Kusano

Nagoya 2025: Day Fourteen

Andy Kotoshoho, Nagoya 2025, Nagoya Basho , , , ,

Kyujo news first. Ura is out from today and Midorifuji will pick up the walkover win. Mita defeated Daiseizan with a lightning quick pull at the tachiai. Mita picked up his eleventh win while Daiseizan flopped down to his fourth loss and a tie with Kōtokuzan for second place.

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

Makuuchi Action

Kotoeiho (5-9) defeated Nishikigi (7-7). Kotoeiho pressed forward to the tawara. Nishikigi tried to dump him over the edge and pivoted along the tawara but Kotoeiho drove him over the edge. Oshidashi.

Kayo (3-11) defeated Hidenoumi (1-10-2). Kayo charged forward hard, attacked Hidenoumi with a nodowa and then pulled Hidenoumi down for the slapdown victory. That’s what Andy wants to see. The full reverse garbage is just capitulation. But apparently Kayo only wants to fight the injured guys? Hatakikomi.

Churanoumi (9-5) defeated Mitakeumi (9-5). Mitakeumi charged forward and forced Churanoumi to the edge. At the bales, Churanoumi shifted to the right along the bales, shoved Mitakeumi to the side and then pushed Mitakeumi out. Oshidashi.

Fujinokawa (9-5) defeated Takanosho (8-6). Takanosho tried to slap Fujinokawa down at the tachiai but Fujinokawa kept his balance and pivoted. Takanosho then charged forward but Fujinokawa slipped to the side and pulled Takanosho down. Hikiotoshi.

Shishi (6-8) defeated Tokihayate (6-8). Tokihayate got his right hand inside for a katasukashi pull down and pivoted but Shishi pressed forward and forced him out. Yorikiri.

Shodai (9-5) defeated Roga (7-7). Shodai pressed Roga forward to the bales. Roga attempted to resist at the bales but Shodai dumped him with a strong left hand over-arm throw. Uwatenage.

Midorifuji (9-5) default win over Ura (8-6).

Asakoryu (6-8) defeated Chiyoshoma (1-13). You have to give it to Chiyoshoma. He gave it his all here but Asakoryu dumped him over the edge with his left-hand inside. Shitatenage.

Tamawashi (10-4) defeated Ichiyamamoto (9-5). Ichiyamamoto started out with his tsuppari so Tamawashi gauged Ichiyamamoto in the face and then slipped his right hand inside to drive Ichiyamamoto back and out. Yorikiri.

Onokatsu (6-8) defeated Kinbozan (3-11). Onokatsu weathered Kinbozan’s shoves and slapdown attempts. When Kinbozan tired, Onokatsu slipped in and drove Kinbozan back for a yorikiri win.

Halftime

Oho (6-8) defeated Gonoyama (8-6). Oho braved the torrent of Gonoyama’s tsuppari and pressed forward for a step and then quickly pulled and slapped Gonoyama down for the hatakikomi victory.

Hakuoho (8-6) defeated Abi (8-6). Abi tried to slap Hakuoho down and pulled him around the ring with his deep hold on Hakuoho’s mawashi. But Hakuoho refused to go down and from his solid, low position shoved Abi over the edge. Oshidashi.

Kusano (11-3) defeated Aonishiki (11-3). Kusano got a deep left hand outside grip and pulled Aonishiki forward, attempting the slapdown. Aonishiki did not go down easy but Kusano kept pressing forward and forced Aonishiki to step out. Yorikiri.

Wakamotoharu (6-8) defeated Meisei (3-11). Meisei’s thigh is taped up but he had to keep that leg forward with most of his lower body resistance coming from the left. The pair attacked each other with flurries of tsuppari and Wakamotoharu waited Meisei out. When Meisei shifted so that weak right leg was braced at the bales, he thrust Meisei down. Tsukitaoshi.

Sanyaku

Sadanoumi (4-10) defeated Oshoma (3-11). Sadanoumi pressed Oshoma back and drove him over the edge. Oshidashi.

Takayasu (9-5) defeated Atamifuji (10-4). Atamifuji drove Takayasu to the edge and nearly forced him out but Takayasu resisted, worked his way back to the center of the ring and got a firm right hand inside grip. While a tired Atamifuji pondered what to do next, Takayasu dumped him with a beautiful underarm throw. Atamifuji was pissed at himself because he was so close. He angrily flagellated himself with his sagari as he walked back down the hanamichi in defeat. Shitatenage.

Kotoshoho (12-2) defeated Kirishima (8-6). When Kirishima started to charge forward, Kotoshoho slipped to the side, grabbed Kirishima’s thong and threw him forward over the bales. Uwatenage.

Kotozakura (8-6) defeated Hiradoumi (7-7). While Hiradoumi was low and trying to find a belt grip, Kotozakura quickly twisted him down. Sukuinage.

Onosato (10-4) defeated Wakatakakage (9-5). Onosato patiently drove forward as WTK pulled and stepped out. Oshidashi.

Wrap up

Heading into Senshuraku, M15 Kotoshoho holds sole possession of the lead with 12 wins. Aonishiki and Kusano trail with 11.

Kotozakura picked up that important win number eight.

Pairings for tomorrow have not been posted. I’ll send out an update when they’ve made decisions about the torikumi for Senshuraku. Kotoshoho has already beat Kusano but has not fought Aonishiki. He also has not fought Ozeki Kotozakura. (And he can’t, as J reminded me. As if the KOTO- prefix wasn’t enough of a hint, they’re in the same heya. Silly me! Next tournament I will propose a bout with Kotoeiho for extra egg on my face. Stablemate, brother, and different division by then.)

The bout makers have themselves a pickle. Do they hand out a yusho to Kotoshoho after fighting 1 Yokozuna, 1 Sekiwake and 1 Komusubi?

***Update*** As Thomas noted, the bout list is out. Kotoshoho versus Aonishiki and Kusano versus Takayasu.

For our sanyaku bouts, Onosato will fight Kotozakura, Wakatakakage will fight Kirishima, and Oshoma will face Tamawashi.

Nagoya 2025: Day Lucky Thirteen

Andy Nagoya 2025, Nagoya Basho , , , , ,

As usual, I will start with kyujo news. Takerufuji and Tobizaru will be kyujo today. Fujinokawa and Churanoumi will get the fusen wins. With a number of fewer bouts and a slower pace of action, I will have more time to write. So, you can expect fewer typos, some longer descriptions, random rants and musings in today’s coverage.

But the best part is, Takerufuji will finally get some rest and will be able to properly address that bicep injury. Tobizaru does not go kyujo often but he seems to be a bit smarter about it than what we’ve seen from Isegahama in the past.

To recap our yusho race, Kotoshoho and Aonishiki lead with two losses. Onosato, Ichiyamamoto, Atamifuji and Kusano are chasing with three. The bouts for today were decided after I wrote my highlights. The bout makers decided Kotoshoho will fight Onosato and Aonishiki will fight Ichiyamamoto. Kotozakura will fight Atamifuji and Kusano will fight Kirishima.

For the rest of our sanyaku pairings, we will have Wakatakakage fight Ura, Oshoma take on Meisei, and Tamawashi fight Takayasu.

In Juryo, Daiseizan threw Tochitaikai over the bales and Mita overpowered Shiden to improve to 10-3. Daiseizan and Mita lead that yusho race with Kotokuzan and Shonannoumi chasing. Nishikigi and Ryuden have 7 wins each from the top rung of the Juryo ladder.

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

Top Division Action

Shishi (5-8) defeated Tamashoho (5-8). Tamashoho henka but Shishi was moving slow enough to catch it and resist the subsequent slapdown attempt. Tamashoho’s usual impotent tsuppari did not phase Shishi as the Ukrainian advanced, wrapped up Tamashoho’s belt and forced him from the dohyo. Yorikiri.

Asakoryu (5-8) defeated Kotoeiho (4-9). Asakoryu charged into Kotoeiho, driving him to the edge but Kotoeiho used the leverage from the bales to resist. So, Asakoryu reared back and tried a slapdown but Kotoeiho’s balance was solid. Asakoryu then tried an armbar/kotenage but that didn’t work, spun around and got another grip of Kotoeiho’s belt. Finally pulled Kotoeiho down with his underarm throw. Kotoeiho’s lesson here should be that effective resistance must be accompanied by some sort of offense, otherwise, you’re just hoping the other guy finds a way to lose and delaying your own defeat. Shitatenage.

Tokihayate (6-7) defeated Kayo (2-11). Kayo reversed his way to the edge and Tokihayate helped push him out. If it were possible to demote someone mid-tournament, I would nominate Kayo to be the first. Remember what I was saying about effective resistance? Well, it’s occasionally always helpful to show SOME SORT OF RESISTANCE. Kayo has even proven that with his two wins. He is capable of aggression and he needs to bring that if he wants to stay in the division. In all of these losses, he’s backing away so fast that he is basically hoping his opponent gets tripped by a stray zabuton or grain of salt. Oshidashi.

Mitakeumi (9-4) defeated Roga (7-6). Mitakeumi nearly caught Roga early with a change of direction but Roga adjusted and drove forward into the former Ozeki. Mitakeumi got a hold of Roga’s belt, pivoted and pulled Roga down with a beautiful overarm throw with that left hand. Uwatenage.

Shodai (8-5) defeated Chiyoshoma (1-12). Shodai just overpowered Chiyoshoma, wrapped him up and drove him out. Oshidashi.

Sadanoumi defeated Hidenoumi (1-10-2). Hidenoumi offered token resistance as Sadanoumi wrapped him up and ushered him out. Yorikiri.

Churanoumi (8-5) default win versus Tobizaru (3-10).

Gonoyama (8-5) defeated Midorifuji (8-5). Gonoyama chased Midorifuji and roughly shoved him to the ground. Tsukiotoshi.

Fujinokawa (8-5) default win versus Takerufuji (5-8). Fujinokawa, in his top division debut, will remain in the top division for September.

Hiradoumi (7-6) defeated Onokatsu (5-8). Hiradoumi hit Onokatsu with a solid tachiai but followed up by shifting left and slapping Onokatsu down. Hatakikomi.

Halftime

Abi (8-5) defeated Takanosho (8-5). Abi resisted Takanosho’s early charge but withheld his usual volleys of tsuppari. With the bales at his heels, Abi finally launched out with a forceful nodowa and then quickly yanked Takanosho down. I think we are seeing Abi adapt his sumo style to avoid some of the repetitive pounding of his elbows. He doesn’t seem to launch out with guns blazing very often anymore. Hikiotoshi.

Oho (5-8) defeated Kinbozan (3-10). Oho moved forward and forced Kinbozan out. Kinbozan was halfway out before he tried a slapdown. Oshidashi.

Wakamotoharu (5-8) defeated Hakuoho (7-6). Hakuoho lacked some of his forward power, I think because of that ankle. He held on to Wakamotoharu and tried to throw him as he backed around the ring. Wakamotoharu cornered him and walked him over the edge. Remember what I said about Isegahama folks powering through injuries? Yeah. Yorikiri.

Aonishiki (11-2) defeated Ichiyamamoto (9-4). Aonishiki patiently absorbed Ichiyamamoto’s usual thrusting attack, stayed low and pressed his way inside. He wrapped up Ichiyamamoto with his left arm and used his right to shove Ichiyamamoto back. Yorikiri.

Sanyaku

Tamawashi (9-4) defeated Takayasu (8-5). Tamawashi blasted Takayasu and overpowered him, driving him back with an effective right arm nodowa which simultaneously seemed to function as ottsuke, blocking Takayasu’s left arm from reaching in. Oshidashi.

Oshoma (3-10) defeated Meisei (3-10). After a brawl, Oshoma pulled and slapped Meisei down. Oh, no, Meisei might have pulled a hammy. He reached back immediately after falling forward and could barely walk back up the hanamichi. Maybe he can “walk it off,” though, as he seemed to wave off the big wheelchair. Hatakikomi.

Wakatakakage (9-4) defeated Ura (8-5). Wakatakakage attacked Ura and yanked him toward the tawara. Watch this space for news of Ura’s left knee. As he resisted Wakatakakage’s nodowa, he seemed to hyper-extend it and immediately moved laterally and rolled down. He then had difficulty getting back up onto the dohyo. Ura will rub some keiko on that knee in the morning and be fine. Oshitaoshi.

Kusano (10-3) defeated Kirishima (8-5). What a beautiful move by Kusano! He is not intimidated by these high-rankers at all. After a flurry of tsuppari, the two wrapped each other up with a right hand inside. As Kusano lifted up and drove forward, Kirishima pivoted on his left and started to rotate, initiating an uwatenage. At that instant, Kusano wrapped his right leg around Kirishima’s left and the Sekiwake crumpled. OMG. That was nice. The rotation meant Kirishima’s left leg would be in range for the trip. This is the kid’s first tournament in the top division but that insight came from experience. Sotogake.

Atamifuiji (10-3) defeated Kotozakura (7-6). Atamifuji just muscled the Ozeki over the bales with a left hand over arm grip and his right arm in Kotozakura’s armpit. Yorikiri.

Kotoshoho (11-2) defeated Onosato (9-3). The good news: Onosato did not go backward today. He hit Kotoshoho square at the tachiai and moved forward. Kotoshoho grabbed Onosato’s belt with a left hand over arm grip, pulled and dragged the Yokozuna to the edge before dropping him over the bales and out of the yusho race. Alright, Nikkan Sports, where is your Densetsu now? Oh, that’s right, he’s in the lap of some geezer in the front row, again. Kinboshi #4. Uwatenage.

Wrap-up

Well, this debut tournament for Yokozuna Onosato has gone completely sideways. Maybe he will eventually live up to the hype and maybe he needed a bit of a humbling. Remember, he still has yet to have a losing record. He has nine wins while Kotozakura is still searching for kachi-koshi. But when the hype is this great, a 9-4 start and four defeats to rank-and-filers does not make for the birth of a legend as anticipated…unless the legend was someone else.

It has become a breakout moment for Aonishiki, Kusano, and checks notes…Kotoshoho?!?! Where did he come from? He has not exactly had a stellar year. He may have been a bit sheepish after his slick little win against Takayasu yesterday but he went right at the Yokozuna today. Maybe the sharks smell blood?

Tomorrow’s bout list is still not out. Again, I will try to update later this evening. We’ll see. I’ve eaten too much of the kids’ cereal this morning so I’ve got a bit of a sugar high. I might be able to check back in a bit.

As we turn Andy’s attention back to the present, we have four maegashira at the top of the leaderboard. Aonishiki and Kotoshoho lead and might face each other tomorrow. Atamifuji and Kusano are just behind with three losses. If they pair off Aonishiki and Kotoshoho, we will have at least a 12-win yusho and all of the sanyaku veterans are completely out of the race with two days remaining.

***Breaking News***

They just published the bout list, right after I published my post. Aonishiki will fight Kusano and Kotoshoho will fight Kirishima. Atamifuji will take on Takayasu.

For our sanyaku bouts, Onosato will battle Wakatakakage, Kotozakura will fight Hiradoumi as both men seek kachi-koshi. Oshoma will fight Sadanoumi as both men are having a terrible tournament with 3-10 records, so far.

Nagoya 2025: Day Twelve

Andy Nagoya 2025, Nagoya Basho , ,

NHK videos for Day 12 are here: Juryo, Makuuchi Part I & Part II.

Makuuchi Action

Tomokaze (7-5) defeated Hidenoumi (1-9-2). Hidenoumi resisted Tomokaze’s nodowa and charged forward but Tomokaze slapped him down. Gunbai Hidenoumi? Mono-ii. Asanosuke just pointed the wrong way. Hatakikomi.

Midorifuji (8-4) defeated Shishi (4-8). Shishi physically dominated Midorifuji, holding him at arm’s length and then slapping him down. Gunbai Shishi. Mono-ii? Judges ruled there was a hair-pull on the slapdown. Hansoku.

Takanosho (8-4) defeated Kotoeiho (4-8). Jesus. Takanosho obliterated Kotoeiho at the tachiai and steamrolled through Kotoeiho’s face, standing him up, driving him back and forcing Kotoeiho to flop backwards roughly on his butt. Brutal. I did not know Takanosho was capable of such destruction. Oshitaoshi.

Fujinokawa (7-5) defeated Tokihayate (5-7). Fujinokawa got a solid hold of Tokihayate’s belt and while Tokiyahate tried to fumble around for a hold of Fujinokawa, Fujinokawa pivoted and pulled Tokihayate down with a powerful uwatenage.

Atamifuji (9-3) defeated Mitakeumi (8-4). Mitakeumi hit Atamifuji hard at the tachiai but Atamifuji charged forward and shoved Mitakeumi from the ring, unphased by Mitakeumi’s shift in direction. Tsukidashi.

Chiyoshoma (1-11) defeated Kayo (2-10). Kayo almost slapped Chiyoshoma down at the tachiai. However, Chiyoshoma kept his balance and pursued Kayo, reached back and got a solid right-hand grip of Kayo’s belt, and then threw him down. Uwatenage.

Churanoumi (7-5) defeated Sadanoumi (2-10). Churanoumi hit Sadanoumi head on at the tachiai but shifted to his right and hit Sadanoumi from the side, shoving him out of the ring. Okuridashi.

Asakoryu (4-8) defeated Tobizaru (3-9). Asakoryu tried to get his right arm inside but he couldn’t reach deep enough to get at Tobizaru’s belt. Finding no success there, Asakoryu released with his right but bore down and trapped Tobizaru’s right arm with his left shoulder. Pulling with the arm bar hold, Asakoryu dragged Tobizaru from the ring. Tobizaru was slow to get up. Kotenage.

Shodai (7-5) defeated Takerufuji (5-7). Takerufuji hit Shodai hard but he was too far forward. Shodai shifted to his right and slapped Takerufuji down. Tsukiotoshi.

Gonoyama (7-5) defeated Roga (7-5). Gonoyama charged forward and forced Roga out. Yorikiri.

Halftime

Ura (8-4) defeated Meisei (3-9). Meisei did his best Kayo impression, retreating from Ura and trying to slap him down, once, twice…and then he slipped on the third try, helped by Ura’s own slapdown. Ura clinched his first kachi-koshi after a streak of four make-koshi. Hatakikomi.

Hakuoho (7-5) defeated Onokatsu (5-7). Hakuoho buried his head in Onokatsu’s chest and plowed through as Onokatsu tried a slapdown. Oshidashi.

Abi (7-5) defeated Oho (4-8). With his back to the bales, Abi shoved Oho to the left and pounced as Oho showed his back. Once behind, Abi shoved Oho out with ease. Okuridashi.

Aonishiki (10-2) defeated Tamawashi (8-4). I love how most wrestlers have these amazingly bright colored towels while Tamawashi seems to have swiped an old, drab white bath towel from a Holiday Inn back in 2003. After a flurry of tsuppari, Aonishiki got low and forced himself inside. Aonishiki got his left hand inside and pulled Tamawashi down with a shitatenage.

Wakamotoharu (3-9) defeated Kinbozan (4-8). Kinbozan henka. Wakamotoharu resisted the slapdown and wrapped Kinbozan up with the right arm. As Kinbozan seemed to try to go for a headlock, Wakamotoharu slipped around back and then drove Kinbozan out from behind. Okuridashi.

Sanyaku

Hiradoumi (6-6) defeated Oshoma(2-10). Hiradoumi got his right hand inside early but Oshoma used his ottsuke to block Hiradoumi’s left hand. But he could not block Hiradoumi forever. Once Hiradoumi got that left hand inside to join the right, he drove Oshoma back to the edge. Oshoma dug in at the bales but Hiradoumi could taste victory and crushed Oshoma over the bales. Yoritaoshi.

Kotoshoho (10-2) defeated Takayasu (8-4). Well-timed sidestep from Kotoshoho. After a brief exchange of thrusts at the tachiai, Kotoshoho slipped left – precisely when Takayasu chose to charge forward. Olé! Takayasu went charging off the dohyo and halfway down the hanamichi. The look on Kotoshoho’s face when he got away with it was hilarious, like he was stifling a laugh. “Holy shit; That worked!” Hatakikomi.

Wakatakakage (8-4) defeated Kusano (9-3). For all of Kusano’s early success this tournament he was rewarded with a prime-time bout today against Sekiwake, Wakatakakage. He gave it his all but Wakatakakage just overpowered him and drove Kusano completely off the dohyo. Admirable effort. Yoritaoshi.

Kotozakura (7-5) defeated Kirishima (8-4). Kirishima got his right hand inside. During a good lean fest, Kirishima tried several times to pull up and drive Kotozakura out. Kotozakura had his right hand inside and eventually switched his left hand grip to the inside giving him a fearsome morozashi. This turned the tables completely and Kotozakura rushed Kirishima off the dohyo. Yorikiri.

Onosato defeated Ichiyamamoto. Ichiyamamoto rushed forward but Onosato withdrew quicker and slapped Ichiyamamoto down. Ichiyamamoto fell to the clay as Onosato leapt into the crowd. Gunbai Ichiyamamoto. Mono-ii. Did Ichiyamamoto force Onosato out or did he fall first? The judges conference took a long time. Video review showed Ichiyamamoto’s right thigh coming down as Onosato’s foot left the tawara. “We can’t give the Yokozuna this cowardly win. Hinkaku is at stake. We order a rematch.” On the rematch, Onosato pulled AGAIN. This time, though, Ichiyamamoto charged forward in a more controlled manner but when he forced Onosato to the edge, he picked up his right hip to give a little extra shove. That was a huge mistake as it allowed Onosato to get behind him. Onosato blasted his way forward while Ichiyamamoto tried to regroup. Ichiyamamoto got himself righted at the bales but Onosato was too powerful and shoved him out. Oshidashi.

Wrap-up

What a disappointing bout to end the day. Who likes to see their Yokozuna adopt Kayo’s fighting strategy? Slam it in reverse and hope it ends well. Ugh. Well, the torikumi for tomorrow is not out yet. I’ll try to post this evening with a preview of the bouts. They will probably be up soon.

At the end of Day 12 we have Aonishiki and Kotoshoho at the top of the leaderboard with 10 wins and two losses. Onosato, Ichiyamamoto, Atamifuji and Kusano are just behind with three losses, each. Aonishiki versus Kotoshoho tomorrow, perhaps? Or Kotoshoho versus Onosato and Aonishiki versus Ichiyamamoto?

Surely tomorrow will have a better musubi-no-ichiban but this yusho race is rather wacky and unpredictable. And I thought we were going to have this grand period of tranquil dominance by Onosato. I guess not quite yet.