Spring Tournament 2016

Kisenosato On Top

Andy Spring Tournament 2016

Could it happen? 10 years without a Japanese yusho and then two in a row by two different rikishi?

What must be said is Ikioi put in a fantastic effort but Kisenosato really had control during the entire bout. The ozeki maintained superior position, continuously pressing Ikioi to the defensive at the edge of the ring. Ikioi did fight back well but Kisenosato wore him down and Ikioi stepped out. Kisenosato is thus the first rikishi with his kachi-koshi this tournament and will face Kotoshogiku tomorrow.

In Juryo, Osunaarashi took Endo’s head off at the tachiai and Endo never had an answer to the Egyptian’s aggressiveness. Once the sandstorm had a solid belt grip with his right hand, he flipped Endo onto his butt.

春場所５日目: Kisenosato Leads the Field

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With a rather straightforward win over Yoshikaze, Kisenosato is now the lone sanyaku wrestler left undefeated. I find that surprising as we’re only 1/3 of the way through the tournament. Ikioi and Ichinojo share the lead after dispatching a pair of relative newbies to makuuchi. Ikioi’s win over Shodai was quite dominant while Mitakeumi was even less of a challenge to the Mongolian.

Kotoshogiku lost a close one to Okinoumi but Goeido was embarrassingly chased around the dohyo by Kotoyuki and unceremoniously dumped off the edge. Myogiryu forgot about how one-dimensional Aminishiki is and was promptly henka’d.

Oosunaarashi’s dying to come back up to the top division and is the lone undefeated competitor left in the second division. He played a patient belt game today but Asasekiryu was no real threat. Endo, picked up his third win and I still find it odd he gets no kenshokin. Is it banned for Juryo rikishi? Or has he lost all of his sponsors?

春場所4日目: Ikioi Upsets Terunofuji

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With two matches featuring unbeatens going head-to-head, we knew the leadership field would be narrowed down a bit. I certainly was not expecting Ikioi to still be a part of it, though Ichinojo was a lock. Both now face a couple of promising up-and-comers. Ikioi will take on Shodai, who’s at 2-2; Ichinojo will face 3-1 Mitakeumi.