In the early action, Enho fell to Hogasho but Kawazoe won an easy one in his first bout back from sudden kyujo. Enho’s loss did not look promising or it may have been a strategic loss…I really do not like to think that way, but here we are. Hogasho corralled him pretty easily, drove him to the edge, and barely noticed Enho’s last-gasp attempt to turn the tables at the edge. At least Enho will be fighting from the Losers’ Bracket. He will fight the Tokyo Univeristy graduate, Suyama, tomorrow.

Day One was pretty amazing. It had upsets but not too many. Instead of all Ozeki falling on the first day, Kotozakura and Hoshoryu stood their ground and won their opening day bouts. The quick losses from Terunofuji and Onosato did not really demonstrate much about their conditioning. Those losses seemed to come down to lack of preparation and excellent execution by their opponents. Onosato will surely recover from the loss but all of us still have questions about how long Terunofuji will be able to participate in this tournament.

Your NHK videos are here: Juryo Part I & Part II, Makuuchi Part I & Part II.

Makuuchi Action

Nishikifuji (1-1) defeated Tamashoho (1-1). Tamashoho came out with palms of fury. Nishikifuji weathered the fury like it was a sunny stroll through the park. Nishikifuji pressed forward and thrust Tamashoho from the ring with ease. Tsukidashi.

Hakuoho (2-0) defeated Tokihayate (1-1). Tokihayate charged forward through Hakuoho but as the pair drew close to the edge, Hakuoho used his firm left-hand inside grip to yank Tokihayate over the bales. Shitatenage.

Kitanowaka (1-1) defeated Kagayaki (0-2). Kitanowaka showed up today with taped right shoulder. Thankfully, he was able to use his left to win today. Kitanowaka followed Hakuoho’s example and as Kagayaki pressed the pair toward the tawara, Kitanowaka used his left-hand inside grip to throw Kagayaki at the edge. Shitatenage.

 Kinbozan (2-0) defeated Shonannoumi (0-2). Kinbozan laid into Shonannoumi from the tachiai with heavy thrusts to the chin and upper body. At the edge, Shonannoumi had enough and stepped out to relieve his suffering. Tsukidashi.

Kotoshoho (1-1) defeated Onokatsu (1-1). It looked like Onokatsu was trying a similar counter attack to Hakuoho and Kitanowaka. He had latched on to Kotoshoho’s belt at the tachiai with his left-hand (over instead of under). As Kotoshoho plowed ahead toward the bales, Onokatsu tried to use his hold for a throw or to pull his opponent over the bales but Kotoshoho kept Onokatsu in front and drove him over the bales. Yorikiri.

Nishikigi (1-1) defeated Midorifuji (1-1). Nishikigi held on to Midorifuji’s right shoulder with his left arm. He tried to reach in for a left hand grip but Midorifuji pulled and spun the pair to avoid Nishikigi’s grip. Nishikigi then tried to change his right-hand grip and get it inside but Midorifuji resisted. With his right-hand over, Nishikigi dug deep and pressed forward, trying a kimedashi. As he charged forward, Midorifuji relented on his left allowing Nishikigi access inside and his pace accelerated as he rushed Midorifuji off the dohyo and into the crowd. Yorikiri.

Takerufuji (2-0) defeated Meisei (0-2). Takerufuji met Meisei at the tachiai but slipped to the side and helped propel Meisei forward with a powerful tug on Meisei’s belt. Meisei slammed on the brakes and stopped at the bales but Takerufuji slammed into him hard from behind and blasted him off the dohyo. Okuridashi.

Tamawashi (2-0) defeated Churanoumi (1-1). Churanoumi seemed to be making progress, forcing Tamawashi toward the bales with a torrent of tsuppari. Tamawashi used excellent footwork to pivot and cut off the dohyo as Churanoumi advanced toward the edge. With Churanoumi’s back to the edge, Tamawashi charged ahead and shoved Churanoumi into the crowd. Oshidashi.

Oshoma (1-1) defeated Takarafuji (0-2). Oshoma found Takarafuji’s neck and shoved him to the bales with a forceful nodowa. Takarafuji tried to recover and get inside for a belt grip but Oshoma’s defense was too strong and his tsuppari kept Takarafuji at the edge as they cycled along the tawara to the back of the dohyo. One final shove from Oshoma and Takarafuji stepped out. Oshidashi.

Takayasu (1-1) defeated Endo (0-2). Takayasu drove Endo to the bales. Endo used the bales to begin his own charge forward. Enticed by Takayasu’s shiny belt, Endo lunged forward a bit too far as he tried to get a hold. Takayasu hit him hard with his left and Endo spun around but when he recentered, Takayasu met him with a slapdown. Hatakikomi.

Halftime

Ichiyamamoto (2-0) defeated Mitakeumi (1-1). Ichiyamamoto used his style of sumo to force Mitakeumi to the edge. Like Endo before him, Mitakeumi used the tawara to give himself stability and a platform to launch his counter attack. Mitakeumi thrust forward and forced Ichiyamamoto back into the center of the ring. Ichiyamamoto pivoted and layed into Mitakeumi once again, driving him to the edge. Mitakeumi grabbed Ichiyamamoto’s belt and tried to pull him over the tawara but Ichiyamamoto grabbed onto Mitakeumi and pressed him over the edge. Yorikiri.

Hiradoumi (1-1) defeated Shodai (0-2). Hiradoumi got a firm hold of Shodai’s belt with his left arm over Shodai’s right. Still, Shodai drove forward and forced Hiradoumi to the edge. Yet again, Hiradoumi used the bales to steady himself and resist Shodai’s charge. He pressed back into Shodai, all while not allowing Shodai to get a left-hand grip. As Shodai neared the edge, he swung Hiradoumi around but could not get him over the edge. Hiradoumi reengaged and drove Shodai back to the edge and over the bales. Solid gaburi-yotsu from the smaller Hiradoumi. Yorikiri.

Chiyoshoma (2-0) defeated Ura (1-1). Ura was a man of a single mind. He wanted Chiyoshoma’s belt. He weathered Chiyoshoma’s tsuppari and submarined low to get his left hand on the back of Chiyoshoma’s belt. Chiyoshoma countered Ura perfectly, seized Ura’s belt and drove Ura to the ground. Uwatenage.

Sanyaku

Oho (2-0) defeated Wakatakakage (1-1). Oho seized Wakatakakage’s right arm at the tachiai and swung him around. He followed up with heavy tsuppari, using his size advantage to its fullest as he forced WTK to the bales. Oh, you think you’re going to slip away? Here’s my right leg. They call it Oshidashi but Oho shoved Wakatakakage with his right leg as Wakatakakage tried to escape. Nice, instinctive counter. Oshidashi.

Gonoyama (1-1) defeated Wakamotoharu (1-1). Gonoyama charged ahead and as Wakamotoharu settled along the bales, preparing to counter, Gonoyama twisted and rolled WMH into the center of the ring. Tsukiotoshi.

Daieisho (2-0) defeated Atamifuji (0-2). Daieisho blasted Atamifuji with two quick blasts. With the third, he engaged and steamrolled ahead, forcing Atamifuji off the dohyo and into the second row. Oshidashi.

Abi (1-1) defeated Kotozakura (1-1). Wow, Abi-zumo! Abi did his thing. No surprises there. He hit Kotozakura hard and followed up with powerful thrusts. “It hurts!” Kotozakura really did not appreciate the thrusts to the face and neck. He turned and his left cheek to the brunt of Abi’s attack before falling into the crowd. Tsukidashi.

Onosato (1-1) defeated Kirishima (0-2). Kirishima did a good job of grabbing Onosato’s belt and pulling him forward. But Onosato used his own right-hand grip to stop his forward motion and steady himself. He resisted Kirishima’s kicks and then launched his counter attack. Volley after volley of tsuppari thrusts turned the tables and forced Kirishima to retreat. Onosato worked Kirishima to the edge and then finished him. Oshidashi.

Hoshoryu (2-0) defeated Tobizaru (1-1). Hoshoryu bum-rushed Tobizaru at the tachiai, grabbed his belt and tackled him. It looked like Tobizaru had tried to shift at the tachiai but Hoshoryu was ready for it. Hoshoryu adjusted and executed an open-field tackle any linebacker would be proud of. Fast. Powerful. Yoritaoshi.

Terunofuji (1-1) defeated Takanosho (0-2). Solid tachiai. Terunofuji drove Takanosho to the edge but Takanosho was able to pivot, counter, and drag the Yokozuna toward the bales. Terunofuji tried to slap Takanosho down but Takanosho powered through. Unfortunately for Takanosho, he could not come up with a solution and eventually tired. It seemed like he just kept trying to get his left hand inside but against a Yokozuna, you need a Plan B. You need a deeper set of tricks. Terunofuji won but looked vulnerable. He could not overpower Takanosho at the edge. Takanosho resisted over, and over until he wore out. Terunofuji tried Plan A, then Plan B, and when Plan C also failed, he tried A again. Yorikiri.

Wrap-up

A Yokozuna should have a counter-attack to Abi-zumo. That should be a prerequisite for promotion. You know what is coming. He knows what’s coming. The entire stadium and millions of people at home know what is coming. Thus, Kotozakura is not Yokozuna yet and will need to regroup. He’s fighting from behind for that rope, now.

The good thing for him is that Onosato and Terunofuji have already tasted defeat this tournament. Only Hoshoryu and Daieisho remain undefeated in the sanyaku ranks and we just finished Day Two! It is starting to feel like there has been little progress from the past several years of vulnerable Ozeki but I see two key differences: the whole field is not losing on the same day AND no one is kadoban. But will Terunofuji, Onosato and Kotozakura keep up? Will Hoshoryu fall off? Let’s see what Day Three has in store.

In the rank-and-file bouts, Ichiyamamoto vs Chiyoshoma is the only battle of undefeated. Onokatsu vs Takerufuji looks like an interesting one, as does Hakuoho vs Kotoshoho. Endo will hopefully pick up his first win against Takarafuji. Endo actually showed some promise today while Takarafuji has not been able to achieve much.

Three great matchups feature for our Ozeki. Hoshoryu will face Wakatakakage, Kotozakura will get his turn with Tobizaru and Onosato will fight Takanosho. Okay, maybe that is two great matchups and an onigiri.

The way Oho dismantled Wakatakakage should give Hoshoryu some ideas but Hoshoryu lacks Oho’s size. Both men are very fast so it could be a “blink-and-you-missed-it” contest. Kotozakura will try to dose Tobizaru’s power water with Ritalin. Containing the guy is the first step and Hoshoryu did an excellent job of that today. Lastly, Onosato should be able to demonstrate a clear skill and power difference against Takanosho.

Terunofuji will take on Kirishima. After a strong showing at Aki, Kirishima had quiet hopes of returning to Ozeki but has really not mustered much since he was humbled by Terunofuji last year — The Yeet Heard Round The World. Can you believe Kirishima has never beaten Terunofuji in twelve attempts? I can, too. We’ll see if tomorrow is any different.