The only early news from the infirmary is that Terunofuji will not participate in the basho. His continuing injury and health issues will keep him on the sidelines until at least Hatsu Basho. I’m watching live on JME again. I was a little concerned when I saw that the Waseda/Keio baseball game was right before the sumo action. Thankfully my boys at Keio pulled out the narrow 2-1 win.

This is probably one time that I would not have whined much if the game went into extra innings and sumo was pre-empted for a few bouts. I used to teach at Hiyoshi and I lived near their Mita campus, so I always have an affinity for Keio. Many of their high school and college students (and some of the teachers and professors) came to our language school. Fun times… Thankfully, it was not pre-empted and they actually had time for a little feature about the Tama Monorail. I had just taken that over the summer to go to the Jungyo event.

While I ponder the meaning of life and my role in the universe, as they seem to have planned this programming for me, back here on Earth, we’ve got a sumo tournament to cover. So, in the NHK videos for Today, we’ve got Juryo Part I and Part II and Makuuchi Part I and Part II.

Among the debutants in the top half of Juryo, Kotoeiho was assaulted and sent home battered and bruised by Nabatame on his sekitori debut. Wakaikari received a similarly brutal welcome at the hands of Tochitaikai who drove Wakaikari head first to the clay. Aonishiki wrangled Fujiseiun to the ground with a great shitatenage to pick up his first win as a full-time wrestler.

In the last half of Juryo, Hakuoho defeated Shirokuma. Shirokuma dragged Hakuoho to the edge with his left hand inside and tried to tip Hakuoho over the edge. Shirokuma’s head was so low to the ground that Hakuoho, whose hair is still too short for an oicho-mage, used his left hand on Shirokuma’s head to help press him to the ground.

Makuuchi Action

Kitanowaka defeated Bushozan. Kitanowaka got his left hand over Bushozan’s back, establishing a solid grip on the back of Bushozan’s mawashi. He used his right hand on Bushozan’s head to help pull him down. Uwatenage.

Takerufuji defeated Asakoryu. Takerufuji’s left hand ottsuke was strong but Asakoryu drove forward with all of his might. Takerufuji took advantage of Asakoryu’s forceful advance by getting both hands behind Asakoryu’s head and pulled him down to the ground. Hatakikomi.

Shishi defeated Tokihayate. A weird late matta. On the second try, the lumbering Shishi slammed his head into Tokihatate’s throat and wrapped up Tokihayate. He stayed low, despite being much bigger than Tokihayate and drove Tokihayate over the bales. Yorikiri.

Onokatsu defeated Nishikifuji. Nishikifuji drove forward to start but Onokatsu stopped his advance. Nishikifuji then tried a kotenage but Onokatsu stayed inside. As Nishikifuji backed away, Onokatsu drove forward and pressed Nishikifuji out. Oshidashi.

Chiyoshoma defeated Shonannoumi. Chiyoshoma latched on with his right-hand outside and spun Shonannoumi toward the bales and over. After Shonannoumi started heading back toward the hanamichi, the chief shimpan recalled him, forcing him to bow. It will be interesting if the Kyokai begin enforcing this a bit more. Some bows are quite perfunctory nods…if that. Yorikiri.

Sadanoumi defeated Ryuden. Power sumo from Sadanoumi. Ryuden locked on with his right hand outside but Sadanoumi switched up his grip to a left hand outside and right-hand inside. From there, Sadanoumi summoned the strength of the home Kyushu crowd to pull Ryuden up, drove him up, back, and off the cliff, into the crowd. Yorikiri.

Hokutofuji defeated Meisei. What a beautiful YOTSU bout from Thumper! This was a great, lengthy grapple and surely an early contender for “Bout-of-the-Day.” Hokutofuji finished Meisei off by twisting and pulling Meisei forward with his right hand. Uwatenage.

Tamawashi defeated Takarafuji. Tamawashi’s bruising kotenage wrenched Takarafuji’s bad left arm in a way that made Takayasu wince from his seat at the side of the ring. In obvious pain, Takarafuji pulled his left arm out and turned away. Tamawashi then gently ushered Takarafuji over. Okuridashi.

Ichiyamamoto defeated Takayasu. Takayasu landed several strikes to Ichiyamamoto’s head but Ichiyamamoto’s forceful tsuppari drove Takayasu back and out. Oshidashi.

Midorifuji defeated Gonoyama. Midorifuji henka! Midorifuji avoided Gonoyama’s tachiai, latched on to his right shoulder and spun him down. What else? Katasukashi.

Mitakeumi defeated Roga. Roga forced Mitakeumi to slide to the bales. Mitakeumi had a firm morozashi, however. He hoisted Roga up, spun around, and drove Roga out. Yorikiri.

Halftime

Endo defeated Nishikigi. Nishikigi had little offense but tried to counter Endo’s attack, relying on inshashi. Endo knew where that green mawashi was, however, gave chase and pressed forward with his solid yotsu. Yorikiri.

Takanosho defeated Kotoshoho. Takanosho assaulted Kotoshoho about the head and shoulders and blasted him out of the ring. More of this, please. Oshitaoshi.

Tobizaru defeated Oshoma. Oshoma did not really know how to approach Tobizaru, other than to keep him at arm’s length. He was probably trying to get a pull down timed right but Tobizaru pressed forward and shoved him out. Oshidashi.

Atamifuji defeated Churanoumi. Churanoumi yanked Atamifuji’s left arm away but Atamifuji continued to press forward and ushered him out. Yorikiri.

Sanyaku

Wakamotoharu defeated Abi. Standard Abi-zumo as he pressed forward initially then retreated and tried to slap Wakamotoharu down. Gunbai WMH. Mono-ii. Both were out at the same time, so we need a rematch. More of the same in the rematch but Abi’s right foot grazed the top of the tawara and slid out, under the black tassel. Abi-zumo needs an overhaul. Oshidashi.

Daieisho defeated Ura. Daieisho kept Ura in front of him and kept thrusting him back. Ura tried to dig in at the edge but Daieisho finishes him. Tsukitaoshi.

Wakatakakage defeated Kirishima. Wakatakakage drove forward and forced Kirishima’s heels to the bales. Kirishima did not want to go out so Wakatakakage finished him off by pitching over to his right and throwing him down. Shitatenage.

Onosato defeated Hiradoumi. Hiradoumi blasted Onosato at the initial charge and had the early advantage but Onosato deflected the bowling ball to the side, under the white tassel, by thrusting his left arm into Hiradoumi’s right armpit. Tsukiotoshi.

Hoshoryu defeated Oho. A day one win from Hoshoryu! That’s something. Strong tachiai from both men but Hoshoryu seemed to be the only one who showed up with a plan. He slipped to the right, stayed low and drove into Oho, seizing his opponent’s belt. Oho was immediately back-footed and tried a slapdown but Hoshoryu forced him out, under the black tassel. Yorikiri.

Kotozakura defeated Shodai. Kotozakura baited Shodai into pressing forward. Shodai was too eager AND TOO DAMN HIGH!! At the edge, Kotozakura turned the tables and shrugged Shodai over to the side with a well-placed shove to the shoulder as he ducked to the side. Tsukiotoshi.

Wrap-up

WE’RE BACK! Many changes at the top and some shaky performances but all of the Ozeki won their first bouts. Hoshoryu was dominant in his bout. He appeared to have a plan and executed well. Across the torikumi there was definitely some ring rust to be found and Takarafuji’s elbow injury is concerning. But there were a lot of positives. Hokutofuji’s transformation into a grappler has me shook, though. We’ve seen it progress over the past few basho but this bout with Meisei was great. I have no idea how deep Sadanoumi’s well is as he overpowered Ryuden.

Kirishima will need to bounce back against Ura tomorrow and Shodai will face Abi. But Wakamotoharu versus Hoshoryu in the musubi-no-ichiban is certainly a worthy bout to feature. Onosato will not want to be caught wrong-footed against Oho tomorrow but it’s Kotozakura that worries me most. His relaxed, passive sumo of today will be threatened by the powder keg, Hiradoumi, on Day 2.

It is great to have you all back to enjoy this tournament with us. I can’t wait to see where this yusho race takes us. And Go, Keio!