O Sd71w Dairaido Takadagawa 1-1 X – – O Jd19w Yago Oshiogawa 2-0 O – O – Jd43w Yoshiazuma Tamanoi 2-0 O – O –

It has been a few years, and perhaps nobody really missed it, but I've decided to revive my tracking of former sekitori. It'll be done as a standalone thread this time, rather than tacked on to others. Previously the introductory posts were in each basho's banzuke release thread, the daily results - only from Day 8 onwards - in the Promotion/Demotion discussions. I'll endeavour to cover the results across the full tournament in this version. For some posting practice I'll start by filling in the 2024 results with each basho's "Day 0" and Day 15 tables, with Aki also getting the daily posts to test that out ahead of Kyushu. For space reasons not all information will be included on all tables. Feedback welcome, especially in regards to which data is getting shown at which points in time (too much / too little, etc.), but also anything else you may want to share.

I'm not usually one to question kimarite calls, but I don't know what more Oho could have done to make that a hikkake.

Day 4 Everybody still in! In addition to the aforementioned Seiseigo/Kaitoma double flip, the scheduling saw Tenrosei (W->E) and Akenoyama (E->W) moved to make their respective win groups work out. Results: Mz3 Satsumao (1-1) Mz7 Asakawasumi (0-2) Mz5 Hikarumusashi (1-1) Mz10 Akenoyama (0-2) Mz4 Kaitoma (2-0) Mz1 Seiseigo (1-2) Mz6 Tenrosei (2-0) Mz2 Nishikio (1-1) Mz9 Aoki (1-1) Mz8 Sunasaka (2-0) Mz11 Uchiumi (0-2) Mz7 Asakawasumi (1-2) Fairly emphatic victory by Sunasaka over the bigger Aoki. Tenrosei had to work surprisingly hard against Nishikio (he looks larger than the 144.5 kg the Kyokai last listed him at, doesn't he?), and I hope that hard landing went off without any damage for both guys. Hikarumusashi is clearly a cut above all the returnees and the non-Tenrosei/Aoki/Sunasaka rookies, but he might still not avoid a second loss before all is said and done. We'll see where the match-making goes; maybe no matchups with Aoki and Sunasaka for him. Uchiumi faced the losing rikishi from the first bout just like yesterday, and while he didn't look bad again, it certainly looks like he'll be the low man on this basho's maezumo totem pole, quite possibly finishing winless. Standings: Mz4 Kaitoma Asakayama 2-0 W | Mz1 Seiseigo Nishonoseki 1-2 E | Mz10 Akenoyama Ajigawa 0-2 E Mz6 Tenrosei Shikoroyama 2-0 W | Mz2 Nishikio Nishikido 1-1 W | Mz11 Uchiumi Musashigawa 0-2 E Mz8 Sunasaka Takasago 2-0 W | Mz3 Satsumao Shikihide 1-1 E Mz5 Hikarumusashi Musashigawa 1-1 E Mz7 Asakawasumi Takasago 1-2 W Mz9 Aoki Isegahama 1-1 E These group counts are a bit awkward. It would be surprising if they didn't have the 0-2 pair fight tomorrow, and perhaps they'll just use the loser from that match as the fill-in for the 2-0's. If that's not how they decide to do it, this could be much more messy. My torikumi predictions are famously useless in these threads, but it should be Kaitoma - Tenrosei with Sunasaka facing whoever they might source for the purpose. Kaitoma's surely the best of the four returnees, but I think we'll see the two rookies with the qualifying third win. I hope they'll resist the temptation to just schedule the 1-1/1-2's straight down the order and repeat Seiseigo-Nishikio and Aoki-Asakawasumi already.

Yeah, your suggestion makes sense to me. I guess the way they do it is just an offshoot of the fact that everybody needs to register for maezumo in some way; for the true rookies it's just indirectly via their sign-up for the shindeshi physical exams. We actually had a couple of cases over the years where a banzuke-gai rikishi ended up at the very end of the maezumo order (while others in the same session were at the top as usual), which appeared to imply that there's some sort of deadline for them, too - maybe actually the same as the shindeshi sign-ups - but it's handled more flexibly. And they seemingly decided to announce their presence with a completely pointless side switch of both Seiseigo and Kaitoma for their mutual Day 4 match-up. I hope that sort of wackiness doesn't become the norm.

Day 3 Playlist Partly the "everybody has it in for Edagawa-oyakata" edition; he was hit by falling rikishi not once but twice (in Hagane-Hamanoumi and again in Kitanosho-Kiyota). Also a heavy fall in Kiyonohana-Sadanohikari (the kimarite will probably give it away). Both guys were able to get up, but the winner ended up withdrawing. Jk19e Higohikari (0-0) (0-1) Wakasasaki Jk18w The end of a long losing streak - but whose? Jk15e Wakaikazuchi (1-0) Fujihara Jk17e [kimarite: utchari] Jk13e Amanofuji (0-1) Goseimaru Jk14e Jk11w Hara (0-1) Yamada Jk9w Jd86e Wakatozakura (1-0) Okanojo Jd86w Jd22e Aoiryu (0-1) Tamatensho Jd23e they called it oshidashi... Sd59e Takabayama (1-0) Goseizan Sd60e not quite the usual variety of kotenage Sd48e Asakiryu (0-1) Seido Sd49e [kimarite: zubuneri] Sd29e Hagane (0-1) Hamanoumi Sd27w Sd8e Kainoshima (0-1) Murayama Sd9e hoppity-hop Sd6w Kitanosho (0-1) Kiyota Sd5w Ms55e Kiyonohana (0-1) Sadanohikari Ms56w [kimarite: kimetaoshi] Ms21e Tanji (0-1) Toshunryu Ms22w Ms4w Hitoshi (0-1) Akua Ms2w Ms1e Wakanosho (1-0) Kusano Ms3w

Not sure I'll be able to keep up the required daily pace, but anyway... For what to expect in this thread, I'll just quote from the Kyushu thread: One thing I didn't mention: When I'm including the kimarite in the video title, it's one that is sufficiently rare to warrant mention. I worked up the kimarite frequencies of the lower divisions for 2024 and I'll generally mention them whenever it's a kimarite that averaged less than 5 per basho, with kimarite that averaged less than 2 probably* getting featured in video every time they occur. (Between 2 and 5 I'll only include the bout if it was sufficiently interesting on its overall merits, but when I do I'll also mention the kimarite.) Yes, I do realize that the kimarite serves as a spoiler of sorts, but I'm considering these bout compilations to be mainly for entertainment, not for suspense. * Uwatehineri is very rare (just 10 lower-division occurrences in 2024), but it's testing my personal limits of "noteworthy kimarite".

Do you mean it would make more sense for me to order them that way, or for the Kyokai to handle it that way?

Day 3 A surprisingly large competition after all thanks to more than half the current banzuke-gai rikishi making a fresh start. They are (in order of sign-up): Seiseigo (Nishonoseki), middle school graduate from last year's March shindeshi class, only appeared in full in May, 1 basho Bg Nishikio (Nishikido), high school graduate from exactly a year ago, injured in his third ranked tournament in July, 1 basho Bg Satsumao (Shikihide), eight-year veteran with high rank Jd31, injured in January last year, 3 basho Bg Kaitoma (Asakayama), seven-year veteran with high rank Jd2, absent since the start of the September basho and freshly fallen off the banzuke after November So, just like the November maezumo we're starting things off with 11 participants; we'll see how long the returnees stick around, but on first impressions they're all in decent enough shape and not still in the middle of rehabbing their injuries. The Kyokai posted action shots in two tweets and incidentally announced the shikona for Ajigawa-beya's Ryunosuke Nakamura as Akenoyama 安氣乃山 あけのやま in them. (BTW, many thanks to Doitsuyama for putting the shindeshi on the DB already.) And on with the action: Results: Mz1 Seiseigo (0-1) Mz2 Nishikio (1-0) Mz3 Satsumao (0-1) Mz4 Kaitoma (1-0) Mz5 Hikarumusashi (0-1) Mz6 Tenrosei (1-0) Mz9 Aoki (1-0) Mz7 Asakawasumi (0-1) Mz10 Akenoyama (0-1) Mz8 Sunasaka (1-0) Mz1 Seiseigo (1-1) Mz11 Uchiumi (0-1) Strong showing by both new foreign guys, even if only one of them could win their match-up. Aoki and Sunasaka looked like what you'd expect to see after reading their vital stats and hearing that they're from such notable high school clubs as Meitoku Gijuku and Asahigaoka. Should be an interesting race between them and Tenrosei for who gets to finish unbeaten at 3-0. (Maaaybe two of them will if the schedule works itself out that way.) Hard to say anything definitive about the other three rookies for now, although I liked Uchiumi's forward drive. It's much more than we typically see from guys who are coming in with no prior combat sports experience. Standings: Mz1 Seiseigo Nishonoseki 1-1 E | Mz3 Satsumao Shikihide 0-1 E Mz2 Nishikio Nishikido 1-0 W | Mz5 Hikarumusashi Musashigawa 0-1 E Mz4 Kaitoma Asakayama 1-0 W | Mz7 Asakawasumi Takasago 0-1 W Mz6 Tenrosei Shikoroyama 1-0 W | Mz10 Akenoyama Ajigawa 0-1 E Mz8 Sunasaka Takasago 1-0 W | Mz11 Uchiumi Musashigawa 0-1 E Mz9 Aoki Isegahama 1-0 E For some alternative coverage, X's Lulit was on location, and she also posted a small clip from NHK.

Day 2 Playlist Jd87e Asasakurai (0-0) Okanojo Jd86w gabburi-yori jonidan style Jd71e Ojiyama (0-0) Daigozakura Jd70w the latter newly bald, as mentioned elsewhere Jd47e Hokutoyoshi (0-0) Inaba Jd47w BIG tachiai for jonidan... Jd36e Minorufuji (0-0) Tsunekawa Jd37e walking the tawara tightrope Jd31e Hidano (0-0) Chiyohokkai Jd30w watch yobidashi Katsuki as Takenawa-oyakata gets lost in his mono-ii explanation* Jd29e Anryukai (0-0) Asaazuma Jd28w Sd72e Rakanji (0-0) Tappa Sd72w no, not that way Sd45e Takanoryu (0-0) Agora Sd45w Sd16e Kanpuzan (0-0) Yamato Sd15w Sd10e Kazeeidai (0-0) Chiyonokatsu Sd9w Sd3e Shimizuumi (0-0) Hatooka Sd2w a totally wild bout Sd2e Suyama (0-0) Aron Sd1w Ms29e Hamayutaka (0-0) Kitadaichi Ms29w Ms21e Tanji (0-0) Kazuto Ms21w Ms17e Mita (0-0) Okaryu Ms17w high-octane meeting of former Kindai University teammates * Thanks to boss_jonokuchi for pointing that out and providing a close-up.

An Abema on-screen graphic during a break in the Day 2 action helps get things really correct: Transferred on December 10th.

@Golynohana Please exclude kyujo Roga, Hokutofuji and Bushozan from the Oracle scoring when you have a moment.

Day 2 - Results Not a great start with 12 wins and 14 losses, although Kazekeno added another victory in his Day 2 extra appearance in juryo to bring his personal record (if not the overall total) back to even. Tochimaru entered the tournament with the longest winning streak among ex-sekitori, having taken his last five matches of Kyushu, and for now he's keeping it alive with a victory over Tenshoho. Hitoshi had the second-longest run with four wins, but that's already over. Fellow promotion zoner Akua is also in an early hole, while Kotokuzan prevailed over Kazekeno head-to-head on shonichi. Tsushimanada, who struggled badly in recent months (5-24 record since his last basho in juryo), looked pretty good to my eyes in his first bout, so here's hoping that he can finally rebound from his run of five straight losing records. Enho and returning Yago are high up enough in their respective divisions to require only 4 wins for promotion to the next one, but they'll obviously aim for much more than that. Yago got off on the right foot, but Enho was quickly overwhelmed. Let's hope it was just a failed game plan much like his first match loss in his comeback basho back in July, not an indication that upper sandanme is in fact his current ceiling. Rank Shikona Heya Record Hatsu 2025 Results Ms1w Kazekeno Oshiogawa 1-1 X O Ms2e Kotokuzan Arashio 1-0 O – Ms2w Akua Tatsunami 0-1 – X Ms3e Onosho Onomatsu intai – – Ms4w Hitoshi Oitekaze 0-1 X – Ms7e Tochimaru Kasugano 1-0 – O Ms7w Tenshoho Isegahama 0-1 – X Ms9w Takakento Tokiwayama 1-0 – O Ms10e Chiyomaru Kokonoe 1-0 O – Ms12e Yuma Onomatsu 0-1 X – Ms14w Tochimusashi Kasugano 1-0 O – Ms15w Kaisho Asakayama 1-0 – O Ms24w Kitaharima Yamahibiki 1-0 O – Ms34w Daishomaru Oitekaze 0-1 X – Ms36w Fujiazuma Tamanoi 0-1 X – Ms38w Tsushimanada Sakaigawa 1-0 O – Ms40w Asashiyu Takasago 1-0 – O Ms41w Asanoyama Takasago kyujo – – Ms48w Asanowaka Takasago 0-1 – X Ms49w Chiyosakae Kokonoe kyujo – – Ms51e Nionoumi Yamahibiki 0-1 – X Ms53w Chiyonoo Kokonoe 0-1 – X Ms58e Asagyokusei Takasago 0-1 – X Ms60e Kawazoe Isegahama 1-0 – O Sd4e Enho Isegahama 0-1 – X Sd20w Kyokutaisei Oshima intai – – Sd39w Amakaze Oshiogawa 0-1 – X Sd71w Dairaido Takadagawa 0-1 X – Jd19w Yago Oshiogawa 1-0 O – Jd43w Yoshiazuma Tamanoi 1-0 O –

Hatsu 2025 Up: Kiryuko (straight return) Down: Onosho (ending 10 years as sekitori), Chiyomaru (straight demotion after his latest return) Onosho proceeded to retire after the Hatsu banzuke was created, as did Kyokutaisei, veteran of over five years in juryo plus four appearances in the top division. Depending on how you want to count, that means we have either 30 (one more than in Kyushu) or 28 ex-sekitori on the list. As expected at the end of Kyushu, the top 5 promotion zone features Kazekeno, Kotokuzan, Akua and Hitoshi for this basho. Tochimaru, who had a borderline case, didn't quite make it in. Kawazoe, who strangely withdrew from the last tournament after just one (successful) bout, is back in for this one and barely managed to hang on to a makushita position. Previously kyujo Chiyonoo and Yago are also back in action, while Asanoyama (out since Nagoya Day 5) and Chiyosakae (since Aki Day 4) continue to be sidelined. Last sekitori appearance anniversaries: One year ago for Tenshoho, Tochimusashi and Yuma, two years for Kaisho, three for Chiyonoo. Birthdays: December: 16th: Nionoumi (38) January: 11th: Tochimusashi (26) 28th: Kaisho (30) Rank Shikona Heya Age Out Last J HiRk M# J# 2024.07 2024.09 2024.11 Ms1w Kazekeno Oshiogawa 25 4 2024.05 J14 1 Ms1e 2-4-1 Ms14e 5-2 Ms6e 5-2 Ms2e Kotokuzan Arashio 30 11 2023.03 M16 2 8 Ms3e 3-4 Ms7e 4-3 Ms4e 4-3 Ms2w Akua Tatsunami 34 5 2024.03 M10 6 22 Ms5e 4-3 Ms2e 3-4 Ms5e 4-3 Ms3e Onosho Onomatsu 28 1 2024.11 K 42 16 M5e 0-4-11 J1w 1-4-10 J10e 2-11-2 Ms4w Hitoshi Oitekaze 27 7 2023.11 J11 1 Ms19w 6-1 Ms6e 3-4 Ms12e 5-2 Ms7e Tochimaru Kasugano 32 14 2022.09 J11 3 Ms56e 5-2 Ms36w 5-2 Ms20e 6-1 Ms7w Tenshoho Isegahama 22 6 2024.01 J10 3 Ms11w 2-5 Ms22w 5-2 Ms12w 4-3 Ms9w Takakento Tokiwayama 28 7 2023.11 J4 14 Ms44w 5-2 Ms27w 5-2 Ms14w 4-3 Ms10e Chiyomaru Kokonoe 33 1 2024.11 M5 31 33 Ms6e 4-3 Ms3w 5-2 J11w 1-14 Ms12e Yuma Onomatsu 26 6 2024.01 J13 3 Ms17e 5-2 Ms10w 2-5 Ms22w 5-2 Ms14w Tochimusashi Kasugano 25 6 2024.01 J7 5 Sd23w 6-1 Ms43w 5-2 Ms27e 5-2 Ms15w Kaisho Asakayama 29 12 2023.01 J2 12 Ms9w 4-3 Ms6w 4-3 Ms3w 2-5 Ms24w Kitaharima Yamahibiki 38 5 2024.03 M15 1 26 Ms2w 1-6 Ms20w 1-6 Ms42w 5-2 Ms34w Daishomaru Oitekaze 33 16 2022.05 M5 19 22 Ms8e 4-3 Ms5e 3-4 Ms9e 1-6 Ms36w Fujiazuma Tamanoi 37 25 2020.11 M4 17 21 Sd14w 5-2 Ms50e 3-4 Ms60w 5-2 Ms38w Tsushimanada Sakaigawa 31 3 2024.07 J9 8 J12w 1-14 Ms10e 2-5 Ms21w 2-5 Ms40w Asashiyu Takasago 30 20 2021.09 J13 1 Ms33e 2-5 Ms52e 3-4 Sd3w 5-2 Ms41w Asanoyama Takasago 30 2 2024.09 O 33 7 M12e 3-2-10 J3w 0-0-15 Ms1e 0-0-7 Ms48w Asanowaka Takasago 29 14 2022.09 J4 6 Ms15e 0-7 Ms50w 5-2 Ms30e 2-5 Ms49w Chiyosakae Kokonoe 34 2 2024.09 J8 13 J9w 5-10 J13w 0-4-11 Ms9w 0-0-7 Ms51e Nionoumi Yamahibiki 38 68 2013.07 M16 1 12 Sd15e 5-2 Ms51w 4-3 Ms42e 3-4 Ms53w Chiyonoo Kokonoe 33 18 2022.01 M14 4 39 Ms26w 4-3 Ms19w 4-3 Ms13w 0-0-7 Ms58e Asagyokusei Takasago 31 28 2020.03 J12 3 Ms59e 5-2 Ms37w 3-4 Ms46e 3-4 Ms60e Kawazoe Isegahama 25 8 2023.09 J13 2 Jd23w 6-1 Sd51w 7-0 Y Ms29w 1-0-6 Sd4e Enho Isegahama 30 10 2023.05 M4 9 20 Jk13w 6-1 Jd31w 6-1 Sd56w 6-1 Sd20w Kyokutaisei Oshima 35 19 2021.11 M8 4 34 Ms19e 3-4 Ms26e 2-5 Ms40e 0-0-7 Sd39w Amakaze Oshiogawa 33 40 2018.03 M13 1 18 Ms38e 2-5 Ms59w 2-5 Sd11w 2-5 Sd71w Dairaido Takadagawa 44 109 2006.07 J2 6 Sd27e 3-4 Sd43e 3-4 Sd55e 3-4 Jd19w Yago Oshiogawa 30 15 2022.07 M10 4 20 Ms16e 0-0-7 Ms59e 0-0-7 Sd39w 0-0-7 Jd43w Yoshiazuma Tamanoi 47 61 2014.09 M12 3 18 Jd16w 3-4 Jd38w 5-2 Jd4e 3-4

Starting things off with a bonus playlist...the first official match for the 7 rookies who came up from the Kyushu maezumo, plus this basho's sandanme starter Ikarigata. Day 1 Jk16w Tsuyasato (0-0) Ikazuchihayate Jk15w Day 1 Jk14e Goseimaru (0-0) Okada Jk14w Day 2 Jk17e Fujihara (0-0) Daiko Jk17w Day 2 Jk15e Wakaikazuchi (0-0) Ideno Jk16e Day 2 Jk13e Amanofuji (0-0) Gonosho Jk13w Day 1 Sd80TD Ikarigata (0-0) Sekizuka Jd1e And one match that I won't include in the daily playlist but wanted to feature anyway: Former maegashira Yago in action for the first time since May, having dropped from high makushita to high jonidan after three full kyujo tournaments. Day 1 Playlist Jd94e Bakukoshin (0-0) Kotofuno Jd93w Jd92e Urutora (0-0) Chiyotensho Jd91w [kimarite: tsukitaoshi] Jd80e Komanokuni (0-0) Togyokuko Jd81e When one rikishi can't, and the other won't... Jd56e Asasorai (0-0) Honma Jd57e Jd46w Kosei (0-0) Anzakura Jd45w [kimarite: tsuridashi] Sd79e Amane (0-0) Kayatoiwa Sd79w nearly spin-kicked the gyoji...yelp! Sd77e Suio (0-0) Daishoki Sd77w Sd75e Sakai (0-0) Teraosho Sd75w Sd59e Takabayama (0-0) Kaiyuma Sd59w Ms53e Chiyoraizan (0-0) Daishoryu Ms51w Ms34e Nobehara (0-0) Daishomaru Ms34w no mono-ii? Ms12e Yuma (0-0) Hokutomaru Ms13w You pull, you pull, you pull, and then you lose. Ms8e Matsui (0-0) Ishizaki Ms8w Not a spectacular bout as such, but a rare zanbara match-up this high up the banzuke.

Cellulitis flare-up, may return to the dohyo if/when it gets better in time.

Takasago-beya announced that Sunasaka will compete under his real name for now while Kawasumi adds the standard heya marker to be Asakawasumi 朝河隅.

Another completely random find: These two lower-division rikishi managed to get matched up in 8 straight honbasho after they somehow posted the same tournament records seven times in a row. Basho Day Rikishi 1 Kimarite Rikishi 2 Rank Shikona Result Rank Shikona Result 2023.01 1 Jd16w Genbumaru 1-0 (3-4) hatakikomi Jd17e Koshinoryu 0-1 (3-4) 2023.03 2 Jd38w Genbumaru 1-0 (4-3) hatakikomi Jd39e Koshinoryu 0-1 (4-3) 2023.05 3 Jd16w Genbumaru 1-1 (4-3) oshidashi Jd17w Koshinoryu 2-0 (4-3) 2023.07 9 Sd86w Genbumaru 1-4 (2-5) yorikiri Sd87w Koshinoryu 2-3 (2-5) 2023.09 2 Jd29e Genbumaru 1-0 (3-4) okuridashi Jd29w Koshinoryu 0-1 (3-4) 2023.11 2 Jd52w Genbumaru 0-1 (5-2) tsukiotoshi Jd53e Koshinoryu 1-0 (5-2) 2024.01 1 Jd13w Genbumaru 0-1 (3-4) hikiotoshi Jd14e Koshinoryu 1-0 (3-4) 2024.03 2 Jd29w Genbumaru 0-1 (2-5) yorikiri Jd30e Koshinoryu 1-0 (4-3)

Seki-Oracle (play): Once again a small handful of Oracle players managed to put a large gap between themselves and the rest of the entrants. The tightly clustered field started at 564 points, but yusho winner Andoreasu (573), runner-up GONZABUROW (572) and Pandaazuma (568) outpaced them significantly. There were only slight differences in overall performance between the joi and the lower makuuchi, while the juryo section's average was far behind and its players benefited to the tune of three wins by getting their own separate score conversion. Kyushu wasn't a great tournament for our highest-ranked players by any means, with makekoshi for both yokozuna and the sole ozeki. The only one who's not in immediate trouble now is yokozuna Kaito, for whom it was "only" the second MK in the last three honbasho. (The pressure is on now, though, as that affords him only one more bad performance in the next six months.) Oskanohana finished below the line for the second straight tournament and will lose his tsuna if he adds another makekoshi this month, while ozeki chishafuwaku is kadoban. We do have one high-ranker in good standing for Hatsu basho: Tournament champion Andoreasu was a freshly demoted ozeki himself and convincingly secured his return to the second-highest rank. Well done! Two other sekiwake came very close to promotion, but ultimately I decided against it in both cases. Norizo and Choshu-yuki had started runs simultaneously by finishing first and second back in July, and as their Aki and Kyushu follow-ups were of decent-but-unspectacular quality, it left their total performances borderline in basically all respects - borderline starting ranks, borderline win totals, borderline tournament rank finishes. With no relevant pre-July results to lend further support to their cases, it was a very narrow thumbs down. Needless to say that they are both entering Hatsu basho with an excellent shot at earning the promotion on an extended run now. The Kyushu banzuke featured a fourth sekiwake who will join Norizo and Choshu-yuki at the rank for Hatsu as well. Beeftank originally earned promotion to sekiwake with a third-place finish in March (which converted to 15-0, no less), and has since defended his position successfully four times. However, all four results fell quite a bit short of making an argument for promotion to ozeki, so with the strong Haru score moving further and further into the distance, there's unfortunately no real case left for now. Still, five times a sekiwake, that certainly doesn't happen often in Oracle. The komusubi position was held by four players in Kyushu as well, but they'll largely be elsewhere in Hatsu. Balon earned a trip to sekiwake with the minimum acceptable promotion score of 9-6, while Kishikaisei stayed komusubi with an 8-7 and Flohru and Kitakachiyama were sent down to the maegashira ranks after makekoshi. They've been replaced by Kyushu third-place finisher Pandaazuma and ScreechingOwl (8-7 at M1w), keeping the size of sanyaku at 11 spots. Don't look too closely at the rest of the banzuke, as things refused to fall into place on multiple fronts. M8 to M12 ended up as a major collision zone between a 7-8 group on the way down and a 9-6 group on the way up, and the less said about the high juryo ranks the better. Kaito (Ye 7-8) Y Oskahanada (Yw 6-9) chishafuwaku (Oe 7-8) O Andoreasu (S2w 15-0 Y) Norizo (S1w 10-5) S1 Choshu-yuki (S1e 9-6) Beeftank (S2e 9-6) S2 Balon (K2w 9-6) Kishikaisei (K2e 8-7) K1 Pandaazuma (M4w 12-3) ScreechingOwl (M1w 8-7) K2 - TochiYESshin (M2w 8-7) M1 Flohru (K1w 7-8) Bunbukuchagama (M5w 9-6) M2 DeRosa (M6w 9-6) joaoiyama (M2e 7-8) M3 Kitakachiyama (K1e 5-10) Torafujii (M4e kosho) M4 Oshirokita (M1e 6-9) Pitinosato (M9w 9-6) M5 Frinkanohana (M10w 9-6) BlackPinkMawashi (M5e 7-8) M6 Asashosakari (M3e 6-9) GONZABUROW (J1w 15-0) M7 Gansekiiwa (M9e 8-7) Hisui (M11w 9-6) M8 Ganzohnesushi (M6e 7-8) Kobashi (M12w 9-6) M9 Bill (M3w 5-10) Kakushoyama (M13e 9-6) M10 Susanoo (M7e 7-8) itchynotoe (M13w 9-6) M11 Oortael (M7w 7-8) Mariohana (M14e 9-6) M12 Wamahada (M8e 7-8) Yarimotsu (M8w 6-9) M13 Profomisakari (M11e 7-8) Andrasoyama (M10e 6-9) M14 Asapedroryu (J3e 12-3) Kirinoumi (J4e 12-3) M15 Ruziklao (J2w 11-4) Warusaru (J5w 12-3) M16 - Saruyama (J2e 9-6) J1 Unkonoyama (J1e 8-7) Sukubidubidu (M15e kosho) J2 Papayasu (M12e 5-10) Metzinowaka (J7e 10-5) J3 Holleshoryu (J4w 8-7) Shatsume (M15w 6-9) J4 Athenayama (M16e 6-9) Kaiowaka (J7w 9-6) J5 Kotononami (M14w 5-10) Kasamatsuri (J6w 8-7) J6 Takanorappa (J6e kosho) Joputosu (J5e 7-8) J7 Kachikoshi (NR 11-4) Terukaze (J10w 8-7) J8 Doreikishi (J12e 8-7) Kamibaka (J9e kosho) J9 Hakase (J8w 7-8) Hakunojo (J3w 4-11) J10 Andonishiki (J10e 7-8) Gusoyama (J8e 6-9) J11 Fujisan (J11w 7-8) lonewolf (J9w 6-9) J12 Anjoboshi (J12w 6-9) Terarno (J11e 5-10) J13 ballerscuba (NR 7-8) reeeen (J13e 5-10) J14 Multimikstar (NR 6-9) WAKATAKE (J14e 4-11) Ms1 Daiouika (J13w 0-0-15)

Seki-Toto (play): Kyushu 2024 ended up as the third straight Toto tournament with a yusho line of just 12 wins, and the two players who achieved that win total could scarcely be ranked any lower - both veteran player Andrasoyama (who won the yusho) and second-basho rookie Kachikoshi (who finished a narrow runner-up) had entered the tournament from our small makushita division. But the championship aside, the tournament was dominated by the makuuchi half of the field, which averaged almost 55% daily wins (8.2 wins per 15). 21 players, and thus exactly half the division, finished 9-6 or better, so it won't come as a surprise that the top division scores had to be reduced by one win to make the banzuke work. The good news is that this made everything fall into place pretty well, and although - as usual - the situation relaxed significantly towards the bottom of makuuchi there are no particularly odd movements in evidence this time around, as there were no 8-7 -> 7-8 results by low-ranked players (who might have ended up with a promotion). All six top-rankers were active in the basho, but only Norizo excelled by posting division-leading 11 wins. Fellow yokozuna Pandaazuma and ozeki Susanoo did manage 9-6 records to keep their noses clean under the demotion/retirement regulations introduced this year which punish 8-7 scores. The remaining trio didn't fare that well: Joaoiyama achieved 8 wins but is in no danger of demotion from the ozeki rank for now, unlike Ganzohnesushi whose 7-8 performance has made him properly kadoban for Hatsu basho. And finally it's also red alert time for yokozuna Kaito who scored 8-7 in Aki and now just 6-9 in Kyushu. Another makekoshi will mean relinquishing his tsuna, 8 wins would keep his career alive for now but with continuing risk for Haru and beyond. So, it's up in the air just how many Y/O we're going to have in March, but for January their number will be seven thanks to a player earning promotion to ozeki with these results (the records are unadjusted): 2024.05 M9w 10-5 2024.07 M4w 12-3 D 2024.09 K1e 9-6 2024.11 Sw 11-4 It's not a super-dominant run, but 32 wins are plenty in a series of tournaments that had a combined yusho line of only 36-9. The lowish start at M4 somewhat weighed against it, but the additional 10-win performance from Natsu provided some positive counter-weight, so all in all it's a deserved promotion. Congrats, GONZABUROW! The other Kyushu sekiwake Kobashi has been flirting with promotion as well, but has yet to top 30 wins; he is leading the third-highest rank again for Hatsu. Moving up are former long-time ozeki ScreechingOwl, who was the only komusubi to finish better than 8-7, and Andoreasu who scored 11 wins at M1. That could have landed him at komusubi, but Andoreasu's Aki result was also 11-4 so I've opted to place him as sekiwake to acknowledge the potential ozeki challenge. I'll say that it's definitely gonna take something better than 32-in-3 for this M7 > M1 > S run to conclude successfully, though. (The two results before the back-to-back 11-4 were both makekoshi, so it's not only the extremely low starting rank that's not helping here.) With 10 sanyaku slots accounted for from Y to S, the komusubi rank wrote itself with just two players placed there. TochiYESshin enters on the East side by going 8-7 (after the adjustment) at M1e, his West side counterpart Athenayama is slightly lucky to move up with the same score from M2e. Not much else to say as there were no unusual decisions to make anywhere in these new rankings. As usual, the banzuke displayed below is the prettified version with the adjusted scores shown directly. The full data can be found behind the spoiler tag. Oh, BTW, all 70 players who were ranked in makuuchi or juryo for Kyushu competed in that tournament. That's not happening often, in any game. Norizo (Y1e 11-4) Y1 Pandaazuma (Y1w 9-6) Kaito (Y2e 6-9) Y2 - Susanoo (O1w 9-6) O1 Joaoiyama (O2w 8-7) Ganzohnesushi (O1e 7-8) O2 GONZABUROW (Sw 10-5) Kobashi (Se 9-6) S1 ScreechingOwl (K2e 9-6) - S2 Andoreasu (M1w 10-5) TochiYESshin (M1e 8-7) K Athenayama (M2e 8-7) Oskahanada (K1e 7-8) M1 Kajiyanosho (M2w 8-7) Chijanofuji (M3e 8-7) M2 Jakusotsu (M8w 10-5) Unkonoyama (M4e 8-7) M3 DeRosa (K1w 6-9) Itchynotoe (M5w 8-7) M4 Kotononami (K2w 6-9) Kitakachiyama (M8e 9-6) M5 Metzinowaka (M11w 10-5) Chishafuwaku (M3w 7-8) M6 Gernobono (M9w 8-7) Bill (M10e 8-7) M7 Asapedroryu (M12w 9-6) Toonoryu (M6w 7-8) M8 Flohru (M4w 6-9) Kuroimori (M13e 9-6) M9 Konosato (M5e 6-9) BlackPinkMawashi (M13w 9-6) M10 Andonishiki (M9e 7-8) Kintamayama (M7e 6-9) M11 Rowitoro (M6e 4-11) Gansekiiwa (M11e 6-9) M12 Oortael (M7w 4-11) Asashosakari (J4e 9-6) M13 Kaiowaka (J2e 8-7) Effinojo (M12e 5-10) M14 Onakaderu (J2w 8-6-1) Chelseayama (M14w 6-9) M15 Balon (M10w 4-11) Frinkanohana (J7w 10-5) J1 Holleshoryu (M15w 6-9) Biloumaru (J7e 9-6) J2 Anjoboshi (J8e 9-5-1) Saruyama (J10w 10-5) J3 Papayasu (J3e 7-8) Kachikoshi (Ms4e 12-3 D) J4 Oyama (J11e 9-6) Ulishimaru (J4w 7-7-1) J5 Hana-ichi (J1e 5-10) Terarno (M15e 3-12) J6 Bunbukuchagama (J5w 7-8) Ahokaina (J1w 5-9-1) J7 Gaanaag (M14e 2-13) Takanorappa (Ms4w 11-3-1) J8 Andrasoyama (Ms8e 12-3 Y) WAKATAKE (J5e 6-8-1) J9 Gawasukotto (J6e 6-9) Choshu-yuki (J9e 7-8) J10 Kishikaisei (J3w 4-9-2) FujiSlava (Ms3w 8-7) J11 Achiyama (J11w 7-8) Gusoyama (J12e 7-6-2) J12 Chudorj (J8w 5-9-1) Mariohana (J6w 4-11) J13 Beeftank (J9w 5-10) Ketsukai (J14e 7-7-1) J14 Joputosu (J13w 6-9) Fujisan (Ms2e 7-5-3) Ms1 Warusaru (J10e 4-11) Profomisakari (J14w 5-10) Ms2 Hakunojo (Ms5e 6-9) Katoomaru (J13e 3-12) Ms3 Unagiyutaka2 (J12w 2-9-4) Benihana (Ms3e 4-10-1) Ms4 Dan Koloff (Ms2w 3-12) Umigame (Ms1e 2-13) Ms5 Hokuseiho (Ms6e 4-2-9) Nantonoyama (Ms7w 4-10-1) Ms6 Akishiki (Ms1w 1-4-10) Multimikstar (NR 4-9-2) Ms7 Raiden (Ms8w 1-0-14) Sherlockiama (Ms6w 0-0-15) Ms8 Backeido (Ms9e kosho) Terukaze (NR 0-2-13) Ms9 -

10 Hoshoryu 10 Kotozakura 12 Onosato 10 Wakatakakage + Aonishiki - Gyokuozan - Kaiseijo + Tochimaru - Matsui - Inami - Dewataikai + Ienoshima 7 Daieisho + Hatsuyama TB 13

Two tsunatori rikishi atop the LKS ballot to open 2025! But it's a very interesting lineup top to bottom, if I may say so. 1. Hoshoryu 18 [score?] 2. Kotozakura 17 [score?] 3. Onosato 10* [score?] 4. Wakatakakage 7 [score?] 5. Aonishiki 7* 6. Gyokuozan 6 7. Kaiseijo 5 8. Tochimaru 5 9. Matsui 5* 10. Inami 5* 11. Dewataikai 5 12. Ienoshima 5 13. Daieisho 4 [score?] 14. Hatsuyama 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 14 guys up there and the further 11 rikishi who are currently just shy of a 5-KK streak (5 'veterans' + 4 newcomers from maezumo + tsukedashi duo Kusano and Okaryu), please guess how many KK you expect in total. Your tie-breaker guess may be anything from 0 to 25. 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 13 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. Kotozakura W-L 3. Onosato W-L 4. Wakatakakage W-L 5. Aonishiki KKMK 6. Gyokuozan KKMK 7. Kaiseijo KKMK 8. Tochimaru KKMK 9. Matsui KKMK 10. Inami KKMK 11. Dewataikai KKMK 12. Ienoshima KKMK 13. Daieisho W-L 14. Hatsuyama KKMK TB xx ----- Good luck!

Randomly spotted: Asonoyama appears to have a real knack for winning on the middle Sunday. Whenever he's had a Day 8 match in the last three and a half years, he won it. 16 straight and counting.