Day 14 in Tokyo
Kagayaki and Kayo lost again, making the yusho race a bigger party. Kagayaki still leads at 11-3 but Tamawashi and Kitanowaka join Kayo in the hunt at 10-4.
At the other end, Ikarigata defeated Tochitaikai, earning his kachikoshi and making a case for promotion to Juryo. Plenty of guys are in position to go down, starting with Tochitaikai, Nishikigi, and Tamashoho. Three guys are ready to come up, Asahifuji, Ryuho and Ikarigata.
Makuuchi Action
Asasuiryu (7-7) defeated Daiseizan (8-6). Both men seemed to be taking this bout very seriously and thus fought very deliberately and carefully. They leaned into each other, waiting for an opportunity to strike. Asasuiryu felt he found that opportunity first and twisted Daiseizan around to the bales. Daiseizan was caught back-heeled and Asasuiryu pressed forward and shoved him out. Oshidashi.
Toshinofuji (9-5) defeated Tobizaru (4-10). Tobizaru pulled and nearly took himself out. Toshinofuji pursued carefully, without giving Tobizaru an opportunity for shenanigans along the edge, and shoved Tobizaru out. Oshidashi.
Oho (6-8) defeated Chiyoshoma (4-10). Chiyoshoma tried to use his left-hand uwatenage but Oho dragged him down with an arm bar on that left arm. Kotenage.
Kinbozan (9-5) defeated Shonannoumi (3-11). Just days from being elevated to fight Aonishiki in the yusho race, Kinbozan is down here fighting makujiri…sometimes I really do not get these bout decisions. Kinbozan hugged Shonannoumi and ushered him out, quickly. The Kyokai tells Shonannoumi, “We want you gone.” Yorikiri.
Asakoryu (9-5) defeated Ura (9-5). Ura tried to throw Asakoryu with a kubinage as his left foot on the other side of the ring. The gyoji spotted Ura’s foot out and called it right. Asakoryu won. Oshidashi.
Shishi (7-7) defeated Abi (7-7). After a few seconds of tsuppari, Abi had a hold of Shishi’s belt so you knew Abi was in trouble. Abi was worn out. Shishi grabbed Abi’s belt with the left hand and dragged him down. Shitatenage.
Wakamotoharu (10-4) defeated Takerufuji (8-6). Takerufuji’s initial charge drove Wakamotoharu back to the edge. Wakamotoharu braced against the bales, rotated and counter-attacked. He had a strong hold of Takerufuji’s belt with the right hand and drove Takerufuji over the tawara. Yorikiri.
Hiradoumi (8-6) defeated Tokihayate (8-6). Hiradoumi blasted Tokihayate with tsuppari, chased him around the ring and thrust him out. Tokihayate tried to block what incoming strikes he could but enough got through to take him out. Hiradoumi kachikoshi. Tsukidashi.
Asahakuryu (8-6) defeated Fujiseiun (8-6). Fujiseiun wrapped up Asahakuryu and forced him to the edge. Asahakuryu struck out with his counter at the edge where he pivoted and thrust Fujiseiun down with a powerful blast at his shoulder. Asakoryu kachikoshi. Tsukiotoshi.
Gonoyama (5-9) defeated Shodai (3-11). Gonoyama hit Shodai with a hand to the face and got Shodai moving backward. Then he wrapped him up and went for the kill. Yorikiri.
Halftime
Takayasu (7-7) defeated Churanoumi (9-5). After battering Churanoumi with a shoulder blast tachiai and powerful thrusts, Takayasu pulled and shifted left, slapping Churanoumi down. Churanoumi looked irritated. He knows he needs to build a case for sanyaku promotion. He needs to leap-frog Takayasu and/or Yoshinofuji to claim one of the open komusubi slots for Kyushu. Note that Churanoumi already defeated Yoshinofuji earlier in the tournament. As Herbern mentioned in the comments, Churanoumi is looking to represent Okinawans in sanyaku. Hatakikomi.
Yoshinofuji (8-6) defeated Fujiryoga (7-7). Yoshinofuij shifted right and pulled Fujiryoga forward with his right hand on his belt. Fujiryoga was completely off balance and stumbled toward the tawara. Yoshinofuji finished him off with a shove. Yorikiri.
Nishikifuji (7-7) defeated Kotoeiho (4-10). Nishikifuji charged ahead behind a powerful tachiai and quickly shoved Kotoeiho out. Kotoeiho probably planned to execute a throw at the edge but Nishikifuji had shoved his left hand away as he moved toward the bales. Kotoeiho was rather stuck. Yorikiri.
Sanyaku
Ichiyamamoto (3-11) defeated Hakunofuji (4-10). Ichiyamamoto got Hakunofuji moving in reverse. As Hakunofuji shuffled along the bales, Ichiyamamoto pursued with thrusts and shoved him off the dohyo and into an elegant elder sujo in the front row. Hakunofuji checked in on her to make sure she was okay. Oshidashi.
Daieisho (5-9) defeated Oshoma (6-8). Daieisho tenderized Oshoma with tsuppari and then yanked him forward by the shoulder. Sukuinage.
Roga (6-8) defeated Atamifuji (8-6). Roga twisted right with his left-hand uwate, and threw Atamifuji down. Uwatenage.
Fujinokawa (10-4) defeated Asanoyama (10-4). Asanoyama thought he’d locked onto that right arm of Fujinokawa as he charged ahead. At the bales, Fujinokawa slipped his grasp and shuffled left, pulling Asanoyama forward and thrusting him to the ground. Tsukiotoshi.
Aonishiki (11-3) defeated Kirishima (7-7). Aonishiki got a right-hand overarm grip. When he got the left hand inside, Kirishima freaked out and wiggled wildly, “Get it off! Get it off!” He cut the grip but Aonishiki shifted his right foot forward. “Uh-oh, another thing I gotta worry about? チックショー” With Kirishima nicely distracted, Aonishiki went back for the left-hand inside and charged forward at the same time. As he got the grip, he plowed into Kirishima. Kirishima tried to twist at the edge but it was futile. Aonishiki bowled him over. Yoritaoshi.
Kotozakura (9-5) defeated Onosato (11-3). Onosato had his overeager pants on. He didn’t read the brief. This is literally what Kotozakura does, or at least tries to do every day. It’s also what Fujinokawa just pulled on Asanoyama. After a solid, satisfying tachiai that drew appreciative gasps from the assembled masses, Onosato grabbed Kotozakura with the right hand grip on Kotozakura’s belt and charged forward. As they approached the edge, Kotozakura shuffled to the left – at Beyoncé’s insisting – and thrust Onosato to the ground. Tsukiotoshi.
Wrap-up
Onosato will fight Aonishiki for all the marbles, mushrooms, and macarons.
Tomorrow’s bouts have not been posted yet but barring anything insane, Kotozakura will fight Kirishima with Kirishima looking for his kachikoshi and Kotozakura looking for that elusive 10th win. There’s still time to have Asanoyama fight Shonannoumi.
In Juryo, I think Kagayaki will fight Kitanowaka. Tamawashi hasn’t faced Kayo, yet. So, maybe they’ll pair the two and eliminate one from the potential play-off.
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I really enjoyed the sumo today, especially the final couple of bouts. Hope Ura wins tomorrow. But I’d like to ban Raja Pradhan from using the phrase “that’s all she wrote” on the commentary. Ross Mihara used it the other day too but Pradhan managed it twice in 50 minutes today.
I enjoy the Japanese announcers attempts to sound like old-style American sports commentators.
Hiro Morita takes the cake however with his arsenal of
… bites the dust!
…smokes…!
…eats…for lunch!
…crushes…!
…has no more gas in the tank!
…knocks his socks off!
…comes up short! (often said when the rikishi is actually short)
…and that’s all she wrote!
The win today must have felt good for Ichiyamamoto. He and Fujiryoga had a number of bouts this basho where they have fought well and lost.
Funjinokawa is fast becoming one of my favorites. He’s always thinking and planning. It is impressive that he’s on the first leg of an Ozeki run. Now, we’ll have to see if he can repeat this performance in the next basho.
Overconfidence bites Onosato yet again. Usually these lessons are learned at Sekiwake or Ozeki, but he rocketed up the banzuke too quickly for that to occur. So, here we are. Tomorrow is definitely going to be interesting.
So glad for Yoshinofuji making his kachikoshi after a start with 5 losses.
And congrats to Hiradoumi, too. His all-in mentality mixed with humble behaviour reminds me always of Yoshikaze, if anybody remembers. (Sometimes he’s still commenting on Abema.)
Similar mixture of always serious approach and humbleness, but paired with superior technical skills I find in Churanoumi. Hope to see him as Komusubi soon.
Last note: wasn’t that a kinjite, Asakoryus hand in Ura’s hair just before the latter stepped out?
What a basho .. What was looking like an Onosato sleep walk to the yusho has turned into a high stakes day 15 face-off w Ao, everyone’s fav feel good story ..
WMH has rebounded from some poor basho’s w solid sumo .. despite his limited flexibilty .. I expected Takerufuji to be too much for him to handle .. WMH’s strength met the challenge ..
Asanoyama has had a very nice basho, but he needs to face stiffer competition from Day 1 .. to re-acclimate himself to the slippery moves at the top of the banzuke ..
Atamifuji lost consecutive matches because he could not stop his top heavy body from falling backwards, forward and sideways .. enough said ..
Shishi has added some upper body strength to his sumo + won today despite not keeping his head low .. His lower body strength reminds me of a blocking dummy, knock it over & it bounces right back up .. I’m surprised he has defended this elevated slot on the banzuke ..
Tokihayate has had a nice basho and was solid today, but Hiradoumi did this thing .. he always gives 110% ..
Takayasu deserves a lot of credit .. many of his peers are in decline + he has lost some close matches + appears injured .. But today he put on a clinic versus a tough opponent ..
Onosato did not appear to have any idea that KTZ had that matador move on the bales .. it is one of only two or three moves KTZ seems to use .. geeesh ..