Via the Sumo Kyokai on Twitter and the Sumo Forum, we have an update on the one part of the banzuke that is released early. These are the promotions from Makushita to Juryo, so that the lucky rikishi have time to adjust to their sekitori status.

As shown above, there are two brand-new sekitori: Ms4w Kototebakari and Ms5e Hoshoryu, who both finished Aki with 4-3 records. Kototebakari is marking his ascension to the salaried ranks with a new shikona, Kotoshoho.

Three men are returning to Juryo. Two left no doubt about their re-promotion: Ms1e Wakamotoharu and Ms2e Akua, who both went 6-1. The third squeaked by with pretty much the worst rank and record combination that can normally lead to promotion, and only when many slots are open in Juryo: Ms5w Akiseyama, 4-3.

As I noted in my Aki wrap-up post, there were five definite open slots in the second division through a combination of retirement, scandal, injury, and poor performance. These are filled by the men listed above. That means that the “invisible line” between Ms5 and Ms6 held, with Akiseyama getting the nod over an arguably stronger candidate, Ms6e Churanoumi, 5-2. It also means that J13e Irodori, who was on the bubble, survives despite a 6-9 record, something that last happened in 2011, with a dozen instances of demotion in between.

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