March 2018 Wrap-Up

Another basho has come to an end, and we’re officially one third of the way through the 2018 Grand Sumo year. The March Basho provided us with some exciting matchups, controversies, outstanding performances, and a bit of a return to normal with a yokozuna reclaiming the Emperor's Cup. Here are a few major talking points from the basho that was:

Yokozuna: Kakuryu finished the basho 13-2, earning his 4th career yusho. Unlike in January, Kakuryu was able to maintain his momentum through the entire March basho, demonstrating that the time he spent absent for two consecutive basho at the end of 2017 was well worth it. Hakuho sat out the basho, citing a toe injury that seems to be an ongoing problem. Kisenosato also sat out the March basho, making this his sixth consecutive basho in which he has missed all or part of. Kisenosato has only been a yokozuna for seven basho.

Ozeki: Both ozeki performed in a predictable manner. Takayasu started 0-2, but rebounded to win twelve of his next thirteen, finishing with a respectable 12-3, and being runner-up. Goeido seemed to have another up and down basho, as fans have come to expect from him, finishing 9-6. In the eyes of some, his basho was defined by his day ten win against Tochinoshin, in which Goeido completely sidestepped the defending champion at the tachi-ai, drawing the ire of many international fans.

Sekiwake: Mitakeumi has spent six consecutive basho at sekiwake, and has experienced ups and downs at the rank. He has shown potential to make a push for ozeki, but he has also had bad losses to maegashira ranked rikishi. In each of his basho at sekiwake, Mitakeumi has fallen into a mid-basho rut, and rattled off a losing streak. In his previous five basho, he has managed to rebound to an 8-7 or 9-6 record. This time around, a five bout losing steak early in the second week was a bridge too far for him, as he fell to a seemingly inevitable make-koshi, 7-8. After winning his first career yusho in January, many fans had high hopes for Tochinoshin. Unfortunately for him, he was on the receiving end of some tough breaks, and Goeido’s henka on day ten. However, his push toward ozeki promotion is still alive as he finished 10-5 in March, and will look to have a strong May basho to force the JSA to consider the possibility of promotion.

Komusubi: Ichinojo continued his strong sumo from January, this time finishing 9-6, and earning a return to sekiwake. Ichinojo’s added weight (now 215 kg/474 lbs) looks to have boosted to his strength, as he bulldozed opponents off of the dohyo. Chiyotairyu did not look as strong as his komusubi counterpart, dropping to 4-11.

Maegashira: Both men at maegashira 1, Endo and Tamawashi, finished 9-6. This would usually get them both a promotion to komusubi, especially since both current rikishi will be vacating the rank. However, with Mitakeumi’s 7-8 record, it will be interesting to see how the JSA handles the komusubi rank when they announce the May banzuke at the end of April. Maegashira 6 Kaisei started the basho 9-0, before being called up to fight Ichinojo, where he suffered his first defeat. Kaisei also fought Kakuryu in Mitakeumi’s stead, finishing at an outstanding 12-3. Kaisei’s day fifteen opponent was maegashira 14 Ikioi, who entered with an impressive 11-3 record, and needed a twelfth win to earn a special prize. Unfortunately, he lost to Kaisei, falling to 11-4 and being denied a special prize.

Yusho: Kakuryu, 13-2

Shukun-Sho: Tochinoshin, 10-5

Kanto-sho: Kaisei, 12-3

Gino-sho: Endo, 9-6

Kinboshi: None