Day Five begins in Tokyo. Make sure to catch Leonid’s Makushita updates. A number of former sekitori are in the hunt for the yusho. The Enho/Ikarigata matchup was today. Sadly, for Enho fans, he wasn’t able to get much offense going today. Ikarigata was all over him with tsuppari and then when Enho tried to counter, Ikarigata immediately slapped him down.
Meanwhile, Mita and Kōtokuzan lead in Juryo at 5-0. Mita thrust Kotoeiho down as punishment for a little henka at the start of the bout. Kotokuzan thrust out Tamashoho Kōtokuzan will fight Tohakuryu on Day 6. Mita will visit Makuuchi and fight Shonannoumi. Asanoyama is one loss back, so he might still be a factor in this race next week.
Your NHK videos are here. Pro-tip, for slo-mo you can watch these in half speed and three-quarter speed. You will thank me later. In the meantime, let’s turn to the top division.
Makuuchi Action
Hitoshi (1-4) defeated Nishikigi (0-5). Nishikigi got decent penetration on the tachiai but Hitoshi quickly backed him up with strong shoulder slams. Hitoshi picked up his first win. Oshidashi.
Tomokaze (4-1) defeated Nishikifuji (3-2). Tomokaze pressed Nishikifuji toward the bales before pulling and executing a slapdown. Hatakikomi.
Shishi (3-2) defeated Tobizaru (3-2). After some rather ineffective tsuppari from this pair, Shishi ducked inside and got his left hand wrapped in Tobizaru’s belt. Leading with his forehead, Shishi then bodied Tobizaru off the dohyo. Yorikiri.
Ryuden (4-1) defeated Asakoryu (1-4). Asakoryu established his left hand inside and tried to pull Ryuden over. Ryuden kept his balance, though and used that right hand outside to force Asakoryu to the edge. Both men tried to topple the other. Rotating to his left, Ryuden pulled back toward center and hauled Asakoryu down with that right hand. Uwatenage.
Shonannoumi (3-2) defeated Sadanoumi (3-2). Sadanoumi seemed to get lost a few times today as he bounced around the ring. Shonannoumi nearly tripped him up. Shonannoumi eventually got his right hand on Sadanoumi’s belt, rotated and used his left hand on Sadanoumi to shove him to the ground. Uwatenage.
Mitakeumi (2-3) defeated Meisei (2-3). Mitakeumi’s ottsuke kept Meisei from getting his right hand inside. Meisei tried to pull but Mitakeumi was all over him and shoved him over the edge. Oshidashi.
Roga (3-2) defeated Tokihayate (2-3). Roga quickly corralled Tokihayate with his right hand inside and forced Tokihayate back and over the bales. Yorikiri.
Churanoumi (4-1) defeated Daieisho (1-4). Daieisho’s balance issues have compounded. He was on the defensive for most of this bout. He cycled away from Churanoumi’s head butts and thrusts. Daieisho seemed to press forward a step and immediately got too far ahead of himself, stumbling by as Churanoumi pulled him forward. Churanoumi then shoo-ed him out of the ring from behind. Okuridashi.
Fujinokawa (2-3) defeated Midorifuji (2-3). Well then. Maybe this is what others have seen in Fujinokawa? Fujinokawa blitzed Midorifuji immediately at the tachiai and locked him up in a bear-hug, both hands around Midorifuji’s trunk. Fujinokawa then quickly drove Midorifuji to the bales. Midorifuji struggled to attempt any counter attack but tried to brace himself at the edge and twist. Fujinokawa wasn’t having any of it and forced him over the bales. Yorikiri.
Shodai (4-1) defeated Kinbozan (1-4). Kinbozan got a left hand outside grip and tried to heave Shodai over the bales. Shodai countered by plowing headlong into Kinbozan and knocking him backwards. Both men fell off the dohyo. Gunbai Shodai. Kinbozan had landed on his butt before Shodai fell into him and both men rolled onto the former Takamisakari, ringside. Yoritaoshi.
Takanosho (4-1) defeated Oshoma (2-3). Good tachiai. Oshoma got some penetration into Takanosho’s side of the ring so he pulled and tried to slap Takanosho down. But Takanosho kept his balance and forced Oshoma over the bales. Yorikiri.
Halftime
Ura (4-1) defeated Kusano (2-3). Well-timed pull from Ura. Kusano was trying real hard to make some sort of forward progress. Once Kusano put his weight too far forward, Ura pulled and Kusano launched forward, falling off the dohyo. Hikiotoshi.
Ichiyamamoto (2-3) defeated Kotoshoho (2-3). Ichiyamamoto took on Kotoshoho on the belt and overpowered Nagoya’s yusho winner. Ichiyamamoto latched on with his right hand inside, left-hand outside and relentlessly pressured Kotoshoho until he stepped out. Ichiyamamoto was utterly committed to fighting on the belt today. A good ole fashioned yorikiri.
Wakamotoharu (4-1) defeated Onokatsu (3-2). Wakamotoharu hit Onokatsu well at the tachiai but Onokatsu slowed things down by holding WMH’s left hand at bay. Wakamotoharu pulled away to extract his left hand. Onokatsu pounced and the two brawled with slaps and thrusts. Once Wakamotoharu saw an opportunity to get inside, he grabbed Onokatsu with his left hand inside and right hand outside grip. Grip secured, he was able to press forward and force Onokatsu out. Yorikiri.
Hiradoumi (4-1) defeated Hakuoho (2-3). Hakuoho bulled into Hiradoumi, forcing him to the edge. He pulled but when he tried to slap Hiradoumi down, Hiradoumi was out of reach. When Hakuoho reached the far edge, Hiradoumi jumped on him and kept up the assault until Hakuoho was thrust out. Tsukidashi.
Sanyaku
Tamawashi (2-3) defeated Takayasu. Tamawashi went for the jugular and hit Takayasu with a nodowa at the tachiai, then followed up with another. Takayasu did not like that and turned away. Tamawashi followed and continued to lash out at Takayasu until he stepped over the bales. Oshidashi.
Aonishiki (3-2) defeated Kirishima (4-1). Started with a brawl before Kirishima latched in with his left hand inside. As Kirishima changed up his grip with his right hand to bring it inside, Aonishiki snapped and spun Kirishima. Once Aonishiki was behind Kirishima, he ran Kirishima out from the back. Absolutely beautiful. Excellent timing. Okuridashi.
Wakatakakage (3-2) defeated Abi (0-5). Abi tried to pull and slap Wakatakakage down but Wakatakakage kept his balance and drove Abi off the dohyo. Did I say earlier this basho that Abi was looking good? I think I did. His 0-5 more competitive than Nishikigi’s 0-5. Oshidashi.
Kotozakura (4-1) defeated Gonoyama (0-5). Gonoyama pulled and nearly caught Kotonowaka off balance with a slapdown. Kotozakura regained control, however, and shoved Gonoyama over the bales. Oshidashi.
Hoshoryu (5-0) defeated Atamifuji (1-4). Hoshoryu thrusted out at Atamifuji’s head at the tachiai. He then reached in with the right hand and got Atamifuji’s belt with left hand outside. From there, Hoshoryu steamrolled Atamifuji and forced him back and out. Yorikiri.
Onosato (4-1) defeated Oho (2-3). Oho hit out at Onosato’s head but his weight was too far forward. Onosato brought his right arm down on Oho’s back and thrust him down to the clay. Tsukiotoshi.
Wrap-up
The Aonishiki/Kirishima bout is worth watching a number of times. We often see guys get in trouble when they change their hold on their opponent’s belt. That makikae can be troublesome. But I feel that guys usually get caught out on the backward motion, when they pull away from their opponent. It creates some separation and the opponent can fill that void, moving forward. That gives the attacker momentum, just as you are pulling away.
This time, however, Kirishima got caught when he reached forward. It was as if his right shoulder on the outside had been holding Aonishiki at bay. Once Kirishima’s arm went to the inside, Aonishiki shifted left and used his left hand belt grip to pull Kirishima farther forward and got in behind. That was a great move.
Hoshoryu is our sole leader at 5-0 and Onosato leads the pack of guys one loss behind. They will trade opponents tomorrow, so Hoshoryu fights Oho in the musubi-no-ichiban while Onosato fights Atamifuji. Both Kotozakura and Hiradoumi are in that group of 4-1 chasers and they will square off tomorrow. Meanwhile, Kirishima will fight Tamawashi, Wakatakakage will fight Gonoyama, and Takayasu will fight Aonishiki.
