The injuries sure piled up during this tournament. Coming into the tournament I was most concerned with Terunofuji, our sole reigning Yokozuna. Would he be able to compete and finish the tournament? Do we need to rush to crown a new Yokozuna so that the ailing champion can be allowed to retire? If the other Ozeki are shaky, we probably need another backup, so let’s get this Kotonowaka kid elevated quickly!
Fifteen days into the tournament, Terunofuji is still here. And not only is he on the dohyo, he is in the yusho race! Only days ago, I had been very concerned about his physical conditioning and wondered aloud if it were time for intai. It is great to see him back, no matter today’s outcome.
Kirishima has put in a good effort but will very likely come up short. He needs a lot of help if the rope run is to be sustained. I think we all want to see him win it because of a dominant performance, not because the two guys ahead of him lost. The only path forward requires him to put in that dominant performance in a playoff but the odds are slim that he will be taking part.
Kotonowaka’s performance, on the other hand, has been excellent. He still has a lot to learn but he has competed over the past four tournaments at a consistently high level and is worthy of promotion to Ozeki. It is not set in stone yet and today’s bout will be crucial as the Kyokai decides whether to elevate him. Tobizaru stands in his way.
Lastly, I do want to mention Terunofuji’s stablemate, Takarafuji. The man has been in makuuchi for nearly 1000 consecutive bouts but he is set to be demoted to Juryo. Thankfully, he has expressed in the Japanese media that he intends to stay on. He enjoys sumo and will not retire. The Takarabune will still rig his sails in Juryo.
Makuuchi Action
Takarafuji (6-9) defeated Kotoshoho (9-6). Persistence paid off for the Takarabune. Patched up and wobbly, the Takarabune set a course for home. Kotoshoho buffeted the Takarabune with hearty blows. But the Takarabune charged forward and defeated Kotoshoho. Oshidashi.
Oho (10-5) defeated Tomokaze (5-10). Oho hit Tomokaze hard at the tachiai and drove him back to the edge. Tomokaze used a nodowa to defend himself but Oho withstood the pressure and shoved Tomokaze’s arm away. This turned Tomokaze around and Oho chased him out from behind. Okuridashi.
Tsurugisho (9-6) defeated Bushozan (4-11). Tsurugisho shifted left and slapped Bushozan down. Hatakikomi.
Onosho (10-5) defeated Sadanoumi (6-9). Onosho charged forward and shoved Sadanoumi over the edge. Oshidashi.
Onosato (11-4) defeated Tamawashi (8-7). Again, no tsuppari from already kachi-koshi Tamawashi. He took on Onosato at the initial charge, let him drive him back to the bales, and then resisted at the edge with all of his might. Onosato pulled, and Tamawashi fell back to the center of the dohyo. Hikiotoshi.
Meisei (9-6) defeated Shimazuumi (9-6). Meisei forced Shimazuumi into an oshi/tsuki bout. Shimazuumi was doing his best to deflect Meisei’s tsuppari and push Meisei. Suddenly Meisei shifted and thrust Shimazuumi down. Unfortunately, the defeat meant that Shimazuumi lost his chance at a special prize. Tsukiotoshi.
Mitakeumi (6-9) defeated Endo (5-10). Endo drove forward with powerful tsuppari. Mitakeumi shifted along the tawara and drove Endo down. Gunbai to Mitakeumi. A quick mono-ii was called to confirm the judge’s call. Mitakeumi’s foot was very close to out but never touched. Tsukiotoshi.
Myogiryu (5-10) defeated Ichiyamamoto (5-10). Myogiryu’s tsuppari simply overpowered Ichiyamamoto. Oshidashi.
Churanoumi defeated Shodai. Churanoumi’s hidari-yotsu chugged and chugged, reversed Shodai’s forward progress and then drove him back and out. Tsukiotoshi.
Halftime
Takanosho (10-5) defeated Gonoyama (5-10). Gonoyama drove forward but Takanosho danced along the tawara, slipped to the side, and drove Gonoyama down. Gunbai Takanosho. The shimpan gathered in a mono-ii to review the tape and confirm Takanosho’s foot did not step out. Tsukiotoshi.
Hiradoumi (8-7) defeated Abi (8-7). Hiradoumi baited Abi forward and slapped him down. Hatakikomi.
Kinbozan (7-8) defeated Midorifuji (5-10). Kinbozan bulldozed Midorifuji with powerful tsuppari. Tsukidashi.
Shonannoumi (4-11) defeated Atamifuji (6-9). Shonannoumi moved forward! He acquired a left-hand inside grip, hefted up on Atamifuji’s mawashi, drove him forward and out. Did I see a little dame-oshi there at the end? Yorikiri.
Wakamotoharu (10-5) defeated Nishikigi (8-7). Nishikigi was just a passenger on the Wakamotoharu freight train. Nishikigi held on tight while Wakamotoharu chugged forward. Yorikiri.
Sanyaku
Ura defeated Ryuden. Ura hefted Ryuden onto his shoulders and threw him off the dohyo. Gunbai The shimpan called a mono-ii. Gumbai confirmed. Tsutaezori.
Kore-yori-Sanyaku.
I always loved this. The final three bouts of Senshuraku. This is why we watch.
Daieisho (9-6) defeated Asanoyama (9-3-3). Daieisho did his sumo and blasted Asanoyama back. But this time Daieisho slipped to the side and his opponent fell down. Daieisho got the arrows. Tsukiotoshi.
Kotonowaka (13-2) defeated Tobizaru (7-8). “I said, Get Down, Dude!” Kotonowaka brought his big mitt down on Tobizaru’s head and drove him to the ground. He then had to hang out and pass the power water to Terunofuji. Kirishima is eliminated from the yusho contention and his rope-run evaporated. Uwatenage.
Terunofuji (13-2) defeated Kirishima (11-4). Terunofuji lifted Kirishima and threw him from the dohyo. Holy moly. Yorikiri is a polite way to put it. More like Yori-gtfoh (“Get The F*** Out of Here,” for non-Millennials).
Bonus sumo
Terunofuji defeated Kotonowaka. Terunofuji yusho. Kotonowaka got his morozashi…but when Terunofuji started to pull on him, his switched to a migi-yotsu and pulled. Terunofuji preferred a hidari-yotsu, so he switched his grip (makikae) and drove forward, forcing Kotonowaka out. The big bois fell onto the Shimpan. Yorikiri.
Wrap-up
Wow. The drama! Terunofuji came from behind to secure his 9th career yusho. What an amazing start to 2024. Terunofuji is back. His knees are still a concern, obviously, as we could see him wince and struggle to make it through the lengthy award ceremony. Every so often he would bend over and try to take some of the pressure off those knees. He may not be indestructible but in each bout he finds a way to destroy just about everyone else. He started out a bit rusty and had to win all of his matches over the past week to mount his comeback. But he is used to those, no?
In the next few days we will find out if Kotonowaka did enough for Ozeki promotion. He hit that 33-win mark and has been confident and steady. To be frank, it’s also 44-wins over 4 tournaments. He has put in some solid sumo over the past two years, advancing steadily. It is time but as today’s final bout showed, there is still so far to go.
Tomorrow, I will try to get the tournament main page set-up and cleaned up. It is live. You can already navigate to it. I have been updating it as the tournament went along but it needs some attention tomorrow and a few more updates. The Year in 2024 page will be the page with more updates after the tournament, such as any promotions or further retirements announced after this tournament. I already can’t wait for March! Holy-moly. How will Kirishima react to this…humbling?
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Hey that’s what we want to see from Yokozuna. Dominate. Especially in the later part of the basho, when things are on the line, he just dumped every opponents. Big Congrats to Teru.
I would rather have a once a year dominant Yokozuna than a super ozeki who attends every basho.
I wanna mention Ura’s victory over Ryuden, which kimarite I do not recall.
I would leave yusho race to the big guys, but these beautiful techniques that small rikishes display, those are the ones that make sumo so attractive.
Tsutaezori .
This basho certainly devalues the 2023 Ozeki promotions and the championships of Kirishima and Hoshoryu. It also devalues Kotonowaka’s expected promotion. What stopped Kotonowaka’s winning this basho? A Yokozuna. What was missing in Kirishima’s and Hoshoryu’s 2023 championships? A Yokozuna to block their paths. Both were promoted in 2023 when Terunofuji completed only one basho…which he won. How many times did Terunofuji beat Kotonowaka in this tournament? Twice. If Terunofuji had completed the two basho immediately prior to this one, he would have fought Kotonowaka twice more in 2023. If Kotonowaka had lost just one of those two bouts, he wouldn’t have the 33 needed for Ozeki promotion. Kirishima’s rank especially was cheapened this basho. Kotonowaka had already beat Kirishima. And Terunofuji was like a bouncer at a college bar throwing Kirishima out like he was a drunk, punk ass freshman. I’m glad see Kirishima not get promoted. He’s not Yokozuna material…not if he’s got to fight one, beat one, to become one.
It’s a rebuilding period. Keep in mind that Terunofuji LOST the yusho when he won his rope. It will take time but we’re getting there.
But he’d won the previous two before a 14-1 runner-up finish, there was no way Terunofuji was going to be denied!
Much too much IFs for my taste!
There was a reason the Yokozuna was absent and that reason was he would have lost every single match including all those U mention because of his health problems.
Nothing devalued at all.
On the contrary: this time the Yokozuna was present and still Kotonowaka, Kirishima and Hoshoryu had 34 wins among them. What better proof that they are worthy Ozeki?
Terunofuji didn’t really have to fight a Yokozuna to get there. He got hammered by Hakuho, Kisenosato, and Kakuryu and then made yokozuna after they were gone. His 2021 bout vs Hakuho … a loss for Teru.
So the same could be said for Terunofuji … he didn’t have to fight and beat one to become one. Did that devalue his promotion? Not in my opinion.
I think your logic is flawed, As some famous person said “Showing up is 80% of Life” It’s up to the yokozuna to show up, if he doesn’t, you have to fight whoever does.
Right, we can certainly argue that some yusho are more impressive than others (like when Akebobo had to beat 7 yokozuna and ozeki, all having good tournaments https://sumodb.sumogames.de/Banzuke.aspx?b=200011) but winning any yusho and reaching the promotion criteria in any competitive landscape aint’ easy, and we should respect anyone who pulls it off.
You can only fight who is in front of you. It isn’t the fault of Kirishima or Hoshoryu that Terunofuji was kyujo.
What a basho!
Just a brutal way for Kirishima to be told “you’re not ready, kid.”
I really don’t know what more Kotonowaka had to do to earn ozeki. I think it’s a done deal, as the only knock is a single walkover win among the 33, balanced by defeating every single current ozeki during his run. It’s a very strong case.
I agree Kotozakura time he’s been consistent and definitely Ozeki material – also a great fourth to round out the group currently serving he has a style that’s a nice change from Mongolian throwing and tripping or the Hamster’s wave action tsuppari.
Loved seeing Teru try to toss Kirishima back to the steppe. That’s exactly what I want from our Yokozuna, dominant power sumo when it counts.
I’ve said before I’d love to see the man reach 10 and enter the dai group he deserves it and honestly if not for him post-Hak who would we have? Even injured he’s a presence. We’ve been very lucky. Hoping for 2 more basho this year with the Kaiju
On the subject of small rikishi and their wild kimarite I was joking about that yesterday – Ura is wildly flexible and obviously strong to back it up – it seems like he gets into unfortunate positions throws the kitchen sink and when it lands everyone stands around and says wow we haven’t seen that in 100 years.
Was it intentional? Sometimes yes, probably. Sometimes I think it’s desperation.
Yeah, I have wondered, can you train to do those really rare kimarite (how?), or do you just wriggle into a position where you have some leverage, go for it, and let them figure out what to call it? Maybe you study all the pictures and videos to see what the possibilities are?
Greco-roman wrestling on Instagram is fascinating. It’s like all they do is practice these crazy takedowns.
From sumowrestling.fandom.com: “In addition to sumo wrestling, he also participated in greco-roman wrestling. This helped him increase his balance while staying low. Ura excelled in wrestling and was once even ranked second nationally.”
Ura did it – he pulled it off – a backlift kimarite as komusubi – winning from that ridiculous position!!! My son and I couldn’t stop shouting!
If only he could have picked off a few more wins. He’s sure to go down.
I don’t entirely understand the degrading comments made here regarding Kirishima’s bout today. Since I started watching Grand Sumo two years ago, I have found Kirishima to be one of the most consistent, stable participants. He proved so this tournament as well. He knew going into the match today that he had absolutely nothing riding on it. Why should he risk injury to himself rather than perserve his body for another day? You’d rather he knock himself out trying to win anyway and risk blowing his knees or back out prematurely, so he an compete in exrcruciating pain? Remember, it’s the media and blogs like this that set up the expectation for a Yokozuna run, not Kirishima. He’s doing what he would do regardless of whether he won the last tournament. I have vast amounts of regard for both Kirishima, Hoshryu, and Kotonawaka. It’s Terunufuji I find very painful to watch. I’d rather have all three Ozeki healthy than to see any one of them an ailing Yokozuna.
Amazing basho, wow
Biggest question for me isn’t does Kotonowaka get promoted but now that he’s Ozeki does he fulfil his wish to now take on the Kotozakura name as he said he would (on Juryo promotion!!) when he became Ozeki
It was a perfect basho the one I have been waiting for very long ago!
Congratulation to Teru his potato sack move against the yokozuna wannabe was very convincing, congratulation to ozeki Kotozakura as well a very much deserved promotion!
I am very sad about Takarafuji I am going to miss him and I do not see him coming back to makunouchi any time soon.
Not very long ago we were worried about the possible outcome of having no ozeki and yokozuna and now we have 3 and a half strong young competitive ozeki and a bit rusty but still strong and dominant yokozuna.
The generation transition is about to end soon and ozumo finally slowly returns to its most beautiful virtues
This made me laugh who is the half Ozeki?
What’s left of Kiri after that toss?
Hamster due to size and how he looks like he’s got one lung after climbing two stairs?
It’s so nice to see San’yaku so strong with some rising threats as well (Waka bros, Daieisho when he’s consistent, Asanoyama plus the young cadre that will surely find footing in Atami and Hakuoho and Onosato).
Sumo life is good again.
Here’s to a year of no wild Maegashira Yusho.
Probably T-Rex because of injuries…or maybe reach?
Yes I meant Takakeisho. I would not be surprised if he announce his intai soon. That neck injury seems very serious.
I’m one of the people who was defending Kirishima against charges he wasn’t ready to become a yokozuna. After today, I think I was mistaken. That was embarassing! Kotonowaka, on the other hand. really made Terunofuji use his yokozuna tool kit. He was beaten, but not embarrassed. And he admits he has to keep working to improve.
Terunofuji is still here for a few more appearances and I hope he can win a tenth yusho.
Kiribayama looked like he wiped away a tear with his right wrist band on his way to the changing rooms.
Asanoyama or Nishikigi will be promoted to Komosubi in March?
and Ura and Atamifuji lose only one rank with their 6-9 records (Ura to M1, Atamifuji to M2)
I unfortunately missed it live, and only caught the last half of the NHK highlights just now. (I refrained from looking at the results in advance, for once, so much excitement.) I’ll watch the whole thing tonight when they replay the highlights.
The ozeki promotion was mentioned in Kotonowaka’s interview, so there’s no doubt, in case anyone here was still in suspense. (Unless, I suppose, there’s old video of him standing next to a someone at a vending machine during covid not wearing his mask: in which case, I say no promotion and a year’s suspension!!)
If I ever wondered what I would look like going up against a yokozuna, I think I have an idea after seeing what Terunofuji did to Kirishima.
Solid tourney by Tsurugisho, winning 9 despite the pain. If the Association won’t give him a Fighting Spirit Prize, I’ll draw one for him on a paper plate.
Nice write up by Andy, as usual, though I think Ura’s win merits a little more notice. That was cool!
Thanks to Andy and Tachiai for the coverage.
Thank you for the kind words. Ura’s take down of Ryuden was rather spectacular.
So glad to hear the Takarabune will sail on, even if it’s cruising other waters for a while!
Thanks so much for the coverage, Andy.
I may have the occasional report from those other waters in upcoming tournaments.
My thanks, too, to Andy and Iksumo for their coverage.
It was a great basho, though the Hoshoryu kyujo took a little bit off the last weekend.
No knees Terunofuji is just fantastic and Kotonowaka very much deserves the Ozeki promotion.
And for next time not only the amazing Onosato, but also rookie Takerufuji (and hopefully a re-energized Atamifuji) are promising very much fun. Plus Wakatakakage and Akuoho in Juryo.
As I don’t want a Tachiai/Iksumo-GTB, but something of my own, I‘ve already placed my banzuke entry. And it‘s a strange one, as many rikishi seem to win ranks with losing records.
(Probably I‘ve only got it all wrong, again.)
If you have anyone advancing with a losing record, that’s basically the only no-no. A 7-8 might stay put and not drop but that will definitely not advance.
Is there precedent for leaving one Komusubi slot unfilled?
Good question. I will check but if there are gaps in the banzuke, those usually happened because of a scandal or something and they took the person off. I think some of the yaocho intai were blank spaces on the banzuke. But not because of too few candidates. They would just over promote someone.
No, it’s a rule that there have to be two O/Y, two S, two K. Nishikigi/Asanoyama would certainly rank toward the very low end of previous komusubi promotions, but not at the bottom.
Since I bothered looking it up, the bottom with a 9-6 would be M8e Myogiryu in 2015, followed by several M7w’s. The bottom with 8-7 would be M6e in 1983, followed by a bunch of M5w’s. So definitely scraping the bottom of the barrel here, but nothing unprecedented.
Hakuoho (not Akuoho, of course) against Wakatakakage might be the duel for the Juryo yusho.
Osaka will be interesting. There should be a raft of Makuuchi regulars down there.
Definitely one to look forward to! It was a bit disappointing that Hakuoho got upset by Onokatsu right before they were on course to meet for the Makushita crown, but I’ll definitely settle for both getting promoted.
Wow. Mount Doom ate everything Middle Earth sent its way. That is a real yokozuna. Deep respect to the man-mountain.
I hope Teru stays fit as many wrestlers need to learn from him.
Those trumpeting Kirishima’s unreadiness for yokozuna may feel justifiably vindicated. Us Kiri fans know the true reason for his falling short…
The student is pining for his master – his true master, Kakaryu not Michinoku. Ever since Kakaryu left Michinoku to establish his own stable, taking on the name Otowayama, Kirishima’s heart had been uncharacteristically hollow. Of course he hasn’t been able to say anything about it. He’s battled on as well as he can. But in the big bouts he was, much like the Takarabune, all at sea. A reed flapping in the wind.
It is very hard for Westernized moderns to fully appreciate the student-master relationship – how it energizes, or vitiates, everything.
But the news ahead is good. Michinoku will fold, not be handed on. It’s wrestlers will choose where they’re going. Kirishima’s big-hearted, sure-hearted dohyo presence will return again. And this time there will be no doubt about who his true master really is.
Whatever it is, Kirishima definitely needs to take his sumo to the next level. And it will not be done under the current Michinoku regime, so it will be interesting if the Ozeki shifts over to Otowayama.
Don’t write-off Kirishima yet. Life (and sumo) gives painful lessons, but he can recover. He is still the best Ozeki, so with more work, focus and a bit of luck he will get another chance soon
“He is still the best Ozeki”
Today, yes. Tomorrow, I am not so sure. Kotonowaka was very impressive. As for the other two, I want to see them come back healthy in Osaka. No excuses.
I have been impressed with Kotonowaka for some time but his sumo lacks one big aspect (attractive for me at least) – personality. He comes across as a buttoned down, dutiful son who is carrying on the family business, staking his sumo on his immense physical stature and solid, risk averse technique. I hope he can get a few rivalries going, develop some character etc.
Though it was a very exciting tournament all the way through, there were missing many persons in the end. It would be fine to see everybody recovered again next time, so Kirishima will have a lot of worthy opponents and rivals to prove he really wants it. For now there‘s still a very strong, impressive and powerful Yokozuna, difficult but not impossible to defeat. Congratulations!
P.S.: Nice to read Andy’s Wrap Ups and all your comments, it was really fun!
Thank you. And you are right, the kyujo had a big impact on the tournament. Hopefully Osaka will be less dangerous.
Godspeed the Takarabune, bound for Juryo seas having blessed us with your many gifts.
Deep gratitude to Andy for hosting the sumo coverage and conversations in his warm, talky sea-tavern.
I need more tales from the deep.
Can AI treat us to an image of the Takarabune being towed by the Juryo barge of the damned?
Apparently, yes. I shared the results on Twitter. https://x.com/tachiai_blog/status/1751742024460455942?s=20
Brilliant!
Just a small observation: Mitakeumi tried two straight (failed) pull-down attempts versus Endo today, but Endo could not make him pay for it. It is a sign of just how diminished both rikishi are from their peaks, and another sign of the continued changing of the guard. These two looked absolutely spent from 15 days of fighting, and not long for the top division long-term. But there’s a lot of younger wrestlers to get behind as this popular but flagging pair fade out.