Sandanme

Aki Story 1 – Wakaichiro

Bruce H Aki Basho 2018, Wakaichiro (若一郎)

Wakaichiro nagoya Day 1

In the heat and toil of Nagoya, Texas sumotori Wakaichiro pulled off a come from behind kachi-koshi from a Sandanme 94 slot. This was his 3rd posting to a Sandanme rank, and the first time he was able to achieve kachi-koshi in that division. His Nagoya record was

Day 1 – Win vs Kotoato
Day 3 – Loss vs Dewaazuma
Day 5 – Loss vs Kototora
Day 7 – Loss vs Kotorikuzan
Day 9 – Win vs Mienosato
Day 11 – Win vs Mitsumune
Day 14 – Win vs Fudano

As you can see, Wakaichiro ran his record to 1-3 before he battled back with 3 straight wins to earn his promotion. For Aki he is posted to Sandanme 77, his highest rank ever, and will face a tough slate of up-and-coming rikishi, along with many grizzled vets. His fans should take heart, as he has always fought better in Tokyo, and has a real chance of a break out basho.

Wakaichiro Finishes Nagoya With A Win

Bruce H Kachi Koshi, Nagoya basho 2018, Wakaichiro (若一郎) ,

Wakaichiro-Noodles

Texas sumotori Wakaichiro completed the Nagoya basho with his 4th win, earning his first kachi-koshi in Sandanme, and ensuring his place in that division for September’s Aki basho. Over the course of the past two weeks, Wakaichiro has shown significantly improved sumo, and overcame an early string of losses, to “win out” and ensure his promotion.

The team at Tachiai extend our congratulations for an excellent, hard fought tournament. Even when he was down 1-3, Wakaichiro rallied and pulled it off. We look forward to harder matches and tougher competition in September.

We will bring you video as soon as we can find it, his expression following the match is carefully restrained elation.

Wakaichiro day 14
Day 14 Match Photo – Shamelessly Stolen From The NSK Twitter Feed

Wakaichiro’s Final Nagoya Match – Day 14

Bruce H Nagoya basho 2018, Wakaichiro (若一郎) ,

Wakaichro nagoya Day 9

Texas sumotori Wakaichiro enters his final match with a 3-3 record, and the outcome of this last bout determines if he ends the tournament with a winning or losing record. His opponent on day 14 is Sandanme 99 Fudano, from Azumazeki heya. Fudano is a recent newcomer to sumo, who has been ranked as high as Sd95 in May of 2017.

A win would mean that Wakaichiro would stay in Sandanme for the Aki tournament in Tokyo, and a loss would signal a likely demotion to the top ranks of Jonidan. As with his prior matches, we will bring you news of the results as soon as we know them.

Wakaichiro Wins Day 11

Bruce H Nagoya basho 2018, Wakaichiro (若一郎)

Wakaichiro Day 11 Nagoya

Texas sumotori Wakaichiro won his day 11 match against Mitsumune. The match was a strictly osha-battle, with both contestants hurtling towards the northwest corner at the end. Wakaichiro showed some fine ring sense in aggressively stopping short of the tawara, while Mitsumune continued onward and out.

With this win, Wakaichiro improves to 3-3, with his final match deciding his make or kachi kochi. We expect this match to take place on day 13, before noon in Japan.

UPDATE – Video Below