Day Nine in Osaka brought win number nine for Kusano as he continues to roll in Juryo. Straight-forward gaburi-yotsu was too much Shimanoumi picked up his second loss so Kusano has a two-win lead over the field. Kusano will take on Shimanoumi tomorrow.
No news from the infirmary but as we noted yesterday, Nabatame is back and will fight our opener against Aonishiki. Make-koshi incoming. The NHK bout videos are here: Juryo, Makuuchi Part I and Part II. Or just bookmark this page. They’ve got bouts going back to May of last year…so almost a year worth of footage from Juryo and Makuuchi.
Makuuchi Action
Aonishiki (6-3) defeated Nabatame (Juryo 1-4-4). Aonishiki weathered Nabatame’s tsuppari and stayed upright for his slapdown attempts. Aonishiki eventually worked his way inside and got Nabatame’s belt and rather unceremoniously dumped him at the edge of the ring. Kirikaeshi.
Tokihayate (5-4) defeated Churanoumi (7-2). Solid tachiai. Early pull from Churanoumi put him at a disadvantage so he locked on to Tokihayate’s belt. Tokihayate grabbed Churanoumi’s belt and both tried to swing the other over the tawara. Churanoumi gambited with a trip attempt but that threw off his footing as Tokihayate pressed into him and ran him out of the dohyo. Yorikiri.
Ryuden (4-5) defeated Mitakeumi (4-5). Ryuden got his left hand inside grip early and as soon as he established that right hand over arm grip, Mitakeumi was toast. Ryuden corralled Mitakeumi at the edge and escorted him over the bales. Yorikiri.
Shishi (6-3) defeated Asakoryu (5-4). Shishi’s milk-maid tachiai is about timing. Asakoryu threw him off it for two matta. But when we finally got a good tachiai, Shishi got a right hand grip of Asakoryu, deep at the back of Asakoryu’s belt. Asakoryu tried to pull on Shishi’s arm for a kotenage but Shishi just rolled with it and pressed Asakoryu over the bales. Yorikiri.
Kotoshoho (4-5) defeated Onokatsu (5-4). Kotoshoho started his attack with tsuppari but quickly locked on with his left-hand inside. He tried to use his right hand ottsuke to get Onokatsu’s left hand off but that also helped drive Onokatsu back to the edge. Some gaburi hip action from Kotoshoho finished Onokatsu off at the edge. Yorikiri.
Sadanoumi (5-4) defeated Takarafuji (3-6). Takarafuji locked on with both hands inside and drove Sadanoumi back to the edge. At the bales, Sadanoumi turned the tables. Sadanoumi shifted to his left and rolled Takarafuji onto the dohyo by shoving forcefully at Takarafuji’s right shoulder. Tsukiotoshi.
Midorifuji (6-3) defeated Shirokuma (3-6). After a brief tsuppari brawl, Midorifuji snuck his left hand up under Shirokuma’s shoulder, then brought his right arm up to pull Shirokuma down. Katasukashi.
Oshoma (4-5) defeated Shonannoumi (1-8). Shonannoumi pulled and that allowed Oshoma to get low and press inside. Now standing rather upright, Shonannoumi had no recourse and Oshoma rode him out of town. Yorikiri.
Atamifuji (5-4) defeated Meisei (6-3). Meisei pulled and Atamifuji kept Meisei’s backward momentum going, forcing him back and over the edge. Yorikiri.
Endo (5-4) defeated Tamawashi (6-3). I think Tamawashi pissed Endo off with the brutal double nodowa. Endo dug deep with a determination I have not seen in years. He got a double inside grip and pressed into Tamawashi, forcing him to the bales. Tamawashi pivoted and Endo stuck with him, spinning around and twisting Tamawashi to the ground with his left arm. Sukuinage.
Hakuoho (6-3) defeated Shodai (3-6). Great tachiai from Hakuoho as he got low and drove Shodai back and out. Yorikiri.
Halftime
Takerufuji (7-2) defeated Nishikigi (1-8). The Kyokai is going to start selling Nishikigi cakes because fighting Nishikigi is a cake walk. Takarafuji ushered him over the bales today. Yorikiri.
Hiradoumi (5-4) defeated Takanosho (2-7). After a solid tachiai, Takanosho put his drive in gear and Hiradoumi slipped to the left and watched Takanosho roll on by. Hiradoumi slapped him down as Takanosho stumbled forward. Hatakikomi.
Tobizaru (3-6) defeated Wakamotoharu (5-4). Tobizaru shoved Wakamotoharu to the bales but WMH twisted and pulled Tobizaru down. Gunbai Tobizaru. Mono-ii. After a video review, the judges confirmed the ruling on the field. Tobizaru pushed Wakamotoharu out first. Yorikiri.
Wakatakakage (4-5) defeated Chiyoshoma (3-6). Wakatakakage forced Chiyoshoma to the edge and Chiyoshoma twisted WTK over. Both men tumbled down to the ground. Gunbai Wakatakakage. The judges determined both men fell at the same time and called for a rematch. In the rematch, Chiyoshoma tried to twist Wakatakakage down at the edge again but this time WTK’s footwork was solid and he forced Chiyoshoma to the ground. Yoritaoshi.
Sanyaku
Gonoyama (3-6) defeated Kirishima (4-5). Gonoyama chased Kirishima across the ring and shoved the former Ozeki out. Oshidashi.
Oho (4-5) defeated Kinbozan (4-5). Kinbozan started shoving Oho back but then Oho let loose with his own tsuppari. Oho timed his blast to coincide with Kinbozan’s right hand. Oho hit him from the side with the left and that was enough to throw Kinbozan off balance. Oho kept up the tsuppari and shoved Kinbozan from the ring. Oshidashi.
Daieisho (6-3) defeated Ura (3-6). Daieisho blasted Ura back to the bales with tsuppari. Ura loaded his spring-like legs with energy and got ready to unload. So, Daieisho stepped to the side and watched Ura roll across the dohyo. Tsukiotoshi.
Takayasu (8-1) defeated Kotozakura (5-4). Takayasu shouldered Kotozakura to the edge. Kotozakura tried to slap Takayasu down but stumbled as he tried to get around Takayasu to the left. I’m not convinced Takayasu’s hold on Kotozakura’s belt had much of an impact on this outcome. It looked like Kotozakura was just clumsy. What do you all think? Shitatedashinage.
Onosato (8-1) defeated Abi (4-5). Abi had a good hold of Onosato’s belt with his left and pulled, hard. Onosato hopped forward to keep his footing as Abi pulled him around the ring. After Abi dragged Onosato around the ring for a few laps, Onosato finally managed to square his body to Abi and drove him out of the ring. Yorikiri.
Ichiyamamoto (5-4) defeated Hoshoryu (5-4). Hoshoryu attacked as he must have planned. Hoshoryu slipped to the right and pulled Ichiyamamoto over, hoisting his leg to give help him tip Ichiyamamoto over. Ichiyamamoto hopped on his right leg, however, and kept his balance. He rotated the opposite way and put his weight into Hoshoryu, forcing Hoshoryu to the ground. Hoshoryu committed everything to that throw and Ichiyamamoto just played it perfectly. Sukuinage.
Wrap-up
Well. Let’s get this out of the way first. This is not the Yokozuna debut tournament Hoshoryu was likely after, giving up his third kinboshi. This time, he lost to Ichiyamamoto who was facing a Yokozuna for the first time in his career. The debate will surely continue to rage about whether Hoshoryu was promoted prematurely or not. Frankly, he has made it half-way through a tournament and that’s more than the previous office holder could manage.
Over the past two years Terunofuji survived to fight on nakabi only three times. Yes, he won each of those tournaments. But if you were quiet then, giving Terunofuji a pass with competing in 3 yusho races in 12 tries (or one in four tournaments), it’s plainly a much stricter standard to expect Hoshoryu to be in every yusho race. Some day we’re just going to have to get used to the fact that Hakuho is retired. Hoshoryu will fight Ura tomorrow.
Yusho Race:
- 8-1: Onosato, Takayasu
- 7-2: Takerufuji, Churanoumi
Takayasu’s charge continues as he picked up his kachi-koshi today against Kotozakura. Takayasu is looking great as he has not seemed wildly out of control in any bouts and usually firmly calm and collected. Kotozakura, on the other hand, is not making this easy on himself and will struggle to get his kachi-koshi with the meat of his schedule still to come. Tomorrow, he should be able to manage Ichiyamamoto.
Onosato’s win was a Great Escape as Abi was allowed to mount a strong attack. He’s stays in the lead but certainly appears vulnerable. Onosato will take on Takayasu in the bout of the tournament so far. One man will take the advantage into the closing stage of the tournament. Which will it be?
Churanoumi slipped up today and seems to be lucky to be in the leadership group and I think he will be likely to fade this week. He’s been fighting the dregs of the division after two poor tournaments. He will face Hakuoho tomorrow, who is really much closer to his level than folks like Mitakeumi, Takarafuji, and Aonishiki.
Takerufuji should advance easily against Shonannoumi tomorrow. But sometimes folks suddenly wake up, like Endo did today. But Endo needed to get that fifth win at some point, didn’t he? The big surprise of the tournament, for me, has been Midorifuji. He will face Shodai tomorrow. I think he’s an early favorite for a special prize and may find himself as a figure in the yusho race if he can keep it up.
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Midorifuji pulling down Takayasu to snatch the yusho on senshuraku is such a perfectly painful scenario that I can already see Takayasu’s sad face in my head. Dammit Andy, why did you have to spoil the plot of the whole tournament?!
It’s my calling to break all of the sumo news, spoilers be damned…even a week early.
In my opinion, Hoshoryu is the only Yokozuna material rikishi available right now.
I feel like that, because of his fighting techniques and the way he faces the rikishi with confident.
Unfortunately he is having a bad basho, and already have given 3 kinboshi.
But having a bad basho is common with other Yokozunas also.
Whenever they loose the bouts in first few days and feel like they are having a bad basho, they will go kyujo.
Hoshoryu also could have done the same, but again unfortunately he is having bad form, in his first basho as a Yokozuna and pulling out now doesn’t look good.
Yeah, I don’t think he should go kyujo, either.
He’s getting there though. From what I could see it’s been 25 years since a yokozuna has had as many as 7 losses in a basho. Hoshoryu loses 1 more and he’s at 5, then the loss for pulling out puts him at 6. He has to at least be thinking about it right now.
Match-up disputes are not uncommon. The commitee has to meet half way and mostly, decisions make sense. This time, however, I cannot understand Hoshoryu’s schedule. At the end of day 9, missing in Hoshoryu’s chart are 2 ozeki, 2 sekiwake and 1 komusubi. Why would they set him against makekoshi-bound Ura and not Takerufuji, a possible title contender?
Having mentioned Ura, I am struggling to comprehend his loss to Daieisho today. Watched it 10+ times and still it looks like a recreational somersault. “It happens” is the only way out. I am unable to be angry at Ura anyway.
At the moment, Hoshoryu might seem like a kinboshi dispenser. It’s not easy. Arguably, he is handling the pressure better than expected. One step at a time. He will get the eighth win, take a deep breath and see how he can improve. Too soon to lose confidence.
Meanwhile, Takayasu emphasizes experience in every bout. Yesterday, against Hoshoryu, unfamiliar viewer might have thought that Takayasu is the yokozuna out of the two. 8 times runner-up — first in 2013, thrice in 2018 (during his ozeki period), thrice in 2022, last in 2024. In the autumn of his career, he will probably not come this close to another yusho. I hope that it will not be a bridge too far.
It’s customary for the Yokozuna and Ozeki to face the other Ozeki/Yokozuna in the closing phase of the tournament. The idea is it would build up any high-ranked matchups for the final weekend, especially a deciding bout on Senshuraku.
The standard Yokozuna schedule pits the top guy against the lowest Komosubi on day 1. He then works down from the top of the Maegashira ranks to M4 or M5, depending on how many Sanyaku remain, and then up the Sanyaku ranks from K1e until the last day when, ideally, he faces the top ranked guy below him for the cup. Yokozuna and Ozeki are expected to be in contention and performing at high levels each Basho.
Rank and file guys who are in contention for the cup will change this as will poorly performing Sanyaku who will be bypassed for the best possible matchups to get a truly worthy Yusho winner.
Yup, while fans tend to over-analyze the matchups, those for the first ten days are pretty much scripted from the start of the basho (barring withdrawals, obviously), and for the upper ranks, and especially for the yokozuna, they’re more or less scripted for the entire basho, except when someone is doing terribly and/or they need to rotate in a lower-ranked yusho contender.
That said I can only shake my head when I see how they treat Takerufuji: though he‘s on the leaderboard he gets Nishikigi, then Shonannoumi and on day 11, when he should finally meet the joi, they give him Churanoumi instead. That bout should have happened yesterday or today.
Thank you all for the information.
They’re reluctant to pull guys up until they get their 8th win. He’ll probably get Onosato on day 12, unless they go with Kotozakura first.
I looked at the Takayasu bout five or six times and it was still hard to figure out what happened. I think you are right. It looked like Kotozakura was trying to change position, possibly expecting some resistance from Takayasu and simply lost his balance.
I didn’t think Onasato had a great escape from Abi, I thought he was in control the whole time. He had a right hand inside grip and was perfectly happy to trade dance steps with Abi until the positionng was right to convert it into a win. Takayasu will be a sterner test.
I’m not ready to bail on Hoshoryu yet. He’s the best rikishi technically He’s in a tricky spot just now confidence wise, and I hope he can get on top of it like he did the previous basho.
I have to agree with you about Endo, Andy. When was the last time we’ve seen Tamawashi get thrown and taken off of his feet?
If Kotozakura lost his balance, I’ll be worrying about his bad knee. It’s possible that Takayasu moved away from the spot Kotozakura expected him to be and that also contributed to the win. But, it was definitely odd and Takayasu didn’t make any large movements to show that he was on offense when the match ended.
I hope Takayasu can keep up his momentum. He has paid his dues over the decades and it’s a ripe time for him to rise to the top.
Milkmaid tachiai is a great description.
Currently, Hoshoryu can‘t use his right arm properly. There‘s no bandage, but a band-aid gives a hint that he needs injections to go on with fighting. When he had Ichiyamamoto‘s arm locked from above, I was expecting to see something like a kotenage, but the final power missed. It was Ichi‘s bad elbow, too, but obviously there‘s more strenght left in it than in the Yokununa‘s.
Tamawashi thrown down to the clay revealed his real age. He didn‘t like it.
Let’s remember, as well as his arm injury Hoshoryu’s training was also interrupted by a tummy bug, plus the myriad of celebrations and ceremonies. I don’t think any of us can really get our heads round what being a Yokozuna actually means, taking your opponents best attack and still winning. It must take a lot of adjustment. I think he may have to employ some of the less straightforward aspects of his compatriots sumo (I’m thinking of Harumafuji’s ‘weary warhorse’ face off.) He seems a bit too nice at the moment. But I don’t think he has any intention of being a useless Yokozuna and I am looking forward to his rivalry with Onosato.
If you watch Taka-Koto match closely, the whole point was on Takayasu left hand. He couldn’t get a left hand grip to block ozeki’s right hand grip.
Finally, Takayasu secured a firm grip on ozeki’s belt, and koto’s natural reaction is pressing down to prevent shitatenage. Takayasu timed perfectly that moment, to pull down with the grip. That was a picture perfect shitate-dashi-nage. Of course ozeki’s bum knee might contribute to the result, but that was a legit kimarite.
Ura’s head took a beating yesterday + was about to get another from Daieisho .. looked to me like he ducked today’s dose .. Amazes me how much of a beating he (+ other smaller rikishi) take while trying to get inside to grab a belt .. My analysis of KZK’s dive is a balky right knee .. torn cartilage will prompt reactions that can’t be helped .. Takayasu maneuvered to KZK’s right + eventually forced him to brace w that knee .. KZK’s right leg could not sustain a power move .. Abi had beaten Onasato three straight .. Why did he got away from his bread and butter moves ? .. Kirishima tried two times to grab Gonoyama’s belt .. missed both times ..+ left himself open .. Hoshoryu is such a great reactive wrestler .. Why has he out-thought himself? .. Why not use a strong solid tachiai + react? .. In golf they say “trust you swing” .. Hoshoryu should trust his sumo instincts/skills nobody can match him … i admire Midorifuji’s sumo .. but higher level rikishi know his style + avoid his traps .. Takerufuji is positioned well for a late basho run .. that black eye may be an omen ..