Overview

• Onosato was awarded a win by default on Day 14 after ozeki Kotozakura withdrew with damaged ligaments in his right knee requiring three weeks of treatment, according to the stable’s notification.
• Kotozakura’s stablemaster said the injury occurred in Friday’s win over Hoshoryu and that the ozeki cannot bend his knee or crouch, removing him from the final weekend.
• Hoshoryu rapidly dispatched Wakatakakage to improve to 12-2, preserving a one-win gap and setting up a direct meeting with Onosato on the final day at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
• If Hoshoryu defeats Onosato on Day 15, the tournament will go to a playoff; an Onosato victory secures the Emperor’s Cup outright.
• The leaderboard flipped on Day 13 when Onosato beat Wakatakakage to take sole control at 12-1 as Hoshoryu suffered a second straight loss, a stretch that followed Onosato’s lone Day 4 defeat to Hakuoho.