Public League Leaderboard
Scores from Fantasizr.
Notable Maneuvers
Shitatenage. Kirishima kind of looked dead to rights from the main camera angle, but the replay from the other side showed he had Atamifiuji's arms pushed up. And that is how he could win with an underarm throw at the edge.
Match of the Day
Shirokuma and Nishikifuji started the Makuuchi day off quite well. Nishikifuji got slightly under and forward at the tachiai, but then Shirokuma withstood it and landed a left-hand grip. From there, Nishikifuji blocked a throw. He then went for a push out, but Shirokuma turned Nishikufji. In the end, Nishikufuji pulled a throw to sned the rookie over the edge.
Recap
The Sanyaku showed up a little better on Day Two. Hoshoryu, Abi, and Hiradoumi got their first wins, while Kotozakura, Onosato, and Kirishima won again to move to 2-0. This is where the strength of the Banzuke should be, and the basho will be more interesting if they can stay strong until the end when they will meet. That outcome is an ideal for a Nokozuna tournament from the JSA's viewpoint.
On the eye test, Kotozakura and Onosato still look very, very good. Kotozakura handled Takanosho with little fanfare. Considering Takanosho beat fellow Ozeki Hoshoryu on Day One, that's a nice win. Onosato took a Tobizaru matta, resettled for the real match, and dispatched the Flying Monkey by keeping his feet wide and his hips low. Both Kotozakura and Onosato will be tough opponents for anyone they face.
Parity might be the name of the game otherwise in this tournament. Kirishima is 2-0 after two challenging matches. Hoshoryu came back stronger on Day Two, but also was a touch wild in dominating Daieisho. Hiradoumi went from losing to Kotozakura on Day Two to overwhelming Wakamotoharu with constant motion. Abi manhandled Mitakeumi in his traditional fashion after getting swat aside by Tobizaru. That's two days of evidence that anything could happen in those rikishi's matches.
A possible variable to the shape of the basho that is already rearing its head is Takakeisho's health. He is 0-2 and clearly has a problem delivering power or using his strength to beat back opponents. If Takakeisho cannot shove back another rikishi, he doesn't have a whole lot he can do. He also looked gassed after his match with Oho. If he has to leave this basho for health reasons, the match card for all of Sanyaku changes. It would also signal the shift in sumo's hierarchy is nearly done.
But a passing of the torch isn't always that obvious in sumo. After all, lower Maegashira will see plenty of matchups with long-serving veterans like Tamawashi, Sadanoumi, and Takarafuji against youngsters like Shirokuma, Kitanowaka, and Onokatsu. On Day Two, Takarafuji handled Onokatsu. That's a demonstration that rikishi need to take a hold of their next step. That is true at the bottom of the Banzuke and for younger Sanyaku men trying to take their next step, like Kotozakura, Hoshoryu, and Onosato.
Comments