Daieisho (大栄翔)

Hatsu 2025, Day Three: Maezumo Begins

Andy Hatsu 2025, Hatsu Basho ,

Day Three means maezumo begins. Our new American rikishi, Hikarumusashi, squared off against Hoshoryu’s cousin, Tenrosei in a tough debut bout. Hikarumusashi tried to use his tsuppari but Tenrosei caught him off balance and slapped him down in the most engaging maezumo bout of the day. There might be a revenge bout in Jonokuchi and this could work itself into a nice little rivalry. The video below is from Lulit on Twitter.

The NHK videos for today are here: Juryo Part I and Part II, Makuuchi Part I and Part II.

Makuuchi Action

Nishikifuji (2-1) defeated Kagayaki (0-3). Nishikifuji used effective tsuppari to get Kagayaki moving backwards. Then he stepped inside and got a deep belt grip and forced Kagayaki over the edge. Kagayaki did not look competitive. Yorikiri.

Tokihayate defeated Tamashoho. Tokihayate slipped inside Tamashoho’s thrusting attack and locked on with his right-hand grip. Once he got the grip, Tamashoho shutdown his tsuppari and Tokihayate drove his opponent backwards with relative ease. Yorikiri.

Kinbozan (3-0) defeated Kitanowaka (1-2). Kinbozan’s powerful thrusts to Kitanowaka’s head had neck area overwhelmed Kitanowaka. Kitanowaka tried to escape and nearly slipped. Kinbozan pursued and Kitanowaka continued to flail as he ran away and stepped over the bales. Oshidashi.

Hakuoho (3-0) defeated Kotoshoho (1-2). This was a bruising thrusting bout. Kotoshoho kept Hakuoho off the belt with his powerful thrusts. Hakuoho took a pounding from Kotoshoho as he tried to get a grip. Kotoshoho’s thrusts worked Hakuoho to the edge. Hakuoho gave up on getting a grip and started his own thrusting attack in earnest. That turned the tables and forced Kotoshoho back and out. An appreciative round of applause from the audience. Oshidashi.

Nishikigi (2-1) defeated Shonannoumi (0-3). Nishikigi wrapped up Shonannoumi’s trunk with his left arm inside in a bear hug, chugged forward, and escorted the beach bum out of the ring. Yorikiri.

Takerufuji (3-0) defeated Onokatsu (1-2). Firm tachiai and a tight, back-and-forth belt battle. Both men throw each other and land in a heap. Gunbai Onokatsu. Mono-ii. The crowd erupts in cheers as they judged both fell at the same time, torinaoshi. Takerufuji got his thrusting attack going on the redo after a failed slapdown attempt. The thrusts were too much for Onokatsu and he stepped back and out. Oshidashi.

Tamawashi (3-0) defeated Midorifuji (1-2). Midorifuji got off the line a bit early for a false start. After they resettled, Tamawashi assaulted Midorifuji and blasted him clear of the dohyo. Oshidashi.

Meisei (1-2) defeated Oshoma (1-2). After a solid tachiai and few thrusts, Meisei yanked on Oshoma’s right arm and pulled him forward. Oshoma wasn’t quite defeated so Meisei followed up with a thrust to force Oshoma over the bales. Oshidashi.

Mitakeumi (2-1) defeated Churanoumi (1-2). This bout started as a wide ranging oshi brawl and then settled into a very entertaining grapple. The gyoji had to pause things for a bit to adjust their mawashi after Mitakeumi’s knot came undone. After the restart, Mitakeumi plowed forward with his right-hand inside. Churanoumi tried to cast Mitakeumi side to side but Mitakeumi kept up the pressure and forced Churanoumi out under the red tassel. Honestly, this was the most competitive bout I have seen from Mitakeumi since he got Covid. Yorikiri.

Endo (1-2) defeated Takarafuji (0-3). Endo baited Takarafuji into moving forward. At the edge, Endo pulled on Takarafuji’s left arm and pulled him forward to the ground. Tottari.

Halftime

Chiyoshoma (3-0) defeated Ichiyamamoto (2-1). Chiyoshoma henka! Chiyoshoma grabbed Ichiyamamoto’s left arm and pulled him forward but Ichiyamamoto pulled back. While Ichiyamamoto tried to recover and start up his tsuppari, Chiyoshoma forced his way inside and grabbed Ichiyamamoto by the mawashi. With a firm grip, Chiyoshoma quickly forced Ichiyamamoto to the bales where he gave it his all to resist. But Chiyoshoma wore him down and forced him over the tawara. Yorikiri.

Takayasu (2-1) defeated Hiradoumi (1-2). Hiradoumi’s gaburi sumo forced Takayasu to the edge. Takayasu used the bales to stabilize. He slid to his right along the tawara and slapped Hiradoumi down. Hatakikomi.

Gonoyama (2-1) defeated Ura (1-2). Gonoyama engaged Ura with both guns on full blast. Ura slipped away to try to regroup but Gonoyama pursued quickly, reengaged, and launched Ura into the crowd. Oshitaoshi.

Sanyaku

Abi (2-1) defeated Atamifuji (0-3). Abi-zumo. Phase One was to engage with powerful thrusts. As Atamifuji pressed forward, Abi engaged Phase Two. Abi slipped away and slapped him down. Hatakikomi.

Daieisho (3-0) defeated Shodai (0-3). Shodai tried to get inside to get an attack going but this is Daieisho. He’s not exactly going to welcome you inside for a belt grip with tea and crumpets. No, he’s going to assault you with powerful tsuppari. And assault is what he did to Shodai, over and over until he forced Shodai over the edge. Oshidashi.

Oho (3-0) defeated Wakamotoharu (1-2). Wakamotoharu tried to take on Oho toe-to-toe. NOT a good idea. Oho doubled down on his thrusts, forced Wakamotoharu back to the bales. Wakamotoharu tried to pivot at the bales but Oho followed up and threw Wakamotoharu down. Tsukitaoshi.

Hoshoryu (3-0) defeated Wakatakakage (1-2). Hoshoryu forced Wakatakakage back with powerful tsuppari and Wakatakakage’s attempts to slip to the side or push Hoshoryu to the side were completely ineffective. Tsukidashi.

Tobizaru (2-1) defeated Kotozakura (1-2). Kotozakura had control of Tobizaru’s left arm and tried to yank him over the bales. Tobizaru freed his arm and used his tsuppari to keep Kotozakura at bay. Kotozakura wanted to end this so he charged forward but Tobizaru disappeared into thin air and Kotozakura fell into a heap below the dohyo. Hikiotoshi.

Onosato (2-1) defeated Takanosho (0-3). Takanosho pivoted, twisted, and Onosato fell onto his shoulder. Gunbai Onosato? Mono-ii. Video replay demonstrated that Takanosho had stepped out. Konishiki has spoken of throwing his TV out the window after a particularly difficult loss. This must be a TV-throwing moment of frustration for Takanosho. HE HAD IT. But it slipped from his grasp because of sloppy footwork. Instead of picking up an Ozeki scalp and a heap of cash, Takanosho is sitting on a goose egg. 0-3. Oshidashi.

Terunofuji (2-1) defeated Kirishima (0-3). Kirishima locked on with his right hand inside while the Yokozuna latched onto that right arm and seemed content to take a ride. Kirishima dragged Terunofuji around the ring wearing himself out. The two settled into a stalemate at the center of the ring to catch their breath. Terunofuji dug deep and charged forward, finally forcing Kirishima over the bales, under the red tassel. Yorikiri.

Wrap-up

Kotozakura’s rope run is on life support and we’re only on Day Three! A yusho seems completely out of grasp at this point. You know how wrestlers commonly talk about taking it one bout at a time? Kotozakura needs to do that and regroup.

Meanwhile, Hoshoryu looks as strong as ever. He dispatched Wakatakakage today with relative ease. Tomorrow he will face Takanosho. Wakatakakage used a passive strategy today and it backfired. I got the sense he was hoping to do what Tobizaru did to Kotozakura but Hoshoryu had him completely secured.

After a few basho where Abi looked a bit lost (yet somehow still at the top of the banzuke), he is on fire, engaging and powerful. Daieisho, the tsuki to Abi’s oshi, is burning things up, too. Both men know what it takes to win. I like what they have been serving up so far. Daieisho is still undefeated, along with Hoshoryu and will face a tough one against Oho tomorrow. The henka returns from Chiyoshoma. It has been a while but he wants to keep his winning streak going. Ichiyamamoto was completely at a loss.

Lastly, toward the bottom of the rank-and-file we have Tamawashi, Takerufuji, Hakuoho, and Kinbozan. Those four have hoovered up white stars these first few days and are competing at a level beyond those ranked around them. Tamawashi will take on Takerufuji tomorrow in what I think will be a highlight bout.

Well, I’m just here for the ride. I want to see where this show goes!

New Kesho Mawashi for Daieisho and Tsurugisho

Andy Daieisho (大栄翔), Japanese Culture, Sponsorship, Tsurugisho , , , ,

Nihon Daigaku (Nichidai: 日大) presented Oitekaze stablemates, Daieisho and Tsurugisho, with some brand spanking new kesho mawashi. Tsurugisho graduated from Nichidai before entering Grand Sumo but Daieisho entered a graduate program there last April. (I’m always glad when athletes are making plans for their post-athletics careers. So props to Daieisho.)

As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, Tsurugisho is already the owner of an awesome Momotaro kesho mawashi. Well, his new one doesn’t feature the eponymous folk hero who was birthed from a peach. [Pause here while Andy recovers from a giggle fit.] “I swear all those old stories are dirty.“

Instead, it features Daikokuten, one of the Seven Gods of Fortune which I have written about in the past. Remember the boat (Takarabune)? Daikokuten is generally shown with his hammer (uchide no kozuchi 打ち出の小槌). In Daieisho’s old kesho mawashi, which, coincidentally, is the one I wrote about with the beautiful sakura and Takarabune, Daikokuten is the one at the very front of the boat. The playful portrait here — this time on Momotaro’s apron — is in keeping with Tsurugisho’s jovial personality. Meanwhile, Daieisho’s new kit features an amazing image of a distant Mount Fuji framed by sakura (cherry blossoms). I look forward to seeing both of these new mawashi on the dohyo in May.

The designer of these kesho mawashi is Tanaka Yuko, vice-chairman of the Female Sumo Federation in Japan and was presented to the pair by her and her husband, Tanaka Hidetoshi, chairman of Nichidai, vice-president of the Japanese Olympic Committee among other key positions in the amateur sumo and sports-world.

Speaking of Oitekaze, what have they been putting in the power water over there? Of the 20-odd wrestlers, six are sekitori, five of them in makuuchi! And Endo isn’t even heyagashira! Daieisho’s yusho, Tsurugisho’s juryo yusho…kensho and special prizes galore!

Tokyo July Basho – Day 1 preview

Timothée Heinz July Basho 2020, Tokyo July Basho , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sumo’s back! Finally! I believe many of us have never been as excited as today, looking forward for the great return of our favorite wrestlers.

The mock Natsu basho, conceived by our colleagues of Grand Sumo Breakdown, has provided us some nice moments while we were waiting, including an unlikely Ishiura run, and Mitakeumi’s eventual triumph.

I believe, however, we have grounds to expect quite different results. Indeed, the mock basho was supposed to fake the May tournament. Rikishi, on the contrary, have been able to have some welcomed rest, and there’s no doubt some of them have taken all benefit of it.

So, first day’s torikumi is up, and brings the promise of an exciting start :

Terunofuji v Kotoyuki. So, the very first makuuchi bout will be the one I’ll expect most! It’s Terunofuji’s long awaited makuuchi return, and it’s fair to say he comes back from hell. If his road back certainly deserves much praise, the final steps almost proved to be stumbling blocks. More worringly, he still practises under painkillers, and it’s doubtful whetever he’ll successfully defend his makuuchi status. He defeated Kotoyuki last time in March; if he manages to avoid Kotoyuki’s early tsuppari attacks, he should edge that one.

Nishikigi v Kotoeko. A bout between two recent demotees to juryo. Nishikigi’s makuuchi has been underwhelming in March, with a 6-9 record that barely allowed him to keep a makuuchi spot. It’ll be their third meeting, and Nishikigi is yet to defeat his smaller opponent. I expect that trend to go on.

Kotoshoho v Chiyomaru. It took just three basho for Kotoshoho to move from juryo debut to makuuchi debut, which will take place this Sunday! Interestingly, he has won his last five basho’s shonichi, but Chiyomaru has done better: that’s eight win in a row during shonichi! From a more practical point of view, Chiyomaru’s experience may well prevail over newbie Kotoshoho.

Kotoshogiku v Wakatakakage. The former ozeki is slowly running out of energy. Furthermore, he struggled against other pixies: 0-2 v Enho, 1-2 v Terutsuyoshi. Remarkably, Wakatakakage is still undefeated in makuuchi, as he went kyujo after a 4-0 record in November of last year. He’ll eventually suffer his first loss, but I do not think this will happen on Sunday.

Takayasu v Kotonowaka. Takayasu’s elbow is still a major concern, although the break might have given him a lift. Kotonowaka had a good 9-6 makuuchi debut, and usually starts decently. I think he’ll edge this one as well.

Sadanoumi v Shohozan. An interesting style opposition between two experienced rikishi. Neither of them has been performing extremely well recently, with just one kachi kochi combined, during the last three basho. I tend to favour Shohozan on that one, and so do the matchups: 10-5 for the veteran.

Shimanoumi v Tochinoshin. The Mie-ken born has been largely disappointing lately, after a bright makuuchi debut in 2019. If Tochinoshin is given time to heal his knees, he still can do wonders. I’m sure he relished the time he has been given to heal, and I expect him to start strongly this basho.

Kaisei v Myogiryu. Another battle between two experienced battlers – they’re both 33. Maegashira 10 is Kaisei’s highest rank for a while, and it’s Myogiryu lowest for a while. Advantage to Myogiryu, who also leads their matchups 11-7.

Tamawashi v Ikioi. Ikioi’s resurgence after his feet troubles is quite impressive. Tamawashi’s sekiwake days, on the opposite, seem to be a century ago. The dynamic is on the Osaka born’s side, despite the matchups favouring the one time yusho winner (11-6).

Ishiura v Chiyotairyu. That should be an interesting matchup. Ishiura has been repeatedly yo-yoing between makuuchi and juryo, but his results have appeared to settle up a bit lately. His larger opponent has left the joi by the end of last year, and will look to regain a place in the upper maegashira spots.

Terutsuyoshi v Tokushoryu. Right after Ishiura, the Isegahama pixie will take another big boy, the surprise yusho winner back in January. It unfortunately appears Terutsuyoshi is suffering from a knee problem, which is likely to hamper his results here. He’ll need to push on his knees if he wants to move heavy opponents like Tokushoryu.

Enho v Ryuden. Enho will to bounce back after the only third make kochi of his young career. So far, Ryuden has not found the key against the last pixie of the day (0-2), although Enho’s last tachi-ai against Ryuden was henka-ish. Will the latter find a way to defeat him, this time ?

Abi v Hokutofuji. An interesting battle between two members of the « komusubi quartet », back in November of last year. If staying in san’yaku has proved too difficult for Hokutofuji (three make kochi), Abi has left the higher ranks after your consecutive appearances due to injury issues. Let’s hope the break has enabled him to fix this, although he has the bad habit of losing on shonichi (just one win over the last nine occurrences !).

Kagayaki v Aoiyama. Kagayaki is definitely on the rise again, after two double digit wins, and a 8-7 tournament in March. After six straight losses to Aoiyama, he finally defeated Big Dan two times, including an oshidashi win in January. I expect Kagayaki to fare well this tournament, although the maegashira 4 spot has been a ceiling glass to him so far.

Daieisho v Kiribayama. I became a massive fan of Kiribayama, who undoubtly benefited of Kakuryu’s advice. But he lacks first division experience, to say the least, and he’ll enter the joi for the very first time of his fledging career. Therefore, I consider the reliable Daieisho to dominate their coming encounter.

Takarafuji v Mitakeumi. If the discreet Takarafuji has granted us a rare pre-basho interview, let’s be clear : his brand of sumo remains defensive, no-nonsense. If it could be useful during Mitakeumi’s regular mid-basho meltdown, he’ll have a hard time containing Mitakeumi’s power. The two time yusho winner should dominate the yotsu zumo debate.

Shodai v Onosho. Not an easy one to call. Their early career was full of promise, and both have largely failed to deliver so far. Shodai is currently trying to establish himself as a sekiwake, if not more. If their matchups is level (2-2), Shodai has started excellently his six last basho, being 2-0 five times, and 1-1 the sixth time. On the contrary, Onosho has lost four of the last five shonichi. The sekiwake has to be touted as the favourite.

Takanosho v Asanoyama. Takanosho has caught the eye with a formidable 12-3 basho in March. If Asanoyama has his ups and downs during a basho, I’m sure he’ll do his best to have a bright ozeki start. He has won their only meeting so far, and I expect him to double his lead.

Takakeisho v Yutakayama. That’s another match where both rikishi’s dynamic are going the opposite way. Yutakayama has rosen quite impressively through the maegashira ranks recently, but will it be enough to defeat the kadoban ozeki ? His lack of san’yaku experience might prove too big a disadvantge against Takakeisho, who desperately needs eight wins, and a good start.

Endo v Kakuryu. Endo seemed to be a big threat to the yokozuna in recent times. After a san’yaku breakthrough, Endo seemed to have lost his way again. Here too, I expect the break to have helped the Mongolian healing his injury troubles. Kakuryu has to win that one.

Hakuho v Okinoumi. The dai-yokozuna is of course the big favorite of that pairing. Let’s not underestimate Okinoumi’s, those solid yostu zumo has provided stern opposition to Hakuho. I expect the Mongolian to edge comfortably that one, nevertheless.

Aki 2019 Jungyo report – Day 9

Herouth Jungyo (巡業) , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s event was supposed to have been day 10, but of the three events in Shizuoka prefecture, the one at Izu – which was the place where the typhoon made its landfall – has been cancelled. Around noon October 13th, the rikishi finally left Yamanashi prefecture and headed around Mt. Fuji, down to Shizuoka, in big buses. There have been no safety issues for the rikishi and their support staff from the weather.

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