News from the infirmary that Onosato will be kyujo from Day Four. Yoshinofuji will receive the default win. Also, we have news that Onokatsu will return tomorrow, Day Five. Onokatsu will fight Takanosho.
In Juryo, the leadership group with four wins has narrowed to four men, Wakanosho (who might be looking to repeat his yusho from Hatsu), Kyokukaiyu, Kazuma and the newly promoted, shin-nyumaku, Fujitensei.
The NHK videos for Day Four are here. Of course, if you want to bookmark this page it has links to bouts from the previous two tournaments, as well.
Makuuchi action
Asahakuryu (3-1) defeated Fujiryoga (2-2). Just as Fujiryoga began to chug forward, Asahakuryu shifted to his right and hooked his right arm under Fujiryoga’s left shoulder and thrust him forward to the ground. Tsukiotoshi.
Kotoeiho (2-2) defeated Kinbozan (2-2). Henka! Kotoeiho shifted to his left at the tachiai and slapped Kinbozan down. Hikiotoshi.
Nishikifuji (3-1) defeated Mitakeumi (2-2). Nishikifuji got a left hand inside grip and Mitakeumi fought well with his right-hand overarm grip. Mitakeumi tried to pull and that’s when Nishikifuji was able to charge forward and force Mitakeumi out. Yorikiri.
Fujiseiun (3-1) defeated Tobizaru (1-3). Tobizaru got his right hand inside. Fujiseiun battled to get his left hand overarm grip but couldn’t quite get it. So, Fujiseiun grabbed Tobizaru’s right arm and pivoted, trying a kotenage. This broke Tobizaru’s hold on Fujiseiun’s belt. Fujiseiun followed up by shoving Tobizaru until he pushed him out. Oshidashi.
Asanoyama (2-2) defeated Chiyoshoma (2-2). Asanoyama wasn’t playing around today. He worked his right arm in under Chiyoshoma’s left shoulder and swung Chiyoshoma down by pulling hard and rotated counter-clockwise, dragging him down. Sukuinage.
Asakoryu (3-1) defeated Oshoumi (0-3). While Oshoumi still struggled to get a sashi, Asakoryu had locked on with his left-hand inside and threw Oshoumi with that left-hand grip. I need to get stats on the length of guys’ arms. Asakoryu had that grip but was able to extend his body and keep Oshoumi off his belt because Oshoumi couldn’t reach that far. Shitatenage.
Tokihayate (2-2) defeated Roga (2-2). Tokihayate got his right-hand inside grip and pulled Roga forward, flipping him over the bales. Shitatenage.
Shishi (2-2) defeated Tamawashi (0-4). Tamawashi owns the record in makuuchi bouts at 1471, breaking Kyokutenho’s record. Tamawashi tried everything. He hit Shishi with fierce tsuppari, tried a slapdown, wrenched Shishi’s arm for a kotenage…but Shishi stood. As Tamawashi did the unthinkable, grabbed Shishi’s belt and heaved toward the bales, Shishi used a last second left-hand belt grip to counter-attack and throw Tamawashi over the edge. I know folks have been talking about Tamawashi as being winless this tournament so far but the old man certainly brought the heat today. He just got beat by better sumo. “Zannen desu”, as they say. Shitatenage.
Shodai (3-1) defeated Gonoyama (3-1). Shodai shifted left then right, knocked Gonoyama off-balance and thrust him to the ground. Tsukiotoshi.
Daieisho (1-3) defeated Ura (3-1). Homeboy finally lost. Ura tried to feel his way forward through Daieisho’s tsuppari but Daieisho quickly slapped him down. Hatakikomi.
Halftime
Takanosho (4-0) defeated Oshoma (2-2). Takanosho blasted Oshoma back to the bales. As Oshoma tried to brace against the tawara, he took a knee. Takanosho slapped him down just to be sure but this is one of those, “Oops,” non-winning moves. Tsukihiza.
Hiradoumi (3-1) defeated Ichiyamamoto (2-2). Hiradoumi pressed through Ichiyamamoto’s volleys of tsuppari, charged forward and forced him over the bales. Yorikiri.
Kotoshoho (4-0) defeated Oho (1-3). This was a great bout where both men battered each other with headbutts and tsuppari, leaving both men bloodied. An exhausted Oho flopped down onto the bales, rather comedically. Oho knew the slapdown was coming. He’d faced about five attempts and defeated all of them with solid footwork. Rather than resist this final slapdown, he embraced it. “Please, end it. Just, end it. I’m tired.” Well, you’ll never make Ozeki with that attitude. From out of nowhere, Shodai pipes in. “Don’t be so sure.” Tsukiotoshi.
Sanyaku
Atamifuji (2-2) defeated Wakamotoharu (0-4). Wakamotoharu wasn’t even a blocking sled. Wakamotoharu moved back as if he were a blocking sled with thousands of helium balloons tied to it so that it hovered an inch off the ground. A strong fart could have taken him out. WTH, WMH? You hurt, too? Maybe we’ve got one more on kyujo watch. Oshidashi.
Kirishima (3-1) defeated Wakatakakage (1-3). Kirishima forced Wakatakakage to the bales with his initial charge. Wakatakakage resisted so Kirishima grabbed him with his left-hand over-arm grip, right hand up under WTK’s shoulder, and drove forward. Yorikiri.
Yoshinofuji default win over Onosato. No doubt sad he misses out on a double-fisted payday.
Churanoumi (2-2) defeated Aonishiki (2-2). What a brawl. Both men peppered the other with tsuppari. Churanoumi tried a little misdirection but Aonishiki’s footwork was excellent and he re-engaged. Aonishiki’s tsuppari wouldn’t move Churanoumi back so he pulled and Churanoumi surged forward with both men crashing down along the bales. Gunbai Churanoumi. No mono-ii. Yoritaoshi.
News Break?!?!?! You’re literally going to have the news in 23 minutes! “Andy, we’re starved for action…and for oil. There’s barely anyone left to fight and we can’t drag things out forever. Besides, these oil ships are a big deal for us.”
Takayasu (4-0) defeated Kotozakura (3-1). Kotozakura stood his ground and didn’t reverse immediately to the bales. Instead, he stood up Takayasu and tried to shove him back. Both men locked on to each other’s belt. Kotozakura pulled back to get a better inside grip with the left hand and that’s when Takayasu surged forward. Kotozakura freaked out and backed away but Takayasu was not letting go with that left hand. Takayasu chased and forced the Ozeki out. Yorikiri.
Fujinokawa (2-2) defeated Hoshoryu (3-1). The disrupter strikes again. Kinboshi Number Two. Fujinokawa charged ahead as Hoshoryu rotated left. Fujinokawa backed away and slapped the Yokozuna down. This one is totally on the Yokozuna. He needed much better footwork and a plan would have been nice. Hatakikomi.
Wrap-up
Freaking upsets!! Onosato out. Hoshoryu falls. Kotozakura had just started looking solid!!! Now, Aonishiki’s first rope-run is on life support. Takayasu leads Kotoshoho and Takanosho. Well, at least we don’t have Fujiryoga or Kotoeiho on a yusho run. Dig up the squid!!
When the descriptions get long and Andy starts getting silly, it’s time for bed. Not before we take a look at tomorrow’s bouts, though. So, what do we have on tap? Atamifuji will fight Hiradoumi, Takayasu will fight Yoshinofuji, and Kirishima is set to take on Wakamotoharu. Kotozakura will fight Wakatakakage, Aonishiki versus Fujinokawa and Hoshoryu ends the day’s action against Churanoumi.
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Abema repeated the end of Aonishiki’s match in super slomo several times. He was still standing inside upright, when Churanoumi hit the dohyo. Not even a monoii.
Maybe they thought Yokozuna should not be moving backwards, so he deserves to lose. But yeah, there should be a rematch, imo.
Interestingly it was Ajigawa oyakata sitting on the side closest to the fall. I’m sure it’s a matter of dignity not rising hand when his student on the dohyo.
Chura won the match tactically, executing his “messy Shodai style” sumo with slpaping, moving and retreating. Appernly Aonishiki doesn’t like that.
Excellent point. I’ll need to rewatch the bout. That brings an interesting element into the “mono-ii” debate which I had not considered.
Looks like Ao’s foot flipped first even though he was still standing inside.
(top of a foot cannot touch the ground)
But yeah, should be a monoii, and rematch.
I agree that Ao top of foot turned over before either of them fell, saw that on the multiple slo-mo replays….but it was sooooo close!
Looked like shini-tai to me..
I think the slomo meant to show that Aonishki’s foot twisted till his instep touched the ground while Churanoumi was still standing. A monoii would have been nice, but the decision was possibly correct.
I didn’t rewatch, just the first replay that was party of the NHK highlights, and what i saw was chirnoumi landing on top of Aonishiki’s over turned foot. So yeah, for me it’s like proof that Aonishiki is down first, cuz Chirnoumi is on top of it. Like when the runner steps on the fielders glove, it’s proof he was picked off cuz the glove was there first.
Im happy with a win for Shishi today, he gave it all, unlike in his yesterdays bout, where he was simply obliterated by Gonoyama….
<> :)
Great day, many fierce brawls!
From out of nowhere, Shodai pipes in. “Don’t be so sure.” :)
Goodness, what a day of sumo! Nishikifuji is definitely motivated and moving forward this basho. Perhaps he has picked up the banner of his heya and is carrying it during his matches?
Tokihayate is quietly improving his sumo even though he has an even record. Today shows that he is making progress and it’s great to see.
I have no idea what the actual problem is, but Wakamotoharu proved today that there’s a reason he pulled a henka on day 1. If his injuries are that bad, then why is he on the dohyo?
WTK was stepping gingerly on his right leg after his match today. His knee is taped up on that leg, so maybe that’s why? Something else to keep an eye on for the Infirmary Watch.
Hoshoryu thought he didn’t have to worry about Fujinokawa today. He already thought he had won before the tachiai happened. I hope that bad habit is squashed after today’s loss.
I think Fujinokawa won the match today due to his lightning fast tachiai, he was milliseconds ahead of Hoshoryu, which gave him the winning edge. A tiny faster and it would have been called a matta, imho.
I thought it was a clear matta – he was off to the races when Hoshoryu was only just starting to put his hands down. Credit to Hoshoryu for not complaining, IMO..
It seems like nerves might be hitting Aonishiki a bit, as he looked a little overcautious today. As much as I’d like to see it happen, Yokozuna this basho looks like a step too far right now. But he’s proven me and others wrong before, so here’s hoping he does it again!
So did the sumo authorities glue down the zabuton at some point? You never see the crowd let fly anymore. Bring back purple rain!!!
They’re in Osaka, so perhaps a slightly different crowd. Or maybe after Onosato’s week, they’re getting used to seeing yokozuna lose.
Ha-ha – there was one, so perhaps someone managed to rip one off!!
I think I read somewhere that in most of the 4 venues, they are no longer loose, rather are tied down, so not possible to throw them when a Yokozuna loses to a mage shirt ranked wrestler. And the JSA frowns on the practice as spectators can get injured from a flying zabuton hitting them in the head…I know not fun.
Haha… maegashira, not mage shirt!
Thank you for your coverage so far, Andy! That appearance of Shodai in Oho’s write-up made me laugh. Shishi’s fights are such bar-room brawls 😆 Fujinokawa is such an exciting talent! I found it poetic that Churanoumi, who has been slowly building up the ranks sustainably, defeats Aonishiki, who has blasted up the ranks at the speed of light.
Great observation! Per Aesop’s fables, The Tortoise and the Hare…
“Aonishiki’s first rope-run is on life support”
if we had Onosato at top level, I would had agreed, but the rikishi at top can easily loss 2 to 3 bouts
I think he can still easily win
How many wins do you think will take the yusho?
11-4 !!
Gosh, I hope it’s at least 12 or 13.
12-3 is totally possible,
13-2 doubtful, unless Papayasu can, finally, conquer it
It is early, but Papa, Taka, & Koto on top is a feel good story ..
With all the walking wounded rikishi it is hard to handicap this basho .. Shodai may be Ao’s last bout ..
Kotosho and Oho left it all on the dohyo .. v their usual habit of loosing the plot half way through long matches .. Will they have anything left in the tank tomorrow ? ..
Hoshoryu’s sumo looks reactive (rope-a-dope-lite) v seizing the offense .. it works due to his cat-like quickness .. it did not play well v Fujinokawa’s energizer-bunny-sumo ..
Shishi will never get awards for pretty sumo .. but when he keeps his head down + grabs a belt he will be dangerous + he is diversifying his take down moves ..
If the headliner favorites keep faceplanting .. we’ll have to dust off our favorite dark horse rikishi’s .. I like how Kiri looks ..
Nice victory interview with Fujinokawa. When asked how his father would feel with the win he beamed at full lumen. Kabutoyama Oyakata must be a super dad.
Papa Bear!!!!
Sorry, it just makes me smile. I have no further commentary. He is looking so good. Another jun yusho for sure 😉