In maezumo, Hikarumusashi picked up his first win against Akinoyama (安氣乃山). Two powerful shoves and Akinoyama was forced out. Hoshoryu’s cousin Tenrosei had a tougher time with Nishikio but got the job done with a brutal takedown.

Good news from the infirmary as Roga will return to the line-up and face Endo. With an odd number of Makuuchi fighters, Sadanoumi will visit from Juryo and face Tokihayate.

Today’s NHK videos are available here: Juryo Part I and Part II, Makuuchi Part I and Part II.

Makuuchi Action

Tokihayate (3-1) defeated Kagayaki (0-4). Kagayaki charged forward and forced Tokihayate to the edge. At the edge, Tokihayate shifted left along the tawara and pulled Kagayaki to the bales. Tokihayate followed up with some gaburi yotsu to force Kagayaki over the edge. Yorikiri.

Kitanowaka (2-2) defeated Nishikifuji (2-2). A quick shift to the right at the tachiai granted Kitanowaka a deep righthand belt grip. He pivoted and shoved Nishikifuji to the edge. As Nishikifuji spun around to engage, Kitanowaka followed up and forced Nishikifuji over the tawara. Yorikiri.

Kinbozan (4-0) defeated Tamashoho (1-3). Tamashoho double false start put Andy on henka alert…but no henka was coming. He was just jittery as Kinbozan quickly shoved Tamashoho out. Oshidashi.

Shonannoumi (1-3) defeated Hakuoho (3-1). Shonannoumi pressed Hakuoho backward to the edge of the ring and then quickly slapped him down. Huh, Shonannoumi having some success moving forward. Who’d have thunk it? Hatakikomi.

Nishikigi (3-1) defeated Kotoshoho (1-3). Kotoshoho got a quick jump at the tachiai but Nishikigi immediately pulled to his left and Kotoshoho fell forward to his knees. Hikiotoshi.

Onokatsu (2-2) defeated Midorifuji (1-3). A patient Onokatsu held Midorifuji at arm’s length at the beginning of the bout with tsuppari but he could only get Midorifuji to the edge. He moved in to grab a Midorifuji’s mawashi, with a left hand outside grip. He was able to slip his right hand around Midorifuji’s trunk and then charge forward, forcing Midorifuji back and out. Yorikiri.

Tamawashi (4-0) defeated Takerufuji (3-1). Tamawashi blasted Takerufuji backwards and followed up with steady tsuppari. Takerufuji tried a poorly executed pull because Tamawashi pursued quickly and shoved Takerufuji off the dohyo. Oshidashi.

Churanoumi (2-2) defeated Meisei (1-3). Meisei charged forward, mindlessly. Churanoumi slipped to his right and shoved Meisei down. Tsukiotoshi.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz…. Come on guys, I could have slept through this. Cut it out with the sloppy sumo.

Oshoma (2-2) defeated Mitakeumi (2-2). Mitakeumi charged forward and reached inside to try to get at Oshoma’s belt with his left hand. Oshoma pulled left and slapped Mitakeumi down at the edge. Hatakikomi.

Ichiyamamoto (2-1) defeated Takarafuji (0-4). Ichiyamamoto defeated Takarafuji. Ichiyamamoto sumo drove Takarafuji back. Takarafuji tried to shift left but seemed to slip and Ichiyamamoto finished him with a shove. Hatakikomi.

Halftime

Chiyoshoma (4-0) defeated Endo (1-3). Who is going to henka? Chiyoshoma false start. No henka. That’s kind of disappointing, actually. I was hoping for that elusive double-henka. Endo charged forward but Chiyoshoma used his left hand to shove Endo’s elbow, forcing Endo left. Chiyoshoma bowled Endo across the dohyo and Endo took out Kandayu as he careened off the dohyo. Strike! Tsukidashi.

Ura (2-2) defeated Takayasu (2-2). Ura woke us up with a nice finishing move to defeat Takayasu. Ura released with his left, twisted and pulled Takayasu down with a tsutaezori.

Gonoyama (3-1) defeated Hiradoumi (1-3). Gonoyama battered Hiradoumi as Hiradoumi tried to keep his hold of Gonoyama’s belt. Oshidashi.

Sanyaku

Wakatakakage (2-2) defeated Atamifuji (0-4). Wakatakakage secured a double-inside grip and tried to drive into Atamifuji. Atamifuji resisted and tried to pitch Wakatakakage to the side. Wakatakakage released with his left hand and pulled Atamifuji down by the shoulder. Katasukashi.

Shodai (1-3) defeated Wakamotoharu (1-3). Shodai pressed forward. (This is new.) Shodai seemed to sense Wakamotoharu was seeking out that stability from the tawara so before they reached the bales he quickly twisted and drove Wakamotoharu to the ground. Tsukiotoshi.

Oho (4-0) defeated Daieisho (3-1). Oh! Oho! That looked like another boring bout as Daieisho chugged his way into Oho and Oho rode his way back to the bales. But at the edge Oho suddenly seized Daieisho’s left arm and yanked him forward. Hikiotoshi.

Abi (3-1) defeated Onosato (2-2). Abi-sumo defeated the Ozeki with one of his quick pulls. Hikiotoshi.

Hoshoryu (4-0) defeated Takanosho (0-4). After a fast-paced brawl, Takanosho charged forward and drove Hoshoryu to the edge. But Hoshoryu twisted to his left and thrust Takanosho out with his left arm under Takanosho’s shoulder. Tsukiotoshi.

Kirishima (1-3) defeated Kotozakura (1-3). The rope run is over. Kirishima used his right-hand inside, left-hand outside grip well. Kotozakura had no effective counter attack as Kirishima drove him back and out. Yorikiri.

Tobizaru (3-1) defeated Terunofuji (2-2). Terunofuji hit Tobizaru hard and drove him to the edge. Tobizaru quickly slipped to the left and reasserted position at the center of the ring. Tobizaru kept up his tsuppari and this prevented Terunofuji from corralling the monkey and enveloping with his usual kimedashi hold. Tobizaru kept up the assault, shoved the Yokozuna hard with his right, forced Terunofuji to his left. Tobizaru then followed and shoved Terunofuji out from behind, and a few cushions fly. Okuridashi.

Wrap-up

On to Day Five! With Daieisho’s slip up today, Hoshoryu is the lone sanyaku wrestler with an undefeated record so far. Oho’s charge continues along with Chiyoshoma, Tamawashi, and Kinbozan as the undefeated rank-and-file.

Kotozakura doesn’t look like he wants a belt. It looks like he wants to join Kirishima, Mitakeumi and Shodai as the next former Ozeki. Onosato also needs to turn things around. Aside from Hoshoryu, this was a terrible day for the top-ranked wrestlers. Well, Kinbozan looked great today. I don’t want to encourage Oho’s tactics from today. I like his forward-moving sumo better. Shodai looked positively brutal. I have no idea where that came from.

Looking at tomorrow’s bouts, I think Terunofuji vs Gonoyama will be decisive regarding Terunofuji’s continued participation in this tournament. If he loses, I think he will sit out. He cringed when he fell off the dohyo today, as if his knees were torturing him. He has not demonstrated the dominant power of the past with his upper-body.

Hoshoryu will face Atamifuji, who is having a terrible tournament. Onosato will try to turn things around against Oho. This is why I usually have no loyalties. As soon as I begin to favor a couple of wrestlers, they get pitted against each other. Someone, whose shikona begins with “O” and ends with “o” will win this bout. Finally, Kotozakura has to get it together against Shodai. This will be a fun one.

Chiyoshoma will face Takayasu, Tamawashi will get his turn against Meisei and Kinbozan will face Nishikifuji.