As I mentioned in my Preview post, we have three sekitori who will be kyujo this tournament: Daieisho, Endo, and Nabatame. We will be on retirement watch with Endo as he has gone under the knife. I’m not sure why they seem to think he will try to come back for September but maybe there’s a goal of making the trip to London? Maybe with a bionic knee? Let’s not be crazy here. I agree with Leonid and folks in my preview post that it’s more likely that he has an extended absence and retires than miraculously shows up in September.
Down in Juryo, Mita had his first bout after going kyujo on Day 13 in May. He dominated veteran Shimanoumi with a oshidashi win.
NHK Videos are available here: Juryo, Makuuchi Part I & Part II.
Makuuchi Action
Shishi defeated Kotoeiho. Shishi seized Kotoeiho’s belt and yanked him over for a spectacular throw. At the same time, Kotoeiho was charging forward into Shishi, forcing him to the edge…but Kotoeiho flipped out first. Gunbai Shishi, no mono-ii. Good call. Good throw. Uwatenage.
Mitakeumi defeated Kayo. Kayo pulled backward and shuffled clockwise. Mitakeumi stuck with him and drove him out for an easy yorikiri.
Kotoshoho defeated Hidenoumi. Kotoshoho drove Hidenoumi back to the edge. He then pulled and tried to slap Hidenoumi down while shifting side to side. The side-to-side shifts seemed to keep Hidenoumi from mounting a solid attack. Kotoshoho caught Hidenoumi near the bales and suddenly changed direction, moving forward, and shoved him out. Oshidashi.
Kusano defeated Fujinokawa. A nice oshi brawl as Fujinokawa forced Kusano to the edge. Fujinokawa slipped inside and secured a morozashi, driving forward. Kusano used the leverage from the bales to envelope Fujinokawa’s arms and yank him over the edge as both men tumbled out. Gunbai Kusano. Fujinokawa landed outside first. No mono-ii. Tsukiotoshi.
Shodai defeated Churanoumi. Churanoumi charged forward while Shodai pulled and slipped to his right. Shodai slapped Churanoumi down as Churanoumi’s momentum carried him past Shodai and he rolled off the edge. Hatakikomi.
Midorifuji defeated Asakoryu. Asakoryu tried to slap Midorifuji down but Midorifuji charged forward. Both men fell out but the gunbai went to Midorifuji. No mono-ii. Oshidashi.
Takanosho defeated Tokihayate. Takanosho pressed forward while Tokihayate pulled. Tokihayate attempted to shift at the edge but Takanosho stayed on his feet and stayed in as Tokihayate fell out. Oshidashi.
Roga defeated Atamifuji. Roga slipped his right hand inside, left hand outside and charged forward. Atamifuji resisted at the bales but could never settle on a comfortable grip. While Atamifuji fumbled around for a decent hold, Roga yanked him down with that left hand. Uwatedashinage.
Ura defeated Chiyoshoma. Ura pulled back to the edge while Chiyoshoma blasted him with tsuppari. At the edge, Ura changed direction, shifted right and then pressed forward and forced Chiyoshoma over the bales. Oshidashi.
Ichiyamamoto defeated Sadanoumi. Ichiyamamoto slipped his right hand inside and got a solid left hand outside grip and pressed forward. Sadanoumi twisted as he approached the bales but Ichiyamamoto’s footwork was excellent. Likely the big news event of the first half of this match day, Ichiyamamoto displays his solid yotsu skills and picks up the win. Yorikiri.
Halftime
Gonoyama defeated Tobizaru. All Gonoyama. Gonoyama blasted Tobizaru over and over, driving him to the edge. Tobizaru could not escape and Gonoyama shoved him out rather easily. NEXT! Oshidashi.
Takerufuji defeated Meisei. Meisei pulled at the tachiai, gifting Takerufuji superior position with Meisei’s heels on the edge. Solid tsuppari from Takerufuji to force Meisei to step out. Tsukidashi.
Tamawashi defeated Hiradoumi. Tamawashi pulled. Hiradoumi charged forward but Tamawashi shifted along the bales and yanked Hiradoumi forward and out by the right shoulder. Gunbai Hiradoumi? Mono-ii. Gyoji’s call overruled and Tamawashi was given the win. Tsukiotoshi.
Kinbozan defeated Hakuoho. Kinbozan shifted subtly to his left and pulled Hakuoho forward. Hikiotoshi.
Abi defeated Onokatsu. Henka! Abi jumped to his left and grabbed Onokatsu’s belt and pulled him forward and over the edge. Uwatenage.
Sanyaku
Wakatakakage defeated Oho. Oho tried to force Wakatakakage down with a subtle shift to the left at the tachiai but WTK kept his balance and charged into Oho. Oho tried to press ahead but could not get any forward momentum. He then pulled and Wakatakakage punished him for this sin by pressing forward and forcing Oho over the edge. Yorikiri.
Kirishima defeated Wakamotoharu. Kirishima got his left hand inside quickly, spun around and then locked in with his right hand at the front of WMH’s belt. Kirishima then drove forward and forced Wakamotoharu over the edge. Yorikiri.
Aonishiki defeated Kotozakura. Kotozakura wrapped up Aonishiki and seemed to take his time figuring out a strategy. While Kotozakura contemplated the meaning of life, Aonishiki used his right hand inside grip to twist and pull Kotozakura forward to the clay while his left hand swept out at Kotozakura’s knee. This kid is going places. Uchimuso.
Onosato defeated Oshoma. After opening jitters and a false start, Onosato forced his way forward and pressed Oshoma over the edge quickly. Dominant victory. Yorikiri.
Hoshoryu defeated Takayasu. Hoshoryu locked on to Takayasu’s mawashi with his left hand inside. Takayasu spun but this was a huge mistake as Hoshoryu’s left leg came up behind Takayasu’s right leg. Hoshoryu used his right hand to shove Takayasu in the face and topple him backwards, hard. Beautiful triple attack here with the left hand pulling on the belt, left leg trip and the right hand forcing Takayasu back. Sotogake.
Wrap-up
What a brutal way to finish the day’s matches. Tomorrow promises even more as Onosato will face Aonishiki in the musubi-no-ichiban. Hoshoryu will fight Wakamotoharu. Kotozakura will attempt to recover from today’s loss by taking on Oho. I am sure Wakatakakage will not run away from Onokatsu and Kirishima will try to rein in Abi.
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Aonishiki is becoming a Uchimuso master. Remember his uchimuso over Midorifuji last basho?
Today’s win over ozeki was a real masterpiece. Hope this skill brings him all the way to the top.
Today, I am not sure how much of Kotozakura’s knee he actually got. It looked like he just dragged him down but I need to see another angle on it.
Nice program about Aonishiki “Blue Whirlwind” on NHK in the buildup to this tournament.
Wakatakakage’s win over Oho must be a textbook example of his forte. If only he can sustain the level of concentration. Way to go.
In the last tournament, I had finally completed the course and learned to admire Abi’s ways. Heartwarming start.
I think Aonishiki made his point to the banzuke committee in the best possible way.
Hopefully Hoshoryu can stay on Onosato’s tail long enough to make the Y vs Y fight on senshuraku a title decider. If Onosato is suffering from any new-yokozuna fatigue I didn’t spot it.
I only saw the Sanyaku fights this morning due to a muddle in the timing, but highlights later! When will Oho learn? Not that I mind, as I admire WTKG, with all the other fights I was yelling at the screen and ecstatic with the results! Hoshoryu wasn’t taking no for an answer from Takayasu, and Aonishiki was sublime. I feel a new fire in Kirishima, let’s hope it doesn’t fizzle out.
Thanks for the summary as ever Andy.
A great start for Hoshoryu! He was 2 to 10 against Takayasu and has been notorious for his humble first few days of the basho, but no rust this time. Here’s hoping that the Yokozuna will go all the way to senshuraku like this. I guess he‘s the only one who can challenge Onosato (apart maybe from the astonishing, ever getting better Aonishiki?).
Mitakeumi showed strength like his 2-3 years ago self? Shodai had a semblance of a tachiai? Ura remembered he’s actually powerful and cut down on some of his chaos for the win? Gonoyama, Takerefuji, Kinbozan AND Aonishiki all look super locked-in? Not to mention the two seemingly dominant Yokozuna at the top? This will be a wild basho! Too bad about that new arena AC apparently only keeping things in the mid-80s F, though.
Only the 80s? I was expecting a massive, refreshing refrigerator.
That’s still like 10 degrees cooler than the old AC could manage!
Also from how the sellout banners were swaying I think there is quite a bit of air movement up high but maybe the blackout curtains they hung to make it look like less seats were deliberately left empty in that giant arena are impeding the airflow as designed.
A great start to the tournament, except for the parts I missed due to some of the camera setups being blocked by people walking by. Down in front! Almost everyone I was rooting for won their matches, including Aonishiki, who is quickly becoming one of my favorites. I may need to get his cheer towel. Also good to see was Midorifuji back in green. I hope he burned that spicy red mawashi that cursed him in May.
Meisei almost legitimately leaped out of the ring today. Good grief!
A henka on day one from Abi is definitely surprising. Onokatsu didn’t get the memo about Abi, but I’m also wondering if Abi is injured. We’ll see.
Quality stuff from San’yaku all around. The only person who could have had a better day was Oshoma, but I don’t see how he could have changed the result of his bout. I’m excited for the rest of the week!
I think Abi had treatment for an elbow problem; this was presumably the reason he didn’t go on the Taiwan trip with the rest of the heya. He was wearing his usual support wraps, so I don’t know what was done, though when did Abi ever need an excuse for a henka?
Honestly, one would not remember Kotozakura to belong into sanyaku these days. Bit sad, of course.
Good point.
In the NHK preview to Nagoya, John Gunning surprised me very much by choosing Kotozakura as his favorite for the yusho.
Ah, didn’t watch that by now. John Gunning predicted Onosato already in 2023, so I‘d take it for serious. But I think it will be a hot Yusho race anyway.
Really enjoyed the 2 big FUs that were delivered to the banzuke committee today.
First, Aonishiki pretty much face plants Kotozakura, FU #1 delivered.
Second, The Evil Nephew ass plants Takayasu hard in about 2.8 seconds, FU #2 delivered.
Needless to say, The Old Man went to bed at about 5:40am here in McLean Virginia with a big smile on his face.
It looked the same way here from the north side of the Potomac. A bold blitz by Hoshoryu, hitting him high and low. Takayasu was stunned. That was even better than Aonishiki’s win but that was nice, too. A bit out of nowhere because Kotozakura was still feeling things out when he got dumped.
I don’t see any gesture to any committee in the wins of Astonishiki and especially Hoshoryu.
Those were just great victories and that’s enough for me (and for them too, I guess).
A good start … except for a Day 1 henka by Abi .. Onokatsu gave him a “are you kidding me look?” afterwards ..One wonders how high Aonishiki’s sumo can carry him .. his preferred style is tough to counter especially once he gets on the belt .. Kinbozan blasted him upright + shoved him out last (?) basho .. but usually he has been able to stick to his style .. the top wrestlers will have to figure out this Ukrainian puzzle ..