Haru Day 1 Highlights

Bruce H Aoiyama, Asanoyama (朝乃山), Chiyonokuni (千代の国), Chiyoshoma, Chiyotairyū (千代大龍), Daiamami (大奄美), Daieisho (大栄翔), Endo (遠藤), Hakuho (白鵬), Haru Basho 2021, Hidenoumi, Hokutōfuji (北勝富士), Hoshoryu, Ichinojo (逸ノ城), Kagayaki (輝), Kaisei (魁聖), Kiribayama (霧馬山), Kotoeko, Kotonowaka, Kotoshoho, Meisei, Midorifuji, Mitakeumi(御嶽海), Miyogiryu, Myogiryu (妙義龍), Okinoumi (隠岐の海), Ryuden (竜電), Shimanoumi, Shōdai (正代直也), Takakeishō (貴景勝), Takanosho, Takarafuji (宝富士), Takayasu (高安), Tamawashi (玉鷲), Terunofuji (照ノ富士), Terutsuyoshi, Tobizaru, Tochinoshin (栃ノ心), Tokushoryu, Tsurugisho, Wakatakakage, Yutakayama, Ōnoshō (阿武咲) , , , , ,

I want to start today with something we have not seen in 8 months, a Yokozuna dohyo-iri.

Savor that one folks, I fear we won’t have too many more of them, and it’s grand and wonderful to see this grand ritual return to sumo for the first time since July of 2020. Of course, I know that we won’t see Hakuho retire tomorrow, and there is the open question of Kakuryu. But both of the top ranked men in Sumo are edging closer to retirement, and it could be some time once they leave active competition before we see another rikishi gain the rope.

The current Ozeki and the Ozeki hopeful have their fans, and rightfully so. However I watch them, and I don’t see Asashoryu, or Harumafuji, or even Kisenosato. I see solid Ozeki. That means that one of them will need to make a step change to evolve to another higher form. This might take a while, if it should ever happen. While I can see a post Hakuho era with a lot of strong Ozeki sumo, getting one of the current bunch to have back to back yusho may be a tall order just now.

What a glorious first day of sumo.

Highlight Matches

Daiamami defeats Tokushoryu – Interesting clash of opening gambits at the tachiai. Tokushoryu went for Daiamami’s face, and Daiamami kept his hands lower. This resulted in Tokushoryu getting a good combo in on Daiamami’s face, but when that ended, Daiamami was in control. With his power focused center-mass, Daiamami owned the rest of this match. An attempt at a last ditch defense at the tawara by Tokushoryu ended when his right foot skidded onto the janome. I really liked Daiamami’s focus and discipline today.

Hidenoumi defeats Kaisei – After coming back from COVID-Kyujo in January, it would seem that Kaisei has a fair amount of ring rust. Hidenoumi struggled quite a bit to capitalize on Kaisei’s poor balance and even worse footwork. There is just so much giant Brazilian to try to move. A final stumble as Kaisei tried to set up a rescue throw at the edge sent him tumbling from the dohyo, and I have to hope he did not injure himself with that one.

Yutakayama defeats Tsurugisho – Was looked like a fairly straightforward chest-to-chest battle took a worrisome turn as Tsurugisho’s knee appeared to give out and he tumbled down the dohyo. I know I gasped when I saw this, and Yutakayama’s body language could be read from Dallas – “Oh damn!” But Tsurugisho managed to get up, and seemed well enough.

Kotoeko defeats Chiyoshoma – No henka from Chiyoshoma today, but there 14 days left for us to see the “Flying Mongolian”. Chiyoshoma looked to have tried a hit and shift, but ended off balance and vulnerable. Kotoeko read this perfectly, and with a right hand on Chiyoshoma’s face, applied a massive thrust that put into the salt box. Points to the Yobidashi who yanked the chikara-mizu bucket out of the way before Chiyoshoma ended up with a swirly as well.

Aoiyama defeats Terutsuyoshi – There are matches where I think Big-Dan Aoiyama is going through the motions. Then there is today, where this giant bag of muscle and mayonnaise can surprise you. He opened with a V-Twin thrusting attack, and when Terutsuyoshi circled left to set up his attack, Aoiyama used Terutsuyoshi’s body position to hurl him to the clay. Nice move.

Akiseyama defeats Kotoshoho – Akiseyama also really over-performed today. He took Kotoshoho to his chest, which I think Kotoshoho was not quite quite expecting. With a solid right hand inside grip, Akiseyama went for a yorikiri, but Kotoshoho found his footing and ramped up the forward pressure. Akiseyama deftly converted and took one measured step back, and Kotoshoho hit the clay.

Chiyotairyu defeats Ryuden – Chiyotairyu without sideburns is a bit unsettling, possibly to Ryuden as well. In the past we have discussed the possibility that some minor kami resides in them, so this basho he may be without that boost in power. Chiyotairyu kept the pressure on Ryuden’s face and shoulders from the tachiai, and Ryuden never really had a chance to set up much if any offense. But did Chiyotairyu steal Midorifuji’s katasukashi?

Midorifuji defeats Hoshoryu – It seems Midorifuji mounted the dohyo to find that his prize katasukashi was missing, and he needed to do something else. By all accounts, Hoshoryu was not paying attention today, as he launched. hard and fast into the tachiai expecting Midorifuji to try for a shoulder / under-arm hand placement. Instead the Isegahama power pixie had stepped to the side, and Hoshoryu got a face full of Kokugikan clay.

Chiyonokuni defeats Tobizaru – I had high hopes for this match, but a clumsy Tobizaru tachiai mostly made Chiyonokuni’s win a foregone conclusion. Better luck day 2!

Kagayaki defeats Kotonowaka – Yeah, I know I mentioned Kotonowaka as a candidate for a breakout basho in the podcast. Perhaps I have now doomed him? Goth mode Kagayaki, who may have been humming the chorus from “Bella Lugosi’s Dead”, kept his feet heavy and is hips low. In response, Kotonowaka had. Well, frankly, nothing.

Ichinojo defeats Tochinoshin – You can forgive Tochinoshin for thinking that he should start the match with the assumption that Ichinojo was going to use his brand of sumo. That is to be large, heaving and immobile (aka “The Boulder”). Instead, Ichinojo was on the move from the first step, and came in aggressive and strong. Once Tochinoshin was off balance and mostly relying on his damaged right knee, he was an easy mark for Ichinojo’s throw.

Okinoumi defeats Tamawashi – This match was unique, in that the outcome stumped the unflappable Konosuke, who had his eyes on the moment when both men stepped out, and came away with the expression of “hell if I know…” has he pointed both east and west with his gumbai, tossing it to the shipman and the replay crew. The replay was equally as baffling as you can see two high-skill vets undertake the most amazing series of footsteps each defying physics and human body mechanics to keep their feet inside the ring. At the end, it seems that the replay crew concurred and flipped a coin, giving the win to Okinoumi. On the NHK replay, I saw the fine sand from the janome fly about thanks to Okinoumi’s heel. But I am sure the replay crew had access to more cameras (in 4K!) than I do. Kimarite was listed as isamiashi, or a non-winning technique of “Inadvertent step out”.

Myogiryu defeats Endo – Well, better luck day 2 Endo. There was a solid clash at the tachiai, and Endo either bounced away off balance, or tried to hit and shift. Either way, Myogiryu was ready for it, delivering a fast win for his shonichi.

Shimanoumi defeats Kiribayama – Shimanoumi’s first every win over Kiribayama. He had his hands inside and lower at the tachiai, and it was straight into an armpit attack that disrupted whatever Kiribayama had planned. Kiribayama finally was able to break Shimanoumi’s attack, but by that point Kiribayama was too high. Shimanoumi dropped his hips, dropped his head, squared his shoulders and drove forward. Nothing Kiribayama tried could do any better than stalemate until Shimanoumi’s finishing drive took them both out.

Meisei defeats Takayasu – Takayasu had this won at least twice, but Meisei’s higher mobility shut down Takayasu’s attempts to drive him from the ring. Takayasu had really sharp foot placement today, its a shame that he let Meisei hook a leg in when Takayasu drove forward to finish the match. Nice recovery into a kakenage for Meisei.

Takanosho defeats Wakatakakage – It seems that these two watched the Okinoumi / Tamawashi, and declared “hold my beer”. I am not sure I have ever seen more elaborate efforts to keep your feet in while your opponent is off balance from two rikishi. Once again the result was “hell if I know”, but this time it was declared a torinaoshi, and they fought again. The second match – Takanosho kept his focus and power on center mass, and quickly drove Wakatakakage from the ring.

Terunofuji defeats Hokutofuji – My compliments to Hokutofuji for a well fought match. He used the handshake-tachiai into a right hand nodowa. With his left hand on Terunofuji’s chest, he dialed up the pressure and began to advance. The risk of this attack strategy is that the attacker’s body is wide open. Terunofuji found easy handholds and collapsed the nodowa by taking Hokutofuji to his chest. In response, Hokutofuji shifted to defense smoothly, dropping his hips and pressing forward with his shoulders. But Terunofuji’s left hand found a mawashi grip, and moments later the Kaiju’s powerful shitatenage sent Hokutofuji tumbling. Nine more to go.

Takakeisho defeats Onosho – I really like both of these rikishi, but Takakeisho looked strong and healthy today, and I was happy to see him in good form. Onosho made contact first, but his hands were just an couple of inches too high. Takakeisho had an open route to center mass, and his feet were in excellent position. Realzing he was 2 steps from defeat, Onosho tried to pull and twist against Takakeisho’s head. But with his balance centered, his hips low and his feet heavy and wide, the pull failed, giving Takakeisho his first of 8 wins to secure his Ozeki rank.

Asanoyama defeats Takarafuji – Asanoyama got his preferred stance and grip at the tachiai, and Takarafuji found himself face first in the clay one step later.

Mitakeumi defeats Shodai – I had high hopes for this match, and it did deliver. Shodai was high at the tachiai, and his feet were in poor position. While Shodai tried to sort out his body, Mitakeumi went for the chest and began his attack. Shodai quickly set up a left hand outside mawashi grip, shutting down Mitakeumi’s chances for a quick win. Mitakeumi broke Shodai’s grip, and re-took command and bodily threw Shodai over the edge of the dohyo before the Ozeki could unleash any of his trademark cartoon sumo.

Hakuho defeats Daieisho – After sitting out for several months, I am expecting a lot of ring rust on Hakuho. He looked a bit shaky in his first competition match since July, and he let Daieisho set up a throw in the face of Hakuho’s overwhelming forward advance. But The Boss made sure that Hatsu yusho winner Daieisho went out first, and picked up his first win for March.

The Once and Future Ozeki

Thomas Griffin Haru Basho 2021, Terunofuji (照ノ富士) , , ,

The March 2021 Grand Sumo basho is almost upon us, and as it draws near I can’t help but think back to my first basho, the Osaka tournament of March 2017, and the men who made it great. An avid fight sports fan, I’d recently read an article on the Vice property Fightland.com entitled “Sumo: The Art of Six Second Fighting” and found the combination of ceremony, spectacle, and athleticism it described fascinating. I determined to give sumo a whirl and was immediately hooked. Every afternoon I would rush home from work to my single-bedroom apartment in Greensboro, NC, fire up the NHK Highlights (I’d yet to discover the various YouTube sumo giants such as Jason’s All-Sumo Channel and Kintamayama), and sit perched on the edge of my couch, eyes glued to my TV as the day’s top division matches unfolded. It was an incredible tournament from beginning to end, but though I watched every match, to me the many Maegashira bouts were nothing but preamble. New to the sport as I was, Makuuchi’s subplots were lost on me, but that does not mean the tournament wasn’t a memorable one; the opposite, it was the height of intrigue, and all my focus centered around the day’s final bouts and the two men who had taken center stage—Kisenosato and Terunofuji.

With these two men, sumo could not have asked for a better tandem. In the stoic Kisenosato, newly minted Yokozuna and national hero, rested all of Japan’s sumo aspirations, while his counterpart, Terunofuji, was perfectly cast to play his foil. A foreigner (gasp!), enormous and enormously powerful, the Mongolian Ozeki seemed less a man and more a force of nature, his every move upon the dohyo portraying strength and menace. Moreover, his own eventual Yokozuna promotion seemed an inevitability as he tore his way through lower-ranked adversaries. Not even a loss on Day 6 to then-Sekiwake Takayasu (Kisenosato’s teammate who was himself vying for his own promotion to Ozeki) could do anything to lessen the threat that was Terunofuji—he was the hunter, chasing relentlessly after the as-yet-spotless Kisenosato, and it seemed the consensus opinion of the broadcast team that should the Yokozuna slip, the yusho was Terunofuji’s for the taking. One could only hold back the tide for so long.

The inevitable finally happened on Day 13, and it went down with a bang. Wily, athletic Harumafuji, a distinguished Yokozuna in his own right (and Terunofuji’s senior stablemate), not only unseated Kisenosato from his fragile leadership position, he—inadvertently—injured his fellow Yokozuna, and grievously so. Meanwhile, Terunofuji had held serve following his lone Day 6 defeat, and he took full advantage of the opportunity his teammate had given him. When on Day 14 he defeated Sekiwake Kotoshogiku by henka (a move considered dishonorable in any context, but doubly so from a yusho contender, and triply so because this particular loss meant Kotoshogiku’s permanent demotion from Ozeki), Terunofuji made the leap not only to sole yusho leader, but full-blown villain. Kisenosato then went on to lose his Day 14 match against Yokozuna Kakuryu, thus completing the role reversal. Heading into the tournament’s final day, it was now the desperate and ailing Kisenosato chasing Terunofuji.

Luckily for the former, redemption came on that final day through a pair of brilliant matches that placed our hero and villain in direct competition for all the marbles. Kisenosato, torn pectoral and all, did the impossible. Then he did it again, beating the younger, stronger, hungrier Terunofuji twice in spectacular fashion and claiming his second Emperor’s Cup along the way. It was as wild and dramatic a finish as I’ve ever seen in any sport, and it happened in my very first basho.

These then, were the two men who were sumo in my early days. I’d barely been introduced to Hakuho before he pulled out (what’s all the hype about?), and the other two Yokozuna seemed mere spoilers in the grand conflict between Kisenosato and Terunofuji. Theirs was a rivalry for all time, one that would lift the sport to new heights.

The Fall

It was not to be. Following his injury, Kisenosato was never the same, and finally retired in January 2019 having completed only one of the eleven subsequent tournaments since his magical March run. Worse, Terunofuji seemed bound to the same tragic fate. After again placing runner-up in May 2017, a combination of knee injuries, kidney stones, and a diabetes diagnosis crippled the once proud Ozeki. From July 2017 to January 2018, Terunofuji was unable to complete a single tournament, and compiled a mere two wins in four basho. In short order he was stripped of his Ozeki rank and expelled from the top division, and after two frankly hard-to-watch campaigns in Juryo, he was cast from the salaried ranks altogether. One short year removed from the height of his powers, it seemed Terunofuji’s career was over. He vowed to fight on in the lower divisions, but it seemed almost a cruelty to hold out hope. The man’s body was broken. Why not retire with dignity, I wondered of him, thinking only for his health.

Terunofuji seemed to be finally thinking of it too. For four straight tournaments, he went kyujo from Day One, his focus on corralling his runaway injuries and illnesses. Occasionally he would post a video of himself bench pressing huge weights in his heya’s gym (personal social media accounts for rikishi were not yet outlawed), but otherwise he kept his head low. Sumo moved on. New stars rose and fell. Many of the old heroes, Kisenosato included, retired, and new contenders rose to vie for new titles.

And all the while, Terunofuji toiled, reforging what had been broken.

When his return was finally announced for March 2019, sumo circles reacted with equal parts excitement and anxiety. Watching his fall had brokered Terunofuji sympathy from many who had rooted against him at his peak, and absence had allowed the heart to grow fonder still. His was now a story of perseverance and fortitude in the face of overwhelming adversity.

Yet, none believed in him. I certainly didn’t. He was still young(ish), yes, but the lower divisions were littered with promising rikishi who’d been bitten one too many times by the injury bug. What hope did a man with two ruined knees have to climb all the way back up the ladder after having fallen nearly to its base? Those first few tournaments back, I watched through my fingers. A 7-0 start in Jonidan looked plenty promising, but a playoff loss to promising newcomer Roga quenched expectations. Knees or no knees, Terunofuji would always be skilled enough to beat the dregs of professional sumo, but his days as that force of nature were over.

Then the jun-yusho in Jonidan was followed by a 6-1 in Sandanme. Then a 6-1 in Makushita. Then another 6-1. In only four tournaments back, Terunofuji had rocketed up the unsalaried mountain and reached its pinnacle. He would be in the “Makushita joi” come November 2019, and within striking distance of regaining his salary. All he had to do was win.

And boy did he. A 7-0 yusho never looked so easy, and now back in the silk mawashi of a sekitori, Terunofuji refused to let off the gas. His first basho back in Juryo saw him rattle off 13 straight wins, locking up a second yusho in as many tournaments before coasting to the finish. One more winning record would do it—with a 10-5 in March 2020, he completed what had seemed like an impossible comeback. The one-time terror of the top division had returned, and woe betide any who might get in his way.

The Return to Makuuchi

Expectations were mixed, but overall the caution was an optimistic flavor when Terunofuji re-debuted at the very bottom of Makuuchi in July of last year, only half a rank from the division’s caboose. Questions like “How long will he last?” and “How high can he climb?” were all over social media. Fans were excited to see him back, but as a novelty, a feel-good story. It was generally agreed that the man was not—and never would be—what he once was, and a simple kachi-koshi would be achievement enough, worthy of celebration.

Big Teru had a different celebration in mind, however. Incredibly, impossibly (how often have I said impossible already?) Terunofuji won the Emperor’s Cup in his return basho to Makuuchi, and he did it looking every bit the titan of old. Immediately the hype train left the station, fueled in no small part by the man’s own words. He was here to do one thing, reclaim his rank, and his conviction was such that it felt almost an insult to doubt him. Who were we to say what he could do? He’d already done everything we said he couldn’t.

His next basho however—contested from the pole position of M1e—had the hype train pumping its breaks. A bare eight wins, followed by a precautionary kyujo, appeared to hint toward all our fears. This was a man running on fumes and willpower. How much could he ask of his battered body before it once again gave out on him?

That question remains, but recently it has seemed irrelevant to the present moment. In November, Komusubi Terunofuji nearly claimed his second yusho in three tournaments, only just falling short in a playoff versus a new rival, Ozeki Takakeisho. Then, with thirteen wins banked, Sekiwake Terunofuji waded through the bedlam of the January “Hatsu” basho to claim his second jun-yusho in a row and another 11 wins. What had started as a whisper has now become a shout. With 24 wins to his credit and a mere 9 more needed to seal the deal (though at least 10 will be expected of him and make his case undeniable), Terunofuji is officially on an Ozeki run, the second of his incredible career.

Whether he can complete the feat remains to be seen, but if he does, it will truly put the Mongolian mountain in rare company. Excluding the “ozeki-wake” cases such as Tochinoshin and Takakeisho who have immediately regained their lost Ozeki rank after a single ten-win effort at Sekiwake, only one other Ozeki in the modern era has ever dropped lower than Sekiwake and regained his former position (Kaiketsu, who was first promoted in 1975, demoted in 1976, fell as far as M6w, then repromoted to Ozeki in 1977). Most simply lapse into retirement before they drop out of the top division. Many, such as the recent ex-Ozeki Goeido, retire before the banzuke committee even gets the chance to demote them. For Terunofuji to do it after not only losing his rank but dropping to Division 5 would be nothing sort of unthinkable…

And yet here we are, on the precipice of it. Come March 14, 2021, four years exactly after I began watching this great sport, I will once again be at the edge of my seat, waiting for the day’s final bouts and wondering not who will win, but if anyone at all has the might to stop the once and future Ozeki.

Haru Day 1 Preview

Bruce H Aoiyama, Asanoyama (朝乃山), Chiyonokuni (千代の国), Chiyoshoma, Chiyotairyū (千代大龍), Daiamami (大奄美), Daieisho (大栄翔), Endo (遠藤), Hakuho (白鵬), Haru Basho 2021, Hidenoumi, Hokutōfuji (北勝富士), Hoshoryu, Ichinojo (逸ノ城), Kagayaki (輝), Kaisei (魁聖), Kiribayama (霧馬山), Kotoeko, Kotonowaka, Kotoshoho, Meisei, Midorifuji, Mitakeumi(御嶽海), Miyogiryu, Myogiryu (妙義龍), Okinoumi (隠岐の海), Ryuden (竜電), Shimanoumi, Shōdai (正代直也), Takakeishō (貴景勝), Takanosho, Takarafuji (宝富士), Takayasu (高安), Tamawashi (玉鷲), Terunofuji (照ノ富士), Terutsuyoshi, Tobizaru, Tochinoshin (栃ノ心), Tokushoryu, Tsurugisho, Wakatakakage, Yutakayama, Ōnoshō (阿武咲)

What a great match list for the start of the Haru basho! A year ago, the entire sumo association was in Osaka, working to find a way to hold a tournament in the start of a worrisome and largely unknown pandemic. The virus is still with us, but thankfully sumo goes on.

To me it seems the scheduling committee decided to open strong, with some really high interest matches on the first day. I think this makes a lot of sense, given that the lone Yokozuna, Hakuho, may struggle to make it through 15 days of competition. It seems he is still having fluid drained from his injured knee. Best to give him some fun matches up front to draw in the public’s attention.

What We Are Watching Day 1

Tokushoryu vs Daiamami – After a miserable 3-12 record in January, Tokushoryu finds himself the top man in Juryo. With Yokozuna Kakuryu out, he visits the top division to fill the banzuke gap, taking on Oitekaze heya’s Daiamami. I thought Daiamami looked pretty solid in the practice video the NSK released before the basho, so maybe he can avoid Tokushoryu’s trademark move today.

Kaisei vs Hidenoumi – After sitting out January when his heya was kyujo from COVID, Kaisei is back, and hopefully ready to fight. I suspect he will have his hands full if Hidenoumi has a continuation of his 11-4 finish for Hatsu. Kaisei will need to block that right hand at the tachiai, and try to cut down on Hidenoumi’s mobility.

Yutakayama vs Tsurugisho – I am genuinely excited to see Tsurugisho back in the top division. He was injured a year ago in that silent Osaka basho, and has struggled a bit since then with middling results (7-8s, 8-7). At Hatsu he took the Juryo yusho with a 12-3, and looked like he finally had his sumo back. He is facing a flagging Yutakayama who has had 4 straight make-koshi tournaments after peaking at Maegashira 1 in July of 2020.

Kotoeko vs Chiyoshoma – Chiyoshoma is back in the top division? Well golly gee! The henka quota will see a sharp increase, I believe. Keep your eyes locked on Chiyoshoma’s center mass at the tachiai, Kotoeko. If he does not eat a henka, I am going to expect Kotoeko to have the upper hand today, given his 7-4 advantage over the “flying Mongolian”.

Terutsuyoshi vs Aoiyama – A beauty of a big man / little man match up. Both men would typically be much higher up the banzuke, but had a confluence of a losing record and a tough banzuke situation to endure. Terutsuyoshi tends to be able to endure or evade Big Dan Aoiyama’s V-Twin attack, and holds a 4-1 career advantage.

Akiseyama vs Kotoshoho – The “Flabster” faces down Kotoshoho, who needs to bounce back from his terrible 2-13 performance in January. Kotoshoho ad been on a straight kachi-koshi burn since Maezumo in 2017, and was eating up the ranks. I can only assume he picked up some injury, and I do hope he has recovered. In healthy condition, this guy is a future force of sumo. For today’s match, he holds a 2-0 career advantage over Akiseyama, winning both previous matches by yorikiri.

Chiyotairyu vs Ryuden – This may seem daft, but I am really excited for this match. Sumo’s thunder demon (Chiyotairyu) up against Shin-Ikioi (Ryuden). Ryuden will be looking to bounce back from a terrible 4-11 in January, and Chiyotairyu will likely be looking to just blast Ryuden off the dohyo.

Midorifuji vs Hoshoryu – Is it just me, or in the pre-basho photos and videos, it looks like Hoshoryu bulked up since January. I am going to see if he looks that way when he mounts the dohyo, and if that extra mass helps him improve his 0-2 record against Midorifuji. Given that Midorifuji has been training with Isegahama stable mate Terunofuji, I am going to guess Midorifuji is ready for just about anything.

Chiyonokuni vs Tobizaru – It seems almost celebratory that all of the Kokonoe “Chiyos” are back on the match list. Chiyonokuni, being my favorite, draws the flying monkey Tobizaru in what is sure to be a high mobility blaze of slapping, pushing and smacking each other around. Interestingly, this is their first ever match.

Kotonowaka vs Kagayaki – I called out Kotonowaka in the pre-basho podcast as one to watch, and I am looking for him to pick up his first ever career win over Kagayaki today. Kotonowaka finished with a strong 10-5 in his second tournament in the top division, and I expect that he will find the middle of the banzuke far more challenging.

Tochinoshin vs Ichinojo – This match is like one of those delightful Fukubukuro (New year’s mystery bags), no way we can know which versions of either of these guys is going to show up. Can Tochinoshin find any knee strength? Is Ichinojo going to be in a mood to fight? Prior matches have taken a predictable pattern of Ichinojo using his “Boulder” defense, and Tochinoshin unleashing his strength to move him around and out. He holds a 16-7 career advantage.

Tamawashi vs Okinoumi – With all of the marvelous treats already on the torikumi, let’s season it with this veteran battle. These two have 24 matches over their career. Tamawashi is not as mobile as he was a year ago, and that puts him at a disadvantage as Okinoumi tends to be very genki during week 1.

Endo vs Myogiryu – Sumo heartthrob Endo against Myogiryu? Both of them had middling records in January, and they come in having split the prior 12 matches. I would love to see Endo have a great tournament this March, so hopefully he shows Myogiryu the exit today.

Kiribayama vs Shimanoumi – At 24 years old, I am looking at Kiribayama as a future force in sumo. He has taken a pretty decent pounding both times he was ranked in the joi-jin before, so I am eager to see if he can actually get a kachi-koshi at the top end of Makuuchi. He has won all 3 prior matches with Shimanoumi.

Takayasu vs Meisei – Given the crew in the named ranks for this March, it seems that there is quite the log jam of talent at the top. I am sure that Takayasu watches Terunofuji’s campaign to resume his Ozeki rank with some desire to follow suit. But right now Takayasu is just a notch low on the intensity and skill level to fight his way back into sumo’s second highest rank. As Josh and I discussed in the pre-basho podcast, we seem to be minting new Ozeki at a rapid pace, but the Ozeki express seems to not be stopping at Takayasu’s station.

Wakatakakage vs Takanosho – Wakatakakage is another name I am happy to see return to the torikumi. His stable was kyujo from COVID in January, and I would love to see Wakatakakage resume his campaign to compete at sumo’s highest level. He has a challenge today with confirmed sekiwake Takanosho, who has taken 4 of their 5 career matches.

Terunofuji vs Hokutofuji – Sumo fans around the world area riveted on Terunofuji this March. He is one good tournament from pulling of one of the most amazing come-backs in the history of any sport, not just sumo. He starts that campaign today against the hot / cold Hokutofuji. It’s always tough to figure out which version of Hokutofuji is going to show up this tournament. Will be be the unstoppable earth-shaker with the brutal handshake tachiai? Or will he be the wild fellow who can’t keep his weight centered over his feet and gets pushed around and dropped to the clay? These two have a 3-3 career history, but its notable that Terunofuji has won all of the last 3 matches.

Takakeisho vs Onosho – A tadpole fight on day 1? With the Grand Tadpole kadoban and needing to find 8 wins? My compliments to the schedulers. I am going to be focused on Takakeisho’s foot work, hoping that whatever problems linger with that ankle are at least endurable for him to win. He holds a 5-3 career record with Onosho, but both of these guys put a huge amount of force into their thrusting technique. Someone may end up in the zabuton zone today!

Takarafuji vs Asanoyama – I see this is a warm up match for Asanoyama. He tends to get his favored grip and body position against Takarafuji, and once he is able to set up his stance, he can control the match. Will Takarafuji be able to stay mobile and wear Asanoyama down?

Shodai vs Mitakeumi – Twenty two career matches between these two, and they have split them 11 and 11. Their January match was especially fun, as up to that point, Mitakeumi was having a pretty crummy tournament (2-5). But he is always up for a fight with Shodai, and dispatched him with strength and power. From that point, Mitakeumi rallied to finish 9-6. So lets have a rematch and see if Shodai can answer back. Great move, and should be a solid match.

Hakuho vs Daieisho – The hatsu yusho winner up against the dia-Yokozuna whose glories may never be surpassed in the long future of sumo? What a great way to finish day 1! Hakuho holds a 6-2 career advantage, and this match will inform fans on just how much Daieisho’s excellent sumo in January can carry over into March. We will also get a glimpse at what kind of fighting condition Hakuho is in. If he comes in strong and agile, this may be a long 15 days for the joi-jin.

Two oyakata positive for COVID in pre-basho screening

Herouth Haru Basho 2021

A few days back, the NSK, via spokesperson Shibatayama, announced that it will hold global screening for COVID-19 prior to the basho, as it did in January.

The support staff (gyoji, tokoyama, yobidashi etc.) were tested first, and turned out negative.

Today the results came in for the oyakata and the rikishi. While all rikishi were thankfully negative, two oyakata were found positive.

  • Otowayama oyakata, former Tenkaiho, of Onoe beya
  • Onogawa oyakata, former Kitataiki, of Yamahibiki beya

Those of you following the NSK’s official YouTube channel will recognize these as two of the pillars of the “oyakata channel”, in charge of the more lighthearted videos and live commentary.

Onoe beya has announced on its Facebook page that it has been instructed by the NSK to go kyujo for Haru basho. It is still unclear at the time of writing whether the same has been decreed for Yamahibiki beya. This apparently depends on whether Onogawa oyakata has spent time at the heya in recent days.

Neither heya has any sekitori. The most familiar faces from Onoe beya are Ryuko and Hokutenkai, while Yamahibiki beya is home to Kitaharima.

Neither oyakata has shown any symptoms, and we wish the case will end there – with no symptoms, no after-effects, and no further chain of infections.