The top seven rikishi on the banzuke won today, meaning a 2-0 start for all except Kotoshogiku. Myogiryu, Aoiyama and Kyokushuho find it difficult at their new level as all three started with two losses. Chiyonokuni is the sole shin-makuuchi with a 2-0 start with Tenkaiho and Nionoumi at 1-1.
Shotenro is looking good in juryo at 2-0, but Wakanosato and Masunoyama probably still need recovery time as both are 0-2. Chiyotairyu is the sole shin-juryo at 2-0 as Homarefuji and Russian Amuru lost today, with lean Kitaharima posting his first win as a sekitori.
Arawashi is making a new attempt to return to juryo after the 3-4 at Ms3 two basho ago, and the Mongolian started well with a win over Tochihiryu. Chokozan finally reached the juryo promotion zone after almost 16 years in Ozumo, coming from a 6-1 at another career high rank last basho. His lost to heavy Kitazono means a bad start though. Sakumyama made the eagerly awaited makushita debut and he beat Oniarashi to stay undefeated in hon-basho bouts. Mongolian Wakamisho also needed only one basho in each of the three lowest divisions to reach makushita (thanks to smaller jonidan division than in past years) and he also won his first bout, beating former juryo Dewaotori with tsuridashi. Shosei has the ability to win with rare kimarite and he managed the kimarite of the day, a zubuneri win over Kei, to follow up his 6-1 last basho with a good start. In sandanme Wakayama suffered his first loss in Ozumo as sandanme veteran Daigoyama managed the surprise.
Doitsuyama (sumoforum)
