Day 14 in Nagoya. News from the infirmary, Hoshoryu kyujo. He will finish the tournament with a 7-7-1 record. The posited Yokozuna Darwin Match will not happen. Kirishima will pick up an important win at a crucial time in the yusho race.
Further news from the barber nextdoor to the infirmary, Daishomaru has retired. His mom told him he needs to go out and get a real job. No more playing with his friends in the dirt. He debuted in 2014 with a makushita tsukedashi and made it to Juryo by 2015. I started covering sumo here in 2014 and when he climbed into the top division in 2016 he was a makuuchi regular for several years. Though playing third fiddle to stablemates Endo and Daieisho, he did rise as high as Makuuchi 5.
Injuries took their toll but he remained sekitori until 2022 when he slipped into Makushita. He fell to Sandanme after the Fukuoka tournament last year but had just crept back into Makushita. However, three losses in a row to close out the tournament and he earned a make-koshi. Since 1966 that has meant certain demotion to Sandanme. He has decided to call it a career instead.
Lower Division Action
Let’s turn to the lower divisions. Abema graciously tweeted the video of Nabatame-Nishikigi, so I’ve embedded it here. Let me know if you have any issues watching it. I hope it’s available for everyone.
So, Nishikigi defeated Nabatame. The massive brawl for it all in Makushita is on, with two of Nabatame’s Futagoyama stablemates. Dinner tonight will be awkward…. Importantly, Tochitaikai lost to Toshinofuji and earned his make-koshi. He is in peril to fall back into Makushita while Nishikigi may save himself with a win tomorrow.
Enho defeated Nishinoryu to improve to 7-7. There are a host of Darwin candidates in the second division but the pairings have yet to be announced. Nishikigi has already fought Enho, Kagayaki and Tohakuryu. Of The Old Guard, Tamawashi claimed his kachi-koshi with a win today over Tomokaze. Everyone else is either make-koshi or trying to avoid it tomorrow.
Makuuchi Action
Chiyoshoma (5-9) defeated Daiseizan (6-8). Chiyoshoma lashed out with harite, then seized Daiseizan’s belt and threw him. Daiseizan make-koshi. Uwatenage.
Kazuma (4-10) defeated Tobizaru (5-9). Kazuma waited for Tobizaru to pull at the wrong time, then he drove forward and shoved Tobizaru out. Oshidashi.
Onokatsu (4-10) defeated Wakamotoharu (6-8). Wakamotoharu pulled and Onokatsu maintained his balance and shoved Wakamotoharu to his make-koshi. Oshidashi.
Roga (8-6) defeated Asakoryu (8-6). Asakoryu nearly pulled Roga down by grabbing his right arm and pulling him. But Roga had a firm grasp of Asakoryu’s belt with that right arm, so Roga used excellent footwork to stay up and then turn the tables on Asakoryu and drive him from the dohyo. Yorikiri.
Kotoeiho (10-4) defeated Asanoyama (9-5). Asanoyama pressed forward but he never got a good grip with the right hand. Kotoeiho fought to get his hand inside. When he got a double-inside grip, a bearhug around Asanoyama’s trunk, he turned the tables and forced Asanoyama backwards. Densha-michi, as they say, and the train did not stop until Asanoyama was out. Yorikiri.
Fujiseiun (7-7) defeated Abi (6-8). Fujiseiun weathered Abi’s tsuppari storm, grabbed Abi in a bearhug, then twisted him down by tripping him backwards. Kirikaeshi.
Ura (5-9) defeated Mitakeumi (2-12). Ura grabbed a hold of Mitakeumi’s belt with his left hand outside and worked his right hand inside. Then churned his legs to drive the former Ozeki out. Yorikiri.
Oshoma (6-8) defeated Kinbozan (8-6). Kinbozan got his left hand inside on Oshoma’s belt but Oshoma used an armbar to break Kinbozan’s grip and pull him forward to the ground. Kotenage.
Hiradoumi (4-10) defeated Ichiyamamoto (5-9). Ichiyamamoto pulled at a bad time and Hiradoumi drove him backward and out. Oshidashi.
Asahakuryu (6-8) defeated Gonoyama (6-8). Henka, Asahakuryu! Slow, so Gonoyama was not phased. Gonoyama used his right hand inside to yank hard and pull Asahakuryu forward. Unfortunately, he didn’t pull him forward enough. Instead, Gonoyama yielded position and put his heels right up to the edge of the tawara. Asahakuryu then forced Gonoyama over the edge and the pair tumbled into a thrilled fan in the first row. Yorikiri.
Halftime
Hakunofuji (8-6) defeated Churanoumi (6-8). Churanoumi pulled and Hakunofuji used the famous Superman pose to charge forward and drive him out. Both men crashed off the dohyo. Gunbai Hakunofuji. No mono-ii. None really needed in this case, though it looked close live. Hakunofuji finally earned his kachi-koshi while Churanoumi is now kachi-koshi. Oshidashi.
Fujinokawa (7-7) defeated Nishikifuji (9-5). Fujinokawa’s henka was foiled by the gyoji who called a mata. Fujinokawa got his left hand inside and blitzed Nishikifuji. Nishikifuji shifted left but Fujinokawa followed well and forced him over the edge. Yorikiri.
Fujiryoga (10-4) defeated Takanosho (6-8). Fujiryoga pulled and we got another Superman flight from Takanosho who blasted his way forward. Both men tumbled off the dohyoGunbai Takanosho. Mono-ii. Video replay showed Takanosho’s right foot kicking up dirt outside the ring before Fujiryoga fell…but I don’t think they were looking for when Fujiryoga fell. It was a long mono-ii so I think they were looking for when Fujiryoga took flight, and was therefore dead. It was close to when that dirt came up. Hatakikomi.
Sanyaku
Takayasu (10-4) defeated Yoshinofuji (6-8). Well, Yoshinofuji had a good plan. He grabbed Takayasu’s left shoulder and shoved him hard, then came in behind Takayasu’s left leg and kicked it to trip him backward. Takayasu saved himself from Yoshinofuji’s trip with a shift of weight to his right leg. He then assaulted Yoshinofuji with tsuppari and slapped him down. Hikiotoshi.
Oho (2-12) defeated Shodai (4-10). Oho got a hold of Shodai’s belt and drove him backwards. Yorikiri.
Atamifuji (11-3) defeated Shishi (10-4). Mini-slow henka from Shishi, only visible in slo-mo and with a microscope. Regardless, Shishi shifted to his right. Atamifuji is just fighting at a different level. He easily adapted to the Shishi shift, got his right forearm up and chugged forward behind it. He shoved Shishi out of the ring and out of the yusho race. Oshidashi.
Aonishiki (12-2) defeated Takerufuji (10-4). Hidari-yotsu. Aonishiki spun, pulling at Takerufuji’s belt with his right hand outside grip. Takerufuji had an excellent grip of his own and charged forward to the edge but he did not seem to have an answer for the spin. Takerufuji’s charge forced Aonishiki to the edge but Aonishiki’s spin turned the tables and he charged into Takerufuji, crashing him over the bales. Yoritaoshi.
Kirishima (11-3) default win over Hoshoryu (7-7).
Daieisho (9-5) defeated Kotoshoho (6-8). Daieisho’s tsuppari forced Kotoshoho to the edge. Kotoshoho is a limbo master, though, and he resisted at the edge by bending his body backward and teetering over the bales. Daieisho had to shove something firm, Kotoshoho’s mawashi, to get him over. Tsukidashi.
Onosato (8-6) defeated Kotozakura (8-6). You would think that massive stack of kensho would have motivated Kotozakura to display some effort but apparently not. He just kind of stood there with his right hand flailing around and left hand on Onosato’s belt. Lazy-ass Ozeki. Kotohachinana has his hachi, so he’s good and Onosato ushered him over the bales. Yorikiri.
Wrap-Up
The yusho race is down to three men. And get this, with all of the underperformers up there in sanyaku, we’ve got three men in sanyaku in control of the race!
- 2-Losses: Aonishiki
- 3-Losses: Kirishima, Atamifuji
Pairings are not out yet. I’m sure they’ll come out in a few minutes but I’m going to take a nap. I’ll write a Senshuraku preview post with updated information about the pairings.
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And to think that an evil henka has kept Takayasu out of contention once again… urgh.
One henka = four losses?
And half a win for the sidestepped?
Would make 3 1/2 losses for Takayasu. Still not enough for Yusho contention
But his Takayasu’s highlight reel (for both wins & losses) is great this tournament.
Aonishiki leads by 4 wins (including the play-off win last January) to 1 against Atamifuji.
Fujinokawa vs Fujiseiun would be the other highlight. Both at 7-7.
Wow – mega-letdown in Juryo – only 1 Darwin match!?!? Although perhaps Enho vs Mudoho could be considered another.
Astonishing that Aonishiki keeps on winning with that glued-on toe. Have to think he needs to win in real-time tomorrow, as a 3-way play-off in his state would be tough.
And Hakunofuji did the needful and proved me wrong to finally get kachi-koshi!
Some brutal makuuchi promotion/demotions decisions coming up..
I would count Mudoho vs Enho as a Darwin match and Kitanowaka vs Tochitaikai will have that intensity because Tochitaikai is likely fighting for status. 7-8 can conceivably keep their rank but 6-9 seems a more certain drop.
All nine 7-7’s in juryo have been given great opponents, not just Midorifuji and Nishikigi with their match against each other. Everyone there has a big reason to want to win. Tohakuryu and Enho have desperate makushita opponents, Kazekeno and Kitanowaka are goin against guys who are at a major risk of demotion, and Kyokukaiyu/Hatsuyama/Kagayaki are all facing yusho contenders.
The makuuchi demotions are quite clear: Kazuma, Onokatsu, Mitakeumi and Daiseizan go down (though there are voices saying the Chinese could stay in with a 7-8). All other maegashira are save.
In juryo there are five certain promotable records already and Kyokukaiyu could reach the sixth tomorrow. Asasuiryu will join his brother in the top division while Tokihayate, Shonannoumi, Tochinofuji and Dewanoryu are fighting for the three other places. As there is a duel between the two in pole position, each of those four should go up with a win.
I’m not going to be surprised if Wakanosho finds himself at J1E.
That would surprise me, but I wouldn’t be shocked as some were when Takayasu kept the komusubi slot with a 6-9 recently. It has happened before that a „mathematically“ safe maegashira was demoted.
One could imagine a situation where no one in makuuchi has a demotable record and J1 wins the basho with a zensho yusho; it would almost be a crime not to promote him!
My assumption for Wakanosho is “the rikishi who can step onto the dohyo is preferred”. Especially alongside a crowd with promotable records in Juryo.
Even to one who (at least in theory) hasn’t got a demotable record? I hope not. And it wouldn’t be according to the trend of the last year or so when they always preferred rikishi of the higher divisions.
We all thought that Takaysu would be demoted at 6-9 too. I’m at the point now where I almost believe that the Banzuke Committee looks at each other every time they sit down to deliberate and someone says, “What decision do you want to confuse the fans with this time?”
And we should be thankful for that. Imagine how boring „Guess the banzuke“ would be if they always did the rational thing…
Yay for Tamawashi!! Happy to see him at 8-6.
Shodai had sore bottom thus pleaded to be ushered out by a fairly demure Oho.
Kotozakura….is somehow more frustrating to watch than Shodai these days.
Thanks to Nishikigi Asahifuji will still have the chance to write history tomorrow in spite of his earlier loss against Nabatame. Together with five other rikishi he has already he most wins ever after the first four basho, namely 27. But he could also become the first one in the 6-basho-a-year era to yusho in all those tournaments!
That said I‘ll be rooting for 19-year-old Ryuho, who in regulation was sidestepped by „the strongest rookie ever“.
That’s as good a reason as any to root for someone.
My main reason to favor Ryuho being that he’s the youngest of the seven by almost four years.
It‘s kind of destructive for their heya with three Futagoyama rikishi in contention for the yusho and having a playoff. It seems that Wakamiyabi is most genki at the moment.
All seven playoff participants seem quite genki to me. With the exception of Hananoumi, who was injured last time around, they all have at least 11 wins over this basho and the one before. Mita sports 12 wins and Asahifuji even 13.
Do U know whether rikishi of the same heya may now meet in the first round already or only in a playoff-final? As U wrote „kind of destructive“, I think I can guess the answer…
I don‘t know, but isn‘t it normal for the brackets, to keep them off each other as long as possible? On the other hand, the later they meet the more would it hurt to lose against the stable mate…
An 8-man makushita playoff in Hatsu 2016 featured Kise-beya stablemates Ura and Hamaguchi (now known as Shimanoumi) against each other in the first round.
https://sumodb.sumogames.de/Results.aspx?b=201601&d=16
Sad about Hoshoryu. Surgery on his torn meniscus is the only answer, so until he has this he will continue to struggle. I hope he is brave enough to do it, miss the next basho and come back at full strength.
Since promotion, we have never seen a fully healthy Hoshoryu. I confess myself a fan, but I think his efforts of showing up and try to get that elusive yusho are a bit under appreciated. He has also significantly tuned down on the attitude. I hope He and Onosato take the time to properly heal and come back with a vengeance
I like Hoshoryu, too. I do hope he rests and heals up. We need both Yokozuna at full strength.
Aonishiki, Kirishima and Atamifuji…I like ‘em all.
Has there ever been an era with so many ‘Former Ozeki’ prior to these past several years? Mitakeumi, Takayasu, the (in)famous Shodai, Aonishiki…Kirishima.
Of course, Kirishima regained his rank and Aonishiki will be back as an Ozeki next tournament. Maybe it’s normal (throughout the history of sumodom) to reach this fairly lofty height and then immediately crash…but I don’t think so.
Oh…and mustn’t forget Kotozakura, seemingly eager to add his name to the bunch.
Well, I’ll put my pondering to one side and say I can’t wait until tomorrow.
You forgot to mention Asanoyama in your list of former Ozeki. I think it goes back to when Kotoshogiku and Tochinoshin were still battling until they had to retire. It seems like since then, the division has been full of former Ozeki.
I think something which separates previous eras from this one, and the Japanese even note it, previous eras were full of yaocho. This era is supposed to be the clean, hard-fought era, the Gachinko era. If you don’t fight hard and don’t deserve the rank, you’re more likely to go down (or retire). See all of those former Ozeki mentioned above.
Re Asanoyama. I knew I was missing someone!
Yaocho. Ahh, that makes sense…I think. At least for the more recent history. I’m showing my age here, but I remember watching as a kid, on a little black and white tv, during the Taiho-Kashiwado era (and Sadanoyama, my favorite). There were 4 Ozeki: Tamanoshima (who became Yokozuna Tamanoumi), Kotozakura, Kitanofuji and Kiyokuni. Kiyokuni was the only one who never made it up to Yokozuna…but I’d never heard of an Ozeki being demoted. (Memories as a 5-6 year old…so who knows!). And Hasegawa was the perennial Sekiwake.
But, thank you, you may well be right.
I really think the yaocho scandal lead to its current boom, on the shoulders of Hakuho. I mean, the guy demonstrated what sumo could really be. It kicked a lot of guys to the curb and served up notice that the funny business was not acceptable. Kotozakura needs some stern warnings because it looks like he could have won 10 here and shut the critics up for a while. But did it look like he wanted to win that bout last night? Will he put in his best against Kirishima tonight? Those are questions I don’t like to ask and it damages the sport. When I saw folks in Japanese twitter talking about “Gachinko”, it really made sense and I think that’s why sumo is booming so much right now.
Asanoyama belongs on that list too.
The record number of rikishi who had been demoted from ozeki during their career was probably about two years ago, when instead of Aonishiki Terunofuji and Takakeisho had that status.
Regarding watching the Nabatame/Nishikigi match — had to establish a Japan VPN to watch, and ABEMA threw two commercials in right at the climax of the match. Fortunately, the match paused and resumed after the commercials and went straight thru the replay.
Anyway, on to the bouts that mattered in the top division. It’s Atamifuji and Aonishiki squaring off to decide the Yusho, either in regulation or a playoff. Interestingly, both of Aonishiki’s yushos have been won in playoffs (Hoshoryu and Atamifuji being the victims).
Disappointed that we don’t get a Darwin Yokozuna matchup, but them’s the breaks.
Pulling for Aonishiki to win in regulation, and go on to get his rope in Fukuoka. He’s broken the jinx that Onosato had on him, and his gutty performance in spite of the injuries to his left foot give me the confidence to make that prediction.
Almost all the 7-7 Juryo guys drew 10-4 opponents with only one Darwin match. and Fujinokawa v Fujiseiun is the Darwin for the Makuuchi.
Plenty of must watch matches and the Sandanme and Makushita 7-way playoffs to spice up the final day.
Gotta love this sport!
Commercials in the middle of a match would drive me bonkers. I would love it if JME started showing Juryo and lower divisions but I’m actually usually asleep for most of that since I wake up at 2:55 for Makuuchi.
I‘m a bit surprised that ‚Oho‘ had a win against ‚Shodai‘…
One of them had to lose and as Calvet writes, Shodai had probably a sore bottom which made him over cautious…
I‘m sad for both
Shodai looks hurt. He’s on a terrible losing streak. I would not be surprised if the Shadow of Shodai loses again tonight.
Based on Shodai’s position in today’s match, I completely agree that he’s hurt. He slid backwards on one foot and twisted his body to make sure that both of his feet weren’t touching the ground. Considering that’s completely against the training a rikishi is given, something is definitely wrong.
Anyone brave enough to venture a guess on how Komusubi and Sekiwake slots will look like in September?
That seems too early, as it all depends on tomorrow’s results of Daieisho, Hakunofuji, Kotoeiho plus especially Kotoshoho and Fujinokawa.
If the basho had ended today it would probably have been Atamifuji and Daieisho as sekiwake, Kotoshoho and Hakunofuji or Kotoeiho (!) as komusubi.
Hakunofuji getting his KK today really does throw mud into these decisions, doesn’t it? You’d think they’d automatically promote Kotoeiho based on his record, but rules are rules.
If the difference in wins between them remained like that tomorrow, Kotoeiho would overtake Hakunofuji by the maths, but U never know whether they take into account that one fought in the joi and the other didn’t.
Komusubi and Sekiwake? There will be two of each ;)
Takayasu is really tired of people trying to trip him and spin him around. That was a big ol’ “I STILL HAVE SOMETHING LEFT IN THE TANK!” slap delivered with authority. I know the rikishi are supposed to not show emotion, but seeing both Yoshinofuji and Takerufuji visibly be frustrated with their losses is a good thing in my opinion. Use that as fuel to learn more and win, Gentlemen!
What else do we need to say about Aonishiki? My goodness. I hope he wins the Cup as much as I hope that Hoshoryu gets his knees taken care of properly. I’m incredibly tired of Yokozuna going intai because of injuries.
Yoshinofuji has been tasting smacky harite from Takayasu from the day on they first met. I watched them basho by basho, hoping the youngster would get more offensive for their following matches. ‚Ever try, ever fail, no matter. Try again, fail again, fail better.‘ Today there was much power in Yoshinofuji‘s play.
Yoshinofuji is on the cusp of taking a step up in his sumo skills. He just has to put a small number of pieces together to make everything work. Fingers crossed everything clicks into place for the next basho.
Some people lose because they are injured, but Aonishiki wins because his is injured!
It’s interesting that those who beat the Yokozuna early in tournament (Yoshinofuji, Fujinokawa, Gonoyama, Hakunofuji) all have trouble making kachi-koshi by the end of the tournament – curse of the Yokozuna perhaps. Fujinokawa has one more chance to escape the curse on Day 15.
And of course, Yay for Tamawashi!! It’s interesting that most of the people he’s meeting in Juryo are the folks he fought in Makuuchi.