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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The rollercoaster that is Kotozakura continues to provide.
And rough going for Kirishima, going from a potential rope run to looking at Kadoban for Kyushu.
Kotozakura! Today I thought he looked every bit the Ozeki he is. Thanks and applause to KotoZ for keeping the excitement going to the final day. Can’t wait for tomorrow.
100% agree Karen!
Gods how I love this sport! There’s never a dull moment in the ups and downs of the banzuke and the yusho race(s). Nearly every single time it’s up to the wire.
Well done Aonishiki, well done.
Hoping the Iron Man makes it back to Makuuchi, and what d’yall think of Toshinofuji? 9-5 today in his makuuchi debut, can’t be bad. Quietly pleased for Fujinokawa too, it would be nice if he could win tomorrow to get double digits.
Lovely commenting Andy, thanks, I am looking forward to the highlights show after work!
I forgot of course to mention Kotozakura. Mea culpa. Well done. Quite made my day reading that win together with Aonishiki’s win.
…and U robbed a win from Fujinokawa, who is 10-4 already. And I guess (and hope) that might be enough for an unconditional special prize.
oh crikey, how did I miss that? Coffee, clearly I need more coffee, Thanks herbern!
Oh that would be the icing on the cake wouldn’t it – an unconditional special prize…or two?
Thank you! I’ve been pleased with Toshinofuji and a little surprised that Asasuiryu is having a bit of trouble after the great start.
Kirishima is having some problems but also just some bad luck. If I’m remembering correctly, he lost three or so bouts that were so well fought that he could be proud of them anyway. Add to that beating Onosato and I think he’s had a better tournament than his 7-7 record shows. He should have beaten Fujinokawa but then so should almost everyone else.
Atamifuji needs to work on his musculature. His cardio seems fine, which is a significant achievement for someone carrying that much weight, but rank and file rikishi seem to be able to move him around at will. I think that’s his legs and back muscles lacking the strength to resist. I could be wildly wrong about that.
I don’t like Onosato. I’m admitting that. I don’t like him. He doesn’t deserve my not liking him. I mean the dude is a Yokozuna. It’s mostly unimportant stuff that ticks me off too — stuff that has no bearing on the quality of his performance. Like that creepy belly bounce (with a hint of pelvic thrust – I mean EW!) before he does his final salt throw each bout. Where am I going with this? … Oh yeah. I don’t like him and I’m glad he lost tonight.
Please don‘t dislike Onosato. He‘s very young and his methods are very individual, but they work for him. His playful skater jumps also tell of his youth. Yes, they look silly, but wtf. He‘s a good Yokozuna. He will mature step by step.
I’ll work on it. I like Hoshoryu and his faults are obviously more serious than Onosato’s. Hoshoryu has that near perfect Sumo face though. I shouldn’t put so much importance upon appearances. I know that.
Hahahaha! I think Kisenosato has him doing that as an exercise. The bug eyes thing makes me laugh every time but yeah, that hip thing is from Kisenosato. I used to see him doing that and think, “hey now. take that someplace private.” The thing is, gaburi-zumo is an important skill. It’s important to be limber and loose down there. If it helps the missus, it helps the sumo, too.
“There’s still time to have Asanoyama fight Shonannoumi” :)
For at least a week, Aonishiki has not been been able to squat comfortably on his injured ankle when he accepts the kensho. Yet he still battles and wins! Remarkable
Asanoyama vs Fujinokawa: Damn it! I guess my mental push wasn’t enough to bring victory to Asanoyama.
Kirishima vs Aonishiki: Was it an obvious Aonishiki win? I thought there might be a monoii but not a peep. Aonishiki’s win certainly makes tomorrow something to look forward to. Very exciting!
Kotozakura vs. Onosato: Well, I didn’t see that coming. Not with Kotozakura (as I’ve long since Shodai’d him). But…wow.
I know, I really really wanted Asanoyama to win today, and stay in the race for the Emperor’s Cup. So close at the edge. He doesn’t show much emotion on his face pre and post bout, but after this loss, you could tell he was totally deflated.
I agree it should have been a monoii. Aonishiki was due some luck though, and yes it sets it up really nice for tomorrow! Really good to see a full roster of Y-O match ups this basho.
I thought Aonishki won in real-time, but I was watching the slow motion replay carefully. My favourite moment in today’s sumo was Kirishima extending a hand to help Aonishiki up and Aonishiki accepting it. I know they usually offer a hand to one another after a fall but it seems rare for it to be taken.
The swing of things made it easy for the match-making commitee. Asanoyama excused himself out of the title race. Six men at 7-7 were automatically paired — Takayasu vs Fujiryoga, Asasuiryu vs Shishi, Abi vs Nishikifuji.
Still will be waiting to see Kotozakura earn his one-way ticket down and away from ozeki, but who would have guessed that he would hatch such a cunning plan and execute to perfection.
As usual, the list of men with double-digit losses presents a strange mix of misfortune, injury, inadequacy, apathy, hot gas. So far, in order of rank: Hakunofuji, Kotoeiho, Ichiyamamoto, Shodai, Tobizaru, Chiyoshoma, Shonannoumi. Gonoyama might join them tomorrow, Daieisho might not.
Not sure if Hoshoryu’s absence is even noticed. Might as well dedicate to him a song by late great Townes Van Zandt: “You Are Not Needed Now”.
Holy moly, another Townes Van Zandt fan? His lyrics can be so brutal. Just about the only country music I find worthy, track after track.
He is one of a kind.
Honestly, I don’t mind that Hoshoryu isn’t “needed” at the moment. That means that he can rest and recuperate without rushing anything. I’m quite sure he wants to get back in the ring as quickly as possible. Especially with these results.
Good way of looking at it.
Thanks to small but great Fujinokawa for taking Asanoyama out of the yusho race. The veteran is having an impressive basho, of course, but he hasn’t met any of the top dogs.
Next time he will probably be M1 at least and I‘m looking forward to see what he can do from there. Another ozeki run would be great after all those setbacks for him.
Asanoyama vs Yoshinofuji tomorrow. Is this winner becomes Komusubi?
I think it is, yes. A great bout. Maybe with a conditional special prize on the line for the veteran, too? And the other komusubi rank should go to Churanoumi.
I know most of today’s comments so far here on Day 14 are for the Sanyaku men, and rightly so…But in the spirit of celebrating our rikishis unique strengths and skills, Shishi is standing out to me, and really more so since last tournament. His Sumo is evolving, and today we saw yet another throw for the win, which I don’t really recall about his style previously. And, his feet and toes particularly fascinate me. When he fights and steps around, his toes are going all which-ways. Make me wonder if he actually has more than 5 per foot, like some polydactyl cat! I would assume if his feet/toes were given the equivalent of a grip (hand) strength test, he would be tops of Makuuchi. I look forward to seeing his future growth and climb up the Banzuke.
“Make me wonder if he actually has more than 5 per foot, like some polydactyl cat!”
Ha! I’ll have to watch again just to pay attention to his toes.
You’ll be mesmerized… :-)
Egads. If we start in on feet and Onosato’s humpty dance…I already had to delete my Hakunofuji netorare joke. I might need to flag my content as “for immature audiences, only.”
Laughing uncontrollably.
I shall pay close attention during the highlights show!
Watch out for those pinky toes. He can bend them upwards to a 90-degree angle!
Shishi definitely has the best bow after each fight. Some of the rikishi just barely nod.
Yes, Shishi has definitely left the ranks of the lumberati.
I think it’s great that the two best rikishi will go head to head for the yusho. Whoever wins will be a worthy winner. They will have a total of nine yusho between them. These guys are seriously good. Barring injuries, this will be an exciting rivalry for years to come.
What’s the possibility of Shodai grabbing a ticket to the Juryo barge if he loses and Kyokukaiyu grabs his kachikoshi? (WOW! way too many k’s there).
Love that they matched up the Darwin candidates in both divisions.
Aonishiki may have figured out Onosato since he finally beat him in July, but Ono was not fully recovered from his shoulder injury.
Gonna be a great musubino ichibon for the cup.
It depends on what happens tomorrow, including if Shodai wins or loses. The current Juryo Barge contestants are:
Wakanosho
Wakatakakage
Shonannoumi
Chiyoshoma
Tobizaru
Shodai
Both Wakas are out injured, so they’ll go down automatically. Shonannoumi is the Barge Captain because he has the worst record. Here’s where things get tricky (and why tomorrow’s results matter). Both Tobizaru and Chiyoshoma are 4-10 and they’re both ranked at M14. Shodai is ranked at M11, but his record is 3-11. If Shodai, loses and both Tobizaru and Chiyoshoma win tomorrow, then Shodai has a chance of ending up in Juryo. Otherwise, he’s safe. What also matters is how many promotable people there are from Juryo. Here’s the current list of potential people and their ranks:
Kitanowaka J6 10-4
Arashifuji J5 9-5
Kazekeno J4 8-6
Tamawashi J3 10-4
Dewanoryu J1 9-5
Kyokukaiyu J1 7-7
The only way Kitanowaka is getting promoted is if he wins the Juryo yusho. Otherwise, he’ll just get moved up to J1 or J2. Tamawashi is probably a lock for promotion, but winning tomorrow will definitely seal the deal. Dewanoryu has already done enough to be promoted and if Kyokukaiyu wins tomorrow, he’ll also go up.
We have six demotable rikishi with Wakanosho, Wakatakakage, Shonannoumi, Chiyoshoma, Tobizaru and Shodai. If Kitanowaka, Daiseizan, Kyokukaiyu and Onokatsu won their bouts tomorrow we would have six promotable juryo too, because Dewanoryu and Tamawashi have already done enough. Otherwise it would get complicated and at least Shodai would probably stay in with a win.
I forgot Arashifuji. So there are even seven possible promotions, which reduces the chances for Shodai, Tobizaru and Chiyoshoma to stay in makuuchi even more.
If only the members of the banzuke committee would be as interested in promoting rikishi as we are, Hebern! Most of the time when the promotions are announced, I always think that someone in Juryo gets left behind. The only thing that can save Shodai at this point is his rank, but that might be enough for the banzuke committee to stick him at M17.
An exciting tournament full of ups and downs is nearing its conclusion.
Atamifuji seems to be back at square one in his Ozeki bid. At a minimum, he must find a way to avoid being forced upright, which has caused his recent losses.
Kirishima went from a tsunatori run to the brink of kadoban—the roller coaster of ozumo.
A perfect final matchup awaits on senshuraku: the previously dominant Japanese Yokozuna aims to claim his first title in a full year, while the Yokozuna hopeful seeks the yusho and a major stepping stone toward the white rope. Will Onosato commit to aggressive two-handed attack, or will today’s loss to the Ozeki make him more cautious? What strategy will Aonishiki bring? Tomorrow, we will get the answers.
P.S. I look forward to enjoying the final in every sense Kimura Shonosuke 39’s call of the musubi-no-ichiban.
Aonishiki deserves to win and be promoted to Yokozuna for playing through his injuries.
This roller coaster basho continues to surprise with its twists and turns. Here we are, heading into a final day with a Yokozuna facing an Ozeki in the musubi-no-ichiban for all the marbles, and having the participants be Onosato and Aonishiki wouldn’t have been unexpected at all at the beginning of the basho (although Onosato had more to prove on his return from injury). But how we got there was just nuts. Onosato looking dominant and then collapsing with two losses at the very end to guys he usually beats easily, and Aonishiki looking kadoban in the face after three straight losses only to win out after that against tough competition? Bonkers I say, but that’s sumo in a nutshell.
Kudos to Kotozakura for a well executed sidestep. Given that he’s shown that more than a few times this basho, Onosato really should have been better prepared. But instead, Onosato got a taste of being in the other side of a move he himself has employed several times.
Kirishima made the outcome way closer than I liked with that attempted reversal at the edge, but Aonishiki persevered and did his part set up tomorrow’s winner take all. Kirishima really, really didn’t want Aonishiki to land his favored left, so good for Ao figuring out a path to victory with that outside right. Let him on the belt at your peril!
In the other bout that finalized the stakes for tomorrow’s big match, Fujinokawa demonstrates again against another big guy just how good he is at escaping at the tawara. Like everyone else (e.g., both Yokozuna last basho), he thought he had the win in his sights and got caught out. Moral of the story is you better have Fujinokawa wrapped up good and tight if you are going to press forward that aggressively.
I was also a bit shocked at the Kinbozan-Shonannoumi pairing. Not that I mind seeing Shonannoumi go down (especially if he wrestles with almost no passion like he did this basho), but that did kind of feel like a message from the kyokai.
And finally, the kyokai schedulers handed me my own bit of punishment by having Takayasu (a longtime favorite) face off against Churanoumi (someone I’m rapidly growing to like). Given the stakes (an open san’yaku spot), it makes sense, but it was a sad day for me. I’m very happy Papa Bear kept his KK hopes alive after that bad start, but Churanoumi losing really puts his first san’yaku promotion and pursuit of a special prize in in jeopardy. I’m pulling for him to win tomorrow and hoping that 10 wins is enough for both!
“Onosato looking dominant and then collapsing with two losses at the very end“
Takayasu (day 4), Kirishima (day 13), Kotozakura (day 14).
This is gonna mess with his head tomorrow.