At the end of day four, there are no perfect records. The cadre of five rikishi who started the day 3-0 all took their first losses today. In balance, four of the seven rikishi who had no wins picked up their first victory today. In fact, many of these matches ended with both rikishi having the same score. I am sure that it’w on’t last, but a crazy 16 men ended day four with 2-2 records. Talk about an evenly matched competition.

A shout out to Takayasu’s match today. It shows what can happen when he can keep his footing and keep his balance. Likewise, Mitakeumi’s match was not glorious or brilliant, but he boxed in Ura early, and kept him reacting, which was what he needed to do.

Highlight Matches

Bushozan defeats Kagayaki – Kagayaki struggled to keep his balance centered, but stayed in the fight because Bushozan was no better. For a brief moment, Kagayaki had Bushozan turned and was running him to the bales, but Bushozan recovered and rallied with a right hand inside hold. Kagayaki broke that hold, and advanced. It looked like he would win, but he took his eyes off of Bushozan, who escaped, reversed and pushed Kagayaki out. Rather sloppy sumo. Both end the day 2-2.

Azumaryu defeats Hiradoumi – Azumaryu continues to dominate Hiradoumi, thought it his form today featured him standing nearly upright the entire match. Hiradoumi, for his part, was too eager to gain advantage and pushed in hard, giving Azumaryu all of the force he needed for the pulling under arm throw that sent Hiradoumi tumbling to the clay. Azumaryu improves to 2-2.

Atamifuji defeats Okinoumi – Excellent escape move by Atamifuji at the moment Okinoumi had him against the bales and moved to push him out. The experience of Okinoumi showed, as he did not assume this finishing move would work, and was able to recover when Atamifuji re-engaged. But that near miss seems to have gotten Atamifuji out of “sumimasen” mode, and we got to see him fight! His sumo power seemed to jump about 25% in an instant, and he overpowered Okinoumi and drove him from the ring. Do that again, please! Atamifuji up to 2-2.

Kotoeko defeats Terutsuyoshi – While nearly all the winless rikishi found a white star today, not so for injured Terutsuyoshi. To his credit, he knows he’s in poor condition, and he tried a shift to the side at the tachiai today to try and set up an ashitori. Really anything to gain any kind of advantage and maybe squeeze a win out somewhere. But Kotoeko was well aware of the situation, pivoted with him, and quickly put Terutsuyoshi on the clay. Kotoeko improves to 3-1.

Ichiyamamoto defeats Chiyotairyu – Chiyotairyu seems to have lost the plot a moment before the tachiai, and had no offense. In response, Ichiyamamoto set aside his normal opening move, hitting Chiyotairyu about the head a neck, and immediately pulling him down. I guess Chiyotairyu should be familiar with this form of sumo. Ichiyamamoto now 3-1.

Oho defeats Kotoshoho – I found this match interesting, in that it featured Oho fighting with some vigor, which has been lacking in his first three fights. It seems to have come about thanks to Kotoshoho putting up a large counter-thrust effort. Nice to know that its possible to motivate Oho to expend some energy and fight like he wants to win. Both end the day 3-1.

Chiyoshoma defeats Aoiyama – Excellent endurance from Chiyoshoma, he really earned that win. Aoiyama fired up the V-Twin straight away, and took to pommeling Chiyoshoma’s face. Chiyoshoma absorbed it as best he could, and worked his way in closer. Once he got a right hand on Aoiyama’s belt, he was three quick steps away from the win, and he escorted Aoiyama back and out. Both end the day 1-3.

Onosho defeats Abi – Abi takes his first loss when he lost his footing in the middle of the fight. Abi was attempting to pivot to his left to dodge a forward rush by Onosho, pushing off from the tawara, but his left foot could not handle the landing. Good offensive sumo from Onosho, and he advances to 3-1.

Tochinoshin defeats Takarafuji – Its just miserable to watch Takarafuji go at this day after day. He’s in not shape to fight, but he goes out there anyhow. Tochinoshin stood him up, then pulled him forward and down. Quick and effective, he is now 2-2, and Takarafuji still winless.

Myogiryu defeats Takanosho – Myogiryu put all of his energy in disrupting Takanosho’s sumo, keeping him off balance and moving in reaction to what Myogiryu was doing. This took Takanosho’s offensive sumo out of the match, and after dancing him around for a while, Myogiryu tossed him across the bales. Both are now 2-2.

Nishikigi defeats Ryuden – Ryuden was too high when they took up their holds, and Nishikigi attacked well from underneath. Once Nishikigi was able to complete his grip with the right hand outside, Ryuden had no choice but to come along for the ride. Nishikigi improves to 2-2.

Nishikifuji defeats Endo – Nishikifuji tried to disrupt Endo’s sumo on three separate volleys, but Endo is a seasoned vet, and keep his feet on the clay, and his weight centered over his feet. Nishikifuji switched to a thrusting attack, and caught Endo low and open, a few strikes to the chest, and Endo was out of the ring. Nishikifuji improves to 3-1.

Wakamotoharu defeats Sadanoumi – Sadanoumi dictated a yotsu-zumo match when he took Wakamotoharu to his chest at the tachiai, and Wakamotoharu was happy to oblige. But before Sadanoumi could get himself set, Wakamotoharu already had both hands on Sadanoumi’s mawashi. From there, it was really Wakamotoharu’s sumo that was in control, and he packed and shipped Sadanoumi with little trouble. Wakamotoharu advances to 3-1.

Midorifuji defeats Hokutofuji – Hokutofuji’s handshake tachiai and resulting nodowa had little positive effect, but seems to have left him too far forward. In an instant, Hokutofuji realizes this, drops the nodowa and attempt to correct his balance. In response, Midorifuji delivers the tsukiotoshi, dropping Hokutofuji to the clay. Both are 2-2.

Kiribayama defeats Tobizaru – Tobizaru picks up his first loss of Kyushu when he gets a bit too low, and Kiribayama has origami time, folding him under and making him suffer. In fact, Kiribayama seems to be in no rush to let Tobizaru out of this hold, but finally decides that he has to get back to the heya and finish that level of One Piece Bounty Rush, and drops Tobizaru to the clay by uwatehineri. Both are now 3-1.

Tamawashi defeats Daieisho – It was high time for Tamawashi to rack up his first win. It was a wild, chaotic exchange of off balance thrusting, pushing and just generally carrying on crazy. As is usually the case, Daieisho’s balance broke first, and Tamawashi lunged in to give him enough velocity to send him out. Tamawashi now 1-3.

Mitakeumi defeats Ura – Ura is the only non-Isegahama rikishi to remain winless. There was a moment of hesitation from Ura at the initial clash that cost him this match. Mitakeumi stayed close, kept Ura bracketed and did not let him open a gap. Ura seemed to abandon his forward pressure for a moment, trying to pull, but Mitakeumi’s cover was tight, and the pull simply helped him run Ura out. Mitakeumi up to 3-1, and needs 7 more wins to return to Ozeki.

Takayasu defeats Hoshoryu – Did you see it? Takayasu kept his weight centered over his feet, and put all of his energy into hitting Hoshoryu. That’s a lot of power, and it quickly any offensive sumo Hoshoryu wanted to bring to the match today. As Hoshoryu was reacting, trying to open a gap, Takayasu slammed his right hand down on his shoulder and pulled him to the clay. Quick, brutal and effective. They both finish the day 3-1.

Kotonowaka defeats Wakatakakage – It was only a matter of time before Kotonowaka picked up his first win, and he tends to give Wakatakakage a good fight. Kotonowaka was high at the tachiai, and did not seem to be in good form at first. But he got a grip on both of Wakatakakage’s shoulders, and immediately launched a kainahineri, which is not frequently seen. Wakatakakage seems mildly impressed that he was on the receiving end, but Kotonowaka advances to 1-3.

Meisei defeats Takakeisho – This match was thrown away when Takakeisho decided that after putting Meisei off balance and on his heels, to pull him from the back of the neck. It was a wide open invitation for Meisei to run him immediately out. Meisei obliged, and picks up his first win of November to end the day 1-3.

Ichinojo defeats Shodai – Shodai frequently struggles with Ichinojo. It might be the size, or his noted love of eating daikon whole, leaves and all. Unlike some days, Shodai put up a solid fight. Establishing a right hand inside grip, for a brief moment it looked like he had an advantage. But much like getting a firm hand hold on a rampaging wildebeest, the glory of success is short lived once you realize you are attached to this thing. Ichinojo’s left hand found its mark, and he took Shodai out three steps later. Solid sumo from Ichinojo today, and he matches Shodai at 2-2.