Kakuryu showed a tsuridashi win over undefeated ozeki Harumafuji to keep one win behind the three leaders Hakuho, Baruto and Kotooshu. Kisenosato also is doing well at 5-1 and even the struggling Kotoshogiku won his bout against Toyonoshima to level his score at 3-3. The komusubi pair of Miyabiyama and Wakakoyu is winless, so it looks like new candidates are needed for next basho, and Takayasu put himself in the best position with a nice yorikiri against Okinoumi while only Aminishiki has more than one win among the five top ranked maegashira rikishi. The two shin-makuuchi Tenkaiho and Chiyonokuni continue to impress as they already are 5-1, while Nionoumi and Kyokushuho are hanging in at 2-4.
Shin-sekitori Chiyotairyu is the sole juryo leader now with Sotairyu's rather clear loss to Tamaasuka. Russian Amuru also is doing well at 5-1, but the other two shin-sekitori are not doing so well with Kitaharima at 2-4 or outright disappointing with Homarefuji at 1-5.
Sakumayama still is hon-basho-undefeated for his career as he beat a respectable opponent today with Takanoiwa. 21 years old Kumagai already has been Ms14 a year ago, failing to take advantage of the heaps of banzuke luck last year. Now he is 3-0 with the win over Hokuo while surviving a henka and still among the makushita leaders.
Several 2011 class entrants had the chance to improve to 3-0 in sandanme with top-ranked Irie and lowly Meisei missing out while Kotokawazu, Hakuyozan and Kenho won today. Wakayama meanwhile broke his two bout losing streak showing patience in the win over Miyamaru.
Doitsuyama (sumoforum)
