I’m headed back into the office in a few minutes so more abbreviated coverage today. We should be back to regular coverage tomorrow. News from the infirmary today comes from the Juryo ward. Both Shimazuumi and Kitanowaka are back from today. Shimazuumi lost to Wakatakakage by yorikiri but Kitanowaka picked up a kubinage win against Shirokuma.
Results
Myogiryu (1-3) defeated Tsurugisho (2-2). Yorikiri.
Takarafuji (4-0) defeated Tomokaze (0-4). Hatakikomi.
Roga (2-2) defeated Ryuden (3-1). Tsukiotoshi.
Mitoryu (1-3) defeated Tokihayate (0-4). Oshidashi.
Churanoumi (3-1) defeated Oshoma (3-1). Hikiotoshi.
Ichiyamamoto (2-2) defeated Nishikifuji (1-3). Oshidashi.
Shonannoumi (4-0) defeated Hokutofuji (1-3). Oshitaoshi.
Sadanoumi (2-2) defeated Tamawashi (2-2). Yoritaoshi.
Shodai (2-2) defeated Kinbozan (3-1). Tsukiotoshi.
Kotoshoho (1-3) defeated Takanosho (0-4). Oshidashi.
Halftime
Mitakeumi (4-0) defeated Onosho (1-3). Shitatenage.
Meisei (3-1) defeated Nishikigi (1-3). Okuridashi.
Ura (4-0) defeated Midorifuji (2-2). Oshidashi.
Tobizaru (2-2) defeated Oho (0-4). Okuridashi.
Sanyaku
Onosato (3-1) defeated Wakamotoharu (2-2). Onosato twisted at the edge and thrust Wakamotoharu down. Tsukiotoshi.
Abi (3-1) defeated Atamifuji (2-2). Uwatenage. Abi read the brief. Topple Atamifuji forward. Abi blocked Atamifuji’s tachiai, reached over his back and pulled him forward from his belt. Though an uwatenage, this tactic really belongs in the hikiotoshi/hatakikomi/katasukashi family.
Daieisho (3-1) defeated Kirishima (1-3). Oshidashi. Oh, this one’s going to sting for Kirishima and his fans. Kirishima had Daieisho dead-to-rights with a little misdirection and should have finished him off if he had given him a little shove. But Daieisho remained “inbounds,” so-to-speak, and re-engaged Kirishima in a second tsuppari battle. And after this battle, Daieisho regained the upper-hand and shoved Kirishima out.
Kotozakura (3-1) defeated Gonoyama (2-2). Uwatenage. Overeager Gonoyama shoved Kotozakura to the edge. Kotozakura reached over Gonoyama for his belt and yanked him forward and down.
Hoshoryu (2-2) defeated Hiradoumi (1-3). Yoritaoshi. Hoshoryu got two-for-one as he took out a terribly out-of-position Shonosuke and Hiradoumi. A thrilling grapple. Hiradoumi hung on for quite the ride before Hoshoryu shoved Hiradoumi down on top of clumsy Shonosuke.
Wrap-up
This result heaps more frustration onto Kirishima fans. Daieisho has a well-known weakness and Kirishima nearly exploited it. But his lack of aggression might have cost him as he did not immediately charge in for the kill. Instead, he seemed content to watch and see if Daieisho would go out. At least Hoshoryu got one back against Hiradoumi. Let’s hope he keeps it up.
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A leaderboard of Takarafuji, Shonannoumi, Mitakeumi, and Ura.
Should be interesting to see who has the best record out of this crew by the end of this week. Sanyaku is definitely helter skelter at the moment. Hopefully, that ship gets righted soon.
What a horrible hit Onosho took! All of Mitakeumi’s body weight fell on Onosho’s head and neck, and to make it worse, it was right up against the edge of the dohyo, too. It’s a wonder Onosho’s head wasn’t wrenched off with the force of that impact. Glad he could get back up, but the wheelchair might’ve been warranted there.
Takarafuji was one of those forgettable rikishi to me when I was first getting into the sport, yet here he is, still fighting well. Never thought I’d be rooting for him, but that’s the state of this basho. I’d pull for Ura, but I have no faith that his brand of sumo is suited for a long spell of success needed to take the yusho.
Kirishima, injured or no, is looking like the next in the string of Ozeki with short tenures who looked more dominant before gaining the rank. Mitakeumi, one of those guys, is at least looking mostly like his old self.
Sadanoumi’s ability to turn an unpromising situation into an emphatic victory over Tamawashi by driving him back across the entire width of the dohyo was worth seeing!
Thus Sadanoumi’s position as a quiet favorite of mine.
It took me awhile to warm to him but i’m a big fan of the head gyoji. And let’s go Ura!
I think maybe it’s Onosho’s neck, rather than a concussion. Either way, I hope he’s ok.
Oh, Kirishima: that’s what all the “nokotta”s are for! You’ve got to keep after him until it’s over.
THIS! Great point.
O Kirishima, it can’t just be your neck! You had Daiesho within a rice grain of going out!
Chris Sumo is reporting his neck injury has “nosedived” again and he’s shying away from the big impacts. But he seems to train very well and then when he’s put of the dohyo, his confidence drops to the clay.
Going down to sekiwake might be kindest thing right now.
But he’s not even sekiwake, right? He’s like many in the banzuke: an injured wrestler trying to save rank and performing badly, and probably not helping his injuries or longevity. The sumo association approach to injury and rank is pretty insane.
It is what it is. I mean, there’s no way Enho (for example) should be plopped back into Makuuchi. As you imply, Kirishima should not be fighting this high. If his performance continues at this level he will drop. That sounds logical.
Atamifuji sure made it easy for Abi in that one. He is too horizontal in his starting position. If he was a smaller thruster he could get away with having his head down at the tachiai, but he’s not a thruster and he’s too big to not have his upper body above his lower body at launch. Unless Atamifuji either improves his hip angle at the tachiai or starts throwing in some thrusts he’s going to continue to be an easy target for pull downs.
I’m a fan of the Takarabune and so glad to see its smooth sailing back in its home waters!
It was like a movie scene, where everybody thought the creature – sorry, Daieisho ;) – being dead already, but… OH NO!!
Honestly, I could not decide if I wanted to laugh or to cry, so it was both at the same time. Kirishima, please learn from Hollywood!
Man-O-Man, talk about a scrambled eggs basho so far:
1) All 4 Ozeki and the Yokozuna lose on day 1
2) The Yokozuna is out and appears to have finally lost his edge, I wish but I seriously doubt that he’ll get his 10th yusho. What might have been had it not been for blown out knees?
3) Takakeisho is out. Not a fan but this man is a warrior.
3) Kirishima is in real danger of losing his Ozeki rank. If he gets to 8 loses he should withdraw and focus on healing and getting his 10 wins in July to reclaim the Ozeki rank.
4) Once again tragedy strikes for Takayasu, one of my favorites
5) Ura and Mitakeumi are 4-0, nice to see them both in the groove right now
6) Takarafuji is representing us old men at 4-0
7) Five Makuuchi wrestlers have withdrawn so far
8) Asanoyama finally gets back to Komusubi and had to withdraw
9) Last basho’s history making sensation, Takerufuji, had to withdraw
10) Hakuoho said he heard his shoulder pop the other day, is in constant pain now, and 2-2
11) Hoshoryu, my favorite, digs a hole for himself going 0-2 before righting the ship. Worst of all, he got turbo’d off the dohyo by Abi. How long did that match last, 3 seconds?
On the other hand, one of my other favorites, since I started following him in Jonidan, Makushita #40 Aonishiki, is 3-0.
If you like your Sumo with a big dose of drama, this is it for sure.
Great summary of the basho so far.
Quite a list of „incidents“ after only four days!
Such a strange tournament almost has to generate a new winner. Two of the hottest candidates are of course, and much to your pleasure, Kotozakura and Onosato.
A remark to your third point: I think that Kakuryu‘s trailing ozeki should try a comeback as Kiribayama.
Hahaha, touché!