“You’re back!”

Eric the Slayer

These weeks between tournaments seem to pass by so slowly, especially the weeks between the banzuke release and shonichi. It’s so excruciating. Once you get the bug, it’s difficult to get rid of, isn’t it? Anyway, I’m glad you’re back and we’re going on an adventure. There is a lot going on for this tournament, so let’s get to it.

First some of the news about who is not here. Terunofuji and Asanoyama are out, as is Hakuoho, the Miyagino-beya phenom. However, there’s an exciting crop of new faces in the top division. While the Yokozuna is absent, Takakeisho is eyeing his opportunity to join him at the rank. Meanwhile, Kirishima and Hoshoryu will be looking to solidify their positions at Ozeki. Thankfully no one is kadoban coming into the tournament. That’s a marked improvement. And from our three Sekiwake, will we see one start a fresh run at Ozeki?

Rather than speculate over who might be set for a strong tournament (since my gut is usually proved wrong very quickly), let’s get going, shall we?

Highlights

Kitanowaka (1-0) defeated Nishikifuji (0-1). Nishikifuji’s ottsuke was strong for the first few seconds. But once he relented, Kitanowaka latched on deep to the back of Nishikifuji’s belt and drove back. Kitanowaka finished him off with a fierce nodowa that drove Nishikifuji back onto his butt. Kitanowaka is a big dude so that nodowa must have been unpleasant. Good to finally see him in Makuuchi. If he keeps this up, he will be here for a while. Yoritaoshi.

Kitanowaka will face Roga tomorrow while Nishikifuji will face Tohakuryu.

Churanoumi (1-0) defeated Roga (0-1). Roga quickly locked on to the front of Churanoumi’s mawashi. Once he secured this belt grip, he followed Churanoumi’s drive wherever he went. Churanoumi thrust forward, this way and that, but was never quite able to drive Roga out. Roga seemed more concerned with fumbling for a grip and maintaining his balance than actually launching and attack. Suddenly, Churanoumi seemed to give up and Roga pushed him out. Gunbai to Roga. Mono-ii? After a bit of confusion from myself, at why there was a mono-ii, it was clear from the replay that Roga had been pushed out long before. One of Churanoumi’s thrusts had been strong enough to drive Roga back and force him to step out. Great work from Churanoumi and the eagle-eyed shimpan. Yorikiri.

Roga will face Kitanowaka, Churanoumi draws Ichiyamamoto.

Ichiyamamoto (1-0) defeated Tohakuryu (0-1). Tohakuryu tried three times to slap down Ichiyamamoto. It looked like the third time was the charm as Ichiyamamoto sprawled forward to the clay and Tohakuryu spun to the left. Gunbai to Tohakuryu. But the eagle-eyed shimpan called another mono-ii. Video doesn’t lie. Tohakuryu had stepped out first. Ichiyamamoto had driven him back and out first. Oshidashi.

We already know Tohakuryu will take on Nishikifuji while Ichiyamamoto gets Churanoumi.

Kindayu and Ginjiro will try to be more on the ball tomorrow.

Tsurugisho (1-0) defeated Tomokaze (0-1). Tsurugisho took the initiative here at the tachiai. Both men latched onto each others’ belts but Tomokaze seemed happy to play defense. Tsurugisho tried to drive forward but Tomokaze dug in and wouldn’t yield. Tsurugisho then pulled forward and threw Tomokaze to the ground. Uwatenage.

Tamawashi (1-0) brand oshi-zumo ruled the day over Takarafuji (0-1). Tamawashi never let Takarafuji inside to grab onto his belt. He planted a strong left arm squarely into Takarafuji’s right peck and drove forward, forcing Takarafuji backwards, over the edge. Maybe all the nipple attention at jungyo is just his method of scouting? “Will this be a firm spot to plant my attack? Or will it give? Hmm…” Oshidashi.

Tomokaze will face Takarafuji on Day 2; Tsurugisho is paired off with Tamawashi.

Hiradoumi had no chance here. Oho (1-0) defeated Hiradoumi (0-1) as he established his style of oshi-zumo, just as Tamawashi had. Fierce tsuppari kept Hiradoumi back. The sustained assault chased Hiradoumi wherever he attempted to flee and Oho launched Hiradoumi over the edge. If he keeps this up, Oho could make a charge. He has been a bit of a snooze, lately, if I’m honest. But this was power sumo. And power sumo is, “いい相撲”. Tsukidashi.

Sadanoumi (1-0) absolutely destroyed Kotoeko (0-1). Sadanoumi won this bout at the tachiai, driving Kotoeko backwards, immediately. Kotoeko attempted a twisting throw at the edge. But Sadanoumi’s head was squarely planted in Kotoeko, driving both off the edge, tumbling into the front row. Yoritaoshi.

On Day 2, Oho will take on Sadanoumi and Hiradoumi will face Kotoeko.

Ryuden (1-0) defeated Mitakeumi (0-1). Mitakeumi met Ryuden squarely at the tachiai and his chin, planted in Ryuden’s face. But Ryuden kept his head down and powered Mitakeumi back and over the edge. Mitakeumi is a shadow of his former Ozeki self. I had hopes for him to have a strong tournament as he is ranked quite low for his talents. From this start, however, he may have farther to fall. There was just nothing here. Yorikiri.

Atamifuji (1-0) defeated Myogiryu (0-1). Atamifuji wrapped his right arm around Myogiryu’s trunk and tried several times to snake his left hand over onto Myogiryu’s belt. But Myogiryu successfully kept separation between the two. This kept Atamifuji from his belt…but Atamifuji adjusted his strategy and just locked on to his entire right arm, locked in at the shoulder. With Myogiryu’s right arm secured in an arm bar, he pulled Myogiryu forward to the clay. Kotenage.

Ryuden will face Myogiryu and Mitakeumi battles Atamifuji tomorrow.

Kinbozan (1-0) defeated Endo (0-1). Kinbozan’s power oshi-zumo won the day. Endo drove deep to grab onto Kinbozan’s belt but Kinbozan wasn’t having any of it, driving Endo backwards with a powerful thrust. That thrust staggered Endo, forcing him off balance and looking for an exit.

Halftime

Hokuseiho (1-0) defeated Takanosho (0-1). After the tachiai, Hokuseiho seemed happy to settle into a lean-fest. Hokuseiho’s passiveness forced Takanosho to take the initiative and try to drive the big lug back. Every attempt Takanosho had to drive forward was thwarted by Hokuseiho’s size. But Hokuseiho did not seem to want to counter-attack. He waited Takanosho out and they settled into a nice “lean.” The crowd always likes a lean and applauds, politely, as they wait for something to happen. Suddenly, Hokuseiho reaches out with his loooong left arm. He stretched deep behind Takanosho, grasping his belt. Takanosho’s thinking, “Uh-Oh.” Yorikiri.

Endo will face Hokuseiho on Day 2. Kinbozan gets Takanosho.

Shonannoumi (1-0) defeated Midorifuji (0-1). Midorifuji jumps first. Matta. Shonannoumi tried to end Midori twice at the outset, just crushing him with his size. But the smaller rikishi resisted, strongly. Again, Shonannoumi pulled and drove Midorifuji down while backing out. Oh, that was close. Gunbai to Shonannoumi. Mono-ii. Did Shonannoumi step out or did Midorifuji touch the clay first? It was judged that Midorifuji touched first before Shonannoumi stepped out. Hatakikomi.

Onosho (1-0) defeated Nishikigi (0-1). Solid tachiai and footwork from Nishikigi. Wakanohana appreciated Onosho’s tachiai, in particular. He noted that the strong thrust to the shoulders staggered Nishikigi enough to allow Onosho to get in close and wrap him up. Nishikigi countered with a desperate, strong twist and nearly forced Onosho down. Onosho’s foot sprawled out to catch himself. Once secure, he drove forward again, driving Nishikigi back and out. Oshidashi.

Shonannoumi trades Midorifuji for Onosho, which leaves Nishikigi for the Midori-man.

Abi (1-0) defeated Gonoyama (0-1). Abi-zumo. Powerful thrusts about the head and shoulders drove Gonoyama back and out. Gonoyama tried a change of direction to catch Abi out but Abi was locked on today. Solid work. Oshidashi.

Abi will go from Gonoyama to Ozeki Kirishima. Gonoyama will face Daieisho.

Kotonowaka (1-0) defeated Tobizaru (0-1). Kotonowaka seemed to taunt Tobizaru after the tachiai. A cheeky little slap to the face. “What are you going to do?” Tobizaru tried to move Kotonowaka and might have pushed him back a couple of feet toward the tawara but that was it. Then Kononowaka launched forward and sent Tobizaru flying from the dohyo. Oshidashi.

In a couple of fantastic feature bouts for tomorrow, Kotonowaka will fight Takayasu on Day 2. Tobizaru will get Hokutofuji.

Takayasu (1-0) defeated Wakamotoharu (0-1). Takayasu displays Ozeki-level mind games before the tachiai with an epic stare-down. “You will put your hands down first.” Wakamotoharu obliges, which was apparently a mistake. Takayasu met Wakamotoharu with a strong tachiai, locks on to his opponent, and rotates. As he rotates, Wakamotoharu chases after his belt grip…but it’s too late as Takayasu finishes the rotation throwing Wakamotoharu to the ground. Uwatenage.

Wakamotoharu will face Meisei on Day 2.

Daieisho (1-0) defeated Meisei (0-1). Daieisho won this brawl with overpowering tsuppari. Bam, bam, bam, driving Meisei back. Meisei put in a solid effort and shifted back to the center to try to get a secure position. Daieisho was just stronger today, reset and drove forward again. Bam, bam, bam. “Go out now.” Tsukidashi.

Hoshoryu (1-0) defeated Shodai (0-1) at the tachiai with a powerful nodowa that forced Masayo back clear to the tawara. Shodai had a rather meek attempt to counter. “Do you mind if I push back, sir? You do? Oh, okay, I can find my way out.” Hoshoryu kept up the pressure and forced him out. Tsukidashi.

A potential barnstormer bout tomorrow as Shodai fights back to spoil Takakeisho’s rope run. Hoshoryu will face Ura.

Kirishima (1-0) defeated Ura (0-1). Again, the Ozeki’s powerful tachiai drives his opponent back to the tawara. Rather than nodowa, Kirishima met Ura square in the shoulders and shoved. Ura was a bit more successful at resisting than Shodai was in the previous bout. He was able to back Kirishima to the center. But Kirishima closed on Ura and dashed him to the floor.

Takakeisho (1-0) defeated Hokutofuji (0-1): Honestly, this is the bout that I have been waiting weeks for but that was dissatisfying. Thumper was nowhere to be seen as Takakeisho drove him back easily. Hokutofuji merely delayed his exit by shifting to the left and Takakeisho followed. Oshidashi.