Here are the quick results from today’s Day 13-Championship Day in the lower tiers-of the January 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita, Sd-Sandanme, Jd-Jonidan, Jk-Jonokuchi
Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Enho (J4) beat Mitoryu (M15)
Ichiyamamoto (M14) beat Kagayaki (J12)
Azumaryu (M14) beat Chiyoshoma (M11)
Aoiyama (M19) beat Endo (M9)
Takanosho (M9) beat Chiyomaru (M16)
Kotoeko (M13) beat Ura (M7)
Tsurugisho (M15) beat Myogiryu (M6)
Nishikigi (M5) beat Takarafuji (M16)
Oho (M8) beat Sadanoumi (M4)
Kotoshoho (M13) beat Abi (M3)
Daieisho (M1) beat Hiradoumi (M14)
Tobizaru (M1) beat Mitakeumi (M2)
Wakamotoharu (K) beat Hokutofuji (M6)
Nishikifuji (M4) beat Meisei (K)
Kotonowaka (K) beat Tamawashi (M2)
Kiribayama (K) beat Midorifuji (M3)
Wakatakakage (S) beat Hoshoryu (S)
Ryuden (M5) beat Shodai (S)
Takakeisho (O) beat Onosho (M8)
Leader: Takakeisho, Onosho, Kotoshoho (10-3)
Of note: Once again it’s wide open! Back to a 3-way tie for the lead and 3 are just one win back…and how about Azumaryu? First top tier winning record in his career yesterday and he’s still in the yusho race! What a story that would be if he wins! At this point Takakeisho needs to win his last 2 matches to remain in Yokozuna contention-a championship should be enough but a runner-up finish could also do it as it would be a second straight (the criteria on the performance side are consecutive championships OR wins equal to consecutive runner-up finishes). At worst he needs to be part of another potential playoff. Fortunately for Takakeisho he gets the injured Hoshoryu tomorrow, nothing is a given but that could help Takakeisho’s cause.
Key matches tomorrow: Kotoshoho-Daieisho, Onosho-Kiribayama, Takakeisho-Hoshoryu. It’s not impossible to have a 6-way tie going into the final day!
Reminder: NHK World Japan will have 50 minutes of LIVE top tier coverage/beginning tomorrow at 12:10 AM PT/3:10 AM ET and 90 minutes of Final Day coverage beginning tomorrow at 11:30 PM PT, to include the first part of the awards ceremony and champion’s interview.
Juryo:
Shimazuumi (J11) beat Shimanoumi (J8)
Takakento (J12) beat Tochimusashi (J7)
Chiyonokuni (J7) beat Hakuyozan (J14)
Shonannoumi (J13) beat Daishoho (J6)
Chiyosakae (J11) beat Churanoumi (J6)
Kotokuzan (J5) beat Terutsuyoshi (J10)
Asanoyama (J12) beat Kinbozan (J5)
Tsushimanada (J14) beat Tohakuryu (J4)
Hidenoumi (J9) beat Oshoma (J3)
Daiamami (J2) beat Kaisho (J13)
Hokuseiho (J2) beat Roga (J2)
Gonoyama (J10) beat Bushozan (J1)
Kitanowaka (J8) beat Akua (J1)
Leader: Asanoyama (12-1)
Of note: We may have to wait tomorrow to find out if we have a champion after Asanoyama took the sole lead by beating Kinbozan. That is because Kinbozan will be the guest in the top tier tomorrow so no Juryo match. So if Asanoyama wins tomorrow we have to wait a couple hours. If Asanoyama loses, we could be looking at a playoff rematch. Kinbozan has a good chance of being promoted to the top tier in March (I think it’s definite with one more win) so tomorrow could be a preview of what is to come. If Asanoyama wins tomorrow and Kinbozan loses, it’s over and both will go for solidifying top tier promotion cases Sunday.
Key matches tomorrow: Asanoyama-Chiyonokuni, Kinbozan-Tsurugisho (in top tier)
Makushita:
Ochiai (Ms15) beat Kazekeno (Ms40). OCHIAI MAKUSHITA YUSHO! Champion in his debut tournament! That could quite possibly get him into Juryo in record time as the Makushita champion usually moves up 30 spots in the rankings.
Sandanme:
Kaizen (Sd74) beat Wakanosho (Sd13). KAIZEN SANDANME YUSHO! His first career championship should get him promoted back to Makushita after he was demoted to Jonidan after being absent for 3 straight tournaments last year (May, July, September). Wakanosho will likeiy get a second chance at Makushita in his 7th career tournament in March, he was demoted back to Sandanme after a 2-5 November record.
Jonidan:
Asakoga (Jd46) beat Ikazuchido (Jd73)
Takerufuji (Jd11) beat Daiseizan (Jd4). TAKERUFUJI JONIDAN YUSHO! 2nd championship in just 2 career tournaments. No playoff because Ikazuchido lost before the second match meaning the latter was for the championship.
Of note: Satonofuji, the likely oldest active rikishi at 45 who is seen performing the closing ceremony every day during tournaments, finished with a 4-3 record at Jd91 and will move up a couple spots in March. He has never promoted above the Sandanme in his career that I know of (which dates back to at least 2010). He performs the ceremony as the choice of the stable/beya the current Yokozuna originates from, which is Isegahama Beya. Usually it’s a Makushita ranked wrestler but this is an exception.
Jonokuchi:
Kazenoumi (Jk11) beat Okano (Jk12). Okano would have been champion with a win but now there could be a 3-way playoff with 3 at 6-1.
