The news continues to stream in from the infirmary. Today, both Hokutofuji and Asanoyama are added to the kyujo list. Hokutofuji’s kyujo was expected. For Asanoyama, the injury is the ankle that he rolled up on near the end of his fight with Tamawashi.
Makuuchi Results
Endo (2-7) defeated Tomokaze (1-8). Endo charged forward and drove Tomokaze from the ring. Oshidashi.
Myogiryu (3-6) defeated Bushozan (4-5). Bushozan charged forward but Myogiryu pulled Bushozan down. Hatakikomi.
Takanosho (6-3) defeated Takarafuji (4-5). Takanosho forced the Takarabune aground. The Takarabune tried a last second pulldown but Takanosho kept his balance and shoved Takarafuji out. Oshidashi.
Shimazuumi (5-4) defeated Oho (6-3). Shimazuumi false start. Shimazuumi locked in tight with Oho, and prevented the oshi-tsuki wrestler from fighting his brand of fight. Oho attempted to get some distance by retreating but Shimazuumi continued to charge forward and wrapped Oho up and walked him out. Yorikiri.
Kotoshoho (6-3) defeated Sadanoumi (3-6). As the two waltzed across the ring toward the tawara, both men pitched to the side to try to throw each other. Kotoshoho was able to keep his footing just long enough to pick up the win as they both tumbled out. Sukuinage.
Onosato (8-1) defeated Meisei (5-4). Meisei grabbed Onosato’s arm and tried to pull him down but Onosato was having none of it and drove Meisei out. Meisei appeared to have a plan today, it was just utterly ineffective. Yorikiri.
Churanoumi defeated Mitakeumi. Mitakeumi got his right-hand outside grip but Churanoumi denied an easy left-hand inside. Churanoumi grabbed Mitakeumi with a matching right-hand outside grip and yanked up as he charged forward and drove Mitakeumi to the edge. Both men tumbled out but the gunbai went to Churanoumi. No mono-ii. Yorikiri.
Onosho (8-1) fusen win. Asanoyama (7-2) kyujo.
Tsurugisho (4-5) defeated Ichiyamamoto (3-6). Ichiyamamoto tried his pull but Tsurugisho stayed up long enough to drive Ichiyamamoto out before falling. Oshidashi.
Tamawashi (6-3) defeated Shonannoumi (1-8). Brutal nodowa from Tamawashi. He grabbed Shonannoumi’s head and shoved him from the dohyo. Oshidashi.
Halftime
Kinbozan (5-4) defeated Hiradoumi (4-5). A contrast of styles here. Kinbozan’s oshi-tsuki attack completely overwhelmed Hiradoumi. Tsukidashi.
Tobizaru (5-4) fusen win. Hokutofuji (4-5) kyujo
Abi (3-6) defeated Gonoyama (2-7). Henka or no? I say yes. Abi made contact with his arm to drive Gonoyama down, and seized Gonoyama’s belt to drive him forward. But he had leapt to the side to avoid the force of Gonoyama’s charge. To me, that’s a henka. Perfectly executed. Uwatenage.
Wakamotoharu (6-3) defeated Midorifuji (2-7). Kachi-age from WMH but Midorifuji seized his belt and tried a quick throw. Wakamotoharu drove into Midorifuji and crushed him down at the edge. Yoritaoshi.
Sanyaku
Ura (2-7) defeated Atamifuji (4-5). Ura charged forward at the tachiai but Atamifuji slammed on the brakes before reaching the bales. As Atamifuji tussled for a belt grip, Ura drove Atamifuji to the other edge and pulled him down. Atamifuji tried to stop but his foot landed outside the bales and then awkwardly slipped out from under him. Katasukashi.
Kotonowaka (8-1) defeated Daieisho (6-3). Kotonowaka absorbed Daieisho’s charge and tried a pull down but that failed. He moved inside and locked up a right-hand inside grip and used that to bulldoze Daieisho clear across the ring. Yorikiri.
Kirishima (7-1) defeated Shodai (4-5). Kirishima grabbed Shodai’s belt with a right-hand inside grip and drove toward the edge of the ring. At the edge, Shodai yanked on Kirishima’s arm and twisted, pulling Kirishima out, as well. Gunbai Shodai?!?! The Shimpan jump up quickly to set this right. Shodai was out first. Oshidashi.
Hoshoryu (7-2) defeated Ryuden (3-6). Hoshoryu simply overpowered Ryuden. Once he got the left-hand inside to match up with his right-hand outside, he drove forward and forced Ryuden out. Yorikiri.
Terunofuji (7-2) defeated Nishikigi (5-4). Terunofuji tried the kimidashi attack but Nishikigi broke free. He nearly got Terunofuji at the edge but Terunofuji re-engaged, locked in with a right hand inside, left-hand outside, and forced Nishikigi over the tawara.
Wrap-up
Onosato and Onosho will be thrown to the wolves tomorrow to test their mettle. Onosho will face Kirishima. Kirishima’s rope run is on ice at this point. It will be dead and buried with a loss. Onosato will face Kotonowaka, both 8-1. Both men secured their kachi-koshi just today but will be tested for the yusho tomorrow. The leader will surely then have to run the gauntlet against the Ozeki and Yokozuna to earn the title. Hoshoryu, also in the hunt group, will face Daieisho (6-3).
It is a huge bummer about Asanoyama and Hokutofuji. I hope they both recuperate.
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I’m waku-waku for Kotonowaka vs. Terunofuji
It should happen at some point.
Wow, they are hard on Onosato, taking him up on day 10 already.
If he was to win historically, he would have to do it in style!
John Gunning in the sumo review 2023 on NHK predicted Onosato to be an Ozeki at the end of 2024. I tried to find out who reached that rank within a year from the lowest position (after WWII).
It seems it was Terunofuji in 2020/2021 from J3e, but of course he wasn’t a rookie then.
Taiho from M13w and Asanoyama from M8w even did it with a losing tournament on their way.
http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Query.aspx?show_form=0&columns=7&form1_basho_nr=7&form1_rank=O&form2_basho_nr=6&form2_rank=S&form2_year=%3E1945&sort_basho=1&sort_by=rank&offset=50
Not ready to hop on the Onosato bandwagon. He’s doing very well in his debut so lots of credit to him. On the other hand he hasn’t been tested at all, with his highest ranked opponent being M9 West Meisei. I’ll even go so far as to predict that he doesn’t make Ozeki in 2024. Maybe in 2025 but not in 2024.
So far, he’s wrestled the following:
2 M17, 2 wins
2 M16, 2 wins
2 M14, 1 win, 1 loss
1 M13, 1 win
1 M11, 1 win
1 M9, 1 win
1 S, ?
Let’s see how he does facing the Sanyaku. First test is Kotonowaka and the K-Man will be pumped chasing his Ozeki promotion.
Remember how Atamifuji was all the rage coming into this basho and how he was “the next big thing”? Well, Atamifuji ran into the Sanyaku brick wall going 0-4 before finally beating Daieisho on day 6.
These young guys look great beating the older lower rank and file guys but it’s a very different ballgame and level of talent in the opposition in the Sanyaku ranks.
I agree with U on Onosato, so far. He hasn‘t won a Juryo basho, too, though there were only Ichiyamamoto and Kotoshoho in the two title races.
But on the other hand he seems to be already a different wrestler now compared to his first few Makuuchi bouts. He might be a very fast adapter. So everything’s possible!
As to Atamifuji, I‘m not sure we‘re talking about the same rikishi.
I think he‘s doing very well considering he‘s among the jo’i for the first time and like Andy I‘m almost certain he‘ll at least become an Ozeki (bad injuries excepted).
It would be a tough ask for Onosato to make it to Ozeki this year, given that he just debuted in the top division! Like, it’s literally never been done; Taiho came the closest, debuting at Hatsu 1960 and reaching Ozeki at Hatsu 1961. Onosato is unlikely to make san’yaku in March unless he runs the table, and possibly not even then, which would mean he’d have to do well in March and then get 33+ in May, July, and September for a November promotion. Terunofuji pulled off a run like this during his comeback, but he was a former Ozeki. Even 2025 would be a signficant achievement.
Well, there‘s some misunderstanding, I think.
To be an Ozeki at the end of 2024 means Hatsu 2025 would be his first basho in the new rank.
That’s exactly what Taiho has been the only one to achieve so far.
Onosato would do it, if he won at least 11 in all the tournaments in 2024.
(And as U can see in my query, it took Terunofuji even only five basho from Makuuchi promotion to Ozeki.)
Either way, it’s a big ask to match Terunofuji/Taiho, the only men in history to accomplish anything like this ;)
There can be no two opinions about that, of course.
And I really wouldn’t bet a lot on Onosato.
He has to be the outsider against Kotonowaka tomorrow.
But it still would be very nice to watch history in the making!
Oh, absolutely, I’d love to see it! My initial response was to the comment by T.O.M. that seemed to imply that everyone is expecting O to make Ozeki this year and that he would somehow be a disappointment if he didn’t.
Still too close to call for who is currently “holding the bag of marbles” for the yusho at this point. I don’t mind, honestly. 12-3 as the record with the maximum number of losses to win the Cup with a bunch of rikishi able to do that is great stuff.
Tomokaze really needs to join the list of kyujo rikishi.
I was such a fan of his when he was coming up the first time, but I think he got out of shape (put on more weight, but not useful pounds) on his rise back up from the lower divisions. It took him a long time, robbed him of what should’ve been the most productive years of his career, and now he looks like a shell of his former self, ability-wise.
This basho, not only does Tomokaze look listless most of the time, he also just seems flabby and soft in all the ways that matter. It’s like he got back to the top division, and was satisfied with that instead of reaching for more. And now he just seems through with the effort it takes to stay up, largely because that foot injury might be one that lingered and got worse over time.
I’m glad Asanoyama listened to your sage advice Andy.😜
Is Kirishima nervous? He isn’t looking like a Yokozuna to be. The difference between him and Teru’s determination is huge.
A day or two ago I had dinner with someone who worked with Wakanohana and his mother often had dinner with Hakuho. I’m still giddy!🤪
Kirishima is not having his best yusho by a long stretch.
And he’s just one off the leaders.
My son and I roared with approval at Abi’s henka: schadenfreude of seeing a short, aggressive man thrown on his belly.
What I miss the most about not having Hakuho anymore is desperately hoping for the Yokozuna to lose! These days, whenever Teru is on the dojo I desperately root for him to 1) survive; 2) win and 3) possibly in style. I do not think we are going to have him for long, but I still do not see anyone else being Yokozuna proper. I mean, Kirishima could get the rope but he does not (yet) have the dominance. Hoshoryu (alas) keeps dropping matches he shouldn’t. Takakeisho … seriously? I like Kotonowaka, I would love to get him spiked with a serious dose of Hoshoryu’s trademark spite! But my hopes really rest with Onosato, Hakuhoho and Takerufuji!!!
I‘m with U as to Onosato and probably Takerufuji, but who‘s that Hakuhohoho guy…
That’s Christmas Hakuho for you.
I’m enjoying the coastal adventures of the Takarabune this basho, both sumo and literary. Thanks Andy.
In full agreement w/Andy re Kotoeko. He’s always been one of my favorites – not that big or strong, no particular charisma…..except! He simply never gives up. I call him Fighting Spirit. Wasn’t able to watch Juryo, so no idea if he’s hurt, or simply faced what many of the old-timers do when they age and finally drop down to Juryo. The young boys are hungry,
and so many of the oldies don’t make it back. At age 30+ it’s a difficult decision to make – retire or test the Juryo waters, and many regret it. This basho there are 5 or so
old timers who are facing the drop down (have we ever seen Endo this listless?).
Asanoyama – it’s a damn shame. Seems like the gods are at work in his case, and after
diligently climbing the multi-division ladder back from the bizarre suspension the Kyokai
handed him – wouldn’t be surprised if one of the useless shirts have it in for him.
Just saying…..