Tag: wrestling

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 8-the halfway point-of the November 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita

Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Kitanowaka (M17) beat Aoiyama (J1)
Churanoumi (M15) beat Tomokaze (M14)
Ichiyamamoto (M14) beat Takarafuji (M13)
Oho (M12) beat Roga (M16)
Tamawashi (M12) beat Tohakuryu (M15)
Sadanoumi (M11) beat NIshikifuji (M16)
Hiradoumi (M11) beat Tsurugisho (M13)
Endo (M8) beat Kotoeko (M10)
Ryuden (M10) beat Hokuseiho (M7)
Mitakeumi (M8) beat Shonannoumi (M6)
Atamifuji (M8) beat Takanosho (M6)
Kinnbozan (M7) beat Onosho (M5)
Mirodifuji (M5) beat Myogiryu (M9)
Tobizaru (M3) beat Meisei (M2)
Takayasu (M3) beat Ura (M1)
Abi (K) beat Daieisho (S)
Shodai (M2) beat Kotonowaka (S)
Gonoyama (M4) beat Wakamotoharu (S)
Asanoyama (M1) beat Takakeisho (O)
NIshikigi (M4) beat Hoshoryu (O)
Kirishima (O) beat Hokutofuji (K)
Leader: Ichiyamamoto (7-1)
Yokozuna Watch: It’s all but over this time for Takakeisho, who has now lost 2 straight after a close one today against the returning Asanoyama. He can only finish 12-3, which is currently 2 off the pace and probably isn’t ideal as a win total for the championship and promotion. We’ll see. But there is hope for Hakkaku (Chairman of the Japan Sumo Association) as both Kirishima & Hoshoryu are among NINE at 6-2, and a second championship for either one gives them a chance to earn promotion in the January tournament.
Ozeki Watch: Kotonowaka now needs to win out or win the tournament to have any real chance at promotion after 2 straight losses now.

Juryo:
Shimanoumi (J12) beat Fukai (Ms3)
Shiden (J12) beat Asakoryu (J13)
Yuma (J13) beat Hitoshi (J11)
Akua (J10) beat Tenshoho (J10)
Chiyosakae (J14) beat Takakento (J9)
Daiamami (J4) beat Takahashi (J9)
Mitoryu (J4) beat Tokihayate (J8)
Kagayaki (J3) beat Tamashoho (J7)
Oshoma (J3) beat Daishoho (J7)
Chiyoshoma (J6) beat Bushozan (J3)
Shimazuumi (J2) beat Shishi (J5)
Kotoshoho (J1) beat Onosato (J5)
Leader: Kotoshoho, Onosato, Shiden (6-2)
RE-ENTRY: Chiyomaru (J8). Will return tomorrow. Withdrawal on Day 4. Unfortunately for him demotion is already guaranteed as he is the equivalent of 0-8 (0-4-4). But he can save his salary and Juryo ranking with at least 2 or 3 wins.
Of note; That’s 6 straight wins for Kotoshoho after an 0-2 start as he handed Onosato only his second loss. Aoiyama was in the top tier and lost to fall one off the pace. At the bottom, it’s looking like one and done for September Makushita Champion Hitoshi as he is now one loss from demotion at 1-7. Also, Chiyoshoma managed to win his 3rd straight without a HENKA! (sidestep at initial charge. Not illegal but generally the fans hate it) today.

Lower tier notes: With Promotion Day 1 wrapped up, the Makushita has 7 tied for the lead at 4-0, including Hakuyozan who will return to Juryo in January from Ms1 and September Sandanme Champion Kitaharima with a chance as well if he wins the championship (he is at Ms11). After his win today, former Sekiwake Wakatakakage is currently 2-2 at Ms6, probably won’t make it back up to Juryo even if he finishes 5-2. In the Sandanme, 11 are 4-0 and there is a slight chance of stablemates facing off for the championship as 2 of the co-leaders are from Sakaigawa Beya (Asonoyama at Sd1 and Katsunofuji at Sd85). In the Jonidan, 12 are tied at 4-0 with 2 Beyas having 2 co-leaders (Onoe & Musashigawa). Finally, in the Jonokuchi there are 2 at 4-0 who are heading for a final face-off if they keep winning.

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 7 of the November 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita

Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Tomokaze (M14) beat Roga (M16)
Tsurugisho (M13) beat Churanoumi (M15)
Takarafuji (M13) beat Kitanowaka (M17)
Oho (M12) beat Nishikifuji (M16)
Sadanoumi (M11) beat Ichiyamamoto (M14)
Ryuden (M10) beat Kotoeko (M10)
Mitakeumi (M9) beat Tohakuryu (M15)
Tamawashi (M12) beat Myogiryu (M9)
Hiradoumi (M11) beat Atamifuji (M8)
Shonannoumi (M6) beat Takanosho (M6)
Hokuseiho (M7) beat Midorifuji (M5). This match went almost 7 MINUTES! Long enough they had to take a water break
Endo (M8) beat Onosho (M5)
NIshikigi (M4) beat Kinbozan (M7)
Takayasu *M3( beat Meisei (M2)
Ura (M1) beat Kotonowaka (S)
Shodai (M2) beat Wakamotoharu (S)
Daieisho (S) beat Hokutofuji (K)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Abi (K)
Kirishima (O) beat Tobizaru (M3)
Gonoyama (M4) beat Takakeisho (O)
Leader: Hoshoryu, Kotonowaka, Ichiyamamoto (6-1)
RE-ENTRY: Asanouama (M1). Will return tomorrow. Missed first week due to a torn calf muscle suffered in the October tour. Will be the equivalent of 0-7, meaning either he wins out and gets promoted to Komusubi in January or will be demoted, although a 7-1 finish may keep him at M1 (he would be 7-1-7 or the equivalent of 7-8)..That could be a VERY BIG if because guess who he gets first tomorrow? Takakeisho.
Of note: That’s 2 of 3 Ozeki beaten by Gonoyama, making him an Oustanding Performance Prize candidate if he can get to promotion before it’s over (he’s currently 3-4). Hokuseiho-Midorifuji may have been one of the longest matches ever, only the second time I’ve seen a mid-match water break necessary (usually if a match goes 3 1/2-4 minutes or longer. They use salt to mark the wrestler’s positions before they break and then resume a couple minutes later). It’s worth noting they are the largest and maybe smallest rikishi in the top tier, respectively, in terms of height (Midorifuji is also the smallest currently in terms of weight. Hokuseiho is about a foot taller too, standing roughly 6’10”).
Yokozuna Watch: Takakeisho still has a chance but that loss today hurts. He’s still very much in it at 5-2 but probably has to win out. If Hoshoryu can win out or go 7-1 and win another championship now, he’ll be on the radar in January.
Ozeki Watch: Kotonowaka took his first loss today but still is very much alive if he can finish 7-1 or better or win the tournament.
Because of withdrawals & returns we’ll have a Juryo man up again starting tomorrow, and first it’ll be the recently demoted Aoiyama, who is 5-2 at J1 with a good chance right now at a January return. His demotion meant this tournament does not have a top tier rikishi from Kasugano Beya in 56 years, which was the 2nd-longest active streak in sumo. The longest active streak? Sadogatake Beya at now 59 years (since November 1964), and it’s not stopping anytime soon given their highest-ranked rikishi is now at Sekiwake (Kotonowaka) and they also have Kotoeko plus the recently-demoted Kotoshoho (we might see him up on Day 9 now). The new #2 is Tokitsukaze Beya at 28 1/2 years (May 1995).

Juryo:
Asakoryu (J13) beat Yuma (J13)
Shiden (J12) beat Kitadaichi (Ms3)
Takahashi (J9) beat Chiyosakae (J14)
Tokihayate (J8) beat Hitoshi (J11)
Tamashoho (J7) beat Hidenoumi (J11) by default/withdrawal
Shimanoumi (J12) beat Daishoho (J7)
Chiyoshoma (J6) beat Tenshoho (J10)
Shishi (J5) beat Akua (J10)
Onosato (J5) beat Takakento (J9)
Oshoma (J3) beat Shimazuumi (J2)
Bushozan (J2) beat Kagayaki (J3)
Kotoshoho (J1) beat Mitoryu (J4)
Aoiyama (J1) beat Daiamami (J4)
Leader: Onosato (6-1)
WITHDRAWAL: Hidenoumi (J11). Torn left calf muscle suffered yesterday. Out 2 weeks. Tournament over. Will finish the equivalent of 4-11 (4-3-8), tough break because he was 4-2 after a win yesterday. Very borderline on demotion to Makushita as a result but I think that will send him down, but only to Ms1 or 2, making for a chance to return in March. But he MIGHT-emphasis on might-get pity taken on him and only fall to J14.

Lower tier notes: With a 4-0 record so far at Ms1 and promotion secured (one of 4 tied atop Makushita so far), Hakuyozan will return to Juryo in January after being demoted this time. That stops a 3 tournament losing streak that saw him demoted from J6 in May. Also still with a chance at a Juryo return is Kitaharima, the September Sandamne Champion who is also 4-0 at Ms11 (he’s had a cup of sake in the top tier, reaching M15 for one tournament in his 21-year career).

Reminder: Because tomorrow is the halfway point-Day 8-NHK World Japan will have 50 minutes of LIVE top-tier coverage in English tomorrow beginning at 12:10 AM PT/3:10 AM ET.

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 6 of the November 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Kokusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita

Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Tomokaze (M14) beat Kitanowaka (M17)
Ichiyamamoto (M14) beat Nishikifuji (M16)
Roga (M16) beat Takarafuji (M13)
Tsurugisho (M13) beat Tohakuryu (M15)
Churanoumi (M15) beat Tamawashi (M12)
Ryuden (M10) beat Oho (M12)
Myogiryu (M9) beat Kotoeko (M10)
Hiradoumi (M11) beat Mitakeumi (M8)
Sadanoumi (M11) beat Atamifuji (M8)
Kinbozan (M7) beat Shonannoumi (M6)
Takanosho (M6) beat Onosho (M5)
Midorifuji (M5) beat Endo (M8)
Noshikigi (M4) beat Hokuseiho (M7)
Ura (M1) beat Meisei (M2)
Abi (K) beat Wakamotoharu (S)
Shodai (M2) beat Daieisho (S)
Kotonowaka (S) beat Hokutofuji (K)
Gonoyama (M4) beat Kirishima (O)
Takakeisho (O) beat Tobizaru (M3)
Takayasu (M3) beat Hoshoryu (O)
Leader: Kotonowaka, Ichiyamamoto (6-0)

Juryo:
Tochimusashi (Ms3) beat Yuma (J13)
Shiden (J12) beat Hitoshi (J11)
Chiyosakae (J14) beat Akua (J10)
Asakoryu (J13) beat Tenshoho (J10)
Takakento (J9) beat Shimanoumi (J12)
Hidenoumi (J11) beat Daishoho (J7)
Choyoshoma (J6) beat Tamashoho (J7)
Onosato (J5) beat Tokihayate (J8)
Takahashi (J9) beat Shishi (J5)
Oshoma (J3) beat Bushozan (J2)
Shimazzuumi (J2) beat Kagayaki (J3)
Aoiyama (J1) beat Mitoryu (J4)
Kotoshoho (J1) beat Daiamami (M4)
Leader: Onosato (5-1)

Lower tier notes: Going into the Leader Promotion Days starting tomorrow (Day 4 of 7), 14 are ties for the Makushita lead at 3-0 so any who win tomorrow or Sunday will be promoted. Not among them is Wakatakakage, and it probably means the former Sekiwake now has no chance to get back to Juryo in January from Ms6. He lost today and is now 1-2. 5-2 won’t do it. We’re also down to half the Wakas in Makushita as older brother Wakatakamoto was a withdrawal on Day 5. In the Sandanme, 22 are tied for the lead at 3-0. In the Jonidan, 23 are tied at 3-0 while the Jonokuchi has 4 at 3-0.

UPDATE: Hidenoumi has WITHDRAWN ahead of Day 7. Unknown why but more when I find out, hopefully tomorrow. Tamashoho will get the freebie tomorrow. Hidenoumi was 4-2 after beating Daishoho yesterday. He was at Juryo 11 for this tournament so if he can’t return, it’s probably demotion to Makushita.
Also, Nikkan Sports reports Asanoyama, who is at Maegashira 1 but missed the first week due to a torn calf muscle, will return on Day 8. That means he’s in the equivalent of an 0-7 hole and must win out to reach Sanyaku in January. Just one loss the rest of the way means demotion.

Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Tohakuryu (M15) beat Roga (M16)
Ichiyamamoto (M14) beat Kitanowaka (M17)
Nishikifuji (M16) beat Tsurugisho (M13)
Churanoumi (M15) beat Takarafuji (M13)
Tomokaze (M14) beat Tamawashi (M12)
Hiradoumi (M11) beat Ryuden (M10)
Mitakeumi (M9) beat Sadanoumi (M11)
Oho (M12) beat Myogiryu (M9)
Atamifuji (M8) beat Kotoeko (M10)
Shonannoumi (M6) beat Endo (M8)
Midorifuji (M5) beat Kinbozan (M7)
Onosho (M6) beat Hokuseiho (M7)
Nishikigi (M4) beat Takanosho (M6)
Tobizaru (M3) beat Shodai (M2)
Hokutofuji (K) beat Abi (K)
Kotonowaka (S) beat Daieisho (S)
Wakamotoharu (S) beat Ura (M1)
Takakeisho (O) beat Takayasu (M3)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Gonoyama (M4)
Kirishima (O) beat Meisei (M2)
Leader: Hoshoryu, Kotonowaka, Atamifuji, Ichiyamamoto (5-0)
Of note: On their English language replay, NHk World Japan had to heavily edit the Hoshoryu-Gonoyama pre-match stuff because Hoshoryu STARED FROZEN at Gonoyama for a good 90 SECONDS before putting his hands down to start the match. We saw about 30 seconds though. Their commentator today, Murray Johnson, mentioned he could overhear his stablemaster (a guest on Japanese commentary for NHK) noting in Japanese he was going to have a talk with Hoshoryu about this. Nikkan Sports reports Hoshoryu got a warning from the referee. Hoshoryu also gave Gonoyama his patended “stinky face” eye glance/stare post-match, when that happens you can tell he is en fuego. Do keep in mind he is the nephew of famously hot-headed Yokozuna Asashoryu.
Yokozuna Watch: Takakeisho bounced back from his first loss yesterday and is 4-1, one win off the lead.
Ozeki Watch: Kotonowaka is on the verge of promotion contention now. He needs 13 wins to reach the minimum of 33 over the last 3 tournaments that usually is needed (but not required), but winning the tournament almost certainly would earn promotion.

Juryo:
Oshoumi (Ms2) beat Asakoryu (J13)
Chiyosakae (J14) beat Shimanoumi (J12)
Hidenoumi (J11) beat Hitoshi (J11)
Yuma (J13) beat Tenshoho (J10)
Shiden (J12) beat Akua (J10)
Daishoho (J7) beat Takakento (J9)
Takahashi (J9) beat Chiyoshoma (J6)
Tokihayate (J8) beat Shishi (J5)
Tamashoho (J7) beat Onosato (J5)
Shimazuumi (J2) beat Mitoryu (J4)
Bushizan (J2) beat Daiamami (J4)
Kotoshoho (J1) beat Oshoma (J3)
Aoiyama (J1) beat Kagayaki (J3)
Leader: Bushozan, Tamashoho, Onosato, Yuma (4-1)