Hello all, a break here from my strange and exotic thought experiments of shuffling oyakata around to bring you some prognostication. If this is unintelligible, it’s because I woke up in the middle of the night thinking of sumo and then decided to just bang out a Day 2 preview. My insomnia, my pain, your pleasure.

And for those of you on Miyagino-watch, it seems the tales out of the heya that Hakuho’s beleaguered rikishi corps may not be ready for showtime have received an emphatic confirmation: the heya went 2-7 on Day 1.

Day 2 Matches

Endo (0-1) vs Takerufuji (1-0): Takerufuji looks like he’s picked up from where he left off in the previous basho, while Endo was very disappointing on shonichi. This could be another win for the youngster, in a first ever matchup between the two.

Myogiryu (1-0) vs Daiamami (0-1): If the fixture list continues to fall advantageously for the veteran, Myogiryu could well get most of the work done towards his kachi-koshi in week 1. Daiamami continues to look overmatched at this level, and Myogiryu is generally the much speedier rikishi even at his advanced age, so I’ll tip the veteran here.

Roga (1-0) vs Kitanowaka (0-1): I think both end the day 1-1 after this match. Kitanowaka has beaten Roga in 4 out of 5 previous matches, and I think he’ll be keen to bounce back from the slapdown loss to Myogiryu yesterday. Roga did well to knock off Endo, but not every opponent will be as compliant.

Ryuden (1-0) vs Nishikifuji (0-1): I said before the basho that Ryuden is madly inconsistent but at his best, very few are more tenacious in the dohyo. He proved that yesterday with one of his classic digging-deep wins and he appears to be in rude health. Nishikifuji fans might be worried by the manner in which it appears he was just outfought by an opponent who looked like he wanted it more. That’s not really a good recipe up against Ryuden who, insert joke here, never lacks desire. I’m tipping the Takadagawa man.

Shonannoumi (0-1) vs Churanoumi (1-0): I can never remember where to put the N’s in Shonannoumi’s name and that’s the most interesting thing I have to say about him. Churanoumi did well up against Nishikifuji yesterday. This is probably a coin flip but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Churanoumi take it again, seeing as he tends to start tournaments better than he finishes them. This is their sixth meeting, Churanoumi has won 3 of the previous 5.

Shimazuumi (0-1) vs Sadanoumi (1-0): Shimazuumi won their only previous encounter, perhaps he’ll become a weird bogey opponent for Sadanoumi. The veteran just keeps doing his thing, I don’t think we have a big enough sample size to call this one and I’m still trying to figure out what to make of Shimazuumi in the top division.

Shodai (1-0) vs Ichiyamamoto (0-1): Shodai is way too good for this part of the banzuke but even with that, I was impressed with the calmness and the manner of his victory on shonichi. Ichiyamamoto is going to need to bring more than he did against Mitakeumi but Shodai’s non-tachiai will require Ichiyamamoto to be at the top of his thrusting game to defeat the ex-Ozeki. This is a first ever meeting, and Ichiyamamoto has the ability to win but I just think Shodai is too good here.

Mitakeumi (1-0) vs Kotoshoho (0-1): I was desperately disappointed with the manner of Kotoshoho’s loss on Day 1, but on the contrary, Mitakeumi’s win didn’t tell us all that much. He got up and running with one big deflection and shove. I can see Kotoshoho taking this match, just as he’s taken 2 of 3. This version of Mitakeumi doesn’t have the best stamina and I think Kotoshoho, while he has been lacking a bit in the technicals, is certainly able to draw out a fight.

Onosho (1-0) vs Hokutofuji (0-1): Hokutofuji got a bit unlucky with the identity of his day 1 opponent, and I don’t think this is particularly helpful either. I’m backing him to kickstart his basho with a win against Onosho, though. Onosho looked pretty good yesterday, but while they are both extreme pusher-thrusters, Hokutofuji has done more to develop his ability to defend and extend matches. This will be their 20th head to head and the recent history mostly favours Onosho, but I just fancy Hokutofuji here.

Takayasu (1-0) vs Tamawashi (0-1): Takayasu probably already had his most difficult match of the first week against Hokutofuji and I thought he did very well. Tamawashi, on the other hand, looked a bit defenseless in defeat. I can see Takayasu going on one of his patented week 1 blitzes. He just about edges the long rivalry (19-17 excluding a fusensho), and I could see this being a bit of a rough and tumble bout between the two veterans.

Tsurugisho (0-1) vs Kinbozan (1-0): Tsurugisho’s taken 4 of 6 previous bouts against the Kazakhstani Kinbozan. He doesn’t appear to be in great health, although I can see this being a more challenging belt match following both of their bouts up against thrusters on day 1. If Tsurugisho gets a solid grip it’s going to be difficult for Kinbozan, but it’s also just so hard to back against the healthier rikishi when one of them is constantly hobbled.

Gonoyama (0-1) vs Onosato (1-0): Onosato seems to win most of his bouts without having to get out of first or second gear, which is a scary prospect. I thought Gonoyama had a good start against Kinbozan but went all out on offense and paid the price. It reminded me of his shisho. This is a first ever meeting, and I think Gonoyama can get the better of Onosato, but he wouldn’t be the odds on favourite to do so. I think this will be a quick bout, and while Onosato might want to go to the belt, he’s probably not going to get a chance to do so.

Tobizaru (1-0) vs Midorifuji (0-1): Midorifuji leads the rivalry of the two speedsters 5-3. These guys love to “run all over the dohyo” so we could be in for a wet & wild time. Someone might knock over the salt bucket, fall into a shimpan, or even better yet, knock the gyoji into the salt bucket which sprays all over a shimpan. I don’t know how you call this, but all eight matches they’ve fought have been won by eight different kimarite so it will be interesting to see if they can keep that run going and provide us with something spectacular.

Hiradoumi (1-0) vs Takanosho (0-1): Hiradoumi might have had the most impressive win on Day 1 if it weren’t for the late flurry of upsets. Their rivalry is split 2-2, which makes some sense given that both of these guys want their arms in and under the other guy’s armpits in order to march out their opponent. This will almost certainly be won or lost at the tachiai, and it’s hard to bet against Hiradoumi if he can keep up the form we saw yesterday.

Daieisho (0-1) vs Oho (0-1): I suspected Oho would be in for a tough basho as it looked like he’ll be outclassed in the joi, and Day 1 provided an indication of that. I did not, however, suspect that Daieisho would cough up a win so easily. These guys are both pusher-thrusters, although after 13 top division tournaments I’m still a bit lost to understand what exactly Oho’s specialist skill is going to be. These guys largely play the same game, and as long as Daieisho can remain upright, he’s the more skilled rikishi and should win this comfortably.

Meisei (1-0) vs Wakamotoharu (1-0): Meisei’s victory against Daieisho reminded me of the kind of wins Daieisho got in his yusho tournament when he obliterated the san’yaku. Wakamotoharu beat Oho in an oshi-zumo bout which was probably more sad for Oho than it was impressive for Wakamotoharu, and this may be more of a belt battle against an all-rounder in Meisei. Meisei has a chance to be a real surprise package in this tournament, but until he racks up a few more wins he’ll still be the underdog in these matches. Wakamotoharu’s beaten him all six times they’ve lined up.

Kirishima (0-1) vs Atamifuji (0-1): These guys both lost awfully on the first day. I tipped Kirishima for a yusho so if he can’t figure this one out I’m going to have a lot of onsen egg on my face. Both of their bouts went so wrong that it’s kind of difficult to take anything from it. Kirishima’s beaten Atamifuji twice in two attempts, and while I think the youngster will come good at this level, the Ozeki is going to be motivated to sort his form out early.

Asanoyama (0-1) vs Kotonowaka (1-0): I don’t really think there’s much shame in Asanoyama losing to a half-fit Takakeisho if only because they have two wildly contrasting styles and Takakeisho’s won the day. Kotonowaka on the other hand has developed in a very competent fighter on the mawashi. It will be a real test for the shin-Ozeki up against the former Ozeki, as Kotonowaka hasn’t been able to win either of their previous meetings (although to be totally fair, one of those meetings was 8 years ago in Sandanme). Kotonowaka will find this tougher than his match against Atamifuji and it may tell us a lot about his prospects at the Ozeki rank.

Takakeisho (1-0) vs Abi (1-0): Very impressed with both of these guys after the first day. The two have a fairly even rivalry which slightly favours Abi, although Takakeisho has won the last three meetings. I think that run will come to a halt as this looks like a potential upset. Abi’s ring sense looked very good against Kirishima, whereas Takakeisho’s fitness is just a lingering question. Against someone with top mobility, it could be a liability. Of course, Abi could always fall to slippiotoshi, but I just have a sneaking suspicion about the Komusubi in this match.

Nishikigi (1-0) vs Hoshoryu (0-1): Nishikigi was unbelievable in his first bout, calm, composed, aggressive but not reckless. Unfortunately, what Ura showed us is that to beat Hoshoryu, you do need to take risks. Somewhat surprisingly, Nishikigi has beaten Hoshoryu four times in a row (with the Ozeki winning the first three of their seven meetings), but I just think his style plays into the Ozeki’s hands. I do think the Ozeki will arrive angry and when he loses one, he does tend to lose two. That’s the only thing that gives me pause about tipping Hoshoryu to win: he’s also only started 4 of his previous 36 basho with an 0-2 record, and I just can’t see it this time.

Terunofuji (0-1) vs Ura (1-0): This match will have real consequences. Ura won in outstanding fashion against Hoshoryu on shonichi, and he has at least beaten the Yokozuna once for a kinboshi in seven attempts. Terunofuji’s inability to put away Nishikigi when it looked like he had the match won was a real worry. If he can’t beat Ura quickly, he’s going to be in big trouble. The Yokozuna should be able to win this handily but Ura doesn’t usually give him an easy ride. If the Yokozuna drops to 0-2, he could make a quick exit from the basho which could completely change the context of the yusho race. He’s still the presumptive favourite until he’s not, as he chases dai-Yokozuna status.