Kitanowaka of Hakkaku-beya won the Juryo yusho. He defeated Kagayaki in regulation to force a play-off. Kayo joined the play-off as he beat Tamawashi. Kitanowaka then defeated Kagayaki and Kayo to claim the title.
What works once must work twice. Rinse and repeat, no?
The Makushita to Juryo promotion queue will be interesting. There’s precedent for elevating Makushita 4 with 4-3 records: Nabatame & Hoshoryu. There’s precedent for elevating Makushita 9 with a 6-1: Hakuho. There’s also precedent for keeping a 6-9 at the same rank. It will be interesting but I think Tochitaikai, Nishikigi, Tamashoho, Hatsuyama go down. Asahifuji, Ryuho, Ikarigata and Tenshoyama come up. What do y’all think? Frankly, the Sumo Association will do what the Sumo Association wants to do.
Special Prize Nominations:
Takayasu will get a Fighting Spirit prize if he wins and Onosato claims the yusho. Fujinokawa will receive an unconditional Fighting Spirit Prize. Churanoumi, Asanoyama, and Toshinofuji are eligible for Fighting Spirit Prizes if they win today. No one will receive a Technique prize. “No soup for you!”
NHK videos are here. Of all of the Juryo action available, the NHK posted the Tanji-Arashifuji bout. Enjoy.
Makuuchi Action
Kazuma defeated Shonannoumi. Kazuma shoved Shonannoumi out quickly. Oshidashi.
Chiyoshoma (5-10) defeated Shodai (3-12). Chiyoshoma charged forward and Shodai tried to change direction while shoving Chiyoshoma to the side but Chiyoshoma ran right through Shodai. Oshidashi.
Oho (7-8) defeated Tokihayate (8-7). Oho got his left arm inside and held Tokihayate up, under the shoulder. Oho used gaburi hip thrusts to drive Tokihayate back and out. Yorikiri.
Asasuiryu (8-7) defeated Shishi (7-8). Asasuiryu charged forward and Shishi gave up on the edge. Yorikiri.
Ura (10-5) defeated Tobizaru (4-11). It looked like a pair of clones out there, fighting with the same push-pull strategy. Eventually, Ura charged forward and DIDN’T pull. When he pressed forward at the edge, he forced Tobizaru out. Yorikiri.
Hiradoumi (9-6) defeated Toshinofuji (9-6). Hiradoumi hooked both arms inside Toshinofuji and pressed forward. Toshinofuji tried a throw at the edge but Hiradoumi bulldozed ahead and forced him out. No Special Prize for Toshinofuji. Yorikiri.
Takerufuji (9-6) defeated Asahakuryu (8-7). Takerufuji got low, hooked both arms inside, rotated and plowed through Asahakuryu. Yorikiri.
Abi (8-7) defeated Nishikifuji (7-8). Abi used strong tsuppari to force Nishikifuji back. Nishikifuji grabbed Abi’s left arm and tried an armbar. It nearly paid dividends and Abi stumbled forward but stopped before the tawara. Abi then pulled, shuffled along the tawara and slapped Nishikifuji down. Hatakikomi.
Fujiseiun (9-6) defeated Asakoryu (9-6). Asakoryu pulled and rotated but couldn’t throw Fujiseiun. Fujiseiun grabbed Asakoryu’s thong and got behind Asakoryu. [Cue Sisqo, “Thong song.”] Asakoryu kind of gave up and let Fujiseiun force him out from behind. I don’t think it was the wedgie that ended Asakoryu’s day. He flexed his right knee after the bout. Okuridashi.
Ichiyamamoto (4-11) defeated Kinbozan (9-6). Ichiyamamoto shifted slightly to the side after the tachiai and Kinbozan stumbled forward. Ichiyamamoto tracked in from behind like a velociraptor and shoved Kinbozan out from behind. Okuridashi.
Halftime
Gonoyama (6-9) defeated Wakamotoharu (10-5). Gonoyama charged forward and was careful about Wakamotoharu’s rotation, shoving him out. Oshidashi.
Yoshinofuji (9-6) defeated Asanoyama (10-5). Yoshinofuji rotated and crushed Asanoyama out. No special prize for Asanoyama. Yoritaoshi.
Fujiryoga (8-7) defeated Takayasu (7-8). Takayasu pivoted and pulled but Fujiryoga’s excellent footwork avoided defeat. Fujiryoga drove forward into Takayasu and looped his arm inside Takayasu’s shoulder. When Takayasu dug his heels into the tawara, Fujiryoga twisted and dragged him down. No Outstanding Performance prize for Takayasu. Sukuinage.
Kotoeiho (5-10) defeated Oshoma (6-9). Oshoma pulled while shoving Kotoeiho’s head down. Kotoeiho’s legs kept churning forward and he forced Oshoma out. Yorikiri.
Sanyaku
Churanoumi (10-5) defeated Daieisho (5-10). Daieisho hit Churanoumi with his thrust-pull combo. Churanoumi had read the brief. He blocked what tsuppari he could and then rushed Daieisho out.
Hakunofuji (5-10) defeated Roga (6-9). Roga briefly got the back of Hakunofuji’s belt but Hakunofuji charged ahead and forced him out. I do not wake up this early in the morning to watch Roga or Oshoma fight, that’s for sure. Yorikiri.
Kore-Yori-Sanyaku
Well, looky there. The kore-yori-sanyaku are all Sekiwake and above. That’s a good tournament. Terunofuji standing up in the hanamichi like, “bring home those arrows!”
Fujinokawa (11-4) defeated Atamifuji (8-7). Atamifuji wrapped up Fujinokawa with a kimedashi hold and drove forward. But he released Fujinokawa’s right arm so he could shove Fujinokawa with the left hand. Bad mistake. Freed from that kimedashi, Fujinokawa shifted left and used his left arm to heave Atamifuji over. That’s Fighting Spirit. Unconditional. Atamifuji walked back down the hanamichi only to see Ikioi and Terunofuji hunched over the replay screen. “Oh crap.” Sukuinage.
Kirishima (8-7) defeated Kotozakura (9-6). Nail-biter here as Kotozakura tried to catch Kirishima at the edge. Then he actually tried to overpower him with a yorikiri. Kirishima wanted the win more, needed the win more, and hauled Kotozakura over the edge. No kadoban Ozeki for Kyushu. Ain’t that something? Uwatenage.
Onosato (12-3) defeated Aonishiki (11-4). Onosato hit Aonishiki with tsuppari to the face, repeatedly. Aonishiki had that left-hand grip for a moment before the beating started. Onosato’s shoves broke Aonishiki’s hold and his resolve. That final left hand to the jaw looked uncomfortable. Shonosuke called a great bout, the last of his career. お疲れ様でした。 Tsukidashi.
Wrap-up
Onosato Yusho. The win appeared to hit him during the playing of the national anthem as he broke up and started to cry. He had to cover his face. It looks like this one really meant a lot.
We’ll see you back here in a couple of days for the Juryo promotion announcements
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A fitting ending to a very entertaining basho .. Onosato nailed the W with the kind of convincing + solid sumo expected of a Yokozuna ..
The book on Ao’s sumo is that he is susceptible to a quick, explosive, persistent tsuppari attack off the tachiai .. Onosato executed it .. He got down early + was ready for blast-off .. Perhaps a healthy ankle will allow Ao to find a counter to such an attack .
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Fujinokawa’s sumo is remarkable for a small man .. he attacks aggressively + can win with the inside throws of other small rikishi .. but is dangerous after he provokes larger rikishi + then dumps them at the bales when they charge forward in a blind rage .. He deserves a “technique award” because he always has a strategy vs roll w the match ..
Oho finally showed a flicker of motivation in week two of the basho .. maybe he needs some time in lower ranks to rekindle the fire .. always strikes me as a wasted sumo talent .. maybe he wants to be an artist ..
Ura and Tobizaru was a classic tango .. both had too much familiarity w their opponent to reach for a belt or get stuck in a disadvantage .. the juryo barge folks have Tobi on a futures list .. we may not see that one again …. Meanwhile Ura gets a deserved bump up the banzuke; however, he will not thrive up in that thin air and will be dropping down after Fukuoka .. we have seen this plot before ..
Gonoyama’s bowling ball was the perfect antidote to WMH’s standup sumo .. glad WMH is a bit more healthy .. hope more healing is coming for the Waka clan ..
Hiradoumi heads home to Kyushu on the upswing .. hope he can sustain it ..
Shishi rested his brain today .. stood up + lent the smaller riskishi his chest .. he has met his largest challenge .. look in the mirror .. btw .. his toes were unremarkable today ..
OTOH .. Fujiryoga’s eyes bear special focus going forward .. today was the eye of tiger .. yesterday was something much more difficult to construe .. a kabuki career awaits him after his days on the dohyo are done ..
Thanks to Andy and all commenters for making this site a treat ..
Cannot wait for Fukuoka !
Good example of Shishi’s Hemingway cat toes on display, are in his Day 9 win over Ichiyammamoto…
Could be a crowded barge headed for Juryo, 5 or 6 qualify, depends on the committee, of course.
Chiyoshoma was the only one to win today out of him, Shodai, and Tobizaru. It’ll be interesting to see how their fates are decided by the banzuke committee.
The interviews, apart from yusho interviews, are usually deadly dull ` “I’m happy”, “I’ll do my best”. “..my brand of sumo” So I enjoyed the interview with Fujinokawa. The interviewer was trying to pump him on what aspeects of his sumo he was going to work on but all he got from Fujinokawa was an impish little laugh. He could have said, “Nice try, but I’m not going to announce to my opponents what I think my weaknesses are.” Instead he said something about moving forward, which is no secret to anyone. I like his sumo, and I liked what I saw of his character in the interview.
That was hilarious – “I’m going to do my best” – “Could you be specific about what you’re going to do your best at?” – “At sumo”. As good off the dohyo as on!
Double joy for chairman Hakkaku. And I bet master Nishonoseki didnt say this time that 12-3 isnt yusho. Most entertaining rikishi – Fujinokawa. Disappointment – Shodai, Daieisho. Best bout – day 9 Shishi vs Ichiyamamoto. Thank you Andy, Tachiai for a great coverage.
I am just glad that for once, none of those guys whose special prizes were contingent on a win tried to grab it with a henka.
Churanoumi is definitely not a henka man. Got to be proud of him :)
Overall a good tournament.
Wakamotoharu getting out of his funk to get double digits, Asanoyama really starting to show technique like he had before the COVID suspension thing (though he obviously fell short the last two days, might be still a bit out of condition after all that time doing injury rehab,) Fujinokawa being exciting as ever, Atamifuji’s one dimensional “I am just heavier than everyone” sumo being denied an ozeki slot (guy really was more interesting to watch when he was considerably lighter a couple years ago,) Kirishima at least not being kadoban the tournament after his “rope run” tournament like so many Ozeki of recent times, and while Aonishiki didn’t pull off the yusho he showed he is absolutely one of the two best rikishi in sumo right now.
Onosato winning is a whatever to me as I don’t really care for him, personally. But he did show the kind of dominance you expect from a Yokozuna in almost every match. Some of his previous titles had been won on the back of 5-6 “backwards bunny hop” wins so it was good to see him just doing his thing.
Looking forward to November.
It was time for a basho with the yokozuna just doing his job. Good result.
Roga didn’t end up having a good tournament, but he had some good-looking wins at career-high rank. I wonder if he still has potential to move up.
Thanks to Andy and tachiai.org as usual!
Makushita Juryo should see Asahifuji exchanged with Tochitaikai, and Ryuho with Nishikigi. The first is 100%, the second is like 90%. The next exchange would be Ikarigata with Hatsuyama, but there’s almost no chance of it happening. Tamashoho is completely safe, and there’s zero chance of Tenshoyama coming up.
U‘re the expert and I thought so myself but U could still have given me at least 1% hope for Tenshoyama… Seriously, something very similar happened back in 2015 for Ishiura. Why is it impossible today? Have they significantly changed the rules since then?
Yes, i’s gotten a lot tougher to get promoted in the last few years. There’s no way that Azumaryu-Ishiura exchange happens today. I’m not saying it’s impossible in principle. Say Ryuho and Ikarigata finished 3-4, and Nishikigi lost his final bout to end 5-10. I think they’d have no choice but to bring him up instead of keeping a 5-10 J14e Tochitaikai.
So I guess we have six coming up on the barge and it’s returning to J-Land with six going down. Actually only four are healthy enough for the barge ride down – the other two will be airlifted to wherever they are going after Kyushu. It’s pretty crazy, the number of former top division guys now in Juryo.
I have the incoming guys all in a block beginning at M14W. Dewanoryu, then Tamawashi, then a free for all below that with the J5 & J6 guys at the bottom. It doesn’t matter – I always guess them wrong.
Not so sure about the six. Chiyoshoma has a demotable record but Daiseizan not a promotable one. In my guess I opted for keeping the Mongolian up.
Interesting parallels in Aki 2023 with 6 rising; J2E 8-7 rising (Kitanowaka), J5 10-5 rising (Churanoumi), J7 11-4 rising (Ichiyamamoto) etc. Of the six that were promoted for Kyushu, three had disastrous records and went back down, two survived and one thrived.
https://sumodb.sumogames.de/Banzuke.aspx?b=202309
That’s a great similarity U found. And have U noticed? The rikishi with the best chances of staying up versus the 8:7 J2 just like today was Chiyoshoma!
But, as Iksumo says in his comment before yours: „it’s gotten a lot tougher to get promoted in the last few years“. He’s talking about makushita there but it seems to me that the same is true for juryo.
I’m confused. There were three demotion candidates better than Chiyoshoma there, as far as I can see.
Not U are confused, I was it and I am sorry.
I think I simply turned the records around and so a 3-12 was suddenly better than a 5-10; weird. Probably my unconscious wanted Chiyoshoma to be in the best position like he is now…
If I had to guess I would guess it’s limited to Tochitaikai and Nishikigi going down, and Asahifuji and Ryuho going up.
Something I forgot in my disappointment yesterday following Aonishiki’s loss (thanks so much to today’s Chris Sumo video for reminding me) was to give a big congratulations to Churanoumi for securing his place in san’yaku (the first ever Okinawan wrestler to do so) and a special prize to boot. What an incredible basho for him! It might be tough for him at the top, but what an achievement for him, especially this late in his career!