Asashosakari

Day 2 Highlights Jk16e Satsumao (0-0) Nishikio Jk15w Jk14e Sunasaka (0-0) Tenrosei Jk13w Jk11e Hara (0-0) Wakasasaki Jk12e never seen a yobidashi still sweeping at the timekeeper signal, let alone as the bout commenced... Jd98e Asasakurai (0-0) Urutora Jd97w Jd81e Akinishiki (0-0) Shibuya Jd80w [kimarite: tsukitaoshi] Jd22e Teraosho (0-0) Kosei Jd22w Jd18e Yamenosato (0-0) Najima Jd18w Jd16e Asasorai (0-0) Takano Jd15w [kimarite: hikkake] Sd75e Kisenoumi (0-0) Asashinjo Sd74w Sd61e Imamura (0-0) Nagata Sd60w Sd31w Asakiryu (0-0) Kotohaguro Sd30w [kimarite: ashitori] Sd27e Suyama (0-0) Tokinohira Sd27w [kimarite: tsukihiza] Sd23e Daishinkai (0-0) Hayashiryu Sd22w Sd16e Naya (0-0) Kitanosho Sd17e [kimarite: abisetaoshi] Ms51e Daikosho (0-0) Yamato Ms51w [kimarite: abisetaoshi] Ms49e Shunrai (0-0) Ikazuchido Ms49w [kimarite: kakenage] Ms45e Seihakuho (0-0) Anhibiki Ms45w Ms39e Kawazoe (0-0) Hinataryu Ms39w Ms26e Chiyotora (0-0) Aratakayama Ms25w Ms19e Fukai (0-0) Narutaki Ms18w Ms17e Anosho (0-0) Kazenoumi Ms16w [kimarite: tsukitaoshi] Ms3w Mudoho (0-0) Tochimaru Ms2w J14e Otsuji (0-1) (1-0) Ishizaki Ms1w

Time for the randomly good stuff... Day 1 Highlights Jk13e Daitensho (0-0) Shoryu Jk12w Jd69e Wakasei (0-0) Nakayama Jd69w Jd15e Ebisumaru (0-0) Kikunoshiro Jd14w Jd1e Genbumaru (0-0) Aoiryu Jd1w slapfight! Sd72e Hakuyo (0-0) Senshoho Sd71w a most loving embrace Sd35e Marusho (0-0) Takashoki Sd35w [kimarite: tsukitaoshi] Sd30e Kotodairyu (0-0) Dewanojo Sd31e Sd24e Tenei (0-0) Ikarigata Sd23w Sd1w Soma (0-0) Fukuzaki Ms60TD [kimarite: tsukitaoshi] Ms54e Chiyotaiho (0-0) Sengaku Ms54w Ms34e Tendozan (0-0) Gyokuozan Ms34w Ms28e Oshoryu (0-0) Yuma Ms27w Ms22e Daimasakari (0-0) Kaiseijo Ms21w great bout! Ms11e Kitaharima (0-0) Okaryu Ms11w Ms7e Takakento (0-0) Akua Ms6w [kimarite: kakenage]

Since Nagoya 1960 (7-bout era), there have been 30 tournaments without any yusho playoffs in makushita and under. In chronological order, back-to-back instances in bold: 1961.07, 1962.07, 1962.11, 1967.09, 1967.11, 1968.11, 1969.03, 1969.05 1970.03, 1971.03, 1972.03, 1973.01, 1973.05, 1975.01, 1976.03, 1977.09 1991.09 2001.07, 2006.03 2013.01, 2013.05, 2013.07, 2014.09, 2015.01 2020.09, 2021.03, 2021.09, 2024.07, 2025.01, 2025.03 A chance for Natsu basho to make it the first three-peat.

Right, I saw that error as well.

I had that problem while trying to send this post the other day, so it wasn't image/embed-related for me. In fact, it didn't appear to be related to anything within the post at all; selectively removing parts didn't change anything (except for removing everything and just writing "test"), but when I tried to post the full text to the test forum it worked just fine there. I can't say what exactly I did to make it work in the end.

A Discord user recently visited a ramen shop in Las Vegas that turned out to be run by an ex-rikishi. Among the various memorabilia present there was also a large printout of a local magazine article about him, and it turns out that the article is actually still available on the net as well (in fact the oldest one they have on the website, whew): Las Vegas Japan Times March 2017 or direct link to the article. Anyway, the shop owner is the former Matsuuragata, and it's another opportunity to fix a name: The confirmed given name reading for 浩嗣 is Koji こうじ rather than the presently listed Hirotsugu, and presumably that's true also for the period that he used it as part of his shikona. Furthermore, as the article says that his shikona was taken from his uncle, we can address that rikishi as well. It's a bit confusing that he's listed as Matsuragata while the nephew is Matsuuragata, but I haven't found any references that would support doubting that; I suppose it's not totally unheard of to re-use a (kanji) shikona but alter the pronunciation. But we can still confirm that his real surname was indeed Makiyama as well. As he went all the way up to komusubi there's actually a ja.wiki article about him, and now it gets a bit messy: Its listed real given name matches the DB's data with 強臣, but gives the reading Tsuyomi つよみ. (I'm actually not sure at all why the DB has "Torinosuke"...that seems weird for 強臣 even with the vagaries of nanori readings.) The problem is that he also used those kanji as his shikona given name for the two basho that he fought as Orochigata, but the DB - and other sources like Takayama - have the reading as Tsuyoomi つよおみ there. I have no idea if one or the other is wrong, or if maybe both are right and the readings in fact differed. (I also can't help but notice that Takayama uses the archaic 枩 matsu kanji instead of the modern variant for all tournaments other than the very last one of his career...)

Miyagino-beya already is "closed indefinitely", that's been the situation since April last year simply by virtue of the fact that no specific re-opening timetable was set at the time of closure. (Notwitstanding the constant barrage of people assuming that it definitely has to happen by date X, usually with X being defined by some more or less randomly chosen offset from the day Isegahama turns 65.) And yeah, as Akinomaki insinuated, this article's entire line of argument essentially seems to boil down to, "no change of status has been decided at this time, so no change will eeeeeever happen now, therefore Hakuho is leaving." It's incredibly thin even by tabloid standards.

Or even Kawazoe if they did put him into the zone. I tried to block out that meta consideration, but maybe they didn't.

Projected movements between the lower divisions: Promotions from sandanme MsTd x2 7-0 x1 Sd21w 6-1 x5 Sd6w, Sd23e, Sd23w, Sd33w, Sd41w 5-2 x8 Sd1e, Sd3w, Sd6e, Sd11w, Sd12e, Sd12w, Sd19e, Sd21e 4-3 x5 Sd2e, Sd3e, Sd5w, Sd8w, Sd9e -------- x21 (summary) Likely demotions from makushita intai x0 0-0-7 x1 Ms29e 0-7 x1 Ms37e 1-6 x4 Ms58w, Ms56e, Ms51w, Ms38e, (Ms24w) 2-5 x8 Ms60w, Ms55e, Ms54e, Ms48w, Ms47w, Ms46e, Ms44w, Ms42w, (Ms34w) 3-4 x7 Ms60e, Ms57w, Ms56w, Ms55w, Ms52e, Ms49w, Ms45w, (Ms44e) -------- x21 A very unlucky Ms45w 3-4 (that's Ajigawa's Anhibiki), but dropping the next 2-5 or 1-6 instead makes (much) less sense. Shin-makushita for Natsu Goseizan (Sd6e 5-2) Murayama (Sd19e 5-2) Daishinkai (Sd23e 6-1) Ikarigata (Sd23w 6-1) Promotions from jonidan MsTd x2 7-0 x1 Jd4e 6-1 x7 Jd14e, Jd19w, Jd32e, Jd35e, Jd47e, Jd59e, Jd67e 5-2 x9 Jd2w, Jd9w, Jd11e, Jd15e, Jd21e, Jd21w, Jd26w, Jd27w, Jd32w 4-3 x10 Jd1w, Jd4w, Jd6w, Jd8w, Jd10e, Jd10w, Jd11w, Jd16w, Jd18e, Jd20e -------- x29 (summary) note: Jd5w 5-2 is intai Likely demotions from sandanme intai x3 Sd51w, Sd57e, Sd79w 0-0-7 x3 Sd47e, Sd40w, Sd26w 0-7 x1 Sd33e 1-6 x5 Sd78e, Sd72e, Sd66w, Sd57w, Sd48e, (Sd42e) 2-5 x9 Sd80e, Sd77e, Sd72w, Sd69w, Sd66e, Sd64e, Sd61w, Sd60w, Sd56w, (Sd52e) 3-4 x7 Sd78w, Sd75e, Sd74e, Sd73w, Sd69e, Sd68w, Sd68e, (Sd62w) -------- x28+1 It's 28+1 rather than 29 because I can't decide who's the last man out. The committee typically equates one win to approximately 10 ranks in these decisions, which means it's a complete toss-up between the three rikishi whose ranks are listed in brackets. Gun to my head I'm picking the Sd62w 3-4 (Sekizuka) to go down. Shin-sandanme for Natsu Gonosho (Jd32w 5-2) Wakaikazuchi (Jd35e 6-1) Niiya (Jd47e 6-1) The highest-ranked upcoming debutant having competed as low as Jd32 is completely unprecedented; even a top rank outside Jd20 is extremely unusual, and the record holder among those three basho was 1967.07 with the top debutant having come up from Jd30e back then. (And that was only two tournaments after massive amounts of sandanme rikishi had been pushed out as part of divisional size reforms, so upper jonidan was unusually stacked with rikishi who already had sandanme experience, making for a much different situation than today.) Jd/Jk split 200 Jd 38 Jk - 7 intai - 3 >Bg + 2 MsTd + 32 Mz ---- 262 = 131 ranks Likely to be in Jk Mz x32 Jk 0-7 x2 Jk19w, Jk8e Jk 1-6 x2 Jk11w, Jk11e, (Jk2w, Jk2e) Jk 2-5 x0 (Jk19e, Jk18w, Jk17w, Jk12e, Jk10w, Jk7e, Jk5w, Jk3e) Jk 3-4 x0 (Jk18e, Jk17e, Jk6w, Jk5e, Jk4w) Jd 0-0-7 x6 Jd91e, Jd86w, Jd85e, Jd80e, Jd76e, Jd70e, (Jd45w, Jd37e) Jd 0-7 x0 (Jd57w) Jd 1-6 x0 (Jd70w, Jd69e, Jd65e) Jd 2-5 x0 (Jd99w, Jd99e, Jd97e) Jd 3-4 x0 (Jd100w, Jd100e) ----------- x42 => 110 Jd, 21 Jk I'm not a fan of pushing up undeserving jonokuchi rikishi just because there's a large shindeshi crowd coming in (I'd rather they let the division sizes shift naturally over the next few tournaments), but it is what it is and so I'm predicting nearly every Haru Jk rikishi to be in Jd next time. Consequently nobody's getting demoted from jonidan either, except for a handful of guys who were absent. Technically the Jd45w 0-0-7 and Jd57w 0-1-6 should also be headed to jonokuchi (standard-size demotions drop them to the non-existent Jd115 and Jd117), but they tend to show some leniency in these post-Haru ranking sessions since everybody else is getting ridiculously lucky as well, and I think these two are close enough to warrant the reprieve.

Guesses... Juryo Mitakeumi (M17e 6-9) J1 Takarafuji (M12e 3-12) Hidenoumi (J6w 10-5) J2 Kusano (J14w 14-1 Y) Fujiseiun (J5w 9-6) J3 Shirokuma (M17w 5-10) Hakuyozan (J8w 9-6) J4 Kagayaki (J1w 4-11) Wakaikari (J9e 8-7) J5 Nishikifuji (M13e 0-2-13) Hitoshi (J12e 9-6) J6 Daiseizan (J10e 8-7) Tomokaze (J7e 7-8) J7 Kotoeiho (J7w 7-8) Shimanoumi (J10w 8-7) J8 Tsurugisho (J11e 8-7) Shiden (J4e 4-11) J9 Tohakuryu (J9w 7-8) Oshoumi (J4w 4-7-4) J10 Hatsuyama (J13e 8-7) Kazekeno (J13w 8-7) J11 Wakanosho (J11w 7-8) Mitoryu (J6e 4-11) J12 Nabatame (J5e 3-8-4) Miyagi (Ms1e 4-3) J13 Daiamami (Ms2e 4-3) Mita (Ms4w 5-2) J14 Mudoho (Ms3w 4-3) Lots of space to fill with lucky rikishi below J3. Makushita-joi Akua (Ms6w 6-1) Ms1 Hokutofuji (J8e 3-12) Kitanowaka (J2w 0-0-15) Ms2 Oshoryu (Ms28e 7-0 Y) Dewanoryu (Ms10e 6-1) Ms3 Otsuji (J14e 5-10) Kotokuzan (Ms6e 4-3) Ms4 Kyokukaiyu (Ms9e 5-2) Tochimusashi (Ms9w 5-2) Ms5 Ishizaki (Ms1w 3-4) Daishoho (Ms7w 4-3) Ms6 Satorufuji (Ms13e 5-2) Kiryuko (J12w 2-5-8) Ms7 Asahakuryu (Ms15w 5-2) Inami (Ms13w 4-3) Ms8 Hokutomaru (Ms21e 5-2) Hamayutaka (Ms14w 4-3) Ms9 Tochimaru (Ms2w 2-5) Takakento (Ms7e 3-4) Ms10 Hananoumi (Ms23e 5-2) Chiyomaru (Ms16e 4-3) Ms11 Enho (Ms30w 6-1) Nishinoryu (Ms4e 2-5) Ms12 Nobehara (Ms18e 4-3) Narutaki (Ms18w 4-3) Ms13 Tendozan (Ms34w 6-1) Chiyotora (Ms26e 5-2) Ms14 Toseiryu (Ms27e 5-2) Asanoyama (Sd21w 7-0 Y) Ms15 Gojinyu (Ms10w 3-4) Compared to my quick draft back on senshuraku, I've bumped up 6-1's Akua and Dewanoryu by one spot each, while Ishizaki is a rank lower in line with my assumption that the last spot in this crowded top 5 will come down to him and Daishoho. After Ms6e things quickly fall apart and there are bunches of lucky rikishi the rest of the way. As usual the makekoshi falling out of the top 5 are the biggest wildcard, and I've been much more lenient with Tochimaru and Nishinoryu than the Kyokai was with the last 2-5 guys (Kaisho and Obara after Kyushu), but that was a very different banzuke with much less space around Ms10. I've placed Enho broadly in line with how Gojinyu was treated last time: Kyokukaiyu (Ms16e 5-2) Ms9 Tochimusashi (Ms14w 4-3) Dewanoryu (Ms22e 5-2) Ms10 Gojinyu (Ms31w 6-1) Kitaharima (Ms24w 5-2) Ms11 Okaryu (Ms17w 4-3) The Ms11w that I have him at is likely the lowest he can end up (still perfectly normal though), the highest justifiable rank would probably be Ms9w. There are only 27 properly deserving top 15 rikishi up there, the ones down to Ms13 plus Asanoyama. The contenders for the last three spots are (besides my choices Chiyotora/Toseiryu/Gojinyu): Kawazoe (Ms39e 6-1) Kaiseijo (Ms21w 4-3) Kitaharima (Ms11e 3-4) Okaryu (Ms11w 3-4) Kaisho (Ms8w 2-5) Kawazoe would not be a surprise at all after last time, where they even promoted Ms40w 6-1 at the expense of Ms10e 3-4, but as usual when unexpected things happen I'm not very inclined to believe that they're a new standard, so he's just outside in my prediction. Kaiseijo feels like a slightly longer shot than Kawazoe, the MK guys are very unlikely IMHO. If that top 15 cutoff is correct we have 11 rikishi moving up into the promotion zone, corresponding to these drops: Kitaharima (Ms11e 3-4) Okaryu (Ms11w 3-4) Asakoki (Ms12e 3-4) Fujinoyama (Ms12w 3-4) Kaisho (Ms8w 2-5) Tsushimanada (Ms14e 2-3-2) Asashiyu (Ms15e 2-5) Tenshoho (Ms5w 1-6) Shimazuumi (Ms3e 0-0-7) Bushozan (Ms5e 0-0-7) Kotokenryu (Ms8e 0-0-7)

Yeah, usually well-informed X user ryogokulove also commented about Kiryuko's surgery the other day, saying that apparently the ligament damage found during the procedure was more severe than anticipated: Since somebody will probably ask (or at least wonder): 2025.03 J12w 2-5-8 2025.05 Ms7-ish 2025.07 Ms47 2025.09 Sd27 2025.11 Jd7 2026.01 Jd77 2026.03 Jonokuchi

(I'm afraid you're off by two months with Takakeisho's retirement there.) I suppose it was just a formality with Shimanoumi in the end, but they did leave it very late within the official five-year period after all (ex-Sakahoko died in September 2019). I'd still say we can take that as evidence that the tabloid-floated "heirs are expected to get a transfer done much faster" notion wasn't very credible: In any case, I hope that's going to become a regular thing in the business reports that kabu changes of ownership receive an actual mention in the board of directors meetings summaries. BTW, we never found an official date for the transfer of the Furiwake kabu to Myogiryu, did we? The DB data currently has him taking ownership only with his retirement, but obviously we had that interview from more than a year earlier where ex-Ushiomaru's widow explained it as a done deal. The phrases used in the FY2024 business report also strongly imply that Myogiryu officially owned the kabu before his retirement already. (The name accessions by him and Takakeisho do not draw a connection to their retirement from the dohyo, while those by Kotoeko and Aoiyama do.) Edit: While I'm at it - Okinoumi's start as Kimigahama is currently tagged OO in the DB, but should presumably be KA.

Day 15 - Results new KK: Daiamami, Kotokuzan, Daishoho, Chiyomaru, Yuma, Yoshiazuma new MK: - A strong 18-10 finish to Haru basho, including a massive 6-0 by the 3-3 group. Daiamami completed the turnaround from 0-3 to kachikoshi courtesy of a walkover win against injured top division veteran Hokutofuji, and astonishingly secured a return to juryo. The last one to do that was Tomokaze just over two years ago. It turned out to be a forgettable basho for the other two active promotion zoners; Tochimaru finished 2-5 with five straight losses and Tenshoho barely avoided the zenpai record with his sole victory on Day 13. Two head-to-head clashes took place among 2-4 rikishi in high makushita, which saw Takakento and Kitaharima defeating Tochimaru and Kaisho. Kotokuzan will be moving back into the top 5 ranks as another rikishi who converted his last-round KK opportunity; Daishoho did so as well but might be caught in a traffic jam and not get in despite KK at Ms7w. Tochimusashi is caught in that jam as well but should have the inside track over Daishoho with his Ms9w 5-2 result. Akua picked up a sixth win and will be one of the highest-ranked makushita wrestlers next time. Further makushita 6-1 records were produced by two Miyagino-via-Isegahama rikishi: Enho posted that score for the fifth straight basho, becoming only the fourth rikishi ever to do so (and the first who wasn't an ozumo debutant to start), while heyamate Kawazoe lost in the yusho decider and might not even make it into the top 15 ranks for Natsu. The sandanme yusho ended up as a straight-forward affair; both Asanoyama and Asagyokusei were placed against 5-1 opponents for lack of a different option, but only the former ozeki was able to come through, winning the title without a need for an extra playoff. Both guys will be going back into makushita for the May tournament, as are Chiyonoo (five straight wins from 0-2) and Yago. Chiyosakae, who had started 4-0, had a rough second week and finished with just a minimum kachikoshi, and will have to spend another basho in the fourth division. Fujiazuma should be the only ex-sekitori who's headed from Ms to Sd, making for a much reduced overall presence in the lower division next time. Yoshiazuma very nearly blew a 3-0 start for the second time in three basho, but this time his 3-0 -> 3-3 journey ended in kachikoshi after all. Dairaido won on senshuraku and may or may not have done enough to avoid the trip to jonidan with his two wins; it's very close. The next rikishi up from these two will likely be poor Asanowaka, whose last three scores have been 2-5, 1-6, 2-5 as any hope of a return to salaried status slips further and further away. Amakaze will round out the Natsu sandanme contingent, probably a handful of ranks ahead of Asanowaka. No ex-sekitori retirements were announced after the end of Haru basho, so the 29 guys not named Daiamami will feature on the next list again, alongside a quartet of juryo demotees. Rank Shikona Heya Record Haru 2025 Results Age Out Last J HiRk Ms2e Daiamami Oitekaze 4-3 X – X – X – O – O – O – – – O 32 1 2025.01 M11 Ms2w Tochimaru Kasugano 2-5 – O O – X X – – X – X – X – – 32 15 2022.09 J11 Ms3e Shimazuumi Hanaregoma kyujo – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 28 1 2025.01 M12 Ms5e Bushozan Fujishima kyujo – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 29 1 2025.01 M12 Ms5w Tenshoho Isegahama 1-6 – X – X X – X – X – X – O – – 22 7 2024.01 J10 Ms6e Kotokuzan Arashio 4-3 – O X – – O – X O – X – – O – 31 12 2023.03 M16 Ms6w Akua Tatsunami 6-1 O – O – O – O – O – X – – – O 34 6 2024.03 M10 Ms7e Takakento Tokiwayama 3-4 X – – O – X X – – X O – O – – 29 8 2023.11 J4 Ms7w Daishoho Oitekaze 4-3 O – – X X – – O X – O – O – – 30 1 2025.01 M9 Ms8w Kaisho Asakayama 2-5 X – X – – X – O – O X – – – X 30 13 2023.01 J2 Ms9w Tochimusashi Kasugano 5-2 – O – O X – – O – O – X – – O 26 7 2024.01 J7 Ms11e Kitaharima Yamahibiki 3-4 X – O – – X O – – X X – – – O 38 6 2024.03 M15 Ms14e Tsushimanada Sakaigawa 2-3-2 – – – – – X – X O – – X – O – 31 4 2024.07 J9 Ms15e Asashiyu Takasago 2-5 – X X – – O – X O – – X – X – 30 21 2021.09 J13 Ms16e Chiyomaru Kokonoe 4-3 O – – X – O X – – O X – – O – 33 2 2024.11 M5 Ms27w Yuma Onomatsu 4-3 X – O – – X X – – O – O – O – 26 7 2024.01 J13 Ms30w Enho Isegahama 6-1 – O – O O – O – X – – O O – – 30 11 2023.05 M4 Ms39e Kawazoe Isegahama 6-1 – O – O O – O – O – O – X – – 25 9 2023.09 J13 Ms41e Nionoumi Yamahibiki 3-4 – X O – X – X – O – – X – – O 38 69 2013.07 M16 Ms43w Daishomaru Oitekaze 4-3 – O – O – O X – X – – O – X – 33 17 2022.05 M5 Ms46e Fujiazuma Tamanoi 2-4-1 O – – X – O X – – X – – – – X 37 26 2020.11 M4 Sd10w Asanowaka Takasago 2-5 – O – O X – – X X – – X X – – 29 15 2022.09 J4 Sd12e Chiyonoo Kokonoe 5-2 – X X – – O – O O – – O – – O 33 19 2022.01 M14 Sd12w Yago Oshiogawa 5-2 – O – O O – O – X – O – X – – 30 16 2022.07 M10 Sd21w Asanoyama Takasago 7-0 Y O – – O O – – O O – O – O – – 31 3 2024.09 O Sd29w Chiyosakae Kokonoe 4-3 – O – O – O O – X – – X – – X 34 3 2024.09 J8 Sd33w Asagyokusei Takasago 6-1 – O O – – O – O O – O – X – – 31 29 2020.03 J12 Sd52e Dairaido Takadagawa 2-5 X – X – O – X – – X – X – – O 44 110 2006.07 J2 Sd65e Amakaze Oshiogawa 5-2 – O – X – O X – – O O – – – O 33 41 2018.03 M13 Jd64w Yoshiazuma Tamanoi 4-3 O – O – O – – X X – – X – O – 47 62 2014.09 M12

Long overdue to get this finished... Day 12 - Results new KK: Daishomaru, Chiyonoo, Amakaze new MK: Tochimaru, Kaisho, Kitaharima, Asashiyu, Nionoumi, Fujiazuma, Asanowaka A not so stellar round with 12 wins and 15 losses, and particularly bad results by the 10 rikishi who were fighting against makekoshi. Four of them were paired up into two matches which saw Oitekaze duo Daiamami and Daishoho sending their opponents Kaisho and Kitaharima to makekoshi, while the other six posted a combined record of 1-4 (with Fujiazuma missing the round entirely); only Yuma avoided the fourth loss. Defeat was particularly bad news for Tochimaru whose year-long quest for a return to juryo has been derailed for now. And it had looked so good for him at 2-0 a week earlier... Asanowaka down in sandanme has sadly taken the same road from two wins to four straight losses, so no return to makushita for him. Streaks of the opposite variety have been produced by Daiamami (3-3 after 0-3) and Chiyonoo (4-2 after 0-2), leaving the former with an unexpected shot at promotion back to juryo and the latter with a possibility to go up to makushita with another win. Meanwhile, Daishomaru and Amakaze are kachikoshi for the first time in four / five tournaments, respectively. Our representation in the makushita and sandanme yusho races only saw one departure; Akua's hope for a zensho return to juryo was dashed by former collegiate prospect Oshoryu. For the makushita yusho he will face former sekitori Kawazoe who prevailed over rookie MsTd Fukuzaki. Both Takasago-beya contenders Asanoyama and Asagyokusei were victorious in sandanme, complicating the race down there. Six ex-sekitori are entering the final round with their KK/MK fate in the balance. Rank Shikona Heya Record Haru 2025 Results Ms2e Daiamami Oitekaze 3-3 X – X – X – O – O – O – Ms2w Tochimaru Kasugano 2-4 – O O – X X – – X – X – Ms3e Shimazuumi Hanaregoma kyujo – – – – – – – – – – – – Ms5e Bushozan Fujishima kyujo – – – – – – – – – – – – Ms5w Tenshoho Isegahama 0-6 – X – X X – X – X – X – Ms6e Kotokuzan Arashio 3-3 – O X – – O – X O – X – Ms6w Akua Tatsunami 5-1 O – O – O – O – O – X – Ms7e Takakento Tokiwayama 2-4 X – – O – X X – – X O – Ms7w Daishoho Oitekaze 3-3 O – – X X – – O X – O – Ms8w Kaisho Asakayama 2-4 X – X – – X – O – O X – Ms9w Tochimusashi Kasugano 4-2 – O – O X – – O – O – X Ms11e Kitaharima Yamahibiki 2-4 X – O – – X O – – X X – Ms14e Tsushimanada Sakaigawa 1-3-2 – – – – – X – X O – – X Ms15e Asashiyu Takasago 2-4 – X X – – O – X O – – X Ms16e Chiyomaru Kokonoe 3-3 O – – X – O X – – O X – Ms27w Yuma Onomatsu 3-3 X – O – – X X – – O – O Ms30w Enho Isegahama 5-1 – O – O O – O – X – – O Ms39e Kawazoe Isegahama 6-0 – O – O O – O – O – O – Ms41e Nionoumi Yamahibiki 2-4 – X O – X – X – O – – X Ms43w Daishomaru Oitekaze 4-2 – O – O – O X – X – – O Ms46e Fujiazuma Tamanoi 2-3-1 O – – X – O X – – X – – Sd10w Asanowaka Takasago 2-4 – O – O X – – X X – – X Sd12e Chiyonoo Kokonoe 4-2 – X X – – O – O O – – O Sd12w Yago Oshiogawa 5-1 – O – O O – O – X – O – Sd21w Asanoyama Takasago 6-0 O – – O O – – O O – O – Sd29w Chiyosakae Kokonoe 4-2 – O – O – O O – X – – X Sd33w Asagyokusei Takasago 6-0 – O O – – O – O O – O – Sd52e Dairaido Takadagawa 1-5 X – X – O – X – – X – X Sd65e Amakaze Oshiogawa 4-2 – O – X – O X – – O O – Jd64w Yoshiazuma Tamanoi 3-3 O – O – O – – X X – – X

While he's attending school in Shimane, 18-year-old Minami himself is from Tsuyama-shi, Okayama prefecture. 180 cm / 111 kg, and part of the sumo club only in his final school year just now. According to a recent post on the Hidenoyama-beya Instagram account, the heya will have a second shindeshi in Natsu basho. Details are sparse for now; the name is 谷野 (Tanino or Yano, presumably) and he has some sort of prior sumo experience. Looks pretty small, probably under 175 cm / 75 kg. Middle school grad? Another recent update featured the creation of the name plates for the heya's ranking board by Shikimori Kinosuke; Tanino/Yano's plate has been inserted ahead of Minami's, and in fact group shots included in both posts only show T/Y alongside the existing five rikishi, no sign of Minami having arrived yet.