Unfortunately, we have news from the infirmary today that Nishikifuji is kyujo with herniated discs in his neck and arthritis in his elbow. He will not be back this tournament. Onokatsu will get the fusen victory. Nishikifuji will finish the tournament 6-6-3. At M11, six wins should be more than enough to keep him in the division. So far, the only passenger booked for the barge to Juryo is Hatsuyama. He’s even been given the captain’s hat.
Sadanoumi fell out of the leadership group with his yorikiri loss to Mototaro-san. Fujiseiun and Wakanosho improved to 9-3. Update: The two leaders are scheduled to fight on Day 13. Chaser Sadanoumi will fight Kyokukaiyu and 8-win Fujiryoga will fight Nishinoryu. With Nishikifuji’s kyujo, Kotoeiho will visit Makuuchi and fight Asahakuryu to kick off Top Division action.
Makuuchi Action
Tobizaru (5-7) defeated Mitakeumi (5-7). Mitakeumi demonstrates the offensive output of a giant sloth as he allowed Tobizaru to wrap him up like staff at a conservation center, walk him around the ring and over the bales. Yorikiri.
Chiyoshoma (5-7) defeated Tomokaze (4-8). Chiyoshoma pressed forward and shoved Tomokaze over the bales, unfazed by Tomokaze’s slapdown attempt. Oshidashi.
Asakoryu (7-5) defeated Tokihayate (6-6). Asakoryu blitzed Tokihayate and assaulted him repeatedly with tsuppari, shoving him over the side. I think Tokihayate had made a joke about Asakoryu’s mother. Oshidashi.
Kotoshoho (7-5) defeated Asahakuryu (5-7). Kotoshoho charged forward to the bales before reversing course and dragging Asahakuryu down with his right-hand inside grip. Shitatenage.
Roga (5-7) defeated Hatsuyama (1-11). Roga used his migi-yotsu to drive through Hatsuyama’s attack and carry him over the bales. Yorikiri.
Shodai (6-6) defeated Midorifuji (5-7). Shodai trapped Midorifuji’s right arm and swung him over the edge. Kotenage.
Ryuden (5-7) defeated Kinbozan (4-8). Migiyotsu. Ryuden twisted and dragged Kinbozan toward the edge and shoved him over the bales. Yorikiri.
Asanoyama (9-3) defeated Fujinokawa (7-5). Fujinokawa wrapped his right shoulder inside Asanoyama’s left arm and tried to hoist him over. Asanoyama shuffled laterally to counter the throw and shoved Fujinokawa over the edge. Oshidashi.
Onokatsu (6-6) default victory over Nishikifuji (6-6).
Gonoyama (5-7) defeated Tamawashi (4-8). Tamawashi chugged forward but Gonoyama shifted to his left and pivoted, forcing Tamawashi to the edge. Gonoyama followed up with tsuppari and shoved Tamawashi out. Oshidashi.
Oshoumi (9-3) defeated Churanoumi (7-5). Churanoumi got a morozashi but Oshoumi used his left hand uwate to carry Chura to the bales. He lost his grip but as Churanoumi fought to survive but shoved Churanoumi over the tawara. Oshidashi.
Halftime
Daieisho (5-7) defeated Oshoma (6-6). Daieisho hit Oshoma with a few tsuppari before stepping left and thrusting Oshoma down. Tsukiotoshi.
Ura (2-10) defeated Hakunofuji (5-7). Ura got his left hand inside Hakunofuji’s armpit. As Hakunofuji pressed forward, Ura pivoted along the tawara brought his right hand up onto Hakunofuji’s head and pulled Hakunofuji forward with his left under Hakunofuji’s shoulder. Katasukashi.
Takanosho (3-9) defeated Ichiyamamoto (2-10). Takanosho held Ichiyamamoto with a right hand nodowa. He used his left hand to bat Ichiyamamoto’s attack away. Takanosho drove forward and forced Ichiyamamoto out. Oshidashi.
Wakatakakage (6-6) defeated Yoshinofuji (6-6). Wakatakakage kept steady as Yoshinofuji tried a slapdown, kubinage, kotenage,… Yoshinofuji pulled and tried another slapdown but Wakatakakage pursued, maintained his balance and forced him over the edge. Yorikiri.
Sanyaku
Shishi (9-3) defeated Oho (4-8). Who abducted the real Shishi and replaced him with someone with a skill approaching actual agility? Shishi nearly slapped Oho down earlier in the bout but he finished him off when Oho charged in for an attack and Shishi evaded it to the right and slapped Oho down. Hatakikomi.
Hiradoumi (8-4) defeated Wakamotoharu (5-7). Hiradoumi wrapped up WMH with a morozashi and charged forward. At the bales, Wakamotoharu twisted and tried an utchari. Both men tumbled into the crowd. Gunbai Hiradoumi. Hiradoumi got his kensho and was going to leave but the shimpan called a late mono-ii. Wakamotoharu’s foot touched over the bales, confirming the gyoji’s call. Yorikiri.
Kotozakura (8-4) defeated Abi (9-3). Kotozakura charged forward with his left hand uwate. At the edge, Kotozakura briefly got his right hand on Abi’s belt and lifted him up over the bales. Tsuridashi.
Aonishiki (10-2) defeated Atamifuji (9-3). Aonishiki stayed low and got his left hand inside. As he charged forward, Atamifuji raised up and batted him away. Aonishiki re-engaged, this time with the right hand. Again, Atamifuji defended. Aonishiki kept coming, though, and eventually worked both hands briefly inside on Atamifuji’s belt. Atamifuji tried to escape but Aonishiki was relentless and drove him over the edge. Yorikiri.
Kirishima (9-3) defeated Hoshoryu (8-4). Kirishima quickly got a morozashi. Hoshoryu reared back to attempt a makikae, change of grip. He wanted his right hand inside. Kirishima used the opening to press forward and force the Yokozuna over the bales. Their momentum forced both men to hop down from the dohyo. Hoshoryu doubled over as the shock to his knee probably smarted a wee bit with that torn meniscus. “Don’t remind me, Andy.” Yorikiri.
Onosato (8-4) defeated Takayasu (7-5). Onosato’s Houdini act was on display again. Takayasu had him. Takayasu got the left hand inside and when Onosato pulled, he forced the Yokozuna to the edge. Onosato recovered at the bales, though. This time, Takayasu tried the pull and pulled himself right out of the ring. MOVE FORWARD. BACKWARD BAD. FORWARD GOOD. Yorikiri.
Wrap-up
Aonishiki is in the driver’s seat with hands firmly at 10 and 2. “Andy, you’ve used that joke before. Come up with something new.”
- 2-losses: Aonishiki
- 3-losses: Kirishima, Atamifuji, Abi, Shishi, Asanoyama, Oshoumi
Oho’s makekoshi puts a komusubi slot on the market. Yoshinofuji and Wakatakakage have three more days to make a case for why they deserve it, or Atamifuji might steal it from under their noses.
As of this writing, the Day 13 pairings are not set. I might be able to get an update out later but expect a lot of maegashira fighting folks in sanyaku. Aonishiki has two Yokozuna bouts and an Ozeki bout remaining, however. If one of those Yokozuna quietly mentions they will go kyujo, though, maybe they slot in a Aonishiki versus Asanoyama or Aonishiki versus Abi bout?
Update: Yokozuna/Ozeki fights begin. Hoshoryu will fight Aonishiki. Onosato will fight Kotozakura. Before that, sanyaku will be a mix of low-rankers fighting sanyaku. Wakamotoharu will start things off fighting Oshoumi. Then, Oho will fight Hiradoumi, Takayasu (with kachi-koshi on the line) will fight Asanoyama, and Kirishima will fight Shishi. Near the mid-way point, Abi will face off with Atamifuji. That’s a wild night of action.
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I do not understand why no one, except ex Hakuoho who did win instantly, go for Onosato ‘s left shoulder. When Hakuofuji did it you could see his face showing the pain and he wanted nothing anymore to do with Sumo.
For people who say that is not very sporty, that is total nonsense. When you show up hurt, you can expect people to take advantage of it, that is your own doing. It is also the way of the Warrior.
They probably don‘t think that way. Injuries are common, everybody knows what it’s like. Sure there‘s unspoken codex, but sometimes it‘s clearly ignored. There are rikishi who like to kick at bad knees. In general they know each other for long and there‘s always a next time meeting, under different conditions. Taking revenge would be not unusual. Got to choose.
Shishi is good this basho, but this good? Wow… Hakunofuji, Ichiyamamoto, Ol´ Tom all injured?
Can we expect Hoshoryu henka tomorrow?
I was wondering why there was no abizumo from Abi today. Slow mo shows that it was a busted henka!
No wonder.
Kirishima had one game plan: Attack Hosh’s bum knee. Every move was initiated by his left arm, and Hosh had to sustain the pressure with his injured knee.
On the other hand, Takayas didn’t have any game plan. Yesterday and today. This shows that you need sumo IQ to win the match.
Hopefully not!
He has his kachi-koshi and he’s almost certainly out of the yusho race, so a henka from him would be very disappointing.
Of course they put Hoshoryu against Aonishiki. I’d hoped the fact that he’s out of the race with today’s loss would allow him an opportunity to go kyujo. I don’t think he would give the leader a fusensho.
You have to be fast and agile to pull a henka. It’s really hard to do that with a busted knee without making your injury worse.
But it’s also a decision between a quick bout and the possibility of a more damaging bout. Towards the end of his active career, Ami-no knee-shiki frequently deployed a henka.
“Mitakeumi demonstrates the offensive output of a giant sloth as he allowed Tobizaru to wrap him up like staff at a conservation center…”
Snorted my coffee.
Kotozakura looked good today. Gets that crucial 8th win and, with the way the Yokozuna are looking, may actually stand a chance of reaching 10.
Aonishiki. Such good sumo. Adaptable and relentless.
Kotozakura escaped from a possible Kadoban by showing up and delivering the fierceness his face shows when it’s time to fight, but I still can’t help feeling that Hachinana awaits him if he has the Yokozunas and Aonishiki to battle.
A rare moment is on the horizon, shin-Ozeki yusho. Rock, paper, scissors—- and we know who’s who.
Does someone has the NHK videos link?
Can‘t figure it our…
https://www.web.nhk/tv/pl/series-tep-Z8WRRJ9K96/ep/6NWP9131XW#article
First, if a pop-up should appear, click on “yes, I understand”. Then find “続きを読む” and click on that. The videos should roll down below.
Note: The Japanese script (on which you will click) stands in an oval frame that looks like an ancient Egyptian cartouche. With a little arrow on the right side, pointing down.
It has been added to the daily report. I’m not able to find it on my own on the website, without speaking Japanese…
Thanks !
Just let your browser translate the page from Japanese to English
Otherwise I too woundn’t find my way around there
I can already hear the Yokozuna Deliberation Council (YDC) reading the 2 Yokozuna the riot act. Hoshoryu is just trying to survive, mail it in, and pick up the easy wins where he can. Onosato is clearly hurting and keeps escaping by the skin of his teeth. And now the real climb up the mountain starts; both will face the 2 Ozeki and each other. I can see both of them coming out of this basho at 9-6.
Both are kachi-koshi and have lasted longer than Terunofuji or Kisenosato. The YDC should give thanks.
Question for Andy and others who have access to Japanese commentators’ view: Is Shodai’s lock on Midorifuji’s arm considered fair play in Japan? Judging by the result, there is no violation. But would Shodai perhaps receive some kind of warning? (Though Shodai turned the screw relatively slowly, he made a deliberate move to hurt the opponent, which might have ended in a horrible injury. It should be clear that it is not the same as a push or strike.)
It was a fair and clean kotenage, and gentle Shodai applied it pretty smooth and easy.
There are some notorious rikishes, like Tochimusashi (mk1) who injured then Hakuoho’s arm.
Shodai did let go as soon as Midori was out. It looked really painful from the camera’s viewpoint, but as you said, smodori, fair and clean.
Aonishiki will be Y before the end of this year…No doubt at all.
It’s a growing likelihood, certainly.
Tomokaze’s gear box was stuck in reverse today. Good grief. If he loses more matches, he might book a Juryo barge ticket. Other current barge candidates are: Asahakuryu, Ryuden, and maybe Mitakeumi(!).
Kirishima currently feels like the best candidate to take the Cup away from Aonishiki, but someone else has to put dirt on the Ukaranian. I doubt it’ll be Hoshoryu, but weirder things have happened.
Wow, this title race is still clear as mud. Having the lead gives Aonishiki the advantage, but he’s got (on paper at least) the most brutal schedule left. Hoshoryu is injured (hopefully not more injured after today), but he’s still dangerous even if he hasn’t yet won against Aonishiki. Hoshoryu has a lot of pride, so you know he’ll give his all if he can wrestle, Onosato is Onosato even with that shoulder, and Kotozakura is big enough to give Aonishiki problems even if you give the edge to the young Ukrainian. I’m desperately hoping for no fusen wins though. If Aonishiki does win this tournament, I don’t want any asterisks by it.
Kirishima, Abi and Asanoyama have all won before, but I feel like Kirishima has been wrestling the best of the three. And then you have the two wildcards. For nostalgia, I’d love to see Kirishima and Asanoyama win tomorrow and then face off on day 14. That said, it’s time to buckle up again, because this wild basho probably has more twists and turns!
I love good stories and to see that Asanoyama is still in contention brings me a big ass smile. After everything that happened, he deserves to shine again. I’m a fan of Aonishiki but this basho, my heart goes to Asanoyama 100%…