infamous 4-11 record.  Hakuho, on the other hand, has yet to suffer a make-koshi.

Another highlight was the explosive sumo of Kotomitsuki, who ended the basho with 12 consecutive wins and returned home with a 13-2 jun-yusho record and the Gino-sho Technique Prize.  At one point during the basho Kitanoumi rijicho called his sumo “scary.”  It is hoped Koto won’t take this as a compliment though because the utterance was more frustration mixed with regret over what might have/could have/should have been.  The many reruns of Kotomitsuki’s ‘will he / won’t he’ potential ozeki runs over the years need some follow-up before we can be lulled into buying in once again.

There were other gems too.  At the top of this list is Kyokushuzan’s 12-3 blast-off from M9, propelling him back up towards the sanyaku ranks.  The elevator maestro again showed he can dominate in the mid-to-bottom part of the division and shared the Kanto-sho Fighting Spirit Prize with, surprisingly, M10 Futeno, the Dewanoumi man finally showing signs of becoming a sumo somebody with a sparkling 11-4.  M8 Kotonowaka’s lifeless start sparked the usual whispers of

intai but whispers turned into cheers as he steamed to the finish line with 4 straight wins and a kachikoshi 8-7 record.  (The Shukun-sho Outstanding Performance Prize was not awarded)

M5 Kotooshu made a serious bid to return to komusubi with a healthy 10-5 effort, and M3 Miyabiyama slithered along as he does with his 8 wins to challenge for the same rank.

Furthermore, several up-and-comers buoyed the spirit, at least for now:   Mighty mite M9 Ama continued creeping up the banzuke with an 8-7; M14 Kotoshogiku showed glimpses of “grand scale” sumo at 10-5; and makuuchi newcomer Katayama entertained all with his dynamic bursts of power and towering shiko displays in the pre-bout moments.  

Of special note were M1 Roho, who managed a capable 7-8 record in his first showing at the top of the Maegashira ranks despite appearing totally lost in some bouts, and M2 Kokkai, who unraveled for the first time in his still short career at 5-10.  Unless the man named after the Black Sea can develop a ‘go-to’ technique and learn where the mawashi is, he may not be able to push through to sanyaku anytime soon.