Asanoyama (11-3) defeated Fujiryoga (12-2) as the two men battled chest-to-chest in a great migi-yotsu contest. The former Ozeki is doing what he can to make a case for promotion to the top division. Hatsuyama also won his bout with Hakuyozan to improve to 11-3.

I’ll let Leonid get into the details but there might be three guys ahead of Asanoyama. And depending on the outcome of senshuraku bouts, possibly four. But will their be four open slots in the Top Division? Asanoyama can’t fight his stablemate, Asahakuryu.

Day 14 NHK Videos are here. Somehow the videos seem split in two halves. I think I found the second half here. Let me know if you have issues and I’ll see what’s going on.

Makuuchi Action

Fujinokawa (9-5) defeated Asakoryu (7-7). Henka! Fujinokawa leapt left but Asakoryu caught the shift. Fujinokawa quickly hooked his left arm inside Asakoryu’s right, twisted, and threw Asakoryu to the side. Sukuinage.

Tomokaze (6-8) defeated Meisei (1-4-9). Tomokaze pulled and slapped Meisei down. Hatakikomi.

Gonoyama (8-6) defeated Shishi (5-9). Shishi tried to escape Gonoyama’s tsuppari but he could only find peace on the other side of the tawara. Oshidashi.

Chiyoshoma (9-5) defeated Roga (8-6). Roga got inside with his right hand and yanked Chiyoshoma to the side. Chiyoshoma braced against the bales and used his left-hand uwate to throw Roga to the ground in the center of the ring. Uwatedashinage.

Daieisho (9-5) defeated Nishikifuji (8-6). Daieisho slapped Nishikifuji down quickly after setting him up with several rough thrusts of tsuppari. Nishikifuji tried to step inside to get a grip and stop the onslaught but down came the hammer. Tsukiotoshi.

Mitakeumi (7-7) defeated Kotoshoho (7-7). Mitakeumi backed up and slapped Kotoshoho down. Hatakikomi.

Kinbozan (6-8) defeated Shonannoumi (3-10) Kinbozan advanced behind solid tsuppari, driving Shonannoumi back and over the bales. Shonannoumi’s akeni (traditional luggage used by sumo wrestlers) are packed and waiting for him on “The Barge.” Tsukidashi.

Ryuden (7-7) defeated Abi (5-9). Ryuden weathered Abi’s assault, enduring a bloody eye and nose. Ryuden was able to step inside, finally getting out of the range of Abi’s thrusts. From there he pressed forward and shoved Abi back over the tawara. Oshidashi.

Onokatsu (6-8) defeated Sadanoumi (4-10). Onokatsu quickly established his left-hand outside grip. Once he got his right-hand inside, he barreled forward and forced Sadanoumi back and out. As a side note, if you’re interested in the orchestration behind this “Show,” watch Kotoshogiku’s hand movements in the video. As time-keeper, he’s giving hand signals to tell wrestlers when to move along with their pre-bout routines. Yorikiri.

Ichiyamamoto (10-4) defeated Yoshinofuji (9-5). Ichiyamamoto pulled and slapped Yoshinofuji down. More blood, this time from Yoshinofuji’s nose and mouth. Ichiyamamoto had assaulted him with tsuppari and head butts throughout the heated bout. How did Ichi sneak through here with 10 wins already? Hatakikomi.

Oshoumi (6-8) defeated Hiradoumi (4-10). In Oshoumi’s most impressive bout of the tournament, he got a morozashi at the tachiai and hauled up Hiradoumi, driving him to the edge. Hiradoumi squeezed his left-hand inside but it was already too late as Oshoumi progressed and slammed Hiradoumi to the ground. The Number 2 man at Naruto beya might be doing enough to stave off demotion, possibly taking a slot away from the slew of guys in Juryo who are hoping to come up. Yoritaoshi.

Halftime

Ura (8-6) defeated Tobizaru (6-8). A long hazu-oshi bout here as both men jostled the other with tsuppari, slapdown attempts, head butts, shoves…Tobizaru got a good slap in there. Eventually, Tobizaru just got gassed and Ura was able to shove him back and off the dohyo. Tobizaru collapsed into a heap, “plumb tuckered out,” as they say back home. Ura is kachi-koshi and Tobizaru make-koshi. Oshidashi.

Kirishima (10-4) defeated Tokihayate (9-5). Kirishima was able to contain Tokihayate’s retreat with his right-hand over-arm grip. Kirishima hauled Tokihayate roughtly to the ground, perhaps as revenge for Tokihayate’s harite (slap) at the tachiai. Uwatenage.

Wakamotoharu (8-6) defeated Midorifuji (6-8). For a long time, most of the action in this bout was the arm-wrestling going on as Wakamotoharu tried to get his left-hand inside. Midorifuji’s ottsuke kept him at bay so Wakamotoharu tried to fling him around with the right, then tried a slapdown to no avail. Eventually, though, Midorifuji seemed to wear out and Wakamotoharu advanced, forcing him out. It was an intense bout, like the Ura/Tobizaru one, as both men had kachi-koshi or make-koshi on the line. Wakamotoharu locked up his kachi-koshi and unfortunately for Midorifuji, he is makekoshi. Yorikiri.

Hakuoho (5-9) defeated Tamawashi (6-8). Hakuoho got his left-hand inside quickly and started churning his legs forward. He got his right-hand inside as well, and Tamawashi was toast. Yorikiri.

Churanoumi (7-7) defeated Watatakakage (6-8). Churanoumi overpowered Wakatakakage and nearly got him turned around. Once that happened, Wakatakakage lost all momentum and Churanoumi drove into him hard, shoving him over the bales. This takes Wakatakakage out of the running for a sanyaku position and puts Kirishima at the head of the queue. Oshidashi.

Sanyaku

Takanosho defeated Oshoma. Takanosho hit Oshoma hard at the tachiai, got that nodowa going to force Oshoma’s head high and drove him back, quickly. Oshidashi.

Takayasu (7-7) defeated Atamifuji (7-7). This bout hinged on Takayasu’s left hand. Atamifuji’s ottsuke early on kept Takayasu out and he pressured Takayasu to the edge. However, Takayasu squeezed it in and took control of the bout. Atamifuji reared back and got his right hand back inside but the damage was done. Takayasu drove forward and chased Atamifuji out. Oshidashi.

Oho (6-8) defeated Shodai (4-10). We get a view of Oho looking skyward before the bout like, “why do I have to fight this guy?” Shodai couldn’t get his right hand inside Oho’s left so he backed around trying to get position. After a half-lap around the ring in reverse, though, Shodai’s tank ran empty and he walked out. There’s that phrase again. Shodai was plumb tuckered out. “Oshidashi.”

Kotozakura (8-6) defeated Onosato (11-3). In a stroke, Kotozakura suddenly became everyone’s favorite Ozeki. He locked in his kachi-koshi winning record with a strong left-hand outside, right-hand inside. Onosato pulled back trying to change his grip (makikae) but that gave Kotozakura momentum to move forward and force the Yokozuna over the edge. Yorikiri.

Aonishiki (11-3) defeated Hoshoryu (11-3). Before the bout, Hoshoryu did his usual niramiai (stare down). Aonishiki didn’t muck about and didn’t get into the games, he just walked back to his corner. These guys are silent before the bout, no trash-talk or anything. But while Aonishiki walked away, I could hear the ultimate flex: “Scoreboard, b—-.” Aonishiki didn’t need to engage in the games because he came into the bout with a 2-0 lead in their rivalry. Oh, this is going to be a good one. And it was. We got a strong tachiai as both men sought out belt grips. Hoshoryu made a huge mistake and pulled, trying to slap Aonishiki down with his right hand. Aonishiki had a firm left-hand inside grip and stayed low but did not go down. He drove forward into the Yokozuna and finished Hoshoryu with a right hand to the mug. Oshidashi.

Wrap-up

I think we all dreamed about this outcome. All three men are tied at 11-3. The official bout pairings are not out. Nevertheless, the Yokozuna should fight on senshuraku, either for the yusho or for a position in a play-off. Aonishiki should be fighting Kotozakura in the prior bout to try to force that play-off. Absolute madness!

If you’re a new fan, perhaps drawn in because of the London basho, this is kind of crazy. It’s not usually like this, I swear. We’re usually a more quiet group and it’s usually a rather staid, serene sport. You know, the monocle-wearing, tea-drinking set. I hope you’re not expecting such insanity in January. I just want to level-set expectations.

I also do want to point out that Onosato seemed to be wincing as he sat on his cushion after the loss. I’m not sure if he was wincing in physical pain or mental anguish at having lost to Kotozakura — of all people. We’ll keep an eye out for news because any injury would certainly tip the scales toward Hoshoryu for tomorrow’s bout.

One storyline has been settled, however. Kotozakura locked in his 8^th win. I swear, the man can’t buy 10. (Too soon? It’s been 14 years!) But, at least he won’t be kadoban to start the new year.

There are a number of guys at 7-7 with kachi-koshi on the line so we should have several “Darwin Bouts” tomorrow, as Bruce would say.

Now, folks are going to start up with the Ozeki-run talk again. Aonishiki got his 33^rd win but I think Shibatayama had poured cold water on the idea, saying his run starts with the September tournament. But I think this takes pressure off of Aonishiki to think of this without Ozeki on the line.

He must come in and beat Kotozakura tomorrow and then he would have to beat a Yokozuna AGAIN in order to take the yusho. He needs to focus on that. We saw how Wakatakakage folded under the pressure and anticipation of his Ozeki run. He’s still not recovered and it’s unlikely he will have another shot – at least anytime soon. Aonishiki has other things on his mind: Win tomorrow. See you tomorrow.