Day Two in Nagoya. A wild boar is on the loose, attacking salarymen. However, no new kyujo to report.
In Makushita, Asahifuji defeated Kaiseijo with a kotenage, video below courtesy of Abema’s Twitter feed. Calm and collected. His competition is getting stiff but Asahifuji is still racking up solid wins. He will face Otsuji tomorrow.
In Juryo, Arashifuji picked up his second win, this time against veteran Nishikigi (0-2). Ryuden (1-1) defeated Sadanoumi (0-2) and Kagayaki beat Tamashoho. But Tamawashi (1-1), Meisei (0-2), and Enho (0-2) lost.
Your NHK videos for Day Two are here.
Makuuchi Action
Asasuiryu (Juryo 2-0) defeated Daiseizan (1-1). Henka! Asasuiryu shifted left at the tachiai and slapped Daiseizan down, collecting a good chunk of kensho. Remember what I said yesterday about incentives? People do interesting things when there’s money on the line and there were seven envelopes there, apparently including Spotify sponsorship and the financial services group, Saison Fundex. Hatakikomi.
Kazuma (1-1) defeated Asakoryu (1-1). Kazuma steamrolled Asakoryu, drove him straight back and out. Yorikiri.
Kinbozan (1-1) defeated Onokatsu (0-2). Kazuma let Kinbozan rent his steamroller. Kinbozan drove forward and forced Onokatsu out. Yorikiri.
Shishi (2-0) defeated Takerufuji (1-1). Shishi seemed to have watched tape and switched up his plan against Takerufuji. Takerufuji charged ahead and Shishi fairly quickly jammed his gear in reverse and slapped Takerufuji down. Hatakikomi.
Nishikifuji (1-1) defeated Asahakuryu (1-1). Hidari-yotsu. Nishikifuji pulled up on Asahakuryu’s mawashi and used his gaburi yotsu to force Asahakuryu out. Yorikiri.
Abi (2-0) defeated Mitakeumi (0-2). Mitakeumi pivoted and pulled after the tachiai but Abi was able to keep his footing and shove Mitakeumi out. Oshidashi.
Wakanosho (2-0) defeated Asanoyama (1-1). Excellent sumo from Wakanosho who seemed to be operating a beat faster than Asanoyama. Wakanosho kept Asanoyama from his belt with steady tsuppari and well-timed pulls. Then he put his head down and charged into Asanoyama, grabbing the former Ozeki under the armpits and driving him back and off the dohyo. Yoritaoshi.
Tobizaru (1-1) defeated Chiyoshoma (0-2). Tobizaru pressed Chiyoshoma backwards. Chiyoshoma seemed to want to use the tawara to brace himself but his left foot skidded over the top and landed out. Oshidashi.
Wakamotoharu (1-1) defeated Fujiryoga (1-1). Wakamotoharu got his left-hand inside and forced Fujiryoga back to the bales. Fujiryoga pivoted but slipped and Wakamotoharu shoved him to the ground. Yorikiri.
Takayasu (2-0) defeated Roga (0-2). Takayasu spun away from Roga’s initial attack. As Roga re-engaged, Takayasu reached over his back with his left hand and grabbed his belt, pulling him down to the ground. Uwatenage.
Kotoeiho (1-1) defeated Shodai (0-2). Shodai thought he had a good hold of Kotoeiho’s right arm and pulled. Kotoeiho wrested his arm free and shoved Shodai out. Oshidashi.
Halftime
Fujiseiun (2-0) defeated Oshoma (1-1). Oshoma tried to pull on Fujiseiun’s left arm. Fujiseiun was able to wrap up Oshoma and force him back and out. Fujiseiun smiled happily and picked up a big stack of kensho. Yorikiri.
Daieisho (1-1) defeated Ura (0-2). Daieisho hit Ura with powerful thrusts but Ura grabbed him and charged forward. Daieisho pivoted, grabbed Ura’s left arm and pulled him down. Kotenage.
Hakunofuji (2-0) defeated Ichiyamamoto (1-1). Hakunofuji used a well-timed pull to disrupt Ichiyamamoto’s tsuppari attack. Ichiyamamoto turned to meet Hakunofuji again and took the brunt of Hakunofuji at full-force. Hakunofuji blasted Ichiyamamoto from the ring. Oshidashi.
Sanyaku
Atamifuji (2-0) defeated Hiradoumi (0-2). Hiradoumi forced Atamifuji back to the edge. Atamifuji remained calm and began to churn his legs forward, gaining some space from the tawara. He worked hard to inch his right arm up under Hiradoumi’s left armpit and heaved him over to the side. Sukuinage.
Aonishiki (2-0) defeated Churanoumi (0-2). Churanoumi was alert to Aonishiki’s left arm and did his best to avoid it by pivoting and retreating, using ottsuke, or just heaving Aonishiki away with all of his might. However, Aonishiki’s pressure was relentless and eventually Churanoumi ran out of room to run. Aonishiki finally got the left hand uwate and forced Churanoumi back over the edge. Yorikiri.
Kotoshoho (2-0) defeated Gonoyama (0-2). Kotoshoho backed away to his right after the initial charge and calmly slapped Gonoyama down eliciting groans from the assembled masses. Tsukiotoshi.
Kirishima (2-0) defeated Oho (0-2). Kirishima got both hands inside, twisted and toppled him over the edge. Sukuinage.
Kotozakura (2-0) defeated Yoshinofuji (1-1). Kotozakura did what Onosato should have done yesterday and moved forward. Yoshinofuji tried to pivot and throw him with his right-hand inside grip but Kotozakura shoved him out from behind. Truth be told, I can’t shout “Move Forward!!” without flashbacks of my cousin and my recent vacation. His mother, my aunt, was testing out my dad’s e-Foil over the break. As she struggled to get up and maintain her balance, my cousin kept yelling, “Move Forward!!!” Over and over. It was rather hilarious and she gave it right back to him when it was his turn. That e-Foil sure is fun. It’s like an electronic surfboard with an engine mounted at the bottom of a long keel. But back in Nagoya, the kimarite was Okuridashi.
Hoshoryu (2-0) defeated Takanosho (0-2). Takanosho layed into the Yokozuna with tsuppari but Hoshoryu got his right arm up under Takanosho’s shoulder and heaved him over, forcefully. Ouch. Sukuinage.
Fujinokawa (1-1) defeated Onosato (0-2). Fujinokawa pivoted and pulled Onosato forward by the Yokozuna’s right shoulder. “Purple Rain, Purple Rain.” Tsukiotoshi.
Wrap-Up
Since Onosato closed out the match day with his loss, he didn’t have to sit around and wait, uncomfortably at the dohyo’s edge. He was able to exit the building quickly but not before shouting something into his hand towel. I imagine that whatever he shouted rhymes with “LUCK!!!” or its Japanese variant. Onosato is set to face Takanosho tomorrow. There is still time to chalk this up to nerves and scrap together a decent tournament and Takanosho is a great option for a first win. If Takanosho beats him, I’m sure kyujo would be imminent. Hoshoryu will get his turn against Fujinokawa, fresh from his latest kinboshi.
Kirishima will fight Gonoyama tomorrow and fellow Ozeki Kotozakura will face Churanoumi. Atamifuji gets to battle Oho, Kotoshoho will take on Yoshinofuji and Aonishiki will fight Hakunofuji. That last matchup promises to be a firecracker.
Further down the banzuke, Shodai will take on Ura. Ichiyamamoto will salivate at all of the kensho from Oshoma. Veteran Takayasu will fight up-and-comer Fujiseiun. Kotoeiho will get a huge test against Wakamotoharu. Asanoyama will try to bounce back against Fujiryoga and Abi will fight Takerufuji to see who can lean forward the most without falling. We all know Michael Jackson is the GOAT at that.
Join us tomorrow for Day Three! I’m off to get some donuts.
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I can’t remember from last year: is the new Nagoya venue air conditioned?
Yes.
Takayasu could join a ballet troupe with his perfectly executed pirouette.
Onosato was beaten fair and square. 0-2…on the one hand, I’m shocked, yet he’s just been out-sumo’d.
Kotozakura: I’ve written him off as Shodai II but…he’s doing well so far this tournament. Has he lost a few pounds? (I don’t think he’s gained any.)
I remember Yasu performing le pirouette beautifully back in the day, up on one toe. Graceful as hell. Today’s was not as graceful, but I’ll take it. Great to see.
I was certain Atamifuji’s heel went out until I saw in slo-mo during the replay that there was a judge looking right at it from a meter away and figured he had a better view than some sleepy guy in Wyoming.
Judge even raised his eybrow, so he was aware of that, but clearly no mark in clay.
Shishi has definitely been putting in the work during the off-season. I don’t think he pulls that swim move (not quite a PIVOT, but close) even during the last basho.
Mitakeumi went into full reverse because Abi stumbled. Kudos to Abi for keeping his feet.
I think the slap from Wakanosho rang Asanoyama’s bell. Quality work from Wakanosho and a big win for him.
Wakamotoharu! Finally! I am worried about the tape on his back, though. It didn’t seem to bother him today, thankfully.
Takayasu still has agility in his locker as a skill. My goodness.
I like how Aonishiki isn’t automatically getting as low and is setting up that left hand instead of just going after it over and over again. There’s definite signs of improvement there.
Kotozakura is feeling good and doing well. Those kensho are probably pretty motivating too.
Never, ever count out Fujinokawa. What a win!
Trying to comfort myself and say that Onosato has issues with Yoshinofuji and Fujinokawa ANYWAY… he could still turn things around. Get some help from Hoshoryu on locking in and forcing a playoff from a rough start.
I thought Takayasu and Hoshoryu showed the most impressive sumo. Takayasu for turning two almost certain losses into a victory with his sweet 360 spin and wherewithal to slam Roga before he could be pressed out. And Hoshoryu just basically body slammed Takanosho like it was a pro-wrestling match and made it look like the easiest work of his life. I know Takanosho is a very wishy washy fighter but to do that so easily to a high ranker is incredibly impressive. As one would want to see from a healthy Yokozuna of course.
Shout out to Kirishima too, because he never looked like he was in a second of danger against Oho who can be very dangerous at times. I would certainly not complain if the Yusho comes down to Hoshoryu going for his first tournament win as a Yokozuna vs Kirishima looking for Yokozuna promotion.
Onosato is now the first Yokozuna since Harumafuji in 2017 to have lost six straight.
I don’t understand why he comes back when he seemingly isn’t at 100%.
Wouldn’t it have been much more to his advantage to wait until being able to return with a bang? As it is the Maegashira rikishi probably all hope to meet the kinboshi machine…
I glance awkwardly in the direction of his shisho…
…who had ended his career after eight straight losses, which are still unparalleled in the 15 bouts basho era… yet
Everybody talking about Takayasu pirouette, but the clou was how Roga and he did it synchronized. Nice square dance pair!
Can‘t get enough of Kirishima‘s sweet rodeo style sumo. Got to have fun on a rope run :)
Thanks Andy. Who’s this wild boar that you speak of? There could also be a bore attacking salarymen I suspect. But, Hokuseiho may have been the last true bore in the top division. Anyhow, Day 2 in the books and another Kinboshi for the Excitement Machine.
There was a story on NHK as the sumo coverage began. Thankfully they have it in English, too. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20260713_13/
Oh, I see. Bear and boar attacks are becoming more prominent in Japan, likely related to the oft talked about population declines. As areas become less densely populated, wildlife will do its thing and return the wilds to wolves and boars like in “Princess Mononoke,” which happens to be one of my favorite Studio Ghibli flicks.
Only two days in, but except for the big man at the top who isn’t right in either the head or the body, so far this is night and day from the opening of last basho
Lots of healthy bodies doing strong sumo.
I don’t what to jinx anything, but a revival of the Hosh-Kirishima rivalry is a welcome potential storyline. Both are finally looking good at the same tourney .
The Ukrainian wunderkind looks healthy. And although he lost to the staypuft marshmallow man today, yoshinofuji still looked solid.
All the trappings of a sanyaku lead leaderboard, as it should be.
Oh, and Atamifuji looking like he has, indeed, figured out the consistency needed to stay in sanyaku. 13 more days, let’s go!
Yeah, him and Kotoshoho are both looking dangerously consistent (can’t get a better jinx than that). Aonishiki on the other hand doesn’t look healthy to me – that ankle still looks troubling. I think its going to be a long tournament for him.. Hopefully he can gut it out for 10.
Aonishiki looked good on the dohyo in my eyes… „However, there was a slight cause for concern as he appeared to be checking his foot after stepping off the dohyo following the bout.“ (Sports Hochi)
So I‘m right there with U and fear that it’s gonna be a long basho for him… and for me!
Sorry, this is really a day 3 comment.
Yeah, the way he leaned over and braced himself against the dohyo had me concerned.
Rhymes with “LUCK!” let’s say BUCK! No, wait. There’s a better rhyme that’s more appropriate. Fujinokawa is a kinboshi making machine!