Shishi looks fired up and starts with a beltless drive against Ryuden, and when they reach the bales Shishi goes for an overarm throw that just doesn't have the power to finish. They square up again looking for position and Shishi gets an outside grip near the back he uses to walk Ryuden over the bales and off the ring as Shishi falls to his knees and tumbles after him.

Kinbozan has some big nodowa and face thrusts that drive Tobizaru back. As the Monkey's feet hit the straw he leaps away to dodge the follow up thrusting, but Kinbo follows as he dances along the bales and loses his footing.

Nishikifuji showing good adaptability as he thrusts and drives Tokihayate to the edge, then switches up for an arm throw that doesn't finish the job so he immediately goes back the other way for a pull down.

Wakanosho and Asahakuryu have a good slap match that Waka comes out on top of.

Hakunofuji with the first HENKA of the division, maintaining his slim chance foot in the game for the victory and denying Churanoumi his kachikoshi.

Roga goes for some textbook belly bumping to force Gonoyama over the edge.

Daieisho and Mitakeumi slap frenetically at each other but Mita steadily loses ground, and when he goes to fight back off the straw he misses a swing that throws his balance off and he falls over before he can recover.

One of the makushita final matches (there was a playoff) was pretty wild, with Ikarigata lifting Omori high into the air before depositing him relatively gently outside the ring.

Ikarigaki later goes on to henka Akua for the yusho. I realized I hadn't seen Akua's name in awhile and he dropped out of the top division in 2022, and he's been below juryo since 2024.

I'm off to a sumo watch event, so I'll come rejoin the conversation in a few hours