Nagoya 2019 Day Nine Recap

Day Nine was something. There were upsets galore, plus some very interesting sumo. It also put a number of rikishi on the doorstep of kachi-koshi. Others have to stave off demotion with all their might.

And, oh yeah, we got our first kinboshi this basho.

M13w Sadanoumi (6-3) wins by yorikiri over M15w Kaisei (1-8)

Kaisei gets the first make-koshi of Nagoya 2019 and probably a guaranteed trip to Juryo even if he wins out. The way Sadanoumi won easily by yorikiri makes that seem impossible.

M16w Terutsuyoshi (7-2) wins by oshidashi over M12e Tochiozan (2-7)

Terutsuyoshi gets back to winning ways against the struggling Tochiozan. Terutsuyoshi will want a big win total, but he only needs one more to keep his Makuuchi place. Tochiozan, by contrast, might actually be fighting for his.

M16e Kotoyuki (6-3) wins by tsukidashi over M11w Nishikigi (3-6)

Kotoyuki kept winding up his arms to avoid getting bottled up by Nishikigi, and that was all he needed to do for the win. Kotoyuki is well on his way to kachi-koshi, while Nishikigi needs to turn everything around.

M14w Enho (6-3) wins by ashitori over M10w Takagenji (4-5)

Enho didn't get the full submarine effect against Takagenji, but did manage to eventually get the "ashitori," or leg pick. Takagenji's slide from a good start is tough to see, but he does have a nice cushion rank-wise if he can't reverse his fortune.

M10e Kotoeko (5-4) wins by oshidashi over M15e Yago (3-6)

This is yet another match for Yago where he got good position but couldn't do anything about it. Kotoeko was able to withstand Yago's meager offense and beat him.

M9w Daishoho (4-5) wins by oshitaoshi over M13e Chiyomaru (4-5)

Daishoho managed to get Chiyomaru turned around, a position from which such a big sekitori really can't recover.

M7w Tomokaze (7-2) wins by hatakikomi over M12w Kagayaki (5-4)

Tomokaze's series of matches that make him look like a future star continued against Kagayaki. Here he won with a very nifty, Kakuryu-style stand-him-up-and-slap-him-down.

M7e Myogiryu (7-2) wins by oshidashi over M14e Toyonoshima (3-6)

Whatever has gotten into Myogiryu is impressive to see. He went right after Toyonoshima and overpowered him despite Toyonoshima landing a double inside grip.

M6w Shimanoumi (5-4) wins by hatakikomi over M9e Shohozan (4-5)

Shimanoumi kept Shohozan at bay long enough through a furious back and forth that Shohozan's hand eventually touched the ground.

M6e Chiyotairyu (6-3) wins by oshidashi over M8w Okinoumi (4-5)

Chiyotairyu's pushing forward forever sumo has been better this basho for a hint of variety. Here he went just to the side at the tachiai, giving him an open avenue to push Okinoumi out.

M5e Kotoshogiku (5-4) wins by hikiotoshi over M8e Onosho (4-5)

Onosho should have followed Chiyotairyu's example in the previous match, rather than grappling with Kotogoshiku, who rather simply put him to the ground when Onosho lost balance.

M3w Daieisho (4-5) wins by oshidashi over M5w Takarafuji (2-7)

It wasn't the prettiest sumo, but Daieisho just kept coming at Takarafuji, who never mounted any offense.

M2w Endo (4-5) wins by yorikiri over M2e Aoiyama (3-6)

Aoiyama got the pushing match he was looking for, but Endo sent him backwards while the tsuppari was happening. Then Endo stuck his head under Aoiyama's, uh, chest, which allowed him to get the easy yorikiri win.

M1e Asanoyama (4-5) wins by yorikiri over K1w Ryuden (3-6)

Asanoyama decided not to let Ryuden do anything funny position wise by getting inside and moving forward the whole time, even without his usual left-hand grip.

M1w Hokutofuji (6-3) wins by tsukiotoshi over S1w Tamawashi (1-8)

Happy 27th Birthday, Hokutofuji! He decided to avoid Tamawashi's right hand nodowa by focusing on attacking his right shoulder. That got Tamawashi sideways to Hokutofuji, who directed him off the dohyo.

K1e Abi (4-5) wins by uwatenage over S1e Mitakeumi (6-3)

Abi went first for his hands to the throat move, but then decided to put his right hand on Mitakeumi's head and his left on the back of Mitakeumi's mawashi. Maybe only Abi has the arms to do such a move, and he should probably try it more.

M3e Shodai (5-4) wins by tsukiotoshi over O1w Takayasu (7-2)

Not only did Takayasu have a massive bandage on his left elbow, but he was not able to use it functionally at all. Shodai is too skilled at bailing himself out of trouble to beat when you don't have all of your attacking tools.

M4w Ichinojo (6-3) wins by yorikiri over Y1w Hakuho (8-1)

Ichinojo didn't just get the kinboshi over Hakuho, but pretty simply moved his mass right over Hakuho to force him out. Hakuho's face afterward showed what an impressive display it was by the giant Mongolian.

Y1e Kakuryu (9-0) wins by yorikiri over M4e Meisei (2-7)

This is Meisei's first bout against a Yokozuna and it showed. Kakuryu is now the only undefeated rikishi, taking sole lead of the yusho race.