No news from the infirmary. This tournament has been rather quiet, so far, in the kyujo department.

In Juryo, Shishi was first in the division to pick up his kachi-koshi. He leads at 8-1. Onokatsu lost to Tohakuryu so Shirokuma is the only competitor at 7-2. He fought Tsurugisho who has found new life in the second division and sits at 6-3 with Onokatsu, Fujiseiun, Shimazuumi, and Hakuoho.

If any NHK folks are listening, I wish you would have the profile pages for Juryo wrestlers on your video pages, like you have for Makuuchi. In the NHK pages for Makuuchi Videos (e.g., Day 9 Part I and Part II), there are links to profile pages in between the videos. On these profile pages, the NHK has a string of video links to previous bouts for that wrestler. If they had that for Juryo, we would be able to view Shishi’s run all in one page!

I want you to notice, however, that you CAN do this for Makuuchi wrestlers. Our Makuuchi leader, Terunofuji, has his profile page here.

Makuuchi Division Highlights

Nishikifuji (4-5) defeated Daishoho (Juryo 3-6). Nishikifuji was the aggressor here. He slammed into Daishoho, shoved him with tsuppari, backed up and slammed into him again. Daishoho stepped back over the bales as Nishikifuji drove headlong into him again. Oshidashi.

Kagayaki (5-4) defeated Roga (5-4). Both men locked up belt grips. Roga bellied up and drove forward toward the bales. As they neared the edge of the dohyo, Kagayaki released his grip, pivoted, and shoved Roga down. Tsukiotoshi.

Churanoumi (7-2) defeated Chiyoshoma (3-1-5). This was a great back and forth yotsu bout. Someone asked in the comments why we don’t see many kicks from Hoshoryu anymore. I wonder if Chiyoshoma’s attempted trip in this bout presented Churanoumi with the opening and the leverage he needed to throw Chiyoshoma. Chiyoshoma kicked out and wrapped his foot around Churanoumi for a moment. That’s when Churanoumi was able to rotate and throw Chiyoshoma to the ground. Shitatenage.

Nishikigi (1-8) defeated Bushozan (5-4). Nishikigi is still here and still fighting. Today we saw him pick up his first win of the tournament! He went chest to chest with Bushozan, rotated with all of his might and threw him. Shitatenage.

Tsurugisho will visit from Juryo tomorrow to face Bushozan in the heavy-weight bout. Nishikigi will fight Kagayaki.

Ichiyamamoto (5-4) defeated Hokutofuji (3-6). Ichiyamomoto shifted left and grabbed Hokutofuji’s belt with his left hand, driving him forward and out. Okuridashi.

Ichiyamamoto will mix things up with Nishikifuji. Hokutofuji will face Chiyoshoma.

Endo (5-4) defeated Oshoma (4-5). What was this harite from Oshoma? Endo shifted right and pressed Oshoma with solid tsuppari, shoving him from the ring. Oshidashi.

Endo will fight Churanoumi on Day 10. Churanoumi has a shot at kachi-koshi.

Wakatakakage (6-3) defeated Kinbozan (3-6). After the tachiai, the two wrestlers settled into a long lean. It may not have looked like much was going on but Kinbozan was desperately trying to keep Wakatakakage’s right hand away from his belt. Wakatakakage eventually decided he would never get that belt grip so he yanked Kinbozan hard with his left hand and used the right to shove Kinbozan in the face. Once he got Kinbozan moving toward the bales, Wakatakakage pursued and shoved him out. Oshidashi.

Tamawashi (5-4) defeated Ryuden (2-7). Tamawashi did Tamawashi things and blasted Ryuden from the dohyo. Ryuden has been completely ineffective this tournament. He is usually able to wrap up his opponents and attack with his powerful yotsu. Oshidashi.

Ryuden will fight Roga.

Takarafuji (3-6) defeated Sadanoumi (3-6). Sadanoumi pulled and tried to slap Takarafuji down but Takarafuji reacted well, maintained his balance and drove forward. Sadanoumi tried another throw at the edge but Takarafuji’s footwork was solid today as he shoved Sadanoumi over the bales. Oshidashi.

Takarafuji will fight Tamawashi. Sadanoumi has been paired up with Oshoma.

Midorifuji (6-3) defeated Kotoshoho (5-4). Midorifuji tried to sneak that right hand up behind Kotoshoho’s shoulder but Kotoshoho shrugged it away. Midorifuji slipped to his right and Kotoshoho stumbled forward. As Kotoshoho tried to regain his footing Midorifuji followed up and shoved him from the ring. Oshidashi.

Midorifuji versus Wakatakakage will be a highlight from the first half of action on Day 10.

Halftime

Oho (6-3) defeated Shodai (6-3). Guess who moved forward? Oho. He forced Shodai to the edge where Shodai tried Shodai tricks. Oho’s sumo was solid today as he kept Shodai centered and forced him from the ring. Yorikiri.

Shodai will face Kinbozan on Day 10.

Takanosho (6-3) defeated Wakamotoharu (4-5). Takanosho went for the jugular. He drove Wakamotoharu backwards with powerful nodowa. Oshidashi.

Atamifuji (4-5) defeated Shonannoumi (5-4). I expected Shonannoumi to move backwards but he went chest to chest with Atamifuji and held his own for a while. Eventually, Atamifuji was able to overpower him, though and forced him over the edge. Yorikiri.

Sanyaku

Gonoyama (3-6) defeated Onosato (5-4). Gonoyama hit Onosato hard in the face with his head at the tachiai. Onosato reacted poorly by trying a pull. Gonoyama pressed ahead and forced the Sekiwake from the dohyo. Oshidashi.

Abi (5-4) defeated Ura (3-6). Ura tried a pull and Abi ran past but Abi had enough space to regain his footing and reengage. He took revenge by slapping Ura down and falling on top of him for good measure. Hatakikomi.

Kirishima (5-4) defeated Meisei (2-7). Kirishima put his head down and drove forward, forcing Meisei from the ring. Yorikiri.

Hoshoryu (6-3) defeated Tobizaru (4-5). Henka! Hoshoryu slipped right at the tachiai, grabbed Tobizaru’s belt and flung him from the dohyo. Uwatedashinage.

Kotozakura (7-2) defeated Hiradoumi (5-4). It took Kotozakura a while to figure out what he wanted to do here. Hiradoumi had been holding Kotozakura at bay but when he tried to slip his right hand inside, Kotozakura used the moment to charge forward and drive Hiradoumi out. Oshidashi.

Takakeisho (4-5) defeated Mitakeumi (3-6). Takakeisho charged forward powerfully and drove the impotent blocking sled backwards to the edge where he stepped out. Oshidashi.

Terunofuji (9-0)defeated Daieisho. After a wild brawl, Terunofuji was able to grab Daieisho’s belt and Daieisho flopped onto his belly. Quelle surprise. Uwatedashinage.

Wrap-up

Terunofuji continues to lead, alone. Kotozakura and Churanoumi are the only two wrestlers at 7-2 and the only two wrestlers who will have a shot at kachi-koshi tomorrow. Kotozakura will have to go through Onosato while Churanoumi faces Endo. I think Churanoumi is more likely to pick up that kachi-koshi tomorrow.

The rest of the Sanyaku fight card tomorrow is interesting, too. Daieisho will face Atamifuji. Wakamotoharu will face Hiradoumi and Abi will fight Takakeisho. Shonannoumi is being thrown into Hoshoryu and Terunofuji will fight Kirishima. Kirishima only has room for one more loss. Otherwise his demotion becomes permanent. There is no room for error and he will need to pull off several huge upsets down the line here. Terunofuji would be the biggest upset.