Day Five in Osaka. We have seen a lot of great sumo so far and some not-so-great sumo. Kadoban Kotozakura has not been inspiring anyone this basho. Thankfully, the bar he must meet is rather low. He has today and 10 more days to find six wins.

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

Makuuchi Action

Mitakeumi (3-2) defeated Kayo (Juryo 2-3). Some of the commenters picked up on the rather amusing, slapstick quality of some of the bouts. We opened today with a slapstick bout. Mainoumi said it was like they were dancing. Mitakeumi pressed forward and Kayo bounced backwards along the tawara for a complete revolution, trying to tip Mitakeumi over. Yorikiri.

Kotoshoho (3-2) defeated Tokihayate (3-2). Kotoshoho grabbed Tokihayate’s shimekomi with his right hand and swung him to the edge. It appeared Kotoshoho helped Tokihayate over the bales with a solid knee to the butt. Uwatenage.

Sadanoumi (2-3) defeated Shirokuma (1-4). Sadanoumi wrapped up Shirokuma with a morozashi. Sadanoumi may have been afraid of a kimedashi because Shirokuma started to press forward, so he quickly switched his right hand outside. When Shirokuma twisted Sadanoumi toward the bales, Sadanoumi slipped his leg around Shirokuma’s and, “Timber!!!” Shirokuma fell backward. Sotogake.

Churanoumi (4-1) defeated Asakoryu (3-2). Churanoumi slapped Asakoryu down. Though Asakoryu did not fall, he stumbled forward enough for Churanoumi to gain access to the back of his belt. Churanoumi followed up quickly by shoving Asakoryu out from behind. Okuridashi.

Ryuden (3-2) defeated Aonishiki (2-3). Ryuden did well against Aonishiki’s opening tsuppari. Aonishiki could not get any forward progress. As he tired, he got real low and seized Ryuden’s belt at the front. Ryuden did not have a belt grip but a hold of Aonishiki’s trunk with his right arm. He twisted and pulled Aonishiki forward with that right arm and rolled Aonishiki to the clay. Kainahineri.

Shishi (4-1) defeated Onokatsu (4-1). Onokatsu got a great belt grip but Shishi was just plain stronger. Shishi dragged Onokatsu to the edge and as Onokatsu hopped on one leg, trying to keep his balance, he hopped over the bales. Yorikiri.

Meisei (3-2) defeated Midorifuji (2-3). Meisei embraced Midorifuji tightly, left-hand inside. He began to drive Midorifuji to the edge so Midorifuji desperately tried to switch his grip but Meisei’s grip was solid and he forced Midorifuji over the edge. Yorikiri.

Shonannoumi (1-4) defeated Takarafuji (2-3). Shonannoumi pressed forward, forcing Takarafuji toward the bales with powerful shoves. Once he got Takarafuji to the edge, he switched to a slapdown strategy, pulling backwards and forcing Takarafuji to the ground. Hatakikomi.

Hakuoho (4-1) defeated Endo (4-1). Hakuoho ended Endo’s hopes of a zensho yusho. Endo grabbed Hakuoho’s belt with his right hand, twisted to that right and pulled backwards. Hakuoho just kept Endo centered and drove right over him, forcing Endo into a heap in the crowd. Yorikiri.

Atamifuji (3-2) defeated Nishikigi (0-5). Atamifuji’s footwork was too good at the edge. He pressed Nishikigi to the edge and as Nishikigi tried to escape to Atamifuji’s left, Atamifuji pursued and ushered Nishikigi over the bales. Oshidashi.

Oshoma (1-4) defeated Shodai (2-3). Shodai quickly forced Oshoma to the edge but Oshoma pulled Shodai’s left arm off his belt and hugged him with a right hand inside. With this new, superior position, inside and low, the entire bout changed. Then Oshoma charged ahead forward and forced Shodai back and out. Advancing sumo won. Yorikiri.

Halftime

Kinbozan (2-3) defeated Tamawashi (3-2). Kinbozan’s tsuppari is back. He blasted Tamawashi hard, forcing Tamawashi back and off the dohyo. Tsukidashi.

Takerufuji (3-2) defeated Ura (3-2). Ura slid backward to the bales as Takerufuji forced his way forward. One hard, well-timed blast from Takerufuji propelled poor Ura into the third row. Oshidashi.

Ichiyamamoto (3-2) defeated Hiradoumi (2-3). Ichiyamamoto caught Hiradoumi over-eager. As Hiradoumi drove forward, Ichiyamamoto slipped to the right and Hiradoumi fell forward. Hikiotoshi.

Takayasu (4-1) defeated Gonoyama (1-4). Just when I thought Gonoyama had control of his bout and was going to force Takayasu out, Takayasu slipped to his left and shoved Gonoyama down with his left arm at Gonoyama’s right shoulder. Hatakikomi.

Sanyaku

Wakatakakage (1-4) defeated Kirishima (3-2). Kirishima gambled with a slapdown attempt. He lost that bet. Wakatakakage charged forward quickly, resisted the slapdown and bulldozed Kirishima off the dohyo. WTK picked up his first win of the tournament. Yorikiri.

Oho (2-3) defeated Abi (3-2). Oho resisted a strong attack from Abi, punctuated by a fierce nodowa. Just when Abi worked Oho to the edge and thought he was going to win, Oho shifted to his right and forced Abi to the edge and over. Oshidashi.

Daieisho (3-2) defeated Wakamotoharu (3-2). Wakamotoharu withstood Daieisho’s torrent and did not fall for his early pull. But Daieisho slipped left and Wakamotoharu rolled along the floor to his right. Tsukiotoshi.

Takanosho (2-3) defeated Kotozakura (2-3). Well then. Kotozakura does not appear to be an Ozeki for much longer. Well, to be fair, Kotozakura does not appear to be an Ozeki now. Takanosho’s nodowa appeared to be the biggest offensive weapon deployed during this match. Kotozakura nearly caught Takanosho out by the edge but he could not follow up with a shove to finish Takanosho off. Instead, Takanosho seemed to wear him down and simply drove Kotozakura out. Oshidashi.

Onosato (4-1) defeated Tobizaru (1-4). Onosato plowed straight ahead and cast Tobizaru into the sea of brown vests. At least one Ozeki showed up this tournament. We’ll see if he wants a yusho. It doesn’t seem anybody else wants this title thing. Oshidashi.

Chiyoshoma (3-2) defeated Hoshoryu (3-2). HENKA! Chiyoshoma jumped right, seized Hoshoryu by the belt and dragged him forward to the bales. Hoshoryu slammed on the brakes, bracing at the bales. Chiyoshoma followed up with the biggest shoves of his life as Hoshoryu tried to escape left and right along the tawara. But Hoshoryu’s position was unrecoverable and Chiyoshoma forced him out. KINBOSHI #1. Chiyoshoma pulled out the long missing henka when it mattered most. He pulled it out against the Yokozuna. This is probably Chiyoshoma’s biggest win of his career. And so many will hate him for it. Yorikiri.

Wrap-up

Not the greatest day of sumo. Hoshoryu fell to a henka. Kotozakura just seems gone. Will we have yet another “former Ozeki” flailing around in the maegashira by year’s end? Kotozakura sure does not appear to be putting in the kind of sumo that will yield a second title. Shodai appears to be the bigger threat at the moment.

Thankfully Onosato is getting in his wins. But no one is left undefeated. Has anyone inspired you with their sumo this tournament? Seven guys are tied with one loss…six maegashira and Onosato. Who will rise to the top? Maybe the long-awaited Papa Bear Yusho? Frankly, everyone has looked a bit rusty. Maybe another low maegashira makes a run…Hakuoho or Churanoumi? I cannot see Endo, Onokatsu, or Shishi lasting with one loss for more than a few days.