Tag: wrestling

Makuuchi (top tier):
Kitanowaka (M14) beat Kagayaki (J4)
Daiamami (M16) beat Ryuden (M13)
Ichiyamamoto (M14) beat Noshikifuji (M14)
Shodai (M10) beat Roga (M15)
Myogiryu (M15) beat Hokutofuji (M9)
Onosho (M6) beat Sadanoumi (M11)
Takayasu (M8) beat Shonannoumi (M12)
Kinbozan (M7) beat Endo (M16)
Tamawashi (M7) beat Churanoumi (M13)
Midorifuji (M5) beat Kotoshoho (M9)
Takerufuji (M17) beat Onosato (M5)
Gonoyama (M6) beat Tobizaru (M4) by default/withdrawal
Atamifuji (M2) beat Takanosho (M3)
Asanoyama (M1) beat Meisei (M2)
Mitakeumi (M10) beat Abi (K)
Ura (M1) beat Nishikigi (K)
Hiradoumi (M4) beat Kirishima (O)
Kotonowaka (O) beat Oho (M3)
Daieisho (S) beat Takakeisho (O)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Wakamotoharu (S)
Leaser: Takerufuji (10-0)
WITHDRAWAL: Tobizaru (M4). Enteritis. Will return tomorrow. Gonoyama got the fusen today.
Of note: Can the rookie run the table? Nobody has even made Takerufuji break a sweat yet. Tomorrow will perhaps tell the tale as he’ll get Kotonowaka (who will go into his new shikona [(name change to Kotozakura] as a full Ozeki as he now has 8 wins and thus a winning record in his Ozeki debut) and, depending on Onosato, could all but clinch the Emperor’s Cup. Onosato draws Takakeisho, still looking for that critical 8th win to protect his Ozeki rank. Takerufuji could ultimately be 3 wins ahead with 4 days to go. On the flip side, Kirishima has slumped to 3-7 and now must win out or else he’s in danger in May. And still no Ozeki victory sweep days. We also may be seeing the end of Endo-8 losses at M16 likely will see him demoted to Juryo for the first time in 11 years.

Juryo:
Tsukahara (Ms4) beat Kotoeko (J13)
Apiyama (J11) beat Kitaharima (J14)
Shiden (J10) beat Akua (J13)
Oshoumi (J11) beat Shishi (J8)
Hidenoumi (J7) beat Tsushimanada (J12)
Daishoho (J7) beat Wakatakakage (J10)
Bushozan (J5) beat Chiyosakae (J14)
Oshoma (J4) beat Hakuoho (J13)
Tomokaze (J3) beat Shimanoumi (J9)
Tamashoho (J9) beat Tohakuryu (J2)
Motoryu (J2) beat Asakoryu (J8)
Choyoshoma (J6) beat Tokihayate (J1)
Takarafuji (J1) beat Hakuyozan (J6)
Leader: Daishoho, Asakoryu, Wakatakakage (8-2)
RE-ENTRY: Shirokuma (J5). Will return tomorrow. Missed 3 days due to back pain. He will be the equivalent of 5-5 so all it did was probably take him out of championship contention, and he can still earn a promotion.
Of note: Both co-leaders lost again which allowed Daishoho to get into a 3-way tie for the lead. We also are probably seeing the last of veteran Kotoeko as his only hope of keeping his salary and Juryo rank os to win out. The best he can do is 6-9, which at J12 MAY keep him up, but any more losses and he’s going down.
Tomorrow Asakoryu faces the slumping Hakuoho (5-5), Doashoho then faces Chiyosakae (6-4) while Waktakakage gets Mitoryu (7-3).

Lower tier notes: With 5 matches complete the Makushita is down to 3 at 5-0 with Wakatakamoto first facing a Sandanme man, then Asahakuryu faces Kazekeno. If Wakatakamoto wins, he’ll face the latter match winner on Day 13 for the championship. If Wakatakamoto loses, the latter winner only needs to win his final match to be champion. In the Sandanme, 6 are at 5-0 but one, Nagamura, goes up to Makushita tomorrow to face Wakatakamoto. In the Jonidan, 5 are toed for the lead at 5-0 and in the Jonokuchi, 2 are currently 5-0.

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 9 of the March 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita

Makuuchi (top tier):
Myogiryu (M15) beat Tomokaze (J3)
Ryuden (M13) beat Endo (M16)
Churanoumi (M13) beat Sadanoumi (M11)
Daiamami (M16) beat Ichiyamamoto (M11)
Roga (M15) beat Mitakeumi (M10)
Kotoshoho (M9) beat Kitanowaka (M14)
Takayasu (M8) beat Nishikifuji (M14)
Shonannoumi (M12) beat Onosho (M8)
Hokurofuji 9M9) beat Kinbozan (M7)
Gonoyama (M6) beat Shodai (M10)
Tamawashi (M7) beat Hiradoumi (M4)
Oho (M3) beat Takanosho (M3)
Meisei 9M2) beat Atamifuji (M2)
Ura (M1) beat Asanoyama (M1)
Takerufuji (M17) beat Abi (K)
Onosato (M5) beat Wakamoroharu (S)
Kotonowaka (O) beat Daieisho (S)
Takakeisho (O) beat Tobizaru (M4)
Midorifuji (M5) beat Hoshoryu (O)
Kirishima (O) beat Nishikigi (K)
Leader: Takerufuji (9-0)
Of note: Haku-who? Forget the former Hakuho, now seemingly out as a stablemaster due to backstage politics amidst the Hokuseiho bullying scandal at his Miyagino stable. Isegahama is where the real super-prospects seem to be, and there seemingly has been on stopping rookie Takerufuji, although Onosato has kept a strong pace despite only one loss. And tomorrow is the day to look forward to as their super-showdown is on tap, with the winner potentially being the championship favorite. Takerufuji could pull 2 clear with a win. Onosato clinched a second promotion in two top tier events today. On the flip side, the first demotions were handed out too, to Kitanowaka and Nishikigi.

Juryo:
Tsushimanada (J12) beat Kayo (Ms3)
Aoiyama (J11) beat Hakuoho (J13)
Oshoumi (J11) beat Kotoeko (J12)
Wakatakakage (J10) beat Akua (J13)
Chiyosakae (J14) beat Shiden (J10)
Tamashoho (J9) beat Kitaharima (J14)
Shimanoumi (J9) beat Bushozan (J5)
Oshoma (J4) beat Shishi (J8)
Kagayaki (J4) beat Asakoryu (J8)
Daishoho (J7) beat Mitoryu (J2)
Hidenoumi (J7) beat Tohakuryu (J2)
Chiyoshoma (J6) beat Takarafuji (J1)
Tokihayate (J1) beat Hakuyozan (J6)
Leader: Asakoryu, Wakatakakage (8-1)
Of note: No perfect champion. Asakoryu took his first loss to Kagayaki, allowing Wakatakakage to pull even again and clinch a promotion, meaning he’ll take a big step closer to a top tier return in May. But we might be seeing the last of Kotoeko, who is looking at demotion to Makushita unless he wins out to finish 7-8 or perhaps gets to 6-9. He hasn’t been outside the top 2 tiers since May 2016. Despite a big win over Hakuoho today, Aoiyama isn’t safe either at 3-6. Hakuyozan also clinched demotion today.

RETIREMENT: Terutsuyoshi (Ms36). Retired today citing health issues, namely chronic diabetes. On the smaller side at just under 5’7″ and 107 kg/about 235 pounds, he gained fans for his fighting spirit and acrobatic style as well as his LeBron James-esque epic salt throws before matches. This was the first-and ultimately only-tournament in which he did not compete (pre-tournament withdrawal). His real name is Shoki Fukuoka and he retires with a career high rank of Maegashira 3, a career record of 425-422-4 (win-loss-absent), 145-185 in the top tier, one Makushita Championship and one Fighting Spirit prize. His career lasted 14 years but it’s believed he does not have enough tournaments in the top 2 tiers to qualify for elder stock (you need 30 tournaments at Makuuchi or Juryo, I believe he had 22).

UPDATE: Nikkan Sports reports Tamawashi, originally from Mongolia, has acquired Japanese citizenship. The significance is that allows him to remain in Japan after retirement, which opens the door for elder stock and becoming an oyakata when/if he retires. He’s 39 and still going so theoretically he could go 25+ more years (65 is the mandatory retirement age in sumo).

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 8-the halfway point-of the March 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo

Makuuchi (top tier):
Mitoryu (J2) beat Roga (M15)
Takerufuji (M17) beat Ryuden (M13)
Churanoumi (M13) beat Myogiryu (M15)
Shonannoumi (M12) beat Kitanowaka (M16)
Ichiyamamoto (M11) beat Endo (M16)
Daiamami (M16) beat Shodai (M10)
Mitakeumi (M10) beat Nishikifuji (M14)
Sadanoumi (M11) beat Hokutofuji (M9)
Kotoshoho (M9) beat Onosho (M8)
Gonoyama (M6) beat Takayasu (M8)
Kinbozan (M7) beat Midorifuji (M5)
Onosato (M5) beat Tamawashi (M7)
Meisei (M2) beat Hiradoumi (M4)
Abi (K) beat Ura (M1)
Asanoyama (M1) beat Nishikigi (K)
Daieisho (S) beat Atamifuji (M2)
Takakeisho (O) beat Oho (M3)
Hoshoryu (S) beat Takanosho (M3)
Tobizaru (M4) beat Kirishima (O)
Kotonowaka (O) beat Wakamotoharu (S)
Leader; Takerufuji (8-0)
Of note: The rookie is the first top tier newcomer since Kaisei in 2011 to begin his Makuuchi career with 8 straight wins, and thus a quick promotion. That means Takerufuji gets to step up and face the big boys, starting tomorrow with Abi. Note that, had Terunofuji stayed in the tournament, the only way Takerufuji would have faced the Yokozuna would have been in a playoff for the championship as they are both from Isegahama Beya (stablemates don’t face each other during tournaments unless it’s to decide the champion). Elsewhere, quite a trend as the total number of days so far where all 4 Ozeki have won the same day is…ZERO. And Kirishima is an alarming 2-6. This is bad for him…the other 3 Ozeki are 6-2 with Takakeisho 2 wins away from getting back to full Ozeki status in March.

Juryo:
Akua (J13) beat Kitaharima (J14)
Hakuoho (J13) beat Shiden (J10)
Chiyosakae (J14) beat Wakatakakage (J10)
Tsushimanada (J12) beat Tamashoho (J9)
Shiden (J8) beat Kotoeko (J12)
Hidenoumi (J7) beat Oshoumi (J11)
Daishoho (J7) beat Aoiyama (J11)
Shimanoumi (J9) beat Chiyoshoma (J6)
Asakoryu (J8) beat Shirokuma (J5) by default/withdrawal
Tomokaze (J3) beat Hakuyozan (J6)
Tohakuryu (J2) beat Kagayaki (J4)
Bushozan (J6) beat Tokihayate (J1)
Oshoma (J4) beat Takarafuji (J1)
Leader: Asakoryu (8-0)
WITHDRAWAL: Shirokuma (J5). Lower back. Status uncertain. It’s the first time the former Takahashi has been forced to withdraw in his career. If he can’t return before Day 12 it would be his first career demotion.
Of note: Wakatakakage took his first loss today so promotion has to wait, and he lost the lead because Asakoryu got a free win today, and a free promotion too. The sole leader gets Kagayaki tomorrow while Wakatakakage tries to bounce back against Akua.

Lower tier notes:
With the halfway point now in the books, the first promotions have been earned. In the Makushita, 7 are at 4-0 with at least 2-Kiryuko & Kazekeno-being ranked high enough to have a chance at Juryo if they go 7-0. In the Sandanme, 11 are at 4-0 including unbeaten Aonishiki, looking to begin his career with 3 straight championships. He’s all but Makushita-bound in May. In the Jonidan, 11 are at 4-0 so far, and in the Jonokuchi 2 are tied at 4-0.