It’s Nakabi! This means that early in the day our debutants were decked out in kesho mawashi and introduced to the sumo world after completing maezumo. This ceremony is called the Shinjo-Shussehiro (新序出世披露), a presentation of new wrestlers to the bottom Jonidan division. Hikarumusashi, Musashimaru’s nephew and the newest American rikishi, was introduced alongside his stablemate, Uchiumi, and another of Asashoryu’s nephews, Tenrosei.
Another rikishi to watch from this class is Sunasaki who, along with Tenrosei, won his first three bouts. In the photo below, he is squating in the front row with Hikarumusashi on our left and Tenrosei on the right. These seven young men will compete in Osaka for the Jonokuchi yusho.
＜八日目の様子＞
— 日本相撲協会公式 (@sumokyokai) January 19, 2025
新序出世披露が行われました。
三月場所より番付にしこ名が掲載されます。
前列右より
天狼星（錣山）、砂坂（高砂）、光武蔵（武蔵川）
後列右より
青木（伊勢ヶ濱）、内海（武蔵川）、安氣乃山（安治川）、朝河隅（高砂）#sumo #相撲 #一月場所 #初場所 pic.twitter.com/K0DXXABtH3
Your NHK videos are here: Juryo Part I & Part II, Makuuchi Part I & Part II.
Shishi, Aonishiki, and Wakaikari continue to press for the Juryo yusho with one loss a piece. Oshoumi, Tochitaikai, Ryuden, and Asakoryu chase with two losses.
Makuuchi Action
Kayo (Juryo 4-4) defeated Nishikifuji (4-4). Kayo tipped Nishikifuji over the bales as he fell forward. Gunbai Kayo. Mono-ii. The judges determined both men fell out at the same time so they ordered a torinaoshi (rematch). On the rematch, Kayo tried a henka which was quickly caught out by Nishikfuji. However, Kayo spun and used his left hand under Nishikifuji’s armpit to shove Nishikifuji forward. Tsukiotoshi.
Tokihayate (4-4) defeated Kotoshoho (1-7). Kotoshoho spun Tokihayate to the bales but Tokihayate countered and drove forward, forcing Kotoshoho back to the opposite edge. Kotoshoho used the bales to stabilize himself and drove forward through the ring. He forced Tokihayate back to the edge and tried to pitch him over. But Tokihayate grabbed Kotoshoho’s belt and dragged him back toward the center of the ring and threw him with his right-hand outside belt grip. Uwatedashinage.
Hakuoho (5-3) defeated Nishikigi (4-4). Solid tachiai. Hakuoho quickly got both hands under Nishikigi’s armpits and drove Nishikigi back and over the bales. Yorikiri.
Onokatsu (5-3) defeated Kagayaki (2-6). Kagayaki charged forward early. Reset. At the initial clash, Kagayaki slammed his head into Onokatsu and drove him to the bales. Onokatsu’s left leg used the tawara for leverage and he drove Kagayaki back to the other side where he eventually forced Kagayaki over. Yorikiri.
Tamashoho (3-5) defeated Midorifuji (1-7). Tamashoho started with his tsuppari but Midorifuji reached inside and got a solid grip of Tamashoho’s mawashi. This forced Tamashoho into a grapple. Tamashoho picked Midorifuji up but could not move forward for the tsuridashi. charged forward and drove Midorifuji out. Yorikiri.
Takerufuji (7-1) defeated Kitanowaka (4-4). Kitanowaka’s right ankle buckled as Takerufuji drove into him at the bales and forced him over the edge. He was not able to put any weight on it to return to the ring and had to be wheeled away in the giant wheelchair. It was obvious he was in pain but it was not obvious whether it was rolled and a really bad sprain, or broken. We’ll follow up with news when we hear it. Oshitaoshi.
Kinbozan (8-0) defeated Tamawashi (6-2). This battle between two powerful pusher-thrusters was determined the only way it could be…by yorikiri. Both men traded tsuppari as the brawled around the ring. Kinbozan reached inside and locked up Tamawashi with a morozashi, double-inside belt grip, and quickly drove Tamawashi out. Yorikiri.
Shonannoumi (3-5) defeated Meisei (2-6). Meisei grabbed Shonannoumi’s belt and drove forward but Shonannoumi stopped at the edge, pivoted, and brought Meisei down. Kotenage.
Takayasu (5-3) defeated Oshoma (4-4). Takayasu drove Oshoma back to the bales. When Oshoma resisted, Takayasu pulled and slapped Oshoma down into the center of the ring. Oshoma had actually stepped out earlier at the bales. Oshidashi.
Ichiyamamoto (5-3) defeated Churanoumi (3-5). Ichiyamamoto-zumo. Ichiyamamoto’s tsuppari forced Churanoumi back and out. Oshidashi.
Halftime
Hiradoumi (4-4) defeated Mitakeumi (2-6). Hiradoumi used a right-hand inside, left-hand outside belt grip and steady gaburi-yori (hip-thrusting action) to force Mitakeumi over the bales. Yorikiri.
Takarafuji (4-4) defeated Chiyoshoma (7-1). Chiyoshoma drove forward, forcing Takarafuji back to the edge quickly. Takarafuji pulled on Chiyoshoma’s wrist at the edge, yanking Chiyoshoma out. How The Turn Tables, indeed. Tottari.
Ura (4-4) defeated Endo (3-5). Solid tachiai from Endo as he forced Ura back to the edge. Ura used the bales to resist and shoved Endo back to the center of the ring. Endo reached in with his left hand but Ura grabbed onto Endo’s arm and pulled him forward and off the dohyo. Tottari.
Gonoyama (5-3) defeated Atamifuji (2-6). Gonoyama’s oshi-game was on point while Atamifuji is probably still trying to figure out exactly what he wants to do with his life. Gonoyama just plugged forward and shoved Atamifuji over the bales. Maybe Atamifuji tried some pull at the edge but I don’t think even he knows what he was doing. Oshidashi.
Sanyaku
Abi (5-3) defeated Tobizaru (5-3). Abi tried pulling from the start. He did half a lap around the ring before deciding that wasn’t working. So, he changed direction and drove into Tobizaru with steady thrusts. This forced Tobizaru back and out. Oshidashi.
Kirishima (5-3) defeated Wakamotoharu (1-7). Kirishima yanked on Wakamotoharu’s belt and pulled him to the edge. At the edge he released and slipped to the side, trying for a slapdown. Wakamotoharu stumbled forward and Kirishima shoved him from behind to finish him off. Wakamotoharu is a barge, whose pilot has fallen into the river. Adrift. Okuridashi.
Daieisho (6-2) defeated Takanosho (2-6). Daieisho was careful today not to get caught too far forward. As Takanosho shifted and pulled, Daieisho kept his footing and steadily pursued. Eventually he worked Takanosho to the edge and forced him over. Yorikiri.
Kotozakura (3-5) defeated Oho (6-2). Oho seemed to give up on forward-moving sumo when Kotozakura offered resistance. Kotonowaka tried a pull so Oho tried a pull and they tried to out-react each other. Kotozakura reached inside for Oho’s belt and swung him around and down. Finally, some sort of offense! I think it’s pretty clear Kotozakura’s left knee is hurt pretty bad, though. I do not think he can put much weight on it. Uwatedashinage.
Onosato (5-3) defeated Wakatakakage (3-5). Both men had right-hand inside grips. Onosato’s belt was loose, so Wakatakakage did not get a whole lot of leverage from it. As they waltzed around the ring, Onosato used his left to try to force Wakatakage to give it up. But Wakatakakage was persistent, as if to say, “I’m never going to give you up, never going to let you down, never gonna run around and desert you.” Onosato never over-extended. He was patient. Onosato calmly drove forward and when he finally worked Wakatakakage to the edge, he pressed him over the bales. Yorikiri.
Shodai (3-5) defeated Hoshoryu (6-2). Hoshoryu shoved Shodai several times back toward the bales. As he neared the edge, Shodai thrust into Hoshoryu with power from his right, enough to stagger the Ozeki. Uh-oh. THAT Shodai showed up today. He shoved Hoshoryu again and pressed forward, forcing Hoshoryu to the opposite edge. Hoshoryu tried to slip to the right and pull Shodai forward, but Shodai moved laterally and shoved Hoshoryu again, blasting the Ozeki into Kototsubasa, ringside to do his yumitorishiki. Oshitaoshi.
Wrap-up
Well, Nakabi was rather devastating today. Chiyoshoma’s zensho yusho run is over. Kitanowaka’s whole tournament might be over. Oho’s dark horse run is over. Hoshoryu’s rope run is over. Kinbozan is our only undefeated top-division wrestler, with Takerufuji and Chiyoshoma in pursuit with one loss. Hoshoryu, Daieisho, and Oho will need help to get back into this yusho race.
Looking to tomorrow, Kinbozan will fight Takerufuji in what will surely be a highlight match since both men are performing well and ranked below their true potential. Both of these guys should be about ten ranks higher, if not for recent injuries. Chiyoshoma will fight Churanoumi. Hoshoryu will fight Hiradoumi and Daieisho will fight Onosato.
Kotozakura will take on Ura in a bout which I only mention because Kotozakura is Ozeki. The way Abi and Kirishima have been fighting, their match-up will be an interesting one, as well. I’m not sure if there will be enough kensho on Gonoyama to interest Shodai, but we will see.
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Schrodinger’s rikish was ALIVE!!
Against all odds..
lol
Spot on smodori! 😆
Consequently, Schrödinger’s rikishi throws our understanding of quantum mechanics into disarray……
Shodai beat Hoshoryu. Wait ! How? What!? I’ve had better starts to my Sunday morning, fresh coffee and croissants notwithstanding.
Sorry to see that Oho lost today, but glad to see that Kirishima won, I hope he’s getting his sumo-mojo back from whatever was ailing him.
The Waka brothers are in a mess. Takerufuji is quietly staying in the mix.
An exciting second week awaits!
Spot on smodori! 😆
Consequently, Schrödinger’s rikishi throws our understanding of quantum mechanics into disarray……
Shodai beat Hoshoryu. Wait ! How? What!? I’ve had better starts to my Sunday morning, fresh coffee and croissants notwithstanding.
Sorry to see that Oho lost today, but glad to see that Kirishima won, I hope he’s getting his sumo-mojo back from whatever was ailing him.
The Waka brothers are in a mess. Takerufuji is quietly staying in the mix.
An exciting second week awaits!
I am wondering if something is up with Arashio stable as a whole. I’m a big fan of the waka brothers and follow the stable as a whole. The entire group is struggling.
Sorry, don’t know what I did to post it twice.
No worries. It’s not like it uses up more ink and paper or anything.
😄 TY
We saw Shodai’s interpretation of the collapse of the quantum state. He collapsed Hoshoryu.
It’s a respectable tradition that there should be no reaction from both sides after the bout. No celebration, no protest. Occasionally, a wrestler can even be brought back to dohyo when the elders notice that he has not taken his bow properly.
I could not care less about Hoshoryu’s attitude. If he is a sour loser and/or not keen on unwritten formalities, well, why not let him be. Is it better when he clearly pretends, as he did after today’s bout –not bowing but only removing the sagari, the silken chords inserted into mawashi. It looks ridiculous. Just saying.
I turned the screen off immediately after Hoshoryu got tumbled out, so didn’t see the very end. Did he not even nod, again? However, it’s not the first time he, and MANY others, have failed to give more than such a cursory neck tilt that they might as well not bother. Is this something for the JSA to emphasise, or the stable-masters, or the rikishi themselves? Surely a proper bow acknowledges the victor of the bout, and the traditions of Japan and of sumo. The barest nod always feels dismissive, and rude. (even when my favourites do it, and Hoshoryu is a favourite). Ura always bows, always. It’s appreciated I think, by the crowd. Manners cost nothing, yet can maintain harmony.
I’ve seen wrestlers chided for it by shimpan and beckoned back to bow properly. I’ve not seen that happen to an Ozeki, though. The Yokozuna Deliberation Council might bring it up if and when Hoshoryu is looking for a promotion. Chances of that are slim, now. They opine on hinkaku and such.
I remember Homasho’s deep bow was always appreciated and endeared him with fans. It was one of his “charm points”. Now he’s Shikoriyama-oyakata, so I am sure he tries to instill values of respect in his charges. I think Abi usually gives a good bow.
If there is a future 74th yokozuna currently in makuuchi, my guess is it’s going to be Takerufuji
That’s an interesting question. Your point implies a considerable Nokozuna period. How long before you think he ends it?
It may be a while! It just seems that people forgot him quickly to an extent. I think the guy’s a beast. (Don’t want to jinx him: those little legs still worry me.)
He is not forgotten, but he seems to have quite fragile ankles. Also believe it or not, he is currently at his highest rank ever, so he still has to prove how he fares near the top of makuuchi.
Takerufuji‘s highest rank ever was M6 after his yusho, but he had to sit out that basho because of the ankles U mentioned.
That’s what I meant, sorry. He has never actively participated in a basho ranked higher, than he is now.
I hesitate to say ‘yes’ for fear of jinxing him, ☺️, but that would be interesting and welcome. I’d still like the two of three current ozeki to make it, but there’s work to be done there yet. I found a gap of a year without a Yokozuna, has it ever been longer?
WTK GOT RICK ROLLED!
Nice Rick Roll. I haven’t seen one of those in ages!
Glad to see Shodai come to life. I can never out what’s going on with him.
never out -> never figure out
Zomg, I’ve been Rikishirolled!
Nice!
I have no idea what Hoshoryu’s game plan was. Pushing and thrusting against an opponent who outweighs you by 22kg but doesn’t have a fraction of your technical and throwing skills. Really? He made absolutely no attempt to get a belt grip, which I would have thought he would try to do at once.
He’s lost two bouts to Maegashira with severe losing records. Imagine, if he was a Yokozuna, that’s two kinboshi given away already. Not good!
Could it be that the previous 3 matches against Shodai Hoshoryu won with tsukidashi, oshidashi and yorikiri. Why would Hoshoryu not assume that this can be effective against Shodai when it has produced a win twice out of the previous 3 matches?
Trouble is THAT Shodai showed up today as Andy put it and likely ended Hoshoryu’s hopes for Yokozuna promotion.
Hoshoryu was on a Yokozuna run in which he couldn’t afford a single loss. In those circumstances, he couldn’t afford to assume anything. Also. if we are aware that there is another, dangerous Shodai, he must be aware too. He should have planned for the dangerous one to show up.
Until one of the ozeki starts acting like a Yokozuna, we won’t get one.
When a rikishi chooses to start a match in a particular way, he practically makes an assumption that this would produce a win for him, because why else would he choose to start that way. Trouble is that starting is any manner is always a gamble and you have to be able to follow up regardless of how the match continues. A Yokozuna should be able to do this. The fact that Hoshoryu was not able to turn back dangerous Shodai just means that he is not ready to be Yokozuna yet.
Should Hoshoryu have get a belt grip instead of using oshisumo?
We will never know the answer to that. Hoshoryu has both won and lost to Shodai when getting a belt grip. So there is no guarantee that going to the belt would have produced a win. Dangerous Shodai might have won that way, too. I wanted Hoshoryu to win and get to Yokozuna but unfortunately he was not able to do that. Now we have to wait and see when a new Yokozuna emerges.
Shodai has everything – bulk, speed and technique. Usually when two wrestlers have similar fighting style, the one that is little better dominates the other, but Shodai is not dominated by anyone. There is always a non-negligible chance that Shodai will win. I remember him like being forever on Maegashira 4, then suddenly becoming Ozeki without really improving and then loosing it. I am always reluctant to say that someone isn’t trying or has poor mentality, because usually some some mistakes are done before that, but the case of Shodai is hard to explain in other way. Also, unfortunately he stopped doing cartoon sumo on the edge and that is costing him some bouts.
Hondo p when I think bout shodai I his pic at m4
Yeh, Shodai’s ozeki run was ridiculous. No more effort or skill, just everyone else imploded for a 6 month stretch. They had to give him ozeki based on numbers, but it was a bit silly.
Ahhh, Shodai, Shodai, Shodai..He do surprise us sometimes, don’t he ?
Much desaster on Nakabi. Kitanowaka brought a new example for ‚injuries cause injuries‘. Having someone going roughly onto your fresh taped bad shoulder disturbs perceiving what your feet do at the bales. Sorry to say, but even Takerufuji is no saint, and there are rikishi he doesn‘t care for. After shoving Oshoma off the dohyo yesterday he gave him no look. Nevertheless he might climb up to Yokozuna with patience and a little luck – and I think I would like it.
Shoadai and his Wall of Daikon showed up to stifle the Dragon! The Blazing Star Dragon can still beat himself once or twice a week and until he “can keep from losing,” he won’t reach his full potential. He’s close, we saw it versus Oho on day 7, that was what it looks like.
Anyhow, another crazy basho, looking forward to see how it all shakes down in week two and if the Golden Nephew can assert himself in this Ozeki Triumvirate. Tobizaru back to Sanyaku? The Waka bros back to the rank and file? At this point Big Bro Waka is definitely getting demoted. Daieisho to make another run at Ozeki? Takerufuji in another Yusho race? So many plot twists to come.