First week of the September basho in the books, and we’ve been in for a treat with some truly excellent bouts thus far this month and a high level from most of the san’yaku. Still a long way to go between here and the Emperor’s Cup…

1. Y1e Onosato (7-1)

Onosato seems to have taken his really-shoudn’t-have-been-a-loss against Takayasu on Day 4 to heart, as the sumo he’s displayed over the last few days has been nothing short of Yokozuna-level. With the rest of the Ozeki contenders beginning to drop off the pace, he should have a bit more breathing room in the second week, which I imagine will be much appreciated as we wait and see whether his rediscovered form holds up against the very top of the division.

2. S1e Atamifuji (6-2)

It’s been a hot-and-cold basho for the Ozeki hopeful thus far, with Atamifuji alternating between assured victories that have never looked in doubt with some more frenetic contests, including his disappointing grudge match defeat on Day 7 to Aonishiki and a dramatic tawara escape against Kotoeiho today. Priority #1 still needs to be getting to ~11-12 wins, but with questions surrounding each of the Ozeki and with Atamifuji having a demonstrated track record of rattling off a lot of wins in the second week (he won 7 straight to end Nagoya and took 12 of his last 13 in Nagoya), he may be the best situated to take advantage of an Onosato misstep.

3. O2e Aonishiki (5-3)

I really struggled with where to put Aonishiki today, as I think you could make cases for him deserving 2nd or not being on the list entirely. After dropping 3 straight matches and looking more and more bothered by his lingering toe issue, the Ozeki’s turned it around with back-to-back victories and has kept himself in the hunt. If even reasonably healthy, he’s more than capable of finishing this basho 12-3, and few active rikishi can claim to have a better clutch gene than the Ukrainian. That being said, the margin for error is practically nil at this point, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he eases off the gas a bit if he suffers another loss, assuming he still makes kachi koshi.

4. O1w Kotozakura (6-2)

Our sole undefeated leader after 4 days of action, it’s been a return to .500 sumo ever since for the Sadogatake man, though he’s still outpacing his fellow Ozeki. His yusho pedigree and the flashes of his vintage sumo mean he’s absolutely still in the hunt if the other contenders get shaky in the second week, but I’m holding my breath until we see how he fares against the upper san’yaku, beginning with his Day 9 match with…

5. S1w Fujinokawa (6-2)

Certainly an argument to be made that Kirishima still deserves this spot despite sitting at 5-3, but I’m giving the nod to the shin-Sekiwake based on momentum (winning 4 hard-fought bouts on the trot, including victories over Aonishiki and both Komusubi) and the latter’s sterling record against the Yokozeki across his short career. It’s entirely possible that he implodes facing his first true second-week gauntlet, but at the very least, Fujinokawa seems to have proven a lot of his doubters wrong that he wouldn’t be able to contend at this level.

In the hunt: O1e Kirishima (5-3), M3w Churanoumi (6-2), M6e Asanoyama (6-2)