I’m up! I’m up! There was no way I’d miss today’s action. What a tournament this has been! Today will be a pivotal day in this Kyushu tournament as the yusho race heats up and focuses in on Takanosho and the pair of Ozeki, Hoshoryu and Kotozakura.
Our former leader in Juryo, Oshoumi, has had to go kyujo! What a heart-breaker. With nine wins he will be safe from demotion but that has to be a gut-wrenching decision. He seemed fine after yesterday’s bout with Tsurugisho but his left shoulder has been heavily taped. Tsurugisho took over the lead with his win over Kinbozan and Shiden moved closer to kachi-koshi with the fusen victory.
More news from the infirmary as Bushozan will re-enter the fray on Day 12, taking on Hokutofuji. So, this will be his last day on the couch, watching from the heya.
As for today’s Day Eleven coverage, the NHK has their videos here: Juryo Part I and Part II; Makuuchi Part I and Part II. Let’s get to it, shall we?
Makuuchi Action
Nishikifuji (4-7) defeated Shishi (3-8). Shishi locked in on Nishikifuji’s belt with both hands and powered his way forward. At the edge, Nishikifuji pivoted and yanked Shishi down, hard. Uwatenage.
Chiyoshoma (7-4) defeated Tokihayate (4-7). Tokihayate a little too eager…matta. Henka! Chiyoshoma jumped right and seized Tokihayate’s belt. He tried to spin Tokihayate down but had to go for the suicide crush out, throwing himself into Tokihayate so both men fell out onto the chief shimpan. Yoritaoshi.
Asakoryu (5-6) defeated Ryuden (2-9). Asakoryu reached deep inside and grabbed the back of Ryuden’s belt. He then spun Ryuden down to the ground. Shitatenage.
Ichiyamamoto (7-4) defeated Shonannoumi (7-4). Ichiyamamoto-sumo was very effective today as he shoved Shonannoumi off the dohyo. Oshitaoshi.
Takayasu (7-4) defeated Sadanoumi (3-8). A great grapple as both men fought for left-hand inside position. Sadanoumi made a mistake of trying to switch his grip, loosening his grip for a moment and bringing his body up high. This move gave Takayasu the opening he was looking for and allowed Takayasu to charge ahead and force Sadanoumi out, over the bales. Yorikiri.
Gonoyama (8-3) defeated Takerufuji (8-3). Takerufuji started with a pull at the tachiai. But Gonoyama did well to maintain his balance. When Takerufuji reached the bales, he slammed on the brakes and switched gears to Drive. Gonoyama was not making it easy for Takerufuji to reach in and grab his belt so Takerufuji charged forward. Takerufuji tried to pull again but Gonoyama pivoted and ran Takerufuji out of the dohyo. Oshidashi.
Hokutofuji (4-7) defeated Roga (4-7). Hokutofuji put everything into charging ahead into Roga with his hidari-hazuoshi. Hokutofuji buried his left hand in Roga’s right armpit and drove him backward to the edge. Roga tried to get inside with his left hand but Hokutofuji’s effective ottsuke kept Roga from getting a belt grip. Hokutofuji kept churning his legs forward and shoved Roga over the bales. Thumper staves off make-koshi for another day. Oshidashi.
Tamawashi (6-5) defeated Mitakeumi (6-5). Tamawashi liked Hokutofuji’s hazu-oshi attack so he grabbed Mitakeumi under the right shoulder and drove forward. Mitakeumi resisted to start but Tamawashi kept plowing ahead with his right hand around Mitakeumi’s neck. The nodowa attack left Mitakeumi disinterested in pressing forward and he backed his way out quickly. Oshidashi.
Endo (6-5) defeated Meisei (6-5). Meisei slowrolled and Endo started early. Matta. Do we think Endo will henka? Yes, we do. And we were wrong. Solid tachiai. Meisei made a mistake of pulling. He shifted to his right and tried to slap Endo down. Endo charged forward, and forced Meisei out under the red tassel.
Kotoshoho (3-8) defeated Midorifuji (5-6). Kotoshoho forced Midorifuji back with some early tsuppari. He maintained steady pressure on the Midorifuji. When Midorifuji let up to try a pull, Kotoshoho pressed Midorifuji out. Oshidashi.
Halftime
Churanoumi (3-8) defeated Nishikigi (3-8). Churanoumi pulled, which was not wise. Churanoumi retreated along the tawara and had to spin around, dramatically to get away from Nishikigi. And Nishikigi forced Churanoumi out. But wait, Churanoumi won? Even I was faked out. The NHK play-by-play dude was faked out, too. We thought Nishikigi won but his left foot landed outside the bales first. Wild, and eagle-eyed call by Kandayu. Color me impressed. Isamiashi.
Onokatsu (8-3) defeated Abi (8-3). The wrong time to take a news break. JME-viewers missed the Abi/Onokatsu bout live and were treated to Onokatsu receiving his kensho at the end of the news break. On the replay, we saw that Abi tried to pull. Onokatsu was wise to it and drove Abi out.
Wakatakakage (8-3) defeated Takarafuji (7-4). Wakatakakage overpowered Takarafuji and drove him back and out once he got a morozashi. He got a great grip deep with the right hand, deep at the back of Takarafuji’s belt and put the dump truck in drive. Yorikiri.
Ura (3-8) eventually defeated Hiradoumi (1-10). Wild oshi and both men tumble out under the green tassel. Gunbai Hiradoumi. The Shimpan thought this needed a review. On video review, both died at the same time so we get bonus sumo. Torinaoshi. In the second match, Ura threw himself into Hiradoumi, landing about the same time as Hiradoumi. Gunbai Hiradoumi? Another mono-ii. Do it again, again! This time, it was without a doubt. More wild tsuppari as the two Energizer bunnies ran around the ring for the third time. Hiradoumi made a dreadful decision to pull and Ura charged forward…this time staying on his feet as he shoved Hiradoumi out. Oshitaoshi.
Oshoma (3-8) defeated Oho (3-8). My fingers are tired. Oshoma slipped to his left and slapped Oho down. Hikiotoshi.
Sanyaku
Atamifuji (5-6) defeated Shodai (4-7). Atamifuji hit Shodai and drove the former Ozeki back to the bales. Near defeat, Shodai waved the white flag and stepped out.
Kirishima (5-6) defeated Tobizaru (6-5). Tobizaru jumped. False start, offense. When they got going for real, Kirishima yanked on Tobizaru’s shoulder after the tachiai. Tobizaru freaked out and ran away but there was nowhere to run but toward the bales. Kirishima followed up with a shove for good measure. Oshidashi.
Kotozakura (10-1) defeated Wakamotoharu (6-5). Kotozakura pressed forward and forced Wakamotoharu out. Wakamotoharu was going to use the tawara as a base to mount his defense after imbuing himself with the power of rice…but his right foot skipped right over. Kotozakura might have escaped a much more difficult challenge. Oshidashi.
Takanosho (10-1) defeated Onosato (7-4). Takanosho Henka, followed up with a brutal nodowa that forced Onosato onto the back foot…But why did you pull, Onosato? Why? Takanosho pursued well and shoved him out. Oshidashi.
Hoshoryu (10-1) defeated Daieisho (6-5). Daieisho jumped. Matta. Both men engaged in a shoving match for a bit before Hoshoryu dove inside for a hold of Daieisho’s belt. Morozashi! The double-inside grip triggered death throes from Daieisho as he swung Hoshoryu left and right. Hoshoryu kept his footing, somehow, and pressed forward. Oshidashi.
Wrap-up
I called for Day Eleven to be a pivotal day in this basho and it did not disappoint. NHK coverage fumbled a bit but the action on the dohyo was excellent. The triumvirate of Hoshoryu, Kotozakura, and Takanosho have separated themselves from the field as all of the men with two losses dropped their bouts today.
Day Twelve action is a bit of an oddball from the schedulers. I’m sure they planned this before today’s action but it’s Onosato’s turn in the musubi-no-ichiban and he will fight Takerufuji. At this point, the five guys with three losses are hoping for someone to play spoiler. Shodai has filled that role before and will fight Hoshoryu. Daieisho will take on Kotozakura. After this, the Ozeki will likely be paired off over the course of the final three days with Kotozakura and Hoshoryu battling on senshuraku…if all goes well.
Takanosho is the wildcard here. He will take on Kirishima tomorrow and my guess is that he will face either Hoshoryu or Kotozakura on Day Thirteen. When they pair off the Ozeki, one will be left to fight a non-Ozeki. Takanosho’s success will basically mean he will take the slot of a sanyaku wrestler on each of the Ozeki’s fight cards, and he already won his first test with flying colors. If all three men win their bouts tomorrow, Day 13 could bring a blistering head-to-head bout of men with 11-1 records.
Further down the banzuke, Abi will fight Wakatakakage and Onokatsu will take on Roga.
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Great write up, thank you Andy, I really enjoy your insights. Can’t wait to watch it later! My heart was in my mouth re Hoshoryu’s result against Daieisho, but yay! for today at least. Such an exciting basho.
Onosato seems to develop a yo-yo pattern. In January he reached eleven wins as a rookie, which was quite good. In March he repeated that performance, but the basho still was a deception for him, because Takerufuji took the yusho and all the headlines. May brought his first yusho and therefore was a big up. Then everybody expected wonders from him in July but he folded with a meager 9-6. In September when hopes were lowered he not only reached the Ozeki rank, but he won the tournament easily. After that high point he was the top favorite for the November basho and again a low followed. He not only was far from starting a Yokozuna run, but he even struggles to reach kachikoshi.
The follow up to those ups and downs of course has to be that he‘ll win a zensho yusho in January!
It may be an outrageous question considering his records setting success, but isn’t there to much fat on Onosato’s body and too little (upper body) muscle?
I don’t think 10 straight kachi-koshi Basho counts as a yo-yo. (He needs 1 more win for the tenth.) Further, from his entry in Juryo, he has only had 1 Basho with fewer than 11 wins, his 9-win debut at Sekiwake. The hype and expectations might yo-yo but he’s rising up the banzuke and continuing to win despite tougher competition.
Of course it is yo-yo on another level than Takanosho, but it‘s undeniable that after his two yusho there followed two great deceptions.
I still don’t think they’re deception. He excelled and was promoted to higher levels. It seems natural for the pace of his rise to slow down a bit or even go into reverse. There has been no reverse, though. Full speed ahead, just in a different gear to account for a steeper grade. Expectations have been too high.
Agreed. It’s also normal that some of his opponents have figured out ways to beat him and he will have to figure out counter moves to their counter moves and so on. That’s the process his fellow ozeki had to go through before they could look as good as they do at this moment.
What I meant was disappointment not deception. Sorry English isn’t my first language.
Between Ura’s mid-air sideways spinning roll, and Hoshoryu hanging on to win after Daiesho sent him swinging to and fro like a dog with a chew toy, it was quite an exciting day. Also, way to go Onokatsu! Abi seems so sour these days that I can’t root for him, a sad change from the cheerful youngster he used to be.
S
So who do you think will win?
I am a big fan of Hoshoryu, but am sensing something about Kotozakura…!
I am a known jinx, so I will defer to other readers. I do think either of the three leaders could take it.
Takanosho’s henka + nodowa was a great opening combo .. Can’t recall last time he pulled a henka .. Opened up Onasato’s chest/throat .. He had to pull to give his arms/hands room to re-load ..
He also followed up the nodowa which lifted Onosato with a little duck under his arm to get the inside position. The timing of all three had him in charge the whole bout.
Today I put some magic on Asakoryu. First he seemed a little indecisive while doing some oshi to Ryuden, so I shouted out: Throw him! Half a second later he landed his shitatenage. Satisfying!
Great to read your summary, Andy, it was full of good vibes!
Team Kise is back! Even though Kinbozan dropped his yusho hopes today (oh boy, Tsurugisho-yusho!?!?!?), the boys up in makuuchi got their wins. Though Churanoumi’s wasn’t so much him winning as Nishikigi losing, which was… sad.
Ura’s fights today (all three) were pretty much his personality and his sumo wrapped up into those three bouts. I swear he was actually laughing after the second torinaoshi and while I feel bad for Hiradoumi, who’s always at 110% effort, that was fantastic. And the Hosho-yusho is looking good!
I watched Mitakeumi. It wasn’t as brutal as I’d feared, but it was particularly ironic considering he was facing the Iron Man whilst injured-as-hell.
In Juryo Wakaikari after a 1-5 start is now 6-5 and eyeing a kachikoshi. Pretty happy. One more win is probably enough to stay already. Tochitaikai is at 7-4 and already safe. A pity that Oshoumi had to pull out.
It escapes m how that second Ura bout could have been a torinaoshi. Ura was a dead body before Hiradoumi’s feet left ground and he clearly touched ground first. There was nothing even remotely close. This was a fraud.
I still feel the matchmaking to Onokatsu (and similarly others) is totally unfair. That it stems of som pr strategies straight out of the 16th century doesn’t change that a bit. Momentum plays a big role and punishing rikishi even before they secured a kachikoshi is unfair. If the format was like in Makushita… fair deal … but it’s not. Luckily Onokatsu just dispatched an Abi who was taking him too lightly today.
Gonoyama is giving up too many easy losses, that’s why he is bouncing up and down the Maegashira ranks, but today he put a stop to Takerufuji’s ambitions for a second Yusho. Rikishi are prepared.
Onosato is a real slow learner or maybe just not the brightest bulb in the first place. Times when he was an immovable object and could just pull without any fear for consequences are a thing of the past. How can you just pull the moment you stabilised after a henka throwing everything you regained just away? He is doing an Oho way too often this basho.
Two more Ozeki two good wins. Finally living up to their rank. Almost feels like a basho from the last decade.
Kirishima is sneakily recovering from his disastrous start. Could he be a beneficiary of Takanosho’s hot streak and secure a kachikoshi with an easier schedule?
I’ve been watching Hoshoryu closely all 2024. After watching his Matrix like reversal against Wakamotoharu in the January tournament it was evident his body control and flexibility are superior to everyone in Makuuchi with the possible exception of Ura. With his throwing ability, body control, and flexibility and newfound maturity I believe he’s ready to make a run at Yokozuna. I just wish he’d ease up in my Waka boys. WTK’s butt must still be sore from the way he was thrown by Hoshoryu.