Apologies for the Day 13 update coming so late. As Leonid mentioned the yusho race is pretty well locked up now heading into the final weekend. Kaisei’s big day against the yokozuna was a bit of a dud as Kakuryu won by backing up. If anyone has a hope of challenging at this point, it’s probably Takayasu if the stars align on Sunday, though he’s probably gunning for a jun-yusho. Today, he went head-to-head with fellow Ozeki Goeido in a lesson on how to pull effectively. When Goeido landed on his belly, accelerated into the ground by Takayasu shoving his head, Takayasu was headed out but clearly still had his left foot in. In fact, he had his hand on Goeido’s head while Goeido was still standing on his side of the dohyo. He wasn’t going to leave this to chance.

Now, let’s go into a bit of a time warp and back up to the bottom of the banzuke. Myogiryu is fighting to stay in Makuuchi and today took out his frustrations on poor Meisei, visiting from Juryo. I think this was the best sumo I’ve seen from Myogiryu this week. Nishikigi, on the other hand, offered token resistance, doing his best blocking sled impression as Kotoyuki walked him out of the ring. Ishiura took a knee, handing Daiamami his kachi-koshi.

Yutakayama surprised Aoiyama and the rest of the stadium with a valiant win. He had Aoiyama on the ropes but the man-mountain came charging back…a wee bit over-zealous? Yutakayama by yorikiri. Ikioi will earn a special prize this tournament and I will not be surprised if he wins 12. He’s got Ishiura tomorrow and hopefully will know well enough to do his best Shodai impression at the tachiai. Today, he took out Chiyonokuni in a brief slugfest. It seemed like at the end Chiyonokuni tried to pull but ran out of room. The fact is, this match was all about hatakikomi. There were about 4 or 5 attempts at different points. However, why try when your feet are ON THE TAWARA? You’ve got nowhere to go! Takayasu’s was still close and he started a full 6-7 feet forward. Pull when you’re on the other guy’s realestate.

If you want to see a beautiful uwatenage, Chiyoshoma’s today versus Daishomaru was a great example. Chiyoshoma got hold of Daishomaru’s belt, spun him like the Tazmanian Devil, and dropped him on his butt. Beautiful. Asanoyama picked up his kachi-koshi in another hard fought bout versus Okinoumi. Great example of shitatenage, the lower arm throw, a cousin of the upper arm throw. The difference is in the position of the arm over or under the opponent’s arm. In this case, Asanoyama’s arm was in tight against Okinoumi, with Okinoumi’s arm outside. Chiyonouma had his arm on the outside of Daishomaru’s arm.

Backing up, Ryuden did his best Kotoshogiku impression, beating Hidenoumi by hug-n-chug. Giku, meanwhile, beat Daieisho by…yorikiri. Tochiozan needs to sit on a couch. Straight back, eased off the dohyo, grimacing, by Takarafuji. Kagayaki staved off make-koshi by drawing injured Arawashi. Yoshikaze got in low against Tamawashi in a show bout where Tamawashi didn’t show.

Endo got his kachi-koshi today against Chiyomaru. He tried to go in for the belt but Maru was having none of it. His tsuppari attack was relentless until Endo dodged and let Chiyomaru fall. Again, Endo did this with tons of space behind him. It was Chiyomaru against the tawara. Obviously, he’d need to get momentum going the other way, so Endo just let him. Belly-flop-otoshi.

To finish things off, Abi picked up the Ishiura bug and henka’d Chiyotairyu. Shohozan used the Ichi-No-Show brand blocking sled for a quick yorikiri. Mitakeumi saved his best sumo for Hokutofuji? OK… He’ll need more of that in the closing weekend to save his sanyaku slot. Tochinoshin will also be under the gun this weekend if he wants promotion to Ozeki. He tried the kachiage against Shodai but stayed way too high and off balance after it failed. Shodai didn’t exactly “go low” more like he kept Tochi “high” and walked him off the dohyo.

I’m looking forward to the final weekend. As Leonid’s post mentioned, there’s a lot of movement and a lot still up in the air, even though the yusho is almost set. Also, I’m eager to see where yo-yo Iki-yoi will finish.

Day 12 brought us another thrilling day of sumo action. Ishiura stepped up against Aoiyama today. Ishiura obviously knew what was coming. Aoiyama knew what was coming. Everyone in the whole freaking stadium knew what was coming. Henka. Yet Aoiyama still got spun around and pushed out by the speedy little Ishiura. Maaaa…ne… Ishiura needs one more win for katchi-koshi.

Next, Hidenoumi picked on Kotoyuki while everyone wonders why he’s not kyujo. Myogiryu goes makekoshi against Chiyoshoma. The kachiage didn’t seem to connect but there was enough force there to give Chiyoshoma the initiative. When Myogiryu closed in to clinch, Chiyoshoma shoved his head down for the hatakikomi win.

Skipping way up the banzuke, Kotoshogiku picked up his fourth win against Arawashi. Arawashi has one and a half legs, mind you, and he still was able to hold on for some time before the bumpity-bumpity yorikiri. I can’t say it enough, the one trick pony could prolong his career if he picked up another trick. Throws, pulls, purple nurples, come on! Endo beat Kaisei with a pretty easy formula…boom and pull. Booom! Right in the kisser. Pull. Boom (this time in the eye), one last olé and Kaisei steps out. Not pretty but effective.

An impotent Uncle Takara withered under Tamawashi’s thrusting attack. Takarafuji doesn’t seem particularly injured so I hope the drama at Isegahama isn’t weighing on him. He’s a “tweener,” like Ikioi.  He has a real rough go against sanyaku and joi wrestlers but he’s solid against lower maegashira. So they yo-yo. Tochinoshin was a bit like this, too. Then…wait for it…wait for it…

Chiyotairyu picked up a third win against Shohozan. He drove Shohozan back and was declared winner despite the fact he may have fallen first. No mono-ii on this should be a signal to pullers that they may be considered “dead” and lose some of these close ones. Again, I’ll bring up Tochinoshin here and his bout yesterday. And Goeido and his 1.0 version bouts. Pull at your own risk. Better to win with the initiative, moving forward.

Shodai fought for this one against Mitakeumi. This was a solid belt bout on both counts. Mitakeumi appeared to have a slight edge for most of the bout with better position, getting Shodai near the edge and almost over a few times. But as they both worked into a throw, Shodai was able to execute first. Mitakeumi’s 7^th loss means he needs to win out to get kachi-koshi. He needs to pick up one more win to have any hope at staying in sanyaku. I agree with Leonid, with the loss to Shodai today, I think that door just shut. A good day for Endo became a great day for Endo.

The tachiai between Chiyomaru and Takayasu was something to behold. Both bubble bellies bounding brightly…Chiyomaru somehow comes out on top, moving forward and bringing it to the Ozeki. I think that surprised everyone. After some early thrusting, with Chiyomaru clearly in the driver’s seat, Takayasu momentarily gains the advantage as he grabs Chiyomaru’s arm and tries to put him into orbit. Chiyomaru clings on, dances near the tawara and by gravitational field pulls Takayasu back around and out. Wonderful bouts make me smile. Takayasu on 9 wins, one short of where Ozeki should be, but wow, Chiyomaru at 6-6! Sleeper!

Goeido versus Ichinojo. Goeido 2.0 showed up and the lethargic, gentle giant did, too. Meaning a quick walk out win for the Ozeki while everyone in the stadium hopes Ichinojo’s back issues aren’t coming back.

After Kaisei’s skull-rattling loss to Endo earlier, Kakuryu is in the driver’s seat for this yusho against the winner of the last yusho, Tochinoshin. Surprisingly, at the tachiai, Kakuryu brought it to Tochinoshin, locked in, and tried to win it Tochinoshin’s way. But Tochinoshin has the height and the leverage. He wasn’t going anywhere but forward. A brief pause on the belt while Tochinoshin gathers his strength and Kakuryu silently ponders, “what the f*** did I get myself into?”… Then Tochinoshin strikes and Kakuryu has no choice but to hold on for dear life as the Sekiwake tries to throw him into the upper deck. I’ve got to hand it to Kakuryu, he clung on for a while but with the frustration of the past few days mounting, Tochinoshin was not going to lose. He brought the Ozeki sumo today. I think only Hakuho would have had a chance against him.

So, on tap for tomorrow, we’ve got our leaders, Kakuryu and Kaisei battling after our Ozeki go head-to-head for that symbolic 10^th win. I’ve got to run because the snow only afforded us a delay today, and I hope to fill in the blanks later.

Sorry for this being so late.

Day 10 of the Haru Basho 2018 opened with an intriguing matchup: AARP member Takekaze visiting from Juryo to battle the surging Bulgarian, Aoiyama. This low on the banzuke, Aoiyama’s been mopping up wins against youngsters; his only losses thus far have been to fellow sanyaku journeymen, Myogiryu and Ikioi. The prize for this bout is a winning record and a rise up the banzuke, with an added incentive for Takekaze of an assured return to Makuuchi in May.

With all of this riding the outcome of the bout, a decent staredown was expected. Aoiyama finally gave in and committed first. With a bit of “come at me, bro,” he absorbed Takekaze’s initial charge, allowing the visitor from Juryo to drive him back…but not all the way to the tawara. Perhaps sensing a hatakikomi attempt, Takekaze backed off. This allowed Aoiyama to begin a slapping charge of his own, which ended in a heap on the power water as Takekaze ducked to the side, as if to say, “this is how it’s done, son.” Takekaze picks up that crucial 8^th win, secures his return to makuuchi, and Aoiyama falls out of yusho contention.

Our second bout saw rising Asanoyama taking on an overranked Hidenoumi, hoping to stave off a sixth losing record in the top division. A firm tachiai saw Hidenoumi let Asanoyama drive him to the edge, where he got purchase with one foot on the tawara and tried a throw. The throw failed but gave Hidenoumi better position in the center. From here, Hidenoumi seemed out of ideas while Asanoyama took the initiative and again began to drive his opponent across the dohyo. This time, Asanoyama pulled up short, letting gravity do his job, dropping Hidenoumi onto his belly – and back down to Juryo.

Ishiura has been hanging on, of late, and has hopefully been finding more confidence as he’s found some non-henka success in the lower quarter of the division. Today’s bout against Myogiryu brought us back to the Ishiura we’ve come to expect. Henka. Myogiryu was unable to recover and got spun out of the ring. Ishiura improved to 5-5, Myogiryu slipped to 4-6.

Sokokurai has not been having a great tournament so a bout against an injured Kotoyuki likely looked like a gift. With the first two rows of spectators on alert for the roly poly in pale purple, the two engaged at the center in some leaning. Just when I started thinking, “I could settle in for a bit, maybe grab a beer,” Sokokurai dropped Kotoyuki like a cheap yo-yo that won’t come back up. In this condition, it looks like it will be a while before Kotoyuki returns from Juryo.

Daiamami has impressed many this tournament, two wins short of the yusho leader into the second week, and fighting to remain “in the hunt” and pick up a kachi-koshi today. Tochiozan, however, has been struggling and needs to lead a serious charge to get a winning record, so I was expecting him to pull out some tricks. Instead, Daiamami pulled out the henka. But with the injured Tochiozan lumbering at him at a glacial pace, the youngster was quickly back to the drawing board. Thrust, nodowa, thrust…Daiamami continued steadily on the attack, but nothing was sustained long enough to drive Tochi back to Kochi. Instead, the door opened for Tochiozan to reach out for the youngster’s oicho-mage and drive him down for a hatakikomi win. Sorry to say it, but I don’t see Daiamami trying to pick up the 10 wins he’s capable of. Seven wins in hand, he’ll pick up one against Juryo visitor Kyokutaisei tomorrow and probably stay on cruise control – don’t get injured mode – through the weekend.

Ikioi faced Yutakayama, looking for an eighth win, and hopefully the ability to sit out and rest his leg. He sure was up for it, attacking vigorously from the outset. Wildly pushing, pulling, thrusting, grabbing at everything he could get a hold of. After sending Yutakayama to the dirt, however, it was clear that some of that grabbing involved the youngster’s topknot. Ikioi loses by forfeit (hansoku), both 7-3. Purple nurples are okay in this sport. Hair-pulling is not. Maaa… Kagayaki better watch out tomorrow.

Chiyonokuni came prepared. Strong tachiai, strong thrusts, Nishikigi’s face had nowhere to look but skyward until a quick pull drove Nishikigi’s face into the clay. Kagayaki followed up by ushering Daishomaru (on cruise control) quickly over the bales. He’ll face a real test tomorrow.

After some initial thrusts, Chiyoshoma and Daieisho locked in for a great belt battle. At one point Chiyoshoma tried to deadlift Daieisho, but realized he’s not Tochinoshin. Eventually he wore Daieisho out and guided him over the bales.

Ryuden’s been having a disappointing tournament and came in rather lethargic. Abi leaped out with a forceful, unrelenting oshi-attack, dropping Ryuden to 3-7 and in danger of make-koshi. In the next bout, Yoshikaze and Okinoumi engaged in a promising belt battle until The Berserker’s knee gave out from under him. Very disappointing end to the match but very telling as to why fortunate winds have not been filling Yoshikaze’s sails.

When Hokutofuji locked in with Takakeisho, I think he went for the balls but ended up with a handful of sagari…which he promptly sent express mail into the second deck of the arena. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that. Takakeisho seemed to immediately shut down realizing his precious tama could have been in outer space and backed out. I don’t blame him. It was weird. Fierce and weird.

Kotoshogiku’s career is on life support. Chest to chest, he couldn’t get Takarafuji to back up to the tawara. Takarafuji stood him up a good three feet from the bales. I think he was able to beat Endo because he had managed to get Endo’s arm up at an awkward position. In this case, a panicking Giku then started to try to roll him into a throw. The first one almost worked but as each subsequent attempt got weaker and weaker, Takarafuji went for his own throw. How will the former Ozeki do against guys like Abi, Kagayaki, and Yutakayama? We’ll find out in May. I don’t think he’s headed to Juryo as quickly as Terunofuji and he could hang around in the mid-rank-and-file for a while…but will he want to?

Arawashi is hurt and Endo took advantage by patiently riding out Arawashi’s attack, then steadily walking him toward, and over, the tawara. Kaisei and Ichinojo, on the other hand, are prime. Two giant dudes, in a great belt-battle. This was not as epic as we’ve seen from Ichinojo/Tochinoshin in the past but Ichinojo proved too powerful and handed Kaisei his first loss of the tournament.

Tamawashi is a powerful guy but fell asleep today. Chiyotairyu blasted him quickly straight back and into the first row of spectators. Speaking of power, Shohozan is a brawler, make no mistake. This man wanted Mitakeumi’s lunch money. Powerful thrusts and slaps got Mitakeumi upset (read: pissed). The angry Mitakeumi charged at a suddenly clever Shohozan, who sidestepped but didn’t quite have enough strength to get him out. Both settled into a grapple but Shohozan had morozashi while Mitakeumi was clinging on to his opponent’s shoulders for dear life. Like Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jack, he could only hold on for so long before sinking into the cold depths beneath the surface.

Takayasu had no time for Shodai’s weak tachiai. It wasn’t really a nodowa because it seemed he had Shodai by the jaw. Maybe an agowa? Regardless, it did the job and wrecked Shodai, picking up his kachi-koshi.

Goeido! Goeido! Home town hero! Henka? Wow… Gotta be prepared for that. Unfortunately, Tochinoshin wasn’t, got turned around and run out of town. Even the pro-eido crowd had a mixed reaction to Goeido’s deception. For Tochinoshin, that’s a certain end to any hopes of a repeat yusho. However, the case for Ozeki remains.

Lastly, in the musubi-no-ichiban, Kakuryu versus a bowling ball. Chiyomaru is way out of his depth. Goeido was his first ever sanyaku opponent. Today, a yokozuna in the showcase matchup? Kakuryu got both hands on Chiyomaru’s belt at the outset. He seemed to wait for a minute thinking it was too easy, then steadily walked Chiyomaru out. If I were Chiyomaru, I’d be like, “Well, I tried. And at least I didn’t henka. I’m not desperate.”