Welcome to the middle weekend of the Aki basho. It’s going to be a wild ride all the way to the end. With both Yokozuna out, and no single rikishi dominating the dohyo yet, the race for the cup is wide open. starting day 7, we have 6 competitors at 5-1, and a further 8 at 4-2! That’s a broad field of brutes looking to head home with the hardware, and frankly it’s time to stock the fridge, open a bottle of your favorite stuff, and watch some fine sumo!

What We Are Watching Day 7

Kotoyuki vs Shohozan – Well, this is a bit of a dismal start. A flagging Shohozan fights against sumo’s own penguin, Kotoyuki. I hope that Shohozan can eventually get his first win, but I don’t think its likely to be today, as Kotoyuki is actually fighting well.

Meisei vs Ichinojo – Nearly 70 kg difference between these two is the first thing that comes to mind. They have split the prior 2 matches but Ichinojo looks a bit more genki than normal, and it’s going to be tough for Meisei to move him if he gets his feet planted.

Shimanoumi vs Kaisei – If Shimanoumi can get a grab at the tachiai, he will likely take this match. There is quite a bit of Kaisei to reach around to get to mawashi-land, and if he’s mobile again today, it’s akin to stopping a wildebeest with a soup spoon.

Kotoshoho vs Hoshoryu – Hoshoryu is riding the make/kachi-koshi line, and could really use a spare win to protect him in week 2. He has fairly long odds on day 7, as he has yet to pick up a win against Kotoshoho. Much as I look forward to Hoshoryu’s future in the top division, it may be a bit early for him to stay.

Chiyotairyu vs Tobizaru – Time to narrow the leader board! A pair of 5-1 face off in a tremendous clash of styles. This lighter, fast Chiyotairyu is a real joy to watch, and he’s going to try to obliterate Tobizaru in the first 5 seconds. The task for our flying monkey – keep his feet under the cannon-ball tachiai. This is their first time match, and the winner will keep pace with the leader group.

Enho vs Kotoshogiku – Ok, who thought this was a good idea? Kotoshogiku’s kyujo cert mandates 2 weeks rest. I guess he is trying to rescue his tenure in the top division, and I understand. But maybe it’s time for the Kyusho Bulldozer to call it a day.

Kotoeko vs Wakatakakage – This has all kinds of fun written up and down the sides in highly stylized characters. Kotoeko has a 4-0 career advantage over Wakatakakage. Mitigating that is that both seem to be past the ring-rust stage, and are fighting like fanatics. So let the blows fly, plant your feet and prepare for battle!

Ryuden vs Sadanoumi – I personally think that as Ryuden’s weight went up, his sumo went down. This is far too common in the top division, where it seems the minimal mass to not get tossed like a cork on an angry ocean is above 130kg. I note that Sadanoumi comes in around 130, and has stayed quick, while Ryuden is up around 145 now, and has slowed down.

Onosho vs Kagayaki – I worry. Onosho has proven to be fairly streaky, and I don’t want his day 6 loss to kick off a losing streak he will struggle to overcome. Kagayaki will give him a genuine challenge, as Onosho tends to be “kitchen sink” in his opening move, and Kagayaki is going to keep it simple and effective. It will be a race to see who gets their hands inside in this battle of thrusting rikishi.

Takayasu vs Aoiyama – A 21 match history that is almost even. Both are big, but Aoiyama is the man-moutain, and even Takayasu struggles to defeat him once Big Dan fires up the V-Twin. It’s down to the left hand. If Takayasu can get his left hand hold, he’s going to toss Aoiyama with gusto. But he will have the narrowest of windows to make it happen.

Tokushoryu vs Takarafuji – Tokushoryu; injured? exhausted? out of ideas? I would guess he is headed for make-koshi this September, but he should be safe from a trip back to Juryo.

Hokutofuji vs Kiribayama – I would prefer that Kiribayama help Hokutofuji work towards his 6th award of the “most powerful make-koshi in all of sumo”. Don’t get me wrong, I would love for Hokutofuji to get his sumo together. But it seems he has gone rather one dimensional, and decided to be satisfied with what that can bring him. I have to wonder if his pelvis got a say in that.

Myogiryu vs Takanosho – Hey, Takanosho! Time to return to being serious about your sumo. You are on a 2 match black star run, and you need to get it together. I know you are 2-0 against Myogiryu, but you looked pretty poor days 5 & 6.

Terunofuji vs Endo – Oh yeah! We have a nicely resurgent Terunofuji up against a hit or miss Endo, who has a 4-2 career advantage over the former Ozeki. We know Endo is going to have a sterling plan in that head of his to start the match, but will Terunofuji’s left hand find its mark?

Daieisho vs Tochinoshin – Ugh, Tochinoshin is making me sad these days. Maybe he can find something to throw into this match…

Tamawashi vs Mitakeumi – These two used to be regulars in the East and West named ranks. and they have a 23 prior matches to prove it. But the 21-2 imbalance in Mitakeumi’s favor tells the story. At 2 losses, the original tadpole needs to stay focused day to day, and keep winning. Will he fade going into week 2? Hell, I expect there to be train wrecks galore in the final week. Bring on the carnage!

Shodai vs Okinoumi – Oh look, two big, strong guys who don’t rush their tachiai. I am guessing a chest to chest match with Shodai showing some unexpected forward power, and Okinoumi pulling some fantastic move at the bales. A loss by Shodai would likely knock him off the leader board.

Yutakayama vs Takakeisho – Yutakayama is no more than at 80% of his ideal fighting power. In this condition he is easy meat for Takakeisho, and short of some surprise, I see the Grand Tadpole racking up win number 6.

Asanoyama vs Terutsuyoshi – Will we see more punk attitude out of Terutsuyoshi today? Or will Asanoyama give him a first class swirly in the public loo outside the Kokugikan? “Yes, Asanoyama-zeki! Will that be the sit-down or the squat version please?”

A surprising leg kick, an expanded leader board, and one of the best henka shut-downs in a long time.

Highlight Matches

Shimanoumi defeats Ichinojo – Shimanoumi did a great job of standing up to Ichinojo, and key to that was an ill considered attempt to pull by Ichinojo early in the match that allowed Shimanoumi to get inside and underneath with his right. Thought Ichinojo had a solid left hand grip, Shimanoumi was able to convert that to his advantage and took the big Mongolian on a rough ride to a loss.

Tobizaru defeats Hoshoryu – Hoshoryu took the tachiai, but his foot position was poor and could not move Tobizaru, who seems to have decided to open with defense. Hoshoryu obliged with blistering tsuppari, but still could not move Tobizaru. Tobizaru responded with a double hand shove which lifted Hoshoryu, and set up the thrust down that came a moment later. These two are going to be tossing each other around for the next few years, and that makes me quite happy.

Kotoshoho defeats Shohozan – Shohozan has no sumo. I don’t know where it went, but it’s gone. It was good to see him generate some offensive pressure against Kotoshoho, but Shohozan is not the fearsome force he was even a year ago.

Kaisei defeats Meisei – Kaisei was mobile today, and a tad aggressive for him. I don’t think that Meisei was being passive, but if Kaisei is moving forward, and stays in motion, you are going to need more mass than 1 Meisei Unit (MU) to effect him.

Kotoeko defeats Sadanoumi – I really like Kotoeko’s opening combo today. Sadanoumi applied more force, but Kotoeko got his right hand inside, and his left hand in good position. Sadanoumi quickly found that winning the tachiai left him in Kotoeko’s grip, and there was no chance to escape.

Chiyotairyu defeats Onosho – There was always going to be a first loss for Onosho, and it came at the hands of another power-front rikishi, Chiyotairyu. The two exchanged pre-bout matta, clearly they were trying to figure each other’s opening moves out. When they got underway, Chiyotairyu got his hands inside, and never gave up the inside lane to pushing hard on Onosho’s chest. Unable to get proper defensive footing, Onosho was unable to answer, and quickly exited the dohyo. He drops to 5-1, and the leader board broadens considerably.

Wakatakakage defeats Ryuden – Another matta exchange (this sure does get old fast) as the each tried to figure out the other one’s fight plan. Wakatakakage took control early, but could not finish Ryuden off, and Ryuden rallied. As Ryuden was driving forward, Wakatakakage manage to get to his left side, and the lateral attack proved succesful for Wakatakakage’s 4th win.

Takayasu defeats Tokushoryu – Tokushoryu wanted a thrust down at the tachiai, Takayasu wanted a belt grip. Both men came up empty and had to settle for a chest to chest battle of strength. I had a moment of worry when Tokushoryu took Takayasu’s previously injured left arm and pulled it around his body. Takayasu escaped, and as Tokushoryu moved to re-engaged, he found himself slapped to the clay.

Kagayaki defeats Enho – Enho tachiai attempt to get underneath was only partially successful, and his grab at Kagayaki’s mawashi missed, leaving him low and vulnerable. Kagayaki attacked with gusto, and Enho never had another moment where he could generate any offense.

Aoiyama defeats Takarafuji – Takarafuji wisely closed in to prevent Aoiyama from getting any kind of thrusting or bashing attack set up. Twice Aoiyama tried to twist and pull Takarafuji’s head down, but Takarafuji’s foot placement and balance were excellent. A 3rd pulling attempt from Aoiyama went nowhere, and you really have to be impressed by Takarafuji’s defense. Then came Aoiyama’s attempt at a leg kick, that was a gutsy move! Takarafuji advances, and Aoiyama delivers a sukuinage. Damn, that was impressive sumo from both.

Kiribayama defeats Tamawashi – I would call this the decade mirror match. We have the venerable Tamawashi facing off against his direct replacement Kiribayama. Let’s face it, these are more or less the same rikishi in a number of ways, about a decade apart. Tamawashi got some offensive thrusting in, and Kiribayama answered in kind.

Hokutofuji defeats Takanosho – All I can think of is that Takanosho got distracted. Maybe he was trying to focus on what he wanted to do following the tachiai? Hokutofuji hit hard, moved to his left and thrusted hard. Takanosho did not keep Hokutofuji in front of him, and was left with no defense to Hokutofuji’s lateral attack.

Terunofuji defeats Okinoumi – With Onosho’s loss, we know the yusho winner will have at least 1 loss. Terunofuji is fighting well, and it’s not outside of reasonable consideration that he might be in a position to contend for the yusho in week 2. Okinoumi got his favorite grip at the tachiai, but that left hand outside grip of Terunofuji, it just seems to be unstoppable right now.

Mitakeumi defeats Endo – How the hell did this happen? A clean tachiai, with neither man getting their preferred starting grip. Mitakeumi just reaches up and pulls Endo down? There are days when I just wonder about Endo.

Shodai defeats Tochinoshin – This was a bit painful to watch. Tochinoshin attempts to reach for his favored left hand outside grip at the tachiai, nearly gets it, but finds that Shodai is already moving him back. Shodai never let up the pressure, and Tochinoshin was run out of the dohyo in reverse. Shodai maintains his share of the lead.

Daieisho defeats Yutakayama – Yutakayama continues to struggle, and Daieisho looks to be setting in a bit now that act 1 is done. To my eye, Yutakayama can only apply partial force to the front, and this makes him much easier to move back than would normally be the case.

Asanoyama defeats Myogiryu – Might have been a candidate for a matta call, but Myogiryu’s early start gave him a left hand shallow grip, and stood Asanoyama upright at the tachiai. But both hands were outside, and Asanoyama had what he needed to attack. Realizing he had been stalemated, Myogiryu attempted a pull, and that was the moment the match was lost.

Takakeisho defeats Terutsuyoshi – Oh what a match. Takakeisho’s really crummy and aggressive matta was designed to set Takakeisho up for a henka. The look on Takakeisho’s face is priceless, and easy to read, “Who do you think you are trying to fool here?”. Sure enough, a hit and shift from Terutsuyoshi at the tachiai, but Takakeisho was having none of it, and ejected Terutsuyoshi with prejudice. I counted 4 big shoves to send him flying over the edge. G’bye!