Had he been alive today, Japan's legendary kabuki and bunraku playwright Chikamatsu Monzaemon (1653-1724) could not have written a better script for the recently completed Haru Basho in Osaka.
For thrills (Day 1 carnage with three of five ozeki and the yokozuna all losing), spills (the yokozuna losing again on Day 2), a chase scene (Asashoryu hot on the heels of eventual winner Hakuho for the remainder of the basho), romance (Hakuho's secret marriage being leaked to the wider world), medical intrigue (worries surrounding Tochiazuma's heart and possible resulting intai announcement) and true colors shining through (Asashoryu's knee to the back of an already defeated and floored opponent, Kisenosato, on Day 8) -- Osaka had it all and then some!
To cap it off though -- the grand finale of finales -- what about that double henka on the final day? Yokozuna Asashoryu on Chiyotaikai in regulation time followed by Hakuho on the yokozuna in a play-off!
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