Day 8 results and day 9 pairings

[Doitsuyama 1,157]

Yokozuna Musashimaru acknowledged that he no longer is able to hold up the standard expected of a Yokozuna with only one arm and retired from active Sumo. A very distinctive career has finished yesterday, and not many historical top lists are filled with active rikishi now with Takanohana, Akinoshima, Takatoriki, Terao and Musashimaru gone.

Of course there was some Sumo today, and Tochiazuma now is the sole leader at 8-0 as Hokutoriki was clearly weaker than Kotonowaka. Asashoryu continues to dominate his opponents and is the only Sanyaku at 7-1.

Tamarikido looked somewhat injured after his loss yesterday and it seems to be something severe as he withdrew from the basho (at least for now). My guess is that Tamakasuga, Otsukasa and Toyozakura will be the rikishi now having to fight most against demotion.

In Juryo Kokkai beat Kaiho due to superior strength. His technique certainly could still improve a lot. He is now leading with two wins more than Asanowaka, Kitazakura, Kasugao, Oikari and Bushuyama.

--

Doitsuyama

Makuuchi yusho arasoi

Zensho        One loss      Two losses    Three losses  Four losses   
------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Tochiazuma    Asashoryu     Chiyotaikai   Kaio          Wakanosato    
              Kyokushuzan   Tosanoumi     Musoyama      Toki          
              Hokutoriki    Tamanoshima   Tochinonada   Kinkaiyama    
              Kotonowaka    Dejima        Kasuganishiki Shimotori     
                                          Yotsukasa     Jumonji       
                                                        Tochisakae    
                                                        Wakatoba      
                                                        Takekaze      
                                                        Toyozakura    

Day 8

Juryo

J12e   Nakao (4-4)         yorikiri       J13e   Towanoyama (5-3)
Ms4e   Daishodai (2-3)     yorikiri       J10w   Dewanofuji (2-6)
J9w    Takanotsuru (4-4)   yorikiri       J12w   Bushuyama (6-2)
J11w   Oikari (6-2)        katasukashi    J8e    Juzan (4-4)
J9e    Masutsuyoshi (2-6)  oshidashi      J8w    Aogiyama (0-8)
J7w    Kasugao (6-2)       kotenage       J10e   Senshuyama (2-6)
J5e    Kitazakura (6-2)    yoritaoshi     J11e   Tochinohana (5-3)
J7e    Futeno (2-6)        uwatenage      J5w    Harunoyama (4-4)
J6e    Chiyotenzan (4-4)   oshidashi      J4e    Ushiomaru (5-3)
J4w    Hayateumi (5-3)     yorikiri       J6w    Kaido (4-4)
J2e    Wakanoyama (1-7)    oshidashi      J3w    Kobo (2-6)
J2w    Kokkai (8-0)        tsukidashi     J1e    Kaiho (5-3)
J3e    Asanowaka (6-2)     hatakikomi     J1w    Gojoro (3-5)

Makuuchi

M14w   Dejima (6-2)        oshidashi      M13e   Tamakasuga (2-6)
M13w   Otsukasa (3-5)      hikiotoshi     M14e   Toyozakura (4-4)
M11w   Takekaze (4-4)      yorikiri       M12w   Takanowaka (3-5)
M9e    Kasuganishiki (5-3) fusen          M15e   Tamarikido (2-6)
M15w   Yotsukasa (5-3)     tsukiotoshi    M9w    Shimotori (4-4)
M10w   Tochisakae (4-4)    hatakikomi     M8e    Buyuzan (2-6)
M12e   Kotonowaka (7-1)    uwatenage      M7e    Hokutoriki (7-1)
M11e   Wakatoba (4-4)      oshidashi      M7w    Kotoryu (3-5)
M6w    Tokitsuumi (3-5)    yorikiri       M10e   Jumonji (4-4)
M5w    Kyokushuzan (7-1)   hatakikomi     M6e    Kinkaiyama (4-4)

M8w    Kakizoe (3-5)       oshidashi      M4w    Asasekiryu (1-7)
M2e    Toki (4-4)          oshidashi      M5e    Takanonami (2-6)
M2w    Tosanoumi (6-2)     hatakikomi     M4e    Miyabiyama (3-5)
S1w    Kyokutenho (2-6)    yorikiri       K1e    Takamisakari (3-5)
O2e    Kaio (5-3)          yorikiri       M3w    Tamanoshima (6-2)
O1w    Tochiazuma (8-0)    oshidashi      M1e    Tochinonada (5-3)
O1e    Chiyotaikai (6-2)   hatakikomi     S1e    Wakanosato (4-4)
M3e    Aminishiki (2-6)    yorikiri       O2w    Musoyama (5-3)
Y1e    Asashoryu (7-1)     sukuinage      M1w    Kotomitsuki (1-7)
K1w    Iwakiyama (1-7)     fusen          Y1w    Musashimaru (3-5)

Day 9

Makushita

Ms3e   Wakatenro (4-0)                    Ms16w  Daimanazuru (4-0)
Ms10e  Hokutojo (0-4)                     Ms2w   Kotoiwakuni (0-4)
Ms2e   Wakainami (1-3)                    Ms7w   Sumanofuji (1-3)
Ms5e   Roho (2-2)                         Ms1w   Tokitenku (2-2)
Ms1e   Ama (3-1)                          Ms6e   Tochifudo (3-1)

Juryo

J11e   Tochinohana (5-3)                  J10w   Dewanofuji (2-6)
J10e   Senshuyama (2-6)                   Ms3w   Gokenzan (2-2)
J13e   Towanoyama (5-3)                   J9w    Takanotsuru (4-4)
J8e    Juzan (4-4)                        J9e    Masutsuyoshi (2-6)
J11w   Oikari (6-2)                       J7w    Kasugao (6-2)
J5e    Kitazakura (6-2)                   J12w   Bushuyama (6-2)
J12e   Nakao (4-4)                        J4w    Hayateumi (5-3)
J4e    Ushiomaru (5-3)                    J6w    Kaido (4-4)
J8w    Aogiyama (0-8)                     J3w    Kobo (2-6)
J3e    Asanowaka (6-2)                    J2w    Kokkai (8-0)
J2e    Wakanoyama (1-7)                   J7e    Futeno (2-6)
J6e    Chiyotenzan (4-4)                  J1w    Gojoro (3-5)
J1e    Kaiho (5-3)                        J5w    Harunoyama (4-4)

Makushita

M12e   Kotonowaka (7-1)                   M11w   Takekaze (4-4)
M11e   Wakatoba (4-4)                     M12w   Takanowaka (3-5)
M15w   Yotsukasa (5-3)                    M10w   Tochisakae (4-4)
M10e   Jumonji (4-4)                      M14w   Dejima (6-2)
M13w   Otsukasa (3-5)                     M9w    Shimotori (4-4)
M9e    Kasuganishiki (5-3)                M14e   Toyozakura (4-4)
M13e   Tamakasuga (2-6)                   M7w    Kotoryu (3-5)
M8w    Kakizoe (3-5)                      M6w    Tokitsuumi (3-5)
M6e    Kinkaiyama (4-4)                   M7e    Hokutoriki (7-1)
M5e    Takanonami (2-6)                   M8e    Buyuzan (2-6)

M3e    Aminishiki (2-6)                   M4w    Asasekiryu (1-7)
M1e    Tochinonada (5-3)                  M5w    Kyokushuzan (7-1)
K1e    Takamisakari (3-5)                 M4e    Miyabiyama (3-5)
K1w    Iwakiyama (1-7)                    S1w    Kyokutenho (2-6)
S1e    Wakanosato (4-4)                   M2e    Toki (4-4)
O2e    Kaio (5-3)                         O2w    Musoyama (5-3)
M3w    Tamanoshima (6-2)                  O1w    Tochiazuma (8-0)
O1e    Chiyotaikai (6-2)                  M1w    Kotomitsuki (1-7)
Y1e    Asashoryu (7-1)                    M2w    Tosanoumi (6-2)

[Kaikitsune Makoto 202]

Tochiazuma still looks invincible with his perfect package sumo. Any new reasonably new sumofans who have never seen Azuma at his best and wonder why people expect so much of him, this basho gives an idea what kind of quality Azuma has had in his yusho bashos and otherwise too earlier in life. He is like a machine programmed to uphold optimal body stance and there is no bugs in that program now. Also his new training regime must have overcome the last obstacle he had when it comes to regaining full form ie. lack of strength. His oyakata's comment "His buttocks look much bigger!" has great implications on how good those stairs of pain and guts have been to his lower body when combined with sumo training. I bet that gives an enhanced sensitivity in his legs and all that formidable power he has in his legs just bursts out steadily throughout the bout. Technically he is back to his supremity too. His open stance gradual attack is the best there is and his yotsu seems to be in order. 8-0 without much problems at all. He has clearly been the best rikishi so far. It will be unanimously fascinating to see how he deals with Chiyotaikai, Musoyama, KaioU and Asashoryu. Today he just kept Nada at bay and never let him do any sumo. Just businesslikely used the gaps to his favour and won with extreme ease.

Chiyotaikai looks pretty boring. He doesn't have the usual power in his pushes but is able to pull down his foes nevertheless like today against short limbed Wakanosato even with a very bent arm half tsuki position. Taikai isn't near the level of Azuma or Shoryu this basho. That neck injury must be a big factor yes.

Musoyama has a lot of problems fighting Aminishiki. I think he is now 1-3 against the small warrior. Today Ami did the small man's charging trick he occasionally does from dohyo length. Got inside Muso's defense and just drove and drove in ducked position.

Kotomitsuki continued his slump and again was dumped down hard. He did put up a decent fight this time and had an even bout against SHoryu before gaining some untechnical momentum which Shoryu then used against him and threw him down. His only win came with henka against Musoyama so his resurgence truly was fake.

KaioU can be a real enigma even for someone who knows his sumo inside out. Either he had a new tailbone or somehow it didn't destroy his lower body completely this time or Tamanoshima was super weak. Latter looked to be true but KaioU was able to actually do sumo. He even looked pleased about that. He had a tachi-ai for the first time this basho and Tamanoshima had weak one. Still I have hard time believing he can beat any ozeki or Shoryu this basho. Even Taikai should beat him now...

Kotonowaka was the Man. Have you people noticed a very odd feature in his yotsu this time around? Well, he has had right hand outside grip strangely often! I am not sure how he threw down Yotsukasa but against Tamarikido and Hokutoriki he had right hand outside grip. So he could have a nice mental gear saved for possible encounter with sanyaku as he could then go for left hand outside which is much better for him. Actually I think he beat Otsukasa with right hand outside grip too! Hokutoriki didn't have tools to shake Koto anywhere.

In juryo Kaido looked handicapped and may face a nasty losing streak to finish the basho. His calf looks useless and he walks saving it from action.

Kyokutenho and Takamisakari had a nice even yotsu-bout. Finally Tenho was a bit more alive and managed to pull back from the tawara and march Sakke out. Sakke looks very strong though.

After nakabi it shouldn't be difficult to predict that yusho race is mostly between Asashoryu and Tochiazuma. Kotonowaka could be a tough foe for both of them.

[QttP 0]

In Juryo Kokkai beat Kaiho due to superior strength. His technique certainly could still improve a lot.

That's true. I haven't seen the Juryo stream, but Kokkai's bout is available from Dale's movies, so I watched it several times. Kokkai keeps his head incredibly low, and simply pushes his opponent with both arms, earning ground inch by inch. Kaiho didn't manage to slap him down, but someone stronger will definitely be able to do it. Gojoro did, except he grabbed his hair in the process...

Nevertheless, there are reasons to feel optimistic about Kokkai's future. He now has secured kachi-koshi, which means we will see him in Makuuchi, and it's likely that he gets some more wins, so he won't be too low on the Banzuke either. He's the clear juryo yusho favorite now, although there's still a long way to go. One thing that's Kokkai has in this basho that he lacked ever since he was promoted to Juryo is stability. Never before had he managed long streaks of wins. I just hope he won't stop now. He has clearly shown that he isn't afraid of foes who are more experienced than him. I think he's gona do well.

Kyokushuzan v. Kinkaiyama:

Shuzan is amazing. His sumo is super-funny, with the way he just pulls everyone down whenever he wants to. His speed matches that of Shoryu even. Today's victory over Kinkaiyama was a very accurate reproduction of that bout which started the famouse feud, with Kyokushuzan jumping over the tawara as Kinkaiyama fell forward. Kyokushuzan is the lovable jester when it comes to the actual bout, and not to the pre-bout rituals and funny faces.

Kaio v. Tamanoshima:

It seemed that Kaio told himself to forget about everything - the pain, the ozeki pride, the danger of demotion, the crowd - and just walk forward and forward. Today it worked.

Tochiazuma v. Tochinonada:

Perfect, what more can be said about Azuma's sumo in this tourney? A smart decision today to move left after the initial thrust exchange, to avoid giving Nada even the smallest chance for his favorite left arm grip. Then, in the instance Nada moved back just a little bit, Tochi started driving forward and never stopped.

Chiyotaikai v. Wakanosato:

Taikai does the best he can do with the his current form. Can't really complain about that pulldown. Wakanosato should have taken better advantage of Taikai's condition. It was totally predictable that Taikai's forward sumo would not show up.

Aminishiki v. Musoyama:

Aminishiki managed to stick his head right into Musoyama's stomach, so the latter could neither push him nor pull him. Impossible to win from such a position.

Asashoryu v. Kotomitsuki:

A decent attempt from Mickey, but Shoryu once again showed his amazing ability to destabilize his opponents while maintaining his own balance.

[tominishiki 0]

I almost sure that Wakanosato will not be an Ozeki next basho but maybe next time

[Zentoryu 154]

Tochiazuma still looks invincible with his perfect package sumo. Any new reasonably new sumofans who have never seen Azuma at his best and wonder why people expect so much of him, this basho gives an idea what kind of quality Azuma has had in his yusho bashos and otherwise too earlier in life.

Amen!

Yubiquitoyama must have a huge smile on his face after having to defend Tochiazuma against his critics for so long.

For those of us who have been around sumo long enough to remember when Tochiazuma displayed sumo like this all the time, it is a pleasure to see it again.

Welcome back Tochiazuma! We sure missed you. (Applauding...)

[Taka 33]

His oyakata's comment "His buttocks look much bigger!"

Strongest buttocks ever? (Applauding...)

My votes goes to Wakanohana ;-)

[Asashosakari 17,375]

[Kaio] Either he had a new tailbone or ...

Looks like the replacement parts for (Applauding...) finally arrived. ;-) Seriously though, like (probably) everyone else, I was really glad to see Kaio win today's bout so convincingly. Maybe there's hope yet for him to overcome kadoban.