Hatsu 2024: Day 9 Highlights

Andy Hatsu 2024, Hatsu Basho , , ,

The news continues to stream in from the infirmary. Today, both Hokutofuji and Asanoyama are added to the kyujo list. Hokutofuji’s kyujo was expected. For Asanoyama, the injury is the ankle that he rolled up on near the end of his fight with Tamawashi.

Makuuchi Results

Endo (2-7) defeated Tomokaze (1-8). Endo charged forward and drove Tomokaze from the ring. Oshidashi.

Myogiryu (3-6) defeated Bushozan (4-5). Bushozan charged forward but Myogiryu pulled Bushozan down. Hatakikomi.

Takanosho (6-3) defeated Takarafuji (4-5). Takanosho forced the Takarabune aground. The Takarabune tried a last second pulldown but Takanosho kept his balance and shoved Takarafuji out. Oshidashi.

Shimazuumi (5-4) defeated Oho (6-3). Shimazuumi false start. Shimazuumi locked in tight with Oho, and prevented the oshi-tsuki wrestler from fighting his brand of fight. Oho attempted to get some distance by retreating but Shimazuumi continued to charge forward and wrapped Oho up and walked him out. Yorikiri.

Kotoshoho (6-3) defeated Sadanoumi (3-6). As the two waltzed across the ring toward the tawara, both men pitched to the side to try to throw each other. Kotoshoho was able to keep his footing just long enough to pick up the win as they both tumbled out. Sukuinage.

Onosato (8-1) defeated Meisei (5-4). Meisei grabbed Onosato’s arm and tried to pull him down but Onosato was having none of it and drove Meisei out. Meisei appeared to have a plan today, it was just utterly ineffective. Yorikiri.

Churanoumi defeated Mitakeumi. Mitakeumi got his right-hand outside grip but Churanoumi denied an easy left-hand inside. Churanoumi grabbed Mitakeumi with a matching right-hand outside grip and yanked up as he charged forward and drove Mitakeumi to the edge. Both men tumbled out but the gunbai went to Churanoumi. No mono-ii. Yorikiri.

Onosho (8-1) fusen win. Asanoyama (7-2)  kyujo.

Tsurugisho (4-5) defeated Ichiyamamoto (3-6). Ichiyamamoto tried his pull but Tsurugisho stayed up long enough to drive Ichiyamamoto out before falling. Oshidashi.

Tamawashi (6-3) defeated Shonannoumi (1-8). Brutal nodowa from Tamawashi. He grabbed Shonannoumi’s head and shoved him from the dohyo. Oshidashi.

Halftime

Kinbozan (5-4) defeated Hiradoumi (4-5). A contrast of styles here. Kinbozan’s oshi-tsuki attack completely overwhelmed Hiradoumi. Tsukidashi.

Tobizaru (5-4) fusen win. Hokutofuji (4-5) kyujo

Abi (3-6) defeated Gonoyama (2-7). Henka or no? I say yes. Abi made contact with his arm to drive Gonoyama down, and seized Gonoyama’s belt to drive him forward. But he had leapt to the side to avoid the force of Gonoyama’s charge. To me, that’s a henka. Perfectly executed. Uwatenage.

Wakamotoharu (6-3) defeated Midorifuji (2-7). Kachi-age from WMH but Midorifuji seized his belt and tried a quick throw. Wakamotoharu drove into Midorifuji and crushed him down at the edge. Yoritaoshi.

Sanyaku

Ura (2-7) defeated Atamifuji (4-5). Ura charged forward at the tachiai but Atamifuji slammed on the brakes before reaching the bales. As Atamifuji tussled for a belt grip, Ura drove Atamifuji to the other edge and pulled him down. Atamifuji tried to stop but his foot landed outside the bales and then awkwardly slipped out from under him. Katasukashi.

Kotonowaka (8-1) defeated Daieisho (6-3). Kotonowaka absorbed Daieisho’s charge and tried a pull down but that failed. He moved inside and locked up a right-hand inside grip and used that to bulldoze Daieisho clear across the ring. Yorikiri.

Kirishima (7-1) defeated Shodai (4-5). Kirishima grabbed Shodai’s belt with a right-hand inside grip and drove toward the edge of the ring. At the edge, Shodai yanked on Kirishima’s arm and twisted, pulling Kirishima out, as well. Gunbai Shodai?!?! The Shimpan jump up quickly to set this right. Shodai was out first. Oshidashi.

Hoshoryu (7-2) defeated Ryuden (3-6). Hoshoryu simply overpowered Ryuden. Once he got the left-hand inside to match up with his right-hand outside, he drove forward and forced Ryuden out. Yorikiri.

Terunofuji (7-2) defeated Nishikigi (5-4). Terunofuji tried the kimidashi attack but Nishikigi broke free. He nearly got Terunofuji at the edge but Terunofuji re-engaged, locked in with a right hand inside, left-hand outside, and forced Nishikigi over the tawara.

Wrap-up

Onosato and Onosho will be thrown to the wolves tomorrow to test their mettle. Onosho will face Kirishima. Kirishima’s rope run is on ice at this point. It will be dead and buried with a loss. Onosato will face Kotonowaka, both 8-1. Both men secured their kachi-koshi just today but will be tested for the yusho tomorrow. The leader will surely then have to run the gauntlet against the Ozeki and Yokozuna to earn the title. Hoshoryu, also in the hunt group, will face Daieisho (6-3).

It is a huge bummer about Asanoyama and Hokutofuji. I hope they both recuperate.

Makushita Madness: Day 8

lksumo Hatsu 2024, Hatsu Basho

Please see my previous post for an introduction to the Makushita yusho and promotion races. First, a brief Juryo update: November’s top Makushita graduate, J10e Takerufuji, has been absolutely steamrolling people and leads the Juryo yusho race with an 8-0 record. Although he hasn’t gotten the same attention as Onosato and Hakuoho, the Isegahama prospect is fighting in just his 8th professional basho and sports a career record of 51-6. It’s not out of the question that he could reach the 13 or so wins he needs to achieve the rare feat of reaching the top division after only a single basho in Juryo (accomplished only 4 times in the six-basho era, most recently by Endo in 2013).

Back to the Makushita yusho race. After 8 days and 4 rounds of bouts, seven men stand undefeated at 4-0. They will fight it out on Day 9 for spots in the semifinals, joined by the highest-ranked undefeated Sandanme rikishi to round out the numbers. Here’s the quarterfinal bracket:

  • Ms1w Wakatakakage vs. Ms8e Onokatsu
  • Ms18e Dewanoryu vs. Ms25w Mudoho
  • Ms37w Omoto vs. Ms41w Haruyama
  • Ms53e Akinoyama vs. Sd1e Tanji

The headliner is former Sekiwake Wakatakakage, on the comeback trail after his March knee injury. He is up against Onokatsu, who debuted at Ms15TD in November and who knocked out Hakuoho from the yusho race on Day 5 and prevailed in a tough battle against Ms9w Hokutomaru on Day 8. Onokatsu must go 7-0 to be promoted. Dewanoryu and Mudoho are 22-year-old former prospects who’ve struggled in Makushita; Mudoho also happens to be Oho’s younger brother. I hadn’t paid attention to Haruyama, but maybe it’s time to start: he debuted last May with a 7-0 yusho in Jonokuchi and has lost only 4 times since in 32 career bouts. Omoto has been toiling in the lower divisions since 2015, but that’s nothing compared to Akinoyama, who’s been in professional sumo since 2008; both have a career-high rank of Ms13. Finally, Tanji, who eliminated “Sumo Prime Time” star Ms55e Sazanami in the round of 16, will seek his 4th victory against a Makushita opponent this basho! Did I mention he is only 17? Definitely one to watch, his 1-6 record at Ms29 in November notwithstanding.

Here is how things stand in the Ms1-Ms5 promotion zone. Although the details vary from one banzuke to the next depending on the number of openings, generally, a 4-3 record at Ms1-Ms2 is good enough for Juryo promotion, while it’s a tossup at Ms3 and usually insufficient below. 5-2 should do it at Ms3-Ms4, and 6-1 is typically needed at Ms5. With that in mind, Wakatakakage and Ms2e Tsushimanada (4-1) have probably done enough, Ms1e Kayo (2-2) needs two more wins, and so does Ms2w Kitaharima (2-2). Ms4e Chiyonoumi (2-2) and Ms5w Hakuoho (3-1) may need to win out, while the 1-3 trio of Ms3w Satorufuji (the November champion), Ms4w Hatsuyama, and Ms5e Kiryuko must win the rest of their bouts and hope for good banzuke luck. All except Tsushimanada are in action on Day 9, with Kayo taking on Kitaharima, Satorufuji and Kiryuko matched in an elimination bout, and a fun bout featuring Hakuoho against up-and-comer Ms8w Kototebakari (the little bro of Kotoshoho, who also started out fighting under that shikona).

Come back tomorrow for an update on the yusho and promotion races!

Hatsu 2024: Day 8 Highlights

Andy Hatsu 2024, Hatsu Basho , , , , ,

Late news from the infirmary that Takayasu kyujo, again. Kotonowaka will receive the default win and Nishikifuji will visit from Juryo to fill out the numbers.

Asanoyama leads and could be the first to clinch his kachi-koshi. With tomorrow’s torikumi out, it looks like the Kyokai has decided to throw Onosho at Asanoyama, first, rather than Onosato as I had speculated. They are clearly going to start challenging these low-ranked guys with 1 loss by moving them up. Onosato will face Meisei tomorrow, 100x more of a challenge than Endo has proven to be, so far this tournament.

Makuuchi Torikumi Results

Nishikifuji (Juryo, 6-2) defeated Bushozan (4-4). Nishikifuji circled away as Bushozan charged forward. In retreat, Nishikifuji continued to press down on Bushozan’s shoulder until he fell out. Tsukiotoshi.

Onosho (7-1) defeated Shimazuumi (4-4). Onosho is pumped. You got the sense from the start that despite Shimazuumi’s strength, Onosho was not going to accept defeat. He pressed forward into Shimazuumi’s right shoulder, held him high and forced him into reverse. At the edge, Shimazuumi resisted so Onosho finished him with a twisting throw. Sukuinage.

Takarafuji (4-4) defeated Churanoumi (4-4). A mirror image of the Nishikifuji bout, the Takarabune cruised the coastline draping Churanoumi out the back like a fishing net. Hikiotoshi.

Onosato (7-1) defeated Endo (1-7). Three great shoves and Onosato dropped Endo. How do you cut to commercial when the cameraman found two adorable toddlers with Onosato hats rushing down to the hanamichi to greet their hero? Oshidashi.

Takanosho (5-3) defeated Tomokaze (1-7). Takanosho hit Tomokaze with a nodowa at the tachiai. Tomokaze retaliated with his own fierce shove to force Takanosho back to the edge. But it was bait for Takanosho’s sidestep. Tomokaze was all-in, over-committed, and Takanosho knew it. So, he slipped away to the right and shoved Tomokaze down. Tsukiotoshi.

Tsurugisho (3-5) defeated Myogiryu (2-6). Tsurugisho had this hit-and-shift planned out and executed beautifully. He hit Myogiryu at the tachiai, then shifted left while grasping Myogiryu’s mawashi. With the belt grip, he used Myogiryu’s momentum and swung him out, over the bales. Uwatenage.

Oho (6-2) defeated Kotoshoho (5-3). Oho let Kotoshoho drive forward at the tachiai. Like Tsurugisho, he shifted to the left. Unlike Tsurugisho, he didn’t go for Kotoshoho’s belt. Instead, he brought his hands up behind Kotoshoho’s head and shoulders and dragged him down. Hatakikomi.

Sadanoumi (3-5) defeated Ichiyamamoto (3-5). Sadanoumi tried to deflect Ichiyamamoto’s tsuppari but enough landed to seemingly annoy the hell out of Sadanoumi. So, Sadanoumi yanked back on Ichiyamamoto’s arms. Ichiyamamoto stumbled forward but kept his balance. Sadanoumi then drove through Ichiyamamoto’s slapdown attempt and shoved him off the dohyo. Oshidashi.

Tamawashi (5-3) defeated – and may have broken – Asanoyama (7-1). Asanoyama’s right ankle rolled at the end here, and he struggled to get back up to the dohyo. Thrilling bout with Tamawashi blasting away with his trademark tsuppari. Asanoyama was a bit too desperate to bring an end to the onslaught and reached in deep for a belt grip. Tamawashi hopped backwards, extending Asanoyama’s reach, and threw him to the side. Sukuinage.

Kinbozan (4-4) defeated Mitakeumi (4-4). Wakanohana called out Kinbozan’s effective arm positioning here. It was a quick bout because of that effective use of the right arm. Kinbozan reached in with his right hand for a shallow grip on Mitakeumi’s belt while squeezing Mitakeumi’s left arm. Mitakeumi had to extract his left hand and try to get an outside grip but he was already moving backwards quickly. Unable to recover, Mitakeumi was quickly ushered from the dohyo by Kinbozan. Excellent belt technique from Kinbozan. That is quite the surprise coming from a tsuki-oshi guy like Kinbozan. He had been exposed a few times this tournament for a lack of belt skill. But this was well planned and well executed. Yorikiri.

Halftime

Meisei (5-3) destroyed Shonannoumi (1-7). Meisei employed the same trick Kinbozan used on Mitakeumi. Except Meisei plowed into Shonannoumi harder at the tachiai. This drive meant that Shonannoumi was kept too high. While he tried to extract his left arm, Meisei bulldozed him into the ringside gyoji. Yorikiri.

Nishikigi (5-3) defeated Hiradoumi (4-4). Hiradoumi jumped early. Reset. I wonder if the matta slowed Hiradoumi’s second tachiai a bit. He hit Nishikigi but it didn’t seem to be with as much speed and power. Nishikigi just overpowered Hiradoumi after the initial charge and pressed him out quickly. Oshidashi.

Abi (2-6) defeated Shodai (4-4). Insert Rent too damn high. Shodai’s tachiai was too damn high! Abi-zumo here today. Fierce nodowa forced Shodai back and over the edge. Oshidashi.

Atamifuji (2-6) defeated Gonoyama (4-4). Gonoyama was aggressive and on the offensive. Atamifuji was in trouble and being driven back from the power of Gonoyama’s shoves. At the last moment he used that reach advantage to grab the back of Gonoyama’s belt with the left hand and pulled, hard. Rotating to the left, he threw Gonoyama into the crowd. Uwatenage.

Sanyaku

Wakamotoharu (5-3) defeated Ura (1-7). Ura locked in quick and spun Wakamotoharu around. He tried to drive forward into Wakamotoharu but then pulled on Wakamotoharu’s left arm. Wakamotoharu charged forward with the retreating Ura and dropped him into the crowd. Oshidashi.

Kotonowaka (7-1) fusen win. Takayasu (2-4-2) kyujo, again.

Daieisho defeated Midorifuji. Midorifuji timed his sidestep well and nearly caught Daieisho by pulling on his shoulder. Daieisho recovered and allowed Midorifuji to continue his attack. As Daieisho backed to the tawara again, he slipped to the side as Midorifuji charged forward and tugged Midorifuji down and off the dohyo. Hatakikomi.

Hoshoryu (6-2) defeated Hokutofuji (4-4). Hokutofuji gave it his all. Nodowa, headbutt, forward rush, pull…he threw everything at Hoshoryu but Hoshoryu maintained his balance and stayed in the ring. As Hokutofuji pulled, Hoshoryu rushed forward and helped Hokutofuji’s momentum carry him from the dohyo. Initially, it looked like Hokutofuji was injured in the fall. I was terrified that it was his back. But he looks to have tweaked his knee prior to the fall. Oshitaoshi.

Tobizaru (4-4) defeated Kirishima (6-2). Kirishima tried a hasty pull. He tried to bring Tobizaru down but Tobizaru moved forward into the Ozeki, shoving him from the dohyo. Kirishima should have either been more patient, or come in with a plan. He seemed to be figuring Tobizaru out “on the fly.” He seemed a bit pissed off at Tobizaru’s pre-tachiai antics. He nearly got his hands down, then pulled them back up…hovered a bit… he was living in Kirishima’s head, rent-free. He’s probably still there, penthouse view. Oshidashi.

Terunofuji (6-2) defeated Ryuden (3-5). Both men locked in at the tachiai, opposing maemitsu belt grips. Ryuden tried to press forward, legs churning, but he didn’t make any headway. It should be rather telling to watch as Ryuden’s legs slid backwards each time he tried to budge the Yokozuna. Gif-worthy action there. Terunofuji eventually took the initiative and wrenched free from Ryuden’s grip. Terunofuji wrapped him up awkwardly, Ryuden’s powerful right arm dangling high and useless. Terunofuji pressed forward, forcing Ryuden from the dohyo. Brilliant. Great work from both men. Yorikiri.

Wrap-up

Hokutofuji will surely join the growing kyujo queue tomorrow. This makes me sad. Based on the fact that he couldn’t walk and needed the big wheelchair, I am assuming he will not return this tournament and we will be lucky if he didn’t duplicate Aoiyama’s ACL injury. Someone needs to dig up the squid and re-do the dohyo matsuri.

Kotonowaka got to rest today and now sits atop the leaderboard, but he will have to earn his kachi-koshi tomorrow against the formidable Daieisho, who is now one loss behind the leaders. Asanoyama was denied his kachi-koshi and will fight Onosho tomorrow. Based on the outcome of today’s matches, Onosho flip-flops and becomes the instant favorite to capture his kachi-koshi. Asanoyama will be a fierce competitor but any tweak of that ankle will be exposed.

He’s not going to do it, and I am wasting my breath by even speculating this here. But with 7 wins, Asanoyama will likely maintain his rank in the next banzuke, regardless. At most, he will face a drop of a rank or two (if they are harsh). Without a lot of strong performances there will be a void there in the banzuke and he is safe. Therefore, if he has any type of injury which will get worse over the course of the tournament, he should sit down now. Wait until Osaka and come back fresh. He will start accumulating black stars and might even miss out on any kind of recognition in the form of special prizes. If he ends this tournament at 9-6 or 10-5, rising into the joi with a new mild injury, just to have a crappy Osaka, it is not worth it. Go kyujo now, while it’s in style.

Onosato will take on Meisei. This should be a highlight bout and Onosato’s biggest real test in the top division, so far. Meisei did very well today but he is not impregnable.

Terunofuji leads the chase group with his sage breakdown of Ryuden. He will face Nishikigi tomorrow. That could be a highlight but it should be a much faster-paced bout. That could bring more of a challenge to the Kaiju. He seemed to have time with Ryuden to figure out the puzzle of, “how do I beat this guy who is slamming his topknot into my jaw? It is most uncomfortable. I must stop it. Aha!”

Kirishima’s Yokozuna run is on life support, aided by the fact that Asanoyama did not only lose but seemed to get injured. He has drawn the Shodai wildcard for tomorrow and will need to defeat all comers (Shodai, Kotonowaka, Terunofuji, everyone) if he still hopes for the rope.

Hoshoryu clings on in the chase group with rather defensive sumo. That defense will be tested by Ryuden tomorrow. If Hoshoryu was paying attention today, he will already have a blueprint for how to attack. Lastly, Oho will take on Shimazuumi in their first-ever meeting.

Michinoku-Beya Prepares To Close

Andy Stables (Heya) , , , , , , , ,

Yesterday we saw news from Justin, over on Twitter, that Michinoku-oyakata intends to close his eponymous heya upon retirement. He turns 65, the mandatory retirement age, in early April. That means the Osaka tournament would be his last as shisho, or stablemaster. Another interesting detail regarding this closure is that he will ask the members of his heya where they would like to be transferred, beginning with the heyagashira, Kirishima.

There has been quite a bit of speculation surrounding the fate of the Michinoku kabu, in particular. Kabu are shares in the Japanese Sumo Association. There are a fixed number of shares available and strict eligibility rules. Among them is the rule that Yokozuna are granted a special 5-year kabu upon their retirement. Essentially, this buys them time to find a permanent kabu. Takanohana was a famous exception where he was granted a permanent Takanohana kabu. That did not end well and might be why Hakuho was not offered a similar privilege. (Chiyonofuji had famously turned down the offer and decided to acquire the Kokonoe-heya, which he held until his death.)

On Kabu

For non-Yokozuna, that means there is a good deal of horse-trading. Some guys, like Endo, acquire a kabu while they are active and loan it out to others. There has not been an independent heya named Kitajin. Endo has loaned his kabu to Shotenro, Kotoyuki, and its current holder, Tenkaiho. Michinoku, himself, retired into the Shikoroyama kabu, owned by Wakabayama before trading into the Katsunoura kabu and finally acquiring Michinoku.

Thus, there are some kabu with storied histories, like Kokonoe, and others with evidently less cachet which seem to be temporary “homes” and trade hands often, like Sanoyama. The last time Sanoyama-beya was displayed outside a stable door was in the 1950s and 60s. Since then, it has been owned by Konishiki, Chiyotaikai, and now, Chiyonokuni. However, it has been loaned out to guys with less illustrious names like Toki, Zaonishiki, Dairyu, and Satoyama.

Michinoku Beya

Which do we have here in Michinoku? While not as legendary as Kokonoe, Sadogatake, or Isegahama, it has been a successful heya under its current leadership since 1997, as well as two other Michinoku-oyakata going back to the mid-1970s. That makes it perfect for a Yokozuna to take it over, right? Maybe not. There have been scandals, including a bullying scandal from last year. Kakuryu was only under the Michinoku banner for a brief time, anyway. Why transfer its skeletons to a guy who is trying to start fresh?

Then, there is Michinoku-oyakata’s own plans. While retirement will be thrust upon him this spring, he can stay on in an advisory (san’yo) role for another five years. Who knows how fun the experience of negotiating these kabu really was? That Katsunoura trade might have been an absolute nightmare. Maybe he bought high and sold low, stung by a rough deal? He is absolutely entitled to sit on the kabu he holds, like Oguruma-oyakata did. Takekaze had to split out into Oshiogawa and Yoshikaze left for Nishonoseki.

The manner in which Michinoku plans to handle the closure seems fair and considerate toward his charges. They will be consulted on where they want to go rather than shuffled off en masse to one stable. Who are they, anyway? Let’s take a look at who we have here.

Michinoku Beya Charges

First, we can take a glimpse of the management team, aka, other coaches, oyakatas, and wakamonogashira. We have two oyakata, Tatsutayama and Urakaze, who fought under the shikona of Sasshunada and Shikishima, respectively and both reached their best rank of Maegashira 1. With them is the Wakamonogashira, Fukunosato. Next up, we have a top level hairdresser in Tokodai and a Makushita yobidashi, Shin.

Yuki

When we turn to the wrestlers, we have quite the mix, up-and-down the banzuke. Kirishima is at the top, currently Ozeki and the only sekitori in the bunch. We know that it would be a huge feather in ex-Kirishima’s cap if current Kirishima wins the yusho and earns promotion to Yokozuna. Maybe then, Kirishima can sit on his san’yo kabu for five years and pass the name on to a Yokozuna that he brought up, rather than one he inherited from Izutsu.

Dainichido

Next is Yuki in Makushita. He is an often featured assistant for Kirishima at open practices, degeiko, along the jungyo trail, and at other heya events. The bowler and baseball fan is known for his flexing poses in PR pictures. He started his sumo career in 2005 and rose steadily.

Michinoku has three wrestlers in the rough-and-tumble third division: Dainichido, Nikko, and Kamitani. Though currently in sandanme, Dainichido has had a few good stretches in Makushita since starting sumo in 2015. Nikko is still pretty early in his career, having started in September 2020. (That must have been a rough time to start your sumo career.) Most tournaments he has been in Jonidan but lately his judo background has helped him crack into Sandanme. Kamitani started sumo in 2018 and has made it as high as Makushita 19 after claiming a sandanme yusho.

In Jonidan, we have Chikureisen, who started in 2017 and Kirinohana. In Jonokuchi, we have Kirimaru, who has bounced around in the lower two divisions since starting his career in 2001.