Let’s set the scene for today’s action. First and foremost, our tournament leaders are Terunofuji and Ichinojo, with Takakeisho just behind. The Yokozuna and the Ozeki have each other to battle while Ichinojo will face whomever they throw in his way.
After days of losing wrestlers to covid protocols, we don’t lose any more today. However, we’ve got a number of Juryo visitors in Makuuchi to make up for those who’ve already gone. This means we also have some rather low-ranking wrestlers battling in the joi, and even taking on sanyaku wrestlers. Without further ado, let’s get to the action.
The Bouts
Onosho vs Nishikifuji: It’s easy to say something like, “Nishikifuji failed to force the belt battle so Onosho’s thrusting paid off with a win.” But Nishikifuji did get a contain on the tsuppari and forced the issue as best as he could. Onosho’s win was by yorikiri, after all. Onosho was the stronger wrestler today.
Myogiryu vs Ryuden: Ryuden claimed the Juryo yusho tonight by powering through Myogiryu’s tsuppari, then powering straight through Myogiryu. He forced his will on the belt. It was an impressive win.
Terutsuyoshi vs Asanowaka: Henka! Asanowaka elicits gasps from the audience as he jumps to the left to avoid a straight tachiai. While Terutsuyoshi tried to stop his momentum, Asanowaka brought his right hand down on Teru’s torso and grabbed for the belt with his left. The added help was enough to send Terutsuyoshi flying. I didn’t get my hatakikomi but the result is the same. Asanowaka is 7-7. Terutsuyoshi is 5-9.
Hidenoumi vs Takarafuji: Hidenoumi seems injured. Takarafuji got a solid tachiai in but Hidenoumi could not put any weight on his right foot. As a result, the Takarabune sails to a kachi-koshi record, 8-6. Hidenoumi sinks further to 5-9.
Oho vs Midorifuji: Impressive big-man sumo from Midorifuji. Powerful tsuppari created separation when Oho tried to attack. He dodged a pull down attempt and weathered Oho’s own tsuppari. Oho’s downfall came by moving backwards. Midorifuji avoided another pull down, stayed low and pressed forward, wrapping up young Oho and forcing him over the bales. Yorikiri. There’s a reason we like forward-moving sumo. It works, a lot. Backwards sumo fails, a lot. Midorifuji improves to 9-5. Oho is 8-6.
Shimanoumi vs Kagayaki: Waka’s worried. I think Shimanoumi’s right knee is not in condition to compete. Kagayaki put his head into Shimanoumi’s shoulder and drove him back, similar to Takarafuji’s win over Hidenoumi. Kagayaki is 7-7; Shimanoumi is 1-13.
Okinoumi vs Yutakayama: What was it that I said about backwards moving sumo losing, a lot? Well, this was not one of those times. Yutakayama started out with forward moving sumo and some strong nodowa, forcing Okinoumi back. Okinoumi resisted like a champ, though, and kept pressing his game. He weathered Yutakayama’s storm. But Yutakayama pulled, and Okinoumi fell while Yutakayama jumped out. Gumbai to Yutakayama. Mono-ii, but the gyoji’s decision is confirmed. Wow, the replay showed just how close it was. The call is tsukiotoshi.
Aoiyama vs Chiyoshoma: Chiyoshoma tried to get Aoiyama’s belt but Aoiyama wasn’t having it, blasting Chiyoshoma with tsuppari. After a withering brawl Aoiyama committed all of his weight forward in a Pickett’s charge, basically throwing himself at Chiyoshoma, but the gambit failed. He didn’t catch Chiyoshoma squarely and glanced off his shoulder, falling to the dohyo. Tsukiotoshi. Aoiyama make-koshi, Chiyoshoma 7-7.
Chiyomaru vs Sadanoumi: Wow. Sadanoumi met Chiyomaru forcefully at the tachiai, then attacked Chiyomaru’s flank. Off balance, Chiyomaru couldn’t recover and stop his momentum until he was standing in the crowd. Sadanoumi improves to 6-8. Chiyomaru falls to 5-9.
Hokutofuji vs Ura: Henka from Ura but Hokutofuji recovered in time. Hokutofuji charged back and Ura retreated around the ring. While giving chase Hokutofuji nearly lost his balance but planted his feet and stopped his momentum. This gave Ura an opening to move to the center of the dohyo and then blast Hokutofuji out. Ura is 7-7, Hokutofuji make-koshi.
Meisei vs Ichinojo: Wow, Meisei won on the belt. Both men locked in to a grapple at the tachiai. Ichinojo tried to adjust his grip but this left him open to attack. Meisei took advantage, strengthened his own position and belt grip and pressed forward. He then attempted a throw, pitching both wrestlers up onto one leg. This forced Ichinojo off balance, so Meisei regrouped and pushed him out. Yorikiri. Ichinojo falls to 11-3, Meisei kachi-koshi at 8-6.
Kiribayama vs Wakamotoharu: These guys were upside-down, each trying to throw the other. What a bout! Mono-ii. Torinaoshi. Let’s do it again! This time tsuppari nearly wins it for Kiribayama but both men are giving it their all. Harumafuji, I mean, Kiribayama uses the belt to wrench Wakamotoharu around, putting his back to the edge. He then pushed forward through Wakamotoharu, forcing both to tumble from the dohyo. Gumbai to Kiribayama. No mono-ii this time. Yoritaoshi. Kiribayama wins the bout of the tournament so far. Kiribayama 7-7, Wakamotoharu 5-9.
Hoshoryu vs Tochinoshin: Hoshoryu likes long staredowns. Tochinoshin says, “this is bullshit,” and stands up. They reset. This time Tochinoshin committed by putting both hands down first. Hoshoryu then attacked. Both men locked in on each other’s belt and settled at the center of the ring for a grapple. Hoshoryu spun his entire body, effectively throwing Tochinoshin over the edge. Uwatedashinage. Hoshoryu 9-5, Tochinoshin 7-7.
Chiyotairyu vs Abi: Standard Abi-zumo here. Hatakikomi. The annoying thing about this was that if Chiyotairyu hadn’t charged forward with enough force to throw himself, he could have kept his balance and watched Abi fall. Instead, Chiyotairyu fell to the dohyo first. Does he not know who he’s fighting? Prepare, man! Abi’s kachi-koshi and Chiyotairyu is make-koshi.
Takakeisho vs Wakatakakage: One for the record books here. Takakeisho grabbed Wakatakakage’s arm and wrenched him around, clear to the tawara. It looked like Santa was trying to heft his sack up over his shoulder. Unfortunately for T-Rex, he couldn’t drive the sack out of the ring. Instead, he gave Wakatakakage a beautiful position to launch a counter attack…from behind. So Wakatakakage obliged and forced Takakeisho out from behind. Okuridashi.
Terunofuji vs Shodai: Shodai is absolutely infuriating. It’s like he put in an emergency call to ACME for one of those paintable holes. Is this why they have him fight maegashira instead of the other Ozeki?
He hit the Yokozuna head-on at the tachiai, left shoulder outside Terunofuji’s right. Terunofuji stretched forward with that right in order to lock in on Shodai’s belt. While he leaned forward, Shodai slipped that left shoulder inside, seeking a grip at the front. But his body just seemed to keep slipping right…through the mysterious painted hole and into the ether. Meanwhile, his right hand got a grip of the back of Terunofuji’s belt. Simple physics took over here:
M + R – S = Z
Terunofuji’s forward momentum + Shodai’s right hand – the missing body of Shodai = Terunofuji on his belly
\
Wrap Things Up
So, senshuraku is tomorrow. To wrap up, Ichinojo fell to Meisei but Terunofuji did him better by falling to Shodai. With Takakeisho also losing to Wakatakakage, we’re back where we started the day! It’s likely that Takakeisho will fight Terunofuji tomorrow. We’ve got a chance at an outright win, a two-man playoff, or a three-man playoff. Or, Covid could do something real weird but let’s hope for one of these options, shall we?
Tomorrow’s news:
Takakeisho, Ichinojo, Terunofuji all Covid kyujo. Shodai yusho.
The above scenario can’t actually happen, but this one can. If Terunofuji and Ichinojo both go kyujo, Takakeisho would win a 3-man playoff by fusensho.
This other Jeff chiming in to say Terunofuji can still make 10 yūshō by year’s end.
There ain’t enough room for 2 Jeffs in this thread. I challenge you to a duel.
Hakehooooo~~~!!
Fusen loss
Hi Andy, thx for the crisp review today!
Have to disagree with you on one point though:
Terunofuji = T-Rex
Takakeisho = Butterball
:)
I don’t know about that. Yes, T-Rex is usually used for Teru, but I like Terunosaurus better ans T-Rex kinda fits Taka better because, small arms :) .
LOL. Takakeisho’s short arms turn him into the T-Rex. Terunofuji has always been beyond: the Kaiju.
Taka is referred as T-Rex in most of the other sumo forum I follow, because of his large body and small hand.
Terunofuji is of course huge monster kaiju
I used to call Takakeisho the Fighting Dumpling. Have also heard him called the Fighting Hamster.
Sorry, should be Battle Hamster.
It’s the short arms
Terutsuyoshi apparently lives and dies by henka. Ole!
Ryuden looks incredibly motivated and will definitely be problematic for everyone else in the next basho.
Takakeisho needs to watch some tape of Tamawashi using kotenage. The reason he lost is he let his opponent’s arm get over his shoulder. If he keeps it perpendicular to his body, he wins.
I said, “It would be amazing if Shodai wins here, but that won’t happen”. Shows how much I know, eh? My goodness, what a move!
I’m still in the “Either it’s a Ichinojo/Terunofuji playoff or Terunofuji wins” camp, but we’ll see. Today definitely proved that sumo can be unpredictable.
I think the image of Shodai getting beaned in the head by a thrown zabuton after defeating the Yokozuna in the final bout of the day is the perfect summation of this bizarre basho.
Beaned in the head and immediately catching it flawlessly.
Ah, Shodai, you made me laugh. Good on you. And nice catch of the zabuton bouncing off your head, indeed.
Totally enjoyed Wakamotoharu and Kiribayama, also way to go Midorifuji!
There have sure been some great bouts.
One positive is the crowd is huge for Juryo
Okinoimi and yutakayama. Should the gyoji decision be the default? Seemed like it could have been a rematch.
I’m becoming more and more impressed Hoshoryu this tournament. His belt work will take him places.
It would make me so happy to see those judges wearing masks. It seems so inappropriate and disrespectful to sit there in a crowd of mask wearers.
What’s that Bruce likes to say about Hokutofuji? Something like “the strongest make-kochi in sumo”? Well, it definitely applies to Wakamotoharu this basho. He may finish with only five wins, but, man, has he fought well!
Down in Juryo, I was really disappointed to see Kanno come up from Makushita only to serve up a steaming pile of henka to poor, decrepit Kaisei. C’mon, the big Brazilian is darn near out the intai door; give him a fight!
Speaking of Juryo, Ryuden has been strong throughout this basho. In the May tournament, he started out 6-0, then limped to the finish line. This time he redoubled his efforts after dropping bouts 5 and 6.
Meanwhile, it appeared that the schedulers went out of their way to find a sure-thing win for Kagayaki on Day 14. Tomorrow they may bring Shonanzakura out of retirement to fight Kagayaki and ensure that he gets his kachi-koshi and return to Makuuchi.
It was a pretty cheap move by Kanno, who may have clinched promotion but is not winning himself any fans. Having followed him for a couple of tournaments, it wasn’t the least bit out of character, either. And to add insult to injury, what may well be Kaisei’s last bout will come tomorrow in a meaningless matchup with 2-5 Ms5 Chiyoarashi, who’s completed his normal 7 bouts and is getting a superfluous 8th just to pad out the schedule.
Had Shodai beaten Takakeisho yesterday it would have been Shodai in tomorrow’s potential three-man play-off! yet less than two weeks ago some suggestions were floating around that following the inevitable fall from Ozeki he would have been seeking early retirement. I think he is great and just wish that he didn’t succumb at times to what to me looks like professional and crippling doubt as to his ability – but not today.
If he demonstrated skill or power, day-in-day-out, if this didn’t seem like such a fluke win, there wouldn’t be any of that retirement chatter. If he wins tomorrow, it will be his first basho with double-digit wins since Hatsu 2021! Let’s see more of this and the conversation will change to possible promotion.
My feelings are not equipped for days like this, I was ready to curse sumo and throw my remote at the tv when ichinojo lost, if he won it was either his win tomorrow or a playoff, an excelent last day! And he goes and loses??? Then to top it off Keisho loses as well, they basically gifted the yusho to the yokozuna yet again, bleh. I’m done with this sport!!!!!!!!!!! WTF SHODAI WHAT? This is the best sport ever I’m never quitting.
Covid willing, tomorrow may be one of the most fun final days in a while, which is impressive considering how bad things started… all thanks to shodai. What the hell
I was crushed when Ichinojo lost. Even now, I really wish he had won. Now they put him against Ura, who’s seeking kachi-koshi? Gahhhh!
Yeah I agree it’s impossible to root against Ura especially going for KK but at the same time it could be an outright ichinojo win. My feelings…. :(
I literally shouted and clapped after that last bout, which doesn’t happen often.
Once again Ichinojo handed out one of those silly slaps to the opponent‘s head at the tachiai Hakuho style.
Of course he lost important time for his hand placement and he lost as he had lost that bout after his great kinboshi fight.
Interesting to see the enthusiasm spiking with all the upsets translating into a yet-iffy tournament. To me, Terunofuji is a talented wrestler and a good Yokozuna, but his lack of mates at the top also make for a boring Yokozuna. Not his fault of course, but compare with the recent period w/3-4 of them. And Harumafuji had to leave early. We need to fill the vacuum. Either several certified Yokozuna, or none at all would suffice. It’s all about competition.