No kyujo news. In Juryo, Mita baited Daiamami into move forward and Mita slipped to the right when he did. Mita improves to 4-0 and shares the lead with Hatsuyama. Mita will face former top division wrestler, Nishikifuji, tomorrow.
Your NHK videos are here: Juryo, Makuuchi Part I and Part II.
Makuuchi Action
Mitakeumi (4-0) defeated Shishi (2-2). Two false starts…Mitakeumi powered his way through Shishi, driving him back and over the bales. Oshidashi.
Kotoeiho (2-2) defeated Hidenoumi (0-4). Beautiful. Kotoeiho immediately got his left hand inside but it took a while longer to acquire his right-hand outside grip on Hidenoumi’s belt. When he did, he pulled and swung Hidenoumi to the ground. Uwatenage.
Kusano (3-1) defeated Kayo (0-4). Kayo got some good penetration as he charged hard at Kusano from the tachiai. Then he did his thing and pulled. Kusano gave chase, carefully so he wouldn’t get slapped down or fall to a dodge. Kusano caught up with Kayo and drove him over the edge. Damn it, Kayo. If you could drive that hard into Kusano, Keep Going! I swear, if Kayo is going to have this one move — pull & slapdown — I will gladly cover his fare for the barge back to Juryo. Yorikiri.
Fujinokawa (2-2) defeated Kotoshoho (3-1). Kotoshoho pulled and shifted right while Fujinokawa drove forward and both men fell out of the ring. Gunbai Fujinokawa. Mono-ii. Shimpan decided quickly that both men went out at the same time and we needed a rematch (torinaoshi). In the rematch, Fujinokawa showed Kotoshoho how to execute a pull and quickly shifted right and slapped Kotoshoho down to the clay. You may remember me talking about the importance of a pivot in an effective pull and here we saw it demonstrated well. Hatakikomi.
Shodai (3-1) defeated Midorifuji (2-2). Shodai just blasted Midorifuji and forced him out. Maybe Shodai felt a tinge of anger at being forced out by Asakoryu yesterday so he came out today and frankly obliterated Midorifuji. Oshidashi.
Churanoumi (2-2) defeated Asakoryu (2-2). Asakoryu blasted Churanoumi but Churanoumi slipped left and tried to slap Asakoryu down. Asakoryu was caught by surprise with that shift and did not react quickly enough. Churanoumi pounced and drove Asakoryu out. Oshidashi.
Atamifuji (2-2) defeated Tokihayate (1-3). Tokihayate quickly got his right hand inside but he was determined to get his left hand inside for a morozashi. The third time he released that outside grip to change things up and sneak that left hand inside (makikae), Atamifuji charged forward and forced him out. Often, when a wrestler changes their grip, they have to rear up and back. That’s risky as we saw in Hoshoryu’s loss to Wakamotoharu and as we saw here today. Yorikiri.
Takanosho (2-2) defeated Roga (2-2). Takanosho blitzed Roga and drove him back and out. Yorikiri.
Sadanoumi (1-3) defeated Chiyoshoma (0-4). Henka! Chiyoshoma tried to keep Sadanoumi off his belt with a flurry of tsuppari but Sadanoumi grabbed Chiyoshoma’s right arm and yanked him forward, hard. Tottari.
Ichiyamamoto (4-0) defeated Ura (3-1). Ichiyamamoto avoided Ura’s slapdown and as Ura pulled back, Ichiyamamoto pursued well and blasted Ura from the ring. Oshitaoshi.
Halftime
Gonoyama (3-1) defeated Takerufuji (2-2). Gonoyama is not impressed with Takerufuji’s slow tachiai. Takerufuji charged forward but Gonoyama grabbed his arm and pulled him off the dohyo before tumbling out. Gunbai Takerufuji. Mono-ii. The judges reviewed and overturned the call, giving Gonoyama the win. Tottari.
Tobizaru (2-2) defeated Meisei (1-3). After a long tussle with dueling right-hand inside grips, Meisei released and tried to pull on Tobizaru’s arm and shoulder for a kotenage. But Tobizaru kept his balance and slapped Meisei down. Meisei was slow to get up. Hatakikomi.
Tamawashi (4-0) defeated Hakuoho (2-2). Hakuoho pulled and Tamawashi timed his charge well. Tamawashi gave Hakuoho a forceful shove to the face and blasted him out. Oshidashi.
Hiradoumi (1-3) defeated Kinbozan (1-3). Hiradoumi shifted left as he recoiled from the tachiai. Kinbozan followed, hard-charging with his tsuppari. Hiradoumi shifted again to cut off the dohyo and attacked, wrapping up Kinbozan’s belt and driving him from the ring. Yorikiri.
Sanyaku
Takayasu (3-1) defeated Onokatsu (1-3). Takayasu got a solid right hand outside grip, pulled up and drove Onokatsu backward. Yorikiri.
Kirishima (4-0) defeated Oshoma (0-4). Kirishima locked on with his left-hand over-arm grip. Oshoma had his right hand inside grip but Kirishima did not like it. By shuffling left and then giving a good wiggle, he shook off Oshoma’s grip. Immediately, Kirishima took advantage, pulled up with his right hand inside and that strong left outside and drove Oshoma back and out. Yorikiri.
Aonishiki (3-1) defeated Wakatakakage (2-2). Wakatakakage lost this one with a poor pull. When he pulled, he jumped back to the bales. Aonishiki pursued well and avoided Wakatakakage’s attempt to shove him to the side and blasted Wakatakakage out. Oshidashi.
Kotozakura (2-2) defeated Wakamotoharu (1-3). Kotozakura got his right hand inside and was happy to lean into Wakamotoharu, waiting for an opportunity. Eventually, Kotozakura shifted his left-hand inside and used his double-inside grip to bulldoze Wakamotoharu back and over the bales. Yorikiri.
Abi (3-1) defeated Hoshoryu (1-3). Abi was having none of Hoshoryu’s pre-bout stare down, walking away to his corner quickly, ignoring the Yokozuna. “I live in your head, rent-free, man. Forget your niramiai games.” Abi blasted Hoshoryu back hard with forceful tsuppari of a kind we have not seen this tournament. On the edge, Hoshoryu grabbed Abi’s left arm and he pulled Abi forward as both men stumbled out. Gunbai Hoshoryu. Mono-ii. Hoshoryu’s heel touched out before Abi’s foot. Oshidashi.
Oho (1-3) defeated Onosato (3-1). “Purple rain, Purple rain.” Onosato’s first kinboshi goes to his nemesis, Oho. Oho allowed Onosato to drive him to the edge. Oho used the leverage from the bales to launch his counter attack. Onosato casually pulled. Oho was quick to give chase. As Onosato retreated, his left foot stepped out of the ring. Oshidashi.
Wrap-up
Kirishima and Aonishiki continue to look very strong. The Yokozuna-tachi…not so much. Onosato was careless as he pulled, perhaps believing all of the pre-basho hype in the media on the back of his strong first three days. Come on, man. Oho is supposed to be the one making me angry by moving backwards. I mean this kinboshi makes me more angry than any of Hoshoryu’s from this tournament. This one was just careless.
As for Hoshoryu, he just got beat. The Hoshoryu 401(k) continues to pay out for rank-and-filers as Abi picks up another gold star. This money spinner will push Japanese core inflation to double-digits if Hoshoryu can’t get it under control. This was just absolute dominance, though. It was as if Abi had been conserving energy over the past few days, fostering rumors of lingering injury in order to reserve power for his attack today. This fierce Abi is the Abi that I want to see, every bout. He was hungry for that kinboshi. Wow.
Hoshoryu will fight Oho tomorrow, if he doesn’t go kyujo in shame. “My heel suffered burns because it touched hot lava.” Abi will battle Onosato. Kotozakura will fight Onokatsu but the highlight bout will be Kirishima versus Aonishiki. Takayasu will fight Wakatakakage. Should be a great day of action tomorrow!
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Now it‘s time to laugh….in sheer desperation.
But we are writing history again :)
Damn. So what happens in these situations? Does Hoshoryu get renamed hoshoryusato, kisenoshoryu or flat out deported? Well let’s not be too mean to the guy. He lost to Ani, it could be worse. At least he didn’t lose to Wakamotoharu
Oh wait!
I am sure he is feeling the weight of his poor record. He will either turn things around or go kyujo, I imagine.
Kyujo is probably what’s going to happen. I really hope it doesn’t. I hope he turns things around and stays until the Onosato rematch. Who didn’t look too hot himself
Oh Hoshoryu ! 🙄 Well at least you have company today in Onosato’s loss.
That’s all I have. Waves flag somewhat feebly, yay Hoshoryu!?
Aonishiki continue to impress, Kusano did well, and Tamawashi quietly works away. Kirishima keeps fighting well; it’s so good to see. I hope he regains his Ozeki status soon, possibly before the end of the year?
I was impressed by Hoshoryu’s power.. power of big TOE. It was dangling over the edge of tawara, with his weight already gone out. Somehow his toe resist all the laws of physics.. and his foot started move up!
Now the question was did his heel touch the sand? The video ‘seems’ to be inconclusive.. but the committee decided it touched the ground. I think the decision was based not on the evidence, but on the assumption that no human can resist the situation. I think he did.
I was very surprised they didn’t call a torinaoshi after the monoii, since it was impossible to tell from the TV pictures if the heel touched or not. Perhaps one of the shimpan had a better view from their position?
I don’t think this call will ever be as controversial as Tochinoshin’s heel. He lost the bout but I was impressed that he was able to get that close to a win and from that position. Abi jumped him like he stole his lunch money.
That Tochinoshin bout still brings back painful memories since I thought he stayed in. This one looked much, much closer. Still amazing even if Hoshoryu did touch, because he just barely brushed the surface. That’s some crazy body control.
It’s interesting how people can look at the same images and come to different conclusions. I thought his heel was down, quite clearly.
Anyway. so much for yesterday’s debate about how could Onosato possibly lose, of which I was one of the “guilty” parties!
If you watch to the end of the clip on the Part II linked above, right before the mono-ii ends they show a camera shot of the sand outside the ring and it is clear his foot hit. Combine that with the rest of the way Hoshoryu’s motion was at the end there is no other way that mark could have shown up except him touching at the point where Abi was still on his way out.
Hoshoryu has struggled against Abi before, it looks like he was desperate to avoid gifting one more Kinboshi, so he tried those mental antics of staring.
His heel was out first, anyways he got totally dominated.
Once his loss was announced, he looked very sad.
Onosato may be over confident, hence forth, he should be careful
Hoping for Kirishima Ozeki
Yeah, going 1-3, when healthy is not a good look for a Yokozuna.
SebA asked in yesterday’s comment section “Who will beat Onosato?”. The answer is “himself”. Well done by Oho to challenge the Yokozuna!
Abi went “full on” against Hoshoryu because those kinobshi are forever. It wouldn’t surprise me if Abi goes kyujo now.
Good stuff from Kirishima, Mitakeumi, Tamawashi, and Ichiyamamoto! Aonishiki also continues to impress too.
Ura went low today and lost. Hmmmm. He might avoid doing that more in the future, we’ll see.
Kotozakura’s “Lean Fest” sumo is beating people, but if he gets moved laterally, he’ll be in trouble.
Thanks for the shoutout ^^ I was going to say, Andy called it pretty much spot on that it was early days and it would require some lateral movement. Onosato looked bewildered at someone actually surviving his tachiai for a change! I really hope this brings some more consistent form for Oho, but I suspect it won’t.
If Aonishiki gets a convincing kachi-koshi, would he jump straight to Sekiwake as Oho did previously?
Aonishiki could certainly jump to Sekiwake if a slot were vacant. Daieisho will go down but if all goes well both Kirishima and WTK would be kachi-koshi, if not on Ozeki runs. He’d need 11 or 12+ wins to force a third slot, like Takayasu in Kyushu 2022.
Thank you :)
I’m enjoying seeing the aging veterans (Mitakeumi, Shodai, Takayasu) getting off to solid starts this basho.
And then there’s the veteran who never ages; Tamawashi is a marvel.
They stress me out so much! Yes. I agree. I’ve been afraid to watch Ryuden, Nishikigi, Takarafuji and the others down in Juryo.
I was not in favor of Hoshoryu’s promotion to Yokozuna when it happened, but it was because of his attitude and decorum. Well, he’s fixed that apparently, but now his endless bag of techniques and skill have deserted him. Perhaps that physical show of weakness is tied to a mental one, a hurdle Hoshoryu will have to overcame to truly bear the mantle of the sport’s highest rank.
Onosato’s performance was simply inexplicable. He had all the forward momentum and gave it away with a very ineffectual pull attempt. That bout looked super fishy if not for Onosato himself looking lost afterword, he too wondering what his decision-making process had done to him.
The undefeated rikishi are Kirishima (has a yusho), Tamawashi (has a yusho), Ichiyamamoto (no yusho yet), and Mitakeumi (has a yusho). Any of these four would be a very welcome story, but let’s root for the Ironman to take home another if the top rankers continue to falter. I still think the basho is Onosato’s to lose, and Kirishima and Aoinishiki would complete my podium, but the best story would be Tamawashi riding off into the sunset with one last tournament victory under his belt.
I would love to see a tamawashi yusho, but a mitakeumi would be even more astounding and satisfying. He looked so injured on his way down to juryo, i was on here commenting i wanted him to retire instead of embarrassing himself down there, but here he comes storming back and looking fully healthy so far this July.
Fingers crossed for the trio of Tamawashi, mitakeumi and Takayasu all looking healthy strong and wiley so far. Maybe they like the heat?
Chances are good that all three will have a kachikoshi. To dream of more seems hasty.
I found both Yokozuna losses to be stunning each in their own ways. Abi surprised by essentially inflicting lethal damage to Hosh with his one good arm, which seemed such a low possibility, and Onosato looked like he just gave up in the middle of the bout…. Fishy indeed. Made me think dark unsavory thoughts about his loss at least for a few seconds 🤔
I thought Onosato gave up early, too, but on video review it was clear that he stepped out and that was why he eased up.
I don’t think Mitakeumi has taken a side step or backwards step this basho .. I wonder if such records are kept ..
Kotozakura needs a new shikona .. what is Nihongo for “leaning sequoia” ..or “snooze fest” ..
Oho may have the deepest well of untapped potential of any rikishi .. this was not a glorious win .. more a result of not giving up .. but good for him ..
I hope Papayasu maintains focus .. no sloppy sumo .. good things will happen .
Maybe Hoshoryu can claim a deep ego bruise and go kyujo ..
Good bouts are on the horizon .. watching Kirishima figure out how to attack Aonishiki will be fun .. he has to be aggressive .. blasting is probably a bad idea .. keeping those quick hands off his belt will be key ..
Hoshoryu is going to pull out of the tournament today. NO great loss…Over-hyped and promoted too soon.