News from the infirmary is that Maegashira 16 Meisei will fight tomorrow. He will take on Nishikifuji in his return. That means we will not have a Juryo visitor on Day Ten.

In Juryo, Hakuyozan is the first opponent to defeat Fujiryoga as he thrust the big man backward over the bales with a powerful shove. Fujiryoga falls to 8-1, tied with Daiseizan. Hatsuyama chases with two losses. Asanoyama’s winning streak ended today against Hitoshi.

The NHK videos are here. Their Day Nine page includes the Hakuyozan-Fujiryoga bout if you scroll down to the bottom. Remember, when you click the link, the videos are hidden. You have to find the little button that says, “続き読む”. Click it and the list of videos will open up. Let me know if you have any issues finding it. If you want to find any videos from past days, all of the links are located here.

Makuuchi Action

Asakoryu (6-3) defeated Tochitaikai (Juryo 4-5). Asakoryu hit Tochitaikai at the tachiai but immediately shifted to his left and slapped Tochitaikai down. Tochitaikai had hit the ground before he knew what happened. Tsukiotoshi.

Sadanoumi (3-6) defeated Mitakeumi (4-5). Sadanoumi was able to get his favored migi-yotsu grip. This allowed him to swing Mitakeumi around, drive to the bales, and usher Mitakeumi out. Yorikiri.

Gonoyama (6-3) defeated Oshoumi (1-8). Oshoumi shifted to his right at the tachiai but still took the full force of Gonoyama’s charge. Oshoumi tried a slapdown but Gonoyama adjusted well and bulldozed Oshoumi out of the ring. Oshidashi.

Tomokaze (3-6) defeated Shonannoumi (2-7). Tomokaze kept shoving Shonannoumi back. Shonannoumi tried a lumbering last-moment pull and walked himself over the bales. Oshidashi.

Tokihayate (7-2) defeated Fujinokawa (6-3). Tokihayate was able to sneak that left-hand inside to join his right-hand inside. The double-inside grip, morozashi, helped him corral Fujikawa, drive him to the edge and force him over. Yorikiri.

Roga (5-4) defeated Nishikifuji (6-3). Roga held Nishikifuji’s advance as he tried to get a belt grip that never came. Nishikifuji charged forward and Roga slipped to his left and slapped Nishikifuji down. Hatakikomi.

Shishi (3-6) defeated Chiyoshoma (5-4). Chiyoshoma grabbed Shishi’s arm and tried to pull Shishi forward. But Shishi gave Chiyoshoma the lumber and drove him over the bales. Yorikiri.

Ichiyamamoto (5-4) defeated Ryuden (4-5). Ichiyamamoto’s first slapdown attempt failed. He moved inside to get a belt grip but them pulled again and slapped Ryuden down. It seemed to me that he used his legit yotsu skills as a feint to sucker Ryuden for the slapdown. Hatakikomi.

Abi (4-5) defeated Kotoshoho (5-4). Abi kept up his tsuppari and eventually blasted Kotoshoho over the bales. Abi’s excellent footwork rendered Kotoshoho’s shifting and pulling strategy completely ineffective. Kotoshoho kept absorbing Abi’s thrusts with his heels along the tawara until Abi shoved him over the bales. Oshidashi.

Churanoumi (5-4) defeated Tobizaru (4-5). Tobizaru tried a pull and slapdown but Churanoumi shifted right along the bales with Tobizaru to shove him over. Oshidashi.

Onokatsu (4-5) defeated Kinbozan (3-6). Onokatsu kept his head down and stayed lower than Kinbozan to get the leverage he needed to win. He chugged forward and forced Kinbozan over the bales. Yorikiri.

Halftime

Atamifuji (6-3) defeated Daieisho (5-4). Atamifuji charged forward and forced Daieisho over the bales. Daieisho tried a last second shift along the bales but it was poorly timed. Oshidashi.

Midorifuji (4-5) defeated Shodai (3-6). Shodai chugged forward and looked like he had Midorifuji at the edge. Midorifuji was able to grab Shodai’s right arm, shift left, and haul Shodai over the bales. A crowd-pleasing amiuchi.

Ura (4-5) defeated Wakamotoharu (4-5). Ura took a bruising from Wakamotoharu’s tsuppari but stayed in it. He eventually found an opening to grab at Wakamotoharu’s leg. That forced Wakamotoharu to pull up and move back. Ura chased and forced him over the bales. Yorikiri.

Kirishima (5-4) defeated Hakuoho (3-6). Hakuoho charged forward as Kirishima slid left along the bales. Hakuoho never established “contain” on his right. Kirishima slipped to the side again and slapped Hakuoho down over the bales. Hatakikomi.

Wakatakakage (4-5) defeated Takayasu (5-4). Takayasu fought back admirably after Wakatakakage shifted left and drove Takayasu quickly to the bales. Takayasu resisted and charged back toward center. Takayasu tried to use his left-hand inside to haul Wakatakakage over but his center of gravity was too high and he could not get leverage. WTK continued to press forward and threw Takayasu with that right hand over-arm grip. Uwatenage.

Sanyaku

Oho (4-5) defeated Tamawashi (4-5). Steady tsuppari from both men to start this brawl. Tamawashi charged forward on the attack but Oho hit him in the shoulder and shoved him hard to the left. Tamawashi got turned and that spelled trouble. Tamawashi spun back around but now had to fight back from the bales. Oho used the opportunity to pull and slap Tamawashi down. Hatakikomi.

Aonishiki (8-1) defeated Hiradoumi (2-7). Hiradoumi spent the second half of this bout perched on one leg, somehow avoiding a fall. Aonishiki had a rock-solid left-hand inside grip. He drove face first into Hiradoumi’s trunk and forced him to fall out of the ring. Yoritaoshi.

Kotozakura (4-5) defeated Takanosho (2-7). Takanosho charged forward into a retreating Kotozakura but Kotozakura danced left along the bales and slapped Takanosho down to his right. Hatakikomi.

Hoshoryu (7-2) defeated Yoshinofuji (6-3). Hoshoryu turned Yoshinofuji around by shifting to his right while hitting Yoshinofuji’s left shoulder. Hoshoryu came in from behind and looked to drive Yoshinofuji out. When Yoshinofuji put his legs out to brace against the tawara, Hoshoryu reversed and threw him to the ground. Okurinage.

Onosato (9-0) defeated Oshoma (3-6). Blink and you missed it as Onosato shoved Oshoma back and off the dohyo. Well, ok. I admit, two shoves. One to force him to the bales and one to send him over. Oshidashi.

Wrap-up

Onosato leads, Aonishiki follows with one loss. Our chase group has been whittled down to Hoshoryu and Tokihayate on two losses.

Onosato was as dominant as Oshoma was absolutely clueless. Oshoma demonstrated nothing today. If he had hoped for some tawara dancing or sukuinage, he did not show it. His decision making in this bout seemed limited to finding a spot to land. Aonishiki, on the other hand, picked up his kachi-koshi in yet another great, entertaining bout. At the moment, he’s the only one ensuring this is not a runaway yusho for Onosato.

Our sanyaku bouts tomorrow start with Takanosho against Ura, followed by Takayasu against Kirishima. Then, Aonishiki will fight Tamawashi in a headline bout. Aonishiki leads their head-to-head with two wins and no losses. An upset from the Iron Eagle would be big.

Kotozakura will fight Oho. Oho would love to play spoiler and move closer to kachi-koshi himself. Both men stand on five losses and neither have faced the Yokozuna yet. So, tomorrow’s loser will have to upset a Yokozuna in order to earn kachi-koshi. These guys are both in serious danger.

Onosato then fights Yoshinofuji in their first meeting. Yoshinofuji’s calf was taped up again today and Hoshoryu took advantage of the fact that Yoshinofuji couldn’t use that right leg. Onosato will be looking at tomorrow as an easy win, if Yoshinofuji shows up.

Finally, Hoshoryu will face Oshoma. Hoshoryu has lost twice but has looked really solid for the last several days. This is perfect timing for someone out of the blue to pull something surprising on the edge if Hoshoryu is over eager or not careful.