Natsu 2019 Day Three Recap

After three days, just 5 rikishi have unblemished records. More shockingly, those five are Kakuryu, Tochinoshin, Ryuden, Asanoyama, and Chiyomaru. Only three rikishi (other than the Kyujo Hakuho) sit on zero wins, Chiyotairyu, Okinoumi, and Meisei. It's shaping up as a good one.

J2e Takagenji (3-0) wins by yorikiri over M16e Daishoho (1-2)

Takagenji pops up from Juryo to beat Daishoho in an incredibly long and extremely boring belt battle. This does place Takagenji in polo position for a Makuuchi debut in July.

M15w Kotoeko (2-1) wins by sukuinage over M17e Chiyoshoma (1-2)

Kotoeko is looking a little bit trickier for May, which helped him toss over Chiyoshoma on Day Three. Chiyoshoma needs any win he can get to try and survive for Nagoya.

M15e Terutsuyoshi (2-1) wins by hatakikomi over M16w Ishiura (1-2)

Terutsuyoshi emerges successful from the battle of mighty-mites, which helps him to a solid start and a chance at sticking around another basho in Makuuchi.

M14w Enho (2-1) wins by ashitori over M13w Sadanoumi (1-2)

"Ashitori" is Japanese for "leg pick," and that describes what happened. Of course, Enho is small and nimble enough to get under Sadanoumi and grab his leg, but don't forget he's also strong enough to lift him out after doing that.

M13e Chiyomaru (3-0) wins by tsukidashi over M14e Tokushoryu (1-2)

Chiyomaru feels very one-dimensional, and that dimension is round. Actually, in gathering three wins, he's shown enough versatility in approach to control three different matches including this shoving affair with Tokushoryu.

M11w Tochiozan (1-2) wins by oshidashi over M12w Yago (1-2)

Tochiozan looked exactly like what he was coming into Day Three, a veteran who knew he needed to get a win.

M12e Shimanoumi (1-2) wins by uwatedashinage over M11e Shohozan (2-1)

Shimanoumi's first win comes with some clever sumo, which is how he got himself into the top division in the first place.

M9w Tomokaze (2-1) wins by oshidashi over M10w Onosho (2-1)

Onosho got just to the left on his tachiai, which was all Tomokaze needed to easily force him out.

M10e Kagayaki (1-2) wins by tsukiotoshi over M9e Nishikigi (1-2)

Kagayaki got off the schneid with rather frantic win over Nishikigi. Both guys being 1-2 is fair, as they both seem to be trying so hard it messes with their usually solid fundamentals.

M8w Asanoyama (3-0) wins by yorikiri over M7w Meisei (0-3)

Meisei did successfully block Asanoyama's initial try at a left-hand grip, but in doing so got completely off his game and was rather simply forced out.

M8e Kaisei (1-2) wins by oshidashi over M7e Shodai (2-1)

Kaisei's first win was very typical of the Brazilian. His effective tachiai led to making sure Shodai never really stood a chance.

M5w Ryuden (3-0) wins by oshidashi over M6w Yoshikaze (1-2)

This was atypical for a Ryuden match due to its short length, but he got up and under Yoshikaze immediately and got him to the tawara with no trouble.

M6e Takarafuji (2-1) wins by okuritaoshi over M5e Myogiryu (1-2)

Is there a Japanese word for henka-ing yourself? Because the outcome looked like Takarafuji sidestepped, but he basically stayed in one place.

M4w Abi (2-1) wins by oshidashi over M3e Chiyotairyu (0-3)

This was Abi's two-hand-thrust at its most effective. Notably, it was an extremely hard shove right at Chiyotairyu's neck (or where it would be on a normal person), and Chiyotairyu never stood a chance.

M2w Daieisho (2-1) wins by oshidashi over K1e Aoiyama (1-2)

Daieisho's effectiveness is enhanced when he can get underneath his opponent's chest, which conveniently turned Aoiyama's bulk against him.

S1w Tochinoshin (3-0) wins by yorikiri over M4e Okinoumi (0-3)

For the first time in Natsu, Tochinoshin didn't crane lift his opponent. However, he so effectively got his favorite migi-yotsu (left hand outside, right hand inside) that he simply maneuvered Okinoumi past the rice bales.

M3w Tamawashi (1-2) wins by oshidashi over S1e Ichinojo (1-2)

Tamawashi found himself inevitably going down at the tachiai, so he just forced himself forward with the kind of momentum that would put Ichinojo outside the dohyo first.

K1w Mitakeumi (2-1) wins by hatakikomi over O1w Takayasu (1-2)

This was a very impressive match for Mitakeumi. He absolutely knocked back Takayasu at the start, and then effectively stepped back to pull down the Ozeki when Takayasu found a counter.

M2e Endo (1-2) wins by yorikiri over O1e Goeido (2-1)

It's probably impossible for the good version of Goeido to stick around for three straight matches, and Endo emphatically got underneath him and showed him out.

M1e Hokutofuji (1-2) wins by oshidashi over O2e Takakeisho (2-1)

Hokutofuji made sure Takakeisho couldn't do his brand of sumo by executing his own brand of sumo. At the tachiai, Hokutofuji got his hands under Takakeisho's arms and found his neck. That's all that was needed to send the shin-Ozeki into the crowd.

Y1w Kakuryu (3-0) wins by uwatenage over M1w Kotoshogiku (1-2)

Kotoshogiku started his belly-bump that usually means he wins, but Kakuryu slipped just to the side and managed to toss Kotoshogiku at the edge. More strikingly, Kakuryu's head hit the clay just a second after Kotoshogiku went down.