Day Ten in Osaka. The big news is that Yokozuna Hoshoryu is kyujo. He is the first shin-Yokozuna to go kyujo in his debut in 39 years. Back in 1986, Futahaguro went kyujo. Comparisons between the two are irrelevant because Hoshoryu actually has titles to his name. It will be his first losing record since 2021. Ura will pick up the fusen win.
Nonetheless, some of you had called it in the comments, particularly Justme who postulated that despite no bandages, the band-aid was a sign of likely pain medicine injections. Tatsunami Oyakata revealed Hoshoryu had injured his right elbow at Hatsu Basho. He had thought he would be ready for Haru but apparently not. We hope he heals those injuries and comes back strong in May.
Down in Juryo, Kusano continues his charge though he was saved by the shimpan today. Kusano plowed forward but Shimanoumi slapped him down at the edge while stepping out. Gunbai Shimanoumi. The shimpan called a mono-ii and replay showed Shimanoumi stepped out before Kusano came down. Kusano moves to 10-0. With Hitoshi’s loss, Kusano is now three clear of the field.
Hokutofuji is not one of the chase group. Quite the opposite, he has a mere 3 wins and will fight Hatsuyama to stave off make-koshi.
Your NHK videos are here: Juryo, Makuuchi Part I & Part II.
Makuuchi Action
Tokihayate (6-4) defeated Fujiseiun (Juryo 6-4). Tokihayate grabbed Fujiseiun by the shoulders and pulled back, dragging Fujiseiun forward and thrusting him to the ground. Tsukiotoshi.
Aonishiki (7-3) defeated Kotoshoho (4-6). After a brief oshi brawl, Aonishiki grabbed Kotoshoho’s belt with his right hand and immediately yanked him forward to the ground. Uwatedashinage.
Sadanoumi (6-4) defeated Ryuden (4-6). Sadanoumi locked on with a morozashi, double-inside belt grip and heaved Ryuden over the bales. Both men tumbled down the dohyo. Shitatenage.
Shishi (7-3) defeated Mitakeumi (4-6). Mitakeumi drove Shishi toward the bales but Shishi was able to pivot the pair and press Mitakeumi up against the bales. Mitakeumi went inside to resist being pushed out and grabbed onto Shishi’s belt. This allowed Shishi access with his left hand and he immediately dragged Mitakeumi forward and rolled him to the floor. Uwatenage.
Asakoryu (6-4) defeated Takarafuji (3-7). Asakoryu shoved Takarafuji out behind the force of his nodowa. Takarafuji had some success shifting direction but could not follow up with an attack of his own. So Asakoryu re-engaged and shoved him out. Oshidashi.
Meisei (7-3) defeated Shirokuma (3-7). As Shirokuma drove forward, Meisei slipped left and dragged Shirokuma down by his right arm. Kotenage.
Churanoumi (8-2) defeated Hakuoho (6-4). Pull at your peril. After a brawl which bloodied Churanoumi, the two settled into a stalemate at the center of the ring. Churanoumi began charging forward so Hakuoho pulled…but could not slap down Churanoumi. Churanoumi kept Hakuoho centered and drove him off the dohyo. Oshidashi.
Onokatsu (6-4) defeated Atamifuji (5-5). After a lengthy tussle, Onokatsu acquired a double-inside hold and escorted a weary Atamifuji over the bales. Yorikiri.
Shodai (4-6) defeated Midorifuji (6-4). Shodai tried to heave Midorifuji out early but Midorifuji resisted at the bales and had the gall to go on the attack and try that katasukashi of his. After several attempts to grab Midorifuji and throw him out, Shodai had enough of this little guy and crushed him down to the floor in the middle of the dohyo. Makiotoshi.
Tamawashi (7-3) defeated Nishikigi (1-9). Nishikigi pivoted and thrust Tamawashi forward, stumbling to the edge. Just when it looked like Nishikigi might pick up another rare win, Tamawashi spun and forced Nishikigi out. Hatakikomi.
Oshoma (5-5) defeated Hiradoumi (5-5). After a few matta, Oshoma slipped left at the tachiai and slapped the hard-charging Hiradoumi to the floor at the tachiai. A decidedly less entertaining hatakikomi than the previous bout, it elicits a few groans but mostly silence from the assembled crowd.
Halftime
Takerufuji (8-2) defeated Shonannoumi (1-9). Shonannoumi tried to pull Takerufuji over to the side but Takerufuji had read the brief and new what to look for. He kept Shonannoumi centered and droe forward, forcing Shonannoumi back and out. Oshidashi.
Kinbozan (5-5) flattened Endo (5-5). I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone just completely bowled over like that at the tachiai, without kachi-age KO. Kinbozan’s two-arm thrust to the head lifted the poor kid off his feet and propelled him backward. Tsukiotoshi.
Tobizaru (4-6) defeated Chiyoshoma (3-7). If you watch Chiyoshoma’s tachiai here, this is how a henka-artiste defends against a henka. Nonetheless, Tobizaru went on the attack and forced Chiyoshoma from the ring. Chiyoshoma could not get inside to get at the belt. Oshidashi.
Wakatakakage (5-5) defeated Gonoyama (3-7). Wakatakakage got inside and seized Gonoyama’s belt with his left hand. Gonoyama’s “flight” reflex kicked in. He tried to get himself free and run away but Wakatakakage shoved him out from behind. Okuridashi.
Sanyaku
Takanosho (3-7) defeated Kirishima (4-6). Just when we are all wondering, “how is Takanosho consistently up here in the joi, or even sanyaku?” he pulls out a great oshi-tsuki display like today. Excellent footwork and steady oshi pressure forced Kirishima out. He just does not seem to have a reliable, “go-to,” secondary attack, no mis-direction or slapdown or yotsu game. Oshidashi.
Wakamotoharu (6-4) defeated Abi (4-6). Now, Abi’s got the tsuppari attack and the nodowa like Takanosho but he also has the hatakikomi attack. But Wakamotoharu was prepared for that today and stayed upright, forcing Abi from the dohyo. Oshidashi.
Daieisho (7-3) defeated Oho (4-6). One heck of a pusher-thruster bout. Oho seemed to have the advantage early but could not get Daieisho out. However, Oho soon tired. This was a stamina win for Daieisho. After a minute of blasting away and chasing Daieisho around the ring, Oho was gassed and fell to the easy thrustdown. Great bout. I look forward to more of this from both guys. Tsukiotoshi.
Ura (4-6) fusen against Hoshoryu (5-5-5).
Takayasu (9-1) defeated Onosato (8-2). Pull at your peril, I say! Onosato forced Takayasu back to the tawara behind his strong tsuppari. But he latched on with his right hand on Takayasu’s belt, pivoted, and pulled Takayasu. But Takayasu stayed up, moved with Onosato’s rotation, and forced the Ozeki from the ring. Both tumbled down in a heap, gunbai Takayasu. No mono-ii. Yorikiri.
Ichiyamamoto (6-4) defeated Kotozakura (5-5). Ichiyamamoto comes out and what does he do? He pulls; and he wins. He stood up Kotozakura at the tachiai with a brief shove, then rotated in the same direction Onosato had in the previous bout, and slapped Kotozakura down to the clay. The key here is that wrap around Kotozakura’s knee. He cannot survive the pivot left. Ichiyamamoto played it well. Hatakikomi.
Wrap-up
Takayasu leads with one loss. The “adult in the room” was put to bed by Papa-yasu. Onosato falls into the chase group with Takerufuji and Churanoumi.
- 9-1: Takayasu
- 8-2: Onosato, Takerufuji, Churanoumi.
Takayasu will fight Kirishima tomorrow. Onosato will face Ura. Schedulers pit Takerufuji against Churanoumi. “We’re only going to put up with one of you guys challenging for the yusho.”
Kotozakura still has a struggle on his hands to save himself from demotion. He needs three wins in the final five days or Onosato will be alone at the rank in May.
Yes, pulls work…sometimes. Actually, they work quite a bit. But when they work, they usually work quickly, within a step or two backwards. In cases like today’s Onosato-Takayasu bout, Onosato cut off half of the ring by pivoting so hard. If Takayasu stayed with him, he had no where to go but out. And that’s where he went. I guess my frustration with the pull isn’t the pull itself, it’s the overcommittment. Frequently, it will be akin to tipping your king or going “all-in” with rags.
Onosato’s forward sumo forced Takayasu to the edge. Why give up on it? If you reach in for the belt, rather than pull, use gaburi-yotsu and force Takayasu over the edge. Don’t cede the winning position! In keiko, you spend the entire time learning how to move forward, perfecting how to move forward. Sure, there’s some lateral movement in there but no one’s doing suriashi backwards! You’re not rabbits. You can’t see behind you! You can’t see how much room you have or where those tawara are as it closes in on you! You’re Phoenixes and Eagles and Tigers and Lions and Flying Monkeys. Birds and Beasts of Prey. Attack! GAH!
Alright, that’s my rant. Feel free to argue with me in the comments about how pulling is the greatest tactic, ever and how you will now have posters of Ichiyamamoto on your walls.
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I haven’t watched the highlights yet, just a quick glance at the results to see what was what. More fool me as I misread the fusen as being FOR Hoshoryu rather than against him. I blame the lack of coffee for my inability to distinguish between a black square and a white square. I am disappointed on his behalf; I am sure that’s NOT the way he wanted this to go. Reading your commentary Andy, is as good as watching it, and provides me with more insight when I get to watch the highlights later on, pointing out things to look for that I would otherwise miss and so on. Thank you.
Oh my though, Takayasu beat Onosato! Great written description, and yes, why did Onosato give up on the forward momentum if he was that close to the bales? There feels as if there has been quite a lot of reversals of fortune at the tawara this basho. The rant? What rant? Surely it was merely a mild observation on a rikishi’s mad ability to cede a winning position.
Still, 5 days left.
To paraphrase a very old TV show “anything could happen in the next 5 days”.
(for those enquiring minds who don’t know, the TV show was ‘Stingray’; my brother loved that show)
Takayasu second week meltdown in 3…2…1…
In all fairness though, I do wish he finally got his silverware.
SHHHHHH!!!!!
DIdn’t he used to say he wouldn’t get married til he won a yusho? And isn’t he married now? So I am hoping the pressure is off and he sails on!
Not only married but with child (born shortly before the previous time he almost won).
From now on, Takayasu will fight downhill battles against lower ranking rikishi
I really hope he doesn’t screw this one, which is probably his last chance of winning a yusho.
And so veteran Rebel pilot Takayasu banks his X-Wing (customized cockpit) down toward the great battle station for one more attack run. Now, having penetrated the outer defenses, he still faces the fearsome trench, bristling with laser towers and TIE fighters. His ultimate target: a silver cup weighing less than 30 kg. Will his proton torpedo detonate on the surface yet again, or will he at long last finally bullseye that womp rat?
There were reports hinting on Hoshoryu’s injury, but his record of training bouts was quite impressive. Unfortunate, if loss of confidence contributed to his withdrawal as well.
Question for experienced viewers, on Hoshoryu’s elbow: Is he partly responsible for the injury himself by favouring twist-and-throw techniques, which build up pressure on elbows over time? In comparison, randomly, could Abi’s somewhat tricky tactics be regarded a way to protect himself from serious injury? (Comparison of absent days might be misleading.)
I think that guys who like throws do tend to have elbow issues. Harumafuji comes to mind and the way he would sometimes grimace and favor his elbow after a throw. He would go kyujo, too. Another reason Hakuho’s durability was astonishing. I think specialists of any technique tend to get the same injuries…Tochinoshin’s knees, for example, similar to Kotoshogiku. Hakuho could beat you in so many different ways.
Happy Midorifuji. Not only do his opponents keep falling to his katasukashi, but the technique seems pretty easy on his body as well.
Abi has also had issues with his elbow, I believe he even needed surgery, so the way he fights does not protect against that…
Ha ha, joke’s on you! We already have Ichi posters on our walls!
I knew it! 😂
Takayasu has a chance and I’d love to see him succeed, he’s definitely put in the effort over the decades.
Dang, Ryuden earned some air miles today! Two days in a row with a quality throw. No complaints here.
Unless something changes, I suspect Mitakeumi and his “Don’t you know who I am?!” post-match attitude will be going intai after punching a ticket to Juryo. If he can’t mentally handle losing to the current rikishi in the top division there’s no way he’ll manage that in a lower division.
Tamawashi showed today why he’s still mounting the dohyo. Always have a plan in your back pocket in case an opportunity to win arises.
I hope Churanoumi continues his good form and wins a special prize. He’s done a fantastic job this basho so far.
I think the only reason Oshoma was given a hatakikomi was because his hand ended up on his opponent’s back once he stopped moving. Ye Gods, Hiradoumi lost to a gust of wind.
Kirishima and Abi lost when they started tap dancing. It wouldn’t surprise me if their opponents attempt to get them to do that more often.
Fantastic stuff from Daiesho and Oho. This kind of bout makes me sad that someone has to lose.
Holy crow, Takayasu! Hoshoryu going kyujo is a biiiiiiig thing now. It’s all on your shoulders, Papa Bear.
Woe to anyone that underestimates Ichiyamamoto these days. He’s establishing himself in the Joi and might even end up in Sanyaku in the next basho.
Kotozakura is down, but not officially out yet. He’s definitely made things harder for himself, though.
I still struggle with why the rikishis below yokozuna get punished so severely for being injured and plummet down the banzuke.
Q: Any yokozuna who have never gone kyujo?
If you’re the starting QB for the Patriots and you get injured, there’s a backup ready and wanting to take your place. In sumo, there’s 500 guys fighting for that position. If you held spots for our favorites, it would kill the opportunities for the 500 guys who think they can get there. Tom Brady took Drew Bledsoe’s job and never looked back. It’s cut throat but it makes sense (to me, at least).
When Drew Bledsoe returned from injury, he was immediately an NFL starting quarterback. And he got the same pay injured or healthy.
And to me that’s completely bass-ackwards. Was that fair to Brady? “QB controversy” is a thing. “Oh, let’s let the old guy try to get back into it. Meanwhile, we might have the GOAT on the bench.” The way baseball may send guys down to the minors seems to make so much more sense. I mean, iirc, NFL defenses didn’t take it lightly on Bledsoe on his return.
They tried the other way. It was called “Kōshō seido” — “Public Injury System” — and it gave an injured rikishi a one basho grace period. It was in place from 1972 to 2003 when it was abolished because the sumo elders thought too many wrestlers were missing tournaments with minor injuries.
I feel like there ought to be some happy medium between the old system and the current unforgiving regime but I’m not sure what it would look like.
I didn’t know that! Thanks for the information. I think the current way is better
Endo look like he got his head compressed into his neck quite a bit during the tachiai, causing his immediate collapse. Wouldn’t be surprised if he withdraws from tomorrow. Speaking of necks, Takarafuji got attacked there today. I – and Murray Johnson – thought that was nigh impossible!
But on a positive note, the crowd was suitably appreciative of Takayasu’s win. I think they know the gravity of what they witnessed today. But if Takayasu can stay healthy, I see Takerufuji as the main threat among the chasers. And could Shodai play spoiler to all this? Takayasu is 9-19 against him.
And it seems they do everything do keep Takerufuji in that yusho race. While Takayasu fought the Ozeki, the March title defender had two walks in the park against Nishikigi and Shonannoumi, the two rikishi with the worst record in the whole Makuuchi.
And though there are only two ranks between them, Ura is the best ranked fighter Takerufuji will have met until day 12 and at the same time the lowest Takayasu will have dealt with!
Whilst i understand the sentimentality of a takayasu yusho, i dont follow the hype i am seeing around him winning. I think it only shows that the top echelon of rikishi are not yet to the standard they need to be and we are in for a continuation of the random maegashira yusho situation for a while yet, if takayasu wins then good for him but i would rather see the likes of Takerufuji and onosato battling it out at the end, takayasu had his chance over the last decade. i want to see the new generation rise to the occasion.
Nishikigi, I am concerned. Both his legs from feet up look suffering from red rash. Hoping he does not have blood poisoning or sepsis. I think he needs to be under medical attention urgently to rule this out…. Thinking this could be contributing to his terrible record this basho… 😯
My boy Oho was very careful not to move forward recklessly upon gaining advantage over Daieisho and thereby become vulnerable to slap down; today he learned that being too cautious empties one’s gas tank and makes one vulnerable to slap down. To round out his game he has to learn to aggress carefully and also build endurance.
He has learned the game slowly but steadily so I’m keeping the faith.
Shin-Yokozuna kyujo. Yes, a little bit shocking and without precedence, but there‘s a first time for everything. Odaijini, Hoshoryu!
Meanwhile there was this Daieisho-Oho-Bout. Un-be-lievable! I think Daieisho found a good way to evade Oho‘s headbutts. Still can‘t look at that…
Onosato got lost from the dohyo, circlecrossing the tawara circle line. Next time straight ahead again, I propose.
Without precedence????
Futahaguro was the previous shin yokozuna to go kyujo in 1986. Before him it was Chiyonofuji in 1981. It has taken a long time for this to happen again but it definitely has happened before.
Ah, the wolf himself! I think it had better been without precedence. Sorry for the massive confusion I’ve caused :)
Guess who else went kyujo as a shin-yokozuna: none other than Chiyonofuji.
I’m sure Murray Johnson mentioned this week (in response to someone doing a 360 dancing back along the tawara) that they do actually do suriashi going backwards!
Great comment. I will have to look into it. I want to see this. I’ve seen them do it laterally but not backwards.
I am fairly certain I’ve seen Meisei doing reverse suriashi with ankle weights across the camera path during junior training on the Tatsunami-beya YT channel.
Meisei is like the Energizer Bunny on that channel. Always passing by in the foreground burdened with sort of weights.
@Andy,
It’s a kendo technique, going in both directions.
I don’t know much about kendo, so forgive me if these are dumb questions. But is there a ring/dohyo in kendo? Can you step out of bounds? Are there tawara?
Chiyonofuji dislocated his shoulder during his first Basho as Grand Champion, he had the same injury like 6 different times. As mentioned in the comments above, lighter rikishi who rely on kage (throwing) kimarite have some propensity to injure their arms and shoulders. That being said, I would like to believe that Hoshoryu is a lot more like Chiyonofuji than Futahaguro, the careers of Hoshoryu and Chiyonofuji up to Yokozuna promotion are actually a good comparison. Hosh is bigger, maybe not quite as dynamic, but still very much a dynamo on the dohyo. This isn’t a tragedy, Hoshoryu will be back and likely throwing people all over the place in May.
Excellent point. Time will tell but he already has titles which Futahaguro did not. If he keeps himself from being expelled from the Association, he will deserve to never be mentioned in the same sentence as Futahaguro.
U made me wonder what was so bad about Futahaguro. It turns out he was a bully. And after a heated discussion about it „His stablemaster handed in Futahaguro’s retirement papers without consulting him and the elders of the Sumo Association voted, without giving Futahaguro a hearing, to accept it“ (Wikipedia).
Would it still be possible today that, say, former Kisenosato had Onosato retired against the rikishi‘s wishes?
And if the outcome of this basho is Takayasu getting the cup, who wouldn’t be happy about that? He’s had a great career and this would be the proverbial cherry on top.
I’m just as hopeful. I got back into sumo last year, thanks to the YT algorithm. Hoshoryu got me hooked. When I started watching older sumo vids, Chiyonofuji stood out to me as having a similar intensity on the dohyo and, man, did he battle through some rough times (professional & personal)…and peaked in his 30s! I’m down with that comparison.