News from the infirmary today that winless Onosho is out, citing injury to right ankle and right knee. Out for three weeks. Takanosho will receive the default win today. Before we get to the action, make note of these links for the NHK videos of all sekitori bouts.

NHK videos are here. Juryo Part I and Part II, Makuuchi Part I and Part II.

Day Four Makuuchi Action

Roga (2-2) defeated Nishikifuji (2-2). Nishikifuji gave Roga a healthy pop at the tachiai but Roga wrapped him up, pivoted and showed Nishikifuji the door. Yorikiri.

Wakatakakage (3-1) defeated Bushozan (2-2). Wakatakakage absorbed Bushozan’s tachiai and quickly corralled him and drove him from the dohyo. Bushozan was just along for the ride. Yorikiri.

Daiamami will visit from Juryo to face Bushozan.

Kagayaki (2-2) defeated Endo (1-3). Endo exchanged slaps with Kagayaki in a brief oshi-battle before Kagayaki established his will and ushered Endo from the dohyo. Oshidashi.

Endo will face Nishikifuji on Day 5.

Churanoumi (3-1) defeated Takarafuji (2-2). Churanoumi reached in for a maemitsu grip at the front of Takarafuji’s belt but Takarafuji squeezed real hard on that arm. It seemed like he was going to wrap it up and go for a kotenage attack. Churanoumi quickly released, extracted his arm, and then pulled. Takarafuji followed to the bales where Churanoumi put on the brakes and stepped to the side, letting Takarafuji fall out. Tsukiotoshi.

Churanoumi will face Wakatakakage and Takarafuji will battle Roga.

Ichiyamamoto (3-1) defeated Asanoyama (3-1). Ichiyamamoto did not allow Asanoyama to get a belt grip, bulled forward and drove him back to the bales. At the bales, Asanoyama attempted to brace himself and stop his momentum but his leg buckled and he fell in pain. I was thinking knee, Asanoyama gestured to the ankle, but either way Asanoyama could not stand. The Blue Jacket crew came and helped him to the big wheel chair. The news says left knee and Asanoyama is headed to the hospital. Oshitaoshi.

Hokutofuji (1-3) defeated Nishikigi (0-4). Hokutofuji won this painful oshi battle. Neither of these men are healthy but Hokutofuji is slightly less unhealthy. He started with a pull but when Nishikigi did not fall, Hokutofuji launched an attack of nodowa and tsuppari. Oshidashi.

Hokutofuji will face Kagayaki.

Midorifuji (2-2) defeated Oshoma (3-1). What a bout! Oshoma embraced Midorifuji in a bearhug and tried to manhandle the smaller rikishi. As Oshoma started to drove forward with both arms enveloping Midorifuji, Midorifuji suddenly pivoted. Oshoma rolled with the change of direction but then Midorifuji did it again and yanked Oshoma over to the tawara. Oshoma resisted desperately and worked the pair back to the center where the pair waited each other out. Oshoma seemed quite content with his kimedashi-style bear hug. He should have reconsidered. Midorifuji snapped and shifted to the left, pulling Oshoma toward the bales. Oshoma tried to brace at the edge but Midorifuji shoved him over. Yorikiri.

Midorifuji will certainly pick up a default win as Asanoyama will sit out.

Shodai (2-2) defeated Ryuden (1-3). Shodai was not messing around today. He didn’t need a hand on the belt but locked on to Ryuden’s trunk with a morozashi, double-inside grip. Once he secured the inside position, he hoisted Ryuden and chugged forward. Yorikiri.

Shodai will take on a Juryo-bound Nishikigi.

Tamawashi (3-1) defeated Kinbozan (0-4). Kinbozan attacked Tamawashi with fierce tsuppari. Bad idea. Tamawashi is old enough to have actually invented and patented this attack. So, he showed the youngster how it is really done. Oshidashi.

Tamawashi will fight Ichiyamamoto. Circle that bout.

Oho (2-2) defeated Sadanoumi (2-2). Tachiai. Sadanoumi advanced and Oho pulled. “Oh no! Not a pull!” But Oho pivoted at the bales and rolled his entire body, driving Sadanoumi into the ground. I will not concede that Oho’s won by moving in reverse. He won by heaving Sadanoumi to the ground with a powerful throw. Kotenage.

Oho will fight Kinbozan. Kinbozan is healthy but winless. He may turn things around if Oho decides to pull.

Takanosho (2-2) default win over Onosho (0-4)

Takanosho will fight Ryuden.

Halftime

Kotoshoho (3-1) defeated Shonnanoumi (3-1). Henka? Shonannoumi fell for it, literally. There will be debate because Kotoshoho threw his right shoulder in there at the tachiai but shifted right. As he shifted right he grabbed Shonannoumi and helped him fall to the floor. Tsukiotoshi.

Kotoshoho will fight Oshoma in an interesting match-up. Shonannoumi will fight Sadanoumi.

Ura (3-1) defeated Atamifuji (2-2). A bit of a slow tachiai. Then the two locked in for a grapple. Ura decided, “while you’re trying to figure me out, I’ll pull you down.” With a grip at the front of Atamifuji’s mawashi, Ura yanked Atamifuji forward to the ground, with the other hand on his back, shoving him down into the clay for good measure. Shitatedashinage.

Sanyaku

Daieisho (2-2) defeated Kirishima (3-1) Daieisho-zumo. Powerful thrusts, leading with his head. Kirishima shifted to the right but Daieisho followed and drove Kirishima from the fighting surface. Oshidashi.

Hiradoumi (2-2) defeated Onosato (1-3). Henka? Miror image of Kotoshoho’s earlier attack. Shoulder in there might negate the call for some of y’all. Hiradoumi shifted to the left instead of the right. He didn’t really bother with grabbing at Onosato but same result as earlier. Tsukiotoshi.

Meisei (2-2) defeated Abi (1-3). Abi launched forward with his usual tsuppari but Meisei cycled to his left when Abi extended his right arm. Abi pivoted in pursuit but Meisei shifted again, and again. Eventually Meisei worked his way behind Abi and shoved him out from behind. Okuridashi.

Tobizaru (3-1) defeated Takakeisho (1-3). Takakeisho tried to wrap up Tobizaru’s right shoulder, perhaps for a kotenage. Tobizaru quickly extracted it and stepped backwards. Since Takakeisho was stepping forward, this put Tobizaru behind Takakeisho where he drove Takakeisho into the ground from the back. As Tobizaru stepped off the dohyo, he reached at and flexed that right shoulder. It may have been injured in that brief instant Takakeisho had it wrapped up. Okurinage.

Gonoyama (2-2) defeated Hoshoryu (2-2). Gonoyama hit the Ozeki hard at the tachiai and wrapped up Hoshoryu’s right arm. Gonoyama followed it up with brutal tsuppari with the right as Hoshoryu backed up and tried to get his arm back. Gonoyama kept pressing forward and drove Hoshoryu out. Tsukidashi. Hoshoryu walked down the hanamichi flexing his right elbow. I’m still writing about the Midorifuji bout, by the way. It was that good.

Kotozakura (3-1) defeated Wakamotoharu (2-2). Wakamotoharu tried to shift to the right after the tachiai and get at Kotozakura’s belt. But Kotozakura pivoted with him, secured a firm hold with both arms, and walked him out.

Terunofuji (4-0) defeated Mitakeumi (1-3). Back to basics, and boy is it working for the Yokozuna. He has not been trying to overwhelm opponents with his size. Instead, he’s staying low, hitting fast and hard, and driving forward with determination. Today, he hit Mitakeumi and locked in with a firm left hand. His right worked overtime, wrapping up Mitakeumi and squeezing to keep Mitakeumi from any hope of a counter. By the time Mitakeumi extracted his left arm, he was just about out of the ring and certainly too far gone to use it. Yorikiri.

Wrap-up

What a brutal day of sumo. Asanoyama’s tournament is surely done and therefore headed to Juryo. The only question at the moment is how long will he be out and whether he can come back in September. On top of that, there could be injury worries for Tobizaru and Hoshoryu as well as deeper concern for kadoban Takakeisho.

Kirishima showed that he is vulnerable and not a lock for re-promotion. He is probably begging Takakeisho to stay in the tournament. Onosato’s hope of promotion this tournament is done. With the meat of his schedule still to come, he needs to focus on getting 8-9 more wins. Meanwhile, Ura, Hiradoumi and Atamifuji are providing a lot of spark.

Tomorrow has a raft of big match ups. Daieisho faces Hiradoumi in the battle of the Komusubi. Abi will face Atamifuji while Kirishima has drawn Onosato. Oof. Kotozakura will face Mitakeumi in likely the only “easy win” in this top section. Ura will face Takekeisho, Wakamotoharu will fight Hoshoryu and Terunofuji will take on Gonoyama in the musubi-no-ichiban.