Author: Admin

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 12 of the January 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Kokusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo

Makiuchi (top tier):
Shimazuumi (M17) beat Churanoumi (M13)
Oho (M11) beat Bushozan (M16)
Sadanoumi (M10) beat Takarafuji (M16)
Tomokaze (M15) beat Mitakeumi (M9)
Myogiryu (M12) beat Meisei (M9)
Hiradoumi (M8) beat Endo (M13)
Tsurugisho (M11) beat Kinbozan (M6)
Tobizaru (M4) beat Ichiyamamoto (M7)
Shonannoumi (M6) beat Shodai (M4)
Abi (M2) beat Midorifuji (M2)
Kotoshoho (M14) beat Wakamotoharu (M1)
Nishikigi (M5) beat Atamifuji (M1)
Ura (K) beat Gonoyama (M3)
Kotonowaka (S) beat Onosho (M14)
Daieisho (S) beat Ryuden (M5)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Takanosho (M12)
Kirishima (O) beat Tamawashi (M10)
Terubofuji (Y) beat Onosato (M15)

Leader: Kotonowaka (11-1)
RE-ENTRY: Asanoyama (M7). Will return tomorrow. Missed 4 days after Day 9 withdrawal (ankle). It cost him a chance at the championship as he was 7-1 at the time but he can still earn promotion with at least one more win (he will be the equivalent of 7-5). At worst, I think 7-8 (7-5-3 officially) would keep him at M7 in March.
Yokozuna Watch: Kirishima keeps winning and staying close but it will probably depend on tomorrow when Terunofuji faces Kotonowaka. Kirishima needs Terunofuji to win and he also has to beat Hoshoryu. Not out of it if Kotonowaka wins but it will be a much tougher task although if Kitishima can force a playoff and finish 13-2 that may be enough, even if he loses. If Hoshoryu wins out and takes the championship, he’ll be on the radar for May although the Yokozuna Deliberation Council isn’t exactly smitten with him (he is the nephew of former Yokozuna Asashoryu, who was not exactly a model Yokozuna behavior-wise). (Kirishima leads Hoshoryu 3-2 over the past year but one win was a fusen when Hosboryu was a withdrawal).
Ozeki Watch: It won’t put him at the unofficial 33 wins but if Kotonowaka beats Tetunofuji tomorrow, I believe that’s promotion. 2 of 3 more wins or all 3 should do it for sure. Terunofuji won their last meeting in May 2023.

Juryo:
Oshoumi (J13) beat Daishoho (J9)
Shiden (J8) beat Chiyosakae (J14)
Takerufuji (J10) beat Kagayaki (J7)
Shishi (J7) beat Tenshoho (J12)
Akua (J11) beat Chiyoshoma (J5)
Hidenoumi (J11) beat Oshoma (J5)
Tochimusashi (J14) beat Tamashoho (J4)
Kotoeko (J4) beat Yuma (J13)
Hakuyozan (J10) beat Roga (J3)
Asakoryu (J9) beat Kitanowaka (J3)
Nishikifuji (J2) beat Chiyomaru (J12)
Tohakuryu (J2) beat Shimanoumi (J8)
Daiamami (J1) beat Shirokuma (J6)
Motoryu (J1) beat Tokihayate (J6)
Leader: Takerufuji (10-2)

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 11 of the January 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo, Ma-Makushita

Makiuchi (top tier):
Takanosho (M12) beat Kotoshoho (M14)
Tsurugisho (M11) beat Churanoumi (M13)
Shimazuumi (M17) beat Sadanoumi (M10)
Meisei (M9) beat Endo (M13)
Hiradoumi (M8) beat Bushozan (M16)
Ichiyamamoto (M7) beat Takarafuji (M16)
Tomokaze (M15) beat Shonannoumi (M6)
Kinbozan (M6) beat Myogiryu (M12)
Mitakeumi (M9) beat Nishikigi (M5)
Gonoyama (M3) beat Ryuden (M5)
Tobizaru (M4) beat Midorifuji (M2)
Atamifuji (M1) beat Shodai (M4)
Wakamotoharu (M1) beat Tamawashi (M10)
Abi (M2) beat Ura (K)
Kotonowaka (S) beat Oho (M11)
Kirishima (O) beat Daieisho (S)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Onosato (M15)
Terunofuji (Y) beat Onosho (M14)
Leader: Kotonowaka (10-1)
Of note: It’s likely down to Sanyaku for the championship with a Sekiwake leading then the Yokiozuna & 2 Ozeki one back. Onosho & Onosato are now both in a group 2 back after losses today, which includes Wakamotoharu after he clinched promotion and a return to Sanyaku in March. Also, Asanoyama has now missed enough time with injury that despite starting 7-1 he is now out of title contention even if he returns. Tomorrow might be the last kinboxhi chance this time for anyone when Terunofuji faces Onosato, as I expect all of Sanyaku to face each other based on the standings as we go into the final 3 days. As for Hoshoryu, who is also right there at 9-2, he has Takanosho tomorrow.
Yokozuna Watch: Kirishima hasn’t faced any Sanyaku yet except Daieisho so that’s probably coming after tomorrow. That will decide potential promotion but he still is very much in it. He has Tamawashi tomorrow.
Ozeki Watch: Kotonowaka continues to control his fate but he’s getting closer, now just needing to hold on for his first championship or get 3 more wins. Next up is Onosho.

Juryo:
Tenshoho (J12) beat Chiyonoumi (Ms4)
Daishoho (J9) beat Tochimusashi (J14)
Chiyosakae (J14) beat Asakoryu (J9)
Oshoumi (J13) beat Shiden (J7)
Shimanoumi (J8) beat Yuma (J13)
Chiyomaru (J12) beat Shishi (J7)
Oshoma (J5) beat Akua (J11)
Hakuyozan (J10) beat Tamashoho (J4)
Kitanowaka (J3) beat Takerufuji (J10)
Roga (J3) beat Chiyoshoma (J5)
Togakuryu (J2) beat Hidenoumi (J11)
Kagayaki (J7) beat Nishikifuji (J2)
Mitoryu (J1) beat Shirokuma (J6)
Tokihayate (J6) beat Daiamami (J1)
Leader: Roga, Tokihayate, Takerufuji (9-2)
RE-ENTRY: Kotoeko (J4). Will return tomorrow. Missed the last 3 days after withdrawal on Day 9 (flu). Any wins he can get now should prevent potential demotion to Makushita as he is the equivalent of 1-10.
Of note: Out of gas? That’s 2 straight losses and lead lost for Takerufuji after a 9-0 start in his Juryo debut, and it’s now a 3-way tie for the lead. With his 9th win, Roga will probably return to the top tier in March for a second chance after demotion in his first try (if he wins at least one more match he will definitely go back up). On the flip side, Tochimusashi will be demoted back to Makushita after an 8th loss today along with Yuma. He won’t avoid the 3:10 to demotion this time unless he wins out to get to 7-8.

Lower tier notes: It will be Wakatakakage vs. Haruyama for the Makushita Championship with both emerging from today at 6-0. Haruyama beat Tanji (a Sandanme man) then Wakatakakge beat Dewanoryu. Wakatakakage will be going for his 4th championship and second in Makushita before he returns to Juryo in March while Haruyama will be going for his second championship. At 5-1 at Ms5, Hakuoho will also have a chance to return to Juryo in March (a 6th win should make it certain). In the Sandanme, it will be Fujiseiun vs. Takashoki for the championship, with Fujiseiun going for his 3rd championship (second in Sandanme) and Takashoki going for his first career title. The Jonidan may need a playoff as 3 remain tied at 6-0, while in the Jonokuchi Anhibiki (6-0) will be the champion is he wins his final match.

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 10 of the January 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo, Ma-Makushita

Makiuchi (top tier):
Shimazuumi (M17) beat Myogiryu (M12)
Kotoshoho (M13) beat Tsurugisho (M11)
Sadanoumi (M10) beat Bushozan (M16)
Takarafuji (M16) beat Mitakeumi (M9)
Tomokaze (M15) beat Hiradoumi (M8)
Ichiyamamoto (M7) beat Churanoumi (M13)
Endo (M13) beat Shonannoumi (M6)
Meisei (M9) beat Nishikigi (M5)
Takanosho (M12) beat Tobizaru (M4)
Gonoayama (M3) beat Shodai (M4)
Abi (M2) beat Ryuden (M5)
Wakamotoharu (M1) beat Oho (M11)
Tamawashi (M10) beat Atamifuji (M1)
Midorifuji (M2) beat Ura (K)
Kotonowaka (S) beat Onosato (M15)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Daieisho (S)
Kirishima (O) beat Onosho (M14)
Terunofuji (Y) beat Kinbozan (M6)
Leader: Kotonowaka (9-1)
Of note: The battle for sole leadership was a no-contest as Kotoshoho easily dispatched rookie Onosato, but it’s far from over. Onosato remains in a group of 5 that are one win back at 8-2, including Onosho who took a tough loss to Kirishima. And Terunofuji is lurking in that group too eith a winning record secured. Elsewhere, the Sanyaku shakeup is set as Ura will be demoted, meaning no Komusubi holdovers in March. Wakamotoharu is now one win away from returning to Sanyaku after being demoted from Sekiwake this time.
Yokozuna Watch: It wasn’t his best showing but that win keeps Kirishima’s hopes alive as he is in the 8-2 group, and more importantly he has protected his Ozeki rank as has Hoshoryu. But on the flip side, now that he has missed a week with onjury…Takakeisho kadoban…
Ozeki Watch: It’s almost Kotonowaka’s promotion to lose now. He’s not there yet but continues to lead the standigs and looks strong. Probably needs 4 more wins to clinch if he doesn’t get the championship.
Key matches tomorrow: Onosato-Hoshoryu, Terunofuji-Onosho. The losers are all but out of the championship race. Kotonowaka has Oho (who tends to fade in the second week) while Kirishima faces Daieisho. Among those matches, all but Kirishima-Daieisho are first ever meetings. Over the last year, Kirishima is 4-2 against Daieisho.

Juryo:
Yuma (J13) beat Kitaharima (Ms2)
Hidenoumi (J11) beat Tenshoho (J12)
Hakuyozan (J10) beat Chiyomaru (J12)
Asakoryu (J9) beat Tochimusashi (J14)
Daishoho (J9) beat Chiyosakae (J14)
Oshoumi (J13) beat Shimanoumi (J8)
Shiden (J8) beat Akua (J11)
Shishi (J7) beat Tamashoho (J4)
Roga (J3) beat Takerufuji (J10)
Kitanowaka (J3) beat Kagayaki (J7)
Tokihayate (J6) beat Nishikifuji (J2)
Shirokuma (J6) beat Tohakuryu (J2)
Oshoma (J5) beat Daiamami (J1)
Chiyoshoma (J5) beat Mitoryu (J1)
Leader: Takerufuji (9-1)
Of note: No perfect run for Takerufuji, loss 1 came today so his lead is down to 1. Tokihayate & Roga clinched promotions today, with the Russian at J3 now having a chance to return to the top tier with one more win (ideally at least 2 more). Amazongly, aside from Kotoeko there are still no other demotions yet. That will almost certainly change tomorrow though.

Lower tier notes: With 3 left at 5-0, half of the potential Makushita Championship will be determined tomorrow as Wakatakakage faces Dewanoryu. The other unbeaten, Haruyama, faces Tanji first (a Sandanme man who is also 5-0). If Haruyama loses, the Wakatakakage-Dewanoryu winner only has to win their final match to be champion. If Haruyama wins, the latter sets up the championship match on Day 13. The Sandanme has 6 at 5-0 so a playoff may be needed depending on what happens tomorrow. There are also 6 left in the Jonidan at 5-0, while Anhibiki only needs to win out to claim the Jonokuchi championship as the only 5-0 left.