Day Nine. No kyujo announcements. “Well, Andy, what do you make of that?” I am surprised. I thought for sure the Yokozuna would drop out since they’re injured and they both lost yesterday and dropped out of the lead. Nope, we got two Yokozuna dohyo-iri. Will they bounce back today?
In Juryo, Sadanoumi beat Kitanowaka and Fujiseiun beat Kōtokuzan to remain in the lead with two losses. Sadanoumi’s two-handed bear hug sukuinage is included in today’s videos. Sadanoumi will fight Hitoshi and Fujiseiun will take on Nishinoryu on Day 10. Wow, Day 10 approacheth — already. “Who knows where the time goes?”
Makuuchi Action
Oshoumi (7-2) defeated Asakoryu (4-5). Oshoumi got both hands inside high in Asakoryu’s armpits and charged forward, forcing him over the edge. Yorikiri.
Shishi (7-2) defeated Ryuden (4-5). Ryuden pulled and Shishi reacted well to drive him back over the edge. Oshidashi.
Hatsuyama (1-8) defeated Tomokaze (3-6). Hatsuyama chaged forward as Tomokaze pulled and slapped him down. Gunbai Hatsuyama. Mono-ii. Tomokaze died first. The judges upheld the gyoji’s decision. Interestingly, I don’t think this comes down to Tomokaze touching first. The way they phrased it makes me think it’s because Tomokaze’s foot left the ground while Hatsuyama’s was still inbounds, therefore Tomokaze “tai-ga-nai.” Oshidashi.
Asanoyama (6-3) defeated Tobizaru (2-7). Tobizaru pulled and Asanoyama charged forward, forcing Tobizaru off the dohyo. Yorikiri.
Nishikifuji (6-3) defeated Asahakuryu (5-4). Nishikifuji drove forward and forced Asahakuryu over the edge with a firm left-hand inside, right-hand outside grip. Yorikiri.
Mitakeumi (4-5) defeated Chiyoshoma (3-6). Henka! Mitakeumi stepped to the side and Chiyoshoma was toast. Hatakikomi.
Kotoshoho (6-3) defeated Abi (7-2). Henka! Abi stepped to the side but Kotoshoho adjusted well. Both men lashed out at each other with tsuppari but Kotoshoho stood his ground. Kotoshoho drove forward and shoved Abi out. Oshidashi.
Tokihayate (5-4) defeated Midorifuji (3-6). Midorifuji grabbed Tokihayate with a bear hug, a deep morozashi but could not move forward. Tokihayate grabbed Midorifuji with his left hand outside. Tokihayate shifted his right-hand grip (makikae) to the inside and that allowed Midorifuji to drive forward but Tokihayate pivoted and threw Midorifuji to the ground. Uwatenage.
Fujinokawa (6-3) defeated Roga (3-6). Henka! Fujinokawa stepped to the side and Roga was toast. Hatakikomi.
Gonoyama (3-6) defeated Onokatsu (3-6). Onokatsu drove forward a few steps behind strong tsuppari. Onokatsu pulled and ceded all of his territorial gains. Gonoyama charged forward and shoved Onokatsu out. Oshidashi.
Hiradoumi (6-3) defeated Kinbozan (3-6). Hiradoumi charged forward as Kinbozan tried to throw. Hiradoumi wrapped Kinbozan up and forced him over the edge. Yorikiri.
Halftime
Churanoumi (6-3) defeated Shodai (4-5). Churanoumi pulled and tried an uwatenage. Shodai didn’t fall but Churanoumi used the momentum to shove Shodai out. Oshidashi.
Tamawashi (3-6) defeated Oshoma (5-4). Oshoma negated Tamawashi’s usual tsuppari by grabbing his arm and pulling him forward. The kotenage failed but Oshoma wrapped up Tamawashi with a migi-yotsu grip. Oshoma forced Tamawashi to the edge but the veteran dug in and would not go over easily. Tamawashi pivoted and turned the tables on Oshoma, driving him to the edge and then walking him over. Yorikiri.
Daieisho (3-6) defeated Hakunofuji (5-4). Daieisho’s tsuppari machine is back as he blasted Hakunofuji back. Hakunofuji pivoted to gain space but Daieisho blasted him back across the ring and over the edge. Tsukidashi.
Yoshinofuji (5-4) defeated Takanosho (1-8) Takanosho blasted Yoshinofuji back and forced him to the edge. Yoshinofuji, though, escaped to his left along the tawara and thrust Takanosho down to the side with his left hand in Takanosho’s armpit. Tsukiotoshi.
Sanyaku
Oho (4-5) defeated Ichiyamamoto (1-8). Ichiyamamoto blasted Oho to the edge with his tsuppari. Oho then countered and forced Ichiyamamoto back a few steps. This gave him space to pull and slap Ichiyamamoto down. Hatakikomi.
Kirishima (8-1) defeated Ura (1-8). Ura tried some fanciness at the edge as he rotated and tried to hoist Kirishima up on his back. Kirishima slipped Ura’s grasp, though, and let Ura fall to the ground. Sakatottari.
Aonishiki (7-2) defeated Wakatakakage (4-5). Aonishiki moved really well, keeping pace with Wakatakakage. Aonishiki finally landed that left-hand inside belt grip. Wakatakakage pulled away but Aonishiki tripped him over his left knee and forced him to fall back onto his butt. Kirikaeshi.
Kotozakura (6-3) defeated Takayasu (6-3). Kotozakura showed some initiative here, reaching around and grabbing Takayasu’s belt. He drove the Papa Bear to the edge. As Takayasu tried to charge forward, Kotozakura shifted and thrust Takayasu down as he passed. Solid, aggressive work from the Ozeki. Tsukiotoshi.
Wakamotoharu (3-6) defeated Onosato (6-3). WMH got a solid left hand inside and drove the Yokozuna back with ease, similar to Hakunofuji’s quick win yesterday. One wonders why Onosato showed up if he is injured and defeated this easily. Yorikiri.
Atamifuji (7-2) defeated Hoshoryu (6-3). Hoshoryu pulled but Atamifuji did not go down. Instead, Atamifuji adjusted and shifted right with the Yokozuna, charged forward and easily shoved Hoshoryu out. Kinboshi! Oshidashi.
Wrap-up
Thankfully, Prime Minister Takaichi waited for sumo to end before giving today’s speech. Priorities.
Kirishima tops the Leaderboard, alone. Aonishiki is the lone sanyaku wrestler in the hunt group with five rank-and-filers. These two guys have been walking highlight reels this basho. Beautiful stuff.
- 1-loss: Kirishima
- 2-losses: Aonishiki, Atamifuji, Fujinokawa, Abi, Shishi, Oshoumi
At the other end of the leaderboard, three men join Hatsuyama with makekoshi records: Takanosho, Ichiyamamoto, and Ura. Ichiyamamoto fought well but will slide down the banzuke. He’ll need to claw his way back if he hopes to crack into sanyaku.
The field will narrow tomorrow as Abi will fight Oshoumi and Shishi will fight Fujinokawa. Today’s bouts featured a real celebration of the henka. Abi’s did not quite go to plan, though. Will we see more on Day 10?
In sanyaku, Wakamotoharu will fight Ichiyamamoto and Takayasu will take on Yoshinofuji. Then Kirishima, our leader, will fight Kotozakura. Aonishiki is paired with Takanosho. To close out the day, Hoshoryu must go through his nemesis, Oho and Onosato will take on Atamifuji. If they show up. Surely, after today’s easy losses, the two Yokozuna will watch the action from the couch with a beer-in-hand and feet resting nicely on an ottoman.
Discover more from Tachiai (立合い)
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I chuckled mightily when the henka table was turned on Chiyoshoma today.
Neither Yokozuna really looked injured today (unlike yesterday) but both just seemed to not be there at all mentally. The shell-shocked look on Onosato’s face while he was sitting waiting for the final bout.
I think the showstopper today was that lady’s wig in the third row directly behind the gyoji. Hooo boy that thing was something.
I don’t like to see Yokozuna giving up lots of free kinboshi but selfish me wants at least one of them to stick it out so the people I am going to the tournament with on Saturday will get to see the Yokozuna dohyo-iri.
I‘m totally with Andy and think that both very obviously injured yokozuna should retire from the basho. U must be joking when U explain their losses with mentally not being there!
Yeah. I know for Onosato his comfort zone is getting both fists down first and waiting for his opponent. He hasn’t been able to get there first most of the basho, but he did today, and it didn’t help in the slightest. Something’s up for sure.
That wig was wild.
I thought Ura might pull one out today, but no. I’m just very thankful Ura let loose at the last instant instead of twisting the tournament leader’s arm off. That could have been nasty. Speaking of nasty, how about them Yokozuna!
I thought I was watching a replay of Onosato’s loss yesterday, the only difference was a different opponent and that he did not grimace because of pain. He should really take a break and recover.
Hoshoryu’s loss looked strange, as if he had miscalculated and stepped out by mistake, but maybe he was also in pain and could not do what he wanted.
Aonishiki’s win was the first one that excited me and one of the best bouts today.
Let’s see which (overdue) kyujo we will have until tomorrow.
Crazy stuff. Respect they haven’t kyujo’d
I still like Abi for the whole thing. Even though Kirishima y looking the strongest, when everything is on the line, Abi’s bag of tricks is always a sight to behold
Just when I thought I couldn’t love Tachiai and Andy any more he goes and quotes Sandy Denny.
Who is left to stop Kirishima? If he beats Kotozakura on day 10 (and he leads the rivalry 16-7) then he’s fought both ozeki, both komusubi and the top of the maegashira. Only Takayasu remains in san’yaku, assuming the crocked Yoks drop out, and whatever hapless lower maegashira has crept into the yusho race. Go sexywake!
Considering his confidence and form has been on the rise the past few days, and he has given Kirishima problems in the past, Atamifuji may be a potential obstacle here
Kirishima leads their head to head 7-2, but maybe thanks to Terunofuji we’ve seen a new Atamifuji?
Kirishima has more losses than wins against Asanoyama and Tobizaru (!), but he won’t meet them probably.
He has a positive head to head against Abi (8-11) and Daieisho (15-11), but as they both have beaten him many times before, it wouldn’t be a big surprise if they did it again.
It’s the hapless lower maegashira that have crept into the yusho race that I’d be worried about. He lost to an M14 Kinbozan in this situation last year.
In Juryo, Asasuiryu seems a budding Fujinokawa. Pretty sure someone here has said as much but I don’t remember for certain. Both are little fellers (for rikishi) who know how to tickle the crowd.
Well not budding exactly. Seems Asasuiryu is about 5 years older than Fujinokawa.
One can be 25 and still budding, can’t they? ^^
The face Hosh made after his match told the story, he hates giving up easy wins but knows he can’t prevent that now. Hopefully he goes kyujo now, otherwise Oho is going to steamroll him tomorrow.
Ura is going to get hurt contorting his body the way he does. Hurt badly. I admire his spirit…and his inventiveness (?!), but, man, he’s danger personified. To himself.
Kirishima is looking fantastic, as is Aonishiki.
Asanoyama is my guy and I’m enjoying watching his comeback.
RIP in peace Mitakeumi’s mother. She was my waifu.
Nina Simone recorded a fascinating live rendition of Sandy Denny’s great song. Just saying.
Yes. Nina Simone’s version is intoxicating. Used in the movie “The Dancer Upstairs,” I think. Pretty sure that’s where I first heard it.
They gotta both pull out now… right? Tell you what I’ll call Hoshoryu and tell him Onosato is pulling out. Someone else call Onosato at the same time and tell him Hoshoryu is pulling out. This foolproof plan will make both think they can relax.
Maybe it would be more effective to do that call to Nishinoseki?
What is Onosato’s injury thought to be?
It’s the left shoulder. He’s not been able to recover properly from the injury he suffered at Kyushu.
Why does Onosato keep fighting? Where’s his master in all of this? Appears to be a textbook example of mismanagement.
Thanks
Aggro Kotozakura was exhilarating. I wish he would do that more, instead of his usual powerful warm-up pose and then flat actual fighting.
Thank you for Sandy Denny .. She did not waste a syllable .. wow .. Female folk singers are a deep weak spot here .. Judy Collins + that song started it .. had not heard the original gem ..
Shishi tried Aonishiki-sumo .. kept his head below Ryuden .. looked like two giraffes trying sumo ..
“Hyper-caffeinated” Fujinokawa now has a new move .. henka .. just when we thought we knew what to expect .. Roga was not impressed ..
Kotoshoho and Nishikigi are quietly having a good basho .. staying focussed + determined ..
Daieisho lives! .. good to see .. was beginning to doubt he could still do that ..
Is KTZ’s sumo an acquired taste? .. He looked like he was doing more than wait for his opponent to make a mistake ..
Has Atamifuji decided how to use his 430 pounds most effectively ? .. It’s a lot of chanko to waste by bouncing around the dohyo without a plan .. The idea that Teru unlocked his wasted talent is a nice ..
Latest yusho odds here .. Kiri-b>Aonisihiki>Atamifuji ..
Two giraffes doing sumo is a fantastic image! I’m definitely giggling over here.
Great soundtrack today!
All that henkaing was started yesterday by Kinbozan. One of the biggest men in Sumo didn‘t see another way dealing with non-hyped, middle-sized Onokatsu.