Here are the quick results from today’s Day 8-the halfway point 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):
Hokuseiho (J2) beat Mitoryu (M15)
Kotoshoho (M13) beat Chiyomaru (M16)
Takarafuji (M16) beat Kotoeko (M13)
Ichiyamamoto (M14) beat Chiyoshoma (M11)
Azumaryu (M14) beat Aoiyama (M10)
Hiradoumi (M10) beat Tsurugisho (M15)
Kagayaki (M12) beat Takanosho (M9)
Ura (M7) beat Endo (M9)
Hokutofuji (M6) beat Oho (M8)
Ryuden (M5) beat Myogiryu (M6)
Nishikigi (M5) beat Onosho (M8)
Tamawashi (M2) beat Mitakeumi (M2)
Meisei (K) beat Daieisho (M1)
Tobizaru (M1) beat Kotonowaka (K)
Kiribayama (K) beat Abi (M3)
Wakamotoharu (K) beat Shodai (S)
Hoshoryu (S) beat Sadanoumi (M4)
Wakatakakage (S) beat Midorifuji (M3)
Takakeisho (O) beat Nishikifuji (M4)
Leader: Kotoshoho, Takakeisho (7-1)
Of note: It’s over again for Shodai. No promotion back to Ozeki as he can’t get to 10 wins now so he must start from the beginning again, meaning stay at Sekiwake long enough to get 30+ wins over 3 consecutive tournaments, all with winning records. Hoshoyu now needs at least 5 wins the rest of the way to get to Ozeki consideration although today he picked up what some called a cheap win because of the HENKA! sidestep and rear push out. But when it works, it works. Wakatakakage also won to keep his Ozeki hopes alive but he must win all 7 of his remaining matches. Meanwhile, at the top, 5 were narrowed down to 2 and, more significantly, the Yokozuna hope remains alive for Takakeisho, after one bloody nose courtesy of a physical match against Nishikifuji he remains co-leader and a championship may be enough along with potentially another runner-up finish. 6 are still right behind at 6-2.
Key matches tomorrow: Kotoshoho-Hiradoumi, Takakeisho-Sadanoumi. If Kotoshoho wins, that’s a promotion. If Takakeisho wins, he is assured of maintaining his Ozeki ranking.
Juryo:
Tomokaze (Ms2) beat Kaisho (J13)
Shonannoumi (J13) beat Chiyosakae (J11)
Asanoyama (J12) beat Gonoyama (J10)
Hakuyozan (J14) beat Terutsuyoshi (J10)
Roga (J9) beat Tsushimanada (J14)
Hidenoumi (J9) beat Shimazuumi (J11)
Takakento (J12) beat Shimanoumi (J8)
Tochimusashi (J7) beat Kitanowaka (J8)
Chiyonokuni (J7) beat Tohakuryu (J4)
Daishoho (J6) beat Atamifuji (J3)
Oshoma (J3) beat Churanoumi (J6)
Kinbozan (J5) beat Daiamami (J2)
Kotokuzan (J5) beat Akua (J1)
Bushozan (J1) beat Enho (J4)
Leader: Asanoyama (8-0)
Of note: In an exciting match in which both seemed on the verge of going down every second, Asanoyama prevailed against a game Gonoyama and the former Ozeki remains unbeaten and clinches promotion, moving one step closer to a return to the top tier. Meanwhile, the Kazakhstan native Kinbozan continues his eventual climb to the top tier, remaining one win off the pace and closing in on another promotion-4 more wins may be enough this time to get him to Makuuchi in March. Meanwhile, the first demotion has also been handed out as after going unbeaten almost the entire first week last time, Akua is now 0-8 and won’t be moving back up.
Key matches tomorrow: Asanoyama-Kitanowaka (3-5), Kinbozan-Bushozan
Lower tier notes:
At the halfway point, 8 in the Makushita have promotions and are tied for the lead at 4-0, including Ochiai in his debut tournament at Ms15. In the Sandanme, 10 are tied at 4-0 as the field thins out more due to 5 new withdrawals for Day 9. In the Jonidan, a group of 12 promoted and tied at 4-0 includes November Jonokuchi Champion Takerufuji, going for his second championship in just 2 career tournaments and who will almost certainly be a Sandanme man in March. Finally, the Jonokuchi is down to 2 at 4-0: Nishikinoryu, who dropped down from the Sandanme after missing the last 2 tournaments, and Okano, a 17-year-old rikishi in his debut tournament.
