Shishi defeated Kotoeiho and improves to 12-2. Nabatame defeated Ryuden so both men join Aonishiki on 11-3. Shishi has already fought the wrestlers with the best records in the division. My guess is they might throw Tomokaze at him. Tomokaze will be seeking kachi-koshi. But that seems like a weak deciding bout for this race. Anyone have a better idea?
Your NHK videos are still here, despite today’s pre-emption. Juryo Part I & Part II, Makuuchi Part I & Part II.
If any of my readers are going to Kokugikan tomorrow, be sure to prepare for extra security screening. The Kyokai posted an announcement that they will be doing more bag checks tomorrow and confiscating any banned items. My guess is that they will have a VIP in attendance, possibly the new PM or the Emperor.
It has been a few years since the Emperor came to watch in person, and obviously there was the famous scene several years ago when PM Abe hosted American President Donald Trump. Maybe Ishiba will come to present the Prime Minister’s Cup? Or, maybe they just want to be extra safe on senshuraku and Andy’s just letting his mind go wild with senseless speculation again. We shall see.
I fired up the VPN to watch today’s action. When I turned on JME, there was supposed to be a short program on Okinawa dialects before sumo coverage but instead there was a soccer game that was tied 1-1 and in the 3rd minute of extra time. That meant sumo was being pre-empted so this will be my first time in a while watching the Abema coverage.
Interesting, they have added approximate shimekomi colors next to the wrestlers’ shikona. If you’re familiar with soccer coverage, it’s similar to the way they display the different kit colors. There is a bit more of an ad mix nowadays, apparently. I also enjoyed being able to see the kensho banners more clearly. But no news breaks and no sense of being rushed out the door at the end of the day’s action as NHK usually rushes to the news at 6pm. NHK has a bit to learn from Abema and a dedicated sumo channel would go a long way.
Makuuchi Action
Nishikigi (7-7) defeated Kagayaki (5-9). Nishikigi let Kagayaki get a morozashi, double-inside grip. As Kagayaki started to chug forward, Nishikigi pivoted and rolled Kagayaki down along the tawara. Kotenage.
Tamawashi (9-5) defeated Nishikifuji (8-6). Old Tom O’Washi rushed out with purpose and hit Nishikifuji with a solid tachiai. Nishikifuji pulled immediately and Tom surged forward, casting Nishikifuji into the crowd. Nishikifuji was dead before Tom’s hand touched down. No mono-ii. Oshidashi.
Meisei (6-8) defeated Onokatsu (6-8). Onokatsu drove Meisei to the bales with his tsuppari but Meisei resisted and locked on with a good belt grip. Meisei rotated and forced Onokatsu up against the bales and then pressed him over. Yorikiri.
Tokihayate (6-8) defeated Churanoumi (4-10). Tokihayate rotated to his right and drove Churanoumi backwards and over the bales. Churanoumi seemed to move rather gingerly, as if his left ankle or knee is giving him issues. That would explain his terrible performance this tournament. Stonecreek shared a list of wrestlers who have been performing particularly poorly and I would add Churanoumi to that list of Wakamotoharu, Atamifuji, and Mitakeumi. Yorikiri.
Oshoma (8-6) defeated Tamashoho (5-9). Oshoma rotated slightly to the left and rolled Tamashoho off the dohyo. Tsukiotoshi.
Kotoshoho (4-10) defeated Takarafuji (5-9). Takarafuji was content to play passive, reactive sumo at the start of this bout. He seemed to be waiting for Kotoshoho to make his moves and then he was trying to counter with inashi. Kotoshoho decided to jettison his oshi-tsuki attack and reached in for a belt grip. The two settled into a lean. Here, Takarafuji started to take the initiative and drove into Kotoshoho. Kotoshoho countered and threw Takarafuji. Takarafuji rolled down the dohyo and landed on his butt next to Kokonoe. A polite little bow to the head shimpan, “How do you do, sir?” Uwatenage.
Hakuoho (9-5) defeated Endo (6-8). Endo resisted powerfully and took it to Hakuoho. Where has this Endo been? This has been the most competitive I have seen him in some time. Hakuoho still managed to throw him with a powerful left-hand inside belt grip. Shitatenage.
Shonannoumi (8-6) defeated Ichiyamamoto (7-7). Ichiyamamoto started this bout on the belt but Shonannoumi bucked him off quickly. As Ichiyamamoto began to get his tsuppari engine going and began to churn his legs forward, Shonannoumi slipped to the right and shoved Ichiyamamoto down and out. Oshidashi.
Midorifuji (7-7) defeated Shodai (6-8). Shodai confidently stepped forward into Midorifuji as Midorifuji slammed into him over and over without much success in driving him back. But he wasn’t alert to what Midorifuji was doing with his right hand. Midorifuji slammed into Shodai and brought his right hand up inside Shodai’s left armpit and suddenly pulled Shodai down. Hisashiburi. Katasukashi.
Gonoyama (7-7) defeated Tobizaru (6-8). Tobizaru henka. Gonoyama caught it and gently shoved Tobizaru out. After such a great start to the tournament, claiming a kinboshi, forcing Terunofuji to go intai, and two Ozeki scalps on top of it… Tobizaru is make-koshi. Surely, he was on pace for a special prize early in the tournament. Pfffth. That’s gone as he leapt meekly from the dohyo. Tsukidashi.
Halftime
Atamifuji (4-10) defeated Mitakeumi (2-12). Mitakeumi gave Atamifuji one good shove to the face at the tachiai. Then Atamifuji chugged forward and forced Mitakeumi out. If there was a time to go to the bathroom or get some tea, you could do it during this bout so you wouldn’t miss the delicate dohyo maintenance during halftime. Oshidashi.
Oho (11-3) defeated Takanosho (6-8). Excellent counter from Oho. As Takanosho chugged forward, Oho pivoted and tried a kotenage. That failed but he tried again with a shove into Takanosho right shoulder. Tsukiotoshi.
Kinbozan (12-2) defeated Kirishima (10-4). Kinbozan wants this yusho. This was a great yotsu bout. Kirishima forced his way inside, negating Kinbozan’s usual pusher-thruster style. Kirishima tried an uwatenage from that left-hand outside grip. But Kinbozan kept his footing and countered with a powerful right-hand throw. He had a grip with his right-hand inside on Kirishima’s belt but Kirishima’s uwatenage attempt pulled Kinbozan’s hand off his belt. This might have given Kinbozan better leverage by shifting his grip under Kirishima’s shoulder. Great work from both men but Kinbozan walks away with the white star and remains in the lead. Sukuinage.
Sanyaku
Takayasu (8-6) defeated Abi (7-7). Abi pounded away at Takayasu’s face while Takayasu drove Abi back to the bales. As Abi planted his feet against the tawara, Takayasu shifted left and slapped Abi back into the ring. Hatakikomi.
Ura (7-7) defeated Wakatakakage (7-7). Wakatakakage tried to slap Ura down but Ura kept his balance. Ura with the nice counter, drove into Wakatakakage, establishing a double-inside hold of Wakatakakage’s trunk. Waka then tried to throw Ura from the right but Ura staggered Wakatakakage with a shove and WTK stutter-stepped out as he tried to catch himself.
Wakamotoharu (5-9) defeated Chiyoshoma (8-6). When I see Chiyoshoma now, I just hear the voice of a young Martin Sheen. “Everyone gets everything he wants. I wanted a [yusho run], and for my sins, they gave me one.” Chiyoshoma hit Wakamotoharu hard at the tachiai and then pulled. Wakamotoharu kept his footing so Chiyoshoma slammed back into WMH, leading with his head to Wakamotoharu’s chin. This flung Wakamotoharu across the ring. As WMH teetered on the bales, he pivoted and threw Chiyoshoma forward. The gyoji seemed to look for a mark in the Janome and when he saw it, pointed his gunbai to Chiyoshoma. Mono-ii. Review showed that Wakamotoharu’s counter throw defeated Chiyoshoma. Tsukiotoshi.
Daieisho (10-4) defeated Hiradoumi (6-8). Daieisho’s thrusting overpowered Hiradoumi. Tsukidashi.
Onosato (9-5) defeated Kotozakura (5-9). Onosato’s steady footwork earned him a massive, double-fisted stack of kensho-kin. Kotozakura tried to throw him from the right as they moved back to the bales. But Onosato shrugged off the hold and continued to plow Kotozakura backward. Oshidashi.
Don’t worry, another double-stack of kensho-kin awaited the winner of the musubi-no-ichiban.
Hoshoryu (11-3) defeated Takerufuji (10-4). Takerufuji went high and tried a kubinage after the tachiai. He grabbed Hoshoryu’s belt with the left and wrapped his right arm around Hoshoryu’s head and rotated clockwise. Hoshoryu did not go down, though. Instead, he went low, got hold of Takerufuji’s belt, lifted him up and drove him backward from the dohyo. Yorikiri.
Wrap-up
Kirishima fell out of the yusho race with his loss to Kinbozan, taking the loser of the Hoshoryu/Takerufuji bout with him (Takerufuji). The yusho race narrows to include Kinbozan in the lead, and only Hoshoryu and Oho chasing.
Senshuraku fights are not out yet. I will try to bring an update before action starts tonight for both Juryo and Makuuchi. Will this Hoshoryu vs Kotozakura bout happen? I think so. Hoshoryu has already fought Oho and Kinbozan. Kinbozan has not fought Oho, though. If Kinbozan beats his opponent tomorrow, whether it’s Oho or anyone else, the Cup is his. If Oho wins and Kinbozan loses, we will have a play-off, possibly with Hoshoryu, if he wins his bout.
Discover more from Tachiai (立合い)
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
The NHK World live coverage started just in time for Kinbozan vs. Kirishima. Waku waku, and did not disappoint. I thought Kirishima could have shown more patience waiting for the right moment to strike, but a fine effort from both men and a legit win for the man from Central Asia.
I’d be harsher on Wakatakakage than Andy is in the write-up. Lame pull and slapdown attempt right off the bat led to inevitable and deserved defeat. Maybe he had something else in mind, but that’s what showed.
Looking forward to the highlight show so I can see Tamawashi tell Nishikifuji to get off of his lawn.
What a Juryo day! First Nabatame flattened Ryuden – made me squeak like a guinea pig… Then Sadanoumi gave me fat reason for my fan love: ‚You henka me, youngster?! I give you a free flight, and then I step on you, and then I sit on you!!‘ Please look it up, it’s hilarious! Honestly, there were so many sidesteps all around during the last days, for KK and even after – that‘s no fun any more!
And then the look he gave Tohakuryu as he climbed bak on the dohyo
He literally stepped over him. lol
Bouts are out now. Kinbozan vs. Oho and Hoshoryu gets a freebie vs. Kotozakura in the fight for gushy/playoffs.
Wakatakakage needs to defend his rank against Ichiyamamoto. Likewise Abi gets Daieisho.
Gonoyama and Midorifuji have a real Darwin match, while Nishikigi vs. Oshoma and Onokatsu vs. Hiradoumi search for their kachikoshi.
A few matches down the banzuke will likely have impact on the demotion picture.
Yes, it‘s almost a freebie for Hoshoryu and that‘s correct, because the other two had Kotozakura, too. Oho even somehow managed to lose that fight. And the Nephew can lose it too and again throw it all again with another slippiotoshi like he did on last Senshuraku.
herbern, ‘slippiotoshi’ is pure genius. Thank you for that wonderful addition to my growing sumo vocabulary. I admire clever wordplay!
Thanks, but unfortunately the creativity in this case is not mine.
Slippiotoshi is a well established and much used kimarite at Tachiai.
I couldn’t even say if it was Andy‘s idea or maybe Bruce’s. But U‘re right, of course, it is very fitting.
Oh, it’s not ours. Kintamayama was the first to use that which I saw. He’d use it in his highlight videos.
Thank you herbern and Andy!
Thanks for the heads up on the extra security screening tomorrow, now to figure out if I would be taking any banned items. Is an umbrella a banned item? Heh.
I am a bit meh on Hoshoryu not getting a more “impactful” opponent for tomorrow but he has faced literally everyone else in the top half of the banzuke with a winning record so I guess a rematch of November day 15 is as good as we can get.
Hoshoryu hasn’t faced Abi, Abi is 7-7 and I feel that would have been a more fitting match somehow.
That would have been a good option but tradition probably trumps other justifications.
From just looking at him, it seems like Takerufuji would have a higher center of gravity than most rikishi. I know it is easier said than done, but if you can get inside and on his belt, getting him airborne wouldn’t take the same effort as with most other wrestlers.
But everyone has a plan until they are punched in the face.
And then get a hansoku victory…?
It’s good to see that everyone in the yusho race wanted to win the Cup. There have been some basho where one person grabs it with both hands while everyone else just kinda shrugs at that happening. Not this time. I’m hopeful that this is a sign of things to come for a number of rikishi whether they’re moving into places they haven’t been before on the banzuke or they’re attempting to reclaim ranks they previously had. One thing’s for sure. There won’t be a lot of “easy win” matches at the top of the banzuke next basho for anyone.
I agree. It feels like Teru’s absence lit a fire under a few butts. My fav Kirishima no longer has that deer in the headlights look on his face. While there were some really poor performances from top fighters, others really showed up this basho. Shodai should have allowed his supremely more capable twin brother finish the week; he’d at least have a kashikoshi.
Looking forward to predictions about who will be demoted/promoted since I can’t do the math. Also looking forward to hearing what happened to Kotozakura, Mitakeumi, Meisi…
I love how Ura set up the Darwin match between WTK and his fanboy Ichiyamamoto.
At least 4 Makuuchi openings: Terunofuji retirement + the 3 kyujo (Roga, Hokutofuji, Kitanowaka). Those should go to Sadanoumi, Ryuden, Shishi, and Aonishiki. Kayo and Asakoryu should be promoted with wins. Possibly also Shirokuma with a win to get to 9-6 at Juryo 4E. Plenty of candidates for the Juryo barge (in order of likelihood at this point): Kagayaki, Tamashoho, Tokihayate, Kotoshoho, Mitakeumi. At most 3 demotions; Mitakeumi is probably safe even with a loss.
5 Juryo openings: Bushozan, Shimazuumi, Daiamami, Daishoho, + Teru retirement. Moving up from Makushita: Wakanosho, Kazekeno, Kusano, Hitoshi. Will they promote Miyagi 4-3 at Ms4E? Otsuji (4-2 Ms5W) vs. Shimanoumi (2-12 J5E) seems to be an exchange bout. If Daiseizan (4-10 Ms9E) and Shimanoumi both lose will they demote Daiseizan instead of Shimanoumi? Could Ishizaki (6-1 Ms8W) get promoted? I’m hoping both Ishizaki brothers get promoted.
All will be clearer (or not) tomorrow.
If Shimanoumi goes down, I wonder if retirement will come soon.
Correction: Otsuji is fighting Shimazuumi. Shimanoumi is fighting Daishoho, who has looked even weaker. Good chance he’ll stay in Juryo, but I don’t know how much longer he’ll want to stick around (at 35).
Shimanoumi and Daiseizan are not going anywhere. Kusano isn’t a lock yet. Shimazuumi faces Otsuji, and Daiamami faces Wakanosho. Both incumbents win: Kusano replaces Shimazuumi. Both incumbents lose: Otsuji and Kusano replace them. Shimazuumi loses, Daiamami wins: Otsuji replaces Shimazuumi. Shimazuumi wins, Daiamami loses: Kusano and Miyagi replace them.
I’m not as confident that Shimanoumi is safe with 2 wins at Juryo 5. If he were to lose to Daishoho in his current form, that along with the math is reason enough for a demotion.
Hoshoryu just picked him up. That was impressive in strength as well as tactically brilliant as he pulled those little dainty ankles under his center of gravity and all of tekerufuji’s leverage was gone.
I don’t know anything about how yokozuna deliberations go, but with so maybe of these young fellas poised to move up, and Hoshoryu’s dominance (assuming he wins a playoff) coming when both other Ozeki put up no competition, seems like not enough to me. It’s such a different story line than battling kotozakura two basho in a row, with Onosato in the mix as spoiler (the storyline we thought we were getting before this basho). I think i like the idea of more hungry rikishi in March to battle against to prove one is a true grand champion
Oh, he’d certainly have earned the trip down; the issue is that there aren’t sufficient promotable records in Ms.
And he’s scraped by with demotable records before. Like how Kagayaki has lucked out a few times in Makuuchi.
Not gonna lie, I will barf if Kinbozan takes the yusho.
You might want to have a bucket handy or move your TV closer to the bathroom.
And he will have earned it, he fought hard and didn’t just benefit from one of tose situations where half the top fighters were out with injury.
Kinbozan earned his first seven wins against:
Kotoshoho (demotion possible)
Shonannoumi (barely KK up to now)
Kitanowaka (out for injury)
Tamashoho (demotion likely)
Nishikigi (7-7 for shonichi)
Kagayaki (demotion likely)
Tokihayate (demotion likely)
If he get‘s the yusho I will surely miss some glitter.
And yet, many people will probably spend the next two months fawning over the performance of “future yokozuna” Takerufuji again, who had the same type of schedule.
As a rookie, actually.
I meant his performance in this basho.
Obviously because of his rank. Compare is schedule difficulty with Abi’s yusho or Tokushoryu’s yusho.
I‘m OK with everyone‘s Yusho, just different emotions.
Unfortunately, you might be right Andy.
Question for you all: If by some miracle and by divine intervention on the part of the Sumo Gods, the Evil Nephew (Hoshoryu) takes the yusho in a 3-way playoff, is it enough for a Yokozuna promotion?
I’m thinking not but I’m ever hopeful.
I think there’s a good chance he will but it’s not a certainty. I read that it has been discussed by the shimpan committee and they’re not all sold.
I don’t feel he’s been authoritative for long enough…yet. He’s been an Ozeki for a while now as I mentioned the other day, but was coasting, or so it felt, until recently.
That’s my very personal opinion as both a relative newbie to sumo and a huge fan of Hoshoryu. Yes of course it would be completely fantastic if he were to become a Yokozuna, but not quite yet. I don’t think promotion now would do him any favours either.
What were they (Tobizaru, WTK, & Shodai) thinking?.. It is frustrating when good, healthy rikishi flub a match .. I liked Midorifuji’s plan .. mesmerize Shodai w repeated shoves/head butts as Shodai strolls forward into Midorifuji’s fav move .. Tobizaru, poised for kachi-koshi, pulls a henka .. give me a break .. WTK hardly contested Ura’s hands reaching for the belt .. Ura wasn’t going to whack him in the jaw ..
Hoshoryu’s quick hands captured my attention again .. his left hand first went for Takerufuji’s face (a feint?) .. then flipped under his arm .. then belt before Takerufuji could grab anything .. geeesh ..
Is it my imagination? .. Kinbozan seems to have a lot of loose mawashi matches .. Have to think it is an advantage in a belt battle .. Kirishima wrestled well .. Kinbozan was patient + used his size advantage well ..
I hope Oho forces a playoff .. Kinbozan wants it .. lets make it clear who the winner should be via a playoff ..
Papayasu looks to finish a basho healthy ! ..