Day 14 showed us another look at the future of sumo. We have been getting these a few times a year since Hakuho has gone into an on again / off again mode, and can no longer be counted on to dominate a basho. With Harumafuji out of sumo all together, the mainstays that would keep the lower ranks beat down have been removed, and new champions are free to emerge. We have moved from the homogenized “Every yusho is Hakuho” world into an environment where a hard working, dedicated and skilled Maegashira 8 can take the yusho. Our hearty congratulations to Asanoyama.
We noticed Asanoyama some time ago, and he distinguished himself early with his solid sumo, and his fantastic attitude. Every day he mounted the dohyo, no matter what the score, he was just happy to be doing sumo that day. Since his top division debut, I made and used the somewhat humorous tag “Asanoyama ❤️ Sumo”, but it really shows. Some time in the past year, he has dialed in a classic style that looks straight out of a 19th century wood block print, and has used it this May with great effect.
Congratulations to Asanoyama, it could not have happened to a nicer guy.
Highlight Matches
Toyonoshima defeats Ishiura – Toyonoshima picks up his 8th win, and more or less ensures that Ishiura will be headed back to Juryo. Ishiura is still struggling to enact a working pixie sumo formula, and Juryo is a fine place to sort that out once again. But Hakuho’s dream of having a dohyo-iri with Enho and Ishiura is on hold for a while longer.
Shimanoumi defeats Enho – After a cold start, Shimanoumi comes roaring back to score at least 9 wins for Natsu, and putting Enho on the make/kachi-koshi line. Enho is clearly still suffering from whatever happened to his right thigh, and it may have gotten worse in his day 14 loss.
Shohozan defeats Terutsuyoshi – That’s 2 of the 3 pixies with make-koshi records for May. The entire cohort faded into week 2, but I hope nobody thinks this is a repudiation of the pixie sumo style. They will be back after some tune-ups. But this many losing records at the bottom of the banzuke raises the question of who is going back to Juryo.
Daishoho defeats Tochiozan – Daishoho once again executes well, picking up his 9th win while giving Tochiozan his make-koshi. The match was really all Daishoho, who took the inside road at the tachiai, and did as he pleased with Tochiozan.
Kagayaki defeats Sadanoumi – Sadanoumi’s opening gambit fails, and he finds himself without workable defensive foot placement. Kagayaki plows ahead and bodily removes Sadanoumi from the dohyo for the win.
Yago defeats Nishikigi – Nishikigi’s preferred arm-bar hold seems to have run out of gas at least for this basho. He manages to pin Yago’s left arm, but after consoldiatinlg his position, Yago uses a maemitsu grip to maneuver Nishikigi over and out for a loss.
Tomokaze defeats Chiyoshoma – Chiyoshoma goes down to his 10th loss, and will be deep back in the Juryo pack for July. Tomokaze has one more day to secure his 12th consecutive kachi-koshi.
Abi defeats Meisei – I cringe now when I see a monoii in the top division. It’s like “What kind of nonsense is Onomatsu oyakata going to utter this time?”. They give the win to Abi, both men advance to a respectable 9-5.
Chiyotairyu defeats Tokushoryu – Out running Chiyoshoma in the race back to Juryo is Tokushoryu, who has looked absolutely terrible this basho. His sumo is so much better than this, and I just have to assume some new or old injury has limited him.
Tamawashi defeats Kotoeko – Tamawashi goes to double digits, and complicates the Nagoya San’yaku picture somewhat. His sumo is back to being strong, focused and able to overcome quite a bit. Will he he turn it up to 11?
Endo defeats Onosho – Did you see the point where Onosho is driving forward, and decides he wants to try to pull Endo down? Yes, that’s the moment where the match was lost. Endo is too sharp to throw that kind of opportunity away.
Daieisho defeats Chiyomaru – Chiyomaru seemed to have zero power today, and Daieisho was fully charged. Solid center-mass thrusting attack from Daieisho for the win. Although he is make-koshi, his sumo is holding up well into the end of the second week.
Hokutofuji defeats Yoshikaze – Yoshikaze’s sumo is completely broken right now. His style is usually fast paced strike-and-move combos that leave his opponents reacting, usually at least a half step behind. Whatever is plaguing you, Yoshikaze, we hope you can heal.
Myogiryu defeats Kotoshogiku – Kotoshogiku held the advantage in this match until he got a bit too eager to close the deal, giving Myogiryu a narrow window to rally and execute a throw. Great kubinage in a tight spot from Myogiryu.
Okinoumi defeats Aoiyama – Aoiyama decides to pull, and gets it stuffed in his mawashi by Okinoumi. Cut it out guys!
Mitakeumi defeats Takarafuji – Mitakeumi picks up his 8th win and secures a return to at least Komusubi for July. This match was all Mitakeumi, with him gaining the inside grip at the tachiai, staying low and just driving ahead.
Ryuden defeats Ichinojo – Ryuden picks up win 9 in this well executed match against Ichinojo, who is fighting better than I expected given his injury. I think we are just starting to see what Ryuden is capable of.
Shodai defeats Takayasu – Takayasu is a complete wreck this basho. He seems to have neglected the superior lateral mobility that Shodai brings to nearly every match, and finds his forward pressure against Shodai’s chest instantly transformed into a tumbling move into thin air.
Asanoyama defeats Goeido – Good sumo today from Goeido, but Asanoyama was better. Congratulations to overcoming both an Ozeki and an Ozekiwake to take the cup! His only losses where to hard core oshi-power rikishi (Tamawashi and Onosho) who shut down Asanoyama’s yotsu attack. Goeido took him on chest-to-chest, but Asanoyama kept low and focused his power forward.
Tochinoshin defeats Kakuryu – Well, can’t put it off any more. That henka had really no place at this level of sumo. I get why he did it; he’s hurt, he needed one more win to get back to Ozeki, and he thinks he was robbed day 13. He needed one more white star by any means he could get one. Kakuryu should have known this and made him eat it, but Kakuryu is himself at only about 80% genki, and is probably expecting the left hand outside followed by the sky crane. Welcome back to Ozeki Tochinoshin. If you don’t get your body back in fighting shape, you are going to be right back here again by Kyushu.
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Counterpoint…the henka was glorious…absolutely wonderful moment…he knew what he needed to do and he did it…and now there is zero reason to watch tomorrow as there is almost nothing on the line…only Seiro in Juryo really needs a win, otherwise everybody is pretty much already demoted or promoted…
I was thinking of taking a pass on Day 15, as much as I am excited for Asanoyama and genuinely enjoy my bimonthly macaron sighting. Will be happily haunting the halls of Tachiai, though — thanks to the team for, once again, terrific coverage all basho long.
So, instead of an exciting final weekend, we get this ugly mess. Good job. It would be a fitting end for the basho having both Tochinoshin and Kakuryu go kyujo on senshuraku.
To the point and excellent comment. Frankly I agree with you on some level.
Buh-bye! – Personal attacks are not tolerated. Feel free to tell me I am wrong, but please explain why you think so in sumo terms. Given the impending US President’s visit to the Kokugikan in about 18 hours, we are practicing taking unruly commenters to the wood shed. Thank you for providing a test case for the software.
Yes, a win is a win. Tosh WAS robbed in a decision that really should’ve been a rematch/do over. Kakuryu has been setting himself up with ‘bull-rushing’ opponents and Toch played it smart this time. My current feeling is tainted now towards the Sumo hiarchy after the day 13 debacle and Tochinoshin kind of ‘stuck it to them’ with his #10, good for him!
I know what you mean about the henka, but I’m just relieved he got his 10. I don’t know if the call was right or wrong, but the whole episode was cruel to all involved and truthfully I was very upset. Woke up at 5 and couldn’t go back to sleep because I needed to know what happened. At his age and history of injuries I just hope Tochinosin can have a respectable career as an Ozeki.
Kudos to everybody at Tachiai handling this in a reasonable and civilized manner. Now please let’s hope it holds through tomorrow and we can avoid political ugliness.
I’m still undecided if I consider this a henka.
He hit, he shifted and redirected Kakuryu’s force who shouldn’t have bull-rushed an opponent to begin with.
Kind of agree, not the kind of henka that Kakuryu and Terunofuji pulled off with Kotoshogiku. Those were clear cut text book henkas.
The Japanese commentator called it a henka.
No I don’t speak Japanese but certain sumo words jump out at me — such as ‘henka’.
Tochinoshin would never have contemplated pulling a henka if he hadn’t been screwed over on the previous day. It’s not his style and it’s not how he would have wanted to win but as Bill Shankly (or Shakespeare or Morrissey or Brian Clough) said “if you tie a man’s arms behind his back, don’t be surprised if he kicks you in the nuts”. Tough luck for Kakuryu, who is the second-hand victim of yesterday’s nonsense.
Absolutely thrilled for Asanoyama, who has always favoured classic technical sumo instead of the “bodyhammer” approach currently in vogue among the younger set, I think he’s the first yusho winner with no sanyaku experience for over 50 years,
Cue the YDC grumbling about Tochinoshin’s henka in 4… 3… 2… 1….
They can pucker up and kiss my fishbelly white Irish posterior.
It was a bit of a cynical move on Tochinoshin’s part but I really can’t blame him. It had the air of being an f-you to the sumo powers that be. I would’ve much preferred to see him crane-lift Kakuryu out of the ring and drop him on the head judge. Oh well. There’s still tomorrow…
Agreed re the f-you — one look at his expression before approaching the dohyo and it was clear that he wasn’t in his nerves but freakin’ furious — and I would give a whole lot to have been a fly on the wall in whatever room Hakuho was in when he saw that match. I choose to believe that his reaction was… approving. And amused. No disrespect to Kakuryu, but a statement was made and necessarily so.
Agree that it was an FU to The Man. Watching Tochi before the match I was wondering what songs were playing in his head. I don’t know if they are big on old school reggae in Georgia but I think Stepping Razor by Peter Tosh would have been very appropriate.
Very strange basho from Aoiyama. His typical tsuppari barrage has been almost entirely missing.
Although he acquitted himself well today, it’s tough to do pixie sumo with a pulled hamstring. I’m afraid Enho has little chance of gaining his kachi koshi, and I really hope he’s not doing further damage to himself.
Kudos to Asanoyama for a terrific yusho. Let me go out on a pretty safe limb and predict that this won’t be his last. (Loved the arty Asano pic, Bruce.)
“Very strange basho from Aoiyama. His typical tsuppari barrage has been almost entirely missing.” – you are right. I hope he’s not too banged up.
I’m sure Tochinoshin pulled that henka out from a sheer emotional level, he most likely believed that he was wronged the prior day and wanted his 10th so he could regain what he felt was stolen from him. I’m sure if we could be in his shoes in that moment we would have been having an internal argument about how to handle the match.
Either way, what’s done is done. Tochinoshin regains his Ozeki status and has to perform next basho to prove it.
Congratulations to Asanoyama!!! I’m so happy for him. What a stand up and happy gentleman. I’m sure he can’t even handle his excitement right now.
I’m also happy for Toyonoshima and hope he can get it together next basho. I want to see one last bout between him and the bulldozer before they retire.
Probably too big a ranking gap to see it next basho, depending on how they fare, but maybe the schedulers will give a nod to the nostalgia factor this time.
You wrote: “I’m sure he can’t even handle his excitement right now.” I was amazed at how self-contained he was during the interview he gave immediately after the end of the day’s competition. I half-expected tears, smiles, a barely controlled outpouring of emotion, but he was sumo-stoic. I’m not sure the magnitude of what he’d accomplished had really sunk in yet.
I’d agree that’s part of it at least. I’d also compliment everyone who’s worked with him over the years to help him learn what is clearly excellent focus. One more day to go. Of course, the speech tonight ought to be something to see…
Not being mean but how many Rikishi have pulled this to survive? IT wasn’t long ago Goiedo pulled a Henka to get an 8th win and then pulled out because he was hurt. Was sometime last year not to long ago I watched Kakuryu pull a Henka himself. Kotoshogiku lost his chances at regaining his chances to get back Ozeki to a Henka. To say it doesn’t belong at this level of sumo is just wrong in my eyes. Either it should not be at all or it should be allowed at all levels. Is it okay for someone at Mag 10 to pull it for a win but not Ozeki? Why? Am I happy about the move itself? No not really, I’d rather see a clash. Am I happy that Tochi is back to Ozeki? Yes, but with Caution because he’s been looking injured again and if this is his trend can he hold or should he even be back at Ozeki? Only time will tell. I’m not going to nit pick if it was a true Henka or a hit and shift, to me it looked like a Henka regardless.
Over all it’s been a very strange Basho / Yusho It’s clear that the majority of the Sanyaku is not doing well anymore. Injuries among other things are plaguing the upper ranks relentlessly. Takayasu, Goeido, Hakuho, Kakuryu, Ichinojo, Mitakeumi, Tochinoshin, and more are suffering to keep their ranks let along move up or win. When I looked at the Sanyaku This time last year I could see possible hopes of Yokozunas. Takayasu, Goeido, Tochi, Mitake, All had whispers of it. Now? I feel like it’s the worst thing that could happen to any of them as none of them have been able to stay healthy enough long enough to put on even remotely close to that level of sumo. I feel like When Hakuho retires along side Kakuryu, we’ll be back to having no Yokozunas again for awhile. Unless someone like Asanoyama come out of the blue and can stay healthy it’s not going to happen. I mean Ichinojo went 14 -1 last round and looked like the unstoppable force a Yokozuna should be.. now? He’s set for a huge fall down the ranks. Takakeisho? The new Ozeki that has done so well to get here at just 22 years old.. injured and is now kujo. Honestly does anyone see anyone who looks like they would have a chance at getting Yokozuna sometime in the future with injuries running rampart through sumo and wrestlers forced or feeling pressured to keep fighting just to hold rank? Risking further injury and worse just because they feel they have no choice? I know this turned into something of a rant but to me it just all connects. Tochi pulled a Henka because he felt he had to. He’s not in good shape, he’s 1 win away from regaining his rank, and he faces a VERY powerful foe. This is the sumo world that has been created for us to watch based on old traditions, and old men who a good portion of them many say don’t deserve to be making the decisions they are making having never even set foot on the Doyho. Where as I can’t speak on that, I CAN speak on the fact Sumo is screwed up right now and is long over due for an overhaul on at least some of it’s rules. Otherwise We are going to see more and more of what we see today. Good wrestlers forced to fight injured and pulling moves others might not be happy with because they feel they have no other choice.
I’d give this comment double stars if I could. Absolutely this.
Well written. Absolutely agree. I’m only new to Sumo as a serious viewer for just under two years and I’m a bit astounded that a wrestler who is injured is basically being penalized if they don’t heal and return by the following Basho. It’s akin to telling an American style professional football player they have to play WITH a concussion – but even the NFL has realized the old practices had to change. It is pretty sad that Japanese Sumo has such issue(s) and while they are reportedly having a hard time recruiting young wrestlers – at least the old guard has to realize that like it or not, times have changed, and so is the need for them to let go of old ways that actually hurt Sumo.
Good comment!
Goiedo vs Tochinoshin last year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMDgmkEu_l4 Sure, he learned it from one of the best; I don’t like it, but I Get It. I feel like we got robbed of a great ending to an interesting basho when they called the heel out. Now Asanoyama’s amazing victory is tainted by talk of being aided by the judge. Tochinoshin is tainted by having to resort to the henka. He has not won moving forward since Abi pulled his own trick.
Tochinoshin’s yusho and the resulting ozeki run are the reasons I live for the bashos and then endure the wait between. Now I have a new interest, Asanoyama. He has been a growing favorite for a while. I believe he will still be there next year but I am beginning to doubt that Tochinoshin can heal his undercarriage. A sky-crane needs a solid foundation. Please prove me wrong Tochinoshin, when you are healthy you might be the best.
Firstly congrats to Tochinoshin for getting that win he needed so bad. However the people who praise his henka now are the same who would write death threats to Kakuryu if he pulled the same thing… I won’t waste any more energy on this matter though.
Asanoyama is a great Yusho winner, he won against a strong Goeido today. Its fun to watch his bouts because he is not only winning but also showing quality sumo.
Mitakeumi is Komusubi, so he’ll be at Sekiwake in July.
Congratulations to Asanoyama! I’m very happy for him. I hope he stays healthy and continues to do well.
Looks like we’ll have two open sekiwake slots. Who’ll join him? Tamawashi? Really curious to see how far Asanoyama will get promoted
I would guess that Asanoyama and Mitakeumi will be at sekiwake, with Tamawashi moving up to komusubi. The other komusubi slot is wide open and is likely to depend on the final day’s perfomance: Daieisho, Abi, Ryuden, Shodai, Meisei???
I’ll have a full post on this later today, but Abi is the clear leader, and only Ryuden can pass him if Abi loses and Ryuden wins. Shodai and Meisei are too far down the banzuke, and Daieisho is out since he’s make-koshi.
It felt to me like a lot of people in the crowd were good with the henka. usually its silence when its not approved of. I feel like Abi is somewhere smiling and thinking “ah see tricks aren’t just for kids”. Causes and conditions folks. Overall it was interesting drama
What you heard was the sound of people flinging their cushions at the dohyo.
…and in the far distance, me yelling at the screen that “THAT’S NOT HOW YOU BEHAVE WHEN IT’S A SEKIWAKE! ACT LIKE YA BEEN HERE!” sigh
They threw cushions yesterday when it was on Ozeki 🙄