Sumo- 2018 Hatsu Basho

[jnight]

Sumo kicks off its new year on Sunday, with hopes that a stellar New Year Grand Sumo Tournament will help put the ancient sport back on proper footing after two months of turmoil.

The 15-day event offers the chance for a new start following a pair of scandals. Yokozuna Harumafuji recently forfeited his place in the sport after assaulting a fellow wrestler — a scandal that led to Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko skipping the tournament at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan. The sumo world was then shaken by a scandal involving a referee kissing and touching a teenage referee during a regional tour.

Sumo’s highest rank is coming off a bad year in which three grand champions withdrew repeatedly and one retired due to scandal. Because of that, the yokozuna rank has the most to gain from a successful tournament.

Grand champion Hakuho increased his record title haul to 40 last year by capturing three grand tournament championships despite twice pulling out of tournaments due to injury. And although he went 14-1 to win November’s Kyushu tourney, Hakuho was chastised in December by the Yokozuna Deliberation Council for appearing to elbow opponents in the initial charge and slapping.

The yokozuna did not resume training this year until Jan. 5, and has not sparred with any wrestlers from sumo’s elite four ranks. In practice bouts, Hakuho has experimented by trial and error with various techniques, and on occasion been forced backward by opponents.

If the sport’s biggest star is unable to establish a rhythm when the matches begin on Sunday, it could throw open the race for the Emperor’s Cup.

The New Year tourney will be a critical battle ground for the other two yokozuna, Kakuryu and Kisenosato, each of whom have withdrawn from the past four grand tournaments. Yet both enter with concern over their form — Kisenosato has been displaying poor balance, and Kakuryu because, among other things, he has been vulnerable at the outset of matches. A lot may rest on how well they get through their first matches.

The remaining elite ranks appear to be in good shape. The ozeki pair of Goeido and Takayasu enter the tournament without any known issues, while sekiwake and komusubi wrestlers could provide much of the excitement.

Mitakeumi, who will be participating in his fourth straight tournament at sekiwake and coming off his first 10-win effort in the elite ranks, is building his portfolio as a candidate for ozeki promotion.

The komusubi slots are manned by a pair of 21-year-olds, Takakeisho and Onosho.

Day 1



The Izutsu stable wrestler, who hurt his right ankle at the Nagoya tournament last July, easily defeated No. 1 maegashira Hokutofuji in his opening bout by hand pull down. Fellow yokozuna Kisenosato, who likewise missed part of each of the last four meets through injury, lost his comeback bout to komusubi Takakeisho, however.

After unsuccessfully attempting to push his opponent from ring, Kisenosato was yanked out by an arm-bar throw, dropping to 0-2 against Takakeisho.

Grand champion Hakuho, looking to extend his record title haul to 41 tournaments, made short work of komusubi Onosho, despite being forced back to the edge of the ring on the initial charge. The yokozuna retained his poise, however, toppling the Onomatsu stable wrestler, thrusting him down to secure the victory.

Prior to the first top division bout, Japan Sumo Association chairman Hakkaku and the wrestlers from the uppermost ranked assembled in the raised ring and bowed to the audience. Hakkaku vowed to "continue striving to uplift" the ancient sport, without specifically addressing the scandals that have rocked the sumo world.

The JSA the previous day announced that top referee Shikimori Inosuke will retire over his sexual harassment of a teenage referee, with news of the incident coming shortly after the retirement of yokozuna Harumafuji over the bar fight in which he attacked lower-ranked wrester Takanoiwa.

No. 10 maegashira Aminishiki, in his first bout since dramatically maintaining his place in the top division on the final day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in November, fell to No. 11 Kotoyuki.

The oldest wrestler to earn re-admission to the makuuchi division, 39-year-old Aminishiki appeared to lose his footing and was easily dispatched by slap down.

Ozeki Takayasu defeated No. 2 maegashira Yoshikaze by armlock throw, while ozeki Goeido bout beat No. 1 maegashira Ichinojo by front push out.

Sekiwake Mitakeumi defeated No. 2 maegashira Kotoshogiku, improving to 7-3 against the heavier former ozeki by forcing him backward out of the ring.

[jnight]

Making his comeback following a run of injuries that kept him from finishing the past four tournaments, Kisenosato (1-1) beat No. 1 maegashira Hokutofuji (0-2) on Day 2 of the 15-day tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Despite never appearing in danger of losing, Kisenosato was far from convincing as he labored to dislodge his opponent using his favored frontal force out technique.

Yokozuna Kakuryu (2-0), likewise sidelined through injury for the past four meets, continued his comeback in positive fashion, overcoming komusubi Takakeisho (1-1), who had beaten Kisenosato on the opening day.

Despite a 15-kilogram weight disadvantage, Kakuryu had relatively little trouble overpowering Takakeisho, removing him from the ring with a front push out.

Yokozuna Hakuho (2-0), who scored the second-fastest victory of the opening day, met much firmer resistance on Day 2 in the form of first-ranked maegashira Ichinojo (0-2).

The Mongolian-born grand champion continued his dominance over his compatriot, who had won just one of their previous 10 meetings, but had to dig deep to force the 215-kg, 192-centimeter man mountain backward out of the ring.

In the day's longest bout, ozeki Takayasu (2-0) dispatched second-ranked maegashira Kotoshogiku (0-2) by overarm throw moments after trying to lift the former ozeki from the ring. The two wrestlers, who had split their 22 previous career bouts, spent the better part of the 1-minute, 41.5-second match immobile in the center of the ring.

In just their third meeting, ozeki Goeido (2-0) maintained an unbeaten record over komusubi Onosho (0-2), toppling him with an overarm throw.

Sekiwake Mitakeumi (2-0) scored a quick victory over third-ranked maegashira Chiyotairyu (0-2), driving him backward out of the ring with a frontal force out.

Sekiwake Tamawashi (2-0) used his 22-kilogram weight advantage to overpower No. 2 maegashira Yoshikaze (0-2), dislodging the smaller wrestler with a frontal thrust out.

[jnight]

Day 3-



Mongolian grand champion Kakuryu continued his injury comeback in strong fashion, staying unbeaten on Day 3 of the 15-day tournament, but yokozuna Kisenosato continued to struggle with his second defeat at Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Hakuho (2-1) was sent unceremoniously backpedaling with a frontal shove out by maegashira Hokutofuji, who notched his first win here, a day after passing a stern test by his compatriot, first-ranked maegashira Ichinojo (1-2).

The Mongolian yokozuna, seeking to add a 41st championship to his record number of career titles, had won both previous meetings against Hokutofuji, but the lower-ranked wrestler put his decorated opponent on the back foot from the outset with a rapid series of pushes and slaps to record his fourth "kinboshi" victory.

Kakuryu (3-0) barely broke a sweat against No. 2 maegashira Yoshikaze (0-3), quickly beating the smaller wrestler by thrust down.

Kisenosato, who like Kakuryu is competing after withdrawing from the past four meets due to injuries, looked out of sorts as he went down to Ichinojo.

The Japanese-born yokozuna was unable to gain leverage against the heaviest man in the division and was heaved over the straw bales.

Ozeki Goeido (3-0) had little trouble dispatching second-ranked maegashira Kotoshogiku with a beltless arm throw, leaving the former ozeki from the Sadogatake stable winless.

Ozeki Takayasu (3-0) stayed undefeated with a win over third-ranked maegashira Chiyotairyu (0-3) by thrust down. The larger Chiyotairyu sought to take the initiative by lunging at Takayasu, but was pulled off balance and sent tumbling to the ground.

Komusubi Takakeisho (2-1) earned a strong round of applause for his spirited victory over sekiwake Tamawashi (2-1). Both of the 170-kilogram wrestlers sought to take the offensive with a series of pushes and slaps before the Takanohana stable grappler prevailed by frontal push out.

Sekiwake Mitakeumi disposed of komusubi Onosho (0-3) by thrust down, putting on a strong display to remain unbeaten.

Tenth-ranked maegashira Terunofuji (0-3) withdrew from the tournament ahead of his scheduled bout with No. 11 Daishomaru (2-1) due to pain in his left knee.

The former ozeki underwent surgery on the knee following last May's Summer Grand Sumo Tournament and was demoted after pulling out of the following two meets.

The Mongolian lost the opportunity to immediately regain ozeki status by posting 10 wins at November's Kyushu basho, his first meet following demotion, after problems with the same knee forced him to withdraw with a 0-5 record.

[jnight]

Day 4-



There were shocks all around as first Kisenosato, the sole Japanese grand champion, was dismissed to a third loss with another weak display at the hands of former ozeki Kotoshogiku, while Hakuho fluffed his lines in the day's final match against upstart Yoshikaze.

Yokozuna Kakuryu, who like Kisenosato has missed the last four meets through injury, leads a group of five wrestlers in the early lead with spotless 4-0 records at Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Hakuho (2-2), who suffered his first defeat by big man Ichinojo on Tuesday, was quickly slapped down by Yoshikaze after losing his footing in the second biggest upset of the tournament. The Oguruma stable wrestler earned his seventh "kinboshi" victory and his third win in 18 matchups against the Mongolian champion after he sent Hakuho flailing over the edge at the 2017 November meet.

Despite a 60-kilogram weight disadvantage, Kakuryu made quick work of fellow Mongolian and No. 1 maegashira Ichinojo (1-3) with a frontal force out and continued his strong injury comeback.

Struggling yokozuna Kisenosato suffered another defeat when Kotoshogiku, now a No. 2 maegashira, thrust him down over his side for his first win here.

Third-ranked maegashira Tochinoshin (4-0) ended ozeki Takayasu's (3-1) perfect record, after the Georgia-born wrestler relentlessly pushed and slapped his opponents around the ring, finally pulling him back towards the edge and executing a thrust down.

Ozeki Goeido collided with top-ranked maegashira Hokutofuji (1-3) and captured his fourth victory after lifting the Hakkaku stable wrestler up by his belt and sending him crashing into the ringside seats.

Sekiwake Mitakeumi also stayed undefeated after unleashing an onslaught of pushes and slaps to komusubi Takakeisho (2-2) and forcing him to his knees with a pull down.

Komusubi Onosho (1-3) scored his first victory over sekiwake Tamawashi (2-2).

[jnight]

Day 5-



Kisenosato suffered a devastating third consecutive defeat at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Thursday, leaving him in a continual downward spiral and four wins behind undefeated grand champion Kakuryu. Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho will likely miss his chance to extend his career championship record to 41 after pulling out of the meet due to toe injuries he sustained during Wednesday's bout.

Kakuryu is tied at 5-0 with three others, including sekiwake Mitakeumi, in the early lead in his bid for his first championship since the 2016 November meet.

Japan-born yokozuna Kisenosato fell to Yoshikaze (2-3) in the day's final bout. The second-ranked maegashira displayed his dominance throughout, as he chased the grand champion off of the raised ring for his second straight yokozuna kill. Kakuryu, who is gunning for his fourth Emperor's Cup, dispatched No. 3 Chiyotairyu (0-5) by pushing him out of the ring without giving his opponent room to breathe in a lopsided affair.

His scheduled opponent, second-ranked maegashira Kotoshogiku won by default, and will face Kakuryu in Friday's final bout.

Georgian Tochinoshin defeated Ozeki Goeido (4-1) to maintain his spotless record. The third-ranked maegashira, who beat ozeki Takayasu the previous day, manhandled the Sakaigawa stable wrestler and ushered him out of the dohyo.

Fan-favorite Mitakeumi also maintained his lead in the tourney when he held onto the mawashi of fellow sekiwake Tamawashi (2-3) and forced his opponent backwards out of the raised ring.

Ozeki Takayasu (4-1) rebounded to beat Hokutofuji (1-4) in a slap fest and pushed the top-ranked maegashira out to earn his first win in four meetings.

No. 10 Aminishiki (1-4), who became the oldest wrestler at age 39 to return to the elite makuuchi division at last year's Kyushu meet and won the Fighting Spirit prize, continued to struggle in Tokyo.

He gifted seventh-ranked Chiyonokuni (1-4) his first win of the meet. Aminishiki bulldozed into the 27-year-old, but the younger wrestler twisted him down to the raised ring.

[jnight]

Day 6-



On a day when the back story threatened to overshadow the action, Kakuryu (6-0) and former ozeki Kotoshogiku provided the day's highlight in the day's final bout. His victory left Kakuryu tied with three other wrestlers at 6-0. The day's thrilling finale was in contrast to the bleak news the day started with as Kisenosato became the second yokozuna in two days to withdraw with an injury. Yokozuna Hakuho had pulled out the day before.

Kotoshogiku, now wrestling as a No. 2 maegashira, seized the initiative with a solid opening charge, but was unable to put away Kakuryu. It took some maneuvering, but the yokozuna finally managed to grab a belt hold and force Kotoshogiku (2-4) out. The win improved Kakuryu's record in their long-running rivalry to 25-22.

Ozeki Goeido failed to keep pace with the leaders, suffering his second loss to longtime nemesis Yoshikaze (3-3), who won his third straight bout. It was the No. 2 maegashira's 12th victory in their 23 career bouts.

After bouncing off each other in their initial collision, Goeido lowered his head for another charge, but his attack developed too slowly and from too far away. Yoshikaze read the situation perfectly and applied downward pressure on his opponent, who was easily slapped down.

The ozeki rank suffered another ignominious defeat soon after, when Takayasu (4-2) lost his footing. Recoiling from a shove by komusubi Onosho (3-3), the ozeki's foot slipped on the sandy surface. He was unable to regain his balance and stumbled onto all fours.

Earlier, sekiwake Mitakeumi (6-0) overpowered No. 1 maegashira Hokutofuji (1-5) in a straight-forward shoving match that was as quick as it was artless.

Georgian No. 3 maegashira Tochinoshin doggedly forced out Takakeisho (2-4), beating the up-and-coming 21-year-old for the first time in three career bouts to improve to 6-0 for the tournament.

In the first match on the day's makuuchi division card, 16th-ranked maegashira Asanoyama (6-0) kept his wits about him as he pursued and finally shoved out tricky No. 15 Ishiura (3-3).

[jnight]

Day 7-



The seventh day of action in the 15-day tournament opened with four wrestlers atop the elite makuuchi division with perfect records. Mitakeumi earned a safe but uninspired victory to improve to 7-0, while Kakuryu handed No. 3 maegashira Tochinoshin his first loss in bruising finale at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Entering their bout having won just once in 21 career meetings, Tochinoshin delivered some furious blows to the yokozuna's chest and face. Kakuryu, however, kept his eye on the prize, a right-handed underarm belt hold that he used to lever the Georgian out of the ring.

Mitakeumi survived an energetic assault that is a trademark of No. 2 maegashira Yoshikaze (3-4). In a straight-forward, pushing, pulling and shoving fight, Yoshikaze twice tried to yank the sekiwake downward to the sandy surface, but Mitakeumi kept his feet.

The sekiwake clinched victory by shoving Yoshikaze backward at ring's edge and then pulling him down as he teetered forward slightly off balance.

Ozeki Takayasu (4-3) suffered his second straight defeat despite holding an opening advantage against Ichinojo (3-4). Takayasu grabbed an early belt hold with his right hand, but got greedy. In his bid to switch one hold for two, he came up empty handed.

Instead, the mountainous Mongolian No. 1 maegashira locked onto the ozeki's belt with his right hand and flung him down to defeat.

Fellow ozeki Goeido (5-2) bounced back from an embarrassing loss the day before to Yoshikaze. Goeido withstood a charge from up-and-coming komusubi Takakeisho (2-5), grabbed a belt hold in the process and used it to propel his opponent from the ring.

No. 16 maegashira Asanoyama, started the day unbeaten, but was shoved out by No. 13 Daiesho (6-1), who won his fifth straight bout.

Asanoyama tried but failed to secure a belt hold from the get-go and was knocked backward by Daiesho, who wasted no time on finesse. With his opponent poised at the edge of the ring, Daiesho lowered his shoulder into Asanoyama's chest and rammed him out.

[jnight]

Day 8-



Tied with undefeated sekiwake Mitakeumi at the start of the day, Kakuryu went into the day's finale at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan only needing to win to seize the sole lead. The Mongolian grand champion then had little trouble dispatching No. 4 maegashira Shodai (4-4).

Kakuryu edged a little to his right on the opening charge and grabbed a right-handed over-arm hold. Shifting his weight to his right and allowing Shodai's momentum to carry him forward, Kakuryu flung the 26-year-old from the ring in one fluid motion.

Mitakeumi's first loss came to top-ranked maegashira Ichinojo (4-4). Simple frontal assaults had been working for Mitakeumi so far in the tournament, but his straight-forward approach was his undoing on Sunday.

The sekiwake charged forward, and after trading slaps and shoves moved in low for the leverage needed to budge the 215-kilogram Mongolian out.

But within seconds, Ichinojo had a left-handed vice grip on the back of Mitakeumi's belt. After a prolonged pause, Ichinojo used his advantage to tug his helpless opponent to the straw bales and out.

Mitakeumi was joined at 7-1 by two other wrestlers.

Georgian No. 3 maegashira Tochinoshin shrugged off his first loss in Saturday's defeat to Kakuryu by beating No. 2 Yoshikaze (3-5) and staying one win back of the yokozuna.

No. 13 maegashira Daieisho also improved to 7-1, while No. 16 Asanoyama, whose unbeaten start had ended on Saturday, was thrown down to his second loss by No. 12 Kagayaki (4-4).

Ozeki Goeido's up-and-down tournament continued when he was forced backward off his mark by No. 3 maegashira Chiyotairyu (2-6) and easily driven from the ring to a third loss.

Fellow ozeki Takayasu improved to 5-3, having little trouble sending komusubi Takakeisho (2-6) to the sandy surface. With the look of a cat toying with a mouse, Takayasu twice shoved Takakeisho back before pulling him forward, with the second time seeing his opponent toppling over.

[jnight]

Day 9-



The only remaining yokozuna continued his perfect run at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan, locked up briefly with his Mongolian compatriot before quickly dispatching him from the ring. Arawashi, who had won his only previous bout with the yokozuna, ended the day with a 4-5 record. The other two yokozuna, Hakuho and Kisenosato, have pulled out of the tournament due to injury.

Sekiwake Mitakeumi and No. 3 Tochinoshin, who each came into the day at 7-1, battled for second place with the Georgian ultimately winning out. Tochinoshin avoided defeat when he was nearly thrown by the sekiwake. Instead, the Georgian used his brute strength to lift up his 164-kilogram opponent and gently place him outside the ring.

No. 13 maegashira Daieisho, who also started the day tied for second, fell to 7-2 after being pushed out by No. 15 Ishiura.

In one of the fastest victories of the day, ozeki Goeido charged sekiwake Tamawashi (3-6) out of the ring in 2.2 seconds, improving to 6-3.

Ozeki Takayasu (6-3) added another win after coming hard and fast at Shodai (4-5), then thrusting him down by the arm when the No. 4 lost his balance attempting to counter.

Top-ranked maegashira Ichinojo (5-4) used his 60-kg weight advantage to make short work of komosubi Onosho (4-5), quickly grabbing the 155-kg wrestler by the arm and throwing him out.

Komusubi Takakeisho improved to 3-6, after a shoving match with Hokutofuji (2-7). Takakeisho tried early to push out his opponent, but was driven back to the edge of the ring before using his force to push back and throw out the off-balance No. 1 maegashira.

No. 10 maegashira Aminishiki, the oldest wrestler in the elite makuuchi division at age 39, will re-enter the tournament on Tuesday after missing the last three days due to a knee injury.

[jnight]

Day 10-



After a rock-solid charge, Kakuryu grabbed No. 5 maegashira Okinoumi (3-7) by the belt and tried to lift him out of the ring, but was suddenly turned towards the edge. The last remaining yokozuna at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan, Kakuryu, overcame the brush with defeat, using Okinoumi's momentum to turn him around and pushing the off-balance wrestler out from behind.

No. 3 Tochinoshin stayed on Kakuryu's heels after beating No. 2 Kotoshogiku (4-6) and improving to 9-1. The Georgian proved formidable again after turning around a charging Kotoshogiku, then nearly lifting the 178-kg former ozeki up and forcing him from the ring.

Sekiwake Mitakeumi (7-3), who started the day tied for third place, tried to push out No. 4 Arawashi (5-5) but was instead pulled down by the Mongolian. Meanwhile, No. 13 Daieisho (8-2) took sole control of third after pushing out No. 8 Tochiozan (6-4).

Ozeki Takayasu improved to 7-3 with a victory over sekiwake Tamawashi (3-7) that saw the two wrestlers trading slaps across the ring, with the ozeki eventually forcing the Mongolian out with his 182-kilogram frame.

Goeido (6-4) endured another defeat when he was beaten by No. 4 Shodai (5-5). The ozeki tried to recover after being pushed to the edge of the ring, but was caught off balance and forced out.

Komosubi Takakeisho (3-7) put up a spirited fight against top-ranked maegashira Ichinojo (6-4) but was ultimately pushed down and out by the massive 215-kg Mongolian.

Komosubi Onosho (4-6), lost his match by default after announcing his withdrawal due to a knee injury suffered when he was thrown out by Ichinojo on Monday. It is the second time the recently-promoted komosubi has pulled out of a major tournament, since withdrawing as a juryo division wrestler at the 2015 Kyushu tourney.

Nine wrestlers in the makuuchi and juryo divisions have withdrawn from the tournament so far, including yokozuna Hakuho and the sole Japanese grand champion, Kisenosato, who withdrew from his fifth straight meet after a regrettable four losses.

No. 10 Aminishiki (1-6-3), who re-entered the tournament Tuesday after missing the last three days due to a knee injury, was quickly defeated by No. 7 Chiyoshoma (6-4) on his return.

Mongolian Terunofuji, who pulled out on Day 3 due to lingering knee pain that has seen the former ozeki plummet in the rankings, will re-enter on Wednesday. The No. 10 maegashira, who lost his first two bouts before defaulting the third, needs to post good results in his remaining matches to avoid demotion to the juryo division.

[jnight]

Day 11-




Yokozuna Kakuryu suffered his first loss and landed in a two-way tie for the lead on Wednesday, the 11th day of the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.

Grand champion Kakuryu started the bout against sekiwake Tamawashi in strong shape, putting up a solid defense against the the Mongolian's dogged pushes and slaps. The yokozuna, however, was forced to the edge of the ring when he tried to pull Tamawashi down, and was instead pushed out in the biggest upset at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan so far.

Earlier, No. 3 maegashira Tochinoshin (10-1) survived a scare and tied for the lead after beating No. 6 Takarafuji (7-4) in a bout that had the referees come into the ring for deliberation.

The 177-kilogram Georgian, who gave up his only loss to Kakuryu on Day 7, went push-for-shove with the No. 6 for twenty long seconds before being driven to the perimeter. As Takarafuji wrapped his arms around the Georgian and tried for a finishing shove, Tochinoshin pulled the wrestler down while leaping out of the ring to avoid defeat.

In another close match, ozeki Goeido (6-5) was defeated by No. 4 Arawashi (6-5) when the Mongolian pulled him down as he fell from the ring.

Takayasu improved to 8-3 with quick victory over No. 5 Okinoumi (3-8). The ozeki pushed his opponent out within seconds and landed in contention for third.

Sekiwake Mitakeumi (7-4) suffered his fourth straight loss when he was quickly dispatched by No. 4 Shodai (6-5). The sekiwake failed to gain traction against Shodai, as the No. 4 charged him relentlessly from the ring.

Takakeisho (4-7) survived a fury of slaps in a bloody bout with No. 2 Yoshikaze (4-7), which finally ended in the komusubi pushing him out.

No. 13 Daieisho, who started the day as the only wrestler in third, tied for contention after dropping to 8-3 when he was forced out by No. 16 Ryuden (7-4).

[jnight]

Day 12-



The No. 3 maegashira, who entered Day 12 of the 15-day tournament tied with Kakuryu, earned his fifth straight win at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan when he forced out sekiwake Tamawashi (4-8).

After a fierce exchange of slaps and pushes Tamawashi appeared to have the advantage, driving Tochinoshin back with a hand to the throat before knocking him off balance. But the powerful Georgian kept his footing and his composure, outmuscling his higher-ranked opponent to secure the victory.

Yokozuna Kakuryu dropped to 10-2 after losing to No. 5 Endo (7-5) for the second time in their seven meetings. The loss followed his upset at the hands of Tamawashi on Day 11.

Endo, who earned his fourth "kinboshi" prize for beating a yokozuna, was forced onto the back foot in the opening exchange, but quickly turned the match around when he pushed Kakuryu out.

"Since (my opponent) was a yokozuna, I knew I wouldn't be able to fight the way I wanted, so I just competed with all the strength I had," Endo said. "Now I'm just going to stay focused on the last three days of the tournament."

Takayasu (9-3) remained an outside contender for his first top-level title with a quick victory over fellow ozeki Goeido (6-6). Takayasu used his brute strength and 22-kilogram weight advantage to blitz his opponent and force him from the ring.

No. 13 Daieisho, meanwhile, saw his slim hopes of a surprise championship slip away after dropping to 8-4 when he was defeated by No. 8 Kaisei (8-4). After entering the day tied for third with Takayasu, Daieisho fell back into a six-way tie for fourth.

Sekiwake Mitakeumi's slide continued after taking a fifth straight loss in his bout with No. 5 Okinoumi (4-8). Okinoumi took the initiative from the opening clash, sending his higher-ranked opponent backpedaling before propelling him over the edge of the ring.

Mitakeumi (7-5) had emerged as an early contender after the withdrawal of grand champions Hakuho and Kisenosato through injury, winning his first seven bouts of the tournament. But his sterling early form abandoned him from the start of the second week, with the latest loss leaving him out of contention.

[jnight]

Day 13-



Grand champion Kakuryu suffered his third straight loss on the 13th-day of the 15-day tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan and now trails Tochinoshin by two wins.

Tochinoshin, a No. 3 maegashira whose only loss here was to the yokozuna, posted his sixth straight victory, defeating top-ranked maegashira Ichinojo (8-5). The two maegashira held onto each other's belts, but the 177-kilogram Tochinoshin lifted the 215-kg Mongolian toward the edge and forced him out.

The Georgian, who seized the sole lead on Thursday, can secure his title on Saturday with a win against No. 9 Shohozan (9-4).

In the day's final bout, Kakuryu was shoved out by sekiwake Mitakeumi (8-5). The Dewanoumi stable sekiwake snapped his five-match losing streak to secure a winning record.

"I'm glad. I can't say I didn't feel pressure after having consecutive losses," Mitakeumi said.

The two ozeki won their respective bouts. Takayasu (10-3) bulldozed fourth-ranked maegashira Arawashi (6-7) out to secure his sixth straight win. Goeido (7-6) snapped his three-match losing streak when he dispatched No. 5 Okinoumi (4-9).

Fan-favorite No.5 Endo (8-5) secured a winning record at the meet after beating former ozeki Kotoshogiku (6-7). Endo forced out Kotoshogiku, who is now the second-ranked maegashira.

Earlier in the day, No. 10 maegashira Aminishiki (2-8-3), who missed three days during the meet due to injury, posted his first win since he returned on Day 10. The Isegahama stable wrestler held on to No.6 Ikioi (2-11) and pulled him down.

Aminishiki became the oldest wrestler at age 39 to return to the elite makuuchi division at last year's Kyushu meet and won the Fighting Spirit prize. However, he had only one win before hurting his right knee on Day 5.

[jnight]

Day 14-



Tochinoshin became the first rank-and-file wrester in nearly six years to win a grand sumo tournament on Saturday, the penultimate day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.

Fighting as a No. 3 maegashira, the 30-year-old from Georgia reeled off his seventh straight win to run his record in the 15-day event at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan to 13-1.

Beginning the day two wins ahead of yokozuna Kakuryu, Tochinoshin, whose real name is Levan Gorgadze, survived a slight misstep against 1.77-meter dynamo Shohozan (9-5), but recovered quickly to force him over the straw.

From the start, each man tried to drive the other back with rapid-fire shoves to the upper body with Tochinoshin forcing his opponent back to the straw. But as the Georgian drew back for another blow, Shohozan ducked out of the way, and Tochinoshin's follow-through carried him toward the straw and perilously close to defeat.

For a second, Tochinoshin's back was turned to his opponent. But the 177-kilogram Georgian pivoted in a flash, locked up the disbelieving Shohozan's right arm and proceeded to usher him struggling from the bout.

He is the third sumo wrestler from Europe to win a 15-day grand tournament in Japan's traditional sport. Before he made his professional sumo debut in March 2006, Gorgadze practiced judo and the Russian martial art, sambo.

In the July 2013 Nagoya tourney when he was fighting as a No. 11 maegashira, Tochinoshin severely damaged his right knee, rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament and tearing the medial collateral ligament. He missed three straight grand tournaments before returning to action in the third-tier makunutsa division.

By winning four straight tournaments upon his return, Tochinoshin returned to the top division in November 2014 and began a gradual rise up the rankings until he was promoted to sekiwake after going 10-5 as a No. 4 maegashira in May 2016.

"This is something I never imagined when I dropped from makuuchi," Tochinoshin said. "There were many times I felt like quitting. But I settled down, got out of the hospital and even though I had dropped way down the rankings, my attitude changed dramatically."

"I wanted to give it one more shot. My stablemaster and his wife encouraged me, and that made me happy."

Long after Tochinoshin had stolen the day's headlines, ozeki Goeido forced out sekiwake Mitakeumi, leaving both with 8-6 records. In the day's final bout, ozeki Takayasu (11-3) put a feather in his cap by sending yokozuna Kakuryu (10-4) to his fourth straight defeat.

As he had the day before against Mitakeumi, Kakuryu was thrown of his game by a couple of blows to his throat early on and could not keep pace with the ozeki's powerful shoving attack.

[jnight]

Day 15-



A day after clinching his first championship, Tochinoshin finished the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday by dispatching fan-favorite Endo and finishing with a 14-1 record.

Tochinoshin, a third-ranked maegashira, survived a scare when he was pushed towards the edge, but he pulled himself together to force Endo (9-6) out at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

For his achievements, the Kasugano stable's new hero received his first Outstanding Performance prize and his second Technique prize, his first since the May meet in 2016. The 30-year-old became the first wrestler to win two prizes in a single meet since the 2015 Autumn tourney.

Tochinoshin's sole loss came on Day 7 against grand champion Kakuryu, who threw ozeki Goeido (8-7) to snap a four-match losing streak and finish at 11-4.

Kakuryu, whose career was clouded by injuries last year, was able to complete a meet for the first time since March. He was the only grand champion remaining in the tournament after Hakuho and Kisenosato pulled out due to injury.

The final day of the elite makuuchi division opened with an apology by Japan Sumo Association chairman Hakkaku over the scandals that have rocked the ancient sport, including an assault that led to the retirement of grand champion Harumafuji in November. "We apologize to the sumo fans for worrying them since the end of last year," said Hakkaku. "The JSA will make a serious effort to prevent these incidents from happening again."

The chairman had been criticized for failing to include an apology in his greeting to fans on the tournament's first day.

No. 16 Ryuden and No. 14 Abi each earned a Fighting Spirit prize for finishing 10-5 in his top-tier debut, although Ryuden lost to No. 9 Chiyomaru (9-6) on the final day.

After a "matta" false start by No. 9 Shohozan (9-6), the 23-year-old Abi showed his confidence against the 33-year-old former komusubi. Abi shoved his opponent toward the edge, and as Shohozan turned around, the Shikoroyama stable wrestler gave him a final push.

Ozeki Takayasu won his bout against sekiwake Mitakeumi (8-7) and completed the basho with a 12-3 record, his best since he first wrestled at sumo's second-highest rank in July.