Here are the quick results from today’s Day 12 of the January 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo
Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Tohakuryu (J4) beat Chiyomaru (M16) by foul/judges reversal…HANSOKU!!! Over very quickly but replays show Chiyomaru clearly grabbed and pulled the Juryo man’s topknot in winning, which is illegal and thus a DQ.
Kagayaki (M12) beat Takarafuji (M16)
Aoiyama (M10) beat Kotoeko (M13)
Azumaryu (M14) beat Hiradoumi (M10)
Tsurugisho (M15) beat Takanosho (M9)
Endo (M9) beat Ichiyamamoto (M14)
Mitoryu (M15) beat Oho (M8)
Hokutofuji (M6) beat Chiyoshoma (M11)
Kotoshoho (M13) beat Nishikigi (M5)
Abi (M3) beat Ura (M7)
Onosho (M8) beat Tamawashi (M2)
Tobizaru (M1) beat Myogiryu (M6)
Daieisho (M1) beat Mitakeumi (M2)
Sadanoumi (M4) beat Meisei (K)
Midorifuji (M3) beat Wakamotoharu (K)
Wakatakakage (S) beat Kotonowaka (K)
Shodai (S) beat Nishikifuji (M4)
Ryuden (M5) beat Hoshoryu (S)
Kirobayama (K) beat Takakeisho (O)
Leader: Onosho (10-2)
Of note: FINALLY!!! The happiest man today undoubtedly is Azumaryu, who has finally clinched a winning record in a top tier tournament on his TENTH try! The prior 9 ended in demotion with a losing record but not this time, he will be promoted in March and he still isn’t out of the yusho race. As for that, Takakeisho taking a second straight loss hands the lead to high school rival Onosho ahead of their meeting tomorrow. At this point Takakeisho almost certainly needs to win his last 3 matches to remain in Yokozuna consideration. And all Ozeki promotion discussions this time are now over as his loss today takes Hoshoryu out of it-he needed at least 11 wins but now can only finish with 10, but first he must manage one more win to maintain his Sekiwake ranking. Not easy on a sprained ankle. If he did finish with 10 wins the magic number in March to be in consideration for promotion is 9, but 10 is ideal. As long as he gets one more win worst-case is 11 again. Tomorrow he has a Sekiwake Showdown against Wakatakakage, who despite a win today is struggling at 6-6. And while it’s too late to mean more than pride and protecting his rank, Shodai is back to THE Shodai these last few days-since his troublesome 2-6 start he now has won 4 straight. Elsewhere his win today against Takakeisho should FINALLY get Kiribayama to Sekiwake in March with Takayasu being demoted. I could only see it not happening if he loses out and finishes with 8 wins and Daieisho wins out. Meisei will also be demoted from Sanyaku after an 8th loss today. Despite a nice turnaround after an 0-4 start, consecutive losses have Shin Komusubi Kotonowaka on the brink of demotion as well at 5-7. He’ll definitely be back up though.
Key match tomorrow: Onosho-Takakeisho. Final match of the day. Could be for the championship and Yokozuna hopes for Takakeisho.
Juryo:
Asanoyama (J12) beat Shonannoumi (J13)
Tsushimanada (J14) beat Chiyosakae (J11)
Gonoyama (J10) beat Takakento (J12)
Hakuyozan (J14) beat Kitanowaka (J8)
Tochimusashi (J7) beat Kaisho (J13)
Kinbozan (J5) beat Roga (J9)
Hidenoumi (J9) beat Kotokuzan (J5)
Shimazuumi (J11) beat Enho (J4)
Chiyonokuni (J7) beat Oshoma (J3)
Hokuseiho (J2) beat Churanoumi (J6)
Terutsuyoshi (J10) beat Daiamami (J2)
Akua (J1) beat Shimanoumi (J8)
Daishoho (J6) beat Bushozan (J1)
Leader: Asanoyama, Kinbozan (11-1)
Of note: Asanoyama bounced back today from his first loss with another win against Shonannoumi, who despite the loss fought well today and is doing great as Shin Juryo with a promotion already secured and he’s not out of the yusho race yet. Terutsuyoshi is starting to get it together and possibly save his Juryo standing, but he probably needs at least one more win to be certain for March. Enho will be in the top tier tomorrow as he tries to break out of a 2-5 skid that has him at 6-6 following a 4 match winning streak after an opening loss. Today, like a couple of the losses, was a tough one as it was too close to call and was decided by the judges after both wrestlers appeared to go down at the same time.
Key match tomorrow: Asanoyama-Kinbozan. This may decide the championship. If Kinbozan wins this, or at least one more of his last 3 matches, he should make his top tier debut in March. 2 wins and I think it’s definite. If Asanoyama wins he should be at no lower than J2 in March. J1 maybe but he may be too far down for top tier. Oshoma’s top tier hopes after his November championship are gone for now, he needs to finish 3-0 just to avoid demotion. At the bottom, Kaisho will be demoted back to Makushita in March. Takakento may be as well and Chiyosakae is in danger of demotion too.
Lower tier notes: Tomorrow on Day 13 is Championship Day as we will have the Makushita championship match between Ochiai and Kazekeno, and the Sandanme championship match between Wakanosho & Kaizen. In the Jonidan, co-leader Ikazuchido is up early and if he wins his match there will be a playoff against the Takerufuji-Daiseizan winner for the championship, probably on Day 15. If Ikazuchido loses, that second match is for the championship. In the Jonokuchi, Okano is the champion if he wins the opening match tomorrow, otherwise a playoff would be needed unless they declare co-champions.
