With the dawn of day 11 in Western Japan, we are on to the final act of this Kyusho basho. Act 3 is where all of the pieces come together, we sort everyone into make and kachi koshi, and we crown the yusho winner. As predicted at the start of this tournament, Yokozuna Terunofuji is the favorite to hoist the cup yet again, with his nearest rival for the honor, Ozeki Takakeisho, eating clay on day 10 at the hands of Meisei.

In act 3, we are going to see two things of interest – first will be the “test matches” this is where there are much larger rank differences between the competitors. I tend to think of them as testing out the target promotion rank for the next banzuke. Second is the conclusion of “Darwin’s Funnel”, that herds as many rikishi as possible into starting day 15 with 7-7 scores. Many or all of them will face off against each other in single bout elimiation style. The winner get kachi-koshi, the loser make-koshi. But we have 4 days of action before we can get there.

Kyushu Leaderboard

It will all come down to “who can put dirt on Terunofuji”. My money is on an Ozeki.

Leader: Terunofuji
Hunt Group: Takakeisho, Abi
Chasers: Mitakeumi, Tamawashi, Ura, Hokutofuji

5 matches remain

What We Are Watching Day 11

Chiyomaru vs Hokutofuji – The only think I can think of about this match is that they want to make sure that Chiyomaru stays in the Darwin funnel. He has never won against Hokutofuji, who is already 8-2, and was over-demoted coming out of his September kyujo. I suspect this will not be pretty

Ishiura vs Sadanoumi – A win today, and Sadanoumi escapes the funnel, he would improve to 7-4, and would pretty much be a lock for kachi-koshi. He has been fighting well, and I think will be able to make his 8 no matter what. Ishiura is another matter, he has not been able to generate consistent quality sumo, and I think he will struggle today, in spite of his 9-5 career advantage over Sadanoumi.

Kagayaki vs Terutsuyoshi – I worry that Kagayaki might actually win this one, which would leave both of them with 3-7 scores. A Kagayaki loss today would be make-koshi for him on day 10, and may portend a double digit loss. At his rank, that might put him back in Juryo if things pay out a certain way. Terutsuyoshi is at the bottom edge of the funnel, and needs a win to maintain any hopes of reaching 8, a significant long-shot at this point.

Kotonowaka vs Akua – An Akua win today would be his first ever over Kotonowaka, and would also deal Kotonowaka his make-koshi. Akua would exit the funnel with a win, and so there is a lot of tension built into this match before these guys even get their mawashi on.

Kaisei vs Hidenoumi – Kaisei finds himself in yet another basho where he is struggling to keep more wins than losses in his record. He’s going to struggle some more against Hidenoumi today, who seems to have quietly found his sumo, and has been racking up wins. A win by Hidenoumi would probably push him out of the funnel.

Aoiyama vs Chiyonokuni – What pain or misery has beset Aoiyama? After a 3-0 start, Big Dan has had 7 straight losses, and if Chiyonokuni should prevail today, it would be 8 and make-koshi. It’s like the ancient game of pinball, there were times when the ball would take just the right trajectory, and after racking up a few nice points, rocket into the center drain, forever lost. Aoiyama, don’t be the pinball.

Kotoeko vs Shohozan – I guess they just had to have a misery match. Both already make-koshi, both of them fighting well below their abilities, and for Shohozan, the captaincy of the dreaded Juryo Barge. There are some who argue that such an honorific must go to Asanoyama given his standing as a former Ozeki. But as Shohozan is senpai, they can just keep quiet.

Tochinoshin vs Chiyoshoma – Chiyoshoma really does seem to have his sumo in good working order right now. That say 9 win over Endo was a thing of beauty. Today he’s got a much different opponent in Tochinoshin, who seems to be willing to endure quite a bit to try and save himself from demotion to Juryo. Going chest to chest won’t work, given the massive weight and strength difference, but please, for the love of sumo, do NOT henka this injured guy.

Ura vs Abi – Well, if a match could have neon details and streamers, this would be the one. What the hell is going to happen here? Really no good way to guess. Abi is going to attack at range, Ura going to go for grab and tug against anything left sticking out. If he can catch Ura with one of those big broadsides, it’s done and done for him, I would guess. Both are kachi-koshi, and fighting for rank.

Chiyotairyu vs Tamawashi – Both men like a big opening move, lots of forward power transmitted through their arms. It may come down to who connects first, and my bet would be Chiyotairyu. They have a 20 match history that narrowly favors the thunder-god, Chiyotairyu, at 11-9.

Shimanoumi vs Yutakayama – Must be a “gimme” match for Shimanoumi, or a make-koshi punctuation mark for Yutakayama. I don’t see Yutakayama winning today, so this will be loss number 8 should to happen that way.

Tobizaru vs Hoshoryu – Back to the high interest match set, this one may throw quite a few sparks. I am certain that Hoshoryu has had quite enough of losing matches that he has won in the past. Today it’s him against that flying monkey fellow, who is ripe for a big leg trip and face full of clay. Both are in the funnel, and the best funnel outcome would be a Hoshoryu win.

Takarafuji vs Takanosho – Fresh off of giving Mitakeumi the business, Takarafuji is going against Takanosho for the taka-battle of the day. While it would be great to see Takarafuji win this one, signs are that he is going to be the underdog in this match. Takanosho is 2 matches away from kachi-koshi, and 4 of the last 5.

Okinoumi vs Wakatakakage – Wakatakakage has proven a challenge for Okinoumi, beating him in both of their prior matches. At 3-7, the lead Onami brother needs every win he can find, and I am sure he is pushing to make it 3 in a row over Okinoumi today.

Daieisho vs Onosho – Both of these mega-thrust rikishi are staring a make-koshi down in act 3, the question is “when”. I think it comes down to who in this match will lose footing first, and my money is on Onosho. A loss today for Daieisho, and he is make-koshi.

Myogiryu vs Kiribayama – Kiribayama wins today, or picks up his 8th loss and is make-koshi. Myogiryu has lost 7 in a row, and I think he won’t be able to overcome Kiribayama’s 2-0 career advantage.

Mitakeumi vs Takayasu – A rivalry that goes back tp 2015, these two have 26 prior matches between them, with Takayasu holding a 19-7 advantage. Its been all Takayasu for the last couple of years, so we may see 2 losses in a row for Mitakeumi, to officially mark his traditional week 2 fade. And what is sumo without traditions? Just a couple of fat guys in underpants having a fight.

Endo vs Takakeisho – Endo will go for the belt early. If he gets there, it’s his to win. Takakeisho needs to bounce back after that suprise day 10 loss to Meisei. Hit hard, hit center mass, and don’t let Endo get his hands near your waist.

Shodai vs Meisei – Meisei will try to make it 2 ozeki scalps in a row, if he can overcome whatever random sumo Shodai pulls out today. With a 7-1 career record, Shodai has a clear advantage, but he’s really hit or miss right now. A Shodai win lifts him out of the funnel, but at this point I would rather see him remain.

Terunofuji vs Ichinojo – I am looking for Ichinojo to go soft early, not wanting to risk a back injury against Terufnofuji’s big sumo today. Once the Yokozuna sets up his grip, I don’t see The Boulder offering a lot of resistance past the initial pressure.

We close out act 2 with a day of surprises. Surprising winners, surprising kimarite, surprising dance moves from the yobidashi, and a surprising on-air call from one of the great public figures in sumo.

Highlight Matches

Akua defeats Yutakayama – Yutakayama starts with good power, and decent targeting. But he’s exclusevly going against Akua’s face and throat, and leaving his chest wide open. Akua gets underneath and shuts Yutakayama’s attack down. As Yutakayama’s arms come to his chest to defend, Akua grab and pulls, sending Yutakayama sprawling forward for his 7th loss. Akua improves to 6-4.

Tochinoshin defeats Kaisei – These two dispensed with the formalities, and immediately assumed a left hand outside / right hand inside yotsu stance. From there it was a contest of strength, and somehow Tochinoshin overcame whatever problems he had to lift Kaisei just enough to gently move him out by yorikiri, improving to 3-7.

Ishiura defeats Shohozan – As expected, Ishiura delivered Shohozan’s 8th loss to mark him make-koshi at his home basho. Shohozan started with some offensive sumo, but Ishiura got first to the side, then behind, and it was okuridashi time. Ishiura improves to 5-5.

Hokutofuji defeats Sadanoumi – Hokutofuji gauged Sadanoumi’s tachiai as “to fast, to far”, and took action. After meeting the initial hit, he stepped aside, and used both hands to assist Sadanoumi forward, to win by hatakikomi. That’s the 8th white start for Hokutofuji, and he is kachi-koshi for November.

Terutsuyoshi defeats Chiyomaru – Low speed tachiai from Terutsuyoshi, he took the shallow attack, and landed a left hand frontal grip. Chiyomaru had just enough time to realize he was in trouble, but before he could defend Terutsuyoshi swung him to the clay. Short and clean, the win advances Terutsuyoshi to 4-6.

Hidenoumi defeats Kagayaki – Kagayaki had control of the early portion of the match, focusing blows and pushing against Hidenoumi’s upper body. To his credit, Hidenoumi stayed focus, on his feet and kept working to get chest to chest with Kagayaki, and eventually was rewarded with a right hand inside grip. Kagayaki attempts an arm bar / arm-breaker throw, which leads to a Hidenoumi rally and a forceful oshidashi. Points to the yobidashi for the masterful evasion move. Hidenoumi improves to 6-4.

Kotoeko defeats Chiyonokuni – Kotoeko was denied any kind of grip or body position by Chiyonokuni volley of thrusts. Kotoeko tried at least twice to attack, and was repelled each time. He found himself low, and spotted Chiyonokuni open, and lunged to plant a double hand push on Chiyonokuni’s mawashi, sending him into the front row of cushions. Second win of the basho for Kotoeko, he improves to 2-8.

Abi defeats Tobizaru – Tobizaru had to have known there would be no mawashi grip today, and instead committed to throwing every thrust he could at Abi. It was actually effective for the first few seconds of the match, even giving him advantage for a brief moment. But this just seemed to motivate Abi to improve his targeting, grabbing Tobizaru’s face. It’s two volleys from there and Tobizaru is out, with another yobidashi escape move. Get that guy a mawashi! Abi improves to 9-1.

Ura defeats Kotonowaka – Oh, how I had missed having Ura in the top division for those years of injury and recovery. For those of you new fans, he used to do this stuff every day. Rikishi hated to face him because he was going to do some crazy stuff that made them look foolish and clumsy. Kotonowaka is having none of it, so he just stands up and immediately goes defensive / “keep away from me, ya pest!” Ura goes grab and tug, making sure everything is solidly attached to Kotonowaka’s frame. Attack high, attack low, grab an arm, reach for that knee, he’s everywhere at once. Kotonowaka bars Ura’s right arm. Clearly he has not watched footage from the TWO PRIOR DAYS. Up comes the opposite hand, and it’s the third blazing katasukashi in a row. Ura’s 8th win, he is kachi-koshi for November. At least we can assume that Abi won’t try that hold against Ura day 11.

Shimanoumi defeats Chiyotairyu – Sort of the “ultimate funnel match”, that needed a Shimanoumi win, and he got it. He withstood Chiyotairyu’s powerful opening combo, kept his feet and kept focused. It took a bit of time to overcome Chiyotairyu, with the opening coming as Chiyotairyu attacked high, leaving Shimanoumi as route to center-mass to push Chiyotairyu for the win. Both end the day 5-5.

Tamawashi defeats Aoiyama – Man, what happened to Big Dan Aoiyama? A solid 3-0 start, and then nothing but losses for the last 7 days. The match was all Tamawashi, with Aoiyama putting up only token defense. Kachi-koshi for Tamawashi at 8-2.

Chiyoshoma defeats Endo – There were suspicions that this could be a big fight, and I am delighted the two of them decided to give it a try. Excellent hit at the tachiai by Chiyoshoma robbed Endo of his frontal grip attempt. High marks to Chiyoshoma for his combo attacks, he never gave Endo a moment to do anything other than react. It was Chiyoshoma who landed a grip first from the side, and rather than let Endo reciprocate, he kicked Endo’s left foot out from under him, sending him backward onto the clay. A glorious susoharai leg sweep. I am really enjoying the upgraded Chiyoshoma, he improves to 6-4.

Okinoumi defeats Takanosho – Takanosho – too much enthusiasm to try and pick up that 5th win in a row. Okinoumi responds well, and gives him a close up look at the tawara with a hatakikomi, improving to 4-6.

Wakatakakage defeats Daieisho – Wakatakakage avoids make-koshi with a henka. Daieisho assumed a bit too much, and found his opponent not where he expected him, both end the day 3-7.

Ichinojo defeats Myogiryu – Myogiryu also attempts to slip to the side at the tachiai, but Ichinojo is ready. He captures Myogiryu, circles behind and runs him out like a man ejecting his daughter’s dirt-bag boyfriend. Ichinojo improves to 4-6.

Onosho defeats Kiribayama – A great moment in sumo broadcasting, as Murray Johnson refers to Kiribayama losing by “Slippotoshi”. My compliments to Murray and the great Kintamayama. Onosho improves to 4-6. I eagerly await its inclusion in the official kimarite later this century.

Takarafuji defeats Mitakeumi – Readers, do you know what happened here? I am still trying to piece it together. Everyone was hoping that Mitakeumi had his sumo together, maybe double digits, maybe one more try for Ozeki. Then this… Takarafuji, who only had 3 wins so far, gets his defend and extend sumo going, and shuts down Mitakeumi. Takarafuji picks up a surprising, but well earned win to improve to 4-6.

Shodai defeats Takayasu – Shodai won this, and how he won it is really sort of the story of his Ozeki career. He quickly gets in trouble, and puts all of his effort into evading Takayasu as best he can. He tries some cartoon sumo, he tries “Wall of Daikon”, and Takayasu is still in charge. He catches Takayasu at just the right moment and runs forward. Takayasu realizes he’s out of space, and pulls, in response Shodai does this little leap to keep himself airborne just long enough to Takayasu to be out. Yep, that’s a win. Shodai improves to 6-4.

Meisei defeats Takakeisho – Takakeisho seemed to be lacking most of his attack power today. Not sure if it was just an off day, or if some of his chaotic dismounts this November are starting to take their toll. The loss knocks Takakeisho out of his tie for the lead, as Meisei advances to 5-5.

Terunofuji defeats Hoshoryu – Well, Hoshoryu went for an inside grip. It was all fun for the moment, but Terunofuji loves those double arm bar holds. He used Hoshoryu’s grip as a fast route to squeeze the stuffing out of the Maegashira 5, and then tossed the husk out of the ring. The Yokozuna remains undefeated and alone atop the leaderboard now at 10-0.