Kyushu Outlook: Onosato the Centerpiece; Aonishiki and Kirishima the Chase
Sports Hochi's Kyushu preview puts yokozuna Onosato at the heart of the yusho race after his Aki title. He resumed bout work from the November 2 ichimon joint keiko in Fukuoka and went 14-6 against ozeki Kotozakura; stablemaster Nishonoseki (former yokozuna Kisenosato) called him clearly better than before Aki. Onosato still wants to erase the "bad afterimage" of last Kyushu, when a left-shoulder injury forced him out with the title still in play on senshuraku.
Ozeki Aonishiki (last year's Kyushu winner) and Kirishima (champion three years ago) both look sharp after busy degeiko — a title would tee up January tsunatori bids. Returning Hoshoryu draws historically friendly openers in Churanoumi and Asanoyama. Sekiwake Fujinokawa (11-4 at Aki) is building an ozeki case despite missing one joint session with a fever; Atamifuji, reset after an 8-7 Aki, still ranks second in yearly wins at 50 and is chasing a first yusho.
Source: Yahoo! Japan Sports