Day three and I wanted to do something a little different. Rather than give you all the big ole wall of text, I included some information about the other staff members who bring these bouts to us every day. Namely, these are the gyoji, shimpan, and yobidashi. The gyoji and yobidashi, in particular, aren’t really going to change so I’m not going to do this tomorrow. I just thought you’d like to see. The Kyokai has been adding more detail to their website and includes profiles of the gyoji and yobidashi, so I tried to link to those. If you have favorites, you might be able to learn a little bit more about them.
Basically, they’ll progress in the same order tomorrow — with a few changes from kyujo bouts and such. But the order will be the same. The Tate-gyoji and Tate-Yobidashi will be presenting the bout with Terunofuji (or the final bout), with the rest of the torikumi handled in rank order.
Makuuchi Highlights
Shimpan:
- Asakayama (Kaio)
- Tatekawa (Tosanoumi)
- Futagoyama (Miyabiyama)
- Ajigawa (Aminishiki)
- Hidenoyama (Kotoshogiku)
- Gyoji: Kimura Yonosuke
- Yobidashi: Daikichi
Takerufuji (3-0) defeated Roga (2-1). Henka! Uwatenage.
Endo (1-2) defeated Myogiryu (2-1). Endo wins with solid oshi-zumo, moving forward well. Yorikiri.
- Gyoji: Kimura Ginjiro
- Yobidashi: Kotoyoshi
Nishikifuji (1-2) defeated Daiamami (0-3). Nishikifuji spent most of this bout shoving Daiamami and desperately trying to keep him off his belt. When he began to tire, Daiamami started sneaking in and nearly got onto the belt. Nishikifuji then backed away and pulled Daiamami down. Tottari.
Kitanowaka (1-2) defeated Ryuden (2-1). Ryuden keeps giving up morozashi to his opponents and this time it bit him in the ass. Kitanowaka used that double inside grip, moved forward well, and drove Ryuden out. Yorikiri.
- Gyoji: Shikimori Kindayu
- Yobidashi: Kotozo
Churanoumi (2-1) defeated Shimazuumi (0-3). Solid tachiai but Shimazuumi was over-committed. Churanoumi slipped to the side and easily spun Shimazuumi out. Look out for that left knee. Shimazuumi seemed to favor it. Uwatedashinage.
Shonannoumi (2-1) defeated Ichiyamamoto (1-2). Ichiyamamoto got an excellent drive from his tachiai and forced Shonannoumi back. Though he kept up the pressure, Shonannoumi yanked him down at the shoulder. Kotenage.
- Gyoji: Kimura Akijiro
- Yobidashi: Ryuji
Mitakeumi (2-1) defeated Sadanoumi (2-1). Mitakeumi and Sadanoumi battled to a stalemate in their first bout, so a redo was called. In the redo, Mitakeumi drove forward and easily pressed Sadanoumi out. Yorikiri.
Shodai (2-1) defeated Hokutofuji (0-3). Hokutofuji gave Shodai a face full of the business. This angered Shodai, who ACTUALLY MOVED FORWARD! Surprise, surprise, moving forward wins!!! Oshidashi.
- Gyoji: Kimura Motoki
- Yobidashi: Akira
Takayasu (3-0) defeated Kotoshoho (1-2). Takayasu can do it all, oshi, tsuki, trips… Here, he got into at belt battle with a left-hand inside grip. He just overpowered the young gun and ran him out. Yorikiri.
Onosho (3-0) defeated Kinbozan (1-2). A back-and-forth brawl here. Onosho got his arms inside and pressed forward, forcing Kinbozan out. Yorikiri.
- Gyoji: Shikimori Kandayu
- Yobidashi: Kokichi
Gonoyama (1-2) defeated Tamawashi (0-3). Gonoyama drove forward, forcing Tamawashi back. He then retreated just as quickly, pulling Tamawashi down. Hatakikomi.
Halftime
Shimpan:
- Kumegawa (Kotoinazuma)
- Urakaze (Shikishima)
- Oshima (Kyokutenho)
- Takasago (Asasekiryu)
- Nishonoseki (Kisenosato)
Tsurugisho (2-1) defeated Midorifuji (1-2). Tsurugisho didn’t really use his strength to attack. He absorbed Midorifuji’s attack with his heft. He then shifted and twisted Midorifuji down. Hatakikomi.
- Gyoji: Kimura Hisanosuke
- Yobidashi: Goro
Onosato (3-0) defeated Hiradoumi (1-2). Hiradoumi hit Onosato with everything he had. But Onosato is on a different level. Hiradoumi could not stop Onosato’s forward momentum. Yorikiri.
Tobizaru (2-1) defeated Oho (1-2). Oho did a good job of pressing forward into Tobizaru. Unfortunately, he had overcommitted and Tobizaru let him fall forward. Hatakikomi.
- Gyoji: Kimura Konosuke
- Yobidashi: Shigeo
Wakamotoharu (3-0) defeated Takanosho (1-2). Takanosho chose a retreating style of sumo today. When he retreated to the edge, Wakamotoharu gave him one powerful blast to knock him out of the dohyo. Oshidashi.
Abi (3-0) defeated Daieisho (0-3). Abi has been possessed with the ghost of Daieisho. As such, Daieisho is an empty vessel. Oshidashi.
- Gyoji: Kimura Shotaro
- Yobidashi: Shiro
Hoshoryu (2-1) defeated Atamifuji (1-2). Hoshoryu chugged forward with a powerful right-hand inside and forced Atamifuji out. Atamifuji had tried to twist away and pull on Hoshoryu’s right shoulder but Hoshoryu wasn’t having any of it. Yorikiri.
Ura (2-1) defeated Kirishima (0-3). Kirishima had the edge at the tachiai. He tried a quick slapdown but that didn’t work. He then pressed into Ura, drove him to the edge. Ura blasted into Kirishima, knocking him back to the center. Kirishima immediately attacked again…but Ura deflected the Ozeki to the side. Tsukiotoshi.
- Gyoji: Kimura Yodo
- Yobidashi: Katsuyuki
Kotonowaka (2-1) defeated Nishikigi (1-2). When Kotonowaka reared up to attack Nishikigi, I was afraid he was setting up a pull. Instead, he plowed forward (Thank God) and drove Nishikigi out. Tsukidashi.
Takakeisho (2-1) defeated Meisei (1-2). Completely ineffective tsuppari from Takakeisho. Meisei did not budge. Reading the writing on the wall, Takakeisho slipped to the left and tried to attack from the side. Meisei reacted by shoving Takakeisho to the edge. As Meisei pressed forward, Takakeisho stepped back and swung Meisei down. The forceful “wave action” of yesteryear seems fit for providing pleasant massage in the jacuzzi nowadays. Sukuinage.
- Gyoji: Kimura Shonosuke
- Yobidashi: Jiro
Terunofuji (2-1) defeated Asanoyama (1-2). Epic yotsu battle here. Asanoyama was likely helped by his rather loose mawashi. Terunofuji was still able to get his left hand inside the tighter, inner layers and finally hoisted Asanoyama out. Yorikiri.
Yumitorishiki: Satonofuji
Wrap-up
We finally got a solid day from the top ranks, with the exception of Kirishima. Alarm bells must be going off in the Kirishima camp. I’m also very concerned, as always, with Takakeisho’s fitness. Meisei is smaller than many wrestlers so I think that’s why Takakeisho even tried the wave action today but it was completely irrelevant. He’s finding new ways to win, which is good. He’s lost a big weapon, which is bad.
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I’m worried about Kirishima. Three straight losses after being in position to become a Yokozuna two months ago is not a good look. I can guess one of three things are happening: he’s injured, he’s severely hungover from the closeness of success last basho, or the uncertainty around his future with the retirement of his oyakata.
I like having the shimpan list for the bouts. But, can you show who they were in the past? Except for the more prominent ones, I don’t know the elder stock/names went to.
I had thought about including the past names, especially since several of them are very recent. But I was sleepy last night and sleep overrode my ambition. I have added their former shikona in parentheses.
I’m worried, or weary, as a Kirishima fan too. Just the softness of his losses. He normally drops one or two…but three. He seems to have trained so well recently, pulping Kotonowaka and others in practice. Clearly dominant. So unless this is a sudden injury….it looks like nerves. His mental game is out.
Prior to the basho, Michinoku said he could still get yokozuna with fourteen wins. That looks like it’s too much pressure for Kiri. I’m looking forward to him rallying, finding some metal here in what’s now going to be a very mentally testing basho, and getting stable with Kakaryu.
Saw him on Day 2 at the dohyo-iri. His face and body expression was very gloomy, you would have been scared a bit. In the Ura-bout he seemed somewhat freshed up, but Ura as we know can be sudden doom to everyone. Just not the lucky pairing for that day.
Yeah, in real time I thought Kirishima had this. Ura’s a slippery dude. You have to do what Terunofuji does:
1) Neutralize
2) Yeet.
Good to see all the makunouchi men in action – no injuries, suspensions, or covid woo. How long has it been since the last time there were 21 top-division torikumi in one day?
Hatsubasho, in January, actually started out that way before the wheels fell off the bus. And then it flipped over. And then it caught fire. Then the locusts came. And then the rats came and ate the locusts. And then…
Thanks. I had forgotten that, though as you say events soon overcame that happy beginning. But it has been a rare occurrence in recent years.
Here’s to hoping everyone stays healthy and behaves themselves.
I had the impression, that Asanoyama can read (and answer) the Yokozuna in detail, more than any other. Exciting bout!
Yes, I also like the shimpan/gyoji/yobidashi mention very well!
I have been worrying for ages about Takakeisho‘s health. But no longer. Now I‘m relieved that, after his (impending) retirement he will find work as a certainly much sought after provider „of pleasant massages in the jacuzzi“ with his waves of tsuppari!
Bathing is his hobby so I figured he would be right at home. https://sumo.or.jp/ResultRikishiData/profile/3582/
Hello Andy of the Japanese wife? I recently discovered the Japanese NSK page. It gives more detail on the rikishi. So I took out my katakana chart and tried to remember my Chinese! characters. What do I read? Takerufuji’s favourite food is fruit, especially peach. Most of the others are into meat. With Takeru’s first four bouts in the bag, this should be food for thought for his opponents.
In Juryo, WTK and Hakuoho ran their records to 3-0, while Aoiyama got a reality check at the hands of Akua. The schedulers haven’t pulled the trigger on the big WTK-H bout yet; let’s see how long they keep up the suspense (only Asakoryu and Shirokuma are also still undefeated).
Shirokuma got that freebie today. Any word on Hidebound and how long he might be down for?
Just the one day, some sort of stomach bug apparently, he’s back tomorrow.
Shodai wall of Daikon!! That alone made my day!
When the Daikon is good, it’s good. When it’s bad, it’s not so good.
Andy…. Thanks for the information on the Shimpan… I will be watching the highlight show closely for a glimpse of The Kyushu Bulldozer (who is sorely missed in this house…)
Andy, thanks so much for the info on the gyoji. I have been wondering about their ages and background. The only trouble is, I don’t read or speak Japanese! Is there any way to get info in English for further enlightenment? Thanks for your great commentary,too. I am new to sumo and have learned so much from your Tachiai site!
The English page for the gyoji is more limited. I’ll see what I can do to translate what they’ve got. https://sumo.or.jp/EnSumoDataKyokaiMember/gyoji
Wow, that tsuppari by Takakeisho reminds me that of Tochimaru, the machine gun. Im not sure though he is retired or not.
He sat out the last 3 basho (not sure what the issue was, presumably some fairly serious injury) and dropped to jonidan, but he is back and off to a 2-0 start!
Thanks Andy for the Shimpan; Goyjoi; Yobidashi and Yumitorishiki! Some great bouts today!
Thank you Iksumo for posting Wakatakakage and Hakuoho – both 3-0!