Katooshu

Well, I wasn't convinced, but the promise of a giant jumbotron won me over

Not going to lie, I would love one of those baby sized keshomawashi for my cats.

183/140kg in 6th grade

There is no super talent like Onosato and the seniors are a bit short on depth, but still some decent prospects. Among those who haven't already set their sets on corporate sumo I think all of the below have good sekitori potential Kusano: Wins over Hokuseiho, Gonoyama, Takahashi, Asakoryu, Oshoma, Tenshoho, Onosato, Tochimusashi. Good body for ozumo, no one standout ability but well rounded and strong. Consistent performer who was 2nd/1st/3rd at the three major tournaments this year. Should reach makuuchi if he can stay reasonably healthy. Kawabuchi: Huge and far more skilled than you typically see among giants, with a wide range of moves he's effective with. Often blasted out good opponents like nothing. Lots of good wins, including vs some of the sekitori above. He was one of the very few people to beat Onosato multiple times in college (2-7 head to head vs the big O I think) and the only person to do it who wasn't multiple years ahead of Ono. Though I do worry about longevity given injury history and years of being extremely heavy. Taiki Mita: Small, but athletically impressive, very spirited competitor with a bit of a Tobizaru feel. Many good results since his 2nd year and did well against large opponents. The clear #1 for this year group was of course Hidetora Hanada, but we know his story.... Among those not in their final year Bukhchuluun obviously - despite not winning a national title yet in openweight competition, he's scored dozens of good wins and practically owned the Nihon U team this year. Clearly skillful and strong for his size; trajectory of improving results. Yasuhiro Omori: Was the top high schooler of his time outside of Ochiai (Kototebakari and Wakanosho were same year too). Good results in his first two years of university, with an athletic, skillful style featuring a standout uwatenage. One of the more 'ripped' competitors, with a muscular build at 184/115 ish. Masaki Hanaoka: In my view the top technician in amasumo. Excellent belt game, with an even better uwatenage than Omori. Many national and regional titles in university, as well as a third at last year's student championship. Ryusho Kawakami: Nephew of Onoe oyakata and brother of former juryo Ryuko. 185/120kgish, reminds me a lot of Wakamotoharu in terms of impressive strength for size and a trademark utchari. Good balance, though stiff in contrast to the fluid Hanaoka. Masaharu Goshima: At 176/165kg he's a stocky bulldozer, who while on the slower side exerts impressive power with yotsu and oshi sumo. Ogtonbat: The 6'6 Toyo giant has become one of the competitors to watch this year, not quite there with most of the others listed, but with improving results that have seen him make national semifinals and quarterfinals. Still needs refining and underperformed at the All-Japan student championship, but has the time to improve. Tottori corporate duo of Sosorufu and Matsui: Both former standouts for Tottori Johoku, they have taken off rapidly as corporate competitors, only at 19 years old I believe. Each made the best 8 at the Kokutai to earn Ms60TD, when most competitors that age don't come close. Matsui is a very fast oshi specialist, Sosorufu a bit like a shorter Hoshoryu. I'm not sure what their plans are - going straight from high school to corporate sumo is very rare for standout high schoolers, some obvious examples notwithstanding. Daiki Nishide: The former middle school yokozuna and this year's high school yokozuna. Still just in his second year, went unbeaten in the prelims, including a win over Goshima (who then slapped him down in the knockouts). Basic, but strong and stable sumo, performing beyond his years.

Ikeda had been runner-up at the junior Kokutai, the All Japan student championship, and multiple national tournaments in college. I believe he lost every national final he made in high school and university, so I am happy to see him win this. He's been one of the most consistent high level performers for the last 2 years and his sumo is nice to watch. Uncle was 2nd at this event but I don't think won it.

Winning 80kg or 100kg definitely should NOT earn anyone a SdTD.

Gonoyama put his fist down on multiple occasions - to me that's a good faith measure inviting the other guy to put one of his down. If Hoshoryu had done that, I would have expected Gonoyama to follow with his second fist, still letting Hosh be the last one to put his hands down. I have seen this process so many times. By Hosh putting no hands down at all, he was the one most responsible for the situation in my view. Gonoyama is also a no-nonsense rikishi who doesn't usually get into games (he reminds me a lot of Hokutofuji), but stare-offs aren't so unusual for Hoshoryu. To me it just made Hosh look a bit silly - like he's trying too hard to be scary or something. It's true the likes of Hak and Asashoryu had stare offs, but it comes across as more fitting when you're a dai-yokozuna and not a one yusho ozeki who just went 8-7. That said, I don't mind a bit of attitude or swag from Hoshoryu, I just think in this case he went overboard.

Tanji being makushita 29 at 17 is impressive, and I think he has a bright future - my interest in him isn't about him being half. I believe according to Gurowake's calculations, going into last basho he was the lower division rikishi furthest ahead of same age peers; that certainly counts as standing out to me. If he cant progress in 2024, then maybe it's worth a reconsider, but for now he should stay put in my view.

He's a Nippon Sports Science University grad. He was twice best 8 at the All-Japan Championship (these days would get him an Ms60TD) and had other solid results, but had to sit out all of his third year and almost all of his 4th year with injury.

This makes me wonder, have two sekitori with the same name in English ever faced each other?

Incidentally, Onosato's first 5 losses also came against collegiate rikishi, and he didn't take a loss against a non-college grad until his 12th juryo match. Though he of course had far fewer bouts than Takerufuji at that point. All his losses since then have all been to rikishi without a college background.

If Tohak can save himself, surely Onosato isn't a locked promotion? 8-7 J1e Aoiyama, 11 or 12 win J1w Kotoshoho, and 10 win Shimazuumi + Bushozan at the J2 ranks would be ahead of 11-4 J5e Onosato, no?

I think Rao, brother of diminutive Baraki, is retiring. Many camera flashes went off before his match vs Kanazawa, and he was greeted by several stablemates as he walked backstage.

Chiyosakae hasn't MK'd yet so I don't think it's a straight up replacement bout. Good to see Oshoumi so close to promotion though; he's still never MK'd in a tournament he completed.

Well, even if Taka were to get an 11-4 Y, that's still twice in a row as ozeki that he was the top rikishi.........and he'll have won half the yusho this year. But ya, 11-4Y isn't going to happen anyway.

Speaking of, Homer Simpson is actually a North American sumo pioneer

That's not what I'm saying

I think Onosato is a bit like a car that doesn't start particularly fast, but once it gets going it's very powerful. You either catch him right away before he's rolling or get out of the way (and pull/throw him down while at it). I'm not a scheduling expert, but from looking at the banzuke I'd guess his remaining schedule will be mostly bigger guys who aren't particularly fast. Perhaps less able to exploit his shortcomings.....

Indeed. Good technique and very relaxed on the dohyo. Looking forward to see him progress and take on tougher foes.

Go go Kitaharima!!!! 5-0 and just knocked off top ranked Hakuyozan.

Loved that leg grab, a rare komatasukui Takayasu really has Hosh's number

Onosato has so much power going forward, that he doesn't need to use all of it to win bouts, which at times he seems not to realize. He's gotten better at controlling himself, but still needs to work on adjusting his charge to the opponent's response. Easy for me to say looking on, but I think had he eased up a bit vs Tamashoho he would've been able to send him out without toppling over. As for staring - when it gets to a certain point it makes you look silly rather than imposing.

Kiho's brother is a member.

Gonoyama reminds me of Hokutofuji. No nonsense, filled with fighting spirit. Both with an appearance to match their style.

Kotodaigo also beat Asanoyama on the latter's first rise up the banzuke. He's the type of capable, highly experienced makushita veteran who I would be hesitant to write off against most debuting rikishi. It's a shame he hasn't made juryo despite being very close previously. Let's check back in with Onokatsu after a couple more - he's not Onosato or Hakuoho, but I think he should be able to win more than lose at this rank.