Open The Forbidden Gate

Here are the quick results from yesterday’s Day 13-Championship Day 1-of the May 2024 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):
Ichiyamamoto (M12) beat Tsurugisho (M17)
Roga (M15) beat Hokutofuji (M11)
Sadanoumi (M11) beat Tokihayate (M15)
Kinbozan (M10) beat Takarafuji (M16)
Ryuden (M14) beat Shodai (M9)
Churanoumi (M13) beat Kotoshoho (M8)
Takanosho (M8) beat Tomokaze (M16)
Tamawashi (M9) beat Oho (M4)
Tobizaru (M3) beat Nishikifuji (M12)
Nishikigi (M7) beat Gonoyama (M2)
Hiradoumi (M2) beat Takayasu (M5)
Daieisho (M1) beat Mitakeumi (M7)
Atamifuji (M1) beat Onosho (M5)
Onosato (K) beat Ura (M4)
Abi (S) beat Meisei (M5)
Wakamotoharu (S) beat Oshoma (M14)
Kotozakura (O) beat Shonannoumi (M10)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Midorifuji (M5)
Leader: Kotozakura, Onosato (10-3)
Of note: The potential title field of 11 is down to 7, with just 2 co-leaders now. It’s also now definite that the championship will go to the Final Day to decide. Further down, more promotions & demotions are being secured, with 2 definitely headed to Juryo and maybe 3.
Tomorrow Kotozakura faces Abi and Onosato has Shonannoumi. Elsewhere, Ura tries to avoid going from 6-0 to an embarrassing demotion against Atamifuji, looking to not get an 8th straight loss.

Juryo:
Didn’t get a chance to add due to unforeseen circumstances.
Leader: Wakatakakage, Endo, Onokatsu (11-2)
Makushita:
Fujiseiun (Ms11) beat Kusano (Ms60). FUJISEIUN MAKUSHITA YUSHO!!! 4th career championship, first Makushita. He’ll probably be promoted back to Juryo in July.

Sandanme:
Kyokukaiyu (Sd87) beat Inami (Jd27)
Sadanohikari (Sd29) beat Chiyodaigo (Sd54). PLAYOFF! That means Kyokukaiyu vs. Sadanohikari will be on the Final day for the championship as both go 7-0.

Jonidan:
Asaazuma (Jd83) beat Yurikisho (Jd97). And after Inami lost in the Sandanme after this…ASAAZUMA JONIDAN YUSHO!!! First career championship. He’ll probably be promoted to the Sandanme for the first time in his career.

Jonokuchi:
Seihakuho (Jk3) beat Daikosho (Jk8)
Noda (Jk5) beat MIshima (Jk4). PLAYOFF! That means Seihakuho vs. Noda will be on the Final day for the championship as both go 6-1.

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 12 of the May Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita

Makuuchi (top tier):
Ichiyamamoto (M12) beat Ryuden (M14)
Roga (M15) beat Nishikifuji (M12)
Sadanoumi (M11) beat Churanoumi (M13)
Hokutofuji (M11) beat Tsurugisho (M17)
Tamawashi (M9) beat Tomokaze (M16)
Oshoma (M14) beat Shodai (M9)
Tokihayate (M165 beat Nishikigi (M7)
Kinbozan (M10) beat Midorifuji (M6)
Onosho (M5) beat Takanosho (M8)
Kotoshoho (M8) beat Ura (M4)
Takayasu (M3) beat Tobizaru (M3)
Hiradoumi (M2) beat Gonoyama (M2)
Atamifuji (M1) beat Oho (M4)
Meisei (M5) beat Daieisho (M1)
Onosato (K) beat Takarafuji (M16)
Abi (S) beat Shonannoumi (M10)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Mitakeumi (M7)
Kotozakura (O) beat Wakamotoharu (S)
Leader: 4 at 9-3
Of note: When was the last time a tournament was this wide open? There are an astounding ELEVEN rikishi at 9-3 or 8-4 and still in contention! And also still in it is Takayasu, despite missing 6 days due to injury he is otherwise 6-0! But unfortunately the just-as-spectacular collapse of Ura continues…started 6-0 and is 0-6 since. At the top, Abi will protect his Sekiwake rank and it seems like Onosato will join him in July.
Tomorrow’s most key matchup is Shonannoumi vs. Kotozakura, the winner will go to 10-3 and be a leader with the loser needing help to win the title. Onosato, also 9-3, gets Ura while the other co-leader, Oshoma, has Wakamotoharu.

Juryo:
Kotokuzan (Ms4) beat Chiyomaru (J13)
Kazekeno (J14) beat Hakuyozan (J10)
Chiyosakae (J9) beat Aoiyama (J11)
Oshoumi (J13) beat Tamashoho (J9)
Tsushimanada (J12) beat Hidenoumi (J8)
Tochitaikai (J14) beat Shimazuumi (J7)
Onokatsu (J12) beat Tohakuryu (J4)
Kitanowaka (J5) beat Asakoryu (J4)
Endo (J3) beat Kagayaki (J5)
Wakatakakage (J6) beat Chiyoshoma (J3)
Shirokuma (J6) beat Bushozan (J2)
Shiden (J10) beat Daishoho (J2)
Daiamami (J1) beat Shimanoumi (J11)
Shishi (J7) beat Myogiryu (J1)
Leader: Onokatsu, Wakatakakage, Endo (11-1)
RE-ENTRY: Hakuoho (J8). Will return tomorrow. Missed the last 5 days due to coronavirus. Will be demoted due to being the equivalent of 3-9.
Of note: It’s all but down to the top 3. At this point the only other wrestler still with any real chance is Chiyoshoma, now at 9-3 after today’s loss. It will be down to 2 at most tomorrow as Endo faces Onokatsu, so the winner there is the leader and title favorite. Wakatakakage faces Shiden, who is going for promotion. A win probably will get the former Sekiwake back to the top tier in July.

Lower tier notes:
Tomorrow is the traditional Championship day in the lower 4 tiers…in the Makushita the Championship match will be Fujiseiun vs. Kusano, both at 6-0. A championship will give Fujiseiun a chance at a Juryo return in July while Kusano is looking to win the title in his rookie campaign, which would move him up to the middle of the division. The Sandanme may need a playoff as there are 3 at 6-0. Same with the Jonidan (3 at 6-0) and the Jonokuchi has 4 at 5-1, so only Makushita will likely be settled tomorrow.

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

Makuuchi (top tier):
Chiyoshoma (J3) beat Tsurugisho (M17)
Tomokaze (M16) beat Tokihayate (M15)
Ichiyamamoto (M12) beat Mitoryu (M13) by default/withdrawal
Ryuden (M14) beat Kinbozan (M10)
Shonannoumi (M10) beat Takarafuji (M16)
Shodai (M9) beat Roga (M15)
Tamawashi (M9) beat Nishikifuji (M12)
Oshoma (M14) beat Kotoshoho (M8)
Takanosho (M8) beat Hokutofuji (M11)
Mitakeumi (M7) beat Churanoumi (M13)
Sadanoumi (M11) beat Nishikigi (M7)
Midorifuji (M6) beat Tobizaru (M3)
Gonoyama (M2) beat Oho (M4)
Daieisho (M1) beat Ura (M4)
Takayasu (M3) beat Atamifuji (M1)
Abi (S) beat Onosho (M5)
Hiradoumi (M2) beat Wakamotoharu (S)
Kotozakura (O) beat Meisei (M3)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Onosato (K)
Leader: Shonannoumi (9-2)
WITHDRAWAL: Mitoryu (M13). Knees-osteoarthritis in both. Tournament likely over. Will be demoted to Juryo.
Of note: It perhaps was a highlight day for Chiyoshoma in multiple ways-not only did he probably clinch promotion back to the top tier, but it also comes on the day he officially gained Japanese citizenship. That will probably open the door to elder stock for the Mongolian upon his retirement, or at the very least being able to stay in Japan. At the top, we have a sole leader and a chance for more record-breaking: If Shonannoumi can hold on to win his first Emperor’s Cup, it would be the first time a rikishi from Kanagawa Prefecture (eastern Japan, next to Tokyo and home to Yokohama) has won the top-tier championship in 65 years. Elsewhere, Daieisho clinched a probable Sanyaku return today with a promotion while dropping Ura to a disastrous 5th straight loss after a 6-0 start. Wakamotoharu will be demoted from Sekiwake again due to the equivalent of 8 losses thanks to 4 missed days. And how about Takayasu? He’s on pace for the odd statistic of winning every match he competed in but all his losses are due to being absent several days due to injury. As always seems to be the case, what could have been as that first career top-tier championship remains oh-so-elusive as he keeps coming so close. 9-6 won’t win the championship by any stretch but at least for one more day he still mathematically has a chance. In his first tournament post-name change, Kotozakura has protected his Ozeki status with another 8-win effort to stay in a group of 6 just one win off the lead, and a thirs straight win in their series-all amazingly by shitatenage including today has Hoshoryu still in it at 7-4. He dropped Onosato into the 8-3 group.
Tomorrow Shonannoumi goes for a 10th win against Abi while a potential title eliminator sees Takaraduji vs. Onosato that could drop the loser out of it. Also, no more Juryo man being up starting tomorrow.

Juryo:
Onokatsu (J12) beat Chiyomaru (J13)
Aoiyama (J11) beat Tsushimanada (J12)
Shiden (J10) beat Kazekeno (J14)
Tamashoho (J9) beat Tochitaikai (J14)
Shimazuumi (J7) beat Oshoumi (J13)
Kagayaki (J5) beat Shimanoumi (J11)
Chiyosakae (J9) beat Asakoryu (J4)
Hakuyozan (J10) beat Tohakuryu (J4)
Wakatakakage (J6) beat Endo (J3)
Kitanowaka (J5) beat Daishoho (J2)
Hidenoumi (J8) beat Bushozan (J2)
Shirokuma (J6) beat Myogiryu (J1)
Daiamami (J1) beat Shishi (J7)
Leader: Onokatsu, Wakatakakage, Endo (10-1)
Of note: No Zensho Yusho. Endo took his first loss today and it means a 3-way tie for the lead again, and also increases Wakatakakage’s top-tier return chances (every win now helps). Onokatsu also remains in it in his Juryo debut. But on the flip side, we’ll probably see Oshoumi demoted back to Makushita and Chiyomaru going back down with him. No faceoffs on Day 12 between any of the top 3.

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

Makuuchi (top tier):
Oshoma (M13) beat Ryuden (M14)
Roga (M15) beat Mitoryu (M13)
Churanoumi (M13) beat Tomokaze (M16)
Takarafuji (M16) beat Ichiyamamoto (M12)
Nishikifuji (M12) beat Tsurugisho (M17)
Tamawashi (M9) beat Tokihayate (M15)
Shodai (M9) beat Hokutofuji (M11)
Takanosho (M8) beat Sadanoumi (M11)
Kinbozan (M10) beat NIshikigi (M7)
Kotoshoho (M8) beat Mitakeumi (M7)
Shonannoumi (M10) beat Midorifuji (M6)
Meisei (M5) beat Hiradoumi (M2)
Atamifuji (M1) beat Tobizaru (M3)
Daieisho (M1) beat Oho (M4)
Onosato (K) beat Gonoyama (M2)
Abi (S) beat Ura (M4)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Onosho (M5)
Takayasu (M3) beat Kotozakura (O)
Leader: Onosato, Shonannoumi,Takarafuji (8-2)
RE-ENTRY: Wakamotoharu (S). Will return tomorrow. Missed 4 days with a toe injury. Will be the equivalent of 3-7, meaning he can maintain his ranking if he wins out but will be demoted with one more loss.
Of note: If it wasn’t for the injury withdrawal Takayasu may be up among the leaders as he’s unbeaten now when he competes. His only loss is a fusen for withdrawing. Meanwhile, Onosato will remain in Sanyaku in July while Takarafuji and Shonannoumi also clinch promotions. Tomokaze will definitely be demoted back to Juryo now and Mitoryu is trending that way with demotion now clinched. As for Mitakeumi, the latest injury update is a bruised upper leg. For now he’s toughing it out.
Tomorrow Shonannoumi faces Takarafuji in a potential eliminator while Onosato looks to maintain the lead against Hoshoryu.

Juryo:
Tochitaikai (J14) beat Kiraharima (Ms3)
Kazekeno (J14) beat Oshoumi (J13)
Onokatsu (J12) beat Shimanoumi (M11)
Chiyomaru (J13) beat Shiden (J10)
Hakuyozan (J10) beat Tsushimanada (J12)
Aoiyama (J11) beat Tamashoho (J9)
Tohakuryu (J4) beat Chiyosakae (J9)
Hidenoumi (J8) beat Asakoryu (J4)
Endo (J3) beat Shimazuumi (J7)
Chiyoshoma (J3) beat Shirokuma (J6)
Bushozan (J2) beat Kagayaki (J3)
Shishi (J7) beat Daishoho (J2)
Wakatakakage (J6) beat Daiamami (J1)
Myogiryu (J1) beat Kitanowaka (J5)
Leader: Endo (10-0)
Of note: We now know the reason for the Hakuoho withdrawal the other day thanks to YouTuber Chris Sumo-coronavirus. Status uncertain but if the guidelines keep him away for more than 5 days in isolation/quarantine, tournament over. He will be demoted again, questionable to stay in Juryo. At the top, I think it’s safe to say Endo has now clinched promotion back to the top tier no matter what happens the rest of the way, and Chiyoshoma now will have a chance to return as he has clinched promotion. Wakatakakage continues to keep his hopes alive at 9-1 but from J6 he still needs more wins. He’s got a big one tomorrow in Endo which could be a title eliminator. Onokatsu draws Chiyomaru.