July 2018 Review

YOKOZUNA: Kakuryu (Mongolia/Izutsu) came into July looking for his third consecutive tournament championship. He pulled out after day five, finishing 3-3-9. Hakuho (Mongolia/Miyagino) pulled out of the tournament after day three, finishing 3-1-11. Kisenosato (Ibaraki/Tagonoura) pulled out of his eighth consecutive tournament, finishing 0-0-15.

OZEKI: Goeido (Osaka/Sakaigawa) came into the July tournament kadoban for the seventh time in his career, and was able to avoid demotion with a 10-5 record. Takayasu (Ibaraki/Tagonoura) was kadoban for only the second time, but finished 9-6 to avoid demotion. Shin-ozeki Tochinoshin (Georgia/Kasugano) suffered an injury and had to pull out after day six, finishing 5-2-8, and will be kadoban for the first time in September.

SEKIWAKE: Ichinojo (Mongolia/Minato) picked up his eighth win on day fifteen, finishing 8-7 after an underwhelming tournament. Mitakeumi (Nagano/Dewanoumi) won his first career championship, going 13-2, and picking up an outstanding performance prize and a technique prize. He has 22 wins over the past two tournaments, and has a chance to earn promotion with a strong showing in September.

KOMUSUBI: Tamawashi (Mongolia/Kataonami) went 8-7, but will stay at komusubi since there is no open sekiwake slot. Shohozan (Fukuoka/Nishonoseki) went 3-12, and will relinquish his spot in the san’yaku ranks.

MAEGASHIRA: Ikioi (Osaka/Isenoumi) went 8-7 at maegashira 2, and has a chance to fill the open komusubi slot as the highest ranked maegashira wrestler with a winning record. Takakeisho (Hyogo/Takanohana) is also a candidate for the open komusubi slot after going 10-5 at maegashira 3. Yutakayama (Niigata/Tokitsukaze) went 12-3 and was runner up, as well as the recipient of a fighting spirit prize, at maegashira 9. Onosho (Aomori/Onomatsu) went 10-5 at maegashira 11. Tochiozan (Kochi/Kasugano) finished the tournament 10-5 at maegashira 13. The other maegashira was Asanoyama (Toyama/Takasago), who went 11-4 and won a fighting spirit prize. Maegashira 16 Hokutofuji (Saitama/Hakkaku) also went 11-4 to avoid demotion to juryo in an emphatic fashion.

Outstanding Performance: Mitakeumi

Fighting Spirit: Yutakayama, Asanoyama

Technique: Mitakeumi

Kinboshi: Ikioi (Kakuryu, day 4), Abi (Kakuryu, day 5)