Late-breaking news today from Isegahama-beya, Terutsuyoshi has retired. The announcement did not state that Terutsuyoshi had acquired a kabu, so I presume he is leaving the Kyokai. By my calculations he had been sekitori for 35 basho and a top-division wrestler for 22, so he would be eligible. He had been kyujo this tournament at Makushita 36 West and his recent performances had seen him slip lower in the division.

Makuuchi action

Myogiryu (4-5) defeated Tomokaze (Juryo 4-5). Tomokaze tried to execute a pull but Myogiryu was all over him and easily pushed him out of the dohyo. Oshidashi.

Ryuden (5-4) defeated Endo (2-7). This was the most life we’ve seen from Endo this tournament as he strenuously grappled with Ryuden, first in an oshi-style brawl but then on the belt. Endo locked in on Ryuden’s maemitsu but Ryuden controlled the fight. Ryuden pressed forward and forced Endo out. Yorikiri.

Churanoumi (5-4) defeated Sadanoumi (6-3). Churanoumi grabbed the front of Sadanoumi’s mawashi and started pressing forward. Sadanoumi locked in with an over arm grip and shoved Churanoumi to the edge of the ring. He twisted right and left, controlling the action and tried an uwatenage but Churanoumi resisted. Suddenly, Churanoumi turned the tables and flipped Sadanoumi. Tsukiotoshi.

Daiamami (5-4) defeated Ichiyamamoto (4-5). Daiamami resisted Ichiyamamoto’s tsuppari and pressed forward, securing a hold of Ichiyamamoto’s belt. As Ichiyamamoto attempted to retreat, Daiamami moved well and stuck with him, driving him over the edge. Yorikiri.

Roga (5-4) defeated Mitakeumi (6-3). Roga quickly grabbed Mitakeumi’s belt and bulldozed the former Ozeki. Yorikiri.

Kotoshoho (4-5) defeated Kitanowaka (1-8). This was a wild brawl. Kitanowaka controlled the pace and advanced well. Kotoshoho retreated for much of the bout, twisting at the edge, trying to force Kitanowaka to lose his balance. Kotonowaka slapped the crap out of Kitanowaka who responded with a fierce nodowa. Kotonowaka was finally able to twist out of the way and shove Kitanowaka down. He did not seem pleased with his kohai. Tsukiotoshi.

Takayasu (6-3) defeated Nishikifuji (5-4). Takayasu hit Nishikifuji hard. As Takayasu shoved him toward the edge, Nishikifuji went into escape mode. Backing away and circling along the tawara. Takayasu pursued effectively and easily shoved Nishikifuji out when he caught up. Oshidashi.

Shonannoumi (7-2) defeated Onosho (5-4). Shonannoumi dominated Onosho and drove him backwards, quickly. Onosho may have had a hot dinner date or something. Oshidashi.

Hokutofuji (2-7) defeated Kinbozan (2-2-5). After an intense oshi-style brawl, Hokutofuji may have realized that he’d lost the edge and achieved a stalemate at best. Seeking a change, Hokutofuji pulled hard on Kinbozan’s belt and then drove forward. Hokutofuji moved effectively and forced Kinbozan out. Yorikiri.

Gonoyama (6-3) defeated Shodai (4-5). Shodai refused to bend his knees and get low, so Gonoyama was able to easily press forward. Oshidashi.

Halftime

Tamawashi (3-6) defeated Hiradoumi (4-5). Rather than shove Hiradoumi all the way across the ring, Tamawashi took advantage of Hiradoumi’s solid tachiai by pivoting. This meant Tamawashi had much less distance to cover. He slammed his arm into Hiradoumi’s right armpit, preventing Hiradoumi from getting any kind of grip on his belt. He chugged forward and forced Hiradoumi into the crowd. Oshidashi.

Oho (4-5) defeated Takanosho (3-6). Oho blasted Takanosho with powerful thrusts. Each time he did so, it backed Takanosho up a few steps. Four or five such blasts and Takanosho was out. Oshidashi.

Meisei (4-5) defeated Atamifuji (4-5). Meisei hit Atamifuji hard at the tachiai. Atamifuji tried to wrap up Meisei’s shoulder for a kotenage but Meisei pressed forward and attempted a slapdown. Atamifuji kept his balance but lost his attack. Meisei followed up well, wrapped up Atamifuji and drove him backwards and out. Yorikiri.

It’s kind of wild to see Onosato seated next to Abi and Takerufuji seated next to Wakamotoharu as they wait, ringside.

Ura (4-5) defeated Asanoyama (4-5). Ura tried to lift Asanoyama but didn’t get far. Asanoyama crouched down and drove forward. Ura slipped left and tried a pulldown but Asanoyama pivoted. Ura tried once more and this time was able to twist to the side and pull Asanoyama down, landing on Asanoyama before they both bounced into the crowd. Gunbai Ura! Sukuinage.

Sanyaku

Takerufuji (9-0) defeated Abi (6-3). Abi’s initial hit did nothing to the swole Takerufuji so he tried to pivot at the edge and let the hard-charging Takerufuji go by…but Takerufuji adjusted and shoved Abi out from the side. Oshidashi.

Onosato (8-1) defeated Wakamotoharu (5-4). Onosato drove the sekiwake back to the edge and afforded him no room to counter. Wakamotoharu held out on the tawara as long as he could but Onosato maintained pressure until he eventually forced WMH out. Yorikiri.

Kotonowaka (7-2) defeated Daieisho (4-5). Kotonowaka drove into Daieisho and finished him off with a brutal nodowa. Oshidashi.

Takakeisho (7-2) defeated Tobizaru (5-4). Takakeisho tried to end Tobizaru’s day early with a slapdown but Tobizaru kept his balance. The two then slammed into each other, repeatedly. Each time, Tobizaru tried to time a slapdown but Takakeisho shrugged them off and shoved Tobizaru about five feet away. Tobizaru then circled and tried again, and again. Takakeisho advanced and blasted Tobizaru out. Oshidashi.

Midorifuji (4-5) defeated Hoshoryu (6-3). Midorifuji pivoted, grabbed Hoshoryu’s shoulder and pulled him down. Hoshoryu, man, you hadn’t read the brief. That’s Midorifuji’s thing, dude. Now you get to sit there and think about what you’ve done while you wait for this dud bout between 2-6 Kirishima and 1-7 Nishikigi. Katasukashi.

Kirishima (3-6) defeated Nishikigi (1-8). Kirishima may have needed this to focus on his fundamentals. He took his time and did not rush anything. Rough nodowa pushed Nishikigi back.  Yorikiri.

Wrap-up

Well, that was a wild day. With all of that, I think I enjoyed the Kotoshoho/Kitanowaka bout the best, probably because it was so competitive, dynamic, and back-and-forth. Both guys fought hard and well and both guys seemed to have a grudge afterwards. It’s intriguing to watch these guys go at it because they went to high school together at the Saitama Sakae sekitori factory. Kotoshoho had one hell of a haymaker ready for his kohai.

I am a bit surprised that the schedulers did not pit Takerufuji against Onosato today. Instead, they’re doing that tomorrow? Sure, guys, have the hiramaku newbies fight in sanyaku — and then have them fight each other? Stop bringing whiskey to your meetings, lads.

Hoshoryu’s slip-up today takes him out of the race. We still have Kotonowaka, Takakeisho, and Shonannoumi chasing the two prodigies. Everyone else seems to be steadily slipping away. Asanoyama seems to have hit a wall on his comeback.