No new kyujo today. Takerufuji and Onosato both locked up two special prizes (Fighting Spirit and Technique) today before they entered the stadium. The yusho winner will receive the Outstanding Performance prize.
Makuuchi Action
Churanoumi (7-8) defeated Kitanowaka (3-12). Churanoumi quickly secured a left-hand inside hold on Kitanowaka’s belt and pressed forward until Kitanowaka was out. Yorikiri.
Ichiyamamoto (7-8) defeated Ryuden (6-9). Despite the kimarite, this was Ichiyamamoto sumo. Ichiyamamoto hit Ryuden with forceful tsuppari, then attempted a pull. The pull failed so he bull rushed Ryuden and forced him out of the dohyo. Yorikiri.
Mitakeumi (9-6) defeated Endo (5-10). Endo tried to pull Mitakeumi down at the edge but Mitakeumi forced Endo out first. Oshidashi.
Shodai (8-7) defeated Nishikifuji (8-7). Shodai slammed into Nishikifuji at the tachiai. Nishikifuji tried to slide to the left but Shodai pursued well and secured his kachi-koshi by driving Nishikifuji out. Oshidashi.
Kotoshoho (8-7) defeated Roga (7-8). Roga quickly grabbed Kotoshoho’s the front of Kotoshoho’s belt. Kotoshoho did not accept this willingly. He tried hard to force Roga away. Roga tugged at Kotoshoho’s belt, pulling him forward but Kotoshoho maintained his balance. At the edge, Kotoshoho grabbed Roga’s arm and twisted him down. Amiuchi.
Hokutofuji (6-9) defeated Shonannoumi (9-6). Hokutofuji and Shonannoumi locked up a left hand grip but kept each others’ right hands away. Hokutofuji tugged hard on Shonannoumi’s belt to pull him forward toward the bales and tried to slap him down. But Shonnanoumi resisted and kept his balance. Hokutofuji then decided to attack with his more familiar oshi-/tsuki- and blasted Shonannoumi away. Oshidashi.
Takayasu (11-4) defeated Daiamami (7-8). Once Takayasu got the morozashi, double-inside grip, Daiamami was done. Takayasu pulled up and escorted Daiamami out. Yorikiri.
Tamawashi (7-8) defeated (6-9) Myogiryu. Myogiryu wanted a belt grip but Tamawashi was not going to let him have one. Tamawashi shoved Myogiryu back, hard. Oshidashi.
Takerufuji (13-2) defeated Gonoyama (10-5). Storybook here. First of all, just seeing Takerufuji walk during the dohyo-iri and then enter the hanamichi…he was not going to let this yusho be decided by Onosato. Solid tachiai. Takerufuji drove forward and forced Gonoyama to the edge. Gonoyama tried to pull Takerufuji down but Takerufuji pressed forward again and shoved Gonoyama off the dohyo. Oshitaoshi.
Sadanoumi (8-7) defeated Midorifuji (7-8). Sadanoumi wrapped up Midorifuji and drove him toward the edge. At the edge, he picked Midorifuji up and dropped him on the other side of the bales. Yorikiri.
Halftime
Onosho (9-6) defeated Tobizaru (8-7). Onosho’s left arm in Tobizaru’s right arm-pit won this fight. He shoved Tobizaru to the side and tried to shove him down. Tobizaru resisted valiantly but Onosho continued to press forward and drove Tobizaru off the dohyo. Oshidashi.
Meisei (6-9) defeated Onosho (5-10). Twice, Meisei tried to win this by grabbing Onosho’s right shoulder and pulling him forward but Onosho kept his balance. Onosho was able to turn the tables at the edge and nearly forced Meisei out. Once this became a belt-battle, though, Meisei locked Onosho up. Morozashi secured, he easily forced Onosho over the edge. Yorikiri.
Oho (7-8) defeated Ura (6-9). Oho had great footwork today. Ura tried to avoid his tsuppari and slip to the side but Oho did not fall and kept up the pressure on Ura. Oshitaoshi.
Sanyaku
Nishikigi (3-12) defeated Kinbozan (6-7-2). Nishikigi blasted Kinbozan at the tachiai. Kinbozan pulled up, likely still feeling the effects of his earlier injury. Nishikigi pressed him forward and out. Yorikiri.
Abi (9-6) defeated Atamifuji (8-7). Abizumo. His forceful tsuppari drove Atamifuji back. Atamifuji tried to push his head down but Abi remained focused and forced Atamifuji from the dohyo. Oshidashi.
Wakamotoharu (9-6) defeated Asanoyama (9-6). Wakamotoharu fought through Asanoyama’s throw attempt. Yorikiri.
Kore-Yori San Yaku
Hiradoumi (9-6) defeated Daieisho (6-9) and was presented with the arrows. A subtle shift left and Hiradoumi forced Daieisho to tumble out of sanyaku. It was kind of fitting to lose this way as it is really Daieisho’s main weakness. Tsukiotoshi.
Hoshoryu (11-4) defeated Onosato (11-4). Brilliant throw by Hoshoryu. Hoshoryu locked up Onosato with his right hand inside and twisted the young man down at the edge. I am sure Onosato will go cry into his special prizes. Shitatenage.
Kirishima (5-10) defeated Kotonowaka (10-5). This was a great bout, back and forth as Kotonowaka tried to throw Kirishima and strongly resisted Kirishima’s throws. Gunbai Kotonowaka. Mono-ii. Kotonowaka fell first. Uwatenage.
Wrap-up
Well, the Kyokai sure knows how to put on a show and the applause and cheers from the crowd in Osaka demonstrated how much we fans appreciate it. Is it me or did the narrative shift after Takerufuji’s injury — from the collective under-performance of the sanyaku to the historic charge of Takerufuji and Onosato? It may be minor but it is significant, to me at least. Instead of highlighting the negative it shifts the spotlight to the hopeful rise of this fresh crop of talent.
There will be more talent coming behind them, as well. But we may be in for a long and interesting rivalry between guys like Hoshoryu, Onosato, Takerufuji, Kotonowaka, Atamifuji, and the toddler, Hakuoho. It may even be a broader shift in body shape as these wrestlers bulk up in their arms, shoulders, and legs. This was not a case where a lucky hiramaku wrestler sneaked away with the title as the sanyaku cannibalized itself, like Kyokutenho or Tokushoryu or Abi. This was a case where the hiramaku wrestlers are the top developing talents. They can go toe-to-toe with the upper echelon and they need the time to assert themselves with rank appropriate for their skills and strength. As they grow and rise in rank, they will create the separation we have been looking for between Ozeki, sanyaku, and hiramaku.
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That was one of the worst live coverages ever!
It began with the announcer telling us Takerufuji had achieved a historical win by beating Gonoyama a few minutes earlier when NHK World wasn’t on air yet with Sumo (but with some winter impressions…). I was so frustrated I turned the telly off immediately.
Will now watch the Highlights though, as I should have in the first place.
Sounds like NHK World shot themselves in the foot there. Demonstrates the need for more live sumo coverage options.
NHK World Premium is available through
https://toober.com
You get it only in Japanese though. No English option there.
But you get the full 2 hour coverage of Makuuchi every day, not just 50 minutes on Sundays.
I hope Takerufuji will do better than Ryogoku who just like him won the Juryo jusho and then as a rookie the Makuuchi yusho in 1914. He went on to reach the Sekiwake rank, but that was it then for him.
Takerufuji!! Debut at Makuchi
Yusho!
Shukun-sho!
Kanto-sho!
Gino-sho!
Yusho with all three special prizes in Debut.
NEVER EVER imagined something like this could happen.
That too with presence of 4 Ozekis, among them 3 are Yusho winner and the other is power house Kotonowaka.
Agreed that 2 Ozekis are just shadow of former selves, but other 2 are in their peak but still were not able to catch up to the new kids
This basho was exciting, to see history being created, as we watch
Takerufuji may or may not reach the expectations of the fans, I the future.
But he has created a history 🙂
This was a tough one for me to watch and highlighted endemic problems with the Kyokai’s approach to injury, fitness, and the overall state of the top division(s).
Takerufuji got tossed by the guys who you’d expect to toss him in Hoshoryu and Asanoyama. He should have met a healthy Keisho who would have put him down.
A healthy Kirishima (who knows what his issue was and is and why he didn’t take the rest though he’s going to hang out with Kakuryu now so should come back strong) would also likely toss him.
We have no active Yokozuna but he can’t until a playoff fight him anyway.
He didn’t meet anyone until day 9-10 who was fighting reasonably (Abi either wins or loses).
It’s a sad state when the stalwart guards (imagine him meeting a reasonably genki Tochinoshin or Kaisei or Ichinojo not to mention not seeing a healthy Hokutofuji or Papayasu) are absent, hurt, or changing over.
The point is though it’s great he won, it didn’t feel right or complete.
This also speaks to the lack of a dominant force at the top. If Hoshoryu would get his mind right (look who he lost to this time) or if Papa would have done the same and not dropped matches he should have easily won we’d have a different picture.
Plus, watching Wakatakakage and Hakuoho in Juryo was just sad.
We need help.
Off to watch Asashoryu throw people until he meets Hakuho.
Thanks for the coverage, just my view.
If Asashoryu had not retired due to the scandal, probably Hakuho might have not reached his record Yushos.
If Hakuho had not retired so early, chances of Terunofuji reaching 10 Yushos is impossible. Hopefully he will reach it soon.
There could be lots of ifs and buts. According to me it’s last man standing at per present scenario and competition, is the winner.
Of course for the first few days Takerufuji faced only the bottom part of the banzuke, if he had faced, experienced Takayasu, Tamawashi, Mitakeumi or Onosho he MIGHT have lost.
But the thing here is he excelled against, whomever he was pitted against.
So I think he deserves it.
Wakatakakage & Hakuoho both seem to be still recovering from their injuries and not ready to go all out. Waka had trouble with the heavier rikishi: he wasn’t able to finish them off after his first moves didn’t work. Hakuoho’s initial charge doesn’t seem as strong (yet) as before.
Good to see Takerufuji compete and win. He earned it. After seeing the nasty bruise on his leg, it’s a little more clear what happened yesterday in that he just took a bad fall, and that it wasn’t that bad (easy for me to say).
Interesting basho to say the least. Fingers crossed the next one is even more exciting with good efforts by the rikishi at the top – I’ll be watching one or two days from the crowd!! :)
That will be exciting! May in Tokyo will be nice.
Where was this Kirishima all basho? This was a worthy final bout, especially with the Yusho already decided before the Hoshoryu vs Onosato one. I totally escapes me, how the gyoji could get this wrong however.
Overall rikishi took it upon themselves today to create as little headache for the banzuke committee as possible. It started in Juryo where both J1 secured their 8th and Nabatame lost his potential exchange bout, while Tsukahara won his.
Endo then made it clear that he definitely needs a trip to Juryo, though after the Juryo results that had been guaranteed anyways. Daieisho kindly slid out of Sanyaku, while Atamifuji refrained from putting his name in the conversation for the two Komusubi slots, so those will go to Asanoyama and Onosato.
With Daiamami and Miyogiryu losing, there is maybe a little ambuigity with the Juryo Makuuchi exchange, but that’s it.
When the NHK commentators said that it’s the first time in 110years that a Makuuchi debutant wins, I didn’t know that this was also the only time that ever happened before. His predecessor wasn’t able to win another, although he was very close two more times, when he lost a playoff.
I’m quite happy with this tournament with the exception of Kirishima. Both Hoshoryu and Kotonowaka put up solid Ozeki performances. I know people complain about him loosing to Ura, Midorifuji and Tobizaru, but he 5-4 vs Ura, 6-7 vs Midorifuji and 12-9 vs. Tobizaru. Even with those rikishi having a lower rank, those are difficult matchups for him and his style. Kirishima fighting a similar style has trouble with them too, (7-3, 4-4 and 9-12). Takakeisho willed himself to defeat kadoban. We will probably never see peak Takakeisho again, but he is truly making the most with limited resources.
Wakamotoharu maybe didn’t stick out, but he had a solid tournament too and I quite enjoyed todays fight with Asanoyama. Asanoyama is finally returning to Sanyaku. There was more good than bad from him this basho, but he still isn’t back to his dominant form on the belt. Looking forward to him continuing his path back.
Atamifuji with all those bandages looks scary, but he solidified his spot at the top of Maegashira with a kachikoshi. Oho is probably my biggest surprise going 7-8 at this position. I know there are some young guns who quite outshine him, but I’m pleased with his slow but steady development.
Gonoyama also had a great tournament and made Takerufuji really earn it today and ofcourse Takayasu collecting 11 wins is fantastic. Almost forgot Hiradoumi going 9-6 at his highest rank ever. This guy is flying a bit under the radar, but he is also only turning 24 next month.
Shodai and Mitakeumi both scoring a kachikoshi in the same tournament… wow;-) still a bit sad to see them down there, knowing what they could be capable of.
The shining stars of course Takerufuji and my guy from Kisenosato-beya ;-) Both Japanese btw. . I’m cautious with expectations though. If anyone remembers, Kotoshoho had kind of a meteoric rise too, until he crashed hard and turned into a mid-maegashira rikishi. He was way ahead of Hoshoryu at a time.
Really looking forward to may. Hope everyone stays/gets healthy.
Also special mention to Meisei and Takanosho. Both used to be Sanyaku stables. I know their records don’t reflect it, but I feel both have been fighting well. Especially Meisei has been part of a number of great bouts.
Good comment, to which I mostly agree.
As to Asanoyama, Shodai and Mitakeumi, I wonder whether they are really so much weaker now, or whether the competition has grown much harder. Maybe a bit of both, but with Hoshoryu, Kotonowaka and Kirishima (well, this time only on day 15) in their prime and all those young guns like Onosato, Atamifuji, Takerufuji, Hiradoumi (plus soon again Hakuoho) on the rise we have a really strong banzuke now.
Speaking of that I‘ve just placed my guess for the next basho and U are right: when it comes to promotions and demotions, everything seems clear. But that doesn’t mean all the ranks are easy to foresee. The main problems seem to be the jump of Takerufuji and the falls of Nishikigi and Tsurugisho.
To me it feels that Mitakeumi often seems to lack power/strength, where he didn’t before. For Asanoyama I can’t really nail it down. Maybe it’s just confidence and still some rust. He doesn’t have the same defensive stability as before. Shodai has always been enigmatic. Don’t know if he got worse, but the uninspired Shodai is definitely showing up more often.
But definitely some of the newer guys have just grown.
Looked to me like the top of Kirishima’s foot touched the tawara at the same time as Kotonowaka landed, so I was surprised they didn’t order a torinaoshi..
I enjoyed this basho. I approach sumo with an open mind. so I’m just as happy to see a rookie win his first as a yokozuna win his ninth. It’s all good.
Special thanks to Andy, Josh and Iksumo for your illuminating commentary. I know it’s a labor of love, but it’s still labor, and much appreciated!
Redfearn4, I couldn’t agree with you more, and very well said.
The only disappointing thing for me was the NHK live coverage. (They needed a spoiler alert before the final fights…)
They need more Murray Johnson and less Raja and Hiro mumblings and gaffs.
Thank goodness we have the fantastic crew of our Tachiai team to keep us in the know.
Thanks again Tachiai, I learn so much from you and the fans that write in to comment.
Thank you to all of the readers!!
I’d take all those commentators over Ross. He sounds unenthused mostly, stilted at worst, and only occasionally offers actual insight.
Yeah, my heart always sinks a bit when I realize it’s going to be a Ross day. I think he’s ok on substance … it’s just that voice and delivery. You know the expression, “a face made for radio”? Ross has a voice made for magazines.
I like the other guys fine, though I notice how Murray tends to do his Highlights calls with uncanny foreknowledge of what’s going to happen, which is not so hard to do when it’s a recorded recap.
I first read that as “he’s on a substance” – lol!!
I dunno – I prefer deadpan over formulaic hyping (e.g. is there any other kind of pusher-thruster other than a “fierce” one?). Perhaps the argument is they’re trying to appeal to sumo newbies, but if that’s your only audience.. Murray does a pretty good job, like many commentators from other sports who try to walk that line a bit, but its hard to imagine that a bit more depth is going to kill their ratings..
Thanks to Andy and all at Team Tachiai for the excellent reporting and insight!
Thank you for reading and participating here in the comments! It’s always valuable to know we’re not just speaking into the void.
I would never had experienced this exquisit and precious moment of history without you, dearest Tachiai writers! Here’s a heartful of gratitude to all of you!
Thank you very much! And thank you for the amazing feedback!
Thanks to Andy, Josh and lksumo for the wonderful reports.
I liked the wrap up part very much, it gave a kind of overview about what’s happening.
Thank you for the valuable feedback!
Thank you for all the effort you put into such well-crafted write-ups. While of course I still miss Bruce’s turns of phrase, you guys have excelled yourselves this basho.
A fairytale ending after a dismal Day 14, and personally happy to see Takarafuji make it back to Makuuchi (I did feel sorry for his “enabler” Myogiryu though).
Happily the two Tak_r_fujis will be far enough apart on the banzuke it shouldn’t cause too much confusion.
Hopefully my autocorrect will keep up.
“Is it me or did the narrative shift after Takerufuji’s injury — from the collective under-performance of the sanyaku to the historic charge of Takerufuji and Onosato?”
Absolutely – well called! Thanks to Andy, Josh and Iksumo!!
While Takerufuji tied Taiho’s top-tier rookie win streak record of 11, has there been another makuuchi division debutant with 13 (or more) wins? IIUC Taiho had 12 in his debut.
He’s the 4th to get 13—two guys in the 1960’s + Ichinojo. No one got more.
Thank you for the fast and concise reply.
I rediscoved sumo at the time of the amazing Terunofuji resurrection. My basho days at the time consisted of Natto, Kinta, Jason and, to round off my sumo day, Tachiai. I fondly remember the great Bruce, typos, funny nicknames, puns and all. The current TA-style is different, but just as informative andd enjoyable. So thank you for your couverage of the March basho
NHK did not really make me happy with free coverage only available on four? days per tournament and that only for the second half of bouts. Also, apart from Murray, I do not like the English language commentary. What happened to John Gunning? He used to commentate on NHK.
I enjoyed this basho. I am not nostalgic for a past dominated by Hakuho. Hakuho may have been a great wrestler, but he was and is toö full of himself and probably a bully. What I like in a sumo wrestler is this mix of strength, utter commitment, and a touch of modesty as shown by the current yushou winner in his interview.
We can’t look to the future, lets keep our fingers crossed that our young hopefuls may stay healthy andd that the ozeki may find and maintain their prowess.
Sumo is a cruel and weird “sport”. I have enormous respect for those wrestlers as I watch them climb the dohyo and do their salt ritual.
Thanks again team Tachiai for your insights, already eagerly awaiting your banzuke crystal ball for June, apologies for rambling comment
May, not June,
FYI, you can watch every day. Each day you can watch it same day at 4 times that day. Or you can stream it at any time w about 36 hour delay (watch day 4 at any time on day 6). Google Grand Sumo Highlights and click on their web page. They only occasionally post them to YT.
Yeah, streaming the Highlights show is available after the last Highlights broadcast is completed, which is something like 4 hours before the next day’s action.