Here are the quick results from today’s Day 4 of the January 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo
Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Mitoryu (M15) beat Takarafuji (M16)
Azumaryu (M14) beat Chiyomaru (M16)
Kotoeko (M13) beat Tsurugisho (M15)
Ichiyamamoto (M14) beat Okinoumi (M12)
Kotoshoho (M13) beat Tochinoshin (M11)
Aoiyama (M10) beat Kagayaki (M12)
Hiradoumi (M10) beat Chiyoshoma (M11)
Onosho (M8) beat Endo (M9)
Takanosho (M9) beat Oho (M8)
Ryuden (M5) beat Ura (M7)
Nishikifuji (M4) beat Myogiryu (M6)
Nishikigi (M5) beat Sadanoumi (M4)
Hokutofuji (M6) beat Midorifuji (M3)
Kiribayama (K) beat Kotonowaka (K)
Wakamotoharu (K) beat Meisei (K)
Takayasu (S) beat Tobizaru (M1)
Hoshoryu (S) beat Tamawashi (M2)
Daieisho (M1) beat Wakatakakage (S)
Abi (M3) beat Shodai (S)
Takakeisho (O) beat Mitakeumi (M2)
Leader: Hoshoryu, Abi, Onosho, Aoiyama, Kotoshoho (4-0)
WITHDRAWAL: Tochinoshin (M11) is OUT heading into Day 5. Left elbow or shoulder injury, which he was favoring after his loss. This means Takarafuji, who seemed to injure his finger in his loss today, will get a free victory as long as he doesn’t withdraw. If Tochinoshin can’t return, he will finish with the equivalent of a 2-13 record, which could drop the Georgian & former Ozeki down to Juryo.
Juryo:
Hakuyozan (J14) beat Takakento (J12)
Asanoyama (J12) beat Tsushimanada (J14)
Kaisho (J13) beat Chiyosakae (J11)
Shonannoumi (J13) beat Shimazuumi (J11)
Terutsuyoshi (J10) beat Hiradoumi (J9)
Gonoyama (J10) beat Shimanoumi (J8)
Roga (J9) beat Tochimusashi (J7)
Kitanowaka (J8) beat Churanoumi (J6)
Daishoho (J6) beat Chiyonokuni (J7)
Enho (J4) beat Kotokuzan (J5)
Hokuseiho (J2) beat Kinbozan (J5)
Tohakuryu (J4) beat Daiamami (J2)
Oshoma (J3) beat Akua (J1)
Bushozan (J1) beat Atamifuji (J3)
Leader: Asanoyama, Roga (4-0)
Of note: Another relatively easy win for Asanoyama as the former Ozeki is off to a 4th straight 4-0 start. In the lower tiers that’s a promotion but we’re not even 1/3 of the way through Juryo although that does put him halfway to promotion and getting closer to the top tier. I don’t think 15-0 will be enough but who knows. Also, the long nightmare for Terutsuyoshi is over as he stopped his 19-match losing streak dating back to September 2022. Among those struggling still is Akua, back on the verge of the top tier but 0-4, and Shimanoumi, who is in “here we go again” mode out of the gate with another weak start also 0-4.
Asanoyama is up first on Day 5 and will face Kaisho. Roga has Churanoumi. And unless there is another top-tier withdrawal, we’ll start seeing a Juryo man in the top tier each day beginning on Day 6 which would also mean a top-ranking Makushita man appearing in Juryo.
In the lower tiers, there is one return from injury as Obara, a pre-tournament withdrawal at Sandanme 22, is back today for Day 5 after 2 missed matches.
