Late-breaking news before today’s action was that Wakatakakage withdrew due to injury. This effectively decapitates the banzuke as all of the Top 3 wrestlers are now kyujo, with unclear status for May. As disappointing as that is, there sure is a host of top talent vying feverishly to earn their own chances at promotion. We’ve also seen how this opens the door to dark horse runs from rank-and-filers, like Midorifuji. He has faltered the last few days as they’ve turned up the heat and thrown him in the thick of it. But today he’s pitted against the leader in a bout that’s sure to set up a thrilling senshuraku.

A lot has been said about the state of competition in makuuchi but what seems truly missing isn’t competition, it’s dominance from one or two real leaders. Sanyaku and the joi is clearly a meat-grinder where a half-dozen guys from that group will be in the hunt. In January, we thought Takakeisho might have staked his claim as leader but he has lacked durability and stamina throughout his tenure. That means others will fill in the gaps. For me, that’s been very exciting. The idea that in Juryo the competition is “better” because Ichinojo and Asanoyama are clearly dominant…is silly (to me).

The Action

Shonannoumi defeated Mitoryu – The bout started with some oshi-zumo but settled into a grapple. As the pair maneuvered to the tawara, Mitoryu attempted a throw. The throw failed to budge Shonannoumi and exposed his back to his opponent. From here, it was simple for Shonannoumi to get behind Mitoryu and force him out from behind. Okuridashi. Shonannoumi picks up his kachi-koshi, 8-6. Mitoryu will try again tomorrow, 7-7.

Oho defeated Myogiryu – Oho’s patience paid off as he steadily cut off access to the dohyo, and pressed forward. Myogiryu got in a slap but Oho shrugged it off. Oshidashi. Oho improves to 7-7 while Myogiryu falls to 5-9.

Nishikifuji defeated Tsurugisho – Nishikifuji pulled Tsurugisho forward and sidestepped after the tachiai. This forced Tsurugisho off balance a bit, and back to the tawara. Nishikifuji followed up with some strong thrusts and shoved Tsurugisho over the edge. Tsukidashi. Nishikifuji, at 9-5, will seek double-digits and possibly a special prize, tomorrow. Tsurugisho falls to 7-7.

Aoiyama defeated Bushozan – Bushozan pressured Aoiyama back to the edge with strong thrusts. But as Aoiyama’s feet planted in the tawara, he was able to wrap up Bushozan, twist right and then swung back to the left, twisting Bushozan down to the clay. I have been enjoying Aoiyama’s yotsu game. Sukuinage. Aoiyama 6-8, Bushozan 4-10.

Hokuseiho defeated Hiradoumi – Hirodoumi had a strong early bout, keeping Hokuseiho high and unable to get his right hand on Hiradoumi’s belt. Hirodoumi pressed and pressed but could never quite get Hokuseiho back to the straw bales. When Hokuseiho was finally able to get his right arm under Hiradoumi’s arm, he quickly prevailed with a twisting throw, sukuinage, like Aoiyama before him. Hokuseiho kachi-koshi (8-6), preserves his Makuuchi status, as Leonid will discuss. Hiradoumi, make-koshi (6-8).

Takarafuji defeated Ichiyamamoto – Ichiyamamoto shunned the Abi tactics here as he consistently tried to get a migi-yotsu, right hand grip. When Ichiyamamoto got his grip, he pulled backwards and pushed Takarafuji down…but a mono-ii confirmed the gyoji’s call that Ichiyamamoto’s heel was over the tawara and touched outside before Takarafuji went down. Oshidashi.  Takarafuji 7-7, Ichiyamamoto 4-10.

Ura defeated Azumaryu – Standard Ura sumo here. He keeps his body low, and pressed forward wherever Azumaryu went. Azumaryu shifted left along the tawara and pulled but Ura pursued and pushed him out before Ura, himself, fell to the clay. Gunbai goes to Ura. Azumaryu was out before Ura landed. Oshidashi. Ura 8-6, Azumaryu 3-11. It’s looking like another hat draw for the tickets contest. Stay tuned this weekend.

Chiyoshoma defeated Hokutofuji – Chiyoshoma layed into Hokutofuji from the start with kachiage to his face at the tachiai. He followed up with some forceful thrusts as he tried to force Hokutofuji down. Hokutofuji squared up and Chiyoshoma laid into him with a wild haymaker. Chiyoshoma re-engaged driving, Hokutofuji’s back to the tawara and then driving the pair over the edge. Yoritaoshi. Chiyoshoma 9-5, Hokutofuji 7-7.

Takayasu defeated Kotoeko – Takayasu was too strong for Kotoeko today. He pressed forward and shoved Kotoeko out quickly. Kotoeko’s only decision making here was to find a soft spot to crash land. Oshidashi. Takayasu 9-5, Kotoeko 8-6

Kotoshoho defeated Kagayaki – Kagayaki did his best to establish his bullet-train style of sumo. He charged forward with his head down and right hand inside but couldn’t force Kotoshoho over the edge. Instead, Kotoshoho pivoted and threw Kagayaki at the edge. Shitatenage. Kotoshoho 6-8, Kagayaki 5-9.

Takanosho defeated Mitakeumi – Mitakeumi’s struggles continue. Takanosho got the best of the tachiai and as Mitakeumi moved forward to re-engage, Takanosho forced his head down and pushed him toward the edge, finishing him off with a shove from behind. Okuridashi. Mitakeumi 4-10, Takanosho 8-6.

Kinbozan defeated Abi – Kinbozan weathered Abi’s tsuppari and blasted Abi to the tawara. Abi teetered at the edge, and possibly could have saved himself, but he was in no position to attack and stepped out. Oshidashi. Kinbozan 10-4! Abi 8-6. Kinbozan’s probably looking at a special prize.

Nishikigi defeated Ryuden – The battle of the over-promoted. Both are make-koshi, Ryuden deeply so. The bout may have also exposed Ryuden’s injury. While his left foot is not wrapped, he did not seem to bear weight on it. He seems fine walking but the pressure of two wrestlers is far too much. Nishikigi pressed forward, Ryuden bearing that weight with his right leg, and drove Ryuden out. Nishikigi 5-9, Ryuden 1-13.

Sadanoumi defeated Tamawashi – Tamawashi charged forward into Sadanoumi and Sadanoumi leapt high in the air, landing on the shimpan below. The question for the mono-ii was, did Tamawashi’s hand touch, or was Sadanoumi dead in the air? The answer: “both of you did terrible sumo. I mean seriously, what the hell brand of sumo was that? Stooge Sumo? Try again.” In the redo, Tamawashi pressured Sadanoumi with forceful tsuppari, nearly taking his head off as he drove Sadanoumi back. But Sadanoumi dipped cleverly at the edge. This forced Tamawashi off balance and Sadanoumi followed up by pushing him out from behind. Okuridashi. Sadanoumi 6-8, Tamawashi 3-11.

Shodai defeated Daishoho – What’s Daishoho doing up here fighting in the joi? He just got to makuuchi and it’s not like he’s had a barnstorming tournament like Midorifuji. Oh, it’s Shodai. Ura already beat him and Takayasu would play too rough. Gotta give him an easy one. I’m being serious here. I really don’t know why this bout happened. Daishoho still had the better tachiai, driving the former Ozeki back strongly at the initial charge. The initial charge was not enough to get an upset win. Shodai recovered, contained the Maegashira 13 and pressed Daishoho out. Oshidashi. Shodai 9-5, Daishoho 8-6.

Sanyaku

Tobizaru defeated Meisei – Tobizaru-zumo isn’t so much a flying-monkey style as it is “cat-and-mouse”. Meisei played the role of the cat today, pursuing the clever mouse as he scurried around the dohyo. Meisei’s charge would nearly force Tobizaru out but Tobizaru evades capture. Rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat. Shikashi! Tobizaru has a trick up his sleeve. He lured Meisei to the middle of the ring and kicked out with a leg sweep; the cat goes down to the clever mouse. Kekaeshi. Tobizaru 5-9, Meisei 4-10.

Daieisho defeated Midorifuji – Powerful, solid sumo from Daieisho today. Midorifuji shifted left at the tachiai but Daieisho had upgraded to a laser-guided tsuppari system. There would be no misdirection. Daieisho locked on target and pursued Midorifuji as the latter retreated, before blasting him out of the ring. Daieisho maintains his yusho lead at 12-2. Midorifuji falls out of contention, 10-4.

Wakatakakage vs Kiribayama – Wakatakakage pulled out of the tournament, kyujo after suffering an injury in his fall yesterday. Kiribayama got the fusen win, staying in the yusho race. Kiribayama stays in the yusho chase at 11-3. Wakatakakage 7-7 and will end the tournament with a mild make-koshi, 7-8. Again, Leonid will go into detail but this looks like a massive log-jam again in the lower sanyaku. WTK will lose his Sekiwake status and drop to Komusubi.

Endo defeated Kotonowaka – Kotonowaka had one plan, push Endo down. Endo did not comply. Endo evaded the hatakikomi attempt, moved forward into Kotonowaka, corralled him at the edge and pushed him out. Oshidashi. Endo and Kotonowaka both 9-5. Frankly, this is the strongest I’ve seen Endo perform in quite some time. I wonder if a nagging injury is now behind him. He’ll firmly be in the joi in May. Wouldn’t it be something if after all these years, Endo makes a run?

Hoshoryu defeated Wakamotoharu – Hoshoryu appeared to have this bout won before it started. The stare down lead to a bit of an awkward, hesitant tachiai from Wakamotoharu. Hoshoryu engaged, wrapped up Wakamotoharu. Wakamotoharu used all the strength he had to swing Hoshoryu around but Hoshoryu’s lower body slid along with the pair, maintaining his balance. From here, Wakamotoharu’s position was too high and Hoshoryu took advantage, twisting to his left and throwing Wakamotoharu. Uwatenage. Both men end the day 10-4, just out of yusho contention but possibly vying for Ozeki promotion. How wild is that?

Yes, the 33-in-3 myth is a myth but it’s a nice yard stick. Right now, Hoshoryu has 29 with one to go, all from the rank of Sekiwake. Might 30 wins be enough? This very strong tournament from Wakamotoharu might be the first rung of his own Ozeki run, obviously made stronger if he can get win #11 tomorrow, ensuring Sekiwake promotion. He’s had three strong tournaments in the sanyaku/joi rankings but will need to continue that for the next two tournaments at Sekiwake. That will be a challenge with the looming return of Terunofuji and Takakeisho.