With the Nagoya Basho in our rear mirror, we have the Aki basho right around the corner. Before we make that turn, we should take a look at the rikishi that have broken through to the paid ranks, and also those that had to take a demotion, returning to their tsukebito ways. Let’s start with those turning their cotton black mawashi for a sleek silk mawashi.
Kizenryu (Ms1e 5-2) did more than enough to step in front of the curtain. This is not his first time up to the sekitori ranks. He has already fought 4 tournaments in Juryo. He has spent the bulk of his sumo career in Makushita, 42 out of 50 basho. Kizenryu hails from a famous sumo college, Nihon University. At 31 years old, now is the time for him to make a real push into Juryo, cause time is against any rikishi after 30. Coming into the Nagoya basho, he had won half his bouts by uwatenage. Then in Nagoya, he won half with that kimarite. It seems that really likes getting an outer grip throw.
Wakanoshima (Ms3w 5-2) is in the paid ranks for our upcoming tourney in Tokyo. This is a return visit to Juryo for Waka. Here is another rikishi over 30 and only a handful of tourneys in the paid ranks. He needs to really drive hard to remain a sekitori and rise up the banzuke. During the Nagoya tourney, he got to play spoiler to Oyanagi's 17-0 career start. If Oyanagi would have defeated Wakanoshima on the dohyo, he would have got a 7-0 record, and being Ms15 or above, automatic promotion to Juryo. Instead, Wakanoshima beat him, ending his unabated streak. Since entering sumo, Oyanagi is 17-1.
Dewahayate (J11e 3-12) took a huge tumble to put the black mawashi back on. He as been as high as Juryo 9. At 27 years old, he still has time to add on to his 6 basho in Juryo. I suppose it will take him 2-3 basho to get back into the paid ranks.
Shimanoumi (4-11 J14w) is our final rikishi demoted to Makushita for the Aki Basho. His Juryo debut did not pan out as Shima would have hoped. With a new shikona, changing from his family name shikona of Hamaguchi, we all wanted him to get a kachikoshi in the paid ranks. He will need a few basho to step back in front of the curtain.
It appears that Kitataiki (J12w 6-9) was extremely lucky to remain in the sekitori ranks. You have not remembered, he’s been a sekitori for 9 years now. He is 33 years old, not sure how much for sumo his body can take it. Let’s hope he can kachikoshi during the Aki Basho, and continue as a sekitori.
