Yokozuna and Ozeki

[Jejima 981]

So, how will the top of the banzuke look in about a year from now?

Please leave your actual prediction for the top two ranks for the January 2012 in the comments below - then we can see who is closest at the end of the year (probably Kintamayama, again), to award a yusho for this poll :-)

Previous polls:

2010

2009

2008

Edited December 19, 2010 by Jejima

[Jejima 981]

Rather boringly, I predict no change to the members of the current top ranks (i.e. 1 Yokozuna and 4 Ozekis), although I am bit nervous about predicting Kaio.... If there were to be a new Ozeki in 2011, I think it would be Kisenosato.

My top of the Jan 2012 banzuke....

Hakuho Y1

Baruto O1 Haramafuji

Kaio* O2 Kotooshu

*Due to a 10-5 in his home basho in November 2011.....

[Asojima 2,839]

Kaku's year. Kaio finally does it.

[Washuyama 587]

2-Y (Hak, Bart)

* 3-0 (Osh, HMF, Toyonoshima) For some reason I think Toyo will keep his year ending roll going..

* I'm predicting (in this poll only) that Kaio retires even though in the Kaio poll I said he'll stick around... Covering all bases...

[ryafuji 760]

Yokozuna: Hakuho, Baruto

Ozeki: Kaio, Kotooshu, Harumafuji, Kisenosato.

[Kintamayama 40,765]

2 Yokozuna

3 Ozeki- Kotooushuu, Harumafuji, Tochiouzan

[EizoShita 0]

Yokozuna: Hakuho, Baruto

Ozeki: Kaio, Kotooshu, Harumafuji, Kisenosato.

[Asashosakari 16,848]

Y: Hakuho

O: Baruto, Kotooshu, Kaio

[Jejima 981]

Bump! Just a few more voting days to go....

[Jejima 981]

Most of us think that there will remain just one Yokozuna on the banzuke (Hakuho, presumably).

It is fairly evenly split between having 3 or 4 Ozekis on the banzuke.

Kotooshu and Harumafuji seem to be the most certain to rmain at this rank.

Baruto also takes some votes - but I am guessing that some think he will make it to Yokozuna.

Less than a third think that Kaio will keep his rank.

Non-Ozekis (as yet) with some support for promotion to Ozeki are Tochiozan and Kisenosato.

[Jejima 981]

The top of the January 2012 banzuke looks like this:-

Hakuho Y

Baruto O1 Kotoshogiku

Kotooshu O2 Harumafuji

O3 Kisenosato

So, just one Yokozuna (correctly predicted by 71.43%), but five Ozekis! - which no one guessed correctly.

64% of us correctly guessed that Baruto would still be an Ozeki.

0% predicted that Kotoshogiku would get promoted.

93% got Kotooshu correct.

79% got Harumafuji right.

21% foresaw Kisenosato's promotion.

A winner? There is no clear winner, as we were all pretty much off the mark. But, for getting Kisenosato's promotion correct, I think Ryafuji and (identical entry - so much so, it might have been copied and pasted) EizoShita can just about claim a joint win.