I’ve decided to try my hand a predicting the banzuke for the upcoming Nagoya Basho. As someone who has watched sumo for a little under 2 years and having never tried this before I feel that this will be the definitive banzuke prediction you will find on the internet. Like I said on the podcast if I get more than two spots incorrect on this list I will consider this whole thing a complete and utter failure.
This is also the point where I point out that I am bad at the internet and am not sure I can insert a table into this post so the formatting of this list is not exactly how I would like it be or good. That being said here we go.
- Yokozuna
- Y1E: Kakuryu
- Y1W: Hakuho
- Y2E: Kisenosato
- Ozeki
- O1E: Tochinoshin
- O1W: Goeido
- O2E: Takayasu
- Sekiwake
- SE: Ichinojo
- SW: Mitakeumi
- Komusubi
- KE: Tamawashi
- KW: Shohozan
- Maegashira 1
- M1E: Shodai
- M1W: Kotoshogiku
- Maegashira 2
- M2E: Ikioi
- M2W: Chiyonokuni
- Maegashira 3
- M3E: Kagayaki
- M3W: Abi
- Maegashira 4
- M4E: Kaisei
- M4W: Takakeisho
- Maegashira 5
- M5E: Daishomaru
- M5W: Yoshikaze
- Maegashira 6
- M6E: Chiyotairyu
- M6W: Daieisho
- Maegashira 7
- M7E: Kyokutaisei
- M7W: Takarafuji
- Maegashira 8
- M8E: Chiyoshoma
- M8W: Myogiryu
- Maegashira 9
- M9E: Endo
- M9W: Nishikigi
- Maegashira 10
- M10E: Onosho
- M10W: Aoiyama
- Maegashira 11
- M11E: Chiyomaru
- M11W: Sadanoumi
- Maegashira 12
- M12E: Yutakayama
- M12W: Kotoeko
- Maegashira 13
- M13E: Tochiozan
- M13W: Arawashi
- Maegashira 14
- M14E: Asanoyama
- M14W: Okinoumi
- Maegashira 15
- M15E: Hokutofuji
- M15W: Ryuden
- Maegashira 16
- M16E: Ishiura
- M16W: Takekaze
I think Chiyonokuni is going to see the biggest jump with his impressive 12-3 record and his Fighting Spirit prize as well. We will see if he can fare better than some of his previous forays into the “Zone of Death”. A few other big jumpers are all of the guys towards the bottom of the banzuke that got double digit wins. Those being Takakeisho, Kyokutaisei, Myogiryu, and Nishikigi. I think Takakeisho has the best chance of repeated success in that group as he is a recent Komusubi.
The biggest droppers are going to be Ryuden, Yutakayama, and Endo. All of these guys had 12+ losses so this is to be expected.
The newcomers to the Makuuchi will be the returning Onosho, fresh off of his Juryo Yusho. And Kotoeko with an impressive 11-4 record from the Juryo 2 position. They will be replacing Daiamami and Aminishiki who both went 4-11.
Let me know your thoughts on the banzuke and most importantly let me know if there is an easier way to format this.
