January 2018 Talking Points

The January 2018 basho is over, and it certainly was fifteen days of exciting sumo. The excitement culminated in Tochinoshin’s unexpected first career yusho. Here are some interesting themes and points from the basho:

Mid-Basho Collapses: This basho saw a trio of san’yaku men have the wheels fall off during the second week of the basho. Yokozuna Kakuryu started the basho with an impressive 10-0 record, and was many people’s pick to win the yusho. Starting on day 11, he managed to rattle off 4 consecutive losses before winning on the final day to finish 11-4. Ozeki Goeido finished the first week 5-2, needing just three wins for kachi-koshi. The second week did not treat him well, as he lost 5 of 8, and didn’t get his kachi koshi until day 14, ending 8-7. The biggest mid-basho collapse was Sekiwake Mitakeumi. He started with an impressive 7-0 record, and people were talking about a possible yusho and the beginnings of an ozeki campaign. Starting on nakabi, Mitakeumi lost 5 straight, before getting his kachi-koshi day 13, finishing the basho with a disappointing 8-7, including a dismal 1-7 during the second week.

Parity: If nothing else, this basho was exciting because of how competitive it was. Part of the reason that so many san’yaku men struggled during the second week was because they faced such a stiff test from the upper maegashira ranks. There were truly no easy matches for the san’yaku ranks.

Kakuryu: After having sat out for the entirety of two consecutive basho, Kakuryu was facing a forced retirement if he didn’t compete well here. He got off to the best start possible through ten days, with an undefeated record. He seemed set to capture his fourth career yusho, but dropped four of his last five.

Kisenosato: After pulling out of the basho on day six after a 1-5 start, Kisenosato has now pulled out before the end of the first week of five consecutive basho.

Takayasu: Takayasu was the shining light among the san’yaku ranks. While he finished the first week at a disappointing 4-3, he went 8-0 the second week, to finish with a respectable 12-3.

Ichinojo: Another rikishi who really performed well in January. Ichinojo came in at a whopping 215 kg (473 lbs). The extra weight seemed to translate to extra strength for Ichinojo, as he physically outmatched opponents on his way to a 10-5 record and a return to san’yaku for March.

Tochinoshin: What else can be said about Tochinoshin? He came into the basho looking fitter than ever, and he won the yusho at maegashira 3, with an impressive 14-1 record, and earned the shukun-sho and gino-sho. His only loss came to Kakuryu.

Tochiozan: Tochiozan was one of three men to hold a 7-0 record after the first week. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury, and had to pull out on day 12. The injury seems relatively serious, and hopefully he recovers properly.

Terunofuji: After an 0-2 start, the former ozeki was diagnosed with diabetes. He then pulled out of the basho for five days, while he was likely taking time to adapting to life with diabetes. On day 11, he returned to the dohyo, but lost his final five matches, moving to 0-8-7, and a possible demotion to juryo.

Makuuchi Debutants: Two men made their makuuchi debuts in January. Abi and Ryuden both finished with a highly respectable 10-5, and both receiving the kanto-sho.