One update from the infirmary. Hakunofuji is kyujo and with the loss will move to 5-8, make-koshi. Onokatsu will get the default win and improve to 7-6. That reminds me, while normal people will think of this as Day 13, for many of the youngsters, this is 6-7 day. Let’s see how many wrestlers finish the day with 6-7 records.
In Juryo, Wakanosho defeated Fujiseiun by oshitaoshi to move into sole possession of the lead.
Makuuchi Action
Asahakuryu (6-7) defeated Kotoeiho (7-6). Kotoeiho shifted to his left but Asahakuryu caught up quickly, shoved Kotoeiho to the edge and lifted him over. Yorikiri.
Ryuden (6-7) defeated Chiyoshoma (5-8). Ryuden landed his right-hand uwate grip and took control of the bout. He tried to heave Chiyoshoma over but Chiyoshoma resisted well. Ryuden adjusted his grip to right on the thong and pulled up, giving Chiyoshoma an atomic wedgie. This straightened Chiyoshoma up and made it easier to drive forward and over the edge. Yorikiri.
Tokihayate (7-6) defeated Tomokaze (4-9). Tomokaze pulled and tried to slap Tokihayate down but he tripped over his own feet as he tried to move laterally along the bales. Oshitaoshi.
Roga (6-7) defeated Tobizaru (5-8). Roga immediately shoved Tobizaru down to the clay. Tsukiotoshi.
Gonoyama (6-7) defeated Midorifuji (5-8). Midorifuji tried a pull but Gonoyama did well to avoid the slapdown. He retaliated by moving laterally when Midorifuji charged forward, and demonstrated a proper slapdown. Hatakikomi.
Hatsuyama (2-11) defeated Kinbozan (4-9). Hatsuyama got his left hand on Kinbozan’s belt and spun, and spun, and spun. On the third attempt, Hatsuyama succeeded in pulling Kinbozan forward to the clay. Uwatedashinage.
Mitakeumi (6-7) defeated Shodai (6-7). Shodai drove forward but Mitakeumi pivoted and shoved Shodai over the edge. The 6-7 Twins. Oshidashi.
Fujinokawa (8-5) defeated Kotoshoho (7-6). Fujinokawa used his powerful tsuppari to shove Kotoshoho over the edge. Oshidashi.
Asakoryu (8-5) defeated Oshoma (6-7). Oshoma shifted to his left along the bales and pulled Asakoryu forward but slipped and touched the ground. The momentum from shoving Takasago’s heyagashira forward might have toppled Oshoma. He was destined to move to 6-7. Tsukite.
Atamifuji (10-3) defeated Abi (9-4). Abi tripped as he tried to pivot and Atamifuji shoved him down easily. Tsukiotoshi.
Onokatsu (6-7) default win over Hakunofuji (5-8).
Halftime
Wakatakakage (7-6) defeated Churanoumi (7-6). As Churanoumi pressed forward, Wakatakakage had the presence of mind to shift right and pull Churanoumi forward. Tsukiotoshi.
Takanosho (4-9) defeated Ura (2-11). Ura went low to avoid Takanosho’s tsuppari and nodowa so Takanosho slapped him down. Ura, being Ura, rolled forward with a flourish. Hatakikomi.
Daieisho (6-7) defeated Yoshinofuji (6-7). Daieisho-brand sumo here. Fierce tsuppari followed by the slapdown fatality. Jatakikomi, as they say in Español.
Ichiyamamoto (3-10) defeated Tamawashi (4-9). Ichiyamamoto laid into the veteran with tsuppari, driving him back and over the edge, into the front row of spectators. Oshidashi.
Sanyaku
Wakamotoharu (6-7) defeated Oshoumi (9-4). Wakamotoharu got his hidari-yotsu hold and drove Oshoumi back to the bales. Oshoumi broke Wakamotoharu’s left-hand grip at the edge and tried to spin him down but Wakamotoharu pressed through and forced Oshoumi out. Yorikiri.
Hiradoumi (9-4) defeated Oho (4-8). Hiradoumi got both hands inside and charged forward, finishing Oho with some gaburi hip action at the edge. Yorikiri.
Takayasu (8-5) defeated Asanoyama (9-4). Asanoyama succeeded in switching his grip to get both hands inside but Takayasu pivoted and hauled Asanoyama down with a powerful uwatenage.
Kirishima (10-3) defeated Shishi (9-4). Kirishima bear-hugged Shishi. Having both hands inside was effective as he held Shishi upright and quickly forced Shishi back and over the edge. Yorikiri.
Onosato (9-4) defeated Kotozakura (8-5). Kotozakura got a left-hand outside, right hand inside. However, he decided to pull. Onosato was more than happy to press forward as he shuffled along the bales to counter Kotozakura’s lateral movement. Onosato easily forced Kotozakura over the bales. Yorikiri.
Aonishiki (11-2) defeated Hoshoryu (8-5). Aonishiki’s ottsuke and body positioning were excellent as he kept Hoshoryu’s hands from getting inside for most of the bout. Aonishiki grabbed Hoshoryu’s belt with his left-hand outside, pivoted and hauled the Yokozuna down. Uwatenage.
Wrap-up
The field narrows considerably:
- 2-losses: Aonishiki
- 3-losses: Kirishima, Atamifuji
Our final tally of 6-7 wrestlers is, 11.
Wow, Aonishiki is in the lead. He still needs to fight Onosato and Kotozakura. Presumably Onosato will be his next opponent. The Day 14 torikumi has not been released as of yet, so I will try to post an update later.
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minor typo: Kinbozan..I know it was finger slip. Or brain?
.. and Mitakeumi too. I guess coffee.. haha
Yeah, we’re out.
That was the worst one today. Totally wrong person.
Ryoga…
Ran out of coffee. Hopefully will make some tonight.
Yikes. Times 2, apparently.
No mono-ii today. I’d say something like “it’s good to see decisive wins”, but that ignores the slips and whoopsie-doodles that happened. No real surprises for victors at the top of the banzuke outside of, maybe, Takayasu.
My assumption is Aonishiki is going to be given the opponents Andy has stated because of what is at stake if he wins. It also wouldn’t surprise me if Hoshoryu doesn’t show up on the dohyo tomorrow. We’ll see.
At some level I’m a bit surprised to see him still in it given how much pain he’s clearly in, judging by his facial expressions after his bouts the last couple days. I won’t be at all surprised to see him done after today. It wouldn’t have been good to default to Aonishiki given the yusho race implications, but now I think he’s able honorably to step aside and take the next seven weeks (at least) off.
Unfortunately, there’s an event in February. The annual NHK shindig. I’m sure both Yokozuna will be there.
… and with a one legged kachikoshi!
Re-watched Onosato vs Kotozakura and see big O. quite confident going with left shoulder and using left arm (just watch the final push). Seems like Onosato overcame this mental block, though still not looking fully balanced. Hence his driving force is reduced.
It looks like Fujinokawa is trying to compensate size disadvantage with wild aggression. However, he lacks the maturity of folks with similar size, Midorifuji and Asakoryu. The summary of his makuuchi presence, so far, is a strange case of overambition. Day 10: Attempted to pull down Shishi and got thrown off the dohyo. Day 11: Attempted to throw Atamifuji, the heaviest guy in makuuchi, and got thrown off the dohyo. Day 12: Attempted to throw Asanoyama and got thrown off the dohyo. Day 13: For a change, attempted to push, managed to defeat Kotoshoho, achieved kachikoshi.
Meanwhile, Aonishiki’s maturity cannot be overrated. Fundamental skills, adaptability, strength, humility, good manners. Knock on wood.
I fear Fujinokawa will get hurt badly some day… his bouts are very entertaining though.
This is why I worry about Wakamotoharu. He’s often trying throws at the edge.
I also am worried about Wakamotoharu and his desperation throws from the literal edge of the dohyo. It’s risky for everyone involved every time it happens.
But it also gave him a spectacular win and two possible rematches.
Are they falling onto hard ground from the dohyo or is the floor shock-absorbing as one would expect (or at least hope)?
Hard floor. The only “cushion” is the people sitting near the dohyo.
A day of sumo to my taste except for the loss of Enho down in makushita against a ms54.
At least two more months until the kabu right for the little warrior.
I hope he’ll do it in March, but I think that even if he missed the return to the sekitori ranks he’d have to be allowed to become an oyakata. He was at m6 when the basho was cancelled in May 2020 and therefore it should be counted. It cannot be that he misses his goal just because of the pandemic.
If I got it right, it‘s been only the fourth time that a rikishi has won by fusen on two consecutive days like Onokatsu. The last time was Hokutofuji in 2015.
My assumption is the banzuke committee will take that into account when they figure out his rank for the next basho. Still surprising that it’s only happened 4 times!
I almost think all the M that scored kinboshi have all had let downs since.
Today Aonishiki has become the rikishi with the most wins in his first year in makuuchi ever by overtaking Taiho (who’s father incidentally was Ukrainian):
https://sumodb.sumogames.de/Query.aspx?show_form=0&columns=6&n_basho=6&show_total=on&sum_wins=0&sum_range=4&show_sum=on&form1_year=1958-now&form1_m=on&form1_debutd=on&form2_m=on&form3_m=on&form4_m=on&form5_m=on&form6_m=on&sort_by=sum_total
What counts even more than the number of wins is of course the number of yusho.
To equal Onosato‘s two, Aonishiki needs at least one more win this weekend.
Go and watch Sumo Legends about Taiho if you have not watched it yet. I was very surprised about what it contained.
Yes, me too. That he reigned the Hak-uho era was the greatest scoop for me. Thanks for the hint.
With just one more he’s still mathematically beatable by kirishima (as long as he wins his next two) with the advantage that he can’t face ozeki or Yokozuna anymore.
All it takes is onosato to beat aonisiki tomorrow and kirishima to win his next two.
Oh stupidass me just noticed he is fighting atamifuji who is also at 10 wins then no nagger what happens there will be an 11 win fighter tomorrow between those two.
I’d love to see a playoff
I don’t know whether to say I’m disappointed that Asanoyama lost today…because I like Takayasu, too. So it’s a wash.
Onosato and Aonishiki looked great. Kotozakura? Not so much.
Question for anyone: for the last bout, the bow-twirler sits in the front next to the gyoji. Where do they send the person who had been sitting there? (Today it was a woman with long hair. Disappeared!)
“Where do they send the person who had been sitting there?”
Trap door, I think.
:)!
Was it just me or did the bow twirler fist pump after Aonishiki’s win today?
Hi did as this is rikishi from Hosh stable obviously rooting for his Yokozuna
Abi should have continued to Abi. He did not. When your primary advantage is your long and strong and fast arms, but you fight as if you don’t have any arms at all, you’re not effectively Abi-ing and you’re going to lose. My outlook was finally rescued by Kirishima and Aonishiki, both fighting brilliantly.
Abi appears to have elbow problems .. He can’t unload his stingers 15 days in a row .. Notice how he shook + flexed his left arm after his loss ..
Will be interesting to see if Aonishiki can finally get rid of his 0 vs. Onosato. This is certainly the basho to do it. Might be too soon to say it’s a mental block even if he does lose, as it’s currently 0-3, but something to watch as this era is shaping up to be a likely 3 Yokozuna era, and one that could start as early as March.
I’m wondering when Hoshoryu can crack his goose egg against Aonishiki. This Aonishiki vs Onosato bout is pivotal.
He needs to get his wheels back .. he has more foot speed than Aonishiki .. put them in a phone booth and Aonishiki beats him .. A great clash of styles and skill ..
Watching a gimpy Hoshoryu hop around is weak tea .. getting himself healthy would serve both himself and us fans ..
I don’t think it’s a mental block for Aonishiki , but a wrong style for him in Onosato. I’m intrigued to see what strategy he will use tomorrow to overcome big Yokozuna. Thinking of strong tachiai followed by left grip and right nodowa/ottsuke.
Yeah, I do agree it’s not a mental block…yet. But surely Onosato has his pride and I’m sure he’s aware he’s never lost to Aonishiki, so if he can string a couple more wins together against him, who knows. Maybe I just chuckle at the idea of the current/future Yokuzuna janken we’ve got going.
I bet Aonishiki tries to force Onosato to defend + fight w his left arm .. Just like he forced Hosh to brace on that bad left knee .. He likes his left hand on the belt, but his right hand may be key ..
Onosato will try to bulldoze him .. Just like Mike Tyson said . “everybody has a plan until they get hit in the mouth” ..
Don’t forget that in the eyes of many he beat him last basho already!
And in this basho he beat Yoshinofuji (and Daeieisho) for the first time.
So definitively no candidate for a mental block.
I also don’t think it’s a mental block. Onosato just had the combination of traits (size, strength, enough agility and mobility, forceful tachiai) to be a bad physical matchup for him at this stage. Onosato has high enough levels in all those traits to make him a nightmare for anyone. And Onosato’s “weakness” recently has been with stronger wrestlers getting the drop on him and getting him moving backwards. Brute strength is not Aonishiki’s forte. I still think he can win by working for a position like Ura got with that leg pick, but he has to weather that initial attack first. He did better at that in the last match between the two, so let’s see if he improves more here.
Could Hoshoryu be injured? He doesn’t look quite his usual self (not to diminish the merits of Aonishiki!)
He is. Prior to the tournament, Tatsunami oyakata remarked that fluid was being drained from his knee and the meniscus is torn.
The Blue Whirlwind is going to win again.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/3025221/