For the last year or so, sumo has been undergoing a transformation. Young up-and-comers are threatening the long established top-ranked rikishi. Day Four of the Hatsu 2020 basho seems to have been a key moment in that process.
M17w Tokushoryu (3-1) wins by yoritaoshi over M17e Kiribayama (2-2)
It was Tokushoryu's match until Kiribayama executed a last-ditch utchari to throw him over the edge. Except a mono-ii determined that Kiribayama's heel touched out before the throw.
M16e Tochiozan (2-2) wins by hatakikomi over J3e Daishomaru (3-1)
Daishomaru was undefeated in Juryo, but fell to the clay against Tochiozan when he fought a Makuuchi man.
M14e Terutsuyoshi (4-0) wins by oshidashi over M15w Ikioi (0-4)
Ikioi's miserable basho keeps on going. Meanwhile, Terutsuyoshi remains unbeaten, largely because he displayed his willingness to go all out in an effort to make his opponent step out a fraction of a second before he lands on the clay.
M14w Shimanoumi (2-2) wins by uwatedashinage over M16w Kaisei (2-2)
Shimanoumi managed to keep moving sideways just enough against the mammoth Kaisei to be able to throw him sideways and down.
M15e Azumaryu (3-1) wins by hatakikomi over M13w Kotoeko (2-2)
Azumaryu got his first win in six tries over Kotoeko by managing to keep his feet planted wide and hold his balance better.
M12e Tsurugisho (2-2) wins by yorikiri over M12w Chiyomaru (1-3)
Tsurugisho was very effective against Chiyomaru, who never found any purchase to begin any kind of offense.
M13e Kotoshogiku (2-2) wins by tsukiotoshi over M11e Chiyotairyu (1-3)
Kotoshogiku once again unleashed his belly bump maneuver, this time after absorbing an unusually weak tachiai from Chiyotairyu.
M11w Kagayaki (4-0) wins by yorikiri over M10e Sadanoumi (2-2)
Kagayaki remains unbeaten after four days by keeping his strong fundamentals against a solid veteran like Sadanoumi.
M10w Ishiura (1-3) wins by yorikiri over M9e Takanosho (2-2)
Ishiura got his first win by taking a page from stablemate Enho's playbook, going up and under at the tachiai against Takanosho. After that, it was more raw power than Enho trickery, but Ishiura used it to win.
M9w Yutakayama (3-1) wins by oshidashi over M8e Aoiyama (2-2)
Yutakayama had to absorb some heavy blows from Aoiyama, but he kept moving forward and took the advantage to shove Aoiyama.
M8w Ryuden (3-1) wins by hatakikomi over M7w Onosho (0-4)
Another Onosho match, another example of him falling forward and down. This one at least saw Ryuden take awhile to slap him down waiting for Onosho to get off balance. M6e Takarafuji (2-2) wins by tsukiotoshi over M7e Shohozan (2-2)
Takarafuji took the chance to parry Shohozan's pushing, which allowed him to redirect him to the dirt.
M6w Tochinoshin (2-2) wins by tsuridashi over M5w Enho (2-2)
Well, how healthy Tochinoshin is might still be an open question, but his lower body was healthy enough to pick up the lightest man in sumo's top division. Not only did Tochinoshin lift him, but sent Enho so high that Enho was almost on his shoulders, furiously kicking his legs, as Tochinoshin carried him to the edge.
M4e Okinoumi (2-2) wins by yorikiri over M5e Meisei (0-4)
Meisei has a heavily bandaged left arm, and Okinoumi worked on it until he could simply force Meisei out for an easy win.
M2w Mitakeumi (2-2) wins by oshidashi over M3e Tamawashi (2-2)
Perhaps being braver than he was smart, Mitakeumi took Tamawashi's attack head on and waited for an opening. He managed it for an oshidashi win, but it couldn't have been comfortable.
K1e Abi (1-3) wins by oshitaoshi over S1e Asanoyama (3-1)
Abi was in desperation mode for his first win, and he launched his double-hands-to-the-throat attack so hard at Asanoyama that all Asanoyama could do was try and get his head out of harm's way. He was decidedly unsuccessful.
M4w Shodai (4-0) wins by yorikiri over S1w Takayasu (2-2)
Shodai did his usual gambit of taking on his opponent's tachiai, which once again he was able to absorb and redirect the match to what he wanted.
O1e Takakeisho (3-1) wins by tsukiotoshi over M1e Endo (3-1)
This was an ugly match, because both men were blocking each other's Plan A. Endo landed his hand on the front of Takakeisho's mawashi, but Takakeisho then batted his hand away. Takakeisho began to launch his tsuppari attack, but Endo disrupted it by continuing to go for various grips. That led to a twisting, turning bit of chaos where Takakeisho finally shoved Endo from the side to send him tumbling down.
O1w Goeido (1-3) wins by kubinage over K1w Daieisho (1-3)
Goeido needed a win badly, and he came out of the blocks hot. However, Daieisho countered effectively at the start to get his own leverage. But Goeido still had a hold on Daieisho's mawashi and landed a thundering kubinage, a "neck throw," by just grabbing Daieisho with both arms and launching himself over.
M2e Hokutofuji (4-0) gets the fusen win over Y1e Hakuho (1-3)
Hakuho has gone kyujo with some odd combination of maladies, including a heel contusion that might have gotten infected and caused a fever as well as lower back soreness after his match with Endo. As a Yokozuna, he has earned the privilege of being able to back out of a tournament where he is less than 100%. The beneficiary is Hokutofuji, who remains unbeaten with the fusen win.
M1w Myogiryu (2-2) wins by oshidashi over Y1w Kakuryu (1-3)
Hakuho isn't the only Yokozuna in trouble. Kakuryu had a weird matta, then was never really in this match. Myogiryu is a solid rikishi, but he shouldn't overwhelm a Yokozuna like this.
Commentaires