Hatsu 2019 Day Two Recap

M16e Daiamami (1-1) W beats J2e Takegenji (1-1) by yorikiri

Takegenji was not as lucky as Day One Juryo visitor Terutuyoshi. That is also a nice way of saying Daiamami was not overwhelming in forcing out his opponent.

M15e Chiyonokuni (2-0) beats M15w Kotoeko (1-1) by tsukidashi

Chiyonokuni sure looks invigorated by staring demotion dead in the face at Maegashira 15. At the very least, he seems much more motivated than he did over the last half of 2018. He overwhelmed Kotoeko on Day Two, getting six wins from being sure of staying in Makuuchi.

M14w Chiyoshoma (1-1) beats M16w Daishomaru (0-2) by okuridashi

Chiyoshoma won with the kimarite of “okuridashi,” a rear push out. How do you push your opponent from the rear? You jump behind him, which Chiyoshoma did to Daishomaru with the always controversial henka.

M14e Yutakayama (2-0) beats M13e Yago (1-1) by oshidashi

One of the things Yago didn’t face in Juryo were people with similar size and skills. Yutakayama does, even if injuries might have made him slip over the past few bashos. Yutakayama just worked Yago to the edge and out.

M13w Kotoyuki (1-1) beats M12w Meisei (0-2) by oshitaoshi

Meisei looked like a young rising star after Kyushu, while Kotoyuki yo-yoed back into Makuuchi. On Day Two, Kotoyuki took the veteran maneuver and tricked Meisei into getting pulled down. Meisei desperately needs to find his November form.

M12e Kagayaki (1-1) beats M11e Sadanoumi (1-1) by oshitaoshi

Kagayaki and Sadanoumi went chest to chest and seemed to be basically even. Then after a bit of a struggle and some movement, Sadanoumi seemed to have a problem with his knee. Officially, it was considered a pull-down, but Sadanoumi seemed to sort of crumple.

M10w Abi (1-1) beats M11w Ikioi (1-1) by hikiotoshi

On a day which had some beats, Ikioi might have gotten the worst of anyone. Abi went to his usual double-arm-thrust, right to Ikioi’s bandaged head, and was absolutely relentless. Abi won by slap down, and he was slapping Ikioi when he went down, but it sure looked like Ikioi was out on his feet and he absolutely trudged to the back after.

M8e Kaisei (2-0) beats M10e Takarafuji (0-2) by kotenage

Takarafuji bounced off Kaisei, Kaisei grabbed his arm, spun him around, and threw him to the ground. Simple as that.

M9w Endo (2-0) beats M8w Asanoyama (0-2) by tsukidashi

Asanoyama looks completely off mentally, like he has no plan and no idea what to do in response to his opponent. Endo took full advantage of the confusion and easily dispatched Asanoyama.

M7e Ryuden 1-1 beats M6e Chiyotairyu (0-2) by yorikiri

Ryuden had a false start at the beginning of this match, which is kind of a specialty of his. It did the job on Day Two, though, because Chiyotairyu’s typically fearsome tachiai was more tame than usual. Ryuden grabbed him and showed him to the edge of the dohyo.

M6w Onosho (2-0) beats M7w Daieisho (1-1) by tsukiotoshi

Onosho and Daieisho went straight at each other to begin with, but Onosho was the much more furious rikishi after that moment. He looked alot like old rival (or as old as 22 year olds can have) Takakeisho with his relentless forward motion.

M5e Aoiyama (2-0) beats M4e Kotoshogiku (1-1) by hatakikomi

Kotoshogiku is a large, skilled wrestler with years of experience. And on Day Two, he basically just bounced right off of Aoiyama, who looks like he’s got his legs healthy again.

M4w Okinoumi (1-1) beats M5w Yoshikaze (0-2) by koshikudake

Koshikudake is a kimarite which isn’t strictly a “winning move,” because it means the losing wrestler fell of his own accord. Okinoumi did put up a solid fight, but Yoshikaze also did just kind of fall to his knees.

S1e Takakeisho (2-0) beats M3w Shohozan (0-2) by oshidashi

It seems like with each passing match, the most predictable thing in sumo is that Takakeisho will beat his opponent by repeatedly striking him in the chest until he is forced to go backward out the dohyo.

S1w Tamawashi (2-0) beats M3e Shodai (0-2) by oshidashi

Tamawashi never gave Shodai the opportunity to really get an opening, just working him back steadily. Tamawashi looks really good this basho. Shodai is a solid rikishi, but being right on the edge where he must face everyone above him is problematic for him.

O1e Takayasu (1-1) beats K1e Myogiryu by oshidashi

Boy is Takayasu lucky. He got Myogiryu to the edge, then took a final shove and landed hard on the dirt as Myogiryu jumped in the edge. Although Myogiryu landed second, the gyoji pointed to Takayasu. Perhaps he thought Myogiryu was ultimately unlikely to be back in before Takayasu fell.

M2e Nishikigi (2-0) beats O2w Tochinoshin (0-2) by uwatenage

Tochinoshin had to struggle to get his favored grip, but he finally got it and even picked up Nishikigi. Yet he wasn’t able to send him out. Instead, he put him back down, and Nishikigi made him pay by tossing him out.

M2w Hokutofuji (2-0) beats O1w Goeido (0-2) by oshidashi

Goeido is the second Ozeki with two losses. First, there was a matta, which looked like a full match where Hokutofuji won. Then, there was a second matta, where Hokutofuji just stood up. Finally, they had a real match, and Goeido took Hokutofuji to the edge. Hokutofuji turned it around, though, and managed to send Goeido into the front row.

M1w Ichinojo (2-0) beats Y1e Kisenosato (0-2) by hatakikomi

Speaking of mattas, Ichinojo had a few, he seemed so eager to take on the struggling Yokozuna. As soon as the real match began, he just kept pushing on Kisenosato’s damaged left pectoral. Despite fighting relentlessly, Kisenosato couldn’t manage and eventually was slapped down.

K1w Mitakeumi (2-0) beats Y2e Kakuryu (1-1) by oshidashi

Perhaps the surprise of Day Two, not only because Kakuryu looked good on Day One, but because of how Mitakeumi manhandled the Yokozuna. In the blink of an eye, Mitakeumi got underneath Kakuryu and took him right off the dohyo.

Y1w Hakuho (2-0) beats M1e Tochiozan (0-2) by tsukiotoshi

Tochiozan had him, he absolutely had Hakuho dead to rights. Hakuho was turned around and right at the edge of the dohyo. Then all he did was a pirouette to land in back of Tochiozan as he walked out of the ring. He isn’t the greatest of all time for nothing.