First thing’s first. I overslept. I forgot to set my alarm and missed the live action. Watching these video clips misses so much of the drama. I feel a bit distant from it today. Oh well, que sera, sera. 仕方がない。
Thankfully no new kyujo and Enho keeps tearing things up in Juryo. Today, he beat Takakento, visiting from Makushita.
On with the descriptions. NHK videos are here.
Makuuchi Action
Onokatsu (2-1) defeated Fujiryoga (2-1). Fujiryoga leaned forward to start chugging away with tsuppari but Onokatsu caught him right under the chin with a forearm kachi-age, followed by a slap down. And down Fujiryoga went. Hatakikomi.
Wakanosho (2-1) defeated Ryuden (0-3). Wakanosho used his powerful thrusts to keep Ryuden from getting anywhere near his belt. Ryuden made one good surge forward but Wakanosho charged right back and thrust the veteran off the dohyo. Tsukidashi.
Tobizaru (3-0) defeated Oshoumi (1-2). Tobizaru pulled and slapped Oshoumi down like it was a jungyo training bout with a high-schooler. Tsukiotoshi.
Roga (2-1) defeated Mitakeumi (1-2). Roga overpowered Mitakeumi, plain and simple. Wulftrax may be right about Mitakeumi’s right hand. He got it inside Roga’s arm quickly but never grabbed the belt and really did nothing with it. Yorikiri.
Kotoeiho (3-0) defeated Tamawashi (0-3). Kotoeiho persevered through Tamawashi’s attack, grabbing Tamawashi’s belt with his left hand. He didn’t quit until he’d driven Tamawashi back over the bales. At this rate, Kaio’s record is safe. Oshidashi.
Shishi (1-2) defeated Tokihayate (0-3). Shishi rested on Tokihayate’s shoulder as if Shishi had a rough night out and Tokihayate was responsible for getting him back home. As Tokihayate turned, to get the big lug off him, Shishi pressed more of his weight onto him and crushed him over the edge. Abisetaoshi.
Hakunofuji (2-1) defeated Kinbozan (2-1). Henka-ish side-step there from Hakunofuji. He stepped left before driving forward with his attack. Coming from Kinbozan’s right side, Kinbozan didn’t get a chance to recover or retaliate before Hakunofuji shoved him out. Oshidashi.
Asanoyama (2-1) defeated Ura (1-2). Asanoyama just drove hard into Ura and threw him backward off the dohyo like, “why are you here?.” Oshidashi.
Asahakuryu (2-1) defeated Nishikifuji (1-2). Asahakuryu got a strong hold of Nishikifuji’s belt with his left hand over-arm grip. Nishikifuji was still struggling to get his hand inside so he put it in reverse and tried a slapdown. Asahakuryu just rode him over the edge. Yorikiri.
Oshoma (1-2) defeated Abi (1-2). Abi’s thrusting attack is back and Oshoma let Abi shove him to the bales. Oshoma is much more comfortable with his feet supported by the raised tawara. Once there, he just shifted right and shoved Abi to the floor. Tsukiotoshi.
Halftime
Chiyoshoma (1-2) defeated Asakoryu (2-1). This one looked easy. No henka from Chiyoshoma. He just seemed to absorb Asakoryu’s attack in slow motion, shifted to his left and slapped him down. Frankly, it’s been quite a while since we’ve seen a Chiyo-henka. I’m starting to miss them. Hatakikomi.
Fujiseiun (2-1) defeated Churanoumi (2-1). Churanoumi laid into Fujiseiun with a strong shoving attack and drove him backwards. Fujiseiun tried to shove back but it wasn’t getting him much. The slapdown attempt got batted away. So, Fujiseiun reached around for Churanoumi’s belt with his left hand. He missed but Churanoumi backed away as if he’s ticklish on that side. Fujiseiun then drove harder and grabbed Churanoumi’s belt deep with his left hand. Once inside, he drove Churanoumi back and over the edge. Yorikiri.
Wakamotoharu (1-2) defeated Shodai (1-2). Shodai tried to stand Wakamotoharu up in the center of the ring but he was standing way too high. Despite no leverage from the bales to support his attack, Wakamotoharu held Shodai high, drove forward and forced Shodai over the edge. Yorikiri.
Gonoyama (2-1) defeated Daieisho (2-1). As Daieisho charged forward, Gonoyama cycled right to the bales, forcing Daieisho to the outside. Then Daieisho gave up and Gonoyama gently eased him over the bales. A disappointing end to someone I was looking to for a yusho run. Oshidashi.
Sanyaku
Hiradoumi (2-1) defeated Takayasu (2-1). Hiradoumi charged forward and Takayasu pulled…right off the dohyo. Goddamn it. There goes another one of my yusho hopes. Oshidashi.
Wakatakakage (3-0) defeated Yoshinofuji (1-2). Wakatakakage got inside and bulldozed Yoshinofuji through the ring and over the edge. A little dame-oshi there to finish him off? Yorikiri.
Kotoshoho (1-2) defeated Ichiyamamoto (1-2). Ichiyamamoto got his left hand on Kotoshoho’s belt and was determined to win this on the belt. He surged forward, forcing Kotoshoho to the edge where Kotoshoho pivoted, twisted, and used his right hand inside Ichi’s shoulder to sling him – face first – to the clay. Ouch. What a move. Great bout. Sukuinage.
Atamifuji (1-2) defeated Oho (1-2). Atamifuji just drove Oho back like Oho was still asleep. Oshidashi.
Kirishima (3-0) defeated Fujinokawa (2-1). Kirishima got a kimedashi grip with both hands outside Fujinokawa and tried to wrangle the youngster. Fujinokawa tried a trip but Kirishima avoided it and used the leverage to force Fujinokawa backward to the edge and over. Yorikiri.
Kotozakura (1-2) defeated Takanosho (1-2). What the hell was Takanosho doing trying to grab Kotozakura’s belt? He got a fistful of sagari instead. When he realized, “oh, I’m a pusher-thruster,” and backed up to do some pusher-thrusting, Kotozakura just followed him and pushed him out. Oshidashi.
Wrap-up
I don’t know where this yusho race will go but we’ve got Kirishima and Wakatakakage as the only undefeated sanyaku competitors. Only Kotoeiho and Tobizaru join them from the rank-and-file.
Wakatakakage will fight Daieisho tomorrow, followed by Takayasu and Oho. Then Atamifuji will fight Takanosho and Kotoshoho will fight Fujinokawa. Kotozakura will take on Yoshinofuji and then Kirishima will wrap things up against Ichiyamamoto.
It’s really way too early to start thinking about the yusho, yes. But I do like seeing who is still undefeated after the first few days and we don’t have many guys left. Well, let’s see where this goes…
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Comedically, Fujinokawa massively stepped out near the start of the bout but wasn’t spotted by the shimpan sitting about a metre away. Confirms my suspicion they have their eyes painted on. Anyway, as the Japanese commentator whose name I forget pointed out, that miss was good for the fans..
Sorry to say it, but Takayasu looks in bad shape. Although not as bad as Tamawashi – surely this is the final basho, and I’m not sure he’ll make it all the way through. Hopefully that’s enough jinxing for the opposite outcomes for both..
Wakatakakage looks grumpy as hell – he might be the only one standing between Kirishima and another yusho..
Good catch with Fujinokawa’s step out. I missed it, too. Must have thought his foot was on the bales. It was clearly over. That was right in front of Onoe-oyakata, the head shimpan for that group. Hopefully the guys in the replay booth were yelling in his ear.
That was Onoe-oyakata’s first time playing head shimpan, rookie mistake in missing the step out. He’s probably going to get an earful from the higher-ups and maybe get some seasoning with lower division matches before he gets another shot in Makuuchi
I wonder whether after such big unnoticed step out the bout result can be reversed later should the Fujinokawa won.
I wouldn’t be so sure that this is Tamawashi’s final basho. In sumo it is normal that you are in better or worse shape and Tamawashi is usually is quite inconsistent from basho to basho. He may as well pick up few wins at the end, stay in the lower maegashira and bounce back next basho. I’m sure he won’t give up easily if there are still longevity records to break.
Fujinokawa’s step-out was later noticed by kimarite shimpan in the video room, and kimarite was changed from uwatenage to yorikiri.
And I’m wondering what would have been the ruling if fujinokawa turned around and beat Kirishima later. No monoii. (I don’t think the kimarite shimpan can claim monoii afterwards.)
Hopefully the “eyes in the sky,” so to speak, caught it and were ready to signal a mono-ii if needed.
Andy’s imagery of Kirishima “wrangling the youngster” totally spoke to me. Watching this bout I felt the energy of K as a young father trying (and succeeding) to catch hold of his mis- behaving child… I missed the child’s step out too, need to watch for that on replay, thanks. No disrespect meant to F, just feeling the energy, :-)
Thank you. Yeah, that word just popped in my head as I watched and I felt it really fit.
I didn’t notice WTK’s dame-oshi in real time, but I agree. There was a gentle little extra nudge.