Ack!

Aonishiki, definitely

Terunofuji - 2 Onosato - 2 Hoshoryu - 1 Takerufuji - 1 while ranked in sanyaku

Kirishima will become the next Mitakeumi

Wakamotoharu S Daieisho Abi K Atamifuji Gonoyama and Oho will debut in sanyaku in 2025 Kirishima will become the next Mitakeumi

Onosato Y Kotozakura O Wakatakakage Hoshoryu O Takerufuji Wakamotoharu S Daieisho Abi K Atamifuji Gonoyama and Oho will debut in sanyaku in 2025 Kirishima will become the next Mitakeumi

Onosato was second with 65. Wakatakakage finished the year with 63 wins, which includes one basho in Makushita and two bashos in Juryo. With 61 wins, Hoshoryu was the only other rikishi to achieve 60+ in 2024.

More comebacks of note: Former sekitori Hitoshi is at his highest rank (Ms4w) since his one and only appearance in Juryo at Kyushu 2023. He spent 2024 bouncing between KK and MK, with the KKs being more influential (5 or 6 wins) than the MKs (4 or 5 losses). We will have to wait and see if he breaks the pattern with a KK this basho. Former sekitori Takakento is at his highest rank (Ms9w) since Hatsu 2024, which was the first of two consecutive bashos kyujo. He was 4-3 last basho, his fourth consecutive KK following kyujo.

Hatsu 2025 starting lineup: O2w Onosato: 10 KK, 99-35, 2x M yusho J5w Aonishiki: 7 KK, 48-9, Jd, Jk yusho Ms3w Kusano: 4 KK, 20-8 Ms8e Matsui: 5 KK, 22-12-1 Ms8w Ishizaki: 3 KK, 16-5 Ms17e Mita: 2 KK, 11-3 Ms17w Okaryu: 4 KK, 22-6 Ms19w Inami: 5 KK, 27-8 Ms28e Seihakuho: 4 KK, 24-4, Jd yusho Sd3e Shimizuumi: 3 KK, 18-3, Jk, Jd yusho Sd8w Noda: 4 KK, 21-7 Sd46e Imamura: 4 KK, 18-10 Sd30e Karino: 4 KK, 20-8-7* (*0-0-7 in first basho) Sd60e Goseizan: 2 KK, 12-0-2 Jd8e Furuta: 2 KK, 10-4

Fading rikishi (at their lowest rank in last 12 months): I realize this topic is a bit of a bummer, sorry, but I thought someone might want to see this data. Noting Takarafuji's comeback, posted above, we can remain hopeful for better results in the new year. Ganbare! - Kirishima, M1w, was last among the rank and file in Nagoya 2022 - Kotoshoho, M13w, seemed to be recovering from a trip to Juryo at the end of 2023, so is not on a "fade." he just had a disaster at Kyushu that leaves him just above his M14e rank at Hatsu last year - Hokutofuji, M14w, managed only one KK in 2024. He has not been this low since Nagoya 2018, and it is his second lowest ranking since entering the Makuuchi division at Nagoya 2016 - Sadanoumi, J1e, has not been in Juryo since a four basho "rehab assignment" in 2021 - Ryuden, J3e, has been bouncing between MK and KK for the last two years. He has not been in Juryo since Nagoya 2022, when he was coming back from a three-basho suspension in 2021. Excepting that, he was last in Juryo at Kyushu 2017. - Bushozan, J7w, has not been up from Juryo that long, but he is at his lowest rank since Natsu 2022. This was his fourth stint in the top division and was the first time he managed to stick for more than one basho. So I think his current rank doesn't represent a "fade," so much as a reset for his next repromotion. - Mitoryu, J8w, has four straight MKs since his Juryo yusho at the Haru basho sent him to the top division for the third time. Sliding from J8e to J8w with a 7-8 record, maybe he is ready to rebound from his lowest rank since Kyushu 2021. - Daiamami Genki, has not lived up to his name recently, having carded five straight MKs. A career "elevator" rikishi bouncing between Juryo and Makuuchi, he was last ranked this low at his Juryo debut in Hatsu 2017. - Tohakuryu, J11w, is in the same position as Daiamami, with five straight MKs and his lowest ranking since his Juryo debut in Hatsu 2021. - Daishoho, J14w, stands on the precipice of demotion after four straight MKs. He stared that down from the same position in Aki 2021, going 11-4. Let's hope for a repeat of that achievement! - Chiyomaru, Ms10e, is on his third trip to makushita in the past 12 months. Having returned to Juryo twice, I don't think he is ready to throw in the towel, although the task has gotten harder each time.

The Takarafuji comeback continues! At M8w, he was last in single digits during Kyushu 2022, 3-12 at M8e

In please

And now it's so obvious it smacks me in the face...

I note none of the rikishi with a yusho from the bottom of makuuchi achieved the feat, nor was there a yusho at any rank involved with those who did.

Well, with a yusho and a jun-yusho within four bashos (granted a 12-3Y and a 11-4 JY are not impressive records for that feat) at sekiwake I always thought he had the potential to go higher, but that was two+ years ago with a half-year kyujo, so who knows? Maybe I'm just a sucker for believing each shin-sekiwake is the next ozeki.