So Aki basho ended yesterday. Takakeisho had the yusho with a 11-4 and defeating Atamifuji in the playoffs since both had the same score by the end of the tournament. 11-4 is quite a thin score for a championship, far from a fat 14-1 or a full 15. But still.
But it was an epic battle for Atamifuji, the whole basho. From the place Maegeshira 15 he managed to beat the whole banzuke, except 4 (and three of em were Daiesho, Takakeisho, and Asanoyama...). He deserved that second chance in the playoff match for the yusho.
Atamifuji - or for Anglos: Tummyfuji - is one of the young/new and talented rikishis struggling their way to the top. He was in Makuuchi briefly, but fall back to Juryo when he was out for some injury. But since he racking up nice scores, got back to Makuuchi, and surprised everyone with this run. He is 21. What the future holds, we'll see.
Besides him, there is:
- Oho (23), who is rising-falling, rising-falling in the bottom half of Makuuchi;
- Gonoyama (25) who jumped up to Maegeshira #5 with great speed but now seems slowing down a bit;
- the skyscraper Hokuseiho (22) who secured a stable position in the bottom half of Makuuchi;
- Kinbozan (26), also finding his place in the same range of the ranks;
- Hakuoho (20) who was out due to some shoulder surgery this basho, but probably is the most promising of these.
Back in Juryo it's perhaps Onosato (23) who could be capable of great things. Roga (24) lacks in that surprising talent to rack up 10+ scores, and Shishi (26) is a big lad, but not skillful enough and too old to expect considerable development. The latter two ofc might make into Makuuchi and stay there.
I dunno. We'll just have to see.