Here are the quick results from today’s Day 13-Championship Day in the lower tiers-of the March 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita, Sd-Sandanme, Jd-Jonidan, Jk-Jonokuchi
Makuuchi (top tier):
Daiamami (M16) beat Shirokuma (J5)
Nishikifuji (M14) beat Shonannoumi (M12)
Roga (M15) beat Ichiyamamoto (M11)
Churanoumi (M13) beat Mitakeumi (M10)
Shodai (M10) beat Sadanoumi (M11)
Kotoshoho (M8) beat Myogiryu (M15)
Ryuden (M13) beat Onosho (M8)
Endo (M16) beat Tamawashi (M7)
Takayasu (M8) beat Midorifuji (M5)
Takanosho (M3) beat Hokutofuji (M9)
Oho (M3) beat Kitanowaka (M14)
Atamifuji (M2) beat Hiradoumi (M4)
Tobizaru (M4) beat Ura (M1)
Nishikigi (K) beat Meisei (M2)
Asanoyama (M1) beat Abi (K)
Takerufuji (M17) beat Wakamotoharu (S)
Onosato (M5) beat Daieisho (S)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Gonoyama (M6)
Takakeisho (O) beat Kotonowaka (O)
Kinbozan (M7) beat Kirishima (O)
Leader; Takerufuji (12-1)
Of note: It could end tomorrow and the potential setup for it is very simple. If Takerufuji beats Asanoyama, OR if Takerufuji loses AND both Hoshoryu and Onosato lose, the rookie is the champion. It would be the first time in well over 100 years that’s happened. Onosato has Abi while Hoshoryu faces Kotonowaka. If Takerufuji loses and either Hoshoryu or Onosato win, it goes to the final day and could result in a playoff. Elsewhere, Takakeisho finally got win 8 so he gets back to full Ozeki Nishikigi also snapped his 11 match losing skid, his only other win was against Terunofuji on Day 1 (not a Kinboshi because Nishikigi is at Komusubi). Elsewhere, a big Sekiwake shakeup-Daieisho will be demoted for the first time in over a year as his Sekiwake run ends at 6 tournaments with an 8th loss today. Wakamotoharu isn’t safe yet as he is now at 7-6. Abi could be promoted to Sekiwake if he can get can get one more win and Asanoyama should return to Sanyaku in May with promotion now secured. We could also be seeing the end of the road for Myogiryu, as if he loses one or both of his last 2 matches he could be demoted to Juryo for the first time since January 2018, but the last time that happened he came right back with the latest of his 3 Juryo Championships. That last demotion happened at M15 when he went the equivalent of 6-9 (including 1 Absent), so he needs to win out and get to 7-8 to probably be safe. Kitanowaka is probably being demoted back to Juryo again. And finally…remember Hoshoryu-Gonoyama from January with the EPIC MARATHON STAREDOWN? No repeat this time, in part because they heard from the higher-ups about it.
Juryo:
Oshoumi (J11) beat Akua (J13)
Hakuoho (J13) beat Tamashoho (J9)
Chiyosakae (J14) beat Shimanoumi (J9)
Chiyoshoma (J6) beat Tsushimanada (J12)
Kitaharima (J14) beat Hakuyozan (J6)
Bushozan (J5) beat Shiden (J10)
Oshoma (J4) beat Wakatakakage (J10)
Aoiyama (J11) beat Kagayaki (J4)
Tomokaze (J3) beat Asakoryu (J8)
Mitoryu (J2) beat Shishi (J8)
Tohakuryu (J2) beat Kotoeko (J12)
Takarafuji (J1) beat Hidenoumi (J7)
Tokihayate (J1) beat Daishoho (J7)
Leader; Mitoryu (10-3)
Of note: Now the 3-way tie is for 2nd as Mitoryu pulled one clear. Mitoryu can’t win the title tomorrow because Oshoma & Asakoryu, 2 of the 3 at 9-4, face each other and Daishoho faces Takarafuji. Wakatakakage is now all but out of it. Mitoryu has Hakuoho tomorrow, who despite second week struggles (and first week after a 3-0 start) clinched promotion today but will stay in Juryo in May. Takarafuji will be motivated more against Daishoho because he is one win from promotion back to the top tier. If Mitoryu wins tomorrow, that means at worst he’ll be in a playoff Sunday for the championship. Otherwise there could be a 3-way tie again. At the bottom, Aoiyama has probably saved his Juryo spot even though he could still wind up 6-9. Only if he loses his last 2 should there be worry but with how Makushita is looking promotion-wise, I’ll call him safe if he chooses to continue.
Makushita:
Kazekeno (Ms13) beat Onokatsu (Ms2). KAZEKENO MAKUSHITA YUSHO!!! 2nd career championship and first Makushita. A potential 6-way (at least) playoff averted because of all the potential 6-1 runners-up, 5 won. Most faced each other. Kazekeno might be making his Juryo debut in May with this victory. At the bottom, Aoiyama has probably saved his Juryo spot even though he could still wind up 6-9. Only if he loses his last 2 should there be worry but with how Makushita is looking promotion-wise, I’ll call him safe if he chooses to continue.
Sandanme:
Ryuo (Jd6) beat Higonomaru (Sd64)
Nagamura (Sd3) beat Aonishiki (Sd16). NAGAMURA SANDANME YUSHO!!! 1st championship in his 7th career tournament. He’ll return to Makushita after demotion last time. Aonishiki takes his first career loss and is denied a 3rd championship in his first 3 tournaments, but is Makushita-bound too.
Jonidan:
Tochimaru (Jd47) beat Taranami (Jd61). Because Ryuo then won in the Sandanme…PLAYOFF!! Ryuo vs. Tochimaru will be held on Day 15 for the championship.
Jonokuchi:
Chiyooga (Jk3) beat Kiyonohama (Jd86). CHIYOOGA JONOKUCHI YUSHO!!! 1st career championship for the veteran, who was demoted from Makushita after missing the last 4 tournaments.
Reminder: NHK World Japan will have 50 minutes of LIVE top tier coverage on Day 14, which hopefully will include Takerufuji-Asanoyama, tomorrow beginning at 1:10 AM PT/4:10 AM ET.
UPDATE: Rank saved just in time…Takakeisho has WITHDRAWN ahead of Day 14. Right pectoral muscle per Nikkan Sports. Not yet confirmed via the Jpaan Sumo Association website and mobile app. If true, Kirishima would get the fusen tomorrow, which would be only the 4th win for the Ozeki in a very disappointing March.
