The final basho of 2023 starts this Sunday! The fight cards for the first two days came out yesterday. The headline news is that two top-division rikishi are absent to start the tournament. Most observers expected Yokozuna Terunofuji to sit out yet another tournament, and that is indeed the case. The other absence, announced at the last possible moment, is that of M1e Asanoyama. The former Ozeki injured his calf in training, and while he was hoping to enter, the recovery has been too slow to allow it. Asanoyama is hoping to join at some point in order to avoid a big drop in rank.
Here are a few highlight bouts to wet your appetite:
On Days 1 and 2, promotion-seeking Ozeki Takakeisho will seek to avenge his September losses to Hokutofuji and Shodai, respectively. Takakeisho has been reported to re-aggravate his neck injury prior to the tournament. Fellow Ozeki Kirishima fights Ura and Abi, while Hoshoryu takes on Shodai and Ura.
In other Day 1 san’yaku action, we get Daieisho vs. Meisei, Wakamotoharu vs. Takayasu, Kotonowaka vs. Tobizaru, and Abi vs. Gonoyama. On Day 2, they rotate, with Wakamotoharu facing Meisei, Kotonowaka taking on Takayasu, Daieisho matched with Gonoyama, and Hokutofuji fighting Tobizaru.
Some great matchups there to kick off what we hope will be an exciting yusho race!
Headbutt first ask questions later isn’t a great match for Keisho. That’ll feel good on the neck.
Hokutofuji got off to a great start by upsetting Takakeisho in September. He had quite the streaky performance. I really want to see some consistent, great basho from Thumper.
The whole fight card from Takakeisho/Hokutofuji down to…just before Hokuseiho/Takanosho…is very engaging.
I’d say all the way down to Ryuden vs Mitakeumi; I start to lose interest at Sadanoumi vs Kotoeko.
Oh, that one is a highlight for me. Two guys who are rather atypical for the division. I’m always amazed that they’re here.
I’m with you, Kotoeko is fun to watch when his sumo is on he’s dynamite.
The whole torikumi is good it should be a banger to end the year.
RBFN for the Yusho!
I’m a Sadanoumi fan, as much for the facial expressions as anything. I can’t think of anyone who has mastered the puzzled frown quite like he has..
I’m going to be at Day 2 and am really looking forward to it, it will be my first basho since Haru of this year. I’m already looking forward to restarting my streak at Hatsu :)
I already am sitting on a backlog of stuff I’ve meant to post and upload photos, but if there’s anything worth covering on the ground I’ll take notes :)
It’s nice to see Wakatakakage back on the torikumi, even at Ms6.