Hatsu 2012 Highest Power Rankers

The time has come to add up the damage done at Hatsu. I formerly had called this list the “best”, but that isn’t accurate. This is the list of the rikishi who ended up with the most points at Hatsu, i.e., won against the strongest other wrestlers. This isn’t a list of the rikishi who performed best, for no one below number 7 or 8 performed particularly well. A list of who performed best would include Myogiryu (40 points) and Gagamaru (42 points). That list would be subjective, while this list isn’t. In addition, neither Myogiryu nor Gagamaru defeated any of the top rikishi. Gagamaru tied with Hakuho for the jun-yusho, but after going 5-3 in the first half of the tournament his diet in the second half consisted of the like of Kaisei, Takanoyama, and Fujiazuma, and no one is going to lose weight on a diet like that.

All of the top 12 rikishi (in honor of the new year and the fact that the eleventh spot was notched in a tie) were in the sanyaku or jo’i. To be the best you have to beat the best. Interestingly, the power ranking points at the top exactly mirror the won-lost marks, a rarity. Here ‘tis:

1. Baruto                  157-20          88.7%                        14-1               (2)

2. Hakuho                126-49          72.0%                        12-3               (1)

3. Harumafuji          118-61          65.9%                        11-4               (6t)

4. Kisenosato           114-67          62.9%                        11-4               (6t)

5. Kakuryu               106-67          61.2%                        10-5                (5)

6. Kotooshu                93-75          55.3%                        10-5               (9)

7. Aminishiki               83-96          46.3%                          9-6               (NR)

8. Kotoshogiku           81-87          48.2%                         8-7                (3)

9. Goeido                    67-120       35.8%                          6-9                (6t)

10. Takayasu              54-122       30.6%                          6-9                (NR)

11. Toyonoshima      49-135       26.6%                          5-10              (4)

11. Takekaze              49-142       25.6%                          4-11             (NR)