Welcome back. I tackled a few items in the preview post, like the Onosato/Aonishiki kyujo. I’ll not rehash them here. We can file this item under “miscellaneous.” Ex-Chiyonokuni makes his debut as a shimpan this tournament and will be ringside during the first half of top division action. We also get to see Chiyomaru in his new wakaimonogashira role. Unfortunately, he will make an entrance in the action later today.
Enho won his first bout back in Juryo. He defeated Tochitaikai by oshidashi push out. Down in sandanme, Enho’s phenom stablemate, Asahifuji, easily dispatched Hakuomaru with a yorikiri (force out).
Update: I forgot to add the link to the NHK videos. Consider that fixed. They included a couple of Juryo videos: Enho vs Tochitaikai and Okaryu vs Hakuyozan.
Let’s turn our attention to the top division for a few items of note. First, this tournament marks a milestone for Tamawashi. It’s his 100th basho in the top division. Only Hakuho (103) and Kaio (107) are ahead of him. He can tie Hakuho at 103 this year. He can pass both next year.
Makuuchi Action
Fujiryoga defeated Ryuden. Fujiryoga seemed in control this whole bout. He got his left hand inside and right hand outside grip. Despite Ryuden’s loose mawashi, Fujiryoga got enough leverage to drive Ryuden back and over the bales. Yorikiri. Fujiryoga will fight top division newbie, Wakanosho tomorrow. Ryuden will take on Oshoumi.
Wakanosho defeated Oshoumi. Wakanosho blitzed Oshoumi at the tachiai with a strong, fast tsuppari attack. He forced Oshoumi back and out quickly. Tsukidashi.
Tobizaru defeated Roga. Roga had the early advantage until Tobizaru slipped inside and got a right hand grip. He used his right foot to attempt to trip Roga and though he missed, the move got Roga moving backward. Tobizaru pressed forward and Roga’s momentum drove him out. Oshidashi. Tobizaru will fight Mitakeumi tomorrow; Roga will take on Tamawashi.
Mitakeumi defeated Tamawashi. Tamawashi tried to pull but Mitakeumi countered well, driving the Iron Man backward and out of the ring. Oshidashi.
Kotoeiho defeated Tokihayate. Tokihayate used his speed and inside position to put Kotoeiho on the ropes early and for much of the bout. Kotoeiho barely maintained his balance and stayed inside the ring. He was able to get his left arm grip and pull Tokihayate down at the edge. Uwatenage. Kotoeiho will fight Shishi; Tokihayate will fight Kinbozan.
Kinbozan defeated Shishi. Kinbozan overpowered Shishi, drove him back to the bales and toppled the Ukrainian backwards with his entire weight. Abisetaoshi.
Ura defeated Hakunofuji. Hakunofuji pulled but Ura was ready and drove him straight back and out. Oshidashi. Ura will fight Nishikifuji tomorrow; Hakunofuji will have to regroup against Asanoyama.
Asanoyama defeated Nishikifuji. Nishikifuji lashed out at Asanoyama and drove him back a step at the tachiai. However, he quickly backed up and tried to slap the former Ozeki down. Asanoyama pressed forward and forced Nishikifuji out. Yorikiri.
Abi defeated Asahakuryu. Abi tried his slapdown attack for much of the bout but Asahakuryu maintained his balance and kept the pressure up. Abi switched gears and drove forward behind that tsuppari and shoved Asahakuryu over the bales. Oshidashi. Abi will take on another Takasago boy tomorrow in Asakoryu; Asahakuryu will fight Oshouma. Can I think of a bad Kohaku joke in time for tomorrow? (Kohaku is the term for the alternating red/white colors which are often on display for celebrations in Japan. The shikona of Asakoryu and Asahakuryu feature these characters.)
Asakoryu defeated Oshoma. One, Two, Three matta from Asakoryu. You know what that means, henka! What? No henka? What the hell? Asakoryu hit Oshoma with a solid tachiai. The two squared up in the center of the ring and as Asakoryu charged in again, Oshoma reversed and tried to slap him down but Asakoryu kept his balance and forced Oshoma off the dohyo. Oshidashi.
Halftime
Fujiseiun defeated Chiyoshoma. Fujiseiun brushed off Chiyoshoma’s tsuppari and plowed through the ring, driving him out. Yorikiri. Fujiseiun will fight Shodai tomorrow; Chiyoshoma will take on Churanoumi.
Churanoumi defeated Shodai. Churanoumi kept Shodai centered and drove him out. Shodai appeared to want to try some sort of reversal at the edge but couldn’t execute. Oshidashi.
Gonoyama defeated Wakamotoharu. Gonoyama attacked Wakamotoharu and drove him back over the bales. Wakamotoharu tried to execute a slapdown with both feet on the tawara and that’s just not going to work. Oshidashi. Gonoyama will fight Oho tomorrow; Wakamotoharu will face Daieisho.
Daieisho defeated Oho. Daieisho seemed prepared for Oho to try to slap him down. He still hit Oho with his usual thrusting tsuppari attack but he didn’t get out over his feet. He seemed to hold back, preventing Oho from finding any openings for a slapdown. Befuddled, Oho was easily shoved out. Oshidashi.
Sanyaku
Wakatakakage defeated Hiradoumi. Not a henka but…Wakatakakage shifted to his left at the tachiai and Hiradoumi blasted forward like a jack-in-the-box, into a void. Hiradoumi’s momentum carried him through the ring and down the other side. Tsukiotoshi.
Kotoshoho defeated Yoshinofuji. Kotoshoho forced Yoshinofuji to the edge. Yoshinofuji balanced on one foot as he tried to slap Kotoshoho down. Both men tumbled down. Gunbai Kotoshoho. Mono-ii. Replays showed Kotoshoho landing on the dohyo while Yoshinofuji’s foot was still inside the bales. Gunbai overturned Sukuinage.
Ichiyamamoto defeated Atamifuji. Ichiyamamoto leapt to his right and pulled Atamifuji forward. Atamin’s momentum carried him over the bales. Hatakikomi.
Kirishima defeated Takanosho. Now, Takanosho did get out ahead of his feet so when Kirishima shifted left, Takanosho stumbled forward. Kirishima easily slapped him down. Hakakikomi.
Fujinokawa defeated Kotozakura. Kotozakura seemed to have the upper hand at the start but Fujinokawa jumped left and tried a slapdown. Kotozakura recovered but had no counter attack near the edge. Fujinokawa seized the opportunity, charged forward again and blasted Kotozakura back and out. Tsukidashi.
Takayasu defeated Hoshoryu. Hoshoryu tried to get his right hand inside so he reared back and then dove forward to get at Takayasu’s belt. However, Takayasu pulled Hoshoryu forward with his left hand deep at the back of Hoshoryu’s belt and slapped him down with his right hand. Hoshoryu fell backward awkwardly on his butt. He’d been in a half-split and likely pulled a hammy. Hoshoryu was slow to get up and hobbled back down the hanamichi but needed the big wheelchair once he’d gotten to the back. Wakaimonogashira Chiyomaru was among the crew attending to the Yokozuna as he left the dohyo. Kyujo incoming. Uwatenage.
Wrap-up
Great to be back with you all for the next two weeks but we have lost another of our top guys to injury. We’ll keep an eye out for news of Hoshoryu. Kotozakura will need to dig himself out of this hole he’s dug for himself on Day One but we’re rather used to that. Kirishima is suddenly in the driver’s seat this basho. I’m sure it won’t be that straightforward so we’re surely in for a roller coaster ride.
Let’s take a look at the sanyaku matchups for tomorrow. Takayasu will fight Ichiyamamoto, Atamifuji will battle Hiradoumi, and Kotoshoho fights Takanosho. Kotozakura will face Wakatakakage, Kirishima will take on Yoshinofuji, and Fujinokawa might pick up a fusen default victory from Hoshoryu. Judging by Hoshoryu’s condition after the bout today, he won’t be back soon.
