The infirmary reported that Hakuoho in Juryo will be kyujo from Nakabi and Takayasu will be back on Day 9. Per Herouth, Hakuoho is out due to COVID. I will keep my eyes out for reports about whether this Covid-induced kyujo will allow Hakuoho to preserve his rank.
Makuuchi and Juryo videos are available here.
Once again, coverage of each division is split in two parts:
Makuuchi Part 1 – Makuuchi Part 2
The Action
Endo (Juryo 8-0) defeated Tokihayate (3-5). Tokihayate got Endo into trouble early with a hit-and-shift. But Endo did not quit today. He used his belt grip to twist Tokihayate down over the bales. This is the first time Endo has ever gone 8-0 at a honbasho. Shitatenage.
Takarafuji (7-1) defeated Ryuden (5-3). Takarafuji fought hard to keep Ryuden’s right arm away from his belt. He used his right arm grip to pull Ryuden toward the edge. As he twisted to throw Ryuden, Ryuden’s leg swept Takarafuji’s leg up. Both men were suspended over the edge of the dohyo until gravity did its thing and brought both men down. Gunbai Ryuden. Mono-ii. Reversal. Ryuden had touched out first and Takarafuji won. Yorikiri.
Tsurugisho (3-5) defeated Oshoma (5-3). With an impressive display of upper body strength, Tsurugisho pulled up and dragged Oshoma over to the bales and shoved him over the edge. The crowd reacted with an appreciative “Ooh!” Yorikiri.
Ichiyamamoto (4-4) defeated Roga (3-5). Ichiyamamoto kept Roga at arm’s length with his hand planted firmly in Roga’s face. Quickly he pulled Roga forward and slapped him down. Hatakikomi.
Nishikifuji (3-5) defeated Tomokaze (1-7). Nishikifuji quickly pressed Tomokaze back and out. Tsukidashi.
Sadanoumi (4-4) defeated Mitoryu (1-7). Mitoryu pulled on Sadanoumi’s arm to drag him toward the bales. But Sadanoumi countered with his left-hand belt grip. He then shoved Mitoryu over the edge. Oshidashi.
Hokutofuji (5-3) defeated Churanoumi (5-3). Hokutofuji hit-and-shift. After the initial charge, Hokutofuji shifted to his left and pulled Churanoumi forward and down. Tsukiotoshi.
Kinbozan (5-3) defeated Takanosho (2-6). Kinbozan put his big left paw in Takanosho’s armpit and shoved him to the side. Off-balance, Takanosho stumbled to the bales. Kinbozan pursued and finished Takanosho with a shove over the bales. Oshidashi.
Nishikigi (3-5) defeated Shodai (3-5). Shodai pressed hard to force Nishikigi toward the bales. But Nishikigi twisted, pulling Shodai off balance. He then yanked on Shodai’s right arm to finish him off. Kotenage.
Halftime.
Mitakeumi (6-2) defeated Shonannoumi (6-2). Mitakeumi put his head down and drove Shonannoumi back and over the edge. Both men toppled down from the dohyo and Mitakeumi was slow to get up. He hobbled back to the dohyo to pick up his kensho. After performing his chikaramizu duties, he limped back down the hanamichi with the assistance of a yobidashi. Oshidashi.
Midorifuji (3-5) defeated Tamawashi (2-6). After a lengthy Midorifuji pulled and twisted Tamawashi down to the ground with his trademark move. Katasukashi.
Kotoshoho (5-3) defeated Meisei (5-3). Kotoshoho forced Meisei over the bales after a thrilling, suspenseful, action-packed bout where both men had moments where it looked like they had their opponent beat. Yorikiri.
Tobizaru (4-4) defeated Onosho (4-4). Misdirection failed to get the win but it did earn Tobizaru valuable real estate to execute a pull. He dropped backward and thrust Onosho to the ground. Tsukiotoshi.
Hiradoumi (3-5) defeated Atamifuji (2-6). Hiradoumi read the brief. Engage Atamifuji, get him to press forward and pull him down. Tsukiotoshi.
Sanyaku
Onosato (7-1) defeated Daieisho (6-2). Onosato knows Daieieho’s weakness and exploited it beautifully. Standing just in front of the bales, Onosho baited Daieisho like Bugs Bunny would bait a bull with a big red cape. Daieisho lunged forward and Onosato dodged while slapping Daieisho down. Hatakikomi.
Abi (5-3) defeated Gonoyama (3-5). Abi started by battering Gonoyama with his tsuppari. He then attempted a pull but Gonoyama was wise and stayed in. As Gonoyama re-engaged, Abi grabbed him and pulled him forward and out. Uwatedashinage.
Hoshoryu (5-3) defeated Ura (6-2). Ura pulled Hoshoryu by the shoulder but Hoshoryu kept him centered and blasted Ura off the dohyo. Yoritaoshi.
Kotozakura (6-2) defeated Oho (3-5) Oho seemed to run out of gas. A great bout and Oho put in quite the effort. But Kotozakura seemed patient to wait Oho out, corner him, and shove him over the bales. Oshidashi.
Wrap-up
Onosato and Takarafuji lead the way after nakabi with seven wins and one loss. Daieisho, Ura, and Shonannoumi all fell off pace. Kotozakura leads the peloton of the fore-mentioned trio and Mitakeumi. Unfortunately, we may have lost Mitakeumi to injury.
Despite his share of the lead, Takarafuji is not going to be thrust into the thick of Makuuchi yet. He will face Churanoumi in the first Makuuchi bout tomorrow. Takayasu returns and is rewarded with a fight with Hoshoryu. Hoshoryu appeared to be in a bit of pain after today’s bout with Ura. I could not tell if it was his back that he was favoring or his belly. I am leaning toward his belly because he seemed to catch the edge of the dohyo right there. Hopefully that’s not a cracked rib or something.
Well, I guess we will see who shows up tomorrow.
Discover more from Tachiai (立合い)
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Yeah!…return of Takayasu Day 9! Hoping he’s all mended and back to his stellar strength and winning ways of days 1&2!! I attended Kyushu Basho in Fukuoka this past November and one of my strongest memories was how colossal Takayasu is. When he’s healthy, watch out!
Thank you for the sumo bout link.
I have lot of hope on Daieisho, he is powerful and his oshi sumo is effective. But still somehow he manages to loose.
Onosato is quick and moves fast, for his size.
Daieisho has LOTS of promise. I think he will make Sekiwake again. Maybe Ozeki one day?
I think the Ozeki window for Daieisho has closed. He is turning 31 this year. He is in Makuuchi nonstop since 2017 and top of Makuuchi/Sanyaku since 2019. He has spent the whole transition period from the Hakuho era in or near Sanyaku ranks and I don’t remember any significant injuries, but during this time Takakeisho, Terunofuji, Mitakeumi, Shodai, Kiribayama, Hoshoryu, Kotozakura and Asanoyama made it to Ozeki. Not counting Takayasu and Tochinoshin.
Usually there are only so many opportunities in life. I like Daieisho and he can be an absolute beast, but he just flops too many times on his belly for an opponent stepping to the side. He spent 9 basho at Sekiwake including 6 in a row, but the closest he got were 32 wins starting at M1 with only the last basho at Sekiwake. Over that whole time in Makuuchi he’d just 4 times more than 10 wins.
I love him, he is a great Sekiwake, but for more he is lacking consistency. Can he win this basho? For sure, but after today Onosato holds the pole position.
In a pig’s eye
So Hakuoho has COVID……
PTSD Flashbacks Intensify
Thank you very much for the NHK-links. They are helpful to me!
Thought Mitakeumi had real good chance for the yusho. Sad that he probably can‘t continue.
Yeah. That was a tough one. I hope it was a sprain or strain that will feel better tomorrow. But it did not look good.
If Takarafuji takes the yusho (unlikely but not impossible?), he’ll be the third Isegahama champion within a single year. Has this happened before?
Dumb question. What if for some reason Endo went 15-0? Would he win overall? How does that work when someone comes in mid tourney?
He would be the Juryo champion. Even if he was called up from Juryo all 15 days (never going to happen) and won all, he would still only be Juryo champion.
It frequently happens that rikishi get called up if in the above division only an odd number of rikishi is able to fight, but that’s not a promotion.
He would win the Juryo yusho. He would not win the Makuuchi yusho, if that’s what you mean. You compete for the title of the division you are ranked in, even if you sometimes fight bouts against guys in other divisions.
When someone comes in mid-tournament, like Takayasu returning today, all of the bouts that they missed (aside from any fusen loss) are technically counted as absences but treated essentially as losses. So if your first bout is on Day 9, you’re already makekoshi (losing record).