With Shirokuma’s loss to Kazekeno, Juryo rookie Fujiryoga took sole possession of the lead in Juryo by defeating Kitanowaka. If his success continues, Fujishima beya may have two new Makuuchi wrestlers in a few tournaments. Heya-mate Fujiseiun is at the top of the division and is also doing well. He could crack the barrier for Hatsu 2026. Asanoyama picked up a third win as we plot his progress back to the top division.
The link to your NHK videos is here.
Makuuchi Action
Asakoryu (4-1) defeated Sadanoumi (1-4). Henka! Asakoryu leapt left to slap Sadanoumi down. Sadanoumi reacted well and tried to push Asakoryu out. The two settled into a lean, or at least it seemed like Sadanoumi wanted to. Asakoryu did not have the patience and pulled Sadanoumi down by grabbing his outstretched left arm. Kotenage.
Daiseizan defeated Shonannoumi. When Shonannoumi got his right hand outside grip to accompany his left hand inside, he tried to haul Daiseizan back over the bales. Daiseizan twisted to break Shonannoumi’s belt grips, then pressed forward with his head to create some separation and shoved Shonannoumi down to the ground. In sumo, that’s “using your head.” Tsukiotoshi.
Ryuden defeated Chiyoshoma. When Ryuden landed his favorite right-hand outside grip, he twisted and hauled Chiyoshoma down. Ryuden was exhausted and his face was bloodied after this rather lengthy brawl. Uwatedashinage.
Mitakeumi (2-3) defeated Oshoumi (1-4). Mitakeumi was allowed to do his brand of sumo as he pressed Oshoumi backward and over the bales. Oshidashi.
Nishikifuji (4-1) defeated Gonoyama (2-3). Nishikifuji pulled and pivoted with his right foot to slapdown Gonoyama. Hatakikomi.
Tokihayate (4-1) defeated Tomokaze (0-5). Tomokaze pulled backwards, no pivot, and ceded all position to his opponent with his feeble slapdown attempt. Andy yelled at the TV as Tokihayate shoved Tomokaze over the bales. “PIVOT!!” Sometimes these guys are just desperate, impatient or just plain lazy and they don’t PIVOT. Oshidashi.
Roga (3-2) defeated Shishi (1-4). Roga seized Shishi’s belt with his left hand uwate (overarm grip). While Shishi was settling into a lean, Roga twisted clockwise and pulled Shishi with that left hand. Shishi stumbled to his knees. Uwatenage.
Fujinokawa (5-0) defeated Kotoshoho (3-2). Kotoshoho yielded position to Fujinokawa and quickly had his heels at the bales. As Kotoshoho looked for something to grab onto for a last second counter-maneauver, Fujinokawa thrust him over the bales. Fujinokawa’s blitzing style has him off to his best start since he reached the top division. Tsukidashi.
Daieisho (3-2) defeated Kinbozan (1-4). Kinbozan thrust Daieisho back to the tawara. Daieisho pivoted and pulled, slapping Kinbozan to the ground. Kinbozan has a serious case of Daieshoitis. He has powerful thrusts but he gets caught too far over his feet. Hatakikomi.
Ichiyamamoto (3-2) defeated Tobizaru (2-3). Oof. Wow. Live, it looked like Ichiyamamoto lifted Tobizaru backwards off his feet with a brutal right hand nodowa, slamming him to the ground. Replay showed Tobizaru tried a poorly-timed leg sweep and caught nothing but air, right as Ichiyamamoto’s pressed forward with that nodowa. Ichiyamamoto’s reputation as the gentleman of the division is intact. Oshitaoshi.
Midorifuji (2-3) defeated Churanoumi (3-2). After a lengthy tussle, an exhausted Midorifuji used his right hand uwate to haul Churanoumi over the bales. Yorikiri.
Halftime
Onokatsu (2-3) defeated Abi (2-3). Abi pulled straight back and Onokatsu shoved him out. I have no patience for this impudence. Or maybe it’s just too early in the morning and I need some coffee. Yorikiri.
Yoshinofuji (4-1) defeated Shodai (1-4). Shodai forced Yoshinofuji back to the bales but Yoshinofuji spun and forced Shodai to the edge. Yoshinofuji then finished Shodai off and forced him over the tawara. Yorikiri.
Atamifuji (4-1) defeated Oshoma (2-3). Head-down, Atamifuji chugged forward and shoved Oshoma out. Oshidashi.
Kirishima (2-3) defeated Old Tom O’Washi (3-2). Tamawashi put his head down to press forward but Kirishima backed away and quickly slapped him down. Hatakikomi.
Sanyaku
Hakuoho (2-3) defeated Takanosho (0-5). Takanosho looks lost back in sanyaku. Hakuoho got inside quickly, eliminating any of Takanosho’s tsuppari. He chugged and shoved Takanosho back and out. Oshidashi.
Takayasu (4-1) defeated Oho (2-3). Oho did not want Takayasu to get a belt grip so he retreated each time Takayasu went inside. Takayasu pursued well, though. Takayasu used his steady footwork and constant pressure to work Oho toward the bales and out. Oshidashi.
Wakatakakage (1-4) defeated Aonishiki (4-1). HENKA!!! Oh, wow. This one might go down in lore alongside Hakuho’s henka of Harumafuji and Terunofuji’s henka of Kotoshogiku. Even die-hard WTK fans might think, WTF?? At the core of every desperate 0-4 start, is a cold, cold heart. That was a thing of beauty. Evil beauty. Aonishiki rushed forward and fell to the dirt and ceded his first loss of the tournament. Aonishiki tried desperately to stop his forward momentum and regain his footing but Wakatakakage have him a little shove from the back to finish him off. Okuriotoshi.
Ura (3-2) defeated Kotozakura (2-3). Ura planted in the center of the ring and, borrowing Zeki’s spring analogy, compressed himself and then released and sprung forward, forcing the Ozeki back and out. Yorikiri.
Hoshoryu (4-1) defeated Hiradoumi (2-3). Hiradoumi launched himself out at the Yokozuna. As he blasted Hoshoryu backward, the Yokozuna shifted to the side – one might say PIVOTED – and slapped him down. Hatakikomi.
Onosato (5-0) defeated Wakamotoharu (1-4). Wakamotoharu got a left hand uwate but Onosato ignored it as he drove forward and forced Wakamotoharu to the bales. Wakamotoharu showed the slightest resistance and Onosato took this as an affront. Onosato pivoted and with his right hand hooked in WMH’s left shoulder, blasted his opponent through the ring and off the fighting surface. Yoritaoshi.
Wrap-up
Fujinokawa has had quite the run and is now the only man other than Onosato to remain undefeated in the top division. He will fight Mitakeumi tomorrow. As jmotzi and herbern pointed out yesterday, schedulers will soon plan to bring him up to fight higher-ranked opponents. As you all said, Hiradoumi, Ura, and even Aonishiki would be great choices. Hiradoumi or a Hakuoho would be a great pairing with Fujinokawa’s blitzing style of attack.
As I noted after he had a poor run to start Aki,
“I know Fujinokawa has his boosters, that he’s “for real.” I know he did well in Nagoya…but I don’t get the hype. Maybe one of you can convince me how he’s much better than, say, the shorter Tobizaru or even the powerful Asakoryu? Where does he fit in the top division? A grinder like Sadanoumi? Or someone who will reach sanyaku?”
This tournament has started completely different from the previous two. His 6-9 record from Aki forced him to slip down the banzuke a bit, to the bottom quarter of the division. He has been overwhelming his opponents so far with his speed. Former Yusho-winner Kotoshoho looked out of place today.
I know it’s early in his career but I’d like to bring that question up again. I wonder where he will fit in the division. There are more “smaller” wrestlers now and several who have preceded him, so I wonder whose track he will follow. I mentioned Sadanoumi because I wonder about how Fujinokawa would do in Sanyaku.
When people talk about longevity and age, we naturally mention the Iron Man, Tamawashi, but Sadanoumi actually has the longest tenure in the Sumo Association of anyone currently in the top division. His debut was way back in early 2003.
However, his top rank is Maegashira 1, which he earned back in 2015 after winning a kinboshi off Harumafuji. Since then, he’s largely remained in the bottom half of the division but he has been a regular presence, a solid Makuuchi veteran. Will sanyaku be too high of a cap for Fujinokawa?
Ura has peaked at Komusubi, so far, and is regularly in the joi-jin. When he falls from the joi, he usually performs really well against lower rank-and-filers and gets flung back up into the joi. But that seems to be his peak. Takakeisho was a little shorter than Fujinokawa but is he perhaps a more fitting comparison? Will Fujinokawa be able to rise that high and find a place as a sanyaku regular? Maybe he will be similar to Hiradoumi?
After seeing smaller wrestlers like Ishiura, Enho, and Ura come up and have some success in the top division, I just wonder where these new faces like Fujinokawa, Tokihayate, and Asakoryu will go. How high can they climb? Do they need to “bulk up” to Ura or Takakeisho proportions to take it to sanyaku, or can they do it now?
But I digress. I think I ended up having too much coffee this morning because I have spent far too long on this. I am interested in what you all think of this new crop of smaller wrestlers, in particular Fujinokawa with this blitzing style.
Takayasu is quietly having a great start to this tournament. His only loss was the Day One bout against Onosato. He will get his turn against a dispirited Takanosho tomorrow. Aonishiki will take on Ura tomorrow. Hakuoho will face Oho.
Kotozakura will need to regroup against Tamawashi or he needs to go kyujo and come back stronger, and fully healed. If he goes kadoban again, all of this effort and damage will take its toll. Onosato will fight Hiradoumi and Hoshoryu will battle Wakamotoharu in the musubi-no-ichiban.
Discover more from Tachiai (立合い)
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Well, I like this new bunch of small, muscular wrestlers. But, when they will do well, or really well, do you think they will have a slightest chance agains Onosato, with theirs physique?
Re Fujinokawa. In this century only Ama was even lighter at his sanyaku debut than Fujinokawa is now, but he was 9 centimeters taller. Nobody has been both lighter and smaller. As Ama grew (in every sense of the word) to become a yokozuna, he would be a great reference for Fujinokawa. To be honest, I don’t quite see that coming.
But what about a certain Abi? It seems he weighted only 121 kilograms back in 2019. He‘s been a joi mainstay and has won one, though dubious, yusho. I guess Fujinokawa would take that career, too, if he had the choice, but who knows?
I am very disappointed.
Not so much about Wakatakakage‘s henka which I half expected. I mean he’s been desperate after his catastrophic ozeki run and the 0-4 start. It was clear that his chances to beat Aonishiki in a fair fight tended against zero.
But somehow I had expected that Aonishiki would be able to handle it better as he isn’t throwing everything he has into the tachiai. I mean he doesn’t try to blow away the opponents but rather to get their mawashi. Unfortunately it seems that Onosato is the only „unhenkaable“ rikishi.
As good as he is already, Aonishiki still isn’t the finished article and we shoudn’t expect too much from him.. He’s a good learner, and I expect will be harder to henka in future.
I’m sure Aonishiki is even more frustrated that he fell for this. As bad as WTK’s start was, I was hoping he wouldn’t pull out a henka here, because, as much as it’s probably for the win, I also can’t shake the feeling that he really doesn’t want Aonishiki to reach ozeki right after his own failed run. I thought I heard that the two actually got along fairly well, so this was even more surprising.
I haven‘t thought of that. Great (kitchen?)-psychology: if not even Aonishiki is able to reach the ozeki rank now, my (Wakatakakage‘s) failure is only half as bad. I like it. And the best thing about it is, that it could have worked subconsciously, which would mean that Wakatakakage maybe was not really the wicked whimp he seemed.
You have no basis for this claim.
Or perhaps WTK is mentoring young Aonishiki – this is what happens son if you don’t watch your opponent.
I suspect that Abi’s opponents have figured out that if you get inside of his reach then he’s an easier opponent. Having issues with arms or elbows, like I suspect Abi does, also means that grabbing a belt and hauling an opponent around isn’t as effective as it used to be either.
Aonishiki hasn’t had a lot of people henka him, so he has to learn this lesson the hard way. He almost recovered, so he was somewhat prepared, but unfortunately Wakatakakage was there to sort out his win.
As for Fujinokawa, I think we’ll need to see how he adjusts to his opponents strategy changes over time. It’s easy to overwhelm someone when they aren’t ready for your speed. When they are, and as your body ages and slows down, there are adjustments required to make in order to continue to have success in the top division. I think it’s possible for him to have a career similar to Ura (who I think would have a higher top career rank if his knees didn’t blow out) and staying healthy will also be a big key to Fujinokawa’s success. Ishiura is an unfortunate example of what happens when that doesn’t happen. I do suspect, though, that Fujinokawa will pay attention to and learn from Aonishiki’s style of sumo as it presents advantages for someone his size without relying on henkas and distracting your opponent.
Also, I will definitely take many small men instead of these lumberati like Shishi.
‘Lumberati’ Perfect! Thank you for that wonderfully descriptive, and accurate, word. Quite made my day!
Really? They are fun to watch, certainly, but in the end they have nothing to do with the yusho race, so they are unfortunately not more than dots of color, while „lumberati“ like Onosato dominate the sport.
(I therefore would favor two or three weight classes.)
Not sure that Onosato counts as a “lumberati” – he’s way too agile, likewise others of the “big guy” category who are nimble, and quick on their feet.
Shishi does kind of lumber about though, imo only of course.
Watching a few of the bouts he lost I wouldn’t call Onosato agile, thanks to his power he only gets seldom in those positions Shishi almost always has to deal with.
As far as Onosato’s agility, are we measuring compared to Shishi or Hiradoumi?
Well, definitely not Oho’s breakout basho. My man needs a plan B for when plan A doesn’t work and a plan C for when plan B doesn’t work.
I wouldn’t really treat Fujinokawa, Tokihayate and Asakoryu as a “group” to look at just because they’re all built similar and recent top division arrivals. Fujinokawa is the youngest guy in the division and will likely undergo significant physical changes in the coming years, the other two are 27 and 29 and basically a finished article already.
Good point, though it will be difficult for Fujinokawa to grow longer…
Zensho basho? It’s only been 4 years…
Onosato’s going to have to get lucky to pull that one off. It’s still possible, sure, but it’s still too early to think about it.
Takayasu’s ability to mount and sustain a ferocious attack is impressive at his age .. if he didn’t have days his brain was not engaged or his footwork was sloppy he’d be an Ozeki ..
I like the current crop of small mobile wrestlers .. they have to be aggressive + strategic to have a chance + have one or two special skills .. they also have be able to take a beating (see Ura) + keep attacking .. The persistence of this crop to get inside w head under the chin is notable .. it seems Ura’s recent successes are benefiting from a more aggressive style .. maybe smaller wrestlers moving backwards are easier to blast out of the ring ..
imho these are good sumo behaviors to encourage .. but it’s hard to see them at the top of the rankings .. there are too many mobile big rikishi that won’t be too bothered w such stuff ..
Fwiw .. It looks like Asakoryu is developing more variety in his sumo and might climb the rankings a bit ..
I used to hold out hope that Takayasu would return to Ozeki but that idealism faded. I’m happy he stays in the joi or above. That arm injury and his yells in that empty arena are painful memories.
It isn‘t only the speed that works for Fujinokawa. He always knows what to do, how to move, where to stand and where to go. He can corral his opponent at the edge and uses every limb in every position to thrust him out. It‘s so impressive – and fun!
He will be the smallest Yokozuna ever. (Just kidding :))
He puts the honey badger to shame!
Wow. In consecutive Basho Fujinokawa has had highlight reel push outs, push downs (Kinbozan last Tournament, Kotoshoho today) when outweighed by 50 + kilos. He’s doing cloud hands on people, making them fly. He’s one of the smallest guys.
I know it’s Ozumo, but it’s also Tai Chi. And I must say it’s s a beautiful thing. “The Excitement Machine,” is how Murray referred to Fujinokawa this week. It’s true. I don’t think he’s going to win this one, but the sky is the limit for this kid. His win yesterday was also badass. Excitement.
Speaking of the little guys, don’t forget our young friend Takerufuji who will certainly be healthy soon I hope.
Little? He is taller and heavier than Aonishiki. If he is little almost half of the rikishi are.
I was deceived by the ankles. It’s some sort of optical illusion.
That’s true. I almost can‘t believe that he should weigh 151 kilos.