Long Kachikoshi Streaks - Haru 2025

[Asashosakari 20,195]

Day 15

Senshuraku was only of limited interest in LKS, but held much greater relevance for Onosato - defeating fellow ozeki Kotozakura he secured a playoff spot against Takayasu and proceeded to win his third makuuchi yusho within the last six tournaments (and first as ozeki), opening a challenge for the big white rope for May.

That result also left Bunbukuchagama as the edition's sole runner-up after all, well done.

The final standings:

Day 15: 13/13 Decisions, TB 11
Pos	Player	Pts	TB
1	Asashosakari	11	14
2	Bunbukuchagama	10	16
3	Yarimotsu	9	15
4	Athenayama	8	16
4	Fashiritētā	8	14
4	Hakuryuho	8	14
7	chishafuwaku	7	14
7	Holleshoryu	7	12
7	Profomisakari	7	13
7	ryafuji	7	15
7	Ryoshishokunin	7	14
7	Sakura	7	13
13	Jejima	6	16
13	Oskanohana	6	17
15	WAKATAKE	4	11

I'm not quite sure what to say about that tie-breaker outcome...

The new ballot for Natsu 2025:

    Hoshoryu       19
 1. Onosato        12*
 2. Aonishiki       9*
    Tochimaru       6
 3. Inami           7*
 4. Daieisho        6
 5. Kusano          6*
    Takakento       5
    Okaryu          5*
    Noda            5*
 6. Mishima         6
    Yurikisho       5
 7. Hakuoho         5
 8. Tochimusashi    5
 9. Enho            5
10. Daiyusho        5
11. Tenei           5
---
12. Takayasu        4
13. Takerufuji      4
14. Tochitaikai     4
15. Kazekeno        4
16. Mita            4*

The ballot and off-ballot rikishi may not have done so hot in Haru, but thankfully we're getting major - and majorly interesting - reinforcements from the sekitori ranks via accelerated 4-KK joins. Takayasu will keep the number of LKS sanyaku rikishi at three despite Hoshoryu's departure, Takerufuji is set to properly contend against the joi for the first time ever, and Tochitaikai and Mita are making debuts in their respective new divisions, makuuchi and juryo. Even Kazekeno should prove intriguing as his 8-7 Haru score won't be moving him up so much that he can consider himself established in juryo yet.

 

Edited May 9 by Asashosakari

[Asashosakari 20,195]

Scores for banzuke purposes:

Asashosakari 12 (11+Top)
Bunbukuchagama 10
Yarimotsu 9
Athenayama 8
Fashiritētā 8
Hakuryuho 8
chishafuwaku 7
Holleshoryu 7
Profomisakari 7
ryafuji 7
Ryoshishokunin 7
Sakura 7
Jejima 6
Oskanohana 6
WAKATAKE 5 (4+TB)

Total: 114 / 15 = 7.60 ---> no adjustment

Very clear split even if there's a bit of a makekoshi excess.

The banzuke for Natsu 2025:

chishafuwaku (Ye 7-8)     Y   ---
Yarimotsu (O2e 9-6)       O1  Holleshoryu (O1w 7-8)
Sakura (O2w 7-8)          O2  Oskanohana (O1e 6-9)
Asashosakari (Kw 12-3 Y)  S   Bunbukuchagama (Sw 10-5 J)
Athenayama (M2e 8-7)      K   ryafuji (Se 7-8)
Hakuryuho (M3e 8-7)       M1  Profomisakari (Ke 7-8)
Fashiritētā (M3w 8-7)     M2  Ryoshishokunin (M1w 7-8)
Jejima (M2w 6-9)          M3  WAKATAKE (M1e 5-10)

Four straight tournaments of the yokozuna alternating 8-7 and 7-8 scores, here's hoping Natsu basho is on the positive side again (ideally with more than 8 wins, too).

Yarimotsu was on a tsunatori carried over from Kyushu basho (where he took the yusho) via a Hatsu kosho, and while his third-place finish hasn't been enough to secure the rope, it's a strong enough result to lead to another opportunity in the upcoming basho. The other three ozeki luckily weren't kadoban for Haru, but they are now.

No ozeki promotions this time around. Neither Asashosakari (Hatsu 7-8, 3x 8-7 before that) nor Bunbukuchagama (2x 8-7) have any particular promotion credentials beyond this most recent performance, so their chance will have to come next time. Haru champion ryafuji unfortunately went makekoshi altogether, so he's back to square one.

Edited June 8 by Asashosakari