Jonokuchi

Nagoya 2022: Jonokuchi Match Day 5

Andy Nagoya Basho 2022

And then there was one. Our first bout today is that of our final two undefeated wrestlers in Jonokuchi. After Takataisho’s defeat of Dairinzan and Takahashi’s win over Toshunryu, the two faced each other yesterday. Takahashi bullied Takataisho out for a very quick win. The yusho is now his to lose. If he does falter, we will have a playoff on senshuraku between any remaining 6-1 wrestlers.

Waiting in the wings would certainly be Toshunryu who seemed to want to take out his revenge on poor Kotofuno. The way he approached this tachiai, and hatakikomi attempt, it looked like he wanted to bury Kotofuno with the squid that’s buried in the middle of the ring. Yeesh. Fortunately for Kotofuno, Toshunryu’s attempt failed but he was sadly still no match for the tsuppari that followed.

So, what’s left? Well, we’ve still got a good deal of entertaining bouts. For the second and third videos, we’ve got Ikazuchido, fighting two nights consecutively. He’s got the athleticism and flexibility but not quite the form and technique, so his style’s a bit hectic at the moment and the bouts seem a bit disjointed but they’re certainly action-packed and entertaining.

First, he took on Toramusashi. The difference in styles here is apparent as Ikazuchido had little response to the forceful tsuppari of Toramusashi. Ikazuchido kept trying to power through and force a yotsu-style grapple, but he sure took a beating in this match. At one point, he got shoved half-way back across the dohyo. Toramusashi then rapidly moved in to finish him off with oshidashi.

Next, he faced Najima. Now this allowed for a very evenly-matched yotsu-battle as both men battled to get a solid grip on his opponent’s mawashi. In the end, Najima prevailed with an uwatedashinage, made more flashy by yet another Ikazuchido cartwheel. As he moved toward the edge, Najima nearly lost his balance but his foot plants along the straw bales. That may have given him the leverage to execute his throw. In both cases, their technique seems rather raw. A lot of shuffling around and I feel that both men missed a couple of chances to execute trips but both, along with guys like Gaia and Byakuen, make for fun bouts.

Lastly, we go up to Jonidan to watch Rinko take on Tatsuosho. Rinko and his brother Hayashiryu had high hopes in Jonokuchi but came up in a very challenging group. Up in Jonidan, Rinko’s form seems to be coming together nicely, as we see in this bout. We all love that forward-moving sumo, amirite?

Nagoya 2022: Jonokuchi Match Day 4

Andy Nagoya Basho 2022

Tonight, the Kyokai scheduled the likely yusho bout on Day 4 between Toshunryu and Takahashi and that bout leads our video, below. While Toshunryu has shown his own skill in the first three bouts his size disadvantage with Takahashi is apparent. He gives up 10 cm and almost 50 kg. Takahashi made the most of it, locking in on his opponent’s mawashi and then wrenching him violently across the ring. Toshunryu resisted at the edge but Takahashi just dragged him to the other side and forced him out.

That might have handed Takahashi the title but we do have one more pair of undefeated wrestlers. Our next fight is Takataisho versus Dairinzan. This was not the strongest tachiai from Takataisho, and he almost let Dairinzan just usher him back to the tawara. But once his feet made purchase, he flipped the script, spinning Dairinzan around and shoving him, forcefully, clear of the dohyo. Takataisho earned his kachi-koshi and will face the taller Takahashi.

Kazuto remains one win back of the leaders with his win against Wakaonehara. He overpowered the Nishiiwa-beya youngster, tossing him into the shimpan below. Suyama faced a bit more competition in Toramusashi but prevailed. Both Kazuto and Suyama are in the hunt if the winner of Takataisho/Takahashi falters in the closing days.

Last, I have a bout from Jonidan, featuring undefeated Kazekeno and Ishii. You may remember Kazekeno from his yusho win last tournament. And Ishii was a touted recruit at Miyagino-beya and is a talented wrestler but injury issues have plagued his young career. Nevertheless, he has been ranked in Sandanme and is a serious challenger for the Jonidan title in his own right. At the tachiai, Kazekeno pressed forward strongly into Ishii but a Ishii slipped his grasp and then executed a beautiful throw.

Nagoya 2022: Jonokuchi Match Day 3

Andy Nagoya Basho 2022

Before we get started with Day 3, we’ve got one hold-over bout to cover from Day 2. The first bout on the video is Wakaonehara, with one loss, against Ikazuchido. Ikazuchido fought a rather spirited bout but lost via cartwheel-nage. That dropped him out of the leadership group but his win today (not on the video) keeps him in the hunt for now.

Very quickly the leadership group in Jonokuchi has been narrowed to four. The second bout in the video features Toramusashi vs Takahashi. Takahashi dominated, easily forcing his opponent out. Similarly, Toshunryu’s strength intimidated Detachi so much, Detachi virtually turned and ran away.

I think the yusho will come down to a Toshunryu/Takahashi showdown. However, there are also a couple of experienced wrestlers who can play spoiler or make a dark horse run themselves. Takataisho got Jokoki sideways and powered him over the edge to remain undefeated. And lastly, Dairinzan is no slouch, spinning Wakayamanaka out into the front-row cushions.

Up in Sandanme, Kototebakari suffered the first loss of his career against Itadaki. He had claimed the Jonidan title in May and the Jonokuchi yusho in his March debut. Being forced out of the race so early this tournament is quite the surprise.

Nagoya 2022: Jonokuchi Match Day 2

Andy Nagoya Basho 2022

I’ve got a quick three bouts for us today from Jonokuchi. We’re technically not finished with all Match Day 2 bouts because Ikazuchido has yet to fight and may be on tap for tomorrow. But to stay on schedule, I’ll post these and if that bout warrants, I’ll post an update. Anyway, yesterday they had most of the Day 1 loser bracket fight. Kazuto and Oyamada are solid rikishi, though. So despite their Day 1 losses, they put together a great effort today. It’s not often that we see a successful sotogake (outside leg trip) in the bottom division.

Next up, we have Suyama versus Toshunryu. I promise today’s the last time I’ll mention that Suyama’s from Tokyo University. Toshunryu superman blasted him clear from the dohyo, cementing his position as favorite in this yusho race. Then lastly I have Takahashi, obliterating Wakaonehara. You could say he Waka-owned-a-hara. Sorry folks, the jokes don’t get any better today. I figure these two will face each other on Day 6 or Day 7 as the yusho race really heats up.

The yusho winner from last tournament is starting out hot up in Jonidan. He’s actually ranked lower on the banzuke than the other three men from the playoff because that result doesn’t count to the banzuke placement. So all men had similar 6-1 records but Kazekeno had started from the lower rank last tournament. Kazekeno could have blown Matsugashima from the dohyo with a strong wind, given that little resistance. All he’d need to prepare for their next bout is a good bowl of chilli, heavy on the beans.

Arise, Yamato, and Tanji have also started out 2-0. Tanji’s bout with Fukuminato is below, while Arise defeated Kotomyozan and Yamato forced down Satsumao.