Takakeisho

Nagoya 2024: Lucky Day 13 Highlights

Andy Nagoya 2024, Nagoya Basho , , , , ,

First off, news from the infirmary. Hoshoryu kyujo. He was injured yesterday in his bout with Kotozakura. Onosato will receive the fusen win.

Today NHK preempted the first bout to talk about the large scale, coordinated vandalism and arson attacks on France’s TGV. No one killed, no one hurt. Footage of an increased security presence and breathless coverage of people with suitcases loitering around the train station. And again at half-time coverage was interrupted for a second day in a row with a needless interview and footage of bored people huddled around arrival and departure screens. The flood was legit news. Yamagata got hit pretty bad. But this?

Miffed is putting it lightly. At least they showed the replay immediately after the bout ended. I had seen it live, though, because I had fired up the old, illicit sources. I switched over as soon as the coverage came back because I do prefer the NHK coverage but come on, man. They are shooting themselves in the foot here. The breaking news coverage needs to be about Hoshoryu or the lower division yusho races. Speaking of which…

Day 13 action decided all of the lower-division yusho races. Congratulations to Daiseizan. Arashio-oyakata’s nephew won the Makushita yusho. He had likely secured Juryo promotion earlier in the tournament and it is a certainty now. With the undefeated record he will likely climb a bit higher on the banzuke, giving him some important breathing room.

Down in Sandanme, Inami won the Sandanme yusho. Hakuho’s protégé, Seihakuho, claimed the Jonidan yusho. In Jonokuchi, Shimizuumi, who defeated Enho on Day 1, claimed the Jonokuchi yusho. Watch this space because I am sure we will see these names on a more regular basis in the future.

Makuuchi Action

Chiyoshoma (5-3-5) defeated Daiamami (5-8). Yorikiri.

Nishikigi (4-9) defeated Nishikifuji (5-8). Nishikifuji hit Nishikigi hard at the tachiai and drove him back but Nishikigi wrapped up Nishikifuji’s arms and drove him back across the ring and out. Yorikiri.

Bushozan (7-6) defeated Ichiyamamoto (6-7). In spite of Ichiyamamoto’s tsuppari and shifts of direction, Bushozan did a great job of keeping up with Ichiyamamoto. Then when Ichi pulled, Bushozan put his head down and leveled him. Oshidashi.

Ichiyamamoto will fight Chiyoshoma on Day 14.

Kagayaki (8-5) defeated Shodai (8-5). Shodai was not able to make any forward progress in his battle with Kagayaki. When he pulled, Kakayaki kept him centered and shoved Shodai out. Kagayaki kachikoshi. Oshidashi.

Roga (7-6) defeated Tamawashi (6-7). Tamawashi tried everything he could at the edge, twisting left and right. But Roga remained calm through all of it and pressed forward. Yorikiri.

Hokutofuji (6-7) defeated Oshoma (7-6). Turnabout is fair play. Oshoma shifted at the tachiai and tried to slap Hokutofuji down. But Hokutofuji’s shift at the edge saved him from Oshoma’s follow-up attack as the over-eager Oshoma stumbled past and out of the ring. Hatakikomi.

Kinbozan (4-9) defeated Takarafuji (5-8). Takarafuji could not get any attack started as Kinbozan wrapped him up with a bear hug, both hands inside Takarafuji’s arms and quickly drove him out.

Kinbozan will fight Roga on Day 14. Takarafuji will take on Shodai.

Endo (9-4) defeated Ryuden (3-10). Henka! Well met by Ryuden. But Endo followed up with solid yotsu. First, he had to fight to get Ryuden off his belt. Once that was accomplished, he wrapped up Ryuden, forced him to the edge and over. Endo is doing great! Yorikiri.

Endo will fight Tamawashi. Ryuden will fight Nishikigi.

Sadanoumi (5-8) defeated Midorifuji (7-6). Great battle. In the end, Sadanoumi got a hold of Midorifuji’s belt and threw him forward, out of the ring as he also fell out. Gunbai Sadanoumi, no mono-ii. Uwatenage.

Sadanoumi will fight Bushozan. Midorifuji will take on Kagayaki. But SHHHH! Don’t say Kagayaki too loud. If NHK are reminded of highspeed passenger rail, they might cut back over to the bored travelers in Paris.

Kotoshoho (7-6) defeated Ura (4-9). Kotoshoho’s tsuppari kept Ura at bay and his quick pull drove Ura into the clay. That looked uncomfortable. I hope Ura did not tweak his neck there. Hatakikomi.

Kotoshoho will fight Hokutofuji. Ura will fight Nishikifuji.

Halftime

Oho (8-5) defeated Tobizaru (7-6). Oho kept a laser focus on Tobizaru as the saru flew around the ring. Oho pursued well and when he caught him he blasted him from the ring, catapulting him from the dohyo. Oho kachikoshi. Oshidashi.

Tobizaru will fight Oshoma.

Gonoyama (4-9) defeated Shonannoumi (6-7). Straightforward win here from Gonoyama. He blasted Shonannoumi back and out. Oshidashi.

Mitakeumi (6-7) defeated Wakamotoharu (4-9). Mitakeumi stayed upright through Wakamotoharu’s slapdown attempt. Oshidashi.

Atamifuji (5-8) defeated Meisei (4-9). Meisei had the upper-hand here but was not strong enough to force Atamifuji over the bales. When he tired, Atamifuji whipped Meisei around to the bales and drove him back and over. Yorikiri.

Atamifuji will fight Gonoyama. Meisei will fight Wakamotoharu.

Sanyaku

Wakatakakage (9-4) defeated Hiradoumi (8-5). Wakatakakage’s ottsuke with his left hand kept Hiradoumi from securing a quick belt grip. Hiradoumi got frustrated and pulled. But that was a mistake. Wakatakakage charged forward and forced Hiradoumi out of the ring. Oshidashi. I look forward to seeing more of this rivalry. I get the sense that Wakatakakage wanted to say, “I should be ranked where you are, or higher. So get out of my way.”

Wakatakakage will fight Oho. Hiradoumi will square off against Mitakeumi on Day 14.

Churanoumi (10-3) defeated Daieisho (7-6). Churanoumi did not go quietly into that good night. He did his homework and knew just how to handle Daieisho. Churanoumi went toe-to-toe blast-for-blast. When Daieisho slipped to the side, Churanoumi stayed with him. Churanoumi executed his own shift and when Daieisho stumbled forward, Churanoumi closed to finish him off from behind. Okuridashi.

Daieisho will face Shonannoumi.

Takanosho (10-3) defeated Kirishima (7-6). With that, Kirishima will have to start from scratch if he hopes to regain the rank of Ozeki. As Kirishima charged forward, Takanosho pulled and tried to slap Kirishima down. Kirishima stayed on his feet but Takanosho swiftly transitioned from pull-mode to push-mode. One forceful blast and Kirishima might be gone. Will Kiribayama rise from the ashes?

Onosato (8-5) default win. Hoshoryu (9-4) kyujo. Onosato will face Churanoumi tomorrow.

Abi (7-6) defeated Kotozakura (8-5). Abi’s pull caught Kotozakura completely off-guard. Abi did not let up, either. He pursued and drove Kotozakura out. Someone get Kotozakura some freaking coffee tomorrow and wake his ass up. Yorikiri.

Abi will fight Kirishima.

Terunofuji (12-1) defeated Takakeisho (5-8). Takakeisho shifted left and tried a slapdown but Terunofuji executed his version better. Takakeisho belly-flopped down to sekiwake.

Terunofuji will fight Takanosho. Takakeisho will fight Kotozakura.

Yes, NHK, now you get to go back to talking about trains.

Wrap-up

The Ozeki are in disarray. Hoshoryu is out, injured. He was looking great this tournament, too. Kotozakura had some bright moments during the tournament but looked lethargic today. Takakeisho’s bellyflop was embarrassing and Kirishima got absolutely butchered by…checks notes…Takanosho.

I bet Takanosho wants to be Top Dog at Tokiwayama-beya. I had noticed how some of his bouts go without kensho. Meanwhile, the cash rolls in for Takakeisho. With ‘Keisho’s demotion and shaky performances, there might be some new fire in ‘Nosho’s belly.

I am curious about Kirishima’s shikona. When he was promoted we were heady off the exuberance of his rapid success and ready to anoint him Yokozuna. Not six months later his Ozeki status is gone but so is his Michinoku beya and Michinoku oyakata. He is with Kakuryu now. Will there be a fresh start with a new shikona?

Oh, right, the yusho race. Terunofuji would have to collapse in the final days for anyone else to win this. Hoshoryu, probably the biggest threat, is out injured. As we saw, he will face Takanosho tomorrow. Will they pit him against Churanoumi on senshuraku if Takanosho wins and Churanoumi upsets Onosato? Get your head out of the clouds, Andy. Terunofuji has had a solid tournament and he will put away Takanosho just like he did Takakeisho. Meanwhile, Endo is thankful for the extra loss he picked up before going on his own winning run.

Hatsu 2024: Day 3 Highlights

Andy Hatsu 2024, Hatsu Basho , , , ,

Day Two was rather eventful. Wakamotoharu picked up the biggest win of the night but there were several great bouts and, with the exception of a rusty Terunofuji, it was great to see a strong collective performance from the sanyaku.

Makuuchi Highlights

Bushozan (1-2) defeated Aoiyama (0-3). Aoiyama glided straight back and stepped out under Bushozan’s tsuppari. Oshidashi.

Shimazuumi (3-0) defeated Takarafuji (2-1). Shimazuumi fought hard to get his lefthand inside grip. Failing that, he wrapped Takarafuji up in a bear hug and drove forward with all his might. Impressive start for the rookie. Yorikiri.

Onosho (2-1) defeated Onosato (2-1). Onosho charged forward too early, matta. Reset. At the tachiai, Onosho blasted Onosato, drove him straight back and out. This is Onosato’s first loss in the top division. Oshidashi.

Kotoshoho (2-1) defeated (0-3) Tomokaze. Kachiage from Tomokaze at the tachiai but Kotoshoho was able to shove Tomokaze back, almost to the straw bales. Both men blasted their opponent with powerful tsuppari. Tomokaze generated some forward motion under the power of his slaps. As the pair started to move across the ring, Kotoshoho grabbed Tomokaze by the armpit and yanked him forward over the bales. Hikkake.

Myogiryu (1-2) defeated Endo (1-2). Just as Endo drove Myogiryu to the edge, Myogiryu stepped to the side and shoved Endo down, hard. Tsukiotoshi.

Takanosho (2-1) defeated Churanoumi (2-1). Another powerful oshi contest. Takanosho demonstrated the most powerful shoving ability, pushing Churanoumi out. Oshidashi.

Oho (2-1) defeated Sadanoumi (1-2). Oho yanked Sadanoumi around and shoved him out. Another oshidashi.

Tamawashi (2-1) defeated Tsurugisho (1-2). What the hell is this? Tsurugisho forced Tamawashi into a belt battle? Tsurugisho wrapped up Tamawashi with his left-hand inside. He drove Tamawashi across the ring but Tamawashi used his own grip to counter, guiding Tsurugisho over the bales – and over the edge! Impressive power from Tamawashi. He fought Tsurugisho at Tsurugisho’s game and won. Nice. Thank you, Tamawashi. Yorikiri.

Meisei (1-2) defeated Hiradoumi (2-1). Back to the oshi-tsuki battles. Meisei won this one with powerful thrusts, shoving Hiradoumi off the dohyo and into the crowd. Oshidashi.

Mitakeumi (2-1) defeated Hokuseiho (1-2). Mitakeumi denied Hokuseiho a grip by crushing him, driving forward powerfully, and quickly out. Oshidashi.

Asanoyama (3-0) defeated Shonannoumi (1-2). Asanoyama is strong. He drove forcefully into Shonannoumi, forcing him back. Shonannoumi tried to slip to the side at the edge but Asanoyama had him wrapped up, kept his opponent in front of him and drove him out. Yorikiri.

Halftime

Kinbozan (2-1) defeated Ichiyamamoto (0-3). Ichiyamamoto hit Kinbozan with a strong tachiai but Kinbozan was far too powerful for Ichiyamamoto. Kinbozan drove forward and thrust Ichi out. Tsukidashi.

Nishikigi (2-1) defeated Shodai (2-1). Nishikigi did not allow Shodai to escape. The winning formula was simple: Move forward, push out. Yorikiri.

Tobizaru (2-1) defeated Ryuden (0-3). Tobizaru fought hard for that morozashi. Once he got that right hand grip in there, he yanked Ryuden around, powerfully. He nearly got the shitatenage but Ryuden kept his balance and resisted with all his might at the edge. Tobizaru drove forward and finished him by shoving him over the bales. Excellent effort from both men but Tobizaru was the stronger man today.

Sanyaku

Gonoyama (1-2) fusensho. Takayasu (1-2) kyujo.

Hokutofuji (2-1) defeated Daieisho (2-1). Daieisho, what the hell was that? “I’m going to use my powerful tsuppari to blast Hokutofuji…and then give up and let him run me out the other side of the dohyo.” Seriously, he hit Hokutofuji hard, blasts him with tsuppari and drove him back to the tawara. Then he completely gave up and Hokutofuji chased him out. Yes, Daieisho tried to slip to the side and tried to catch him with a hatakikomi. But Hokutofuji maintained his balance this time, kept his sights on Daieisho, and shoved him out. Oshidashi.

Kotonowaka (3-0) defeated Midorifuji (0-3). Kotonowaka was in total control. Impressive. Katasukashi. That’s usually Midorifuji’s thing but in the center of the ring, Kotonowaka yanked Midorifuji down by the shoulder, almost crushing him with that weight.

Hoshoryu (3-0) defeated Ura (0-3). Ura locked on to Hoshoryu’s belt and drove forward with purpose. Hoshoryu tried to trip him but completely whiffed, sending him, off balance toward the edge. At the last moment, Hoshoryu summoned all of the strength he had to twist and throw Ura to the ground. Wow. Where did that come from? He was off-balance and about to go out. Sukuinage.

Kirishima (3-0) defeated Atamifuji (0-3). Kirishima’s hatakikomi didn’t work, so he tried to topple Atamifuji with a throw. Atamifuji resisted and grabbed on to Kirishima’s belt but his back was on the ropes. Kirishima grabbed him and drove forward, dumping Atamifuji into the crowd below. Yorikiri.

Wakamotoharu (2-1) defeated Takakeisho (2-1). Takakeisho tried to use his tsuppari and was able to force Wakamotoharu to the edge. But he tired quickly and Wakamotoharu thrust him through the ring and out for his second consecutive scalp. Tsukidashi.

Terunofuji (2-1) defeated Abi (0-3). Terunofuji grabbed Abi by the arm and yanked him forward to the floor. Tottari.

Wrap-up

Takayasu’s kyujo was a bit of a surprise to me so I will report on any updates I find about the length of his absence. If he is out for the whole tournament, he will basically have until March to recover and will fall into the midst of the rank-and-file.

Some rather wintery weather here means this summary will be a bit brief while we dig out. Wakamotoharu has now scored two great upset victories, prepping him for special prizes and a return to sanyaku if his performance holds out.

Other than some rather “blah” hiramaku bouts, we did get some humdingers in sanyaku, especially that Ura/Hoshoryu bout. That was a thrill and I still don’t know how Hoshoryu not only recovered but slammed Ura so hard after throwing himself off-balance after whiffing on that trip — all while being shoved by Ura. That was impressive. The Ozeki were definitely tested, with only Takakeisho falling to WMH. Kotonowaka was the most in control and dominant against Midorifuji, defeating him by Midori’s own signature katasukashi. Kotonowaka’s size difference gave a bit of a katasu-crushy flavor.

Kyushu 2023, Day 7

Andy Kyushu 2023, Kyushu Basho , ,

Today, we close out the first week of sumo in Kyushu. It’s been a great tournament with a lot of great bouts and a compelling set of leaders. We got news that Asanoyama will be back for nakabi. He will need to win out in order to get a kachi-koshi. He doesn’t need any wins in order to stay in Makuuchi, so his determination to return is a bit of a puzzle…but it is what it is.

Highlights

Tomokaze (5-2) defeated Roga (2-5). Roga tried a pull at the tachiai but Tomokaze showed him how to actually execute a slapdown. Hatakikomi

Tsurugisho (3-4) defeated Churanoumi (5-2). Tsurugisho got a quick grip of Churanoumi’s belt and pivoted on his good leg to throw Churanoumi out of the dohyo. Uwatenage

Churanoumi will face Tomokaze on Day 8. So far, Tomokaze has had Churanoumi’s number taking all three of their head-to-head matches to date.

Takarafuji (2-5) defeated Kitanowaka (3-4). Takarafuji shrugged off Kitanowaka’s initial charge, wrapped him up in a bear hug, and drove Kitanowaka back and over the bales. Yorikiri.

Kitanowaka will face Aoiyama tomorrow in their first meeting. “But Aoiyama’s in Juryo, Andy.” Yes, but Asanoyama will be back so we will get our first Juryo visit. Aoiyama has been getting his job done in the second division, priming himself for a return to Makuuchi in January. We’ll see if he can keep it up in week two. Kitanowaka, on the other hand, has fallen off pace since his strong start. Right that ship!

Oho (3-4) defeated Nishikifuji (2-5). Both men traded punishing blows. Oho tried three times to shift and pull Nishikifuji down. It finally worked on the third try. Hatakikomi.

Oho will take on Roga.

Sadanoumi (4-3) defeated Ichiyamamoto (6-1). Sadanoumi caught Ichiyamamoto’s right arm and used it to attempt a throw but Ichiyamamoto kept his balance and kept up his own attack. Sadanoumi just seemed impervious to Ichiyamamoto-zumo and drove Ichiyamamoto to the edge. You knew Ichiyamamoto was in trouble when he abandoned his brand of sumo entirely and tried to wrap up Sadanoumi on the belt. Sadanoumi kept up his forward pressure and forced Ichiyamamoto over the bales. Yorikiri.

Sadanoumi will face Nishikifuji. Ichiyamamoto will face Takarafuji. Takarafuji has owned Ichi so far in their rivalry, taking six of seven. But Ichiyamamoto has been fighting well. Can Ichiyamamoto keep pace and stay in the lead?

Ryuden (5-2) defeated Kotoeko (2-5). Kotoeko came tantalizingly close to a twisting throw of Ryuden, but Ryuden maintained his forward pressure and crushed Kotoeko, forcing him to fall over the bales. Yoritaoshi.

Mitakeumi (3-4) defeated Tohakuryu (2-5). Mitakeumi’s tsuppari was stronger than Tohakuryu’s. Mitakeumi drove forward and forced Tohakuryu back and out. Oshidashi.

Tamawashi (5-2) defeated Myogiryu (3-4). Tamawashi established his brand of sumo with a strong thrust to Myogiryu’s face at the tachiai. Once he got Myogiryu going back, he kept up that pressure and pushed him out. I think I would henka Tamawashi. That would be fun and much more pleasant than his claw on my chin. Oshidashi.

Tamawashi will face Tohakuryu in their first meeting tomorrow.

Hiradoumi (4-3) defeated Atamifuji (5-2). Atamifuji was in retreat mode this entire bout. He tried to counter at the edge but Hiradoumi was able to keep up the pressure and drove Atamifuji out. Gah!, this has been several bouts in a row where Atamifuji is fighting back against someone else’s style of sumo. Some, he’s effective with the counter and wins. But times like this, he loses. I feel he needs to establish his sumo first and blast people away rather than fight from behind. Yorikiri.

Hiradoumi will face a Tsurugisho who has somehow found a way to win a couple of bouts.

Shonannoumi (5-2) defeated Takanosho (3-4). Takanosho was busy trying to get a belt grip, Shonannoumi used a swim move to shrug Takanosho to the side. He then drove him down. Hatakikomi.

Shonannoumi will face Mitakeumi and Takanosho will face Atamifuji.

Halftime

Hokuseiho (3-4) defeated Midorifuji (5-2). Hokuseiho is known as “tree” for his height. Midorifuji attempted a few kicks and throws while Hokuseiho contemplated the meaning of life and wondered, “what is my brand of sumo, anyway?” With his roots firmly established in Makuuchi, it is a bit late to be trying to figure that out. While Midorifuji kept kicking at the base of the tree the entire stadium seemed to be patiently waiting for Hokuseiho to actually launch an attack…for four full minutes, apparently. Mizu-iri, already? The gyoji paused the bout, marked their feet position with salt, and the two combatants went to get some power water before returning to their marks and re-establishing their grips. Maybe tree sumo is a bit like watching a tree grow. We need a drunk guy in the audience to shout, “つまらないぞ!” Finally, Midorifuji toppled the tree with a shitatenage…but like any lumberjack’s worst nightmare, the tree landed on him. Uwatenage.

Hokuseiho will face Ryuden. Ryuden won’t have the patience for this crap. Hokuseiho better be ready for some action. Midorifuji will face Myogiryu. So far, Myogiryu is winless against Midorifuji.

Endo (1-6) defeated Onosho (2-5). Onosho false start. Reset. Endo got in on the henka-action but Onosho caught him out. Onosho then started punishing Endo for his henka with powerful tsuppari. But Endo shrugged off the blows and pressed inside to get his hands on Onosho’s belt. Once he landed that second belt grip, he pulled Onosho forward to the clay. Tsukiotoshi. I thought it would be shitatenage but they know what they’re doing. I’m just happy Endo’s got one in the win column. I’d started to think he was just a massive Radiohead fan and got “Black Star” stuck in his head. (The good thing about getting that joke out now is that I can never use it again.)

Endo will face Kotoeko.

Nishikigi (5-2) defeated Kinbozan (3-4). As Kinbozan tried to pivot and throw Nishikigi, Nishikigi countered by just continuing to press forward. Kinbozan’s knee buckled and he tumbled to the floor. Yoritaoshi. Nishikigi continues his streak of five wins in a row.

Kinbozan will face Onosho.

Takayasu (4-3) defeated Meisei (1-6). Meisei locked in and tried to spin Takayasu down. Takayasu laid into Meisei with powerful tsuppari, forcing Meisei back. When Meisei got to the bales, Takayasu snapped him forward for a hatakikomi.

Ura (2-5) defeated Kotonowaka (6-1). I knew Kotonowaka was in trouble when Ura wasn’t immediately bouncing around the dohyo doing his best Tobizaru impression. Instead, Ura was patient. Why he chose today, I don’t know. The two locked horns and just when you thought we were settling in for “a lean,” Ura grabbed Kotonowaka’s arm and yanked him down. Tottari. Freaking brilliant. THIS is Ura-zumo. Not that hyper-active, sugar-high stuff from earlier in the week.

Ura will fight Takayasu.

Shodai (3-4) defeated Wakamotoharu (3-4). Shodai is actually trying and it’s awesome. He absorbed Wakamotoharu’s tachiai but from there he seized the initiative wrapped up Wakamotoharu and drove him back. WMH countered with his own charge but Shodai twisted at the edge, throwing Waka out. Both tumbled out at nearly the same time but Shodai clearly won this. but the shimpan are in disbelief so they needed a mono-ii to make sure they weren’t hallucinating. Gunbai-dori. Sukuinage.

Shodai will fight Kotonowaka. If Shodai brings it again, Kotonowaka will have his hands full.

Daieisho (5-2) defeated Hokutofuji (2-5). Daieisho sumo. Powerful tsuppari. Hokutofuji tried to counter with two pull attempts but Daieisho was keyed in today. Hokutofuji hit his head when he fell, hard. Oshitaoshi.

Hoshoryu (6-1) defeated Abi (2-5). Hoshoryu seemed in a different world. Is it just me or was Hoshoryu late to get up on the dohyo. He’s probably thinking, “oh, I can scout out Abi from here. Oh, I’m supposed to fight Abi! Crap!” The thing about Abi-zumo is that Abi pitches forward with his arms extended. Hoshoryu shifted left, pulled on Abi’s right arm and got completely behind him at the edge. From there it was a simple push. Okuridashi.

Abi will face Daieisho. This is always an interesting bout since Daieisho-zumo is basically Abi-zumo, coming from down, up and without so many pulls and henkas. Hoshoryu will face the Spoiler King, Nishikigi.

Kirishima (5-2) defeated Tobizaru (2-5). Tobizaru resisted Kirishima’s initial charge but Kirishima followed up with a twisting throw. Sukuinage.

Kirishima will face Hokutofuji. This is sumo so there are no concussion protocols. Otherwise, Hokutofuji would be on the bench. I think he got his bell rung with that landing. Tobizaru will face Meisei in another interesting bout of complimentary styles.

Gonoyama (3-4) defeated Takakeisho (5-2). Pre-bout, there was an appreciative reaction from the crowd at the number of kensho banners. Just when you think the yobidashi are done, they come out with more! Gonoyama just provided everyone with a blueprint for defeating Takakeisho. Takakeisho’s sumo is like this, Step 1: Powerful “wave action” tsuppari. Step 2: Slapdown. Gonoyama hit T-Rex hard at the tachiai, sending him back a step. Takakeisho got the wave action going, pushed Gonoyama back to his shikirisen and moved on to step 2, the pull and slapdown. But Gonoyama had kept his wits about him and kept Takakeisho centered as he pressed forward and forced the Ozeki out. Fortunately for Takakeisho, our leaders lost, as well.

Gonoyama will face Wakamotoharu in their first meeting. The outcome may hinge on whether Gonoyama blows his kensho partying tonight. As Leonid predicted, Takakeisho will hope to bounce back against Asanoyama, who’s coming off the couch for some crazy reason.

Wrap Up

After we got past the first few snoozer bouts, the action heated up and we got a lot of great sumo. The best of the day, though, was Gonoyama. Somehow, when I saw all of those kensho banners, I got a feeling the extra motivation might trigger an upset. Boy, howdy. Solid sumo from Goeido’s protege. The bummer here is that I think this solid sumo also illustrated all of the reasons that I am not ready for a Takakeisho rope run.

But with our leaders faltering, it’s still clearly a distinct possibility. The fact that Takakeisho now gets first dibs on a questionable Asanoyama, it leaves a sour taste in one’s mouth. I just want a Yokozuna to earn their rope when they show their best sumo, consistently. We get glimpses from T-Rex but, like today, he’s not blasting fools like he used to.

Kyushu 2023: Day 2

Andy Kyushu 2023, Kyushu Basho , ,
Yesterday brought the Return of Chikaramizu

Day One had some great action, and some not-so-great action. (Profound. You’re such a wordsmith, Andy. Where do you get this brilliant insight?)

I’m almost relieved to see the matta controversy from yesterday because my mind had started down a different path after I saw Hokutofuji ease off. To be frank, when I was watching the bout live and even when I first saw the replay in the immediate aftermath, I thought it was a fair tachiai. I saw Hokutofuji’s second hand coming down and thought we had a bout. It wasn’t until later, after the matta chatter started, that I could see their point about the matta. And it is a valid point. Hokutofuji’s second hand was coming down but it likely didn’t touch.

In my mind, though, the most valid point is the lesson that Hakuho hopefully learned against Yoshikaze. Even if you think it’s a matta, you need to fight. The fight’s on until you hear the gyoji call it off. Takakeisho was in a four-point stance, ready to go. It was Hokutofuji who’d pinned his hopes, apparently, on drawing T-Rex off. When he was up against an Ozeki, an Ozeki who had clearly already committed to launch, Hokutofuji wanted to do some gamesmanship. He got caught out; so, we move on.

Tonight’s line-up is, again, chock-full of compelling bouts. My big surprise from yesterday was Oho. After Sadanoumi thrashed Kotoeko, I’m keen to see how Oho handles this matchup. I’m also eager to see this Mitakeumi-Atamifuji bout. Initially, I thought it would be a great matchup. Now, I really want to see what condition Mitakeumi is in. I hope Leonid’s correct, that Ryuden just has his number. But yesterday’s bout left me concerned about ongoing injury issues. Today’s bout with Atamifuji will be another big test.

Highlights

Kitanowaka (2-0) defeated Roga (0-2) Kitanowaka seemed to take the initiative early in this bout, driving the action. He steered Roga around the ring, and with a twisting throw, dropped Roga to the clay. Sukuinage.

Tohakuryu (1-1) defeated Nishikigi (0-2). A quick tachiai and slapdown attempt from Tohakuryu caught Nishikifuji off-guard and put him off-balance. Tohakuryu followed up by getting behind Nishikifuji and he pushed him off the dohyo. Okuridashi.

Nishikifuji will face Roga as both seek out their first win this basho. Nishikifuji has won their only previous meeting.

Ichiyamamoto (2-0) defeated Churanoumi (1-1). Matta from Ichiyamamoto. Churanoumi attempted a pull and slapdown but Ichiyamamoto resisted well and drove forward. This used Churanoumi’s momentum from the pull to blast him out of the ring and onto his butt. Oshitaoshi

Churanoumi will fight the undefeated Kitanowaka on Day 3. Kitanowaka has the edge in their rivalry and he’s looking ready this basho.

Tomokaze (1-1) defeated Takarafuji (0-2): Solid tsuppari and good footwork led Tomokaze to push Takarafuji over the bales. Takarafuji was unable to get inside or get any sort of grip. Oshidashi.

Tomokaze will face Tohakuryu tomorrow.

Tamawashi (2-0) defeated Tsurugisho (1-1). Tsurugisho landed a belt grip, briefly. Tamawashi made him pay for invading his personal space by using strong thrusts to the head to force him back and off-balance. Tamawashi continued his attack until he pushed Tsurugisho from the ring. Oshidashi.

I’m a bit worried about Tsurugisho’s knee; he fell awkwardly today. He will need all of his mobility to take on Ichiyamamoto tomorrow. It’s not looking good since Ichiyamamoto is undefeated in their rivalry, with 8 wins and 0 losses.

Sadanoumi (2-0) defeated Oho (1-1). Sadanoumi’s Oshi attack forced Oho to the edge but Oho twisted, nearly throwing Sadanoumi with a sukuinage. While Sadanoumi resisted being thrown, Oho regained the positional advantage, pushing Sadanoumi to the outside. The Oshi bout shifted to a yotsu contest as the two tussled to throw each other. Sadanoumi again drove Oho to the tawara and this time forced him over the edge. Solid sumo and excellent footwork from Sadanoumi. Great power sumo from a guy who is often under the radar. Yoritaoshi.

Oho will take on Takarafuji tomorrow. Let’s see if he can bounce back from today’s loss.

Kotoeko (1-1) defeated Hiradoumi (0-2). Hiradoumi had the advantage at the tachiai, as he pushed Kotoeko to the tawara. But he couldn’t follow through. From here, Kotoeko braced his feet and wrapped up Hiradoumi, driving him to the other side and then around the tawara before pushing him out over the edge. Oshidashi.

Ice cold Hiradoumi will face a red hot Tamawashi on Day 3. Tamawashi has won 2 of their 3 bouts.

Ryuden (2-0) defeated Myogiryu (0-2). Myogiryu had a strong tachiai but could not force Ryuden out. Ryuden countered well and established his favorite belt grip, then ushered Myogiryu over the edge. Yorikiri.

Ryuden will face Sadanoumi tomorrow and both men have been in fine form. It’s an interesting contrast of styles, here. I know this bout will go by under most peoples’ radar but it could be a quiet highlight.

Atamifuji (2-0) defeated Mitakeumi (0-2). Atamifuji wrapped up Mitakeumi in a big bear hug, both arms over Mitakeumi’s driving him back to the edge. He conceded a double-inside grip to Mitakeumi, who tried to twist and throw at the tawara. But Atamifuji continued to drive forward and Mitakeumi’s knee crumpled a bit awkwardly as he fell. Yorikiri.

Mitakeumi will face Kotoeko. He’s got the size advantage and has won their previous two bouts. But Kotoeko will come into this in better form.

Hokuseiho (2-0) defeated Endo (0-2). An interesting battle from Hokuseiho as he develops his style. Both men quickly landed a one-handed belt grip, Endo with his left, Hokuseiho deep over Endo’s back with his right. Hokuseiho used his left hand to keep Endo’s right hand back. As Endo fought to free his right and seek out Hokuseiho’s maemitsu, Hokuseiho brought his left hand down on Endo and pulled him forward. The call was uwatenage but it looked like it could have been hatakikomi. The win here came from the overwhelming force from Hokuseiho’s left hand driving into the base of Endo’s neck and shoulders.

Winless Endo will face winless Myogiryu. They’ve split their previous contests with ten wins apiece. Endo has looked more competitive in his bouts so far.

Halftime

Takanosho (1-1) defeated Kinbozan (1-1). Takanosho hit Kinbozan with a strong blow to the face. As Kinbozan pulled, Takanosho pursued and corralled Kinbozan at the edge, pushing him over the tawara. Solid footwork from Takanosho to keep Kinbozan centered. Oshidashi.

Oof. Kinbozan will face Atamifuji. This should be an interesting contrast with Atamifuji having won their only previous bout.

Shonannoumi (2-0) defeated Onosho (1-1). This was all Shonannoumi. He quickly wrapped up Onosho with a right-hand inside. Onosho may have tried a pull but Shonannoumi was locked in. No one is falling for pulls so far this tournament. It’s great! Everyone keeps their opponent focused and with solid footwork, drives them out. Yorikiri.

Shonannoumi will face Hokuseiho in the battle of the tall guys. Who will establish their brand of sumo? So far Hokuseiho has the 2-0 edge in this rivalry.

Midorifuji (1-1) defeated Nishikigi (0-2). Midorifuji had a solid tachiai and drove into Nishikigi pushing him back to the edge. He twisted his body wriggled his hand inside, landing a moro-zashi double-inside belt grip to force Nishikigi over the bales. Yorikiri.

Midorifuji will take on Takanosho. Surprisingly, it will be their first meeting.

Tobizaru (1-1) defeated Hokutofuji (0-2). Hokutofuji drove forward but could not keep Tobizaru centered. As Tobizaru snuck out to the left, he drove his hand down. But Hokutofuji maintained his balance. The problem was that he kept going forward which allowed Tobizaru to get behind and push Hokutofuji out from the back. Okuridashi.

Daieisho (2-0) blasted Gonoyama (0-2) and started to drive Gonoyama back. But Gonoyama shifted to the side as he tried to stay at the center of the ring and both guys fell at the same time. Gunbai had to go to someone, so it went to Daieisho. Mono-ii, but a quick review determined that we needed a rematch. Again, Daieisho with strong tsuppari. But Gonoyama was determined to whether the storm. As Gonoyama came forward, Daieisho slipped to the right. The slight change in direction was enough to drop Gonoyama to the clay. Hikiotoshi.

Gonoyama will try to bounce back against Onosho. They’ve split their previous two bouts.

Kotonowaka (2-0) defeated Takayasu (1-1). Kotonowaka tried a pull but Takayasu maintained his balance and pushed forward. But Takayasu lost Kotonowaka for a second and Kotonowaka was able to come in from the side and push Takayasu out.

Takayasu has drawn Daieisho for tomorrow. Takayasu has won 11 of their 19 fights but Daieisho has claimed the last three straight. Both have had competitive bouts so this will be a firecracker.

Wakamotoharu (1-1) defeated Meisei (0-2). Epic niramiai here (stare downs). Meisei tried hard to take his sumo right at Wakamotoharu. He drove forward hard but could not budge Wakamotoharu. When Wakamotoharu landed his left-hand inside belt grip, he quickly forced Meisei over the bales. Yorikiri.

Wakamotoharu will fly around with Tobizaru tomorrow. They’re very evenly matched with Wakamotoharu having the slight 8 to 7 edge in this rivalry. Anyone’s guess who will take it? Meanwhile, Meisei will face Kotonowaka. They’ve split their previous meetings, with 5 wins apiece.

Takakeisho (2-0) defeated Shodai (0-2). Some days, Shodai is merely a blip. Others, he brings it all and plays an amazing spoiler. Today was one of those rare third days where Shodai came tantalizingly close to winning but it slipped from his grasp. He let Takakeisho drive him to the edge at the tachiai but he used the leverage to force his way back. Then, he took Takakeisho’s style to the man, himself. He forced Takakeisho to back up. Takakeisho ducked to Shodai’s left and Shodai pursued, hitting Takakeisho again. Shodai lined up to bring it to Takakeisho again but Takakeisho slipped to the side again. This time, Shodai lost his balance and fell to the clay. The Ozeki got the win but loses a bit more of my confidence in his ability to win this basho. Hikiotoshi.

Hoshoryu (2-0) defeated Ura (0-2). The two locked horns in a great back-and-forth tussle. This was really a bit of a stalemate as neither had enough power to overwhelm the other. It devolved into a brief brawl with the Ozeki in pursuit of Ura. When Ura got to the edge, he lept to the side hoping Hoshoryu would fly off balance. But Hoshoryu stayed on the dohyo while Ura landed in the crowd. Oshitaoshi.

Hoshoryu will fight Hokutofuji in the musubi-no-ichiban on Day 3. Hoshoryu has the edge in their rivalry and has the better form this basho. Will Hokutofuji get it together and get an upset? Meanwhile, Ura will be paired off with Takakeisho. T-Rex has been dominating Ura with a 13-3 record. Ura needs to right his ship but it will be a challenge.

Kirishima (2-0) defeated Abi (1-1). Abi could not get his tsuppari going. He landed a solid thrust at the initial charge but Kirishima was all over him from there. Rather than let Abi keep the assault going, Kirishima closed, quickly. As Abi retreated, he tried a slapdown but Kirishima was all over him like white on rice. Oshidashi.

Kirishima will face Shodai. Shodai actually has the edge in their head-to-head with 10 wins to Kirishima’s 7. Abi will get a bit of a break as he fights the winless Nishikigi.