Nagoya 2023 Day Ten

Public League Leaderboard

Scores from Fantasizr.

Yusho Arasoi

9 Wins

09 Maegashira #1 East Nishikigi

26 Maegashira #9 West Hokutofuji

8 Wins

04 Sekiwake #1 East Hoshoryu

05 Sekiwake #1 West Daieisho

39 Maegashira #16 East Endo

Notable Maneuvers

Kotenage. Ryuden has had a mixed basho, but if he can get THAT kind of throw off, maybe he's turning a corner.

Match of the Day

16 Maegashira #4 West Ura versus 03 Ozeki West Kirishima

After missing the first few days, Kirishima is definitely not 100%. Ura may have even had him a few times, but Kirishima's abilities showed out. Ura began by pushing him to the tawara, but Kirishima stood his ground and turned the match around. After spinning around the dohyo, they landed in a strange shoulder-to-shoulder stalemate that benefited neither man. Kirishima was able to get the better position, but needed enough work for the yorikiri that he may not be in his best form. That still makes him pretty good.

Recap

Can Hokutofuji do this? Nishikigi started the basho 6-0, after ending the last basho with an 8 match win streak. Hoshoryu, Daieisho, and Wakamotoharu have been around the leadership spot while seeking out an Ozeki promotion. Kirishima was out for a few days, while Terunofuji went out for good after a few days. That overshadowed the former Komusubi who turned 31 in this basho, but Hokutofuji has one loss and is tied for the lead with Nishikigi.

Hokutofuji did win his first 9 matches in September of 2022, and he hung around the upper Maegashira-Komusubi era for a little bit. He's had a good career for a rikishi, but he's never really come close. He had a Jun-Yusho in November 2017, but he was three wins behind Hakuho then. Hokutofuji has always been a pusher-thruster, but recently he's had to figure out not having the power of his youth. He looks similar, pushing up into his opponent's chest and throat, but he has more wins where he takes the opening of any advantage.

That shouldn't be a recipe for a yusho, and he's got a serious upgrade in strength of schedule ahead. On Day Eleven, he will face Sekiwake Wakamotoharu. He could win that match, because he's been on fire. If he does, he'll likely get more Sanyaku opponents. He also will probably need to keep winning to stay in the yusho race. Despite falling off the leadership perch on Day Ten, Hoshoryu is dangerous. Daieisho is similarly positioned to knock back Hokutofuji if he gets the chance. The most important thing is that Hokutofuji is there on Day Ten.

Nishikigi is also still in position, and he is facing an on-paper easier schedule. The matchups are starting to get manipulated, and he is in a featured match with 8-2 Maegashira #16 East Endo. Endo does have a 7-1 career advantage over Nishikigi, showing a tough matchup is always in the eye of the beholder. Other cross Banzuke matchups that can impact the yusho race on Day Eleven are Sekiwake Hoshoryu versus Maegashira #7 Tamawashi, and Komusubi Kotonowaka versus Maegashira #14 Shonnanoumi. Even Maegashira #17 West Hakuho, shining in his debut at 19, is jumping up to face Maegashira #7 East Takayasu.

It's becoming decision time for the Nagoya basho, with just five matches left. The schedule will look stranger and stranger. Daieisho gets Kirishima, which would normally be a Day Fourteen or Day Fifteen matchup based on ranks. Kirishima can't win the Emperor's Cup, but he's still got to do the gatekeeping job of an Ozeki. The finish could be very, very strange, especially if either Nishiklgi or Hokutofuji are the one standing at the end.