Day 12 in Osaka. No injury news today.
Dewanoryu defeated Kazuma in the showdown between the Juryo leaders. Dewanoryu now leads at 10-2. Toshinofuji, Kazuto, and Wakanosho chase at 9-3. Tsurugisho (0-12) keeps mounting the dohyo somehow and keeps being escorted away, this time by Tomokaze. Dewanoryu will fight Daiseizan who is close to earning Makuuchi promotion.
What rhymes with Haru? Maru! In other news for the geezers among us, Chiyomaru (pictured) defeated Nionoumi. It was the pair’s first bout in 13 years, down in Sandanme division. Both men are former top division wrestlers who last fought when Chiyomaru visited the top division from Juryo, with Chiyomaru also winning that bout. Chiyomaru remarked how he has been fighting a lot of young kids lately and liked facing a senpai for once. Chiyomaru secured a kachi-koshi and probably locked in a return to Makushita, where he had been grinding for the past year.
Usually there are some yusho deciding bouts on Day 13. The only one which might decide the yusho is Wakanofuji versus Arashifuji. Wakanofuji is not from Isegahama stable but from Kusagano, which doesn’t have a sekitori for the first time in ages. This promising kid might make it as early as Nagoya. (Tochitaikai might make it back for Natsu.) Bucky, I mean Wakanofuji, earned a Makushita tsukedashi as Justin mentioned in his profile before Hatsu — and before he had a shikona.
Makuuchi Action
Takerufuji (Juryo 6-6) defeated Tobizaru (4-8). Tobizaru ran away from Takerufuji’s tsuppari attack and leapt into the third row. Maybe there was some hot fan back there. Oshidashi.
Asanoyama (8-4) defeated Kotoeiho (7-5). Asanoyama quickly latched his left hand inside on Kotoeiho’s belt. With his right hand under Kotoeiho’s shoulder he began to chug forward. Kotoeiho tried to change his own grip with his right hand but rearing back like that is not a good idea. Asanoyama’s charge accelerated and he walked Kotoeiho out. Asanoyama kachi-koshi. Yorikiri.
Oshoumi (3-9) defeated Fujiryoga (6-6). After a long battle, Oshoumi wrapped his right leg around Fujiryoga’s left and tripped him. Oshoumi might be discovering that without overwhelming force, he will need a deep bag of tricks to stay in Makuuchi. Sotogake.
Chiyoshoma (7-5) defeated Roga (4-8). Chiyoshoma attacked Roga with tsuppari thrusts to Roga’s face. Roga felt this was unpleasant and went straight back and out. Oshidashi.
Mitakeumi (6-6) defeated Tokihayate (5-7). Mitakeumi wrapped up Tokihayate and drove him back with gaburi hip thrusts. Yorikiri.
Nishikifuji (6-6) defeated Tamawashi (3-9). Nishikifuji forced Tamawashi to be mobile. He shifted along the bales to avoid Tamawashi’s tsuppari and launched fierce headbutt attacks. As Tamawashi chased him, Nishikifuji grabbed him and thrust him down. Tsukiotoshi.
Asakoryu (8-4) defeated Ura (5-7). Asakoryu launched out at Ura with tsuppari and shoved Ura over the bales. Asakoryu kachi-koshi. Oshidashi.
Asahakuryu (8-4) defeated Shodai (7-5). When Asahakuryu got his left hand inside grip, he shoved Shodai to the edge. He finally got his right-hand outside grip as well, pulled up, and forced Shodai over the bales with gaburi action. Asahakuryu kachi-koshi, that’s three for Takasago-beya. All three top rankers from the stable get to celebrate today. Yorikiri.
Shishi (6-6) defeated Oshoma (4-8). Shishi did not like Oshoma attacking his left arm inside grip so he ripped his hand away and opted for a tsuppari attack, shoving Oshoma back and out. Oshidashi.
Kinbozan (7-5) defeated Hakunofuji (3-5-4). Kinbozan gingerly ushered Hakunofuji back and over the bales with his left-hand over arm grip. “Why don’t you just go home, dude?” Yorikiri.
Halftime
Takanosho (8-4) defeated Fujiseiun (8-4). Takanosho lashed out at Fujiseiun with tsuppari then slapped him down. Kachi-koshi for someone not from Takasago-beya. Hatakikomi.
Fujinokawa (6-6) defeated Churanoumi (3-9). Churanoumi was way too high. Fujinokawa grabbed him in a bear hug with both arms under his shoulders and drove him back. Yorikiri.
Wakatakakage (7-5) defeated Ichiyamamoto (6-6). Wakatakakage pulled and tried a slapdown. It didn’t work but he had negated much of Ichiyamamoto’s tsuppari attack. Wakatakakage then slipped underneath and inside for a grip of Ichiyamamoto’s belt, again negating any tsuppari. He held Ichiyamamoto high so Ichi couldn’t do anything but go along for the ride. Yorikiri.
Kotoshoho (10-2) defeated Yoshinofuji (5-7). Kotoshoho held Yoshinofuji at bay with tsuppari to the shoulders. When Yoshinofuji began to move forward, Kotoshoho shifted right and slapped him down. Hatakikomi.
Sanyaku
Abi (3-4-5) defeated Wakamotoharu (2-10). I think everyone in the stadium, Wakamotoharu and Abi, included, were surprised that Abi’s initial slap forced Wakamotoharu to the side so easily. Abi got Wakamotoharu completely turned with that one slap and from there he walked Wakamotoharu out from behind as if Wakamotoharu was a senile geriatric, lost in the park. “Your home is over here, old man, just on the other side of these straw bales.” Wakamotoharu is sure to face a significant drop into the midst of the rank and file. Okuridashi.
Oho (6-6) defeated Atamifuji (7-5). Oho pivoted and retreated along the bales as he slapped Atamifuji down. Katasukashi.
Hiradoumi (6-6) defeated Takayasu (6-6). Hiradoumi got both arms under Takayasu’s shoulders, bear hugging Papa Bear. Takayasu could not find a counter-attack. I mean, how do you counter attack love? Just go with it. Yorikiri.
Daieisho (5-7) defeated Aonishiki (5-7). Standard Daieisho. Someone didn’t read the brief. Daieisho hit Aonishiki with a flurry of tsuppari. Aonishiki leaned forward into it so Daieisho tried the slapdown. That got Aonishiki off-balance going forward but Aonishiki caught himself. Daieisho re-engaged with more tsuppari, forcing Aonishiki off-balance backwards…which is not good. Aonishiki bounced on his ass as he dropped from the dohyo. OUCH! Tsukitaoshi.
Kotozakura (8-4) defeated Gonoyama (9-3). Kotozakura backed up to the edge and teased Gonoyama with the idea he could force him out. Kotozakura pivoted and started hitting Gonoyama with tsuppari, driving him back across the ring. Gonoyama pulled…straight back…and lost. Oshidashi.
Kirishima (11-1) defeated Hoshoryu (9-3). Stunning. Kirishima wanted the uwatenage from the word, “jump.” He latched on with his left hand and immediately rotated backward. Hoshoryu hung on for dear life and tried to counter. But Kirishima wouldn’t let the Yokozuna get inside with his left hand and he kept pulling backwards, rotating and rotating until he finally dragged the Yokozuna over. Uwatenage.
Wrap-up
Kirishima must have gone in to today infinitely more confident than when he faced Terunofuji. “At least this guy won’t yeet me into the crowd.” I wanted Hoshoryu to prove him wrong and yeet him into the crowd just for thinking these audacious thoughts. It was not to be, however. Kirishima leads with one loss. Kotoshoho follows with two. Hoshoryu and Gonoyama both fall back to three losses and the field trails after.
In the surprise of the tournament, Aonishiki must win his final three bouts to avoid going kadoban. No yusho. No double-digit wins. No passing Go. No $200. If he’s to earn the rope, he’s got to retool and start fresh in May.
These final three days are going to be interesting, except for the fact that our top dogs are out of the race. Atamifuji will face Gonoyama. Atamifuji is looking for kachi-koshi. Wakamotoharu will face Daieisho. Takayasu will fight Takanosho. Kirishima will then fight Oho. Kotozakura and Aonishiki will battle in our Ozeki Showdown. Hoshoryu will take on Kotoshoho in the final bout of Day 13.
See you tomorrow!
Discover more from Tachiai (立合い)
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
My sincerest apologies to Kirishima, and well done!
Would 3-12 put Tamawashi on the barge?
I think he needs one more win to be safe. He should have won today, he was better but a bit impatient.
So far there’s only one promotable record in Juryo, 3 out 4 top-2 ranks are one loss away from MK, Ryuden needs 2 more wins for KK, Daiseizan needs 2 more for the numbers and Dewanoryu has to win all 3. As it stands right now everyone except Midorifuji may end up safe just for the lack of strong promotion candidates.
And there is Sadanoumi who needs three for his kachikoshi.
Onokatsu‘s result is so bad, they might replace him by the juryo who comes nearest to a promotable record. The same with Fujiryoga if he lost all three. Then, if the J1s had makekoshi, two wins could be enough for Dewanoryu or three for Asasuiryu or Tomokaze or Kayo.
Good question. I think that would be depending on how many promotion cases there are and how many seats are on the barge. At the moment, there are a number of guys ahead of him for a spot and not many strong promotion cases in the top third of Juryo. I think he’s safe now with room to spare.
For the most part of 2025, Kirishima fought like a true ozeki. (Unlike Kotozakura, that is.) Still three days to go. But he earned the promotion.
Aonishiki is taking the beating of a lifetime. 10/10+ wins in 8 consecutive tournaments (including 2 in juryo) without a single losing record was not coincidence. Based on the stark contrast between his perfect run and current state, the probable explanation is that even Aonishiki gets the blues. At least he is not carrying an injury.
Out of the 8 men at M14 and below, 6 are still fighting for kachi-koshi. (Asahakuryu achieved it today. Midorifuji is absent, hopefully in good health.) 3 of them are at 7-5 and 3 at 6-6. Having completed bouts among themselves, they will be matched with either upper ranks or juryo visitors.
I think Aonishki has a bad case of the heebee jeebees. Needs to get away from all things sumo for a while; perhaps 3 days of walking meditation somewhere in India, voyage across the ocean, a weekend of hard partying, a shaman-anything to break the spell!
As Ozeki, that’s not going to happen. He probably has a ground breaking or mall opening to attend tonight.
“I mean, how do you counter attack love? Just go with it.”
—
Spewed my coffee.
Aonishiki: am speechless. This has got to be the worst sumo I’ve seen from him.
Kotozakura: He managed to get his 8 wins. I keep thinking he needs to lose a few pounds, that he’d be more mobile if he did.
Kirishima: there ya go! Wow. A masterful uwatenage.
“Kotozakura backed up to the edge and teased Gonoyama with the idea he could force him out” :)
Stunning from Kirishima! He staked everything on this uwatenage throw and it worked.
Today it occurred to me that the sumo is strange. In regular professional sport everyone is trained with state-of-the-art professional technique. In sumo it looks like every rikishi comes up with his own strange method, which is interesting to watch, but seems amateurish. For example Shodai: why no oyakata taught him proper belt skills instead of this Shodai-hug? Currently he looks like losing every time he is gripped by the belt.
And regarding Aonishiki – he has no reverse gear, which I consider a disadvantage. In current condition Daieisho is just begging to be slapped down for an easy win.
Kirishima and Kotoshoho both exhibited calm dominant power and patience, I enjoyed watching these wins, despite having hoped that Hosh would have won this bout to keep him in contention for taking his first Yusho as Yokozuna. Murray said it when Aonishiki tumbled out for another hard fall on his tailbone, “sumo at times can be cruel”…
Yeah, that fall looked like it hurt.
Chiyomaru had a good bout against Nabatame a few days ago, they were in a whirling tsuppari fight but Nabatame just gave a little bit better than he got. I was honestly surprised, I hadn’t thought about Chiyo for a while and assumed he would have retired at some point in this slide. Good for him to get his kachi-koshi.
I should spend a few paragraphs tracking some of the old hands toiling in the lower divisions.
I think that’s a fantastic idea, Andy! Yes, please.
It really feels like the top of the banzuke is starting to settle in, but we’re not quite there yet.
Mitakeumi absolutely doesn’t want to lose anymore. I wish I knew the difference between his first 5 days and his recent bouts.
I’m honestly glad that Shishi and Kinbozan are using attacking sumo with movement included in their strategies. They both could have gone a route where “being big” is their main strategy (Kotozakura, I’m definitely looking at you) and leaning is their main weapon. Thankfully, that’s not the case.
I’m really interested to see if Kotoshoho has turned a page and upgraded his sumo or if he’s just doing better than everyone else in this basho. It’s good to see him return to this level of form, though.
Aonishiki needs a larger variety of sumo skills. He’s never stumbled because his opponents never figured out how to counter his tactics and he kept moving up the banzuke so no one had enough bouts against him to try different things and study what he does. Now that a) he’s repeatedly fighting the same opponents and b) those opponents have a high skill level, he’s been figured out. He now has to either figure out alternative strategies to keep his opponents on their toes or tumble down the banzuke because of mounting losses.
Seems like Kirishima is back in business. My goodness! If he wins the Cup, I don’t see how he doesn’t get promoted since that’s 14 wins. It’s going to be an interesting next couple of days.
With Kirishima dropping the Yokozuna and achieving 33 wins over the last 3, The Committee has to consider his return to Ozeki, especially if he captures the Cup.
Aonishiki’s weakness is getting stood up and taken off balance. Every loss has been because of that. He’s got winning records against the 3 remaining foes – Koto, Kiri and Hosh. Hopefully he can pull the hat trick and avoid Kadoban.
Looks like we wait for day 14 to see if Enho can finish strong.
Takasago racked up a lot of kensho with everyone getting Kachi-koshi. Party time!!
Agreed. Any additional wins for Kirishima strengthens the case. NHK has been tracking his record over the past three tournaments so the expectation is that he’s on a run and is likely there.
I don’t think Aonishiki will be matched with Kirishima this time around, especially if he goes kadoban tomorrow. The Koto- duo looks a lot more likely: -shosho on day 14 and -zakura on senshuraku.
O think unless there is a papayasu-level calamity, the yusho is over, with Kirishima deserving both the championship and the ozeki rank
If anyone asks me who can beat Kirishima right now, I honestly don’t have an answer. Stranger things have happened, though. Let’s hope he doesn’t get overconfident.
We’ve got three days left and he has a one bout lead. I can’t say that the yusho is over yet.
He needs to defeat Oho, Kotozakura and probably Aonishiki, neither of which are yusho contenders
I don’t see Kotoshoho defeating the Yokozuna, tomorrow should end with a two bout lead with 2 days left
It would seem strange if they had not fight him Kotoshoho.
Kirishima can thank ex-stablemaster Kakuryu for encouraging him to gain weight. If you recall, the first go-around he was the lightest Ozeki since Harumafuji. There were several basho in the interim where he looked a little bloated/flabby but it’s all turned into solid muscle now.
Correction, CURRENT stablemaster EX Kakuryu!
Asakoryu – we call him “Mini-Hulk” because of the way he flexes before his matches. What’s his deal? To psyche himself up? To intimidate his foes? He has a great physique! For whatever reason, it must be interesting or odd enough to the NHK folks, who show him doing that in almost all of his matches.
Ever seen Office Space? His routine is basically like Jennifer Aniston’s flair. Some dudes do the minimum. They get the required moves out of the way and fight. Others put on a show as a way to differentiate to get fans/supporters.
Used to love a good/flex/pump up at the salt basket…Papa bear was the master of the grunt and frown…Sadly he don’t seem to do it anymore…
I think he stopped doing it when he dropped down from ozeki.
I wish both Hoshoryu and Kirishima could win….
Concerned about Wakamotoharu. I couldn’t figure out what happened. Do you think he was disoriented by the slap? Also wondering how Wakatakamoto is doing after his injury.
I had liked Asakoryu, but didn’t like his dame-oshi after Ura had already stepped out. Ura didn’t look happy about it either, and he is not a sore loser.
Defending Asakoryu’s extra tap out on Ura, he probably didn’t see the step outside the tawara that won him the match, and threw in the extra shove to finish off his win.
Don’t think he was being rude, just doubting the match was over, no harm, no foul.
A number of rikishi look like they are running out of gas .. or masking injuries .. or conserving enegy to be able to finish ..
Kirishima was all business + on offence from “go” .. but was going backward towing Hosh had no interest in playing the stare down game ..
Ao needs a fresh reboot ..
Gonoyama topped out .. I have a hard time seeing him beating the top rikishi w/o some new moves or fancy footwork ..
After the stellar rise of Aonishiki, the mundane downfall. Will he join the exclusive club of the two basho Ozeki?