Author: Admin

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 15-the Final Day-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):
Churanoumi (M13) beat Kitanowaka (M14)
Ichiyamamoto (M11) beat Ryuden (M13)
Mitakeumi (M10) beat Endo (M16)
Shodai (M10) beat Nishikifuji (M14)
Kotoshoho (M9) beat Roga (M15)
Hokutofuji (M9) beat Shonannoumi (M12)
Takayasu (M8) beat Daiamami (M16)
Tamawashi (M7) beat Myogiryu (M15)
Takerufuji (M17) beat Gonoyama (M6). TAKERUFUJI YUSHO!!!
Sadanoumi (M11) beat Midorifuji (M5)
Onosho (M8) beat Tobizaru (M4)
Meisei (M2) beat Takanosho (M3)
Oho (M3) beat Ura (M1)
Nishikigi (K) beat Kinbozan (M7)
Abi (K) beat Atamifuji (M2)
Wakamotoharu (S) beat Asanoyama (M1)
Hiradoumi (M4) beat Daieisho (S)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Onosato (M5)
Kirishima (O) beat Kotonowaka (O)
CHAMPION: Takerufuji (13-2). 1st career Emperor’s Cup, 4th career championship and second straight after winning Juryo in January. His career mark through 10 tournaments is now an astounding 69-10. He also becomes the first top tier rookie in 110 years to win his debut tournament in Makuuchi.
Of note: Elsewhere…RARE KIMARITE ALERT! There was good stuff on the undercard today too, including Kotoshoho winning with a rare technique I’ve never seen before-amiuchi-the fisherman’s throw. It looked like a middle-range arm throw as Roga was already losing his balance and falling down. That fishing effort netted Kotoshoho a promotion. That aside, for all the concerns about dwindling ranks and fewer newcomers in sumo, at the top the time is now for the youth movement. Hakkaku may be very worried about a Yokozuna-less time around the corner but with Takerufuji, Atamifuji and Onosato the future is very bright with 3 wrestlers who should be Yokozuna and Ozeki before too long. And Takerufuji came back from a right ankle injury yesterday to gut it out and show true heart of a champion by returning to compete today. He would have won anyway after Onosato lost to Hoshoryu, but back-to-back runner-up finishes for the top-tier sophomore may see him in Sanyaku in May. The final match saw the chief referee clearly blow another call as he ruled Kotonowaka the winner but replays show he clearly went out before Kirishima and the judges overturned the call. Kirishima will still be kadoban in May while the Sanyaku shakeup will see Daieisho demoted from Sekiwake for the first time in over a year, Wakamotoharu will stay Sekiwake, Abi may be promoted to Sekiwake, Asanoyama should return to Komusubi will Nishikigi will be demoted big-time.

SPECIAL PRIZES:
Outstanding Performance (best record with most wins against Yokozuna and/or Ozeki): Takerufuji
Fighting Spirit (winning record with judged to show best fighting spirit): Takerufuji, Onosato
Technique (winning record with best technique and/or most different winning techniques): Takerutufji, Onosato

Juryo:
Chiyosakae (J14) beat Nabatame (Ms5)
Tenshoho (Ms1) beat Kitaharima (J14)
Tsukahara (Ms4) beat Akua (J13)
Shishi (J8) beat Wakatakakage (J10)
Hidenoumi (J7) beat Kotowko (J12)
Chiyoshoma (J6) beat Hakuoho (J13)
Hakuyozan (J6) beat Tamashoho (J9)
Bushozan (J4) beat Asakoryu (J8)
Oshoma (J4) beat Tsushimanada (J12)
Kagayaki (J3) beat Shimanoumi (J9)
Tomokaze (J3) beat Daishoho (J7)
Mitoryu (J2) beat Aoiyama (J11). MITORYU JURYO YUSHO!!!
Tohakuryu (J2) beat Oshoumi (J11)
Takarafuji (J1) beat Shiden (J10)
Tokihayate (J1) beat Shirokuma (J5)
CHAMPION: Mitoryu (12-3). 2nd career championship, both in Juryo

Jonidan:
Playoff: Tochimaru (Jd47) beat Ryuo (Jd6). TOCHIMARU JONIDAN YUSHO!!! The 2nd career championship and first Jonidan for the popular machine-gun-thruster veteran, who was demoted from Makushita to Jonidan after missing the last 3 tournaments due to injuries.

TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS:
Makuuchi-Takerufuji (M17). 1st Emperor’s Cup, 4th career championship
Juryo-Mitoryu (J2). 2nd career championship, 2nd Juryo championship
Makushita-Kazekeno (Ms13). 2nd career championship, 1st Makushita championship
Sandanme-Nagamura (Sd3). 1st career championship
Jonidan-Tochimaru (Jd47). 2nd career championship, 1st Jonidan championship
Jonokuchi-Chiyooga (Jk3). 1st career championship

The next tournament is May 12-26 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. Advance tickets go on sale April 8. Before then, in April there will be a special exhibition tournament held as a fundraiser for Noto Peninsula Earthquake relief efforts. The final wrap-up post with hopefully details on early promotions/demotions and more will come later this week.

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 14-the penultimate day-of the March 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita

Makuuchi (top tier):
Myogiryu (M15) beat Tokihayate (J1)
Endo (M16) beat Sadanoumi (M11)
Shonannoumi (M12) beat Shodai (M10)
Mitakeumi (M10) beat Ryuden (M13)
Hokutofuji (M9) beat Daiamami (M16)
Kotoshoho (M9) beat Churanoumi (M13)
Takayasu (M8) beat Roga (M15)
Tamawashi (M7) beat Kitanowaka (M14)
Gonoyama (M6) beat Nishikifuji (M14)
Onosho (M8) beat Midorifuji (M5)
Tobizaru (M4) beat Kinbozan (M7)
Meisei (M2) beat Ichiyamamoto (M11)
Hiradoumi (M4) beat Ura (M1) by foul/judges reversal…HANSOKU!!! Ura originally won but grabbed the topknot/hair of Hiradoumi in the process of doing so, which is illegal whether intentional or not. So that’s a disqualification and the result was overturned much to the pro-Ura crowd’s dismay.
Asanoyama (M1) beat Takerufuji (M17)
Onosato (M5) beat Abi (K)
Oho (M3) beat Nishikigi (K)
Daieisho (S) beat Takanosho (M3)
Wakamotoharu (S) beat Atamifuji (M2)
Kirishima (O) beat Takakeisho (O) by default/withdrawal
Kotonowaka (O) beat Hoshoryu (O)
Leader: Takerufuji (12-2)
WITHDRAWAL: Takakeisho (O). Right pectoral muscle. Tournament over. Thankfully he just got his 8th win so he keeps his Ozeki rank in May.
Of note: Not today, but…the crowd was holding its collective breath because after the loss Takerufuji came up almost limping and moving very slowly. Possibly a foot injury but hopefully he can make it through the Final Day. The championship is down to Takerufuji & Onosato (11-3). Takerufuji is to face Gonoyama tomorrow, Onosato is to face Hoshoryu. If Takerufuji wins or Onosato loses, Takerufuji is the champion. If Takerufuji loses and Onosato wins, there will be a playoff. If Takerufuji withdraws and can’t compete, Onosato still must win otherwise Takerufuji would still be champion.
(Quick Takerufuji update: Nikkan Sports reports he was hospitalized right away for examination. Right ankle. In a cast from the knee down. At this moment he remains in for tomorrow)

Juryo:
Kayo (Ms3) beat Chiyosakae (J14)
Chiyomaru (Ms1) beat Akua (J13)
Shimanoumi (J9) beat Kitaharima (J14)
Tamashoho (J9) beat Shishi (J8)
Tsushimanada (J12) beat Hakuyozan (J6)
Chiyoshoma (J6) beat Shiden (J10)
Bushozan (J5) beat Hidenoumi (J7)
Shirokuma (J5) beat Oshoumi (J11)
Kagayaki (J3) beat Kotoeko (J12)
Oshoma (J4) beat Asakoryu (J8)
Wakatakakage (J10) beat Tomokaze (J3)
Aoiyama (J11) beat Tohakuryu (J2)
Mitoryu (J2) beat Hakuoho (J13)
Daishoho (J7) beat Takarafuji (J1)
Leader: Mitoryu (11-3)
Of note: Well, it’s a Mongolian winning no matter what. Here’s how it looks: With Daishoho and Oshoma at 10-4, both are up first. Oshoma is first and will face Tsushimanada (7-7), then Daishoho will face Tomokaze (8-6). If both lose, Mitoryu is the champion. If one or both win, Mitoryu is still the champion if he beats Aoiyama. If Miroryu loses and one or both Daishoho and/or Oshoma win, there will be a playoff and it could be a 3-way playoff. Mitoryu will be promoted back to the top tier in May, any others come down to tomorrow as Takarafuji & Tokihayate-both J1-are 7-7 so win and they go up, lose and they get demoted. As for Aoiyama, he is 7-7 at J11 so win or lose he’ll stay in Juryo. Elsewhere, Akua may be demoted to Makushita depending on tomorrow while, with his 4th win today, Chiyomaru will be promoted back to Juryo in May.

Reminder: NHK World Japan will have 90 minutes of LIVE top tier coverage of the Final Day, including the likely championship deciding matches, playoff if needed, awards ceremony and champion’s interview, tomorrow beginning at 12:30 AM PT/3:30 AM ET.

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.