Tsubame

I have no idea how to start searching but was todays Takayasu-Kirishima bout the latest matchup for two ex-ozekis in a tournament possible?

Hakuho didn't left a lot of records left to be broken easily. A yokozuna has to take what is there...

You should try some introspection and think how did he, of all people, get there in the first place. I mean his shikos are still one of the most impressives.

Abi henka'ed his way out of my heart.

Is there a way to search the database for brothers in the same rank on a banzuke? Seeing the Waka's as M1 brought this question up in me.

I mean he can only sit next to one of them with the trophy in the media pics...

Abi strong again! But for safety measures lets jinx his yusho: Is this Abi's second yusho?

You are quite right (table of last yokozuna losing their debut fight [query]): Basho Day Rikishi 1 Kimarite Rikishi 2 Rank Shikona Result Rank Shikona Result 1955.01 1 Y1w Tochinishiki 0-1 (10-5) kotenage M5w Onobori 1-0 (10-5) 1958.03 1 Y2eHD Wakanohana 0-1 (12-3) yorikiri M4e Shinobuyama 1-0 (9-6) 1961.11 1 Y2e Kashiwado 0-1 (12-3) uwatenage M1e Kairyuyama 1-0 (9-6) 1964.03 1 Y2eHD Tochinoumi 0-1 (10-5) kotenage M5w Hagurogawa 1-0 (6-9) 1965.03 1 Y1w Sadanoyama 0-1 (12-3) shitatenage K1e Kiyokuni 1-0 (9-6) 1974.09 1 Y1w Kitanoumi 0-1 (11-4) yorikiri M1e Kongo 1-0 (9-6) 1978.07 1 Y1w Wakanohana 0-1 (11-4) oshidashi M2w Fujizakura 1-0 (9-6) 1995.01 1 Y1e Takanohana 0-1 (13-2) uwatenage K1w Musoyama 1-0 (4-3-8) 2025.03 1 Y1e Hoshoryu 0-1 tsukidashi K1w Abi 1-0 But on the bright side: they all got a KK.

No, I do not see any sekitori (current or speculative future ozeki) dominat enough to get two consecutive "yusho-equivalents". I fear the yokozuna-less time will be longer... ... much longer.

With Terunofuji's intai I was curious about the last fights of yokozuna. It seems that there were 9 out of 73 yokozuna (12,3%) who could win their last appearance on the dohyo: 69th Hakuho Sho 64th Akebono Taro 42nd Kagamisato Kiyoji 35th Futabayama Sadaji 33rd Musashiyama Takeshi 29th Miyagiyama Fukumatsu 27th Tochigiyama Moriya 25th Nishinoumi Kajiro 20th Umegetani Torato So, only two yokozuna in the "modern era" achieved that feat.

Consecutive basho as Y1e: 1. Asashoryu: 27 (2003.05 - 2007.09) 2. Terunofuji: 19 (2021.11 - 2024.11*) 3. Hakuho: 18 (2010.01 - 2013.01) 4. Chiyonofuji: 17 (1985.01- 1987.09) 5. Taiho: 11 (1962.01 - 1964.05) 5. Akebono: 11 (1993.05 - 1994.11) *active streak

for the sake of completeness (and to satisfy the OCD readers here): http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Query.aspx?show_form=0&group_by=rikishi&form1_rank=m&form1_y=on&form1_m=on

This wasn't really surprising in the same way as Hoshoryu's win today.

One thing that become clear to me this basho is that Hoshoryu is an ozeki. Good Ozeki but nothing more. I do not see any glimpse of becoming ever a yokozuna for him. His name was handled regulary on the list of yokozuna-"prospects". But after this basho and reminding the last year I crossed hom off that list. Don't get me wrong. Ten wins on average as an ozeki ist exactly the mark for a ozeki and shows consistency but this is not the launching pad to yokozunahood.

No, just the back-up justification after "dead body"