What The Hell Was That?

Kotoshogiku’s Ozeki Bid Ends

Bruce H Harubasho 2017 (Osaka), Kotoshogiku (琴奨菊), Terunofuji (照ノ富士), Ōzeki (大関) ,

Kotoshogiku-14

Terminated by Terunofuji’s Henka

In on of the most disappointing 5 minutes of sumo of my life, Sekiwake Kotoshogiku’s bid to reclaim his Ozeki rank, and likely retire on a high note, ended when Terunofuji chose to employ a henka rather than give the fading rikishi an honest fight. The match had trouble getting started, with Terunofuji coming off the line prematurely, and matta was called.

On the restart, Kotoshogiku launched into the tachiai, but found that Terunofuji had leapt to the side. Thus ends a valiant effort by a long serving rikishi to end things on a high note. The crowd in Osaka was shocked, and I might say insulted. Everyone assumed that Terunofuji was going to win this bout, but they wanted to see him win via strength and skill. The expression on the crowd’s faces on the image above speak volumes.

Goeido’s Yokozuna Bid Destroyed By Terrible Call

Bruce H Gōeidō (豪栄道), Kyushu Basho 2016, Yokozuna (横綱) , ,

goeido-robbed

The big news of Day 8 is that Goeido’s push to win the basho, and through that achieve promotion to Yokozuna is effectively over. Moreover, it’s over because of a reversal of the gyoji’s call by the shimpan (judges) in what has to be one of the worst calls in sumo history. It’s one thing to lose a pivotal match based on poor sumo, it’s another to have a setback delivered by a questionable call. In cases like these, the shimpan should simply call for a torinaoshi – a rematch. It happened several times during Aki, and it’s not that uncommon.

In another “robbed by the shimapn” moment, Tochinoshin saw what looked like a clear victory, but Shodai won after a monoii declared a rematch. This one was (in my opinion) not even close enough to warrant a torinaoshi.

The rest of the results and commentary a little later today.

Aki Day 1 Shocker – Kisenosato (稀勢の里 ) Loses

Bruce H Aki Basho 2016, Kisenosato (稀勢の里), Yokozuna (横綱) , ,

Yokozuna Campaign Thrown Into Doubt By Loss To Rank and File Wrestler Okinoumi (隠岐の海)

The over-arching theme going into the September tournament was that the great Japanese hope, Kisenosato would press once again to win the tournament and ascend in rank to Yokozuna. If he should do that, it would break the Mongolian lock on the top rank in sumo, and give the Japanese fans one of their own in the elite ranks. With Hokuho on the bench until at least November, it was if the sumo gods had smiled upon Kisenosato, blessing his path to victory.

Then This

kise-loss

 

Listen, Great Pumpkin – you have to earn it. To win the championship, Kisenosato would need 15 to 13 wins over the next two weeks. That includes facing all of the other San’yaku, both Yokozuna, and a few rank and file types he is supposed to help “educate” in the ways of sumo.

He came off strong at the Tachiai where he nearly stood Okinoumi up, and walked him to the edge of the ring. At that point, Okinoumi decided he was not going down. Okinoumi dug deep, found the power to circle Kisenosato to his right, and then it was Kisenosato with his heels on the bales. One hard push with everything he had, and the aspiring Kisenosato had lost.

For the overall campaign of Kisenosato reaching Yokozuna, this is a huge blow. He had been looking very rough in pre-tournament practice bouts. Many had assumed he was “sandbagging” and would bring the thunder once it was for real.

His path to the rope is still open, but the climb is much steeper. Congratulations to Okinoumi, who proves himself worthy of his East Maegashira 1 rank in taking down the Great Pumpkin.