March banzuke is out (since yesterday). Haru basho is starting in 2 weeks - this time in Tokyo instead of Osaka due to corona precautions making it easier to organise at home.

http://www.sumo.or.jp/EnHonbashoBanzuke/index/

 

here's also Chris Gould's video on it (imo the best gaijin to follow for information on sumo in english) if you prefer an introduction with a little bit of commentary to just tables

 

a short recap:

- Kakuryu seems to be in good form, so he can squeeze another good result as yokozuna before retiring?

- Hakuho had corona in January, he looks solid enough to fight but not solid enough to excel. not clear if he won't just bail out the last moment

- Takakeisho had a disastrous last basho. He has to win 10 to keep ozeki rank.

- Terunofuji still sekiwake but he's probably earning ozeki promotion this tournament if nothing goes wrong.

- can Asanoyama start a run for yokozuna? (imo, not likely - but he was runner-up in January and with a champion title this time he might be near)

- if you like watching manlet sumo: look out for: Midorifuji (the katasukashi master: grab his shoulder and push him down), Tobizaru, Kotoeko, Terutsuyoshi; Enho and Ishiura are in 2nd division this time though

- Hoshoryu continues slowly climbing. Can he become a yokozuna like his uncle Asashoryu was? He's a mongol so he certainly has the chadvantage here :DDD

- Tochinoshin is still somewhere in the middle of top division. His knee and shoulder are fucked though and I don't think he'll be back at the top ever.

 

There's a bunch more promising young names a bit further down in 3rd division; otherwise sumo ranks seem a bit depleted these times. A lot of old rikishi past their peak and a lot of middle aged rikishi clearly not good enough to challenge the top. Sad!

 

ろるす玉ねぎ？