Kyushu 2022 Day Six

Yusho Arasoi

5 wins

05 Sekiwake #1 East Hoshoryu

11 Maegashira #1 East Takayasu

28 Maegashira #9 West Abi

36 Maegashira #13 West Oho

Public League Leaderboard

Scores from Fantasizr.

Notable Manuevers

Tottari. It wasn't just Hoshoryu's arm bar throw to beat Daieisho, but the speed with which he turned defense into offense after withstanding Daieisho's thrust to the face.

Match of the Day

Sekiwake #1 East Wakatakakage versus Maegashira #2 West Ichinojo

This looked initially like a classic Ichinojo domination where his size just overwhelms his opponent. But Wakatakakage withstood it and turned the match around. This is a remarkable achievement, and it bloodied Waktakakage's nose in the process. He took the much bigger man, changed the momentum of the match, and won with a shitatenage throw.

Recap

The quartet now leading the Kyushu basho are Hoshoryu, Takayasu, Abi, and Oho. That is certainly an interesting foursome. There are eleven rikishi at 4-2, and every one of those eleven are in with a chance on this yusho race. Yet the four men sitting at 5-1 have the slight advantage. It's worth considering how they got here and what they may do.

Hoshoryu is the fifth man on the Banzuke, and he is young, talented, and full of potential. He has also never really been in a yusho race before, and he is performing with a consistency that has been missing previously. Hoshoryu's throws have come as decisive switches, rather than overthinking his strategy. This is the Hoshoryu sumo fans have been wanting to see for awhile, and it would be fun if he can keep it up for the rest of the basho.

However, his one loss so far has been to Takayasu on Day Four. Takayasu is fighting in his Ozeki form, and he has certainly been in yusho races even though he has famously never won a yusho. He also has yet to face a Maegashira, which means he has the easiest portion of his schedule over week two. Although the 32 year old has faded over the second week recently, Takayasu has his best tachiai and his full wear-down mode working in Kyushu. He may be the favorite right now.

Abi and Oho are the standout lower Maegashira so far. Abi is only down here because he sat out due to injury in November. He is better than this, and his footwork has been working perfectly to amplify his two-handed thrusting. Oho meanwhile is fighting leaps and bounds better than he ever has before. He isn't dominating the opposition, but he keeps winning and isn't beating himself. Neither Abi nor Oho should be counted out, but they have more to prove.

And then there is always the crowd in back. No one looks invulnerable right now, and the only ones who are hopeless are the winless trio of Ura (overthinking it), Takarafuji (aging rapidly), and Terutsuyoshi (completely off his sumo). Everyone else might get a win on any day. For Hoshoryu and Takayasu, the Sanyaku are scrapping for their place and elevating into sumo's highest ranks. For Abi and Oho, their fellow Maegashira need every win to get towards 8 and possibly a little more. We have four leaders now, but who knows where they will be in a few days.