Ack!

Lots of demotee love for Abi, Ichiyamamoto, Kotosoho and Gonoyama, plus Nishikigi, Takerufuji, Tamashoho and Tsurugisho down in juryo. I thought they would share the wealth of banzuke luck a little more. Down in juryo Kotoeiho and Kagayaki get no promotion with 8-7 (there's no room); but lower down 8-7 Kotokuzan gets 5 spot bonus and Nishinoryu gets +8 while Shirokuma gets only +1. There are some strange inequities going on here.

I was under the impression that 4-3 at Ms2e was a promotable record. Certainly at any lower rank 4-3 is good enough to move up 3 spots on the banzuke. Rankings at the top of Ms are a weird transition area between the rest of Ms and Juryo.

Aki 2025, Senshuraku (Final): You might characterize this basho on The Wall as a failure sandwich: 8 of 9 in the middle MK while the top 5 and 5 of the bottom 7 KK. Two rikishi hit the wall with overall career losing records after 3 basho, and not just marginally so. Y1e Onosato: 13-2Y, 15 KK, 159-50, 5x M yusho K1w Aonishiki: 11-4, 11 KK, 104-28, Jd, Jk yusho M6w Kusano: 8-7, 9 KK, 70-25, 2x J yusho J4w Mita: 9-6, 7 KK, 50-22-2 Ms5w Goshima: 6-1, 4 KK, 22-6 Ms6w Fukuzaki: 2-5, 3 KK, 18-10 Ms14e Gyotoku: 0-2-5, 2 KK, 11-5-5 Ms22e Hanaoka: 4-3, 3 KK, 14-7 Ms57w Tenrosei: 3-4, 3 KK, 21-7 Sd22e Wakaikazuchi: 3-4, 4 KK, 23-12 Sd51e Hikarumusashi: 2-5, 3 KK, 17-11 Sd59w Sunasaka: 1-6, 3 KK, 16-12 Jd17e Ikazuchishu: 3-4, 2 KK, 13-8 Jd23w Uchima: 3-4, 2 KK, 13-8 Jd24w Koseiryu: 6-1, 3 KK, 16-5 Jd27e Matsuda: 4-3, 3 KK, 14-7 Jd39w Mitsurufuji: 0-7, 2 KK, 9-12 Jd49w Kazekodai: 4-3, 3 KK, 12-9 Jd51e Shunta: 4-3, 3 KK, 12-9 Jd52w Wakajin: 4-3, 3 KK, 12-9 Jd54w Umeyama: 1-6, 2 KK, 9-12 Honorable Mentions: M9w Fujinokawa (Wakaikari): 6-9, 10 KK, 1 MK, 4 more KK, 101-56-3, Sd yusho J13e Kyokukaiyu: 6-9, 5 KK, 1 MK, 4 more KK, 59-26, Sd yusho Ms10e Seihakuho: 5-2, 4 KK, 1 MK, 4 more KK, 45-18

That context makes Hakuho's advice to go for the yusho seem all the more appropriate.

Nope -- mental error on my part. Covid is affecting my brain.

Aki 2025, Starting lineup: Y1e Onosato: 14 KK, 146-48, 4x M yusho K1w Aonishiki: 11 KK, 93-24, Jd, Jk yusho M6w Kusano: 8 KK, 62-18, 2x J yusho J4w Mita: 6 KK, 41-15-2 Ms5w Goshima: 3 KK, 16-5 Ms6w Fukuzaki: 3 KK, 16-5 Ms14e Gyotoku: 2 KK, 11-3 Ms22e Hanaoka: 2 KK, 10-4 Ms57w Tenrosei: 3 KK, 18-3 Sd22e Wakaikazuchi: 4 KK, 20-8 Sd51ee Hikarumusashi: 3 KK, 15-6 Sd59w Sunasaka: 3 KK, 15-6 Jd17e Ikazuchishu: 2 KK, 10-4 Jd23w Uchima: 2 KK, 10-4 Jd24w Koseiryu: 2 KK, 10-4 Jd27e Matsuda: 2 KK, 10-4 Jd39w Mitsurufuji: 2 KK, 9-5 Jd49w Kazekodai: 2 KK, 8-6 Jd51e Shunta: 2 KK, 8-6 Jd52w Wakajin: 2 KK, 8-6 Jd54w Umeyama: 2 KK, 8-6 Honorable Mentions: M9w Fujinokawa (Wakaikari): 10 KK, 1 MK, 4 more KK, 95-47-3, Sd yusho J13e Kyokukaiyu: 5 KK, 1 MK, 4 more KK, 53-17, Sd yusho Ms10e Seihakuho: 4 KK, 1 MK, 3 more KK, 40-16

In, please

Only 4 left at Makushita and above is a big drop from 7 to10 in those divisions recently.

Nagoya 2025, Senshuraku (Final): I've been mostly offline for vacation, so better late than never. Interesting patterns on The Wall this tournament: top 4 all 11-4; alternating KKs and MKs from Fukuzaki on down; 7 of 11 newbies with consistent records from the last 2 basho. Of Onosato, Aonishki and Kusano, who will be the first off The Wall? Y1w Onosato: 11-4, 14 KK, 146-48, 4x M yusho M1e Aonishiki: 11-4, 11 KK, 93-24, Jd, Jk yusho M14e Kusano: 11-4, 8 KK, 62-18, 2x J yusho J11w Mita: 11-4, 6 KK, 41-15-2, J yusho Ms6e Inami: 3-4, 8 KK, 42-21 Ms9w Goshima: 4-3, 3 KK, 16-5 Ms15w Fukuzaki: 5-2, 3 KK, 16-5 Ms54w Furuta: 3-4, 5 KK, 28-14 Sd35e Wakaikazuchi: 4-3, 4 KK, 20-8 Sd43e Gonosho: 3-4, 3 KK, 19-9 Sd48e Tenrosei: 6-1, 3 KK, 18-3 Sd67e Okada: 2-4-1, 3 KK, 17-10-1 Sd78w Sunasaka: 4-3, 3 KK, 15-6 Jd10e Ikazuchihayate: 3-4, 3 KK, 16-12 Jd33e Hikarumusashi: 6-1, 3 KK, 15-6 Jd35e Tsurunofuji: 1-6, 2 KK, 10-11 New Gyotoku: 5-2, 2 KK, 11-3 New Hanaoka: 6-1, 2 KK, 10-4 New Ikazuchishu: 4-3, 2 KK, 10-4 New Uchima: 5-2, 2 KK, 10-4 New Koseiryu: 5-2, 2 KK, 10-4 New Matsuda: 5-2, 2 KK, 10-4 New Kazekodai: 4-3, 2 KK, 8-6 New Shunta: 4-3, 2 KK, 8-6 New Wakajin: 4-3, 2 KK, 8-6 New Umeyama: 4-3, 2 KK, 8-6 New Mitsurufuji: 5-2, 2 KK, 9-5 Honorable Mentions: M14w Fujinokawa (Wakaikari): 10-5, 10 KK, 1 MK, 4 more KK, 95-47-3, Sd yusho Ms1e Kyokukaiyu: 5-2, 5 KK, 1 MK, 4 more KK, 53-17, Sd yusho Ms17w Daikosho: 2-5, 3 KK, 1 MK, 3 more KK, 38-18 Ms53e Fujizumi: 0-0-7, 5 KK after 2 years banzuke-gai and only 1 prior non-kyujo MK, 44-19-35 New Seihakuho: 5-2, 4 KK, 1 MK, 3 more KK, 40-16

I'm old. I forgot what century we are in.

Nagoya 2025, Starting lineup: Y1w Onosato: 13 KK, 135-44, 4x M yusho M1e Aonishiki: 10 KK, 82-20, Jd, Jk yusho M14e Kusano: 7 KK, 51-14, 2x J yusho J11w Mita: 5 KK, 30-11-2 Ms6e Inami: 8 KK, 39-17 Ms9w Goshima: 2 KK, 12-2 Ms15w Fukuzaki: 2 KK, 11-3 Ms54w Furuta: 5 KK, 25-10 Sd35e Wakaikazuchi: 3 KK, 16-5 Sd43e Gonosho: 3 KK, 16-5 Sd48e Tenrosei: 2 KK, 12-2 Sd67e Okada: 3 KK, 15-6 Sd78w Sunasaka: 2 KK, 11-3 Jd10e Ikazuchihayate: 3 KK, 13-8 Jd33e Hikarumusashi: 2 KK, 9-5 Jd35e Tsurunofuji: 2 KK, 9-5 Honorable Mentions: M14w Fujinokawa (Wakaikari): 10 KK, 1 MK, 3 more KK, 85-42-3, Sd yusho Ms1e Kyokukaiyu: 5 KK, 1 MK, 3 more KK, 48-15, Sd yusho Ms17w Daikosho: 3 KK, 1 MK, 3 more KK, 36-13 Ms53e Fujizumi: 5 KK after 2 years banzuke-gai and only 1 prior non-kyujo MK, 44-19-28

But Akebono made it without a Ms60TD -- 18 straight KK. Apples and oranges but both very tasty!

Newbies: Ms28e Goshima: 6-1, 2 KK, 12-2 Ms39w Fukuzaki: 6-1, 2 KK, 11-3 Jd34w Sunasaka: 5-2, 2 KK, 11-3 Jd61e Tenrosei: 7-0 D, 2 KK, 12-2 Jd62e Hikarumusashi: 4-3, 2 KK, 9-5 Jd65e Tsurunofuji: 4-3, 2 KK, 9-5 Honorable Mentions: J5w Wakaikari: 12-3, 10 KK, 1 MK, 3 more KK, 85-42-3, Sd yusho Ms5e Kyokukaiyu: 5-2, 5 KK, 1 MK, 3 more KK, 48-15, Sd yusho Ms33e Daikosho: 5-2, 3 KK, 1 MK, 3 more KK, 36-13 Sd39e Fujizumi: 6-1, 5 KK after 2 years banzuke-gai and only 1 prior non-kyujo MK, 44-19-28

Natsu 2025 Senshuraku (Final): Our top 3 had an outstanding basho! Mita survives to fight another day. Inami cements his place as the Wall's tortoise with a fifth consective 4-3, slow and steady. Furuta is losing momentum but still alive. O1e Onosato: 14-1 Y, 13 KK, 135-44, 4x M yusho M9e Aonishiki: 11-4, 10 KK, 82-20, Jd, Jk yusho J1w Kusano: 13-2 Y, 7 KK, 51-14, 2x J yusho J14e Mita: 8-5-2, 5 KK, 30-11-2 Ms9e Inami: 4-3, 8 KK, 39-17 Ms45e Ikarigata: 3-4, 2 KK, 15-6 Ms46e Goseizan: 3-4, 4 KK, 26-7-2 Sd5w Furuta: 4-3, 5 KK, 25-10 Sd52w Wakaikazuchi: 4-3, 3 KK, 16-5 Sd76e Gonosho: 5-2, 3 KK, 16-5 Jd22e Okada: 5-2, 3 KK, 15-6 Jd28w Goseimaru: 2-5, 2 KK, 11-10 Jd30e Ikazuchihayate: 4-3, 3 KK, 13-8 Jd45w Ideno: 2-5, 2 KK, 10-11

Atamifuji is the second coming of Ichinojo IMO. Hak's advice for Takerefuji to take the yusho while he had the chance seems wiser every passing basho, but I still hold onto hope for him.