Here are the quick results from today’s Day 7 of the January 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita
Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Bushozan (J1) beat Takarafuji (J16)
Ichiyamamoto (M14) beat Mitoryu (M15)
Kagayaki (M12) beat Chiyomaru (M16)
Chiyoshoma (M11) beat Kotoeko (M13)
Aoiyama (M10) beat Tsurugisho (M15)
Kotoshoho (M13) beat Endo (M9)
Takanosho (M9) beat Azumaryu (M14)
Onosho (M9) beat Hiradoumi (M10)
Oho (M8) beat Myogiryu (M6)
Ura (M7) beat Nishikigi (M5)
Hokutofuji (M6) beat Ryuden (M5)
Daieisho (M1) beat Sadanoumi (M4)
Kiribayama (K) beat Mitakeumi (M2)
Kotonowaka (K) beat Wakamotoharu (K)
Meisei (K) beat Tobizaru (M1)
Hoshoryu (S) beat Abi (M3)
Nishikifuji (M4) beat Wakatakakage (S)
Tamawashi (M2) beat Shodai (S)
Takakeisho (O) beat Midorifuji (M3)
Leader: 5 at 6-1
Of note: The margin for error for Shodai to return to Ozeki in March is now gone. To get back he needs 10 wins this time, meaning Shodai now must go 8-0 because he is 2-5 after today. Otherwise he has to get back to Sekiwake and put together 3 consecutive winning campaigns with 30+ total wins or win a tournament or two. Same for Watakakakage to have any chance at Ozeki-he needs 11 wins and that’s all he can get now at 3-4.
It was also announced that just-retired Okinoumi would become Kimigohama (sp?) Oyakata and remain active in sumo, working towards becoming a coach or stablemaster and training future rikishi.
Key matches tomorrow: Kotoshoho-Chiyomaru, Aoiyama-Azumaryu, Onosho-Nishikigi, Daieisho-Meisei, Takakeisho-Nishikifuji. All 5 co-leaders could be 7-1 at the halfway point.
Since tomorrow is Day 8, NHK World Japan will have 50 minutes of LIVE English-language coverage of the top tier’s final matches of the day beginning at 12:10 AM PT/3:10 AM ET. The network is available on participating cable/satellite providers but can also be watched worldwide FOR FREE online and on mobile/tablet/smart TV apps. No email or login/registration is required.
Juryo:
Tsushimanada (J14) beat Ishizaki (Ms1)
Takakento (J12) beat Kaisho (J13)
Asanoyama (J12) beat Shimazuumi (J11)
Chiyosakae (J11) beat Terutsuyoshi (J10)
Gonoyama (J10) beat Hakuyozan (J14)
Shonannoumi (J13) beat Hidenoumi (J9)
Chiyonokuni (J7) beat Roga (J9)
Daishoho (J6) beat Tochimusashi (J7)
Shimanoumi (J8) beat Kotokuzan (J5)
Kinbozan (J5) beat Kitanowaka (J6)
Churanoumi (J6) beat Enho (J4)
Oshoma (J3) beat Daiamami (J2)
Hokuseiho (J2) beat Atamifuji (J3)
Tohakuryu (J4) beat Akua (J1)
Leader: Asanoyama (7-0)
Of note: There may be no stopping the former Ozeki at this point-the sole unbeaten is now just one win away from another promotion and the real question is can he go 15-0? Roga, who was tied with Asanoyama a couple days ago at the top, is fading and now has lost 2 straight but isn’t out of it. Kinbozan now has a real chance to become the first rikishi from Kazakhstan to make it to the top tier, sitting 6-1 now and one off the pace. Tohakuryu is also tied for second at 6-1. Who is out of it and won’t be returning to the top tier this time around is Akua, now at 0-7. And don’t look now but Terutsuyoshi is on another skid, 3 straight since his record-snapping win and is 1-6. Makushita may be calling along with a temporary end to his epic salt throws. Also at the same mark is September champion Tochimusashi, having lost 5 straight and hasn’t been the same since his Juryo debut title.
Tomorrow is the halfway point, which has Asanoyama scheduled to face Gonoyama (5-2), while Tomokaze is the Makushita man of the day. He’s at Ms2 and will face Kaisho, but a loss means Tomokaze will stay in Makushita as he’d be 1-4 and that means demotion. At the top, Tohakuryu faces Chiyonokuni (5-2) while Kinbozan has the proverbial trap match in Daiamami (2-5). In the final match, Akua will be the first demotion at 0-8 if he loses to Kotokuzan, who is 1-6.
