Terunofuji (照ノ富士)

Nagoya 2024: Day Six Highlights

Andy Nagoya 2024, Nagoya Basho

A quiet day in the infirmary today. YAY!

Day 6 Makuuchi Action.

Kitanowaka (Juryo 3-3) defeated Roga (3-3). Really solid yotsu from Kitanowaka here. He nearly had a beautiful uwatenage but Roga fought hard to stay on his feet and inbounds. But from there Kitanowaka just shoved him out. Yorikiri.

Kagayaki (3-3) defeated Wakatakakage (4-2). Wakatakakage charged forward and won a belt grip. Kagayaki wrenched himself free and held WTK at bay with his elbow. Wakatakakage charged forward nonetheless. Kagayaki deftly slipped to the left and Wakatakakage stumbled forward at the dohyogiwa. From there it was a simple shove for Kagayaki to finish him off. What an upset! Oshidashi.

Endo (2-4) defeated Bushozan (3-3). Endo actually making forward progress? What bizarre alternate universe have I fallen into? The oshi shoves did not really faze Bushozan until Endo started leading with the elbow. From there he backed Bushozan out. Oshidashi.

Hokutofuji (3-3) defeated Nishikifuji (3-3). Hokutofuji was even on the belt for a bit in this match. As others have noted in the comments, his sumo is evolving away from using his noggin so much. That’s a very good thing. Nishikifuji worked him to the edge today but Hokutofuji wrapped up Nishikifuji’s left arm and threw him forward. Kotenage.

Chiyoshoma (1-0-5) defeated Takarafuji (2-4). I think Takarafuji was hedging his bets about a henka because he kind of stood up at the tachiai. Chiyoshoma drove forward aggressively and with Takarafuji’s high position, he was able to use his advantage to force Takarafuji back. Takarafuji tried to circle around the edge but ‘Shoma stayed with him. Oshidashi.

Churanoumi (4-2) defeated Ichiyamamoto (3-3). Churanoumi was not affected by Ichiyamamoto’s tsuppari and Ichiyamamoto’s slapdowns were never a threat. Churanoumi kept up the tsuppari and eventually drove Ichiyamamoto out. Oshidashi.

Midorifuji (4-2) defeated Nishikigi (0-6). Nishikigi turned Midorifuji’s usual inside grip into a trap as he squeezed Midorifuji’s left arm and used it to drag Midorifuji around the ring. Midorifuji extracted his arm in time and took on Nishikigi with effective tsuppari. He nearly spun Nishikigi around but still shoved him out. Oshidashi.

Shodai (4-2) defeated Oshoma (4-2). This one looked easy for Shodai. Oshoma tried to pull but Shodai does not really move fast enough to lose that way. As Shodai was moving forward and not in reverse, as Oshoma was today, it was really a solid win for him. Oshidashi.

Kotoshoho (4-2) defeated Tamawashi (4-2). This was a great, wild brawl that saw Kotoshoho get spun around. Tamawashi could not take advantage, though. Kotoshoho recovered and drove Tamawashi back to the edge and over. Oshidashi.

Takanosho (4-2) defeated Sadanoumi (2-4). Takanosho kept Sadanoumi at bay with a thrust to the head at the tachiai. This asserted an oshi-style bout as the two traded tsuppari. Takanosho landed a slap and ducked out of the way as Sadanoumi charged forward for revenge. Takanosho then finished Sadanoumi off with a shove. Oshidashi.

Halftime

Ryuden (2-4) defeated Oho (3-3). Ryuden did not fight hard to get a belt grip. Instead, he fought an oshi bout which should favor Oho. Oho was also moving forward and not retreating, which should favor Oho. However, Ryuden caught Oho with a well-timed, well-executed slapdown. Both hands to the back of the head and with a sidestep, rather than the backwards pull which catches so many guys out of bounds. Hatakikomi.

Kinbozan (1-5) defeated Shonannoumi (4-2). Kinbozan finally gets one in the win column, despite looking like a mess. His footwork was terrible at the tachiai. I do not know how he stayed up. Shonannoumi would try to sneak to the side for a belt grip but spent most of the bout in retreat. Kinbozan just pressed ahead and eventually caught up with Shonannoumi and shoved him out. Oshidashi.

Sanyaku

Mitakeumi (3-3) defeated Atamifuji (2-4). Atamifuji tried hard to keep Mitakeumi’s left arm from getting inside but not hard enough. The pressure from his ottsuke lessened for a moment and Mitakeumi wormed his arm inside for a morozashi. Mitakeumi’s legs kept churning forward and he drove Atamifuji over the bales. Sanyaku Mitakeumi is back? Yorikiri.

Onosato (3-3) defeated Meisei (2-4). Onosato landed a right-hand grip fairly quickly. But like Mitakeumi, he wanted both hands inside. He tried a slapdown attempt that went nowhere and then slipped his left hand inside. Once he got that morozashi, Meisei was toast. He drove Meisei over the edge. Yorikiri.

Daieisho (4-2) defeated Abi (2-4). Daieisho’s brand of oshi was more powerful than Abi-zumo. Abi launched the first several volleys of tsuppari and Daieisho just took the punishment. When Daieisho started his attack, he quickly bulled Abi through the ring and over the side. Oshidashi.

Hiradoumi (3-3) defeated Kirishima (3-3). Hiradoumi’s timing was off but his power was unstoppable. Kirishima hit Hiradoumi hard at the tachiai and tried to brawl but he was headed in the wrong direction pretty quickly. Hiradoumi charged forward and drove the Ozeki from the ring with relative ease. I wonder if Kirishima had been able to bait Hiradoumi into the initial two matta in order to force Hiradoumi to wait a beat at the tachiai, giving Kirishima the advantage there. But Hiradoumi erased whatever advantage Kirishima won rather quickly there. Oshidashi.

Hoshoryu (4-2) defeated Ura (3-3). Ura drove Hoshoryu back and down. Gunbai Hoshoryu? What the hell? Thank God a shimpan raised his hand because I did not know how Ura had lost that. Oh, somehow Hoshoryu’s slight lateral movement and his right foot flex deflected Ura’s foot out. Mono-ii. Shimpan decided both were done at the same time, so a rematch was in order: torinaoshi. This time, Hoshoryu launched himself forward and propelled Ura into Robocop with powerful tsuppari. Tsukidashi.

Kotozakura (4-2) defeated Gonoyama (2-4). Gonoyama’s aggressiveness had the Ozeki in trouble quickly and back against the bales. Kotozakura shifted to the side at the edge and used his big right hand on Gonoyama’s shoulder to force Gonoyama forward. Tsukiotoshi.

Wakamotoharu (3-3) defeated Takakeisho (2-4). Wakamotoharu recovered from Takakeisho’s slapdown attempt, locked his right arm on Takakeisho’s mawashi and spun him around. Now behind the Ozeki, it was easy to bowl Takakeisho forward from behind. Okuridashi.

Terunofuji (6-0) defeated Tobizaru (4-2). Terunofuji was just too powerful. Oshidashi.

Wrap-up

Terunofuji leads, undefeated. He’s even building separation between himself and the field as his closest competitors are 2-wins back. It’s still far too early to look at yusho races but if he stays healthy upright, he should be a force in the eventual yusho race next week.

Takakeisho is out of it, though, and Kirishima is looking increasingly shaky. For a change, no one is over-performing. I somehow doubt this will end up a runaway yusho for Terunofuji but he has been fundamentally steady + fierce. Who will challenge him?

Hatsu 2024: Day 15 Highlights

Andy Hatsu 2024, Hatsu Basho , , ,

The injuries sure piled up during this tournament. Coming into the tournament I was most concerned with Terunofuji, our sole reigning Yokozuna. Would he be able to compete and finish the tournament? Do we need to rush to crown a new Yokozuna so that the ailing champion can be allowed to retire? If the other Ozeki are shaky, we probably need another backup, so let’s get this Kotonowaka kid elevated quickly!

Fifteen days into the tournament, Terunofuji is still here. And not only is he on the dohyo, he is in the yusho race! Only days ago, I had been very concerned about his physical conditioning and wondered aloud if it were time for intai. It is great to see him back, no matter today’s outcome.

Kirishima has put in a good effort but will very likely come up short. He needs a lot of help if the rope run is to be sustained. I think we all want to see him win it because of a dominant performance, not because the two guys ahead of him lost. The only path forward requires him to put in that dominant performance in a playoff but the odds are slim that he will be taking part.

Kotonowaka’s performance, on the other hand, has been excellent. He still has a lot to learn but he has competed over the past four tournaments at a consistently high level and is worthy of promotion to Ozeki. It is not set in stone yet and today’s bout will be crucial as the Kyokai decides whether to elevate him. Tobizaru stands in his way.

Lastly, I do want to mention Terunofuji’s stablemate, Takarafuji. The man has been in makuuchi for nearly 1000 consecutive bouts but he is set to be demoted to Juryo. Thankfully, he has expressed in the Japanese media that he intends to stay on. He enjoys sumo and will not retire. The Takarabune will still rig his sails in Juryo.

Makuuchi Action

Takarafuji (6-9) defeated Kotoshoho (9-6). Persistence paid off for the Takarabune. Patched up and wobbly, the Takarabune set a course for home. Kotoshoho buffeted the Takarabune with hearty blows. But the Takarabune charged forward and defeated Kotoshoho. Oshidashi.

Oho (10-5) defeated Tomokaze (5-10). Oho hit Tomokaze hard at the tachiai and drove him back to the edge. Tomokaze used a nodowa to defend himself but Oho withstood the pressure and shoved Tomokaze’s arm away. This turned Tomokaze around and Oho chased him out from behind. Okuridashi.

Tsurugisho (9-6) defeated Bushozan (4-11). Tsurugisho shifted left and slapped Bushozan down. Hatakikomi.

Onosho (10-5) defeated Sadanoumi (6-9). Onosho charged forward and shoved Sadanoumi over the edge. Oshidashi.

Onosato (11-4) defeated Tamawashi (8-7). Again, no tsuppari from already kachi-koshi Tamawashi. He took on Onosato at the initial charge, let him drive him back to the bales, and then resisted at the edge with all of his might. Onosato pulled, and Tamawashi fell back to the center of the dohyo. Hikiotoshi.

Meisei (9-6) defeated Shimazuumi (9-6). Meisei forced Shimazuumi into an oshi/tsuki bout. Shimazuumi was doing his best to deflect Meisei’s tsuppari and push Meisei. Suddenly Meisei shifted and thrust Shimazuumi down. Unfortunately, the defeat meant that Shimazuumi lost his chance at a special prize. Tsukiotoshi.

Mitakeumi (6-9) defeated Endo (5-10). Endo drove forward with powerful tsuppari. Mitakeumi shifted along the tawara and drove Endo down. Gunbai to Mitakeumi. A quick mono-ii was called to confirm the judge’s call. Mitakeumi’s foot was very close to out but never touched. Tsukiotoshi.

Myogiryu (5-10) defeated Ichiyamamoto (5-10). Myogiryu’s tsuppari simply overpowered Ichiyamamoto. Oshidashi.

Churanoumi defeated Shodai. Churanoumi’s hidari-yotsu chugged and chugged, reversed Shodai’s forward progress and then drove him back and out. Tsukiotoshi.

Halftime

Takanosho (10-5) defeated Gonoyama (5-10). Gonoyama drove forward but Takanosho danced along the tawara, slipped to the side, and drove Gonoyama down. Gunbai Takanosho. The shimpan gathered in a mono-ii to review the tape and confirm Takanosho’s foot did not step out. Tsukiotoshi.

Hiradoumi (8-7) defeated Abi (8-7). Hiradoumi baited Abi forward and slapped him down. Hatakikomi.

Kinbozan (7-8) defeated Midorifuji (5-10). Kinbozan bulldozed Midorifuji with powerful tsuppari. Tsukidashi.

Shonannoumi (4-11) defeated Atamifuji (6-9). Shonannoumi moved forward! He acquired a left-hand inside grip, hefted up on Atamifuji’s mawashi, drove him forward and out. Did I see a little dame-oshi there at the end? Yorikiri.

Wakamotoharu (10-5) defeated Nishikigi (8-7). Nishikigi was just a passenger on the Wakamotoharu freight train. Nishikigi held on tight while Wakamotoharu chugged forward. Yorikiri.

Sanyaku

Ura defeated Ryuden. Ura hefted Ryuden onto his shoulders and threw him off the dohyo. Gunbai The shimpan called a mono-ii. Gumbai confirmed. Tsutaezori.

Kore-yori-Sanyaku.

I always loved this. The final three bouts of Senshuraku. This is why we watch.

Daieisho (9-6) defeated Asanoyama (9-3-3). Daieisho did his sumo and blasted Asanoyama back. But this time Daieisho slipped to the side and his opponent fell down. Daieisho got the arrows. Tsukiotoshi.

Kotonowaka (13-2) defeated Tobizaru (7-8). “I said, Get Down, Dude!” Kotonowaka brought his big mitt down on Tobizaru’s head and drove him to the ground. He then had to hang out and pass the power water to Terunofuji. Kirishima is eliminated from the yusho contention and his rope-run evaporated. Uwatenage.

Terunofuji (13-2) defeated Kirishima (11-4). Terunofuji lifted Kirishima and threw him from the dohyo. Holy moly. Yorikiri is a polite way to put it. More like Yori-gtfoh (“Get The F*** Out of Here,” for non-Millennials).

Bonus sumo

Terunofuji defeated Kotonowaka. Terunofuji yusho. Kotonowaka got his morozashi…but when Terunofuji started to pull on him, his switched to a migi-yotsu and pulled. Terunofuji preferred a hidari-yotsu, so he switched his grip (makikae) and drove forward, forcing Kotonowaka out. The big bois fell onto the Shimpan. Yorikiri.

Wrap-up

Wow. The drama! Terunofuji came from behind to secure his 9th career yusho. What an amazing start to 2024. Terunofuji is back. His knees are still a concern, obviously, as we could see him wince and struggle to make it through the lengthy award ceremony. Every so often he would bend over and try to take some of the pressure off those knees. He may not be indestructible but in each bout he finds a way to destroy just about everyone else. He started out a bit rusty and had to win all of his matches over the past week to mount his comeback. But he is used to those, no?

In the next few days we will find out if Kotonowaka did enough for Ozeki promotion. He hit that 33-win mark and has been confident and steady. To be frank, it’s also 44-wins over 4 tournaments. He has put in some solid sumo over the past two years, advancing steadily. It is time but as today’s final bout showed, there is still so far to go.

Tomorrow, I will try to get the tournament main page set-up and cleaned up. It is live. You can already navigate to it. I have been updating it as the tournament went along but it needs some attention tomorrow and a few more updates. The Year in 2024 page will be the page with more updates after the tournament, such as any promotions or further retirements announced after this tournament. I already can’t wait for March! Holy-moly. How will Kirishima react to this…humbling?

Aki’23 Torikumi Released, Terunofuji Kyujo

Andy Aki 2023, Aki Basho, Kyujo (休場), Terunofuji (照ノ富士) ,

The Nihon Sumo Kyokai released the Day 1 & Day 2 schedule for the top division, as well as the Day 1 schedule for Juryo, and in-so-doing confirmed that Yokozuna Terunofuji would be absent. Unfortunately, this has become rather normal but we are heartened that at least some of the No-Zeki drama has been put to rest as Takakeisho will participate and he is joined by two fellow Ozeki. Both he and Kirishima aim to clear their kadoban status (must have winning records or will be demoted to Sekiwake) but shin-Ozeki Hoshoryu will be eager to follow up his yusho with a strong performance in Tokyo.

Despite Terunofuji’s kyujo, there will be night full of interesting match-ups, culminating in Kirishima vs Tobizaru for the musubi-no-ichiban. There looks to be a lot of risk for upsets so many fans will probably be relieved if the three Ozeki start out strong. However, I have circled the Nishikigi/Tamawashi bout as a potential highlight. We will quickly learn how ready Nishikigi is after the injury suffered during last week’s open practice.

Asanoyama can potentially start his own Ozeki run with an exceptionally strong tournament from Maegashira 2. I know many of his fans are eager to see if he can quickly reclaim his former rank. Injuries are certainly taking their toll, though. But if we are realistic, this is the first opportunity he has to start making moves for Ozeki. There have been rare promotions where Ozeki runs begin from, or near, the top of the rank-and-file. He’ll face Wakamotoharu in his opener, whose own promotion hopes withered in the heat of Nagoya. Daieisho will also be starting from zero this tournament as he faces Meisei. Kotonowaka will face Shodai, who seems to be more reliable as a spoiler than anything. Will one of these four men be the next Ozeki? Will any be promoted by Osaka, or much later?