Yokozuna Hoshoryu has announced his kyujo. I am, at the very least, very proud of him and Tatsunami-oyakata for not aggravating the injury and taking the time off when he needs it. Rest up, dear Hoshoryu. His oyakata has said that it’s most likely a muscle strain and he’ll need about two weeks of recovery, and I’m sure he wants to attend the Paris koen, so we’ll see how he goes. I mean, it looks really good for Kirishima. It looks so good that it could literally be a Yokozuna run if all goes well. If he wins, he will be in the same position that Aonishiki was in last basho, when we thought it was possible for him to get to Yokozuna. But let’s not jump the gun.

MATCH OF THE DAY: Our two low-ranked tsukedashi led off the Makuuchi action today, with big boys Fujiryoga and Wakanosho taking to the clay together. They had quite the tsuppari battle going back and forth, and they each had each other teetering around on the edge quite a few times. But, unfortunately for my fantasy team, Fujiryoga took Wakanosho out. I like him a bit less now that his hair is up, but a win’s a win. Good fight, kid.

KIMARITE OF THE DAY: This was more of an execution kimarite than a kimarite bonus points kimarite, but Kotoeiho is performing beautiful sumo and I am here for it. Shishi is awake and fighting, so kudos to him, but Kotoeiho was able to have a fantastic pivot on the tawara and threw Shishi with an uwatenage underarm throw.

PINK MAWASHI DAY TWO: I didn’t expect Nishikifuji to be more trouble than Hakunofuji, but the man from Aomori unfortunately just went in harder than our pink boy. It happens. I still love you, Ura, as did the old lady sitting near the hanamichi.

OVERALL SUMMARY: Just to share, my glorious king Mita is back in action! After an ACL (tear? Rupture? No one knows) he is back in action in Sandanme and got his win. Mita was a very promising Juryo prospect who suffered a severe injury in September one basho after his yusho win. The utmost luck and love to him as he recovers.

Unfortunately, Hoshoryu’s kyujo means the yusho race is looking unexciting. But it seems like the best contender so far is Kirishima, given that both Sekiwake and Kotozakura are winless, though our Komusubi look fabulous. He will head up against Fujinokawa in what’s sure to be an exciting bout tomorrow. In some other highlight bouts, Onokatsu will come up from Juryo to fight Fujiryoga, Ura and Asanoyama will fight with a grand total of one working knee between them, and Hiradoumi will battle Takayasu.