Overview
- Onosato has struggled since his return from left-shoulder pain and sits at 2-3 after a Day 5 win followed by earlier losses that raised withdrawal fears.
- No. 2 maegashira Gonoyama earned his first kinboshi on Wednesday when a ringside officials’ conference reversed the referee’s initial call to award Gonoyama the win over Onosato.
- Yokozuna Hoshoryu rebounded to 3-1 by using thrusts and an arm-bar throw to hold off challengers, keeping him among the early leaders.
- Sekiwake Aonishiki is pursuing the 10 wins needed for automatic re-promotion to ozeki while kadoban ozeki Kotozakura must reach eight wins to avoid demotion, adding urgent stakes to the meet.
- Early upsets by Fujinokawa, Yoshinofuji and other lower-ranked wrestlers have shifted momentum and could widen opportunity if Onosato withdraws or continues to falter.