Here are the quick results from the Final Day of the November 2022 Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokuzuna, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita
Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Aoiyama (M9) beat Okinoumi (M13)
Atamifuji (M11) beat Takanosho (M9)
Takarafuji (M8) beat Kagayaki (M15)
Myogiryu (M7) beat Azumaryu (M14)
Chiyoshoma (M10) beat Endo (M7)
Nishikigi (M6) beat Kotoeko (M12)
Sadanoumi (M4) beat Ichiyamamoto (M14)
Wakamotoharu (M4) beat Oho (M13)
Midorifuji (M3) beat Kotoshoho (M11)
Ichinojo (M2) beat Terutsuyoshi (M16)
Meisei (M2) beat Hiradoumi (M16)
Kotonowaka (M1) beat Ryuden (M9)
Abi (M9) beat Takayasu (M1)
Daieisho (K) beat Onosho (M11)
Tobizaru (K) beat Ura (M3)
Tamawashi (K) beat Tochinoshin (M8)
NIshikifuji (M5) beat Mitakeumi (S)
Hoshoryu (S) beat Kiribayama (K)
Hokutofuji (M5) beat SHodai (O)
Takakeisho (O) beat Wakatakakage (S)
Takayasu, Abi, Takakeisho all tied at 12-3. 3-WAY PLAYOFF! There was a random draw to determine the first match. The first to win 2 matches is the champion.
Playoff 1: Abi beat Takayasu
Playoff 2: Abi beat Takakeisho. ABI YUSHO! Abi wins the Emperor’s Cup for the first time and 8th career championship (he has won a title at every level except Jonokuchi) and he gets to be the Nihon Sumo Kyokai website front page star until after the January tournament. His image shows him foot stomping in front of Mt. Fuji. For the second straight tournament Takayasu comes up short on the last day for the second straight time while Takakeisho managed to be runner-up for the second straight time-this might start some Yokozuna rumblings based on performance.
Special Prizes (announced before matches began):
Outstanding Performance (most wins vs. Sanyaku rikishi): Takayasu
Fighting Spirit (best performance by lower ranking): Abi
Technique (most different winning techniques): Hoshoryu
Final Standings (based on Banzuke rankings):
Yokozuna: Terunofuji (Absent)
Ozeki: Takakeisho (12-3), Shodai (6-9)
Sekiwake: Mitakeumi (6-9), Wakatakakage (8-7), Hoshoryu (1-4)
Komusubi: Tamawashi (6-9), Kiribayama (8-7), Tobizaru (7-8), Daieisho (7-8)
Maegashira 1: Takayasu (12-3), Kotonowaka (9-6)
Maegashira 2: Meisei (9-6), Ichinojo (4-11)
Maegashira 3: Ura (4-11), Midorifuji (8-7)
Maegashira 4: Wakamotoharu (10-5), Sadanoumi (8-7)
Maegashira 5: Hokutofuji (7-8), Nishikifuji (9-6)
Maegashira 6: Nishikigi (8-7), Ryuden (9-6)
Maegashira 7: Endo (6-9), Myogiryu (8-7)
Maegashira 8: Takarafuji (3-12), Tochinoshin (9-6)
Maegashira 9: Takanosho (6-9), Abi (12-3)
Maegashira 10: Aoiyama (7-8), Chiyoshoma (7-8)
Maegashira 11: Onosho (9-6), Kotoshoho (7-8)
Maegashira 12: Kotoeko (7-8), Chiyotairyu (2-6, RETIRED)
Maegashira 13: Okinnoumi (8-7), Hoshoryu (11-4)
Maegashira 14: Ichiyamamoto (7-8), Azumaryu (7-8)
Maegashira 15: Kagayaki (9-6), Atamifuji (4-11)
Maegashira 16: Terutsuyoshi (0-15), Hiradoumi (10-5)
Those finishing 8-7 or better will be promoted or maintain their current rank. Those finishing 7-8 or worse will be demoted.
Final notes/thoughts:
Takayasu may have suffered a concussion in the playoff against Abi. At the initial charge Takayasu went straight forward as Abi went for a henka (sidestep), causing Takayasu to go head-first into Abi’s left upper chest and down. Takayasu stayed down for several moments and was helped to the floor, clearly unsteady. Had Takayasu won, he would have had to face Takakeisho moments later for the championship.
Shodai will be demoted from Ozeki, leaving only Takakeisho at the second-highest ranking, but Shodai gets one chance to return in January if he gets 10+ wins. Mitakeumi should be demoted from Sanyaku as will all Komusubi except Kiribayama. Takayasu & Kotonowaka should be promoted to Komusubi, Takayasu & Kiribayama may be Sekiwake. Hoshoryu can now get into Ozeki consideration with at least 11 wins in January. Takakeisho is now back in Yokozuna contention with two straight runner-up finishes, a win in January or a third straight 11-12 win performance may be enough if he hasn’t gotten there.
This is the 3rd straight tournament a Maegashira, considered rank-and-file in the top tier, has won the championship. Abi could get back to Sanyaku after being demoted due to being absent (injury) in September, but he probably will wind up at Maegashira 1 or 2. Terunofuji hopefully will be back in January.
Terutsuyoshi is the first top-tier rikishi to go 0-15 in a tournament since 1991. He may be lucky to stay in Juryo. Atamifuji will return to Juryo after his top-tier debut, he lost 9 straight before his win today.
Finally, Chiyotairyu retired at the halfway point and will be recorded as finishing 2-6 in his final tournament. He is leaving sumo entirely and reportedly wants to open a restaurant in Tokyo. Further updates regarding potential other retirements will be forthcoming over the next few days and as the January tournament gets closer.
Juryo:
Tsushimanada (J14) beat Fujiseiun (Ms2)
Kaisho (J10) beat Hakuyozan (Ms5)
Daiamami (j9) beat Oshoma (J12)
Kinbozan (J7) beat Takakento (J11)
Kitanowaka (J6) beat Tokushoryu (J12)
Kotokuzan (J8) beat Hokuseiho (J6)
Gonoyama (J14) beat Akua (J5)
Tochimusashi (J7) beat Yutakayama (J4)
Hidenoumi (J4) beat Chiyonokuni (J5)
Daishoho (J9) beat Mitoryu (J3)
Roga 9J13) beat Tsurugisho (J3)
Bushozan (J2) beat Chiyosakae (J10)
Shimazuumi (J13) beat Churanoumi (J2)
Enho (J11) beat Chiyomaru (J1)
Shimanoumi (J8) beat Tohakuryu (J1)
Daiamami & Oshoma tied at 11-4. REMATCH!
Playoff: Oshoma beat Daiamami. OSHOMA JURYO YUSHO! It’s his second career championship in 7 tournaments (one Makushita championship) since debuting at Makushita 15. He has had only one losing tournament so far excluding July, when he was 5-3 before being forced to withdraw due to coronavirus protocols (he,, like countless others affected, was not demoted despite being the equivalent of 5-10).
Final Standings (based on Banzuke rankings):
Juryo 1: Tohakuryu (5-10), Chiyomaru (8-7)
Juryo 2: Churanoumi (4-11), Bushozan (8-7)
Juryo 3: Tsurugisho (10-5), Mitoryu (9-6)
Juryo 4: Hidenoumi (4-11), Yutakayama (5-10)
Juryo 5: Akua (10-5), Chiyonokuni (6-9)
Juryo 6: Hokuseiho (10-5), Kitanowaka (6-9)
Juryo 7: Tochimusashi (7-8), Kinbozan (8-7)
Juryo 8: SHimanoumi (7-8), Kotokuzan (8-7)
Juryo 9: Daiamami (11-4), Daishoho (8-7)
Juryo 10: Chiyosakae (7-8), Kaisho (5-10)
Juryo 11: Enho (10-5), Takakento (7-8)
Juryo 12: Tokushoryu (4-11), Oshoma (11-4)
Juryo 13: Shimazuumi (8-7), Roga (9-6)
Juryo 14: Tsushimanada (7-8), Gonoyama (9-6)
Final thoughts/notes: Chiyomaru is headed back to the top tier with a winning record at J1. Tsurugisho may get back there too, Bushozan will probably have to try again from J1. Akua & Hokuseiho have slight chances to get there but probably will be at J1 or J2. September champion Tochimusashi struggled mightily early on, and a late surge wasn’t enough to avoid demotion but he should only drop to J8. Enho had a great middle stretch that should get the fan favorite back to J7 or J8. I think this may be the end for Tokushoryu, as the one-time Emperor’s Cup winner may retire rather than be demoted to Makushita. If that’s it, he finishes with a highest rank of Maegashira 2 and at least 2 championships, 2 Special Prizes and 1 Kinboshi. Tsushimanada is also being demoted to Makushita. The championship should take Oshoma up to, based on September’s results, roughly J5. Shimanoumi almost had another disastrous showing but turned it around in the second half-it’s still a demotion but his last 3 efforts have seen him improve from 1-14 to 4-11 and now 7-8 after a late bounceback.
Lower-tier notes:
Former Ozeki Asanoyama is all but guaranteed to be promoted from Makushita to Juryo in his 3rd tournament after a 1-year suspension, as among those ahead of him at Makushita 4 only Shonannoumi has earned a promotion and two-maybe three with Kaisho-will be demoted from Juryo. Pencil him in at perhaps J13 for January following another 6-1 effort that keeps him on pace for a top-tier return by May. Tamashosho may be promoted as the Makushita champion normally moves up 30 spots in the Banzuke and he won at Makushita 23. The huge loser is Asanowaka who at Makushita 4 went 0-7. The final question mark is Ishiura, the former top-tier rikishi who will be demoted to Sandanme after remaining out due to injury. I’m afraid he may be done but who knows.
Lower-tier Champions:
Sandanme-Hitoshi (won playoff)
Jonidan-Asashiyu
Jonokuchi-Takerufuji
The next tournament is the January 2023 Tournament from January 8-22 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. Tickets will go on sale December 10. Enjoy Christmas and come back after celebrating for the Banzuke announcement on December 26 Japan time. Sayonara!
