Yokozuna and Ozeki

[Jejima 1,345]

A new poll question.

Please mention who you think will be 'demoted/retire from' and who will be 'promoted to' both of these ranks.

[Tony 16]

No surprise in 2008 : Kaio intai and no yokozuna or ozeki promotion/demotion.

[kaiguma 0]

No surprise in 2008: Kaio intai, no yokozuna promotion or intai, and of course Ama will finish off his Ozeki run in Natsu or Nagoya!

[Washuyama 638]

Kaio will intai, Kootoshu will drop from Ozeki (Hopefully to let his knee heal completely). No new romotions, although Baruto and Ama will be closing in on Ozeki.

[Fay 1,677]

I think I will go intai earlier than Kaio, so I am not sure for him. I prefer to stop all my speculations.

No new Yokozuna, no new Ozeki cause Kakuryu is not yet ready :-P but he will be at least Komusubi in November :-)

[Sasanishiki 57]

2 yokozuna and Chiyotaikai, Kotomitsuki & Kotooshu. Kaio will be gone mid year, and I'm not ruling out Kotooshu having dropped to sekiwake but bouncing straight back.

[Washuyama 638]

2009 will see Wakanoho promoted to Ozeki. Don't see anyone making it before him.

2008 may see Kaio, Chiyotaikai, Asashoryu and Kotomitsuki retire.

Wow!! :-)

[Sashohitowa 6]

Hakuho Y1

Chiyotaikai O1 Kotomitsuki

[Bealzbob 0]

2 (same) yokozuna.

3 ozeki. Kaio to retire, Kotooshu to be demoted. Ama promoted to join Chiyotaikai & Kotomitsuki.

[Asashosakari 18,959]

Boring answer: 2 yokozuna, 3 ozeki; Kaio intai, no other changes whatsoever.

[Yangnomazuma 77]

Two Yokozuna - same characters

Three Ozeki - same characters minus retired Kaio

And....a Sekiwake or two ready to displace Chiyotaikai who will retire in 2009. Wakanoho and/or Baruto should run the Ozeki total back to 4 by end of 2009

[Gusoyama 98]

I'd put big odds against baruto becoming ozeki. I'd also put odds against Wakanoho becoming ozeki, but lower odds.

[obinishiki 0]

Kaio intai - no promotions

[aderechelsea 124]

2 Yokozuna (the same we have now)

2 Ozekis (Kaio intai and Kotomitsuki demoted)

[kaiguma 0]

2 Yokozuna (the same we have now)

2 Ozekis (Kaio intai and Kotomitsuki demoted)

Not that it means that much, but Kotomitsuki has never had consecutive MK from a sanyaku rank. I don't see his condition getting so bad or the new blood so strong that this would change. However, anyone could become injured badly enough that demotion is inevitable. I would never wish that on our beloved Mickey...

Just curious why you think he will be demoted by the end of 2008...

[aderechelsea 124]

i am a gambler .... ;-)

i predict an injury and 2 MKs in a row. This will happen in Aki and he'll be kyujo in Kyushu, so he won't be able to regain the title of Ozeki by Hatsu 2009.

anyway ... all these polls and prediction topics are pure fiction. I know so after participating in numerous "when Kaio is going to retire" topics :-)

one year ago none would predict that Mickey could be Ozeki by Hatsu 2008 but here we are .... Sumo is an amazing sport. Things happen all the time.

[JariM 29]

Same two Yokozunas.

Kaio retires.

Kotooshu demoted but rises back after one tournament as sekiwake.

One new ozeki.

[Kotononami 86]

one year ago none would predict that Mickey could be Ozeki by Hatsu 2008 but here we are .... Sumo is an amazing sport. Things happen all the time.

Wrong (Yawning...) Here

We were several to think that he could do it.

[Jejima 1,345]

So....

Yokozunas - no change

Ozekis - probably lose one (Kaio?) that is possibly replaced (????).

Poll closed.

[Jejima 1,345]

There will be two Yokozunas on the January 2009 banzuke after no Yokozuna retirements or promotions in 2008 - so we were mostly correct.

There will be five Ozekis on the January 2009 banzuke, after none of the Ozekis retired or were demoted during 2008, and Ama*'s recent promotion. Nobody predicted five ozekis - so we were all wrong!

*Now renamed as Harumafuji or 'Humph'!