Here are the quick results from today’s Day 2 of the May 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita
Makuuchi (Top tier):
Gonoyama (J1) beat Kagayaki (M17)
Mitoryu (M16) beat Oho (M16)
Ichiyamamoto (M15) beat Tsurugisho (M15)
Asanoyama (M14) beat Myogiryu (M14)
Kotoeko (M12) beat Chiyoshoma (M13)
Aoiyama (M13) beat Daishoho (M11)
Takarafuji (M10) beat Hokuseiho (M11)
Ryuden (M10) beat Hiradoumi (M9)
Onosho (M9) beat Takanosho (M8)
Tamawashi (M7) beat Sadanoumi (M8)
Mitakeumi (M6) beat Hokutofuji (M7)
Meisei (M6) beat Kotoshoho (M5)
Kinbozan (M5) beat Nishikigi (M4)
Shodai (K) beat Nishikifuji (M3)
Kiribayama (S) beat Endo (M2)
Wakamotoharu (S) beat Tobizaru (M3)
Daieisho (S) beat Ura (M4)
Hoshoryu (S) beat Midorifuji (M1)
Kotonowaka (K) beat Takakeisho (O)
Terunofuji (Y) beat Abi (M1)
Leader: 10 at 2-0
Of note: Takakeisho concerns raised today as his knees were tightly taped and it clearly affected him against Kotonowaka. It may be a struggle just to get out of kadoban status with 8 wins. The good news for the Kyokai is Kiribayama, who needs 10 wins to meet criteria for Ozeki promotion (or another championship, the criteria is 2 straight championships or 33 wins over 3 consecutive tournaments in Sanyaku, meaning at Komusubi and Sekiwake) is off to a perfect 2-0 start and now only sits 8 wins from potential promotion. Wakamotoharu is also in Ozeki consideration but probably needs a championship unless he can manage 13 wins, but all the Sekiwake are 2-0 which is a good sign. Also 2-0 is Asanoyama after another easy win, and Terunofuji who maybe caught a break when Abi had his right knee/leg go out in their match. Hopefully not an injury, it looked to me like Abi just slipped and lost his footing. For now Abi is still in the tournament but we’ll see. No Takayasu return yet, NHK World Japan made it sound like he’s out for the tournament after his Opening Day last-minute withdrawal. After Gonoyama won today, Shonannoumi gets the Juryo man spot tomorrow and will face Oho. Shonannoumi is currently 1-1 at Juryo 1.
Juryo:
Shiden (Ms1) beat Tsushimanada (J14)
Shimanoumi (J13) beat Tokihayate (J14)
Chiyosakae (J12) beat Fujiseiun (J13)
Tamashoho (J11) beat Tomokaze (J12)
Chiyomaru (J10) beat Hidenoumi (J11)
Kitanowaka (J10) beat Chiyonokuni (J9)
Ochiai (J8) beat Daiamami (J9)
Atamifuji (J9) beat Churanoumi (J7)
Shimazuumi (J6) beat Takakento (J7)
Hakuyozan (J6) beat Akua (J5)
Roga (J4) beat Tochinoshin (J5)
Oshoma (J4) beat Enho (J3)
Bushozan (J3) beat Tohakuryu (J2)
Shonannoumi (J1) beat Azumaryu (J2)
Leader: 7 at 2-0
Of note: Shiden, looking to get a second chance at Juryo after being forced to miss his debut tournament, is halfway there as he picked up the Makushita man win to go to 2-0 and probably get a couple days off bow as the lower tiers just finished their first matches today. Gonoyama was in the top tier and won tiday. Azumaryu is an early struggler again as he’s a quick 0-2 after his latest demotion from the top tier and Enho is also 0-2, but his pattern the last year has been alternating winning and losing tournaments. Unfortunately that means’s he’a due for a demotion. And despite strong fan support for the former Ozeki it’s another 0-2 start for Tochinoshin.
Kawazoe, the fan-favorite human slinky at Ms1, gets to be the Makushita man tomorrow for his first chance in Juryo. He lost his first match and will try to get to 1-1 against Tokihayate.
All the lower tiers have finished their first matches but in Makushita Shiden is the early 2-0 leader because of an early second match today. The lower tiers also had their usual slate of Day 1 withdrawals, only one in Makushita, among the notable names is Kironofuji in the Sandanme. He reportedly has been forced to retire due to involvement in a bullying scandal that engulfed Isegahama Beya earlier this year that also caused stablemaster Isegahama to resign from his position as chief judge. Apparently not involved was Terunofuji, a member of the stable.
