Day Five in Tokyo.
Checking in with the infirmary, Nabatame is kyujo with mumps. It’s a rather sad prospect if he can’t return to the tournament because he just crawled back into the division after having knee surgery. We hope he has a speedy and full recovery allowing him a quick return. Tanji received the fusen victory, improving to 4-1. Nabatame is 2-3.
Kayo, Kagayaki, Kitanofuji and Daiseizan lead the second division at the moment, undefeated, 5-0. On Enho watch, he lost to Ryuden. Ryuden is tough to beat when he gets that right hand overarm hold.
While checking the headlines, I came across this jaw-dropper. Endo revealed that he has about 30 kesho mawashi. He was featured on a panel at a talk event and was asked how many he had. They will likely all be on display at his retirement ceremony. I imagine them in cold storage, next to the Arc from Indiana Jones.
New fans may not realize the stunning heights of Endo mania. His dashing good looks, gravelly voice and dry wit (ha, ha) made sujo swoon. He was on a number of commercials and had many sponsorship deals at the height of his popularity.
Makuuchi Action
Toshinofuji (4-1) defeated Shonannoumi (0-5). Toshinofuji ushered Shonannoumi out with ease. Yorikiri.
Chiyoshoma (3-2) defeated Tamawashi (1-4). Chiyoshoma got his left hand inside grip and quickly forced Tamawashi back and out. Yorikiri.
Tobizaru (2-3) defeated Asasuiryu (3-2). Tobizaru slapped Asasuiryu down quickly after the tachiai. Tsukiotoshi.
Tokihayate (3-2) defeated Asakoryu (3-2). Tokihayate pulled and slapped Asakoryu down. Hatakikomi.
Abi (3-2) defeated Shodai (0-5). Abi-zumo back in force. Shodai retreated around the ring, trying to pull Abi out but Abi finished Shodai with a strong right hand nodowa. I’d mentioned Abi as a likely barge passenger but it’s clear Shodai’s more likely to claim that seat. Oshidashi.
Asahakuryu (3-2) defeated Kinbozan (3-2). Asahakuryu shifted left, grabbed Kinbozan’s mawashi with his left hand and drove him back out of the ring. Oshidashi.
Shishi (2-3) defeated Oho (1-4). Migi-yotsu. Shishi overpowered Oho and drove him out. Oho tried a last gasp sukuinage but Shishi’s footwork was solid. Yorikiri.
Ura (4-1) defeated Wakamotoharu (3-2). Great finish here. Wakamotoharu was still trying to get his left hand inside. Ura charged ahead, forcing Wakamotoharu into an early throw. But Ura tripped Wakamotoharu and kept charging forward, crushing Wakamotoharu down. Sotogake.
Hiradoumi (3-2) defeated Ichiyamamoto (0-5). Ichiyamamoto committed to the slapdown early but Hiradoumi remained upright long enough to shove Ichi out. Oshidashi.
Asanoyama (4-1) defeated Takerufuji (3-2). Asanoyama tried to throw Takerufuji but Takerufuji countered powerfully, forcing Asanoyama back to the edge. Asanoyama shuffled along the bales and then twisted, shoving Takerufuji from the left side and forcing him to take a knee. Tsukiotoshi.
Halftime
Oshoma (3-2) defeated Nishikifuji (1-4). Oshoma pivoted and drove Nishikifuji back and out. Oshidashi.
Roga (4-1) defeated Fujiseiun (3-2). Fujiseiun cycled clockwise around the ring as Roga charged ahead. Fujiseiun tripped over the tawara and fell backward. Oshitaoshi.
Fujiryoga (2-3) defeated Kotoeiho (1-4). Fujiryoga stuck Kotoeiho with a solid tachiai forced him back and out. Yorikiri.
Kotoshoho (2-3) defeated Takayasu (2-3). Kotoshoho blocked Takayasu’s arms. Takayasu decided to pull and Kotoshoho gladly shoved him out. Oshidashi.
Sanyaku
Fujinokawa (3-2) defeated Hakunofuji (1-4). Fujinokawa laid into Hakunofuji with blistering tsuppari. He then shifted left and Hakunofuji’s momentum carried him staggering forward. Fujinokawa hooked his arm up under Hakunofuji’s shoulder, pulling him toward the bales. He then lashed back out with more slaps to drive him out. I’m not sure what plan Hakunofuji came with. Oshidashi.
Atamifuji (4-1) defeated Daieisho (1-4). Atamifuji shoved Daieisho to the edge and finished him off with a few shoves to the face. Oshidashi.
Kirishima (4-1) defeated Takanosho (3-2). Kirishima shifted left and got Takanosho spun around by pulling his arm forward. Kirishima then finished him off, shoving from behind. Okuridashi.
Gonoyama (2-3) defeated Aonishiki (3-2). Gonoyama hit Aonishiki hard at the tachiai, blasting the Ozeki backward. Aonishiki limped back down the hanamichi with that taped left foot. There’s plenty of opportunity for a non-kadoban Ozeki to go kyujo. Oshitaoshi.
Churanoumi (4-1) defeated Kotozakura (4-1). Churanoumi did not allow Kotozakura to get anywhere near his mawashi. As the suddenly one-dimensional Ozeki flailed around trying to get a hold of anything but pride, Churanoumi used his tsuppari effectively to force Kotozakura out. Kotozakura’s strategy today was: 1) grab belt, 2) pull backward, 3) rotate left while pulling to give myself a bit more room. He succeeded at 2 and 3 but failed at 1. If he fails at Step 1, he should not proceed to Step 2 or 3! Yes, Kotozakura was alone in the lead yesterday. Yes, I “forgot” to mention it. I wanted to wait a day to see if that would last. It did not. Who knew? Me. Well, I didn’t know but I had a sneaking suspicion that such a “lead” would not last into the weekend. Oshidashi.
Onosato (4-1) defeated Yoshinofuji (0-5). Onosato met Yoshinofuji with a solid tachiai. Onosato calmly worked his right hand inside to get a hold of Yoshinofuji’s belt. He then drove Yoshinofuji backward and out. Yorikiri.
Wrap-up
Onosato calmly cracked his goose-egg against Yoshinofuji, who is one of a number of guys still looking for their first win.
Turning to the Ozeki, Aonishiki looks suitably banged up to earn a spot on the couch for a few days. He recently had a broken tail bone and today’s crash landing did not likely help it to heal. I was very impressed with Gonoyama. That aggression was similar to Hiradoumi or Fujinokawa.
Kirishima looked strong while Kotozakura looked like Kotonanahachi.
Turning to tomorrow’s bouts, we see Hakunofuji and Daieisho will kick off sanyaku action. Then Atamifuji will fight Kotoshoho, Kotozakura will take on Takanosho, Kirishima will fight Yoshinofuji, and no rest for the weary as Aonishiki will face Fujinokawa. Onosato will end things against Gonoyama.
See you tomorrow.
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Seeing Gonoyama and Aonishiki square off I could not have guessed I was about a second away from feeling sorry for Aonishiki. What a Tachiai!
Thanks to Andy for mentioning the cracked tailbone Ao suffered a few basho ago, I had forgotten, as all the recent concern is with his injured feet/ toe. He was certainly slammed hard to the ground by Gonoyama’s blitz at the tachiai which carried him all the way out and down. To cap it off, saw that Gonoyama made what looked like inadvertent kick to Ao nether region. Altogether one of worst days at the office for Ao that I have seen. Hope he does take some days off. He only needs 8 wins to retain Ozeki, which hoping he will get in week 2.
He actually doesn’t need any wins to retain rank. One of the big perks of Ozeki rank is that when NOT kadoban, they don’t face demotion. It’s basically a free basho to rehab. They don’t hit 8, they go kadoban and then only face demotion to Sekiwake, as we saw recently. The system should encourage him to allow himself to get back to top form. The pressure to please his supporters, oyakata, and his own pride, though…
Hi, my statement was regarding not going kadoban… sorry this was not clear.
Exactly because it was such an extraordinary thing, U shouldn’t have „forgotten“ to mention Kotozakura‘s sole lead. Who knows when that opportunity may return?
U‘re so right, Andy, to suggest Aonishiki going kyujo. But I fear he is one of those rikishi who‘d fight even on one leg. Thinking about it, that’s exactly what he‘s been doing already…
That he yushoed in that shape was a miracle and maybe it was not the best thing for him in the long run. It seems that his leg simply doesn’t get better the way he treats it.
For this basho my hopes for the Ukrainian are only, that his injury will not worsen and, if he really thinks he had to fight all 15 days, that he‘ll get his kachikoshi.
Shodai: a former Ozeki? If it wasn’t engraved in the annals of sumo I’d have a hard time believing it.
I’ve expressed my delight in watching Ura fight…and he certainly didn’t disappoint today. The way he sprung up at the end, sproing!
Asanoyama vs Terunofuji. What a great bout.
Gonoyama: Was that a blistering tachiai or what?! Aonishiki didn’t know what hit him.
That was an impressive time for Shodai, when he put up 8-7, 7-8, 9-6, 6-9’s for two straight years, alternating perfectly to keep his rank. We all marveled at how he was barely scraping by, but naturally it finally caught up with him.
The ghost of Yokozuna past? Takerufuji I think you meant Zeki ! Can’t wait for the highlights show now, sounds like quite a day on the dohyo for our bold rikishi.
Prime Asanoyama versus prime Terunofuji is quite the matchup.
Oh! Ha! Yes, I meant Takerufuji. The auto-prompt put up the former Yokozuna’s name and I just grabbed it without further thought.
Thanks for the correction.
The ferocious honey badger attacking of Fujinokowa is truly on another level. I really thought Hakunofuji would have had more of a chance, I was really looking forward to this match today thinking it would have been more evenly contested…. So the funny thing for me, was that watching the very next match today, Atamifuji v Daeisho, made my eyes see it as if it were an exhibition match, in comparison. Only when I saw the replay did I realize that Daeisho was really unleashing a brutal thrusting attack on Atamifuji, which Atamifuji just calmly absorbed all the while moving forward solidly and walking Daeisho back toward the tawara and out…. So, I leave today even more impressed with Fujinokawa’s unrelenting assaulting sumo, as well as with Atamifuji who is at Ozeki level fighting, hoping he gets his. 12 wins this basho to make it official.
Atamifuji: agreed. So very methodical.
That loss against Takanosho leaves one in doubt. Otherwise I‘d have said that Atamifuji was my yusho favorite (and maybe soon the ozeki with the best yokozuna chances, because many of his wins seem like a walk in the park while the others and especially Aonishiki have to fight hard for every single victory).
OMG Karen….thank you for that image of Fujinokawa as a honey badger! Between that and Murray Johnson’s ‘excitement machine’ comment, no more need be said.
Atamifuji was as cool as a cucumber today, Daieisho was tsuppari-ing away ferociously, and yeah, Atamifuji just moved quietly and the next thing is Daieisho on the other side of the tawara. I’m going to have to watch that back again.
Have you seen (now old) vid of Stöffel, the South African honey badger?
Hi Betty, I had not heard about Stoffel. Just viewed a 4 min BBC video, such a cute story of him continuously escaping from his wildlife rehab home in S Africa….I knew they are fearless little fighters going up against animals many times their size, but I didn’t know how intelligent they are. Thanks for telling me about him!
That’s the one, an excerpt from a BBC wildlife programme. Glad you enjoyed it :)
I enjoyed it too, though I‘m always a bit skeptical about tall tales.
The bit with the two bolts is truly impressive. Funnily enough the true hero there is Stoffel‘s nameless pal, who does the job. A bit like we humans: women work hard and men get all the credit…
Yeah, and wasn’t he standing on her head to get the second gate latch opened. What a guy!
Thanks again Betty! Cheers.
Fujinokawa was probably fired up to his peak by his oyakata dad being commenter at abema today. I never expected to see Hakunofuji hitting the third row. We saw a Sekiwake winning over a Komusubi, and this feels right. Fujinokawa is constantly living up to the hype, one could confirm.
For my tastes Atamifuji does not have the lateral movement skills of top rikishi .. when he is on his sumo + has his match under control it becomes a unidirectional snowplow/tractor pull contest .. But as Takanosho showed all that weight can be a liability when he is forced to play dancing bear .. Presumably he will make Ozeki + we can see if his or KTZ’s jumbo sumo prevails .. Plaudits to Teru for giving Atami’s sumo discipline & direction .. i.e. forward!
Onosato is the opposite .. a dancing bear who likes to show off Fred Astaire moves, when he should use that footwork to shrink the dohyo for his opponent .. Which is what Onosato did today .. btw .. i wonder if Onosato has a Michael Jackson moonwalk ? ..
Yes, Fujinokawa put on a clnic today .. wow .. after Hakunofuji got the jump on Ao yesterday, was looking forward to what he had in mind today .. Maybe he was still relishing yesterday’s match + skipped a beat .. That is not smart v Double espresso-okawa .. i.e. blink and meet the clay ..
Nabatame announced to return on Day 6. Speediest mumps recovery ever! These guys are crazy.
His return is official. It’s on the Sumo Association website.