Eisei won his second bout. One more win and that should be enough of maezumo. Then we’ll see him at Nakabi in his kesho-mawashi finery. It will be Jonokuchi in September. I’m eager to see him take on Hikarumusashi. But that clash wouldn’t be happening until next year, maybe Osaka? As for Hikarumusashi, he is 0-2 in Sandanme at the moment. He will face Ayanofuji tomorrow.
In Makushita, Kaida fell to Hananoumi. Neither Kaida nor Asahifuji appear to be on the docket for tomorrow. Meanwhile, the competition in Juryo has quickly shifted to a two man race: Shirokuma and Arashifuji are undefeated at 4-0. Enho won, and somehow managed to preserve his arm. Nishikigi got his second win. Meisei, Tamashoho, and Oshoumi, though, still seeek that shonichi first win.
Makuuchi Action
Sadanoumi (1-3) defeated Onokatsu (0-4). Sadanoumi, the freight train, steamed ahead and forced Onokatsu back and out. It should be pointed out this was Sadanoumi’s first win. Yorikiri.
Shishi (4-0) defeated Kazuma (2-2). Shishi bear hugged Kazuma under his shoulders and pulled up, eliminating any attack from Kazuma. Shishi is putting in a strong case that his sumo has improved to another level; if he keeps this up he will be moving up the banzuke. Yorikiri.
Nishikifuji (3-1) defeated Asakoryu (2-2). Henka! Nishikifuji anticipated Asakoryu’s shift and adjusted well. He grabbed Asakoryu and drove him straight back and out. Yorikiri.
Takerufuji (3-1) defeated Daiseizan (1-3). Takerufuji modeled Shishi and Sadanoumi, quickly dispatching Daiseizan. Notch 8*! Yorikiri.
Kinbozan (2-2) defeated Abi (2-2). Kinbozan eventually forced himself inside Abi’s thrusts and got a hold of Abi’s belt. Once he got inside, Abi couldn’t use his tsuppari so Kinbozan pressed forward and forced him out. The last few days feel like a Yotsu Renaissance as guys like Kinbozan find the belt, find that it negates some Oshi attacks, and thus find wins. Yorikiri.
Wakanosho (4-0) defeated Mitakeumi (0-4). On cue, as I wax on about the rise of yotsu, Wakanosho steps up. He used his steady tsuppari to keep Mitakeumi at bay, pressed him back to the bales and forced him out. Not a simple Oshidashi here. The upgrade: Tsukidashi.
Asahakuryu (2-2) defeated Chiyoshoma (1-3). Hidari-yotsu battle. Asahakuryu had the advantage in strength and pressed Chiyoshoma back and over the bales. Yorikiri.
Fujiryoga (3-1) defeated Tobizaru (1-3). Tobizaru pulled and tried to slap Fujiryoga down but accidentally stepped out. Oshidashi.
Asanoyama (2-2) defeated Roga (1-3). Roga landed his left hand inside but Asanoyama charged ahead anyway, forcing Roga back and out. Yorikiri.
Kotoeiho (3-1) outlasted Takayasu (3-1). Kotoeiho struggled with his right hand this bout, trying to get inside. He finally popped Takayasu’s left arm off, squeezed his right hand inside and drove Papa Bear over the bales. Yorikiri.
Wakamotoharu (2-2) defeated Fujiseiun (2-2). Henka! Desperate times, desperate measures. I have a feeling we will see this tactic again this tournament. Tsukiotoshi.
Halftime
Ura (1-3) defeated Oshoma (1-3). Oshoma charged ahead so Ura shifted right along the bales to counter attack. Ura dipped inside and got his left hand on Oshoma’s belt. He then pulled and dragged Oshoma down. Ura seemed to glare at Oshoma as the latter slinked away down the hanamichi. I don’t think Ura appreciated Oshoma’s gamesmanship before the tachiai. Uwatedashinage.
Ichiyamamoto (3-1) defeated Shodai (1-3). Shodai pulled. (Quelle surprise!!) Ichiyamamoto stuck with him and shoved him out. Oshidashi.
Hakunofuji defeated Hiradoumi. Hiradoumi plugged ahead behind forceful tsuppari but as the pair got to the edge, Hakunofuji shifted along the bale and slapped Hiradoumi down to the ground. Konishiki used to hate these hatakikomi guys. A little reminder to myself that I have this page with the old Narō footage. Hatakikomi.
Sanyaku
Yoshinofuji (2-2) defeated Aonishiki (3-1). Aonishiki got his left hand grip and dragged Yoshinofuji to the bales. He tried to trip Yoshinofuji and then he tried to just grab his leg and pick it up for an ashitori. Yoshinofuji kept his composure through all of it. His right paw had a firm hold of Aonishiki’s belt and he heaved Aonishiki over for a late, come-from-behind victory at the edge. A massive roar from the crowd, appreciative of the late turn of events. This video will be on replay A LOT. I guarantee it will make the NHK highlight package, probably from multiple angles. Uwatenage.
Oho (1-3) defeated Kotoshoho (3-1). Oho weathered Kotoshoho’s tsuppari and blasted the Sadogatake Sekiwake with his own, trading volley after volley. Kotoshoho grew weary first and pulled. Oho charged ahead and shoved him out. A bruising win for your favorite spoil sport. Oshidashi.
Daieisho (3-1) defeated Atamifuji (3-1). All of the Sekiwake fell today! Atamifuji gave Daieisho his best Daieisho impression, blasting the veteran with his most forceful tsuppari. Atamifuji needs to work on Phase Two, though. Daieisho knows misdirection and he knows how to pull. As Atamifuji charged forward to chase, Daieisho deflected Atamifuji’s attack. He shifted suddenly, as the action was going left, Daieisho went back to the right and Atamifuji fell forward to the clay. Tsukiotoshi.
Kirishima (4-0) defeated Takanosho (0-4). This was not an easy one for the Ozeki. Kirishima certainlt had a plan to get in behind Takanosho and get that belt. Kirishima grabbed it good once, but Takanosho spun away. Kirishima went in for it again and Takanosho backed away again, swatting Kirishima off but Kirishima was able to shove Takanosho out. Oshidashi.
Kotozakura (3-1) defeated Fujinokawa (2-2). Fujinokawa attacked fiercefully but Kotozakura cycled back, clockwise along the bales, and slapped Fujinokawa down, and pulled him forward by the belt for good measure. Fujinokawa had to catch his fall with his right hand and lost. Hatakikomi.
Hoshoryu (3-1) defeated Churanoumi (1-3). Hoshoryu seemed patient today and it paid off. He grabbed Churanoumi’s left arm and pulled him forward to the bales. As Churanoumi again went for the Yokozuna’s belt with that left hand, Hoshoryu grabbed it. It looked like he would rip it off, in a rather more violent variant of the kotenage attack. But Churanoumi stumbled forward and Hoshoryu was satisfied with just shoving him down. Tsukiotoshi.
Gonoyama (1-3) defeated Onosato (1-3). Gonoyama charged ahead, Onosato opted for the slapdown. Onosato leapt for his life, flying higher than an eagle (certainly higher than Tamawashi can manage nowadays). Gonoyama landed in the dirt while Onosato glided through the air. Gunbai Onosato. Mono-ii? Reversal? What? Dude was robbed. The Yokozuna was robbed. I’m going to struggle to understand this one for a while. Oshidashi.
Wrap-Up
Well, um…I don’t know what to say about this one but I’m going to dig into more about this Gonoyama decision. I guess congratulations are in order for the kinboshi and the massive stack of kensho. I am sure there will be some articles about this but frankly, I think Kokonoe-oyakata and his team got the decision wrong.
What makes it even more odd is that Nishonoseki-oyakata was in on this decision. The duration of the conference makes me think this wasn’t a cut-and-dry thing and folks needed to be convinced. I’m going to need to be convinced on this one. What seems more likely is that Nishonoseki took exception to Onosato’s decision to take flight. With Onosato clearly leaving the dohyo, and the Earth’s atmosphere, and entering orbit before Gonoyama fell therefore Onosato died first?
Ugh. Now that I think about it, it’s rather cut-and-dry. I need to put away my Onosato rally towel and accept his defeat. Onosato’s jump ended his time on Earth and he therefore lost. Anyway, Day Four is in the books, whether I like it or not. Let’s turn to Day Five.
Onosato will face Churanoumi while Hoshoryu will take on Gonoyama. Kirishima will battle Hiradoumi as he hopes to remain undefeated. Kotozakura will face Aonishiki. Circle that one. Bold it, highlight it, draw pretty stars around it, write it in red, tattoo it to the back of your hand, do whatever but that will be a big bout. Atamifuji will face Takanosho and Kotoshoho will take on Fujinokawa. The Komusubi pair, Yoshinofuji and Oho will also face off for what should be an interesting bout.
There are other interesting bouts, too. Like Wakanosho versus Tobizaru. If you had told me there would be a Ukrainian undefeated going into Day Five, I don’t think I would have thought of Shishi. Anyway, should be thrilling. Tune in tomorrow!
*Note: For those who aren’t down with the railroad lingo, “Notch 8” is the highest notch on a train engine — essentially Full Throttle. I buried this explanation for comedic effect. Not for your amusement, purely mine. I get silly at this hour. Ha Ha.
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Onosato was over the line with no chance of returning to the ring before Gonoyama’s charmingly wonky man-boobs hit the clay, therefore he was deadest firstest. An honest and correct decision, I feel. Although I do have a big soft spot for Gonoyama the goblin man, so I may be biased.
Speaking of bias, it looked like Nishonoseki-oyakata was careful to keep quiet in the discussion so as not to unduly influence the decision
According to Nikkan Sports Eisei „finished his Mae-zumo bouts and will have his shikona printed on the banzuke for the September Autumn Tournament“.
Interesting. I am fairly certain that they’re supposed to win three times. Sometimes they have two bouts if there’s an odd number of guys but I don’t see a third win from him. I’m fairly certain that he should be fighting again tomorrow but I have been wrong before.
Knowing that for instance Aonishiki and Asahifuji were 3-0 in maezumo, I was surprised too, but Sports Hochi tell the same story: „Nicholas Tarasenko (17, Minato stable), competing under the shikona Eisei, defeated Taiga Inoue (Kise stable) by oshidashi to secure two consecutive wins and immediate promotion to jonokuchi.“
A quick glance at last basho‘s maezumo shows that of nine rikishi only one wasn’t promoted. He was 1-3. Amongst the other eight there was even one with a 0-4! The number of bouts per rikishi varies between two and four. It‘s all a mystery to me.
Tochitaikai was disgusting, how can you seriously try to break your opponents arm? Not even Teru in his most horrible mood has been into something like that.
Mitakeumi was so stunned by Wakanosho’s successful attack that he even forgot to not-bow after the bout.
Today Shodai had his elbow bandaged. I bet he won’t try too hard for the next basho days.
Tobi-Onosato was a bit pathetic today, the dead body rule could be easily applied on his desperate jump outside the ring.
Shishi, Wakanosho and Kirishima in the lead. Who will stay there, who will stumble, who will join in the chase? Intriguing so far, they never let it become boring!
I love your observation of Mitakeumi.
Shishi so far has been the biggest surprise for me. He‘s beaten the former jusho winner Takerufuji and John Gunning‘s (astonishing) pick for the yusho in Nagoya, Kazuma.
Kazuma cant move, he was clearly outmaneuvered by Shishi, who isnt known for his perfect footing, either.
The majority of Japanese viewers’ comments (under the JSA video on YT) emphasize that Onosato’s exaggerated jump forced the judges’ decision. Had he not jumped away but hold foot close to or on the bales, Onosato would win.
Following Andy’s words (“Onosato’s jump ended his time on Earth.”), Mahler’s haunting song (1901) on Friedrich Rückert’s poem (1821) is worth researching: “Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen.” (“I am lost to the world.”)
The decision in Japanese clearly said that Onosato jumped. Jumped to get more air time are frowned upon. The decision is basically that without the jump, Onosato would have gone out first so he get the losss.
Does anyone know what happened during the makuuchi doyio iri. There was some consternation around the head shinpan and the announcer stopped and you could hear some signal. After a while the doyio iri was swifly completed without announcement of the rikishi and the judges were changed. It was very strange.
It was apparently a false fire alarm.
Onosato really did take flight. Astonishing for such a big guy.
Atamifuji: Damn it. He was so well-grounded, methodically repositioning himself with every move by Daieisho. But…alas.
Hoshoryu sure knows his techniques. No messing about today.
Tobizaru: I got an error code message (repeatedly) and couldn’t watch this bout.
Kotozakura: I said this the other day, but there’s no question his weight has stabilized. Last tourney he was too heavy. I don’t know if he’s lost a kilogram or two, but he now appears comfortable with where he’s at. (If that makes any sense!)
Nowadays, Onosato consistently reaches a point where he thinks, now I’ll employ my patented 420 lb dude moving backwards maneuver. And that launch tonight! Can you imagine being in the front row, looking up and seeing that magnificent form suspended in mid air two meters above you?