Day Six in Osaka. A bit of news from the infirmary to start things off. Hakunofuji will return to action on Day Seven. We also had a rather rare event to report down in the lowest Jonokuchi division, called a ryosha fusenpai 両者不戦敗. Both competitors in the Katsunonishiki/Higonoryu bout were kyujo so both received a loss.
If you’ve ever been curious about what happens in that case, the Sumo Association website shows both men losing. OneLoveLulit on Twitter has the video of what you see and hear on the dohyo.
In Makushita, Elder Onami brother, Wakatakamoto, appears to have suffered a significant knee injury. He was taken by wheelchair from the dohyo and then to the hospital. He fought Kurohimeyama. Kurohimeyama drove him back, Wakatakamoto resisted at the bales but was crushed out with a yoritaoshi.
Concern is for the right knee/leg. I’ll let you all know any news. Not only is he the elder brother to Wakamotoharu and Wakatakakage, he serves as Wakamotoharu’s tsukebito and therefore will not be there at the hanamichi for WMH’s bout today against Fujinokawa.
In today’s Juryo action, Wakanosho (6-0) is the lone undefeated competitor in the division with his tsukidashi win over Sadanoumi (2-4). Kazekeno defeated Kazuma, so both men are 5-1 alongside Kitanowaka. Enho had the day off today but is scheduled to fight Ms1E Himukamaru tomorrow. It’s really a pivotal bout because Himukamaru is the top guy in the division. Enho will really want this guy to finish the tournament with a make-koshi to improve his own odds of promotion.
NHK videos of today’s top division action are here.
Makuuchi Action
Chiyoshoma (3-3) defeated Asahakuryu (4-2). Asahakuryu forced Chiyoshoma to the edge. Chiyoshoma slipped his grasp by shuffling along the bales and turned the tables by grabbing and pulling on his arm. Asahakuryu tried to right himself but Chiyoshoma followed up quickly by wrapping Asahakuryu up and driving him over the bales. Yorikiri.
Nishikifuji (4-2) defeated Fujiryoga (3-3). Nishikifuji grabbed Fujiryoga’s belt with a righthand overarm (uwate) grip and drove him to the tawara. Fujiryoga latched on with his own left-arm underarm (shitate) hold and both men tried to pitch the other over the side. Nishikifuji broke the stalemate by using his left hand to shove Fujiryoga backwards. Oshitaoshi.
Kinbozan (4-2) defeated Tobizaru (1-5). Kinbozan battered Tobizaru with tsuppari and then finished him off with a slapdown. Hatakikomi.
Fujiseiun (4-2) defeated Mitakeumi (2-4). Fujiseiun twisted and pulled Mitakeumi over to the tawara and finished him off with strong gaburi yotsu hip thrusts. He also got a deep grip on Mitakeumi’s mawashi knot, like yesterday’s Wakatakakage/Kotozakura bout. This time, though, they let Fujiseiun finish Mitakeumi off without pausing to fix the knot. Yorikiri.
Kotoeiho (4-2) defeated Asakoryu (4-2). Asakoryu tried to shove Kotoeiho, but Kotoeiho slipped his grasp to the right and slapped Asakoryu down while jumping out. Mono-ii. The shimpan decided both men died and called for a rematch. In the rematch, Asakoryu pulled and Kotoeiho chased him out with steady footwork and tsuppari. Oshidashi.
Asanoyama (4-2) defeated Shishi (3-3). While Shishi tried to twist and throw Asanoyama down, Asanoyama maintained his balance and drove Shishi back with his right hand under Shishi’s armpit. Asanoyama forced Shishi to the bales and over the edge. Yorikiri.
Oshoumi (1-5) defeated Tokihayate (2-4). Oshoumi wrapped up Tokihayate with his left hand uwate grip and forced him back and out. Yorikiri.
Gonoyama (5-1) defeated Tamawashi (1-5). Gonoyama pulled and used his right arm under Tamawashi’s shoulder to heave him back to the bales. Gonoyama finished him off with strong thrusts. Oshidashi.
Shodai (5-1) defeated Roga (2-4). Shodai grabbed Roga with a left-hand overarm grip and used it to force Roga over the bales. Uwatenage.
Ichiyamamoto (4-2) defeated Ura (3-3). This bout attracts a heap of kensho for a mid-maegashira bout because of Ura’s local hero status, which earned him the top. Ichiyamamoto spoiled the day, though, by pulling and slapping Ura down, claiming A Fistful of Yen. Hatakikomi.
Halftime
Onokatsu (1-3-2) defeated Oshoma (2-4). Oshoma slipped left as Onokatsu charged forward and slapped Onokatsu down. Gunbai Oshoma. Mono-ii? Oshoma got A Fistful of Topknot, and thus lost by Hanzoku.
Kotoshoho (5-1) defeated Takanosho (5-1). Kotoshoho pulled and Takanosho’s momentum carried him forward and off the dohyo. Tsukiotoshi.
Daieisho (3-3) defeated Churanoumi (2-4). Daieisho hit Churanoumi with tsuppari but Churanoumi cycled around the edge to get better position. As he charged forward, Daieisho slipped to the side and slapped him down. Hatakikomi.
Sanyaku
Fujinokawa (3-3) defeated Wakamotoharu (0-6). Fujinokawa blitzed Wakamotoharu and drove the Komusubi back and out, quickly. His mind may be on his elder brother and tsukebito, Wakatakamoto. Oshidashi.
Kirishima (5-1) defeated Yoshinofuji (2-4). Yoshinofuji charged forward, it looked a bit early. Kirishima stopped briefly to look at the gyoji, “you going to call a matta? No? Okay.” Kirishima then shifted left, grabbed Yoshinofuji’s belt and threw him down. Uwatenage.
Wakatakakage (3-3) defeated Takayasu (5-1). Takayasu’s left-hand inside grip was not giving him enough leverage to force Wakatakakage back. Eventually Wakatakakage used his right uwate to drive Takayasu back and throw him to the clay. Wakatakakage was cradling that right arm after the bout. He already wears a compression sleeve on and tape on that right elbow. Uwatedashinage.
Oho (2-4) defeated Aonishiki (3-3). Welp, there goes the rope. Aonishiki got a morozashi early, double inside grip, and used that to hoist Oho around the ring. He could not finish him off or get leverage for a throw. Instead, Oho managed to keep his footing and as Aonishiki tired, turned the tables. With Aonishiki’s arms wrapped up, Oho drove Aonishiki back to the edge and drove him back off the dohyo. Kimedashi.
Atamifuji (3-3) defeated Kotozakura (3-3). Kotozakura telegraphed his pathetic pull attempt at the outset. Well, at least he pivoted at the start of his pull? Kotozakura pivoted right and put his hand up to pull Atamifuji down but Atamifuji just charged forward and forced the faux-zeki over the edge. Oshidashi.
Hoshoryu (5-1) defeated Hiradoumi (4-2). Hoshoryu was not playing around today. He met Hiradoumi head-on and shoved him back and out. Oshidashi.
Wrap-up
Some idiot from the crowd reached over the railing and patted Hoshoryu on the back as he walked down the hanamichi, and was immediately admonished by the guard and an oyakata (I couldn’t tell which, from behind).
Osaka’s venue is a bit of a security nightmare with how close the crowd interacts with the wrestlers. Some twits heckled Hoshoryu’s dohyo-iri the other day… News reports have been unflattering regarding fan behavior over the past few months.
Anyway, Hoshoryu is representing his office well, and has been rather dominant, despite the blemish against Fujinokawa. No one remains undefeated so we’ve got a whole slew of guys with five wins. Let’s see how that field looks at the end of the weekend.
Let’s pivot to the schedule for tomorrow. Wakamotoharu will fight Yoshinofuji, Takayasu will take on Daieisho, Kirishima will face Hiradoumi, Kotozakura will fight Fujinokawa, Aonishiki will battle Atamifuji and Hoshoryu will end the day’s action against his nemesis, Oho.
As for the rank-and-filers at 5-1, Takanosho will fight Ichiyamamoto, Kotoshoho will battle Oshoma, Gonoyama will take on Ura and Shodai will square up to Shishi.
Once again, I will not be reporting on Day Seven or Day Eight. I will see you back here on Day Nine, hopefully with better sumo and an interesting yusho race. If it’s a Shodai runaway, I’ll be here with bells on.
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In Jonikuchi there was a Moriurara win today!
Oho‘s kimedashi was really fierce. I’d like to see more of that determination during the following days.
At first sight I imagined reading Shodai will squish up Shishi :D
Don‘t you dare hurting this precious guy!
I think I‘m rooting for a Shodai vs. Kirishima playoff…
Have a pleasant weekend, Andy! Looking forward to see you back on monday!
I’m certainly here for a Shodai/Kirishima showdown for the title!
So we kiss goodbye to the Takayasu yusho, to the Takanosho yusho and to Aonishiki’s rope all on the same day.
Well played, Friday 13th, well played.
Oh, good call. I had not spotted that today was the 13th. I wonder if it will make for an interesting commute.
Well, to be fair, the only thing kissed good bye with respect to Takayasu and Takanosho is the possibilty of a zensho yusho for either of them… but they’re in as good a position as any to continue a march toward the giant macaron.
I agree, leader pack is now at 7, so any horse in this race could win the stormy March basho! I’m still rooting for 2x Taka air Hosh to take the title.
Or, not air….
I hope this one win will be enough to save Onokatsu from dropping to Juryo. He was limping in pain after the match and better would go kyujo for the rest of the tournament.
I was thinking the same thing. Yeah, he refused help but walked very gingerly down the hanamichi. I’m not sure if 1 will be enough, though. He’ll probably need at least one more win. There aren’t a lot of examples but Chiyotairyu got demoted from M5 with 1 win in 2015. The only two (relatively) recent examples from M6 ended up in Juryo. The Sumo Association also seems to treat kyujo more strictly than losses.
As Andy says there have been only few comparable results.
The best in my eyes is Chiyohakuho, whose 2 wins from M6w weren’t enough to stay in the division.
Something about Kirishima making eye contact with the gyoji waiting for the matta keeps making me giggle.
‚May I… – yup, done already!‘ Gyoji was on the verge of smiling, too
Are they working on the tactics in Ajigawa? Aonishiki lost exactly the same fashion to Oho as he did last basho. It just makes me mad.
Got a feeling the Takayasy and Hoshoryu will compete for the yusho this time.
I feel bad for WMH, alone at the bottom with an awful 0-6, his record is reflecting the way he is presenting on the dohyo, and then his older brother and tsukebito has a terrible leg injury as Andy reported. I think he needs to kyujo, there is no umpf in his fighting. As I commented the other day, Hiro had said he is recently struggling with Asthma, and it shows….
Oof, that hurt. After yesterday’s bout I was wondering if the other wrestlers had started to work out tactics against Aonishiki, and Oho answered that with a yes. Giving up a morozashi wasn’t ideal, but Aonishiki does leave his arms way out and open to a kimedashi. There aren’t too many wrestlers big or strong enough to do that, but Oho qualifies and has done that before. Since Aonishiki wins with technique, he’s going to need to find counters for the counters to continue improving. Some more strength would also help. He’s so young and hasn’t been wrestling that long, there’s still significant potential for growth.