It’s been a wild ride up to now, but we are on the cusp of the final weekend now. The Friday / Day 13 matches will set the stage for the close of the yusho race, and once again it’s Terunofuji in the lead, with the only credible challenger being Ozeki Takakeisho. Looking across the torikumi, you can once again see the intent of the schedulers in driving a pool of rikishi closer to a 7-7 score at the end of day 14, setting up a cohort to face single elimination matches, or as I call them, “Darwin matches”.

Due to Asanoyama’s withdrawal from the tournament, we are not seeing Ozeki on Ozeki fights just yet, as the Ozeki are facing their last rank and file opponents today. None of them are particularly high threat matches, but each of their opponents does have the potential to pull in an upset.

Natsu Leaderboard

Two more wins for Terunofuji, and its fish time…

Leader: Terunofuji
Chaser: Takakeisho
Hunter (2 wins behind): Endo

3 matches remain

What We Are Watching Day 13

Kaisei vs Chiyoshoma – Well, the schedulers are back to having fun with numbers. Both rikishi come in with matching 6-6 records, and they have a career tie at 4-4. So why not have them battle it out? We know the goal is for both of them to be 7-7 at the end of day 14, so lets go. I like Kaisei’s chances a bit better on this one.

Kotonowaka vs Chiyomaru – Matching 7-5 records for these two. The winner gets kachi-koshi and avoids the day 15 drama. Chiyomaru is on a bit of a week 2 fade right now, so I am going to say he has a small disadvantage for this match.

Akua vs Terutsuyoshi – Akua is already make-koshi, and headed back to Juryo at 4-8. Terutsuyoshi is at 5-7, but is at no risk of Juryo demotion. I am sure he would very much want to somehow win his last 3 matches and steal a kachi-koshi on day 15. He has a healthy 6-2 career advantage.

Tamawashi vs Chiyotairyu – Chiyotairyu is kachi-koshi at 8-4, elbow injury included. Tamawashi is 6-6, and can escape the day 15 festivities by winning his next 2. I am kind of curious to see how much longer Chiyotairyu stays in if that arm continues to be sore.

Ishiura vs Kagayaki – Fun with numbers day 3 continues with this pair at 5-7. The loser will get a plum make-koshi and avoid the senshuraku rush. I give Ishiura an advantage today, as I think he is fighting better. It would be a shame to see him take a make-koshi and return to Juryo with Enho.

Shimanoumi vs Okinoumi – kachi-koshi Okinoumi up against 6-6 Shimanoumi in a battle that is chock full of umi. In fact, there is so much umi around that we are likely to see a flock of seagulls perched on the Kokugikan. I would be surprised to see Shimanoumi win this one, but maybe Okinoumi will back off the throttle a bit given his safe score.

Kiribayama vs Kotoeko – A howler of a match here! Kiribayama has been having a terrible basho up at M4e, and now he has a chance to fight someone lower down the banzuke. But who does he get? Kotoeko! Well, Kotoeko has never won against Kiribayama, but Kotoeko is at 7-5, and could really use the win today.

Aoiyama vs Daiamami – Daiamami at 6-6 is also caught in the funnel leading him to day 15 Darwin drama. He has a 2-5 career deficit against Aoiyama, but can take some comfort in the fact that Aoiyama is far from 100% right now.

Tochinoshin vs Tobizaru – Both are make-koshi, and this match is probably just to see who drops farther down the banzuke in July. I give a slight edge to Tobizaru because I think he can keep Tochinoshin off of his belt.

Meisei vs Tsurugisho – Meisei is another 6-6 rikishi who is most assuredly “in the funnel” and would need some solid sumo over the next 2 days to avoid the fate the scheduling committee has planned for him. His opponent, Tsurugisho, is already make-koshi, but he has a 6-2 career advantage over Meisei.

Wakatakakage vs Hokutofuji – A battle of great interest to me, If Wakatakakage, he is make-koshi will delivering the long expected 8th loss to Hokutofuji. But i could see this going the other way, keeping them in the funnel to day 15’s Darwin roster. Wakatakakage won their only prior match, but they have both fought well thus far, and will bring a lot of power to this match.

Hidenoumi vs Daieisho – Hidenoumi is one loss away from make-koshi himself, his best hope is to win the next 2 matches and stay in the funnel. Daieisho already has 8 losses, and has been fighting poorly this month. I hope whatever has robbed him of his sumo can be addressed before July.

Mitakeumi vs Onosho – Oh good! A tadpole fight. Onosho is very much in the funnel at 6-6, and headed straight for a day 15 Darwin match. I am predicting that Mitakeumi picks up win number 8 today and is safely kachi-koshi. There is a respectable chance that Onosho will catch Mitakeumi with a big thrust and send him out in a hurry. I expect this one to be over in 6 steps or less.

Hoshoryu vs Takanosho – Takanosho is sadly make-koshi at 4-8, and needs to win out to ensure he does not abandon san’yaku all together. Meanwhile, should Hoshoryu lose today, he will also be make-koshi. A win, and he stays in the Darwin funnel. This is their first ever match.

Takayasu vs Myogiryu – Myogiryu has a distinct career advantage (13-9) over Takayasu, who has to be thinking about getting 10 wins at this point and maintaining a shot as hatching an Ozeki run soon. A loss today would make Myogiryu make-koshi, and a win today would keep him in the funnel.

Ichinojo vs Terunofuji – A delightful pairing, this one will likely be all Terunofuji. But it will be fun to see him power through the Boulder. Both are kachi-koshi, so I expect Terunofuji just has to get a commanding hold on Ichinojo and he will go soft. On the other hand, I expect a big stack of kensho on this match, so Ichinojo might be rather fired up….

Shodai vs Takarafuji – Shodai has a 13-3 career advantage over Takarafuji. If he does not put him away today, clearing kadoban and reaching kachi-koshi, I am just going to give up hope on the human daikon. Takarafuji comes in 6-6, and is squarely in the middle of the day 15 funnel, win or lose today.

Endo vs Takakeisho – A fun match to finish the day. Endo will want some kind of a mawashi hold, and Takakeisho will try to boost him to relativistic speed using overwhelming oshi-zumo. I can’t wait to see who is going to win this one. A loss today by Takakeisho could knock him out of the chase for the yusho, so lots on the line. He has a 7-3 career advantage over Endo.

Today was a satisfying day of sumo, and while the drama of day 11 still hangs in the air like unwelcome flatulence, we at least had some decent sumo action to enjoy. A fair number of rikishi are still in prime shape for day 15 “Darwin” matches. A Darwin match is my term for two 7-7 rikishi fighting head to head on the final day. The entire tournament down to a single match. The winner is kachi-koshi, the loser is make-koshi. I know that some of the folks who set up the fight schedule love these things, and this tournament they seem to be doing everything they can to funnel as many rikishi as possible into this position. Sometime late on day 14, we will now how well it worked.

Highlight Matches

Tokushoryu defeats Ishiura – Tokushoryu gave ground until Ishiura had him backed up to the tawara. Tokushoryu the surged forward, catching Ishiura off balance and ran him off the dohyo. Tokushoryu picks up his 8th win and is kachi-koshi for May, and probably headed back to the top division.

Chiyotairyu defeats Okinoumi – Chiyotairyu goes back to oshi-zumo, standing Okinoumi up and slapping him down. Both end the day at 8-4. I am happy that Chiyotairyu is kachi-koshi, he fought well this tournament and showed some versatility in changing up his sumo.

Kaisei defeats Tamawashi – Tamawashi opens with a strong thrusting volley, but Kaisei is just too big to move very far if he is ready to fight. Today, it seems he was. He rallies and drive Tamawashi from the ring, both end the day 6-6.

Daiamami defeats Terutsuyoshi – Terutsuyoshi struggled to achieve a grip, and the few moments he was able to grab onto Daiamami’s mawashi, it seemed to only serve to Daiamami’s advantage. In the end, Daiamami carries him over the bales to advance to 6-6.

Shimanoumi defeats Akua – Akua had early control of this match, but decided it was time to pull Shimanoumi down. In fact, it was not time to pull Shimanoumi down, as Shimanoumi surged forward and pushed against Akua’s chest to send him out for his 8th loss, and make-koshi for Natsu. Shimanoumi ends the day 6-6.

Kotonowaka defeats Kagayaki – Kotonowaka gets a great early grip on Kagayaki, who counters with an arm bar hold, and can’t do too much with it. But he had a solid hold of Kotonowaka, and used his lower body to push Kotonowaka. Kotonowaka consolidates his hold as Kagayaki has him moving back, and translates Kagayaki’s forward motion into the energy for a shitatedashinage that won the match. Kotonowaka finishes the day 7-5.

Chiyomaru defeats Tsurugisho – Chiyomaru started with a quick thrusting volley, then took Tsurugisho to his chest. Tsurugisho had a firm left hand grip, but did not move with Chiyomaru when he attempted to break contact. Now too far forward, Chiyomaru thrust Tsurugisho to the clay, giving him his 8th loss and make-koshi for Natsu. Chiyomaru improves to 7-5.

Kotoeko defeats Endo – What a great match from Kotoeko! I am going to guess that like me, Endo expected Kotoeko to open with a thrusting attack, instead he grabbed Endo across the chest. Endo’s normal opening attempt a frontal grip was nowhere to be found. You can see Endo move to change attack modes, he hops to the side and reaches down for a hand hold of Kotoeko’s mawashi. But Kotoeko keeps his shoulders square to his opponent and is pushing forward with power. Endo arrests his backward motion at the bales, but Kotoeko continues to drive, and takes him out. Kotoeko improves to 7-5, and really impressed today.

Takarafuji defeats Chiyoshoma – Chiyoshoma opened strong, but focused his left hand attack on Takarafuji’s non-existent neck. Takarafuji laughed it off, and broke Chiyoshoma’s hold, and charged in to grab Chiyoshoma’s mawashi. Chiyoshoma backed up, but lost balance and Takarafuji converted that to an oshitaoshi. Both end the day at 6-6.

Tochinoshin defeats Hoshoryu – Hoshoryu leapt in early, and I am not sure if it was a bad start, or Tochinoshin was defending against a suspected henka. Hoshoryu lets Tochinoshin get a left hand outside grip, and he’s in business. It’s 3 steps from that moment to the point where Tochinoshin chucks Hoshoryu over the edge of the ring, into Tobizaru. Hoshoryu looks a bit winded and disoriented, and takes time to return to the dohyo. Tochinoshin improves to 4-8.

Aoiyama defeats Myogiryu – Aoiyama won this match, but never really seemed to control it. He was able to counter Myogiryu forward pressure, but chose to launch a risky pulling attack that saw him reverse across the entire diameter of the ring, but finally bring Myogiryu to the clay. Aoiyama improves to 2-10.

Tobizaru defeats Kiribayama – Kiribayama had his heart set on grabbing Tobizaru and engaging in a grappling match. He got his wish, but it was Tobizaru who had the superior body position. While Kiribayama is attempting to get some kind of attack going. Tobizaru shifts his stance, attempting a leg trip. The leg trip fails, but Kiribayama’s completely disrupted, with his back turned to Tobizaru. Tobizaru runs him out for the win. Both end the day a 3-9.

Hidenoumi defeats Wakatakakage – Hidenoumi fought well from a low position, forcing Wakatakakage to fight off balance from the tachiai. Hidenoumi converted that to a quick hatakikomi, bringing Wakatakakage to the clay. Hidenoumi improves to 5-7.

Meisei defeats Mitakeumi – Meisei picks up his first ever win against Mitakeumi, and he did it by first carefully setting up his hand position, and then driving forward against his much heavier opponent. This was solid, skilled sumo, and its even better to watch in slow motion. He improves to 6-6, and Mitakeumi is solidly into his week 2 fade with 3 losses in a row.

Hokutofuji defeats Daieisho – Hokutofuji was not interested in losing today. He took a solid look at Daieisho’s day 11 match footage, and noted that the Hatsu yusho winner was closing his eyes at the tachiai. Hokutofuji supplied a hit / shift / slap to drop Daieisho at the tachiai.

Shodai defeats Takanosho – Shodai in classic form today, and I don’t mean that in a good way. Sloppy, slow tachiai, some evasive sumo that dodged Takanosho’s attacks, and a cartoon sumo move at the bales to win. But it’s a win, and he needed one. Shodai improves to 7-5, while Takanosho is make koshi at 4-8, and will vacate his Sekiwake rank.

Takakeisho defeats Ichinojo – I was impressed that Ichinojo was not really able to put enough force into his thrusting attacks to move Takakeisho back much if at all. There was a scary moment when Takakeisho went very low to attack, and looked like he might drop a knee. But he found a route to Ichinojo’s center mass and overpowered nearly 200kg worth a rikishi. Wow. Takakeisho improves to 10-2.

Terunofuji defeats Onosho – No lingering mental hangups from Terunofuji that I could notice today. He took Onosho apart and dumped the remains over the east side. Now 11-1 for Terunofuji and still in sole possession of the lead.

Nothing like a big, stinky, dank basket of sumo scandals to make me on the gumbly side, so apologies if things are a bit snarky today.

I spotted Asanoyama a bit early, and I was a fan because he just seemed happy to be there. Just excited that he was getting paid to compete in sumo, and genuinely the kind of guy who is thankful for every day they get on this good earth. That may be the case, but now he is in deep trouble. Given the seriousness about the current state of emergency in Japan, I expect the NSK is going to be quite harsh on Asanoyama. As an Ozeki, he has a unique position to uphold the traditions and spirit of Japan’s national sport. The infraction was bad enough, but maybe some long shot, long climb back up the banzuke to try again was conceivable. But he lied about it as well. I expect an intai announcement before the end of the month.

If there is any upside to be had, it’s that Takayasu will finish day 12 with a fusensho that will take him to 8 wins, and kachi-koshi for Natsu. This leaves the door wide open for him to win 2 of the remaining 3 matches, ending with 10 wins and keeping hopes of an eventual run to return to Ozeki alive.

Looking across the torikumi, it seems the scheduling committee took my advice, and continued to drink heavily. The results are wonderful to behold.

Natsu Leaderboard

Some goobers gave Terunofuji a disqualification on day 11, so now he has a loss. I was hoping for a 15-0 mega-win from the kaiju, complete with double fish lift and drinking sake out of the Prime Minister’s Cup. Win it anyhow, Terunofuji!

Leader: Terunofuji
Chasers: Takakeisho, Endo
Hunt Group (2 wins behind): Ichinojo, Okinoumi

4 matches remain

What We Are Watching Day 12

Ishiura vs Tokushoryu – Last man to hit a 14-1 yusho? None other than Tokushoryu! He’s kicking around a J2e right now, but a win today makes him kachi-koshi, and maybe punches his return ticket to the top division. He’s facing a damaged Ishiura, with a badly mangled hand. I am not sure if he can manage to find 3 more wins out of the remaining matches, but I know he’s going to give it his all.

Chiyotairyu vs Okinoumi – Sure, make Chiyotairyu take down the old man that is Okinoumi. Chiyotairyu has a 9-5 career lead over Okinoumi, but Chiyotairyu’s left elbow is not in good shape. Plus, the thunder-demon has lost the last 2 in a row. A win today and he’s kachi-koshi.

Tamawashi vs Kaisei – I adore that the scheduling team sees the vast potential for Darwin matches wall to wall on Sunday, and seem to be cultivating keeping the pack headed for 7-7 as broad as possible. This match has a fair chance in yielding two 6-6 rikishi.

Daiamami vs Terutsuyoshi – Now two 5-6 face off, with at least one of them headed straight to 6-6, sure I think Terutsuyoshi is more likely for the win today, so sure, let’s tee him up for a day 15 doom contest against someone like Tamawashi.

Shimanoumi vs Akua – Not quite as much potential, as Shimanoumi is 5-6, and Akua is 4-7, but if Akua can gamberize today, he can drag Shimanoumi down into the 5-7 tar-pit from which there is only a narrow path to escape. Can we get both of these guys to 7-7 please?

Kotonowaka vs Kagayaki – Kagayaki holds a 2-0 career record, and if he can beat Kotonowaka today he can make them both 6-6 at the end of the day. Are you digging the numerology running wild in sumo? Give me some of what those guys are drinking please!

Tsurugisho vs Chiyomaru – Here it is once more. Tsurugisho at 4-7 has a substantial career advantage (8-5) over Chiyomaru at 6-5. A good chance that Tsurugisho can pick up win 5, and Chiyomaru loss number 6.

Kotoeko vs Endo – Now it’s getting fun, and I am going to assume the schedulers had finished bottle number 3 by now. Sure, lets put Kotoeko at 6-5 against 9-2 Endo. Kotoeko won their last match in November, and Endo’s already kachi-koshi. He’s going to ease up, right? It will come down to who gets to dictate the format of this match. Look for Kotoeko to get at least the right hand against Endo’s upper body at the tachiai, and stop him from that left hand frontal mawashi grip.

Chiyoshoma vs Takarafuji – Its 6-5 Chiyoshoma against 5-6 Takarafuji, in another match to set up what might be the biggest Darwin Sunday in my memory. Who will win this one? Not sure it matters, they are both headed toward 7-7.

Hoshoryu vs Tochinoshin – Those that feel pity, this is the match. Tochinoshin, already make-koshi and clearly hurt, gets his first ever match against a fairly genki Hoshoryu, who needs to find 3 more wins over the next 4 days. You know where he’s headed, right? I hope Tochinoshin’s knee can hold on until Sunday night.

Aoiyama vs Myogiryu – 22 career matches between these two, and they are split right down the middle. Aoiyama is 1-2 since coming back from kyujo, and not really making much of a case for himself. But in the interest of Sunday’s august proceedings, I hope he can rally and smack Myogiryu to the clay today, sending him to 6-6.

Kiribayama vs Tobizaru – Both of them are already make-koshi, so they are shunted off to the side so they don’t interrupt the beautiful dance that is shaping Sunday’s battle-space. Fight it out you guys, you are getting demotions anyhow, but you will stay in the top division. Just make sure nobody gets hurt.

Wakatakakage vs Hidenoumi – Also safely away from the glorious parade of 5-6/6-5 struggling to their final day judgement, 7-4 Wakatakakage must overcome a 2-6 career deficit against 4-7 Hidenoumi today to get his kachi-koshi. You can just hear them laughing in that back room in the basement of to Kokugikan as they came up with this.

Mitakeumi vs Meisei – But ok, throw Mitakeumi a bone. We may need a reserve Ozeki some day, and maybe if he can buckle down and work like a madman he could push himself enough to hit 33 wins. Who am I kidding, I love Mitakeumi, but that’s not happening any time soon. But he has a 4-0 career advantage over Meisei, so he is probably going to get his 8th win today. Should Meisei prevail, he would go to 6-6 (see what they did there? Drinky bastards…)

Hokutofuji vs Daieisho – If you can’t do something nice, as my granny would say, you may as well make sure you ruin somebody’s day. And that’s certain here, as one of these two are going to pick up their 8th win. it may as well be Hokutofuji, as he is practiced at such outcomes while fighting like a mad man and looking like he should win.

Shodai vs Takanosho – Shodai needs 2 more wins to hold on to Ozeki. I am going to guess they are going to protect him if they can because they are about to lose an Ozeki. But there is only so much that can be done given he has to face the other 2 Ozeki, both of which are going to take his chanko money. So he needs to win this one. I know at least one sick bastard in the scheduling committee would love to put him in a day 15 Darwin match just to put the fear of Raiden in him.

Ichinojo vs Takakeisho – And now, the crowning achievement of what a lot of drinking, a calligraphy brush and an Excel spreadsheet can bring you. Hell, I laughed for a while when I saw this one. Takakeisho is already kachi-koshi, as is Ichinojo. So this is more or less just for fun. Like when you dared the kid down the street to jump his Schwin bicycle over that string of 12 flaming car tires. Probably going to achieve the same outcome, except your mom won’t hit you with a spoon.

Onosho vs Terunofuji – But wait, there is more, maybe they were past the “can’t stand and need to puke” stage, looked at the spreadsheet and there were only two names left. Where this is fun is that Onosho actually has a 4-1 career against Terunofuji. Onosho has trashed him in each of the last 2 basho, so I am wondering if he can get his mega-thrust running and just send the Kaiju out for his first real loss. If not (that’s right.. you guessed it) Onosho will finish the day at 6-6.

Drunken laughter fills the basement of the Kokugikan, as the Great Sumo Cat lies quietly on the tarp covered dohyo and dreams of the day ahead.

It’s one of those days in sport, when the judges and referees get involved and fans everywhere are going to be unhappy one way or the other. I am referring to the matter of the mono-ii that followed the Terunofuji Myogiryu match, and the somewhat unclear evidence of Terunofuji’s hand pulling Myogiryu’s ochi-mage. I am fine if Terunofuji was derailed from his zensho by poor sumo or being bested on the clay, but to have his win reversed by, what is to my eye, not a clear example of the infraction, is just terrible. I hope that Terunofuji shows real mettle and does not let this turn of events derail him from his good sumo, and his march to the yusho.

Also, Darwin smiles across the large cohort of rikishi who ended the day at 6-5 or 5-6.

Highlight Matches

Enho defeats Chiyomaru – Chiyomaru makes first contact at the tachiai, but Enho’s speed gives him a broad attack window, and as Chiyomaru is moving forward he steps to the side. Lunging in to apply lateral pressure, he gets Chiyomaru moving, and never lets him recover. It is just barely possible, should Enho “win out” that he could still reach kachi-koshi and return to the top division in July.

Kotonowaka defeats Kaisei – Kotonowaka had his hands inside at the tachiai, and immediately converted Kaisei’s forward momentum into enough energy to power a throw. Kotonowaka improves to 6-5. It was smooth and elegant.

Okinoumi defeats Tamawashi – Tamawashi had the opening advantage, pushing Okinoumi back to the bales. Okinoumi had his hands in Tamawashi’s armpits, inputting lift to Tamawashi’s attack. With his heels on the bales, Okinoumi pivoted and pulled, sending Tamawashi to the clay, and picking up his 8th win for kachi-koshi.

Kagayaki defeats Chiyoshoma – Chiyoshoma attempt at a deep right hand grip at the tachiai missed its mark, and that gave Kagayaki his chance. Although Chiyoshoma continued to attempt to attack, Kagayaki kept his hands forward and inside, and kept Chiyoshoma moving. Kagayaki improves to 5-6.

Shimanoumi defeats Ishiura – Shimanoumi snaps his 3 bout losing streak by keeping up the pressure on Ishiura and not letting him take even a single step forward. Both finish the day at 5-6.

Endo defeats Chiyotairyu – Chiyotairyu loses his second in a row, missing out on kachi-koshi again today. Chiyotairyu’s sumo was push – pull – pull today, doing the bulk of the work in the match. Endo stayed low, stayed stable and just kept moving forward. Endo improves to 9-2.

Tsurugisho defeats Akua – Tsurugisho displays the danger of someone so massive trying a kimarite like abisetaoshi. Both tumble out of the ring, with Tsurugisho narrowly missing Daiamami but clobbering a shimpan. Both end the day at 4-7

Takarafuji defeats Daiamami – Daiamami went chest to chest at the tachiai, and Takarafuji obliged by immediately stalemating him at the center of the dohyo. Takarafuji locks into his tradition defend and extend mode of sumo, and Daiamami seems a bit puzzled about what to do. Everything Daiamami did from there on out allowed Takarafuji to incrementally improve his position, until he had a right hand outside grip. He did not have to wait too long, and Takarafuji finished him with a sukuinage. Both end the day at 5-6.

Ichinojo defeats Kotoeko – Most sumo fans wanted to see Kotoeko take down the boulder today, but Kotoeko chose a henka, and Ichinojo was ready. Three steps later, Kotoeko was dumped into the salt box and Ichinojo had his kachi-koshi.

Terutsuyoshi defeats Hidenoumi – Hidenoumi’s post tachiai hold went high, and found Terutsuyoshi’s head. This left his body wide open, and Terutsuyoshi attack low, and stayed low. Terutsuyoshi’s left hand frontal grip went to work and two steps later the uwatedashinage hit, sending Hidenoumi to the clay. Terutsuyoshi improves to 5-6.

Kiribayama defeats Tochinoshin – Tochinoshin worked so hard to keep pressure off of that right knee, but Kiribayama’s right hand inside grip meant there was only one way to escape the pressure. Eventually Kiribayama wore him down and threw him across the bales. Tochinoshin’s 8th loss, and both end the day make-koshi at 3-8.

Tobizaru defeats Aoiyama – Aoiyama’s return to action this week is looking at lot more questionable, as he pick up his second straight loss. AT the tachiai, Tobizaru steps back and to the side and pulls on Aoiyama’s right arm. Aoiyama loses balance and drops to the dohyo. Tobizaru improves to 2-9.

Wakatakakage defeats Hoshoryu – Both showed excellent form in this match, but Wakatakakage had better foot placement at the tachiai, and his hips were lower. He bundled up Hoshoryu and marched forward to take his 7th win.

Meisei defeats Daieisho – Daieisho took his eyes off of Meisei at the tachiai. This let Meisei get his hands inside, and laid on the attack. Daieisho rallied just for a moment, but it was all Meisei today, and he advanced to join the group at 5-6.

Hokutofuji defeats Mitakeumi – In a battle of the over-sized head bandages, it Hokutofuji who kept his hips lower, and his stance open. Mitakeumi is able to shut him down for a few seconds, but Hokutofuji’s second surge forward breaks through Mitakeumi’s defense, and he rushes forward to improve to 4-7. Mitakeumi’s week 2 fade seems to be coming into full bloom.

Takakeisho defeats Takayasu – Takayasu decides to get into a tsuppari contests with Takakeisho. Even my cat knows how that’s going to turn out. Takakeisho adjust the power setting to “3” and launches Takayasu over the bales. Takakeisho improves to 9-3.

Asanoyama defeats Takanosho – Takanosho was late off of the shikiri-sen, but hit with power. Putting his right hand under Asanoyama’s chin, he drove forward, and looked ready to take the match. But a ring’s edge rescue move from Asanoyama worked, and Takanosho found himself thrown to the clay. Asanoyama improves to 7-4.

Myogiryu defeats Terunofuji – Myogiryu gets both hands inside, and executes a strong opening combo. But Terunofuji defends well, consolidates his position and throws Myogiryu down for what looks like win 11. But a mono-ii is called. The judges want to look at that right hand against the back of Myogiryu’s head. The shimpan declare Terunofuji disqualified because of a hair pull, and the kaiju is handed his first loss. Terunofuji’s hand placement was sloppy, but I personally would not have called it a hair pull. I always hate it when officials reverse performance on the field, and the evidence is not exceedingly clear. But then again, I am just a fan, and I was not there. Myogiryu improves to 5-6, and I am going to guess he will be ripe fodder for Darwin in a few days. Just like that, without anyone actually beating Terunofuji, Endo and Takakeisho are now just 1 win behind.

Shodai defeats Onosho – Shodai absorbs Onosho’s big opening move, and his subsequent attempt to set up his big push goes nowhere, as Shodai already has him moving back. Realizing he is sunk, Onosho tries a pull, but that just feeds his loss, and Shodai pushes him out. Both end the day at 6-5.