Day Fourteen brings us late breaking developments. Kotozakura is kyujo. He felt a pop in his knee yesterday while defeating Hoshoryu. Diagnosis is an urgent MCL injury requiring three weeks out. This will hand Onosato a fusen victory today, moving the Yokozuna to 13-1. Aonishiki and Takanosho are mathematically eliminated and Hoshoryu must win today to stay in the race.

In Juryo, Asahakuryu defeated Kagayaki to remain in the lead at 12-2. Asanoyama beat Fujiseiun to stay one loss off the pace at 11-3. Nishikifuji will visit Makuuchi today and will fight Asakoryu to see if he can stay in the race.

The NHK videos are here, along with a highlight bout of Tamashoho vs Nishinoryu in Juryo.

Makuuchi Action

Shonannoumi defeated Hitoshi. Shonannoumi charged forward and flopped to the ground while Hitoshi pulled and attempted a slapdown, running backwards out of the ring. Gunbai Shonannoumi, no mono-ii. Oshidashi.

Nishikifuji (11-3) defeated Asakoryu (6-8). Asakoryu pulled, like Hitoshi before him, and stepped out of the ring. Nishikifuji did not belly flop to the ground so this decision was more obvious. Oshidashi.

Tobizaru (8-6) defeated Mitakeumi (6-8). Tobizaru latched on to Mitakeumi’s belt and drove forward, forcing Mitakeumi over the bales. Yorikiri.

Nishikigi (2-12) defeated Roga (6-8). Nishikigi pressed forward a few steps and then pulled, shoving Roga down to the ground. Hikiotoshi.

Shishi (10-4) defeated Daieisho (6-8). Daieisho tsuppari appeared to be dominating Shishi, while Shishi cycled backward around the ring. Shishi charged forward to attack but Daieisho stepped to the side. Shishi went past but recovered before going out. Daieisho closed to attack but Shishi stepped to the side. Olé. Daieisho ran by and fell off the dohyo. Hatakikomi.

Sadanoumi (6-8) defeated Churanoumi (8-6). Churanoumi charged forward while Sadanoumi twisted with a throw attempt. Both men crashed out of the ring, landing in the crowd. Gunbai Churanoumi. Mono-ii. Churanoumi’s foot went out first so Sadanoumi was given the victory. Tsukiotoshi.

Tomokaze (9-5) defeated Midorifuji (6-8). Tomokaze pivoted to his right and slapped Midorifuji down. Hatakikomi.

Ura (10-4) defeated Ryuden (9-5). Both men pressed into each other with hazu-oshi. Suddenly, Ura pulled and Ryuden stumbled forward. Ryuden stopped his momentum before reaching the bales but Ura shoved him out. Oshidashi.

Kinbozan (7-7) defeated Tokihayate (6-8). Kinbozan thrust Tokihayate back. Tokihayate shifted and pulled but Kinbozan stuck with him and thrust Tokihayate out. Tsukidashi.

Oshoma (9-5) defeated Shodai (9-5). Shodai on the attack, tried to slap Oshoma down and then locked on with a left hand uwate. Oshoma broke Shodai’s hold, pressed forward and forced Shodai out. Oshidashi.

Meisei (5-9) defeated Atamifuji (4-10). Meisei pulled and slapped Atamifuji down. Atamifuji kept glancing at the shimpan, hoping for a mono-ii which never came. The result was not as close as Atamifuji thought but it was closer than necessary. The best pull of the first half was Tomokaze’s because it was such a clear victory with the “pivot and pull”. Hatakikomi.

Halftime

Fujinokawa (6-8) defeated Gonoyama (1-13). Gonoyama charged forward and Fujinokawa pivoted away. Gonoyama turned quickly his back was to the bales. Fujinokawa reengaged with a fierce attack and crushed Gonoyama over the bales. Yoritaoshi.

Wakamotoharu (8-6) defeated Hakuoho (7-7). Wakamotoharu locked up Hakuoho and drove him back. Hakuoho did not seem able to bear much weight on his right leg so he couldn’t get any resistance at the edge. Yorikiri.

Oho (9-5) defeated Kusano (7-7). Oho locked up Kusano’s arms at the tachiai. Kusano struggled to get his right arm released from Oho’s grasp. When he did, Oho still had Kusano’s left arm locked up, pivoted left and swung Kusano around to the edge. Oho then followed up and shoved Kusano out. Oshidashi.

Onokatsu (6-8) defeated Tamawashi. Tamawashi charged into Onokatsu behind his strong tsuppari. Onokatsu weathered the attack and snuck inside to get both arms locked inside on Tamawashi’s belt. This negated Tamawashi’s tsuppari attack and Onokatsu immediately drove him back across the dohyo. Tamawashi resisted at the bales and tried to escape to the left, then to the right. Onokatsu kept the pressure on until he forced Tamawashi over the bales. Yorikiri.

Ichiyamamoto (4-10) defeated Abi (3-11). Abi hit Ichiyamamoto with strong nodowa, then pivoted and pulled. Ichiyamamoto knew the pull was coming so he put the brakes on quickly. Abi was off balance and stumbled out with a little help from Ichiyamamoto. Oshidashi.

Sanyaku

Takayasu (6-8) defeated Kotoshoho (3-11). Solid tsuppari and footwork from Takayasu. He forced Kotoshoho back. Kotoshoho pivoted and pulled, pivoted and pulled, pivoted and pulled. But Takayasu pursued well hit Kotoshoho with strong tsuppari, charged forward and forced Kotoshoho out. Tsukidashi.

Aonishiki (11-3) defeated Hiradoumi (7-7). Hiradoumi hit Aonishiki hard at the tachiai. Aonishiki recovered, pressed ahead and suddenly shifted left, allowing Hiradoumi to fall forward. Hatakikomi.

Onosato (13-1) fusen over Kotozakura (9-5).

Takanosho (11-3) defeated Kirishima (6-8). Takanosho did his best Daieisho impression, thrusting into Kirishima and chasing him back. Kirishima tried to shove him and move to the side but he lost his balance and stepped out. It took a really long time for the kimarite to be announced. I wonder what the criteria were that determined tsukidashi. Were they thinking it might be oshidashi, or were they thinking isamiashi? Tsukidashi.

Hoshoryu (12-2) defeated Wakatakakage (6-8). Henka? Hoshoryu leaped ahead and to his right, grabbing Wakatakakage’s belt and pulling him forward. Hatakikomi.

Wrap-up

Hoshoryu gives us some suspense on Senshuraku. The title will come down to the Yokozuna on senshuraku! We have wanted this for years…5 ½, to be exact. The last time we had a Yokozuna showdown for the yusho was when Hakuho defeated Kakuryu in Osaka 2020. Before that, we have to go way back to Kyushu 2013 when Harumafuji defeated Hakuho.

We have make-koshi records from both Sekiwake and Takayasu at Komusubi. Takayasu will surely fall from sanyaku. The Aonishiki will be promoted to Sekiwake. Oho is laying claim to one of the open slots and Hakuoho might make a case with a win tomorrow, though his loss today has me concerned.

The full bout list is not available at the time of publish. I’ll update this post with the full pairings later.