I have never rooted so hard for a soccer team in my life. NHK was broadcasting the Japanese League’s Cup Final before the start of sumo coverage. Vissel Kobe scored and took the 1-0 lead over some blue/black team. Thankfully, Kobe held on in a relatively clean game so sumo coverage could start on time. Oh, my word we were so close to being pre-empted by Extra Time. A shot by the blue team went just wide of the goal. He really should have scored. Thank God for Blue Team incompetence!
Kotoshoho is kyujo. Oho will earn the default win.
NHK videos for today are here. This time, I remembered! Juryo Part I and Part II; Makuuchi Part I and Part II.
Makuuchi Action
Kinbozan (11-3) defeated Tokihayate (6-8). Kinbozan dispatched Tokihayate very easily. Two shoves to send Tokihayate over the bales, earning a groan from the audience as Day 14 coverage opened with a bit of a damp squib. Oshidashi.
Hokutofuji (6-8) defeated Asakoryu (5-9). Hokutofuji charged ahead but Asakoryu grabbed Hokutofuji’s right arm and pulled him forward…but not out. Asakoryu was surprised that both men were able to stay in. The two re-engaged at the center of the ring. Hokutofuji’s hazuoshi was not as effective as Asakoryu’s shoves. Asakoryu drove Hokutofuji to the edge where Hokutofuji turned the tables with a slapdown. Hatakikomi.
Bushozan (2-8-4) defeated Tamawashi (8-6). Bushozan absorbed powerful thrusts from Tamawashi, chugged ahead and defeated the Iron Man. Where has this Bushozan been the whole tournament? Oshidashi.
Meisei (8-6) defeated Shonannoumi (8-6). Shonannoumi used more effective tsuppari today to drive Meisei to the edge. He tried a pull but Meisei was wise to Shonannoumi’s game and kept his balance. Meisei laid into Shonannoumi and drove him over the bales. Oshidashi.
Takerufuji (9-5) “defeated” Ichiyamamoto (7-7). Ichiyamamoto pulled and slapped the hard-charging Takerufuji down at the edge. Gunbai Takerufuji. No mono-ii. Video replay show Ichiyamamoto was robbed. Takerufuji’s hand touched while Ichiyamamoto was balanced on the bales. Perhaps a forward-moving sumo bias carried the day? Oshidashi.
Chiyoshoma (10-4) defeated Takarafuji (8-6). Henka-lite as Chiyoshoma leapt a little bit to his right…but not really far so he did not avoid Takarafuji’s charge entirely. Regardless, he reached over and locked in with a quick belt grip at the back of Takarafuji’s belt and wrangled Takarafuji down at the edge. Uwatenage.
Shishi (4-10) defeated Midorifuji (6-8). Midorifuji failed three katasukashi attempts. He then tried an uwatenage and pitched Shishi up on one leg. However, Shishi stayed up and countered with his own throw. While perched on one leg he pulled Midorifuji forward with his left arm firmly under Midorifuji’s armpit. Shishi needs to work on his oshi-zumo. He seemed very awkward and not very confident with that. Sukuinage.
Onokatsu (9-5) defeated Takayasu (8-6). Takayasu tried the same thing as Midorifuji. He put everything he had into an uwatenage but Onokatsu managed to hop around on one leg and resist the throw. As Takayasu dragged Onokatsu back across the ring, Onokatsu regained his balance and shoved Takayasu out. Oshidashi.
Nishikifuji (6-8) defeated Roga (6-8). Nishikifuji dug deep and muscled Roga over the bales in a straight-forward yotsu battle. Chants of “weight room” followed Roga down the hanamichi. Not really, but perhaps they should have. He was overpowered, plain-and-simple. Yorikiri.
Ryuden (4-10) defeated Endo (6-8). Ryuden jumped as Endo slow-rolled his tachiai. Matta. Endo tried to thrust Ryden toward the bales but Ryuden was too strong and remained at the center. Endo then pulled but Ryuden pursued well and kept his balance as he forced Endo out. Yorikiri.
Nishikigi (5-9) defeated Sadanoumi (4-10). Sadanoumi jumped early but no matta was called. Nishikigi didn’t mind, though, as he spun quickly on his heel and heaved Sadanoumi over. Shitatenage.
Halftime
Tobizaru (8-6) defeated Mitakeumi (7-7). Tobizaru easily got in behind Mitakeumi and walked him over the edge from behind. That’s how you gingerly dispatch senior citizens. Well done, Tobizaru. Well done. Okuridashi.
Abi (11-3) defeated Atamifuji (7-7). Abi-zumo blasted Atamifuji clear of the fighting surface. Abi certainly ate his Wheaties. Atamifuji landed in a heap under the black tassel. Oshitaoshi.
Wakatakakage (10-4) defeated Ura (5-9). Wakatakakage controlled this bout. He tried a pull but Ura stayed on his feet. Then Wakatakakage buckled down and drove Ura across the ring and over the bales with powerful thrusts. Ura bowled over another senior citizen, this one was in the crowd rather than on the dohyo. Poor dude already had a band aid over his left eye. Seemed to take being tackled by Ura in stride. Oshidashi.
Oho (5-9) default win over Kotoshoho (3-11)
Hiradoumi (3-11) defeated Oshoma (3-11). Hiradoumi was over eager, matta. Hiradoumi battered Oshoma and drove him over the bales. Tsukidashi.
Sanyaku
Wakamotoharu (9-5) defeated Gonoyama (10-4). Gonoyama tried a quick pull but his opponent was ready so he abandoned that plan before he reached the bales. Moving forward allowed Wakamotoharu to get a left-hand overarm grip. The two men settled into a grapple at the center of the ring. Gonoyama tried to keep WMH off with ottsuke but Wakamotoharu wore him down. When Wakamotoharu got his right hand inside, he was able to drive Gonoyama back and out. Yorikiri.
Churanoumi (4-10) stood while Shodai (4-10) slipped and fell in a heap at the center of the ring. Shodai tried to shuffle right but his foot slid across the dohyo and he went down. Talk about a damp squip. The, “I fell on my butt” losing technique. A badge of honor; Wear it with pride, Shodai. I get the feeling they use the “Koshi” instead of the kanji for “Shiri” in the way that one uses the term, “hip” or “lower back” instead of “ass” in polite company. Koshikudake.
Daieisho (8-6) defeated Takanosho (10-4). Daieisho almost casually thrust Takanosho to the side. Tsukiotoshi.
Kotozakura (13-1) defeated Onosato (8-6). Onosato drove forward but at the edge, Kotozakura suddenly twisted and yanked Onosato over. Onosato stayed on his feet but was driven over the bales. Uwatenage.
Hoshoryu (13-1) dominated Kirishima (6-8). Hoshoryu got a double-inside grip, hefted Kirishima up like a child and plopped him down at the edge. This was probably a tad less embarrassing for Kirishima than when he was yeeted by Terunofuji. A tad. Tsuridashi.
Wrap-up
There will be no “Ozeki kachi-koshi” for Onosato as he falls to 8-6. The best he can do is 9-6 tomorrow. That would tie his worst result in his short career. At least he has his kachi-koshi, though. Kirishima earned his make-koshi with this humbling loss today.
So, it all comes down to the musubi-no-ichiban on Senshuraku. Hoshoryu and Kotozakura level with one loss. I’m hyped! Even Juryo has a good yusho race going. Kinbozan took the lead today over Tsurugisho, Aonishiki, and Tochitaikai. The Kyokai have yet to announce the bouts for the Juryo division. It will be interesting if they set Kinbozan up with Aonishiki or Tochitaikai. He’s already lost to Tsurugisho but Tsurugisho has dropped three straight.
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Great Shodai paragraph. Thanks for your coverage, Andy.
It‘s a big surprise for myself, but I will be rooting for Kotozakura in that decisive bout tomorrow! I think his basho was more commanding than Hoshoryu‘s who needed luck (and his Houdini qualities) a couple of times.
But whoever will take the yusho he‘s clearly earned it (except for a Hoshoryu henka, that is, which would be a huge spoilsport).
How ironic that the 2 Ozeki who barely got their kachi-koshi last basho will now duke it out for the yusho on day 15 of this basho. The old saying still holds: Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.
Any news from Kotoshoho kyujo?
Last night he and Hiradoumi collided like two rams at the tachiai.
He looked woblly after the match, and I was afraid of concussion.
English broadcast said doctors reported an injury to his big toe, needs about two months to heal.
He broke his left big toe
It feels like in the short time I’ve been watching sumo (relatively, 2018) seeing ozeki compete as ozeki has been a rare sight. Especially since the Shodai, Mita and Kirishima debacles. It was takakeisho who single handedly kept the ozeki name where it was meant to be. Yet even him was constantly injured and retired from tournaments.
Seeing to “new” ozeki face each other on day 15 with a 13-1 record is just marvelous. No matter what, the winner will be an ozeki with 14-1. How about that? Even Onosato got his KK, not his best tournament but he got through, so did takerufuji who seems to be warming up.
So good
My favorite lines from today. Very humorous.
“Ura bowled over another senior citizen, this one was in the crowd rather than on the dohyo. Poor dude already had a band aid over his left eye. Seemed to take being tackled by Ura in stride.”
“I get the feeling they use the “Koshi” instead of the kanji for “Shiri” in the way that one uses the term, “hip” or “lower back” instead of “ass” in polite company. Koshikudake.”
I do not like Hoshoryu (based entirely on my perception of his arrogance) but it seems clear to me that he’ll be a Yokozuna, and a powerful one. And, this tournament, he’s managed to tone down his machismo.
Can’t wait for tomorrow.
I think the fact that Hoshoryu’s very near-sighted and squints when he isn’t wearing his glasses gives people the impression he’s more arrogant than he actually is.
Lol
If you search online, you will find that Hoshoryu is actually a massive goofball off the dohyo, hence why he is one of my favorites! The good-natured humor off of the dohyo combined with the intensity and aggressiveness he displays on the dohyo are just amazing!
Looks like Ura’s hurried cuddle with the elderly spectator has not been captured by cameras in full glory. Rather disappointing basho for Ura, but it’s not possible to be angry with a panda. Better strategy next time.
After his horrible mid-basho fall, it would be swell if Mitakeumi could get kachi-koshi against Atamifuji tomorrow.
Hakuoho will almost certainly be Bach in Makuuchi in January and it seems to me that he was in better form the last few days. Would be great if he grew as competitive as he was before his injury.
There has never been a better case for a mono-ii than the Takerufuji-Ichiyamamoto match. It appears that the head Shimpan wasn’t even following the movement of the match. His head was looking straight ahead when the hand of Takerufuji touched out first, and he had the best angle (probably the only one) to call for a confab and reversal of the decision.
Definitely a blown call.
Every time I look at the replay it seems that the Head Shimpan is not even watching the match. His head doesn’t move! Was he sleeping? A huge WTF!
Do we get extra action in the Juryo?
It’s Kinbozan v Aonishiki.
Tsurugisho and Tochitaikai both need wins to make for an interesting 4-way playoff if Aonishiki can pull out a win and they are all 11-4.
Add the Jonidan playoff to the Senshuraku Torikumi and we will have to get extra popcorn for the must watch action.
I’m hoping that Shodai doesn’t have a toe injury similar to Kotoshoho, or any other injury, after his fall today. Oof!
Takarafuji’s face said it all after his loss, honestly. You always gotta watch out for henkas from Chiyoshoma.
It feels like a lot of rikishi records were decided earlier than usual this basho. Only 3 “Darwin records” of 7-7 on the last day. I’m curious to see if that trend continues.
Am I right that regardless of who wins the Cup tomorrow both Kotozakura and Hoshoryu are on rope runs? One of them obviously will be in the driver’s seat with the Cup win, but is a 13-2 record an “official” start for that?
If one of them wins in January after being runner up at 13-2 it’s possible they will get a rope because of an “equivalent performance” to a win. But the old guys that make the decision don’t have any hard and fast rules.
If Hoshoryu wins this time and then Kotozakura does in January I think it is more likely to create a rope than the other way around. The desire for a Japanese born Yokozuna is really strong. I’m not personally convinced either are quite at the level of a Yokozuna right now though. Back to back wins would seal the promotion for either one, obviously.
Not really. There’s some speculation around the “yusho-equivalent” term and whether 13-2 would qualify. I’m not even thinking about rope runs until we get to Day 10 of Hatsu. We were ready to anoint Kirishima this year but…well…that didn’t pan out.
I didn’t mean to imply it was likely, but a junyusho losing to the winner on the last bout of the last day seems like it would potentially fit the bill. A 13-2 junyusho seems more valuable than a 12-3 yusho. In the unlikely scenario that it is considered equivalent I do think it is Kotozakura who would be given that benefit and not Hoshoryu.
But as you said, January is when we will know anything for certain. The guy that wins this one is the one who controls his own fate (to as much an extent as you can with the arbitrary nature of the Yokozuna Deliberation Council) in January.
I noticed the discoloration on Shodai’s right shin, the leg he slipped with. It has to be some sort of infection, dermatitis possibly. It might explain his poor showing this basho.
I saw that, too. I was curious about it. It looked like he’d been hit in the shin but I hadn’t spotted anything.
I remember some of the rikishi being plagued with dermatitis on the calf/shin area in the past couple of years. It seems to be quite debilitating to those suffering from it. A 4-10 record after his rise back up the Banzuke has to have an injury behind Shodai’s performance. Dermatitis could be it.
I think the runner-up would have to take the yusho in January with at least 13 wins to be elevated. The winner might make it with a strong jun-yusho with 12+ wins…but they could certainly hold either to a higher standard if neither wins both tournaments.
Still a month shy of his 32nd birthday, Mitakeumi is a mighty young senior citizen, albeit one with a lot of wear on those tires. Indeed, he is four months younger than his opponent today, Tobizaru. I guess it was one senior citizen looking out for the other…
Hoshoryu is really not messing around this basho. I hope that didn’t hurt his back. At least Kirishima kept the fruitless leg-flailing to a minimum. He seemed to have a little smile of disbelief afterwards.
That blown call on Ichiyamamoto messed with my bingo card – I hope he finally gets his KK tomorrow!
yes, Takerufuji was well out before Ichiyamamoto…. I saw the replay and went “for goodness’ sake, can we have some consistency in judging please!”. Still, it’s hardly the first time this has happened, annoying as it must be for Ichiyamamoto; he should have had his kachi-koshi!
I am a big Hoshoryu fan, have been since I first started watching sumo, don’t ask me why, I just like him and his wacky sense of humour and good nature. He’s not perfect, of course, none of us is. I have a nickname for Kotozakura which I won’t share here, but isn’t it great that they’ve both woken up! I don’t know how, why, or who, but whatever has prompted this change has resulted in the best basho in a long time. They’ve both been cruising along, resting on their laurels with no Yokozuna to inspire or terrify (or both) or anyone really challenging them since Takerufuji back in March, and of course Onosato.
I can’t predict tomorrow, and won’t try. I am just so pleased to see the Hoshoryu that’s been hiding away. He needs to work out how to beat Kotozakura consistently. If he can keep this level of fighting up, likewise Kotozakura, wouldn’t it be great to have TWO Yokozuna?
I feel sad though that this basho is nearly over. Whatever will we all do until January?
It will be a long, boring stretch between tomorrow and Hatsu. I will be checking in on the Jungyo tour which should start next weekend.
Betty’s “for goodness sake” reaction is a much better and probably nicer response than my “WTF!” regarding the non-called mono-ii. Guess the fairer sex don’t get as uncontrollably worked up over bad officiating as the guys do. LOL
LOL! Ah, the odd expletive can be heard, however today I was just exasperated with the shimpan in particular, and lack of mono-ii.
I’ll start the break by firing up my Bansuke calculator and see what it predicts.
Betty’s “Whatever will we all do until January?” — Hope for a decent recovery by Terunofuji and his full indominable return to the dohyo to make the rope run of the winner worth it; and racking our brains in vain in trying to get on the same page as the committee for the upcoming Banzuke rankings. Speculate with your pencils until you are down to an unusable nub and have to get another before the GTB deadline.
Oh, that and hope that everyone comes back healthy and full of fighting spirit for the Hatsu Basho 2025.
Don’t put it past hoshoryu to pull sum bs tmro
Oh wow, koshikudake. Only you, Shodai, only you…
If I wasn’t convinced that Hoshoryu will get that rope, now HOW CAN HE NOT!? Even if Kotozakura wins tomorrow, that was insane. Why is everyone so hung up on Onosato when these two are here, too!? (No, I get it. But it’s still funny.)
Absolutely on the “WTF!?” side for Takerufuji and Ichi. I love Takerufuji and of course this wasn’t his fault, but wow, what even happened? Poor Ichiyamamoto.
Kind of looking forward to the red-mawashi’d-babies match tomorrow, Mitakeumi and Atamifuji. And oh my gosh, Zaku vs Hosh tomorrow!