Day Six had a lot of rather intriguing sumo, from both an excitement and a "well, that happened" perspective.
M15w Chiyomaru (4-2) wins by tsukidashi over M18e Kotonowaka (4-2)
Chiyomaru did the basic job of keeping up the fight against Kotonowaka and worked him to a push out.
M14e Kaisei (3-3) wins by yorikiri over M16e Azumaryu (3-3)
Kaisei might not be what he once was, but he's still almost a guarantee to win if he gets a grip.
M14w Nishikigi (1-5) wins by yorikiri over M16w Shimanoumi (3-3)
Nishikigi gets his first win by bottling up the typically active Shimanoumi early in the match.
M13e Kotoshogiku (3-3) wins by yorikiri over M17w Daiamami (2-4)
It seems as long as Kotoshogiku wants, he'll be able to hang around even in the lower part of the banzuke.
M13w Aoiyama (6-0) wins by hatakikomi over M17e Meisei (2-4)
Aoiyama's legs are still massively bandaged, but he looks much steadier on his feet and pulled out a signature slap-down.
M12w Ikioi (4-2) wins by sukuinage over M11w Terutsuyoshi (3-3)
Ikioi recovered from Terutsuyoshi's henka attempt, which caused the smaller man to reload and charge ahead. Ikioi then used that momentum to throw him over the edge of the dohyo.
M11e Chiyotairyu (5-1) wins by hatakikomi over M10e Sadanoumi (2-4)
It;s probably worth seriously considering if Chiyotairyu has found a new, much more reactive sumo that will allow him to age more gracefully. This was a subtle, clever slapdown based on reading Sadanoumi. That's right, Chiyotairyu was subtle.
M9e Takanosho (5-1) wins by yorikiri over M10w Tochiozan (0-6)
There is one winless rikishi left competing, and that's Tochiozan. Takanosho still used effective sumo to rebound from his first loss on Day Five.
M12e Ishiura (5-1) wins by uwatenage over M9w Tochinoshin (1-5)
This was a henka, but that misses it somehow. Ishiura is the most obvious henka candidate, and yet Tochinoshin seemed totally shocked by it. It also wasn't a wild henka, but one where Ishiura took one step left and stuck out his right hand. That allowed Ishiura to easily grab the back of Tochinoshin's mawashi for the uwatenage. Just bad all around by Tochinoshin.
M8w Kiribayama (4-2) wins by uwatenage over M8e Shohozan (1-5)
He didn't get front-to-back, but Kiribayama once again showed his special ability to spin around in a match to pull off the nifty throw over Shohozan. M6w Kagayaki (4-2) wins by oshidashi over M6e Myogiryu (1-5)
Kagayaki used very effective sumo to simply overwhem Myogiryu with a pushing attack.
M5e Ryuden (3-3) wins by yorikiri over M7w Tamawashi (1-5)
This one was done by the time it became a grappling match, because this was always going to be determined by who got their style of match.
M7e Takarafuji (4-2) wins by tsukiotoshi over M5w Onosho (4-2)
Takarafuji did what he does best: keep his feet and redirect his opponent.
M2e Okinoumi (2-4) wins by oshidashi over M4w Abi (3-3)
Okinoumi essentially waited out Abi's attacks, which couldn't have been fun. Still, Abi's lack of power meant he never could push Okinoumi backwards and eventually he had to retreat to the edge.
K1w Endo (4-2) wins by oshidashi over K1e Hokutofuji (2-4)
Endo took it to a still game Hokutofuji in a way that always put Hokutofuji on the back foot.
M3w Mitakeumi (6-0) wins by yorikiri over S1e Asanoyama (5-1)
This was the match of the day on paper and it lived up to its billing. Mitakeumi got the initial advantage by doing what he does, getting right in on Asanoyama's chest. Then, Asanoyama reversed the momentum of the match by establish his favored grip. At the tawara, Mitakeumi then pivoted himself to get the final push for victory. Excellent sumo match on every level.
M1e Daieisho (3-3) wins by oshidashi over S1w Shodai (3-3)
Daieisho unleashed the full might of his tsuppari and Shodai never had a chance to make his adjustment.
O1e Takakeisho (3-3) wins by tsukidashi over M4e Enho (2-4)
Takakeisho decided it was best to keep the always crafty Enho at arm's length, which admittedly isn't very far in Takakeisho's case. Enho never found a way in, so the parrying ended up winning the day.
Y1e Hakuho (6-0) wins by yorikiri over M3e Yutakayama (2-4)
Hakuho went vintage dai-Yokozuna against Yutakayama and just overwhelmed him for a decisive yorikiri.
M2w Tokushoryu (1-5) wins by yorikiri over Y1wYO Kakuryu (4-2)
Tokushoryu gets his first win this basho, which happens to be his first career kinboshi. Go figure. Some of the Hatsu version of Tokushoryu is still in there, apparently, because he managed to redirect the Yokozuna as he fully worked his attack.
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