Good Evening, We are The Fall
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Final Day of the Kyushu November 2009 Grand Sumo Tournament Day Fukuoka
The final day of the Fukuoka Grand Sumo Tournament is anticlimactic given that Yokozuna Hakuho won the basho yesterday. The real question today is can Hakuho achieve a perfect record and will Ozeki Kaio get his sixth straight kachi-koshi this year, but each with only an 8-7 record? Hakuho is amazingly going for his 86th win this year out of 90 regulation time matches. An incredible record that he took yesterday breaking Yokozuna Asashoryu’s previous record of 94 match wins.
Sansho list Special Prize winners for the November basho are:
Shukun-sho or Outstanding Performance Award: None given.
Kanto-sho or Fighting Spirit Prize: Tochinoshin 12-3 (1st time) and Miyabiyama 12-3 (5th time) if he wins today.
Gino-sho or Technique Prize: Toyonoshima 11-4 (2nd time).
Even with their loses today, no Kanto-sho for 10-5 Yoshikaze or Tamawashi?
In a match to see who can get double digit wins, Shotenro is the victor defeating Tamawashi by a nice kotenage right armlock throw. Miyabiyama will get his Kanto-sho with an easy oshidashi frontal push out over Toyohibiki. Tosayutaka in a pushing thrusting match gets his kachi-koshi on the last day over Yoshikaze by hatakikomi slap down. Sad to see Yoshikaze simply collapse in the last week losing four out of his last five matches.
Kokkai sneaks in with his kach-koshi on day 15 with a tsukiotoshi thrust down of Tamanoshima. Kokkai has not been doing very good sumo this tournament, getting one win by walk off over the monster Yamamotoyama. Shimotori also picks up his kachi-koshi on the last day with a nice yorikiri force out of Kakizoe. Hokutoriki was a man-on-a-mission and gets his kachi-koshi over the much bigger Kanto-sho winner Tochinoshin by hikiotoshi hand pull down. Kotoshogiku gets double digit wins doing his patented hug-and-chug yorikiri force out of Kyokutenho.
The big Estonian Baruto takes the sails out of Toyonoshima with a tsuridashi lift out. No Sansho for Toyonoshima. Ozeki Kaio gets his kachi-koshi beating Ozeki Kotomitsuki by his patented kotenage armlock throw. I don’t think we will see Kaio in a years time. He will go the way of Chiyotaikai, though sorry to say, in a more honorable fashion. Ozeki Harumafuji looked excellent with a hikiotoshi hand pull down over fellow Ozeki Kotooshu.
In the final match between the Yokozuna, we were not disappointed. The contest was a long chest-to-chest match where the advantage went back-and-forth, though each defended favorably. Finally Hakuho turned a very nice uwatenage overarm throw to defeat Asashoryu. Asashoryu has nothing to be ashamed of with his sumo today.
Congratulations to Yokozuna Hakuho for being the best man in the dohyo and winning the Fukuoka basho! This was Hakuho’s 12th yusho win and a record 86th win out of 90 matches this year!
Kyushu November 2009 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 13 + 14 Fukuoka
It is day 13 of the Fukuoka November basho and Yokozuna Hakuho is now the man to beat after the loss yesterday by Yokozuna Asashoryu to Ozeki Harumafuji. Obviously the big matches to see today will be Asashoryu facing off against Kotomitsuki and Hakuho going up against Kotooshu.
Tamawashi still looking good upping his record to 9-4 with a hikiotoshi hand pull down win that denies Tosayutaka his kachi-koshi. Miyabiyama gets win number ten with an excellent tachi-ai and a quick tsukiotoshi thrust down of Shimotori who misses his kachi-koshi. Great sumo by the old rikishi. Mokonami gets his first kachi-koshi in the Makuuchi division with an easy yorikiri force out over the falling Yoshikaze.
Kyokutenho gets his kachi-koshi with an easy yorikiri force out of Takamisakari. Asasekiryu gets his fifth straight win and denies Kakizoe his kachi-koshi by a yoritaoshi frontal crush out. The young Georgian Tochinoshin gets win number 11 with an uwatenage overarm throw over hug-and-chugger Kotoshogiku. Very strong and excellent technique sumo by the Georgian. Toyonoshima also gets win number 11 with an oshidashi push out of Takekaze. The little Toyonoshima right from the tachi-ai just overpowered his opponent with a strong pushing thrusting technique. More excellent sumo.
In a fight between Ozeki, Harumafuji in a pushing thrusting match circled around and finally gets a yorikiri frontal (really a side) force out over Kaio. Yokozuna Hakuho stays a perfect 13-0 with a sukuinage beltless armthrow of Ozeki Kotooshu. Okay sumo by the Yokozuna who first tried a leg-trip before the armthrow win. Ozeki Kotomitsuki gets his kachi-koshi and beats Yokozuna Asashoryu by yorikiri force out. Shocking second loss in a row for the Yokozuna basically handing the yusho to Hakuho. Game over.
Well, the only interesting part left in the tournament will be what rikishi will achieve their kachi-koshi since there is absolutely no way that Hakuho will lose two straight matches.
DAY 14
Tamawashi gets win number 10 in an easy oshidashi push out of Takamisakari. Yoshikaze also gets his double digit win stopping Shimotori from getting a kachi-koshi with a hikiotoshi hand pull down. Swell sumo technique by Yoshikaze on the over-extended rikishi. Tochinoshin gets win 13 with a powerful tsuridashi lift out of Shotenro. Miyabiyama gets his 11th win quickly stopping Kyokutenho by hikiotoshi hand pull down.
In a fight for their kachi-koshi, spark plug Kakizoe wins by yoritaoshi over Tosayutaka. At the edge of the tawara Tosayutaka looked to win by attempting a backward pivot throw, but as they were both falling he touched the clay with his right shoulder first. Asasekiryu gets his kachi-koshi beating a weak and tired Iwakiyama by yorikiri force out. In another fight for a kachi-koshi, Baruto beats Hokutoriki by yorikiri force out.
Ozeki Harumafuji gets his kachi-koshi with an uwatenage overarm throw to counter Toyonoshima’s sukuinage beltless arm throw. Nice match by both men. Goeido easily beat Ozeki Kaio by yorikiri force out. Kaio will have to wait till the last day of the basho for his kachi-koshi. Ozeki Kotooshu crushes Yokozuna Asashoryu by yorikiri force out handing the Yokozuna his third straight loss! Not a great tachi-ai by either man. Kotooshu quickly though got a right-hand inside grip on Asashoryu and powerfully forced out the Yokozuna. Ouch. Finally the yusho is Hakuho’s who beats Ozeki Kotomitsuki by uwatenage overarm throw. A nice long attack and counter-attack by both men, but the Yokozuna prevailed. Great, great sumo.
Tomorrow is a day to see how lower-ranked rikisihi do, especially Tochinoshin, Yoshikaze, and Tamawashi who might/should win tournament prizes.
Congratulations to Yokozuna Hakuho for being the best man in the dohyo and winning the Fukuoka basho! This was Hakuho’s 12th yusho win and a record 85th win out of 89 matches this year!
Kyushu November 2009 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 11 + 12 Fukuoka
We are down to the last five days of the November basho and it is almost inevitable that the two Yokozuna will square off on the final day to determine the yusho winner. Though, we still have five days of sumo in which the Yokozuna will go against some potentially tough Ozeki. Today Asashoryu grapples with Kaio, Hakuho takes on Haramafuji, the surprising Yoshikaze faces off with Tamawashi, while Kotooshu fights the big Baruto.
Tamawashi takes care of the surprise of the basho, Yoshikaze, by uwatenage overarm throw. Yoshikaze had a nice tachi-ai, but at the edge of the tawara Tamawashi twisted and threw his opponent down. Nice sumo and a kachi-koshi for Tamawashi. Tochinoshin in a chest-to-chest match simply overpowers Mokonami by yorikiri force out.
Takamisakari gets his kachi-koshi with a nice yorikiri force out of spark-plug Kakizoe. Nice sumo by the always entertaining Takamisakari. This is only his second kachi-koshi for the 2009 season. Toyonoshima goes to 9-2 with a tsukiotoshi thrust down over the big Miyabiyama. Very long pushing and thrusting match that turned into a mawashi contest. Some swell sumo from the smallish Toyonoshima.
Kotoshogiku takes care of business, first by hug-and-chugging and then executing a very nice uwatenage overarm throw of Kisenosato. Chiyotaikai is out of the tournament after getting a make-kochi yesterday so Ozeki Kotomitsuki get a walk over win. Ozeki Kotooshu comes back from his loss yesterday to beat the always dangerous Baruto in a chest-to-chest match by a yorikiri force out. Yokozuna Hakuho easily beats Ozeki Harumafuji by yorikiri force out. In a similar win, Yokozuna Asashoryu keeps his perfect record over Ozeki Kaio.
DAY 12
In a match where both men are going for their kachi-koshi, Shotenro gets it by beating Mokonami by kimedashi arm barring force out. Really Shotenro had his opponent in a head-lock and locked both hands and then forced him over the tawara. Yoshikaze drops his second contest in a row losing today to the veteran Miyabiyama by oshidashi push out. Tochinoshin continues to impress beating Takamisakari by a pretty easy yorikiri force out. Nice initial tachi-ai by Takamisakari, but the stronger Georgian simply lifted him up, swung him around and over the tawara.
Kotoshogiku picks up his kachi-koshi by his patented hug-and chug back and forth all over the dohyo winning by yorikiri force out of Goeido. Toyonoshima simply whipped the defenseless Ozeki Kotooshu by a oshidashi push out. Awful sumo by the Ozeki and excellent sumo by Toyonoshima who is now 10-2. Ozeki Kotomitsuki falls to Baruto by a pretty easy tsukiotoshi thrust down.
Yokozuna Asashoryu goes down to the clay by Ozeki Harumafuji by tsukiotoshi thrust down! The Yokozuna looked out of control as the Ozeki slipped to the side after the initial charge at the tachi-ai and then thrust down — with a bit of the mawashi? — Asashoryu. Yokozuna Hakuho is now sole leader of the basho after a uwatedashinage pulling overarm throw of Ozeki Kaio.
Yokozuna Hakuho is now in the drivers seat after the loss today by Yokozuna Asashoryu by Ozeki Harumafuji. Obviously the big matches tomorrow will be Asashoryu facing off against Kotomitsuki and Hakuho going up against Kotooshu.
Happy Thanksgiving: Are We Better Off Now Than Last Year?
‘Course we are, thank God.
Me: I’ve had about as much hope and change as I can take for one year. 2010 will be even better … no doubt.
Kyushu November 2009 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 10 Fukuoka
Day 10 of the November Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka, Japan and we have the Yokozuna both perfect, while the only proper Ozeki is Kotooshu one loss down. Today’s key matches will between the Ozeki’s: Kotooshu versus Kaio will be a fight between youth and a wily veteran, while two relatively new-comers to the rank Harumafuji will go up against Kotomitsuki.
Takamisakari is unable to capture his kachi-koshi today losing to Mokonami in a back-and-forth contest before finally losing by yorkiri force out. Miyabiyama picks up an early kachi-koshi defeating Kasugao by an impressive and easy oshidashi push out. Tochinoshin also gets an early kachi-koshi in a long and unimpressive sumo match achieving a yorikiri force out of Tamanoshima. The now 9-1 Yoshikaze was in trouble numerous times during the match, but was able to rebound and beat Kakizoe by a yorikiri force out.
Tiny little Takekaze upsets Baruto getting a relatively simple oshidashi push out. Baruto gets snuffed badly by Takekaze from the tachi-ai onward straight out of the dohyo. Kakuryu man-handles Goeido by a hikiotoshi hand pull down. In a fight between two up-and-down Ozeki, Harumafuji right from the tachi-ai easily beats Kotomitsuki by yorikiri force out. Veteran Ozeki Kaio teaches Ozeki Kotooshu a school-boy lesson winning by oshitaoshi push down. Power sumo right from the tachi-ai by both men, but the old man is victorious!
Yokozuna Asashoryu sends Chiyotaikai to the land of make-kochi and therefore demotion from the rank of Ozeki. The now former Ozeki had a wonderful tachi-ai but could not follow it up. Pretty easy tsuridashi lift out win for the Yokozuna. Yokozuna Hakuho had an easy time with a yorikiri force out win over Tochiozan.
Slight change to the leader board after Ozeki Kotooshu’s loss. The Yokozuna both have perfect records and the surprising rank-and-filer Yoshikaze still has only one loss. I have unfairly not mentioned his name with the other leaders recently, but he seems to be the real thing, though can he really win the yusho? Course not. Tomorrow looks to have a few key match-ups: Asashoryu faces Kaio, Hakuho fights Haramafuji, Yoshikaze bumps heads with Tamawashi, while Kotooshu tries to recover from the loss today against the dangerous Baruto.
Kyushu November 2009 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 9 Fukuoka
Day 9 of the November basho in Fukuoka, Japan and we hit the home stretch for the last week of sumo in 2009. As we end the 2009 season, we will see more and more bouts between higher ranked rikishi. Today starts with the Yokozuna both undefeated with Ozeki Kotooshu one match down and seemingly the only other possible contender for the yusho. Asashoryu will encounter the tough Baruto, while Hakuho faces soon retired Ozeki Chiyotaikai. Kotooshu will face the up-and-down Kisenosato in another big match.
Takamisakari lookin’ good notching his seventh win and his fourth straight victory in the basho beating Tosayutake by yorikiri force out. Nice sumo by the crowd favorite showing relentless offense. Miyabiyama looks good with a 7-2 record by a well executed hikiotoshi hand pull down of Tamanoshima. Yoshikaze rebounds after his first loss yesterday by coming back beating Wakanosato by a very powerful straight forward oshidashi push out. Kachi-koshi (more wins than losses or 8 wins) for rank-and-filer Yoshikaze. Banzai!
Kakizoe replies to an excellent tachi-ai by Tochinoshin and simply pushed forward and over-powered his bigger opponent by a oshitaoshi frontal push down. Toyonoshima picks up a seventh win beating Homasho by tsukiotoshi thrust down. Amazing back-and-forth match with both men trying on several occasions to get a shitatenage/uwatenage underarm/overarm throw. At the edge of the dohyo Toyonoshima finally thrust down the bigger, more tired rikishi.
Ozeki Harumafuji pulls off a nice shitatenage underarm throw over Bushuyama. Bushuyama had the Ozeki reeling at the start, but was reversed at the tawara and was tossed to the clay. Only the Ozeki’s fourth win in the basho! Ozeki Kotomisuki got his favorite right-hand inside, left-hand outside grip and simply overpowered Kakuryu by yorikiri force out. Ozeki Kotooshu had a little discomfort at the start of the match, but easily rallied and achieved a yorikiri force out of Kisenosato. Ozeki Kaio beats Tochiozan, upping his win total to six, with a simple yorikiri force out. Kaio gets his 804th Makuuchi division win tying for second place for all-time wins in the top division. He needs only four wins to surpass the great Yokozuna Chiyonofuji as the all-time wins leader. Could happen this basho!
Yokozuna Hakuho gingerly slaughters Ozeki Chiyotaikai by yorikiri to keep his perfect record. Yokozuna Asashoryu keeps pace with Hakuho by taking down the Estonian Baruto by an impressive kakenage hooking inner thigh throw. The match started with the mild advantage going to Baruto, but the Yokozuna replied quickly. Chest-to-chest in the middle of the dohyo, Asashoryu kept a left-hand inside, right-hand outside grip, while Baruto was way too high with a right-outside grip under the armpit of the Yokozuna with his left-hand locked into his right hand. Baruto tried to change grips and grasp with his right hand the mawashi of Asashoryu. The Yokozuna then made his move and took advantage and achieved the sweet inner thigh throw. Nice sumo by both men, though we know why one is a Yokozuna!
No change in the leader board with the Yokozuna both undefeated and Ozeki Kotooshu one loss down. Tomorrow we will see some great Ozeki head-to-head matches: Kotooshu faces off against Kaio and Harumafuji will fight Kotomitsuki.
Kyushu November 2009 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 8 Fukuoka
It is nakabi or the midpoint of the Kyushu November basho. As we move into the final week atop the leader board are the undefeated Yokozunas and Yoshikaze with Ozeki Kotooshu one loss down. Today Yokozuna Hakuho faces Kakuryu and Yokozuna Asashoryu takes on Tochiozan. The Yokozunas might fall, but despite Tochiozan’s losing record so far, I think he has the better chance of notching a rare victory. Kotooshu should have an easy time over Tokitenku, while Ozeki Harumafuji will have a tough match with Baruto.
In a pushing thrusting match Tamawashi notches a fifth victory beating Mokonami by oshidashi push out. Takamisakari picks up another victory by a very easy hikiotoshi hand pull down over an off-balance Asasekiryu. Miyabiyama continues to impress with his sixth win easily beating Kimurayama by hatakikomi slap down. Tochinoshin also looking impressive still with only one loss after taking an uwatenage overarm throw victory over Tosayutaka. He tried to lift out his opponent twice and finally, with Tosayutaka working on a leg trip, over-powered and crushed him to the clay. Strong sumo from the Georgian.
Yoshikaze is no longer undefeated picking up a loss to the rikishi dynamo Toyonoshima by tsukiotoshi thrust down. Yoshikaze had the match from the tachi-ai, but as he was maneuvering for a better grip on the Toyonoshima’s mawashi he slipped to the clay and was not really ‘thrust down.’ The expression on Toyonoshima’s face was surprise at the victory. On replay, there did seem to be a bit of a twist by Toyonoshima to Yoshikaze as he went to the clay, though it was mostly the formerly undefeated slipping down on the dohyo.
The ‘good’ Kisenosato showed up today against the ‘bad’ Goeido. He gets a pretty easy yorikiri force out. Ozeki Kotomitsuki whips Hokutoriki also by yorikiri force out. Ozeki Kotooshu keeps in the yusho race with only one loss, with a nice hikiotoshi hand pull down in a mostly pushing thrusting match over Tokitenku. Ozeki Kaio sends Ozeki Chiyotaikai to the showers with his patented oshidashi push out.
Ozeki Harumafuji falls again, today to the big Estonian Sekiwake Baruto by his patented strong-man tsuridashi lift out. Strength wins over quickness and finesse. Harumafuji had a double inside grip right from the tachi-ai, but the Sekiwake held his ground and simply twisted and over-powered his Ozeki rival. Yokozuna Asashoryu made it look easy with an okurinage rear throw down victory over Tochiozan, while fellow Yokozuna Hakuho beat Kakuryu by a strong uwatenage overarm throw. The Yokozuna both look superb.
Nakabi brings us to the expected outcome: The sole leaders are the two perfect Yokozuna. Tomorrow Asashoryu will face the tough Baruto and Hakuho faces the weak Ozeki Chiyotaikai. Kotooshu will face the up-and-down Kisenosato in another big match.
Kyushu November 2009 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 7 Fukuoka
Day 7 of the November basho and as we get further into the tournament we will start seeing more and more of the higher ranked rikishi fighting one another. Today begins with three undefeated rikishi: The Yokozunas and Yoshikaze. Yoshikaze has had the best start of his career, but he is certainly no threat to win the yusho. My prediction, so far, is that the November basho will come down to a Yokozuna – I know, not that difficult of a prediction — or possibly the only Ozeki fighting well, the 5-1 Kotooshu. No other Ozeki has a winning record! Today’s big matches will be Yokozuna Hakuho up against Sekiwake Baruto, Yokozuna Asashoryu fighting Sekiwake Kakuryu, our Ozeki standout so far in November Kotooshu versus Goeido, and finally Ozeki Kotomitsuki grappling Kisenosato.
Tosayutaka keeps a respectable 5-2 record, though he is a low ranked Maegashira 13, beating mountain-man Yamamotoyama by sukuinage beltless arm throw. The big man looked to win at the edge of the tawara, but he did the collapse touching his right hand to the clay before a twisting Tosayutaka tumbled out.
Takamisakari circling away from his very aggressive opponent gets his fifth win beating Kimurayama by oshidashi frontal push out. Miyabiyama gets his fifth win badly beating Mokonami, who falls to 5-2, with a powerful and quick oshidashi push out. Yoshikaze stays perfect looking in only okay form with an okuritaoshi rear push down over Shotenro. At the start, Shotenro had his opponent at the edge of the tawara but could not finish him off. Yoshikaze reversed on a tired Shotenro to get the win. Georgian Tochinoshin still has only a sole defeat, today getting a hikiotoshi hand pull down victory over Wakanosato.
Toyonoshima gets his fifth win with a pretty easy katasukashi under-shoulder swing down over yesterdays Ozeki-killer Bushayama. Ozeki Kotooshu looks excellent again beating the always dangerous Goeido by okuridashi rear push out. Goeido started strong and quick, but could not keep the pressure on as the Ozeki easily came roaring back. Soon to be former Ozeki, Chiyotaikai, falls again giving him a horrid 2-5 record losing to Tochiozan by oshidashi push out. Ozeki Kaio comes back to get his fourth win by yorikiri force out of hug-and-chugger Kotoshogiku. Nice sumo by Kaio against the always dangerous Kotoshogiku.
Down goes Ozeki Harumafuji to Takekaze making him look awful with a hikiotoshi hand pull down. The Ozeki looked fine at the start, but seemed a bit out of control and Takekaze attacked and beat a slipping Harumafuji. Takekaze has beaten three Ozeki so far in this November basho. Ozeki Kotomitsuki won over the schizophrenic Kisenosato by oshidashi push out. Ugly back-and-forth match with neither man doing any kind of the sumo expected from them.
Yokozuna Hakuho beats Estonian Baruto by a rare uchigake inside leg trip. Nice technique by the fast and smart Yokozuna. He simply stood up the Sekiwake and took his right leg and initially tried an outside left leg trip that did not work and then switched his stance and finally got the inside leg trip. Sweet sumo. In a well fought match, Yokozuna Asashoryu keeps up with the leaders beating Kakuryu by an uwatenage overarm throw. The original momentum was slightly in favor of the Sekiwake in this chest-to-chest match. Asashoryu finally got his mojo and twisted and tugged his opponent until throwing down Kakuryu. Great sumo by both men.
The leader board has not changed with the Yokozunas and Yoshikaze being perfect and Ozeki Kotooshu one loss down. Tomorrow Sekiwake Kakuryu battles against Yokouna Hakuho and Yokozuna Asashoryu fights Tochiozan. Both opponents could upset the Yokozunas, but despite Tochiozan’s losing record so far, I think he has the better chance of notching a victory. Ozeki Kotooshu should have an easy time over Tokitenku, while Ozeki Harumafuji will have his hands full with Sekiwake Baruto.
