Nagoya Day 3 Highlights

Bruce H Abi (阿炎), Aoiyama, Asanoyama (朝乃山), Chiyomaru, Chiyotairyū (千代大龍), Daieisho (大栄翔), Daishoho, Endo (遠藤), Enho, Gōeidō (豪栄道), Hakuho (白鵬), Hokutōfuji (北勝富士), Ichinojo (逸ノ城), Kaisei (魁聖), Kakuryu (鶴竜), Kotoeko, Kotoshogiku (琴奨菊), Kotoyuki, Meisei, Mitakeumi(御嶽海), Myogiryu (妙義龍), Nagoya Basho 2019, Nishikigi, Okinoumi (隠岐の海), Ryuden (竜電), Sadanoumi (佐田の海), Shimanoumi, Shohozan, Shōdai (正代直也), Takagenji, Takanoiwa (貴ノ岩), Takarafuji (宝富士), Takayasu (高安), Tamawashi (玉鷲), Terutsuyoshi, Tochinoshin (栃ノ心), Tochiozan (栃煌山), Tomokaze, Toyonoshima, Yago, Ōnoshō (阿武咲) , , ,

I will come out and say it – Tochinoshin is in trouble. There were some reports that he was injured prior to the bashso, and he has started Nagoya 0-3. He is struggling with, and losing to his “warm up” opponents. He has just battled back from Ozekiwake (a feat that Takakeisho will have before him at Aki), and is already looking at another kadoban. We love watching Tochinoshin engage the “skycrane” and lift his opponents, but it seems many of the top-division rikishi have worked hard to ensure he never gets the grip needed to do it.

I would further state that Ryuden now has a pair of Ozeki scalps, and looks absolutely spot-on in his sumo. He has found a way to lock his opponents down into a difficult, half-twisted posture and forces them to either break out somehow, or stand there and take it. Both outcomes work to his advantage. At 29, he is not a “young” rikishi, but he is delivering some fantastic sumo.

Highlight Matches

Terutsuyoshi defeats Kaisei – Terutsuyoshi goes immediately for Kaisei’s bandaged right arm, and completely disrupts any attempt at offensive sumo. Yeah, Terutsuyoshi got the white star, but OUCH. Hopefully Kaisei is done being swarmed by pixies for a while, he was completely out maneuvered both days.

Enho defeats Kotoyuki – Kotoyuki was certainly looking to disrupt Enho’s timing, a pair of matta, and a few other things leading up to the tachiai. But it was all for naught as Enho owned the bulk of this match, save for the moment when Kotoyuki rallied and pushed Enho into his Ura-style shock absorbing squat. To add insult to injury, Kotoyuki had no opportunity to end up in the crowd.

Yago defeats Toyonoshima – Its clear that both men are off their sumo in a significant way. Yago gets his first win, as Toyonoshima decided to go chest to chest but gave Yago his favorite grip.

Kagayaki defeats Chiyomaru – Chiyomaru likes to use his big body moving strongly forward as his primary weapon. Kagayaki, to his credit, was able to absorb Chiyomaru’s opening attacks, giving little ground. The match was largely stalemated until Chiyomaru attempted a pull against Kagayaki’s neck. The moment that Chiyomaru released forward pressure, Kagayaki attacked and won the match.

Sadanoumi defeats Tochiozan – Sadanoumi got both hands inside on Tochizan’s mawashi (morozashi) at the tachiai, and there was not much Tochiozan could do.

Takagenji defeats Kotoeko – Takagenji really looks solid right now. His sumo is strong, efficient and focused. He got inside Kotoeko after Kotoeko’s initial double arm thrust to Takageni’s neck, and proceeded to march Kotoeko out.

Nishikigi defeats Daishoho – This match may appear to be two large men standing around, holding each other in some kind of battle-cuddle (which is it), but its also a re-emergence of Nishikigi’s “good” form. Daishoho got the better of the tachiai, but quickly found Nishikigi more than up to the task of stopping any offense. The key move came about 30 seconds in when Nishikigi shifted hiss grip, getting his right hand inside, and with it control of the match.

Okinoumi defeats Onosho – Onosho succeeds in once again getting too much of his weight in front his toes, and finds Okinoumi ready to slap him down with a quick push to the back of the neck. This is Onosho’s fatal flaw, and he needs to get it fixed before his sumo can really shine. Also, he needs to bring back the red mawashi.

Tomokaze defeats Shohozan – Tomokaze won an oshi battle against Shohozan (which is not easy), and looked good doing it. At one point Tomokaze spins up a train of thrusts against Shohozan’s shoulders, pushing “Big Guns” back. I lament the expected intai of Yoshikaze, but this new guy from Oguruma seems quite good.

Shimanoumi defeats Chiyotairyu – This came down to Shimanoumi keeping his balance in the face of Chiyotairyu’s massive tachiai. Shimanoumi expertly timed a pivot and sent Chiyotairyu to the clay.

Myogiryu defeats Takarafuji – Both rikishi made a good show of it, but it was all Myogiryu, who got inside at the tachiai, and never gave up the advantage.

Ichinojo defeats Meisei – Ichinojo took Meisei to his chest, and in spite of Meisei having a morozashi (double inside) grip, there was exactly zero that Meisei could do to stop the rampaging landslide that was Ichinojo. When Ichinojo is healthy, he’s an absolute monster.

Kotoshogiku defeats Daieisho – I do love a genki Kotoshogiku! Daieisho was able to slow him down only for a moment, before the Kyushu Bulldozer lowered the blade and pushed Daieisho out and away.

Abi defeats Shodai – Abi opened strong and finished quickly, before Shodai could try any random nonsense, which he almost did at the tawara.

Mitakeumi defeats Tamawashi – Mitakeumi continues to dominate Tamawashi, and it was quite a one-sided affair today.

Takayasu defeats Endo (Twice) – For the second day in a row, Takayasu’s match endures a torinaoshi. His day 2 match, it was necessary, I am not so sure about today. Endo decided he wanted to also test Takayasu’s ability to stand around in a sumo stance for long periods of time. Big mistake as we have it on good authority that Takayasu sometimes sleeps in that position while carrying on a days long battle with a teppo pole. News flash, sometimes the pole gives up first. To me it was clear that Endo was the loser of match one, but being Endo, the monoii went in is favor. No problem, Takayasu beat him again.

Goeido defeats Aoiyama – Aoiyama tried a hit and shift / slap down combo, and Goeido made him pay. When Goeido launches the all out speed tachiai, there is not much anyone can do to recover.

Ryuden defeats Tochinoshin – As mentioned in the introduction, Ryuden tends to land his left hand about mid-way around his opponents mawashi, and use that grip to turn them. This results in Ryuden’s opponents not being able to square either their hips or shoulders, and puts Ryuden in command. Tochinoshin got this treatment today, and his massive strength was taken away from him. I have seen Hakuho use this same technique, and it is quite potent.

Hakuho defeats Hokutofuji – Wow! What an effort by Hokutofuji. I can confidently say that Hokutofuji owned the first 15 seconds of this match, and had Hakuho reacting rather than attacking. Hakuho eventually got a very odd double hand grip on Hokutofuji’s mawashi knot, and dropped him to the clay, with a bit of a tea-bagging at the end. Hokutofuji’s time will come. Maybe soon.

Kakuryu defeats Asanoyama – Some really glorious Kakuryu sumo today. Even the smallest mistake can beat you with Kakuryu as your opponent. As Asanoyama presses forward to try to land his right hand on the Yokozuna’s mawashi, he raises up. That was all the opening that Kakuryu needed to transition into an under shoulder swing down (katasukashi). Great sumo from the Yokozuna today.

Nagoya Day 3 Preview

Bruce H Abi (阿炎), Aoiyama, Asanoyama (朝乃山), Chiyomaru, Chiyotairyū (千代大龍), Daieisho (大栄翔), Daishoho, Endo (遠藤), Enho, Gōeidō (豪栄道), Hakuho (白鵬), Hokutōfuji (北勝富士), Ichinojo (逸ノ城), Kaisei (魁聖), Kakuryu (鶴竜), Kotoeko, Kotoshogiku (琴奨菊), Kotoyuki, Meisei, Mitakeumi(御嶽海), Myogiryu (妙義龍), Nagoya Basho 2019, Nishikigi, Okinoumi (隠岐の海), Ryuden (竜電), Sadanoumi (佐田の海), Shimanoumi, Shohozan, Shōdai (正代直也), Takagenji, Takanoiwa (貴ノ岩), Takarafuji (宝富士), Takayasu (高安), Tamawashi (玉鷲), Terutsuyoshi, Tochinoshin (栃ノ心), Tochiozan (栃煌山), Tomokaze, Toyonoshima, Yago, Ōnoshō (阿武咲) , , , , , , ,

Bruce is working a tough programming gig, far away from home. So some of the reporting this week will be foreshortened, full of typos, and generally as genki as Yoshikaze’s sumo. You have been warned.

What We Are Watching Day 3

Terutsuyoshi vs Kaisei – Kaisei has suddenly been beset by a swarm of tiny, fast moving rikishi. After experiencing first hand Enho’s unique take on the “Death Spin”, he has to be wondering what manner of fresh hell Terutsuyoshi brings to day 3.

Kotoyuki vs Enho – I this “Penguin meets Fire Pixie” story, we will see how far Kotoyuki makes it into the crowd today, after he only made it to the area just beside the dohyo on day 2. Enho is fighting hurt, but he is fighting well. They met twice in Juryo, splitting the pair.

Toyonoshsima vs Yago – Both are solid rikishi who have started 0-2, and now one of them will have started 0-3. Talk about pulling an Ikioi…

Chiyomaru vs Kagayaki – The key to defeating Chiyomaru is lateral motion. Kagayaki likes to move forward at almost all times, so it’s straight into the fire for Mr Fundamentals.

Tochiozan vs Sadanoumi – Two technical rikishi, with 1-1 records, coming in with a 5-5 career record. Could we be any more symmetrical?

Kotoeko vs Takagenji – This is probably the highlight match of the first half, Takagenji has opened strong, and Kotoeko has shown excellent mobility and stability in his first 2 matches. I expect Takagenji to open strong, and Kotoeko to react today.

Nishikigi vs Daishoho – Nishikigi appears as lethargic and uncertain as his bad days of yore, clinging tenaciously to the bottom scrap of the banzuke. This guy kachi-koshied in upper Maegashira. Please the genki version of Nishikigi back!

Onosho vs Okinoumi – I am going to dare to say that maybe Onosho is getting some of his sumo back. We will know more following day 3 when he faces Okinoumi, who has yet to score his first white star.

Shohozan vs Tomokaze – Tomokaze has actually won both of their prior matches, and I have to wonder just how well Oguruma’s new top rikishi is going to do in July. Shohozan should be almost done removing his ring rust.

Chiyotairyu vs Shimanoumi – I don’t know what Shimanoumi is going to do about the cannon ball charge. Shimanoumi is not large, though he is fairly stable. If ever there was a time for a Henka or near-Henka, this might be it.

Myogiryu vs Takarafuji – Both of these guys are in the middle of the banzuke, and need to really crank it up. Both are capable of great sumo, but seem to have fallen into a middling rut.

Meisei vs Ichinojo – Fans are still wondering which version of Ichinojo is active right now. We want the powerful giant who tosses 150kg people around like straw. This is the first time Meisei has faced, “The Boulder”.

Kotoshogiku vs Daieisho – I expect that Kotoshogiku’s stamina is going to give out some time in week 2, but until then I am enjoying the genki, bouncing, throwing version of the Kyusho Bulldozer.

Abi vs Shodai – Someone probably said, “Let’s give Abi a bit of a break. I know… Shodai!”. But as we all know, once Shodai gets besieged by an oshi practitioner, random things tend to happen, and usually to Shodai’s advantage.

Mitakeumi vs Tamawashi – Maybe a bit early for the traditional Sekiwake brawl, but we will take it. This should be a big running battle if Tamawashi does not blow Mitakeumi up at the tachiai.

Endo vs Takayasu – Takayasu dropped a match in week 1, and everyone who hopes he will one day actually win a yusho has to just shake their head and hope for “next time”. As a life long Cubs / Bears fan, I know how this works. Now he has Endo, and Endo is full on heck’n an bam-boozl’n these days.

Goeido vs Aoiyama – When I see the 21-3 career advantage Goeido has over the Man-Mountain, I have hope that we will see some real sumo from the Ozeki today. I know Aoiyama would love to start Nagoya 3-0, but he will have to survive Goeido’s all out offensive.

Ryuden vs Tochinoshin – Tochinoshin is doing so poorly right now, that I am sort of worried to even watch this match. Ryuden already has one Ozeki scalp, and if he can shut down Tochinoshin’s battle for that left hand outside grip, he may get another.

Hokutofuji vs Hakuho – We know what is going to happen here. We love you Hokutofuji, please don’t get discouraged.

Kakuryu vs Asanoyama – Last chance for an Asanoyama kinboshi, so lets see what Kakuryu will do against the Natsu yusho winner. This is their first ever match.

Ones To Watch – Nagoya Day 3

Bruce H Ones To Watch, Wakaichiro (若一郎) , , , , , , , , , , ,

Welcome to an abbreviated “Ones to Watch”, has Herouth has done her marvelous job of providing sumo fans with a feast of video goodies from the lower divisions. Day 3 features bounts from Wakaichiro, Amakaze, Musashikuni and Hoshoryu.

Hoshoryu vs Seiro – Hoshoryu certainly punched his card for “Serious Contender” on day 2, and now he faces the highest ranked rikishi in Makshita: Former Makuuchi rikishi – Seiro. As both me have 1 wins, this will help form the field of promotion contenders for September. Time to shine little dragon!

Wakatakamoto vs Terao – Another 1-0 bracket match, this rematch of an Osaka 2017 bout will give Wakatakamoto a chance to even the score.

Roga vs Fujita – Roga got a close look at the Nagoya clay in his day 2 loss, and looked quite out-classed. This was always a possibility once he crossed into Makushita, but I expect he will bounce back and fight hard for 4 wins.

Musashikuni vs Kaizen – I don’t know what kind of physical problems Musashikuni is still nursing, but he continues to struggle, even at a greatly reduced rank. His fans can only hope he can pull it together.

Amakaze vs Baraki – I continue to think that Amakaze is probably under-ranked right now, so I expect him to dominate the majority of his matches. Baraki spent two tournaments in Makushita, and has been largely in Sandanme for his 40 basho career.

Wakaichiro vs Kamitani – This will be an interesting match for Wakaichiro. Kamitani is a 17 year old rikishi in his 9th tournament, and he has had a largely upward path leading to this, his first ever Sandanme posting.

Bouts From the Lower Divisions – Day 2

Herouth Nagoya Basho 2019 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
If eyes could kill…

Day two, and we had a lot of big names in the lower divisions. Let’s work our way from the bottom.

Jonokuchi

We would be remiss, of course, if we didn’t share Hattorizakura’s first bout with you. In 4k. Yes. Aliens researching Earth culture 1000 years from now will find footage of Hattorizakura matches in 4k.

Our lad is on the East, right, facing Kotoyamato from Sadogatake beya on the left.

The yobidashi is… fitting. But why would Kotoyamato be using such a fierce nodowa against Hattorizakura?

Jonidan

The following bout is interesting, not so much because of its sumo content, but because of Roman’s hairdo. Roman is a young rikishi, recruited in May 2018, who suffered injury in Haru 2019, and was kyujo for the entire Natsu. He was then rumored to have retired, because he was seen with a crew cut, also, not in the same city as his heya.

Then, all of a sudden, here he is, back on the dohyo, taped massively like any rikishi coming back from kyujo. I would have written this all down as some silly Internet rumor. Only… the haircut part seems to have been true. That’s not rikishi hairdo. There have been some strange goings-on at Tatsunami beya – Hitenryu, who was supposed to have started working as a Wakamonogashira (was listed as such in Wikipedia) but hasn’t, their latest recruit, who resigned with a broken arm, and this strange thing with Roman’s hair.

Roman on the left faces Mogaminishiki from Kise beya on the right.

For someone just back from injury and who knows what else, he is pretty genki.

Sandanme

Our journey into Sandanme starts with Tachiai’s favorite, Wakaichiro, who faced Kotootomo from Sadogatake beya for his first match. Wakaichiro is on the East, right, and Kotootomo attacks from the left.

Very good deashi on Wakaichiro’s part, for a straight up oshidashi. It was Wakaichiro’s birthday yesterday. It’s good to start another year in one’s life on the right foot!

Next up I have Narutaki, one of my Jungyo favorites, not least because of his huge big brother Kyonosato. Narutaki himself is not so huge, and looks especially small in this match, in which he faces Hokutoo, the 196cm wrestler from Hakkaku beya. Narutaki attacks from the right, but I’m sure you can see that for yourselves.

Very convincing sumo! Hit-and-shift, then push for an oshidashi.

Next up is Daitenma. I couldn’t find any bouts of his last basho, so I’m excited to find one now. He is Azumazeki’s beya recently recruited Mongolian. This is only his fourth ranked basho, and he had solid 5-2 in each of his previous ones. He is also as thin and gangly as you’d expect a young Mongolian with a bright future to be… Here he is on the East (right), facing Nakao from Onoe beya.

It’s nice to see this kind of yotsu battle in Sandanme. If he manages to put on some serious weight, the 187cm Mongolian will get far.

We reach the top of the Sandanme division with the representative of the USA, Musashikuni. He faces Asakishin from Takasago beya who is attacking from the left.

Ah… well. I’d like to see him start low and bend his knees.

Makushita

We’re up to the next division, and start straight off with the former Ozeki Terunofuj, facing Aoi from Shikoroyama beya. Although Aoi is about the same age as Terunofuji, he is just a Sandanme-Makushita regular. We are informed that in June, Terunofuji started practicing moshi-ai for the first time since his dropped. So we expect him to be less rusty than the previous two basho. Let’s take a look. Teru on the left, Aoi on the right.

The former Ozeki was aiming straight for that shoulder.

One thing to note is the yobidashi who calls Terunofuji’s name. That’s Yobidashi Teruya from his own heya. The two (together with Shunba) transferred from Magaki beya to Isegahama and are very close friends. Not sure Teruya ever expected to call his friend’s name on his shift.

Next up, we have Shiraishi, who won the Sandanme yusho after having landed straight in that division (Sandanme-tsukedashi). Shiraishi on the left faces Kotorikisen from Sadogatake on the right.

Shiraishi seems to continue just where he left off in Natsu. I wouldn’t be surprised if they match him with Terunofuji next.

Kyokusoten is one of my old favorites, though he is not one of the strongest rikishi around, especially not for a Mongolian. He’s just a nice guy, who is sought after as a tsukebito by other Mongolians. Currently he is serving under Kakuryu. Here he is facing Hokaho, from Miyagino beya. What was Miyagino oyakata thinking when he named him that? Anyway, Hokaho on the left, Kyokusoten on the right.

Hokaho seems to be the stronger of the two. Next time, Kyokusoten!

We continue on the theme of Mongolians in Makushita. Let’s take a look at Roga, Futagoyama’s star. He is facing Keitenkai from Onomatsu beya on the left.

Another Mongolian down. Roga is still lacking in experience.

Naya, the scion of Taiho, has been showing a lot of improvement lately and was expected to, maybe, surpass his rival, Hoshoryu, this time around. Here he faces a serious obstacle in the form of Akua from Tatsunami beya, who had a couple of stints in Juryo. But I think Naya wasn’t expecting the bout between them to develop as it eventually did. Akua on the left, Naya on the right:

Naya thought this was a matta. He looks at the shimpan, he looks at the gyoji, but to no avail. At least he is not standing at the base of the dohyo trying to monoii the decision. Hard life lesson: if the ref didn’t call it, it’s not a matta. No matter if your hand didn’t touch the ground.

But anyway, ouch.

The last bout in Makushita today was between Hoshoryu and Irodori. Again, there were many expectations of this bout. Irodori (right) has some sekitori experience. But Hoshoryu (left) is not letting that intimidate him. Quite the contrary. The bout starts with a long stare-down, and Irodori eventually gives in. Then there’s a matta, but Hoshoryu is unfazed.

When they get down to the bout itself, it’s all too easy. The psychological warfare was clearly favoring the young Mongolian.

Juryo

I’m not going to share the bout which may or may not have been Aminishiki’s last. Instead, let us concentrate on the newcomers to Juryo. Two of them who lost the previous day are facing each other today. Kotonowaka on the left vs. Kizakiumi on the right:

Kotonowaka The Second doesn’t seem to find his Juryo legs yet. It’s his second loss, to exactly those people he should beat to avoid the return to Makushita.

The third Juryo newcomer is Ichiyamamoto, and he actually seems to feel right at home in Juryo. Ichiyamamoto on the left faces Akiseyama on the right.

Wait a minute… why does this seem familiar? Hey, Ichiyamamoto, Abi called and asked for his Sumo back. Come to think of it, he really needs it back quickly.