Kirishima and Atamifuji Restart After Aki Promotion Miss
Ozeki Kirishima, 30, and sekiwake Atamifuji, 24, both finished Aki at 8-7 and let promotion chances slip — yokozuna for Kirishima, ozeki for Atamifuji. After reaching the July playoff together, a dual promotion would have been the first of its kind since Akebono and Takahanada in 1993; instead both reset at Kyushu, which opens November 8 at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.
Kirishima's third yokozuna run, needing a title around 14 wins by Asakayama's pre-basho standard, came apart in the middle. He dropped early bouts to Takayasu and Yoshinofuji, then lost to Churanoumi, Daieisho and Fujiryoga in a stretch that left four of five losses against maegashira. Kyushu is the restart, not a continuation of that Aki script.
Source: Yahoo! Japan Sports