Kyushu basho is here!

Meisei is kyujo. Hitoshi will visit from Juryo and fight Asakoryu.

NHK has changed things up on their website with this new NHK One restructuring. A lot of the old links don’t work anymore and some of the links point to warnings that the content is intended for people in Japan. However, those of us outside of Japan are not left completely in the lurch. Your NHK videos are here for Makuuchi.

If you don’t go into epileptic fits from the flashing error at the top of the page, scroll down to see the videos. You’ll see the top half of the image for the first video. In the middle, there’s this phrase: 続きを読む. Click that and the rest of the videos will come into view.

Makuuchi Action

Asakoryu defeated Hitoshi. Hitoshi made good first contact and drove forward into Asakoryu’s side of the dohyo. However, he chose to put his hands behind Asakoryu’s head and pull. Asakoryu kept his footing and pressed forward. When Hitoshi tried to stop his momentum at the tawara, Asakoryu thrust Hitoshi out. Tsukidashi.

Chiyoshoma defeated Sadanoumi. Chiyoshoma quickly got a left-hand inside grip. His subtle twist meant Sadanoumi had to stretch to reach his belt. As Sadanoumi reached forward, Chiyoshoma twisted and rotated to his left while he yanked hard on Sadanoumi’s belt, throwing him to the ground. Shitatedashinage.

Oshoumi defeated Shonannoumi. Oshoumi quickly wrapped up Shonannoumi with a left hand inside and right-hand outside. Shonannoumi backed away to his right but Oshoumi was ready for it and drove forward, ushering Shonannoumi out. Oshoumi wins his on his debut! Yorikiri.

Tokihayate defeated Nishikifuji. It was Nishikifuji’s turn to try a pull and Tokihayate made him pay. Tokihayate tried to get both hands inside. Nishikifuji locked up Tokihayate’s left arm in his right armpit, trying a kotenage as he wrenched Tokihayate forward. Tokihayate adjusted well and forced Nishikifuji out. Yorikiri.

Ryuden defeated Mitakeumi. Mitakeumi tried some tsuppari but did not make much headway as Ryuden tried to press straight ahead. So, he decided to try to grab Ryuden’s arm and pull. This put Mitakeumi’s heels at the tawara. Ryuden kept up the pressure, overpowered Mitakeumi and shoved him over the bales. Oshidashi.

Gonoyama defeated Tomokaze. Our first real tsuppari brawl. Tomokaze’s upper body seemed to get too far forward of his feet. Tomokaze lost his footing and fell to the ground. Hikiotoshi.

Fujinokawa defeated Roga. Fujinokawa blitzed Roga at the tachiai, got both arms inside quickly and charged ahead. As Roga backed toward the bales, he twisted to his left to try a last second throw. But Fujinokawa had him securely wrapped up and slammed Roga to the ground outside the dohyo. Solid NFL-style tackle. Don’t just hit, wrap him up and drive him to the ground. Yoritaoshi.

Daieisho defeated Shishi. Our first false start as Shishi slow-rolled Daieisho and an eager Daieisho jumped first. Daieisho did not allow Shishi inside to get a belt grip so Shishi had to rely on thrusts and parries. Daieisho had his own thrusts and forced Shishi to the edge. Daieisho then pulled and cycled around the ring in reverse as Shishi stumbled forward. Daieisho grabbed Shishi’s belt and shoved him to the ground from behind. Okuritaoshi.

Tobizaru defeated Kotoshoho. Tobizaru got some space behind his slaps and shifts of direction. With Kotoshoho only a few feet from the ring’s edge, Tobizaru pulled and slapped Kotoshoho down to the ground as the flying monkey took flight, leaping backward into the crowd. Hatakikomi.

Kinbozan defeated Midorifuji. Midorifuji got a quick morozashi and had the upper-hand from a great low position. Kinbozan needed to break that so he tried to settle the action at the center of the ring to buy some time. Usually for a makikae, we see guys pull backward to work their arm inside for a grip. From Kinbozan’s position with his chin on top of Midorifuji’s head, he seemed to shove Midorifuji down with his chin in order to squeeze that right hand inside and break Midorifuji’s hold. Midorifuji wanted the double-inside grip back but Kinbozan fought hard with his right to prevent Midorifuji from getting that left hand inside. As Kinbozan continued to keep Midorifuji’s left hand contained, Kinbozan dragged Midorifuji to the edge with his own left-hand overarm grip. With a heave, Kinbozan threw Midorifuji into a heap. Uwatenage.

Abi defeated Ichiyamamoto. Ichiyamamoto started out with some tsuppari, head down. Abi quickly put his right hand behind Ichiyamamoto’s head and slapped him down. Hatakikomi.

Halftime

Churanoumi defeated Onokatsu. Churanoumi got his left hand inside and pressed Onokatsu back. Onokatsu released his grip to try to get a new one. Churanoumi chugged forward so Onokatsu tried to shift away. Churanoumi pursued well and drove Onokatsu back and over the edge. Yorikiri.

Atamifuji defeated Shodai. Atamifuji stayed low and chugged forward quickly, forcing Shodai out. Shodai was trying to squeeze both of his hands inside for a hold of Atamifuji but it was completely futile from his position. Like rent, Shodai’s body was “too damn high!” Oshidashi.

Yoshinofuji defeated Oshoma. The artist formerly known as Kusano shoved Oshoma back with powerful tsuppari. With Oshoma battling to survive on the edge, Yoshinofuji wrapped him up with both arms inside and drove Oshoma over the edge. Yorikiri.

Ura defeated Tamawashi. Ura stood Tamawashi up and overpowered him, driving him back and over the edge. Oshidashi.

Sanyaku

Hiradoumi defeated Takanosho. Takanosho slapped Hiradoumi to force Hiradoumi back a few steps. But then Takanosho pulled. Hiradoumi saw his opening and took it, driving Takanosho back and out of the ring. Oshidashi.

Oho defeated Wakamotoharu. Wakamotoharu tried to wrap Oho up quickly and got his right hand inside. As he tried to get his left-hand grip, Oho seized on Wakamotoharu’s right shoulder. He then pulled and cycled clockwise, staying just inside the edge of the dohyo and dragging Wakamotoharu down. Katasukashi.

Aonishiki defeated Kirishima. We got a great brawl here as both men slapped each other silly. First Kirishima forced Aonishiki back a few steps then Aonishiki reversed course and charged forward. While the arms were flying, Aonishiki managed to seize Kirishima’s left elbow and pulled him forward. This spun Kirishima around so his back was to Aonishiki. “Be gentle, kind sir.” Kirishima immediately let up because he was completely prone. Aonishiki gently shoved him over the bales from behind. Okuridashi.

Kotozakura defeated Wakatakakage. Kotozakura got his right hand inside Wakatakakage’s left shoulder and rotated a little to his left. With that firm right hand inside and a little help from his left arm wrapped around WTK’s right arm, Kotozakura charged forward and forced Wakatakakage over the edge. This was a quick, dominant win for the injury-plagued Ozeki. Yorikiri.

Hakuoho defeated Hoshoryu. Shonichi Kinboshi! Hakuoho blitzed the Yokozuna, driving him back. Hoshoryu desperately tried to escape, grabbing at Hakuoho’s belt and pulling him forward to the ground as he flew from the ring. No mono-ii. From the multiple replays, it was close. Hakuoho’s leg does come down but Hoshoryu’s foot had just left the surface of the dohyo. Yoritaoshi.

Onosato defeated Takayasu. Shoulder blast tachiai, Takayasu tried to shift left and pull Onosato’s head down. Onosato adjusted well, hopped forward, keeping his trunk centered above his feet. Takayasu tried again to pull but Onosato was too powerful and ushered Papa Bear over the bales. Yorikiri.

Wrap-up

Well. Hoshoryu got off on the wrong foot today, losing on Day One. On the other hand, Onosato just looks dominant and made a solid step forward to claiming another title. Aonishiki’s beautiful tactical win against Kirishima instantly puts him into the conversation as one of the few rikishi who might be able to challenge Onosato. Hakuoho will have his shot first, though. Hakuoho will fight Onosato tomorrow with another kinboshi on the line.

Takanosho steps up to fight Hoshoryu in the musubi-no-ichiban. Ozeki Kotozakura will fight Kirishima. Wakatakakage will try to recover against Oho. Aonishiki will fight Wakamotoharu and Takayasu will take on Hiradoumi.

Oh, it’s so nice to have sumo back. The London basho seems ages ago. Kotozakura and his father instantly became a meme as they were captured on camera in what appeared to be a very serious conversation at the senshuraku party. Kotozakura was kyujo to end Aki and missed the London trip.

It’s only Shonichi but it looks like they made a tough, but correct call to hold him out and focus on recovery. Hopefully he will stay solid this basho. Might he be able to mount a credible yusho run? I doubt he has entered many title conversations but he was able to put up nine wins in Aki with that big, meaningful win over Hoshoryu on Day 13.