Her are the quick results from today’s Day 12 of the March 23 Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita
Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Oho (M15) beat Asanoyama (J1)
Kinbozan (M14) beat Mitoryu (M17)
Takarafuji (M12) beat Hokuseiho (M15)
Azumaryu (M11) beat Tsurugisho (M16)
Takanosho (M11) beat Chiyoshoma (M16)
Myogiryu (M10) beat Kotoeko (M13)
Aoiyama (M9) beat Kagayaki (M12)
Daishoho (M13) beat Hiradoumi (M9)
Ichiyamamoto (M8) beat Bushozan (M14)
Nishikifuji (M10) beat Takayasu (M7)
Kotoshoho (M5) beat Ura (M8)
Abi (M2) beat MitakeumI (M3)
Sadanoumi (M6) beat Ryuden (M2)
Nishikigi (M3) beat Tamawashi (M1)
Daieisho (K) beat Hokutofuji (M7)
Kotonowaka (K) beat Meisei (M4)
Wakamotoharu (K) beat Endo (M6)
Shodai (M1) beat Tobizaru (K)
Wakatakakage (S) beat Midorifuji (M5)
Kiribayama (S) beat Hoshoryu (S)
Leader: Daieisho, Midorifuji (10-2)
Of note: UPSET ALERT! For the first time since his comeback last year, Asanoyama will finish a tournament with more than one loss as Oho pulled off the big upset and possibly handed the Juryo championship to Ichinojo. And Midorifuji may be letting the Emperor’s Cup slip away, he’s now lost 2 in a row since his 10-2 start and his 2 win lead is gone. Daieisho has now pulled even and may now be the favorite to win his second top tier title, but most of Sanyaku is now one back with Kiribayama, Kotonowaka & Wakamotoharu all at 9-3. Hoshoryu still has a very outside shot at Ozeki candidacy despite the loss today, but he has to win his last 3 matches. And congratulations to Kinbozan for clinching a promotion in his top-tier debut. Winning out or at least 2 more wins could get him a Special Prize.
Key matches tomorrow: Daieisho-Meisei, Midorifuji-Hoshoryu. On paper this heavily favors Daieisho but we’ll see what happens. Ichinojo will be the Juryo man tomorrow, up for the second time this tournament. He’ll get Bushozan.
Juryo:
Fujiseiun (Ms2) beat Tamashoho (J13)
Takakento (J12) beat Tochimusashi (J12)
Tomokaze (J13) beat Shimanoumi (J11)
Atamifuji (J8) beat Tokushoryu (J14)
Shimazuumi (J7) beat Kitanowaka (J11)
Gonoyama (J6) beat Ochiai (J14)
Roga (J5) beat Kotokuzan (J10)
Chiyomaru (J4) beat Churanoumi (J10)
Oshoma (J4) beat Tsushimanada (J9)
Ichinojo (J3) beat Hakuyozan (J9)
Enho (J5) beat Shonannoumi (J3)
Hidenoumi (J8) beat Chiyonokuni (J2)
Akua (J7) beat Tochinoshin (J2)
Tohakuryu (J1) beat Daiamami (J6)
Leader: Ichinojo (11-1)
Of note: Thanks to Asanoyama’s surprise top-tier loss, it’s now Ichinojo’s championship to lose. He’ll be back in the top tier tomorrow ahead of a now guaranteed return in May. As the Makushita man up today, Fujiseiun likely finished his tournament with a promotion-clinching win so he has a chance to reach Juryo in May for the first time. On the flip side, it looks like Ochiai has run out of gas as today was his 3rd straight loss since an 8-1 start. Gonoyama beating the newcomer gives the former Makushita champion an outside chance at the championship but he’s 2 back of Ichinojo with 3 days left. And Tochimusashi’s last-gasp bid to avoid demotion finally ended today with his 8th loss. He now needs to win out to stay in Juryo, but getting to 6 wins may be enough. But that’s 3 straight demotions since his Juryo debut championship last summer. Tokihayate will be the Makushita man tomorrow going for a promotion in his likely finale, but 4-3 at Makushita 3 probably isn’t enough to reach Juryo in May. Asanoyama draws Akua (7-5) tomorrow, who is always unpredictable outside of his epic salt-fist prematch pose for the camera.
Lower tier notes:
The Makushita Championship match is tomorrow (later today Japan time) on Day 13 with Ryuo vs. Kaizen for 7-0 and the title.
There is a chance the Sandanme will be decided as all 3 6-0 wrestlers are in action with two facing each other, but if Kiyonoumi-who is first up-wins his match that guarantees a playoff against the Shosei-Toshunryu winner. And if it’s Toshunryu vs. Kiyonoumi that’s a playoff between stablemates as both are from Tamanoi Beya. If Kiyonoumi loses, the Shosei-Toshunryu winner is the champion.
The Jonidan had 3 unbeaten coming in but as of this post Takashoki, who was first up, lost so that means the upcoming Suguro-Mishima match is for the championship.
In the Jonokuchi, because Asahakuryu was in the Jonidan today and just beat Takashoki, he is the champion as the only one who will finish 7-0. So…ASAHAKURYU JONOKUCHI YUSHO! The first official March 2023 Champion. He’ll be back Sunday for the closing awards ceremony.
