Wakaikari put the pressure on Kusano with a twisting escape on the edge, a sukuinage defeat of Daiamami. Kusano lived up to the pressure and easily dispatched Tsurugisho by grabbing his belt with his left hand and sliding around, attacking from Tsurugisho’s right side. This is called, “doing him dirty” because of that telling mummy wrap on his left knee. There’s no way Tsurugisho could resist by bracing with that left leg. Tsurugisho did what he could do, shuffle left and try not to fall over. Yorikiri.
There were some interesting decisions with the sansho (Special Prizes). No one will receive the outstanding performance prize. Sadanoumi was given a Fighting Spirit Prize, his third, unconditionally. Aonishiki and Asakoryu were given opportunities to win if one depending on winning their bouts today. Lastly, Kirishima and Wakatakakage were both given technique prizes, Kirishima’s fourth and Wakatakakage’s sixth.
Your NHK videos are here: Juryo, Makuuchi Part I and Part II.
Makuuchi Action
Roga (9-6) defeated Kotoshoho (6-4-5). Roga’s steady gaburi yotsu forced Kotoshoho to the edge. Kotoshoho resisted but Roga kept chugging until Kotoshoho went over the edge. Yorikiri.
Atamifuji (8-7) defeated Nishikigi (6-9). Nishikigi did not want Atamifuji on his belt. Atamifuji had his right hand around Nishikigi’s trunk but when he tried to switch to the belt, Nishikigi squeezed hard to prevent it. Atamifuji tried chugging forward but Nishikigi’s weight kept Atamifuji from making progress. So, Atamifuji pulled on Nishikigi’s right arm and slapped him down. Kotenage.
Tochitaikai (4-11) defeated Shishi (4-11). As Shishi lumbered forward, Tochitaikai slipped to the right and followed up with a shove from the side to force Shishi out. Will this defeat pull Shishi down into Juryo? Oshidashi.
Endo (9-6) defeated Asakoryu (10-5). Endo spoiled Asakoryu’s party. Asakoryu tried a kotenage with Endo’s left hand. That failed and gave Endo enviable position with Asakoryu backed to the bales. Endo pressed forward and forced Asakoryu over before Asakoryu could slap him down. Yorikiri.
Shodai (6-9) defeated Shonannoumi (5-10). Shodai somehow spun Shonannoumi around at the edge and forced him over the bales before falling over. Yorikiri.
Midorifuji (6-9) defeated Tamashoho (4-11). Much of this bout was a tsuppari brawl which could have gone either way. Tamashoho abandoned his tsuppari to reach in for Midorifuji’s belt. While Tamashoho reached with his left, Midorifuji twisted clockwise, forcing Tamashoho into over extending, and pulled Tamashoho down with a lightning quick uwatedashinage.
Aonishiki (11-4) defeated Sadanoumi (10-5). Aonishiki earned his second special prize by locking in quickly with his left hand inside, then pulling Sadanoumi down. Shitatenage.
Kinbozan (10-5) defeated Kayo (7-8). Kinbozan chased Kayo around the ring as Kayo tried to pull on Kinbozan’s right arm. Eventually, Kinbozan cornered Kayo and shoved him over the edge. Tsukidashi.
Onokatsu (10-5) defeated Meisei (9-6). Meisei blitzed Onokatsu but Onokatsu stood him up at the edge. Meisei drove forward, tried to trip him, and then put his engines in reverse for a pull down. This was a BAD idea as Onokatsu chased him and drove him to the ground, roughly, for causing his nose bleed. Yoritaoshi.
Churanoumi (4-11) defeated Ryuden (5-10). After the two exchanged some tsuppari, Churanoumi grabbed Ryuden’s belt with his right hand and drove his head into Ryuden’s chin and left shoulder, forcing him backward to the bales. Ryuden dug in with his toes to resist at the bales, a maneuver that always makes me cringe and get flashbacks to Ikioi/Kizakiumi. Ryuden tumbled backwards under the crushing weight of Churanoumi. For a video of Kizakiumi destroying the current Yokozuna, check out this post. You don’t have to read my rants if you don’t want to but watch the video, closely. Kizakiumi was a promising university talent with family connections in the sumo world. Unfortunately, he did one of these resist-at-all-costs things at the edge and it cost him all the sumo things. A few painful makekoshi later, he had retired with a chronic neck injury. What’s really twisted? Look really closely at Churanoumi, from Kizaki in Okinawa. “Holup, Andy.” Looks familiar, right? Brothers. Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo-doo. Twightlight Zone stuff for you here at Tachiai. Ryuden. When Churanoumi offers his hand because he nearly crushed you, take it, jackass. Yoritaoshi.
Tokihayate (8-7) defeated Hakuoho (8-7). Quick as lightning, Tokihayate picked up a listless Hakuoho and drove forward over the bales. Yorikiri.
Halftime
Ura (5-10) defeated Takanosho (8-7). Ura charged forward and Taka tried a hasty slapdown…but he was already on his way out. Oshidashi.
Tamawashi (6-9) defeated Hiradoumi (6-9). Tamawashi grabbed Hiradoumi’s head, twisted and slammed him to the ground. Diabolical dismantling at the center of the ring. Wow. Oshitaoshi.
Takerufuji (6-9) defeated Gonoyama (4-11). Takerufuji got a quick grip of Gonoyama’s belt, pivoted, and pulled him down. Uwatenage.
Oshoma (10-5) defeated Abi (7-8). Oshoma-subi? Jeez, this next banzuke’s going to be a mess. Oshoma grabbed Abi’s arm and swung him to the edge. That pissed Abi off and he drove into Oshoma, forcing him to the opposite side of the ring. Somehow Oshoma resisted, kept his foot from going over the tawara, got behind Abi and pushed him out from the back. Okuridashi.
Oho (7-8) defeated Chiyoshoma (4-11). Oho moved forward behind strong tsuppari, perhaps given an extra boost, pissed off from Chiyoshoma’s slapping and clawing. Oshidashi.
Wakamotoharu (7-8) defeated Ichiyamamoto (5-10). Ichiyamamoto went for the belt today, rather than his regular oshi. Ichiyamamoto was holding onto his finger as he left the dohyo. I do not think I want to see the replay of what happened to it. Katasukashi.
Sanyaku
Wakatakakage defeated Tobizaru. WTK’s arms enveloped Tobizaru, not letting him fly around the ring. Instead, he charged forward and gently dropped him over the side. Wakataka-wake. Yorikiri.
Takayasu (6-9) defeated Kirishima (11-3). Kirishima tried to bat Takayasu’s tsuppari away. He nearly backed out of the dohyo but rotated in time. Kirishima tried to press forward and get some space from the bales but Takayasu slapped him down. Hatakikomi.
Daieisho (10-5) defeated Kotozakura (8-7). Bam, Bam, Bam. Daieisho’s tsuppari immediately forced Kotozakura into reverse. “Forced? Andy, Kotozakura was going to back up, anyway.” Okay, yeah, well…he forced him back faster than he otherwise would have gone and shoved him over the edge before he could try any tricks. 1, 2, 3. Tsukidashi.
Amazing. When the announcer said Onosato’s name, a huge roar erupted from the crowd. The guys just got up there. They’re still doing shiko.
Hoshoryu (12-3) defeated Onosato (14-1). Onosato charged forward, shoving the Yokozuna’s head back. Hoshoryu was in trouble but he adjusted really well. He slipped out to his right and grabbed for Onosato’s belt. As Onosato extended to keep up his attack and to try to get that right hand grip, Hoshoryu reversed and twisted him to the ground. Uwatehineri.
Wrap-up
A rivalry has begun. Hoshoryu strutted away with a massive stack of envelopes, denying Onosato from sealing a zensho-yusho. Nevertheless, Onosato will be the 75th Yokozuna. Keep your eyes open for the official announcement this week, along with word of Juryo promotions.
“Andy, don’t remind me about the banzuke.”
I know, I know, it’s going to be torture this time. But fun torture. Hopefully the fun torture is accompanied by relief from the not-so-fun torture Miyagino-beya is being put through. There’s no jungyo but still plenty of upcoming news to stay alert for as we shift to Nagoya.
When you’re in the sport this deep, you get used to it. I don’t even see the code. All I see is, blond, brunette, redhead…the occasional goth or “loli” in the crowd…It’s beautiful. But for some reason, she’s watching the sport through the screen on her camera phone instead of just watching the action 10 feet from her.
Congratulations to Onosato for winning his fourth yusho. Congratulations to Kusano, Otsuji, Hatooka, Mineyaiba, and Kazuma for their yusho, as well as to Sadanoumi, Aonishiki, Kirishima, and Wakatakakage for their special prizes.
This was one hell of a tournament, truly historic. This will be one of those that we remember for quite a while. I can’t wait to do it all again in a couple of months!
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Onosato looked really nervous before Hoshoryu. I don’t like Hoshoryu as Yokozuna, and I am happy we have a great and worthy yokozuna in Onosato coming, but Hoshoryu did an excellent job in humbling Onosato, telling him basically that you are never at the top, there is always more to strive for. Great basho, hope to see Hoshoryu rising even more and proving the doubters like me wrong. The race is on for the next Ozeki!
Dear Andy, many thanks for providing me and all Tachiai readers with history again! Great day for Ounosato, nice outcome for Hoshoryu. That kensho moment :-)
Thank you lksumo, too, for your additional covering! It was fun to read everything and the comments day by day, thank you everyone!
I think Hoshoryu proved himself worthy of Yokozuna. As worthy as Onosato? Maybe not, but not every Yokozuna can break records. He did beat the talented 400 pounder. It’s good to have two Yokozuna so they can still cover the ceremonial duties if one of them is injured. That’s part of what audiences come to see during the tours, with the Sumo usually not being 100% of what it is during formal competitions. And thank you Andy. I’m not a seasoned Sumo fan but I’m much further towards that than I would be without dedicated folks like you working for the love of the game.
I LOVE that Hoshoryu won that match, just as I’m thrilled that Onosato will be the next yokozuna. I’m already seeing echoes of Hakuho-Harumafuji – portending good things for the future of the sport. This is going to be really fun.
Great basho by both Yokozuna! A pity the old one had that false start with two kinboshi; I would have loved to see a playoff between him and the new one. As Hoshoryu is dominating their head-to-head he would have been the favorite and Onosato would still have got the rope. Well, U can’t have everything and it still was a fantastic basho.
Best result ever! In my opinion of course 😀 This is what I wanted to happen but didn’t dare voice it in case. I know Hoshoryu has ‘some’ seasoning still to happen but what was he supposed to do, turn down the promotion? After that early wobble, he got his head in the game.. Now we have two Yokozuna, and other talented youngsters nipping at THEIR heels. Great for the sport.
Awesome basho, and a massive thank you Andy, Iksumo, and everyone who comments.
I might quietly, and to myself, have a go at banzuke guessing this time. 🤔
That’s true, it’s not Hoshoryu we should criticise for his being promoted. I’d like to see Ozeki candidates post 13 or higher wins in their Yokozuna run. 12 or 13 wins is not dominating enough, especially if the quality of the first division group is not at the high level it could be. I always think that a Yokozuna slot should be FORCED open, not an uhm-uh-well-maybe scenario.
Banzuke guessing is frustrating, but fun – I don’t know who the two komusubi are going to be? I tentatively have Oshoma and Aonishiki, though it feels strange. Waka-Muscle must receive sekiwake (S2E?) with his better-than 11 wins (and prize I think) at K. M1 to M3 is a puzzle to solve, but I just know that the current 7-8 record guys need to be demoted, even if by half a rank.
Hmm, I don’t understand why Komusubi can receive prizes? Feels wrong, just like rewarding them with a kinboshi.
Hakuoho is an interesting situation – is he being punished for being in the Miyagino stable? His second week was exceedingly tough compared to fellow young gun Aonishiki. I let Hakuoho 8-7 climb two ranks in my banzuke to reward him for his tough schedule, I wonder if the sumo council will feel the same way.
Also how is preference given in rewarding ranks, in my head I always believe the higher ranker should be favoured. E.g. 6-9 M6 should be higher ranked than a 9-6 M12.
Another great basho by Aonishiki though he lost against three Sanyaku rikishi. Next time he will probably be a Komusubi and will certainly have to fight all the top dogs. But I am optimistic that he will adapt to that challenge, too.
Only Hakuho had one win more than the Ukrainian after two basho in Makuuchi and a certain Onosato like him had 22. He also was K1w in the next tournament.
https://sumodb.sumogames.de/Query.aspx?show_form=0&show_total=on&sum_wins=16&sum_range=2&form1_year=%3E1956&form1_m=on&form1_debutd=on&form2_m=on&sort_by=sum_total
And by ‘this is what I wanted to happen’ I meant today’s result. I.e. Hoshoryu winning. As herbern said, shame about those early kinboshi, a play-off would have been epic!
Onosato won, deservingly and will get the rope. Yet, He did not beat the Final Boss. Hoshoryu is not as obviously physically gifted as the Big Sumo Prince but He managed to deliver! Also, He is on a similar pattern as a certain Chiyonofuji: out the first basho and 12 the second (winning, I know…) Hoshoryu did not ask to be promoted this soon, but nearly everyone expected Him to be at some point. Give Him one year to settle at the rank and perhaps Onosato physical advantage will not matter that much! Other than that, super happy for sekiwakatake Aonishiki and Kusano! Just hope the new hotness will get the chance to enter the first division under Hakuho’s Miyagino’s banner. Thanks to you all Tachiai team!
Great to see a Yokosuna rivalry, specially since both are young
for me the most interesting bankuke question is who gets the Komosubi slots?
Maegashira 6 Oshoma is clearly the 1st option as there is nobody else with winning records from Maegashira 1 to 5
but for the second slot we have Maegashiras 8 Kinbozan and Onokatsu, both at 10-5, so who gets it and who doesn’t?
other options would be Maegashira 9 Aonishiki at 11-4 and that is who I would promote
then we also have Maegashira 7 Hakuoho but with too low a score at 8-7
Great basho, great new Yokozuna and very humble of him, to let the incubent Yokozuna have one last win in their head to head ;-)
I think the Promotion/demotion picture is surprisngly clear cut this time. Wakanosho, Mudoho and Myonokaze will leave Juryo to make room for Otsuji, Kotokuzan and Kyokukaiyu. There is a slight chance that myonakaze remains at the cost of Kzokukaiya, but since he lost an exchange bout to Kotokuzan on senshuraku, I think he will go down.
Kusano, Mitakeumi, Hidenoumi and Wakaikari will go up, trading places with Tochitaikai, Tamashoho, Shonannoumi and Ryuden. The is a slight chance of Nishikigi trading places with Kotoeiho, but I think that one will go in favor of Nishikigi.
Shishi should be completely due to a lack of promotion candidates. Tomokaze would be next with 10wins from J7E.
There is historical evidence of guys getting promoted to K from M8 with 10 wins and M9 with 11, so I doubt they will do any funy business about Takayasu, which should make the komusubi promotions also straight forward. Oshouma should go to K1e and in all likelihood Aonishiki to K1w as Wakatakakage will force an extra Sekiwake slot.
I lovbe Papabear, but really dissapointed by Kirishima today. He is still on a hypothetical Ozeki run now, but the odds are even more stacked against hom now.
Sadanoumi‘s sensho was unconditional while Aonishiki needed another win for it? Strange.
Rather than to Sadanoumi I had given a prize to Kinbozan; he also had 10 wins and most of all he was able to square the circle by „cornering“ his foe on the dohyo…
Sadanoumi’s unconditional and Aonishiki’s conditional were probably rank related?Lower ranked guy needed only 10 wins, higher rank needed 11. Kinbozan would have had to have 11, just like Aonishiki, due to his rank.
Thanks to Andy, Iksumo for the coverage.
Hoshoryu’s win on the final day clearly marks “the beginning of a beautiful friendship”.
Congratulations to all special prize winners.
I’m not that interested in matters of promotion, demotion. Apparently, it’s difficult to maintain consistency on any rank. As a clear example, 12 out of 14 wrestlers in M1-M7 had makekoshi in this tournament, 5 of them tallying losses in double digits.
Looking forward for the exploits of what I might call “the wild bunch” –Hakuoho, Onokatsu, Asakoryu, Aonishiki, Kusano. Several others who have previously proven that they are capable to do better –including Hiradoumi, Churanoumi, Gonoyama. Hurra for Midorifuji’s second week, albeit against weak opponents. Even Shodai and Shonannoumi showed signs of life in the closing stage, but not Kotozakura.
Anyway, there have been plenty of memorable moments, primarily provided by Aonishiki, Kirishima, Sadanoumi. A major candidate for the cherry on top would be yet another tsutaezori win of Ura over Takayasu –hail to the irresistible charm of the Pink Panda.
I have Ōshōma and Aonishiki at Komusubi, with Wakamotoharu and Ōhō holding on at Maegashira 1.
And on what grounds should they overtake Takayasu?
Sorry, U are right, though they only have one win more than Takayasu it will be enough to be ranked before him. I only noticed when I began my GTB.
Wins are sometimes deceiving.
It’s Wins minus Losses, so Takayasu is -3 whereas WMH, Oho & Abi are -1.
According to bansuke math: Oshoma > Aonishiki = Wakamotoharu > Oho > Takayasu = Abi = Onokatsu
Andy, great coverage as always and I agree 100% on the 2020 post which I’d never seen before. I always wonder what the people in the front rows think is so funny about someone violently crashing out of the ring onto a hard floor.