Sumo- 2019 Hatsu Basho

[jnight]

Day 1-

Yokozuna Kisenosato did nothing to dispel fears Sunday that his career may be over, as he looked powerless in his opening-day loss at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Facing komusubi Mitakeumi, who is trying to rebuild some momentum for a push at promotion to ozeki, Kisenosato generated no power from his legs as he tried to force his opponent out after the opening charge.

Mitakeumi bided his time as he retreated back toward the straw and timed his counterattack perfectly. He forced Kisenosato upward and got around his right. The yokozuna feebly attempted to throw his tormentor but was easily pushed back out of the ring.

"I expected him to attack my left, but was able to keep my body moving, and that enabled me to win," said Mitakeumi, a sekiwake for eight of the last nine tournaments, who was demoted after a 7-8 mark in November.

All three yokozuna were in action on the same day for the first time since Hakuho wrapped up September's grand tournament here with a 15-0 record and both Kakuryu and Kisenosato finished with 10-5 records.

Prior to the September tourney, Kisenosato had missed all or part of eight straight grand tournaments, and in November he became the first grand champion to lose his first four bouts before he withdrew due to injury.

Kakuryu, fighting for the first time since then, survived a slight misstep on his charge as Tochiozan dodged the yokozuna. But the top-ranked maegashira squandered his momentary advantage by standing and watching as Kakuryu recovered, pivoted and shoved him from the ring.

Hakuho, who missed November's tourney and is coming back from knee and ankle surgery, looked like he hadn't missed a beat. He pressured komusubi Myogiryu on the initial charge and slapped him down to defeat.

November champion and new sekiwake Takakeisho started the 15-day tournament solidly with a win over No. 3 maegashira Shodai, beating him for the sixth time in their eight career bouts.

The 22-year-old Takakeisho was pushed back at the start but the 27-year-old Shodai had no answer for the sekiwake's high-voltage counterattack. "I'm not young," Shodai said. "I tried to will my body to get going, but I was too slow."

Fellow sekiwake Tamawashi also opened with a win before the ozeki trio of Takayasu, Tochinoshin and Goeido took to the ring and utterly failed to impress.

Takayasu, the November runner-up, had to deal with a bout of influenza in the run-up to the tournament. He got off to a quick start against mountainous Mongolian Ichinojo, but lacked the power to push him over the straw. Ichinojo, a No. 1 maegashira following his demotion from sekiwake, counterattacked and ran the ozeki from the ring with a minimum of effort.

Tochinoshin, who has managed just 22 wins over the previous three tournaments, opened well, but the one-time powerhouse let himself get pushed around the ring and out by No. 2 Hokutofuji.

Goeido quickly surrendered the advantage in his bout. No. 2 Nishikigi secured an underarm hold with his left hand and let the ozeki expend his energy trying to break free before forcing him out.

"I'm happy about this. I want to do my best, and try to earn promotion to the 'sanyaku' ranks," Nishikigi said, referring to three ranks below yokozuna.

Yago, promoted to the makuuchi division after a 10-5 juryo record in November, got his top-flight career off to a winning start with a solid force-out of former juryo rival Meisei.

[jnight]

Day 2-

Kisenosato inched closer to the professional precipice with his second straight loss at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday.

The 32-year-old yokozuna, who has been tasked with wrestling well after two injury-plagued years, attacked huge Mongolian Ichinojo (2-0) from the get-go, but never looked like a threat. The 226-kg No. 1 maegashira absorbed the brunt of Kisenosato’s charge before slapping the embattled yokozuna to the sandy surface.

Kisenosato pulled out of November’s Kyushu tourney after four straight losses and has only finished one of the previous 10 tournaments.

Sekiwake Takakeisho, who won in Kyushu and could earn promotion to ozeki with 11-plus wins, made short work of dynamic No. 3 maegashira Shohozan (0-2). The clash, between two of the quickest wrestlers in the top makuuchi division, became a straight-up shoving match that Shohozan lacked the power to win.

“I don’t have his speed so I had to go straight ahead against him,” a modest Takakeisho said after his second win.

Yokozuna Hakuho, who is returning from knee and ankle surgery after going 15-0 in September, performed some ring-edge magic to improve to 2-0.

Off balance and in the process of being shoved out of the ring from behind by East No. 1 maegashira Tochiozan (0-2), Hakuho spun away from his pursuer. Somehow the yokozuna managed to bring his right foot back in bounds and plant it on the straw as Tochiozan’s momentum took him out of the ring.

Komusubi Mitakeumi, who needs a good tournament to reignite his ozeki promotion hopes, shoved yokozuna Kakuryu (1-1) straight out from the opening charge to improve to 2-0 following his easy win over Kisenosato on Sunday. Like Hakuho, Kakuryu missed all of November’s tournament due to injury.

A day after all three ozeki opened with losses, Takayasu survived a scare to beat Myogiryu (0-2), who nearly dragged him down to defeat. The komusubi’s momentum, however, sent him sailing out of the ring and the decision went to November runner-up Takayasu.

Tochinoshin (0-2), who stole the spotlight last January when he went 14-1 to win his first title, continues to look like a shadow of his former self.

Lacking support and strength from his strapped and braced right knee, the Georgian had Nishikigi at his mercy but could not put him away. Instead the East No. 2 maegashira threw out the ozeki to improve to 2-0.

Goeido also fell to his second loss, losing his grip on Hokutofuji’s belt as he tried to lever him over the straw. The West No. 2 maegashira counterattacked and drove the ozeki from the ring.

[jnight]

Day 3-



A 7-second bout may have decided the fate of yokozuna Kisenosato, who suffered his third straight loss of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Tuesday.

In the penultimate bout at Ryogoku Kokugikan, Kisenosato was quickly dispatched by Tochiozan (1-2) despite going into the match holding a 26-16 record over the top-ranked maegashira.

The 32-year-old yokozuna attempted an overarm throw against his opponent, but instead found himself at the edge of the straw as Tochiozan swung Kisenosato around and nudged him out.

The loss was Kisenosato’s eighth straight since September, not counting his forfeit on Day 5 of November’s Kyushu tourney, making it the worst run for a yokozuna since the 15-day grand tournament format began in the summer of 1949.

If he competes on Wednesday, Kisenosato will face No. 2 Nishikigi for the first time in the top division.

The majority of the sport’s elites were upset on Day 3, including yokozuna Kakuryu, who suffered his second straight loss.

Kakuryu was quickly driven back by Nishikigi (3-0), with the rank-and-filer coming out on top in a judgment as both wrestlers appeared to fall out of the ring at the same time.

Hakuho, however, earned his third straight win with a hard-fought victory against No. 1 Ichinojo (2-1). The yokozuna was taken to the edge by his compatriot after their initial clash, but circled around to the center of the ring to regain his momentum.

The yokozuna tried to muscle his 226-kg opponent over the straw but Ichinojo held fast. With both wrestlers tiring out, Hakuho showed off his trademark technique and steered Ichinojo out.

Ozeki Takayasu (1-2), who had the flu prior to the tournament, got off to a solid start in his bout against Hokutofuji (3-0), but was turned around when he was momentarily yanked down by the No. 2 maegashira.

Giving little room to maneuver, Hokutofuji closed in on the ozeki and forced him out of the ring to keep a spotless record.

Mitakeumi also remains undefeated after taking down Goeido, who is off to an 0-3 start after withdrawing early at the Kyushu Basho in November.

The komusubi, hoping to bounce back after being demoted after going 7-8 in November, put Goeido on the back foot from the outset, and flipped the ozeki onto his side when Goeido tried to mount a counterattack.

Myogiryu got his first win of the meet after defeating ozeki Tochinoshin, who like Goeido suffered his third straight loss. The Georgian looked prime to bounce back from two opening losses, but was stood upright by the komusubi and pushed out.

In Tuesday’s first upper-ranked bout, Takakeisho won a sekiwake clash with Tamawashi (2-1) to remain undefeated and hand the Mongolian his first loss of the tournament.

With both wrestlers competing at the sport’s third-highest rank for the first time in their careers, Takakeisho got the better of the initial charge and drove Tamawashi toward the edge of the ring before his opponent rebounded with a powerful return shove.

Takakeisho dug in and delivered a flurry of low thrusts that sent Tamawashi over the straw.

Four other lower-ranked wrestlers remain undefeated after three days of action, including No. 5 Aoiyama, No. 6 Onosho, No. 8 Kaisei and No. 15 Chiyonokuni.

[jnight]

Yokozuna Kisenosato retires



Injury-plagued grand champion Kisenosato confirmed Wednesday his decision to retire from sumo, making the announcement a day after suffering his third loss of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.

The 32-year-old, who went into the 15-day tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan with his career in jeopardy, decided to call time on his wrestling career after posting a 0-3 record over the first three days of his 12th meet as a top-ranked yokozuna.

"I, Kisenosato, will retire as of this basho and train junior wrestlers as a toshiyori (sumo elder) under the name Araiso. Thank you for your support while I was active," he said. "Even though it's very regrettable that I wasn't able to live up to everyone's expectations as a yokozuna, I don't regret one bit of my career on the dohyo," he added.

Asked about his handling of his injuries, Kisenosato said he had often considered whether it was time for a graceful exit but kept going out of a desire to repay fans for their support. "I'm very sorry it turned out this way," he said.

On Wednesday morning, his stablemaster Tagonoura told the media that Kisenosato had decided to retire after the two had a discussion the previous night. "Kisenosato and I spoke for 30 to 40 minutes last night and he said, 'Please, let me retire, I am retiring.' Outwardly, he looked composed like he always does, even though I'm sure a lot was going through his mind," Tagonoura said. "His two years (as yokozuna) went like a flash. I thanked him for his hard work over the years, I could not find any other words."

Despite saying he was "close to his ideal shape" before the tournament, Kisenosato lost to komusubi Mitakeumi on opening day. He was handed his second and third upsets by top-ranked maegashira Ichinojo and Tochiozan.

The retirement of Kisenosato, a fan favorite and a big draw, leaves two wrestlers at the top of the banzuke -- Mongolians Hakuho and Kakuryu.

Not counting his forfeit on Day 5 of November's Kyushu meet, Kisenosato has posted eight straight losses since September, the worst run for a yokozuna since the 15-day grand tournament format began in the summer of 1949.

In March 2017, Kisenosato became the first Japanese-born wrestler in 19 years to gain promotion to yokozuna. He won his second straight championship on his yokozuna debut at the following tournament.

Nagging injuries to his knee, ankle, chest and arm, however, forced him to withdraw from a yokozuna-record eight straight grand tournaments between May 2017 and July 2018, raising questions over his ability to continue his career as a grand champion.

The Tagonoura-stable wrestler finished with a 10-5 record on his comeback at the September tournament to temporarily fend off calls for his retirement, but he lost four straight bouts to open November's Kyushu meet, the most by a yokozuna in 87 years.

The result in November prompted the Japan Sumo Association's yokozuna council to express dissatisfaction with his performance and revived commentary that he would be forced to call time on his career depending on his performance in Tokyo.

Although Kisenosato was unable to meet comeback expectations at the ongoing meet, sumo elder Nishiiwa, a former coach at the Tagonoura stable, gave credit to the wrestler for entertaining the fans with his own drama in the sumo ring.

"At the end, people saw him as a weak wrestler but he did enough," Nishiiwa said.

"It was impressive the way he chased that one win. Unarguably strong yokozuna are okay, too, but I like yokozuna like Kisenosato who look and act desperate on the dohyo," he said.

Kisenosato made his professional sumo debut in March 2002 at the age of 15 and joined the top makuuchi division in 2004.

[jnight]

Day 4-



Yokozuna Hakuho survived a scare against rank-and-file opponent Hokutofuji to remain perfect at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan on Wednesday.

With headlines on the fourth day of the 15-day tournament dominated by the retirement of Japanese yokozuna Kisenosato, the other remaining yokozuna, Mongolian Kakuryu, was also victorious.

Hakuho, looking to extend his record win total to 42 top-division titles, faced stiffer-than-expected competition against No. 2 maegashira Hokutofuji (3-1), who was looking for a second-straight win against the Mongolian. With both wrestlers slapping and thrusting from the outset, Hokutofuji gained momentum and drove Hakuho to the edge of the straw.

The maegashira looked set for a thrust-out win as Hakuho teetered on one foot, but the yokozuna refused to fall and managed to slip to the side, executing a downward thrust that sent both men tumbling off the dohyo. After initially ruling Hakuho the winner, the judges confirmed the decision following a conference in the ring.

Coming off back-to-back losses, Kakuryu (2-2) showed off his typical swiftness off the mark against komusubi Myogiryu (1-3). Kakuryu pushed Myogiryu to the edge after his attempt at a shallow grip was blocked, but the Hyogo Prefecture native was able to evade a push-out. Myogiryu dodged an attempted slap down, but with Kakuryu maintaining momentum, a second attempt at a push-out was successful.

Ozeki Takayasu, a junior stablemate of Kisenosato and fellow Ibaraki Prefecture native, improved to 2-2 with a rapid-fire win over No. 1 Tochiozan (1-3). Takayasu hit his opponent hard in their initial clash, unleashing a flurry of blows as he quickly drove his way to a victory with a thrusting attack.

Ozeki Goeido (0-4) continued his nightmare tournament, losing by frontal force-out against top-ranked maegashira Ichinojo in a bout lasting more than one-and-a-half minutes. The 226-kg Ichinojo survived an attempted force-out by Goeido, holding his ground at the edge of the ring. Though the ozeki gained a double inside grip, Ichinojo countered by taking his opponent’s belt with both hands on the outside.

Each time Goeido tried to muscle his way to victory, the giant Ichinojo stood firm. He eventually used his roughly 60-kg advantage to maneuver the ozeki to the straw and hoist him out backwards. With the win, Ichinojo (3-1) has already notched victories over a yokozuna and two ozeki during the tournament. “I’m in good shape. I just want to stay calm and confident,” Ichinojo said. “If I can get the belt grip, I feel like I’m in control.”

Another ozeki, the injury-plagued Tochinoshin, also dropped to 0-4 with a loss to Mongolian sekiwake Tamawashi (3-1). Already carrying a nagging knee injury, Tochinoshin hurt his right leg in practice before the tournament. The big Georgian tried to establish an inside position at the jump with his right hand, but Tamawashi fended him off with a stiff arm. As Tamawashi drove forward, Tochinoshin was unable to hold his ground and succumbed to a push-out.

Komusubi Mitakeumi remained perfect as he handed sekiwake Takakeisho (3-1), winner of the previous grand tournament, his first loss of the meet. Takakeisho, the youngest wrestler in the top division, was looking for payback against Mitakeumi, who was one of only two opponents to beat him last November in Kyushu. Mitakeumi, meanwhile, was seeking to prove a point against a younger wrestler who had leapfrogged him in the race for promotion to ozeki.

The komusubi opened with a hard charge and maintained his momentum against Takakeisho, thrusting with both hands to drive his opponent out backward.

Among other rank-and-file wrestlers, No. 15 Chiyonokuni stayed perfect with a thrust-out win over juryo Aminishiki (1-3). No. 6 Onosho and No. 8 Kaisei remain spotless as well after wins against No. 5 Aoiyama (3-1) and No. 7 Daieisho (1-3), respectively.

No. 2 Nishikigi also improved to 4-0 on Day 4 after winning his scheduled match against Kisenosato by forfeit.

[jnight]

Day 5-



Hakuho continued his run of narrow escapes in the first week of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament, surviving two more close calls Thursday to retain his share of the lead on Day 5.

The yokozuna’s win over previously unbeaten No. 2 maegashira Nishikigi kept him in a four-way tie for the lead in the 15-day event at Ryogoku Kokugikan. Komusubi Mitakeumi, No. 6 maegashira Onosho and No. 8 Kaisei also ended the day with perfect records.

Hakuho was ordered to refight his match when the ringside judges overturned the referee’s original declaration that Nishikigi had won. In the rematch, Nishikigi got the better of the opening charge and found himself pursuing the yokozuna around the ring.

With Hakuho’s heels nearly up against the straw, Nishikigi lowered his right shoulder for a charge into the yokozuna’s midsection. But the 28-year-old telegraphed his move, and though he knocked Hakuho out, the yokozuna was able to execute a perfect overarm throw to send Nishikigi over the straw first.

Mitakeumi received the charge of sekiwake Tamawashi, who stumbled into a hornet’s nest of slaps, shoves and thrusts. Before he knew what hit him, the Mongolian was being driven back the way he came and out of the ring to his second loss.

A komusubi following a 7-8 mark in November, Mitakeumi is looking to rebuild his credentials here for another run at promotion to ozeki.

November champion Takakeisho (4-1), also seen as a future ozeki, shook off Wednesday’s loss to Mitakeumi. The sekiwake attacked with a high-energy combination of slaps and thrusts to propel komusubi Myogiryu (1-4) backward over the straw bales.

Yokozuna Kakuryu (2-3) repeatedly failed to finish off 226-kg Ichinojo and was eventually forced out. Ichinojo pushed the yokozuna back to the straw twice, only to see his countryman wriggle his way to safety.

But Kakuryu could neither lever his opponent out nor tip him over. The yokozuna appeared exhausted by this exertion and eventually had no answer for Ichinojo’s bulk in their 36.3-second struggle.

Ozeki Takayasu suffered his third defeat of the tournament. Takayasu created openings for himself against No. 3 maegashira Shodai (2-3), but lacked the balance and strength needed to finish it and was eventually tipped over at the edge of the ring.

After Takayasu’s loss, No. 3 Shohozan was handed a win by default after ozeki Tochinoshin’s withdrawal earlier in the day. That left it to winless Goeido to salvage the day for the ozeki rank, and the 32-year-old delivered.

Goeido (1-4) expertly forced out No. 1 Tochiozan (1-4) on the opening charge, snapping up a belt hold while barely breaking step as he carried his opponent to the edge and forced him over.

[jnight]

Day 6-



Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho stayed undefeated to remain in a tie for the lead with rank-and-file wrestler Onosho at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Friday.

The sole competing grand champion following the retirement of Kisenosato and injury withdrawal of Kakuryu, Hakuho continued his quest for an unprecedented 42nd top-division title by beating No. 3 maegashira Shodai (2-4) on Day 6 of the 15-day tournament. "I can't let up, and once more I feel I have to be a driving force," Hakuho said.

After a number of close calls at Ryogoku Kokugikan, Hakuho said he made some adjustments and stayed calm in what was arguably his easiest win of the tournament so far against Shodai, who had won only one of their seven previous meetings.

The No. 3 secured a two-handed "morozashi" grip on the yokozuna's belt after they collided, but Hakuho was unfazed. "I spar against him in practice all the time," he said. Hakuho shook his opponent's left hand off his belt and in the blink of an eye before Shodai could regroup, the match was over. Hakuho had both hands on the maegashira's belt, stayed low and forced his opponent easily over the straw.

Excluding his forfeit loss when he withdrew from July's tournament on the fourth day, Hakuho has won 24 straight bouts.

Mongolian Kakuryu earlier in the day pulled out of the tournament because of right ankle pain. He dropped to 2-4 after forfeiting his scheduled bout against No. 2 Hokutofuji (4-2).

Ozeki Takayasu (3-3) bounced back from his Day 5 loss with a routine frontal force-out win over No. 2 Nishikigi (4-2), who fell to a second straight defeat after an impressive 4-0 start against higher-ranked wrestlers. Takayasu got the upper hand at the jump by taking Nishikigi's belt with a left outside grip. The maegashira tried to counter with an arm-lock throw but had no room to maneuver, allowing Takayasu to easily shove him out.

After starting the tournament with four straight losses, ozeki Goeido (2-4) achieved back-to-back wins by dispatching No. 3 Shohozan (2-4). The rank-and-file grappler withstood Goeido's powerful opening drive and almost countered with an arm throw, but the ozeki regathered his position near the straw and drove Shohozan out backward.

Sekiwake Takakeisho, winner of the previous grand tournament in November, dropped to 4-2 with a loss to No. 1 Tochiozan (2-4). Following the opening collision, Tochiozan obtained a strong one-arm belt grip, staying tight as Takekakeisho tried to shake free. As the sekiwake set up for a throw, Tochiozan kept him off balance and pushed him out from behind.

Komusubi Mitakeumi (5-1) took his first loss at the hands of Myogiryu, apparently suffering a left leg injury in the process. Myogiryu (2-4) opened with a hard charge, quickly forcing Mitakeumi out backward. The komusubi stumbled slightly as he was forced out and hopped down from the raised ring, only to crumple to the floor.

Mitakeumi was unable to put weight on his left leg and was carted from the competition area in a wheelchair, raising doubts about his ability to continue at the tournament.

Mongolian sekiwake Tamawashi improved to 4-2 with a rapid-fire frontal push-out victory over the biggest man in the division, No. 1 maegashira Ichinojo (4-2). Tamawashi blitzed his compatriot at the jump, aggressively pushing and shoving the 226-kilogram giant backward. Unable to hold his ground, Ichinojo stepped out under a barrage of blows.

No. 6 Onosho stayed perfect by pushing out No. 4 Okinoumi (3-3). He has yet to face an opponent from above the rank-and-file and is scheduled to meet Brazilian No. 8 Kaisei on Day 7.

Kaisei (5-1) relinquished his share of the lead on Day 6 after incurring his first loss of the tournament to No. 11 Sadanoumi (3-3).

[jnight]

Day 7-



Lone yokozuna Hakuho continued his drive for a 42nd top-level title at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Saturday, staying undefeated to take the outright lead after rank-and-file grappler Onosho suffered his first loss.

Following the injury withdrawal of compatriot Kakuryu and the retirement of Kisenosato, Hakuho is the last yokozuna in action. The Mongolian superstar beat feisty No. 3 Shohozan on Day 7 of the 15-day tournament.

Shohozan (2-5) started in his usual aggressive fashion, slapping and thrusting from the jump. But Hakuho used his size and reach advantage to keep the maegashira at arm's length before slapping him to the clay at Ryogoku Kokugikan in 3.6 seconds.

The result kept Hakuho a win clear of a chasing pack made up of No. 6 Onosho (6-1) and three other rank-and-file wrestlers.

Mitakeumi (5-2) became the latest high-profile competitor to withdraw through injury, pulling out after hurting his left leg in a loss to fellow komusubi Myogiryu (3-4) on Day 6. The fan favorite, who won his maiden top-level title last July, was diagnosed with an injured left knee tendon and internal bleeding following his first defeat of the tournament, his stablemaster Dewanoumi said.

Ozeki Goeido (3-4) picked up his third straight win with a composed frontal force-out of No. 3 Shodai (2-5). Shodai started strongly, forcing Goeido to the edge of the straw with a quick opening drive, but he could not finish the job. Goeido reversed the momentum and drove Shodai out backward at the opposite side of the ring.

Ozeki Takayasu improved to 4-3 with a thrust-down win over No. 4 Kotoshogiku (4-3), who suffered his 12th straight loss against the former Tagonoura stablemate of Kisenosato. Kotoshogiku, a former ozeki, opened with a powerful shoulder drive, then used his belly to bounce Takayasu backwards. But Takayasu absorbed the momentum, then showed his strength by wheeling his opponent to the middle of the ring and dumping him on the ground.

Japanese sekiwake Takakeisho, winner of November's grand tournament, kept his hopes of a title repeat alive with a decisive win over giant Mongolian No. 1 Ichinojo. Takakeisho (5-2) beat Ichinojo (4-3) off the mark, staying low and driving his hands into the chest and midsection of his lumbering opponent for a quick push-out.

Mongolian sekiwake Tamawashi (5-2) also stayed in the hunt with a win against one of his most troublesome opponents, No. 1 Tochiozan (2-5). Tochiozan started the bout looking for inside position but Tamawashi pushed him back and out, getting just his third victory from 16 meetings with the Kasugano stable grappler.

Komusubi Myogiryu improved his chances of a winning record and a return to his career-high ranking of sekiwake by beating No. 2 Nishikigi (4-3). The Sakaigawa grappler secured an inside grip and got the frontal force-out after resisting Nishikigi's attempts to position himself for a throw.

Brazilian No. 8 Kaisei (6-1) bounced back from his first loss by beating Onosho by frontal thrust out. The two are tied for second place with No. 13 Yago and No. 15 Chiyonokuni.

Yago continued his impressive top-level debut by beating No. 16 Daishomaru (0-7), while Chiyonokuni got the win over No. 14 Yutakayama (4-3).

[jnight]

Day 8-



Yokozuna Hakuho improved to a perfect 8-0 to maintain a one-win lead as the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament reached its midpoint on Sunday.

The sole remaining yokozuna in action, Hakuho has now won 26 straight bouts, excluding his forfeit on Day 4 of July’s grand tournament in Nagoya.

Although he started the 15-day event at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan with a series of near misses, his form has improved since yokozuna Kisenosato retired on Day 4 and yokozuna Kakuryu pulled out with an injury on Friday.

Hakuho entered his match against the 198-kilogram Aoiyama (5-3) having beaten him in 18 of their 19 career bouts. The Bulgarian maegashira kept the yokozuna’s hand off his belt and surged forward aggressively to wrap up Hakuho’s torso as a precursor to a force out.

Despite being under pressure, the Mongolian master coolly executed a pulling overarm throw which sent Aoiyama tumbling forward.

Hakuho is in the hunt for his 42nd championship and his first since going a perfect 15-0 in September. He missed November’s tournament due to injury.

No. 8 maegashira Kaisei, No. 13 Yago and No. 15 Chiyonokuni all improved to 7-1, while Onosho, who started the day at 6-1, lost to November’s champion, sekiwake Takakeisho (6-2).

Kaisei earned his seventh win by defeating personal nemesis Kotoshogiku. The former ozeki Kotoshogiku dodged the big Brazilian’s charge and pressed him back to the straw. But the 204-kg Kaisei sidestepped along the straw-bales ridge and toppled Kotoshogiku with a beltless arm throw.

Kotoshogiku’s second career loss to Kaisei in 12 bouts left the No. 4 maegashira with a 4-4 record.

Yago won his sixth straight bout in a match that overcame an artless opening. The makuuchi debutant rocked Daiamami (2-6) back on the charge with a shoulder to the head, but shot past his opponent, and avoided being shoved out from behind with a spin move.

Back on level terms, Yago outfought Daiamami at the belt to secure a two-handed hold and force him out.

Chiyonokuni followed Yago into the ring and finished a slapping and shoving skirmish by taking a step back and slapping Kagayaki (1-7) down when the No. 12 maegashira pursued with his weight too far forward.

Ozeki Goeido’s rollercoaster tournament took a dip as he lost to sekiwake Tamawashi to fall to 3-5.

Goeido had followed his opening four-match losing streak with three straight wins, but was on the defensive from the start against his Mongolian opponent, who improved to 6-2 to remain in the hunt for his first championship.

The other ozeki, Takayasu (4-4), was the victim of a rocket-like charge from Shohozan (3-5). The No. 3 maegashira got around Takayasu’s left flank before the ozeki could react and sent him stumbling to the sandy surface.

[jnight]

Emperor and Emperess visit the basho.

[jnight]

Day 9-



The 33-year-old Hakuho, the only yokozuna in action, beat Kotoshogiku to keep a perfect record at the 15-day meet at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan. He remains on course to extend his record number of makuuchi top-division championships to 42.

After slapping Kotoshogiku's face following the initial charge, the Mongolian yokozuna grabbed the 173-kilogram maegashira by the belt and thrusted him down. It was Hakuho's 56th win over Kotoshogiku (4-5) in 62 bouts.

Rank-and-filer Chiyonokuni is alone in second place, trailing Hakuho by one win, while two ozeki, competing at sumo's second-highest rank, lost their respective matches and fell further behind.

No. 15 maegashira Chiyonokuni survived a scare against No. 12 Meisei (6-3) to keep his hopes for his first Emperor's Cup alive. Meisei attempted to flip Chiyonokuni down at the edge of the ring, but Chiyonokuni resisted and slapped his opponent straight down to the sandy surface.

With the victory, the Kokonoe stable wrestler secured his first winning record since finishing 12-3 at the Summer tournament in May. "I'm glad. I think I did really well," said Chiyonokuni, who sustained a left-elbow injury in July. "My body doesn't hurt and I'm confident I'm wrestling well. I'm only focused on each of my bouts."

Takayasu dropped to 4-5 after losing to sekiwake Tamawashi (7-2), while fellow ozeki Goeido was unable to resist powerful shoves by No. 4 Okinoumi (6-3) and suffered his sixth loss.

In one of the day's shortest bout, Takakeisho pushed out No. 2 Nishikigi (4-5) in just 3.1 seconds. At 7-2, the newly-promoted sekiwake remains in contention for his second straight championship following his victory at the November tourney in Fukuoka.

The two other wrestlers -- No. 8 Kaisei and No. 13 Yago -- who started the day at 7-1, suffered losses and fell into a four-way tie for third. Brazilian wrestler Kaisei was defeated by No. 7 Ryuden (3-6), while Yago was unable to keep his winning streak going in his makuuchi debut tournament after losing to No. 11 Ikioi (5-4).

[jnight]

Day- 10



Hakuho calmly dispatched No. 4 Okinoumi (6-4), while a knee injury may have taken No. 15 Chiyonokuni, who had been the only wrestler one win off the pace, out of the running for his first makuuchi division title.

In the day’s final bout, Hakuho, the sole yokozuna in competition, immediately latched onto his rank-and-file opponent with a left-handed belt hold and effortlessly maneuvered him over the straw. The yokozuna will next face komusubi Mitakeumi (5-2-3), who returns to the meet Wednesday after missing three days with a left leg injury.

Two more wrestlers’ fates are in question after Chiyonokuni and No. 13 Kotoyuki (4-6) both suffered injuries at a tournament which has already seen yokozuna Kakuryu, ozeki Tochinoshin and Mitakeumi withdraw after getting hurt at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Chiyonokuni took his second loss of the tournament and suffered a knee injury that has his further participation at the year’s opening tournament in question. After failing to budge No. 11 Ikioi (6-4) after the initial clash, Chiyonokuni was driven to the edge of the ring, lost his footing and fell, then twisted down onto his left knee. He was carried off the dohyo screaming in pain and had taken out of the main hall in a wheelchair.

Of the wrestlers in a four-way tie for third place, only Tamawashi (8-2) secured a winning record on Day 10, with a solid victory against No. 2 Nishikigi (4-6). The Mongolian sekiwake blasted into his opponent with a strong initial charge, and followed up with a left-handed slap to remain two wins off the lead.

Both ozeki bounced back from poor starts with victories on Tuesday, Takayasu (5-5) beating Takakeisho (7-3) and Goeido (4-6) defeating No. 4 Kotoshogiku (4-6).

Takakeisho, gunning for a promotion and second straight title, looked poised for a push-out win against Takayasu, but fell into the ozeki’s trap as Takayasu slid to the side while slapping his lunging opponent over the straw. Prior to his colleague’s win, Goeido put up a wall against Kotoshogiku and guided him down to the sand after getting the former ozeki to tumble with an outside leg trip.

In other upper-ranked bouts, Myogiryu took a spill off the ring against No. 2 Hokutofuji (6-4) and dropped to 4-6. Hokutofuji had the komusubi on the ropes from the outset, and steadily muscled Myogiryu over the edge.

Among the rank-and-file wrestlers, No. 8 Kaisei (7-3) was quickly defeated by No. 5 Aoiyama (6-4) and took his second straight loss. The battle of the big Brazilian and burly Bulgarian ended in favor of Aoiyama, with Kaisei unable to defend against his lighter opponent’s massive shoves.

[jnight]

Day 11-



Mitakeumi (6-2-3), who missed three days of competition with an injured left leg, faced the unenviable task of battling the sole leader and 41-time champion Hakuho (10-1) in his return bout at Ryogoku Kokugikan.

But the 26-year-old charged low and hard at Hakuho who, unable to secure a grip, found himself positioned too high to avoid being quickly driven from the ring. Mitakeumi, who won his maiden top-level title in July, said he was in good condition and determined to finish the tournament strongly.

“I’m fine. I didn’t want to succumb to my injuries. I wanted to do my best for the remainder of the tournament,” the Dewanoumi stable wrestler said. “Hakuho is strong, so I wanted to wrestle in my style.”

The result opens the door for sekiwake Tamawashi (9-2) to tie for the lead when he battles fellow Mongolian Hakuho on Thursday. In outright second, Tamawashi sustained his bid for a maiden championship with a fifth straight win, this one coming against former ozeki Kotoshogiku (4-7).

After absorbing a hard charge at the jump, Tamawashi was backed to the edge of the ring, but remained in control by hooking his arm under Kotoshogiku’s to prevent being forced out. Tamawashi circled behind Kotoshogiku, who spun to meet him face to face, but was unable to hold his ground.

Sekiwake Takakeisho (8-3) improved his chances of promotion, to ozeki, by securing a winning record with a victory over Hokutofuji (6-5). After a powerful collision, the two exchanged slaps and shoves in the center, but Takakeisho used his lower center of gravity and superior positioning to push his way to victory.

“We’re both pusher-thrusters. I didn’t want to lose mentally,” said Takakeisho, winner of the previous tournament in November. “I happened to win last time (but) this tournament is completely different.”

Struggling ozeki Takayasu (6-5) moved closer to a winning record by overpowering No. 4 Okinoumi (6-5). Takayasu opened with a strong forward charge, getting a grip with both hands while continuing to advance. With Okinoumi digging his feet into straw, Takayasu dropped low to get the leverage for a quick frontal force out.

Fellow ozeki Goeido improved to 5-6 with a quick slap-down win over No. 5 Aoyama (6-5).

No. 8 Kaisei and No. 9 Endo also secured winning records and stayed in mathematical contention by moving to 8-3. Kaisei got there with a frontal force out against No. 6 Chiyotairyu (6-5), maintaining a head-to-head win streak stretching back more than five years. “I’m happy. I’m in good physical condition and I’m feeling well. I’m glad I’ve been able to wrestle to my style,” Kaisei said.

No. 15 Chiyonokuni, who was outright second overnight, withdrew with an injured left knee and dropped to 8-3 after forfeiting his bout against No. 10 Abi (7-4).

[jnight]

Day 12-



Mongolian sekiwake Tamawashi grabbed a share of the lead with his first career win over yokozuna Hakuho on Thursday, the 12th day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.

On the verge of beating Tamawashi for the 14th time with one final push, overnight leader Hakuho delivered a full-blooded right-handed shove. But with his heels brushing the straw bales, the sekiwake leaned left and dodged the brunt of the blow. Instead of pushing his compatriot out, Hakuho's momentum swung him to his left, leaving Tamawashi behind him and in easy position for a force out.

The loss was the second in a row for Hakuho, who had his 28-win streak snapped on Day 11 by komusubi Mitakeumi. The two 33-year-olds are now tied at 10-2 with Hakuho seeking a record 42nd championship and Tamawashi his first. Behind them are three wrestlers with 9-3 records -- sekiwake Takakeisho, No. 8 maegashira Kaisei and No. 9 Endo.

Komusubi Mitakeumi (7-2), who completed a hat-trick of wins over yokozuna at the tournament Wednesday by beating Hakuho, won his second straight after missing four bouts with a knee injury. The 26-year-old Mitakeumi came out of his crouch like lightning to outflank No. 1 Tochiozan (5-7) and force him out.

Takakeisho won a slapping-and-thrusting skirmish against No. 4 maegashira Kotoshogiku (4-8). The former ozeki tried repeatedly to tip the 22-year-old backward off balance as a precursor to yanking him forward. But Takakeisho, November's Kyushu champion, maintained his balance and eventually shoved out Kotoshogiku, who will turn 35 next week.

Brazilian No. 8 Kaisei beat No. 4 Okinoumi (6-6) for the ninth time in 16 career bouts, finishing him off with a frontal force-out.

No. 9 Endo (9-3) kept pace with a solid win over No. 6 Chiyotairyu (6-6), getting a two-handed "morozashi" belt hold and eventually overturning his 191-kilogram opponent.

Ozeki Goeido evened his ledger at 6-6 by pulling No. 5 Yoshikaze forward and toppling him onto the sandy surface. Yoshikaze kept the ozkei off his belt by leaning as far forward as he could, so Goeido switched tactics and slapped him down to his 10th defeat.

Takayasu used his agility to stay alive and battle back to force out 198-kg Aoiyama (6-6). The Bulgarian No. 5 maegashira dodged the ozeki's charge, but Takayasu (7-5) stopped on a dime before any damage was done and it was game on.

[jnight]

Day 13-



Hakuho gave up his share of the lead, falling one win behind Tamawashi (11-2) with two days remaining in the 15-day tournament at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan.

In the day’s final bout, the two wrestlers shoved each other in the chest after their initial clash. Hakuho was trying to reach for Takakeisho’s mawashi belt, but the sekiwake remained calm and pulled the yokozuna down for his first victory in four career tries against the Mongolian.

“I might be showing a little fatigue. I’m not moving well,” said Hakuho, who sat out November’s grand tournament following knee and ankle surgery. “I tried to pull him in, but he was good.”

Takakeisho (10-3), the winner of the November tournament, remains in contention for his second-straight makuuchi division championship.

A day after his first career win over Hakuho, Tamawashi defeated No. 2 Hokutofuji (7-6) to stay on course for his maiden makuuchi championship. Tamawashi bulldozed Hokutofuji to the edge and slapped him down in a bout lasting only 2.9 seconds.

In the day’s penultimate match, Goeido won an all-ozeki clash. He got a hold of Takayasu’s belt and quickly bulldozed him out, leaving both men with 7-6 records.

Komusubi Mitakeumi (8-2-3) received one of the loudest ovations from the sell-out crowd when he pushed 226-kg Ichinojo (6-7) out of the ring. The win over the top-ranked maegashira was Mitakeumi’s third straight after he missed four bouts with a knee injury.

Among the three wrestlers who started the day with three losses, No. 8 Kaisei and No. 9 Endo suffered defeats and slipped further behind.

After receiving shoves from No. 5 Aoiyama (7-6), Endo slipped and fell forward before the Bulgarian thrust the fan favorite down to the clay. Kaisei lost to No. 11 Ikioi (8-5).