8th All Japan College Sumo Kanazawa Tournament (2018-07-15)

[mikawa 1,794]

第8回全日本大学選抜相撲金沢大会

Individual Competition

Winner - Yamaguchi Reo (山口 怜央), Kindai University, Osaka

Runner-Up - Motobayashi Kenji (元林 健治), Kindai University, Osaka

Semi-Finals - Kitagawa Hajime (北川 甫), Toyo University, Tokyo
Semi-Finals - Tanioka Koshiro (谷岡 倖志郎), Kindai University, Osaka

Quarter-Finals - Shiroishi Masahito (白石 雅仁), Toyo University, Tokyo
Quarter-Finals - Nishino Tomonori (西野 倫理), Toyo University, Tokyo
Quarter-Finals - Shiroyama Seira (城山 聖羅), Toyo University, Tokyo
Quarter-Finals - Hoshiba Shinsuke (干場 伸介), Toyo University, Tokyo

 

Team Competition

Winner - Nihon University
Enami Masashi (榎波 将史) ･ Kawazoe Keita (川副 圭太) ･ Kato Shota (加藤 翔太) ･ Sawada Hitoshi (沢田 日登志) ･ Takeuchi Kosei (竹内 宏晟)

Runner-Up - Nippon Sport Science University
Okutani Hidemune (奥谷 英宗) ･ Nishi Taisei (西 大星) ･ Purebusuren (プレブスレン デルゲルバヤル) ･ Takahashi Yuta (高橋 優太) ･ Ishizaki Takuma (石崎 拓馬)

Semi-Finals - Toyo University
Semi-Finals - Kindai University

Quarter-Finals - Meiji University
Quarter-Finals - Takushoku University
Quarter-Finals - Waseda University
Quarter-Finals - Chuo University

 

Videos

Individual Quarter-Final #1 - Shiroishi Masahito (白石 雅仁), Toyo University  vs  Kitagawa Hajime (北川 甫), Toyo University
Individual Quarter-Final #2 - Motobayashi Kenji (元林 健治), Kindai University  vs  Nishino Tomonori (西野 倫理), Toyo University
Individual Quarter-Final #3 - Yamaguchi Reo (山口 怜央), Kindai University  vs  Shiroyama Seira (城山 聖羅), Toyo University
Individual Quarter-Final #4 - Hoshiba Shinsuke (干場 伸介), Toyo University  vs  Tanioka Koshiro (谷岡 倖志郎), Kindai University

 

Individual Semi-Final #1 - Kitagawa Hajime (北川 甫), Toyo University  vs  Motobayashi Kenji (元林 健治), Kindai University
Individual Semi-Final #2 - Yamaguchi Reo (山口 怜央), Kindai University  vs  Tanioka Koshiro (谷岡 倖志郎), Kindai University

 

Individual Final - Motobayashi Kenji (元林 健治), Kindai University  vs  Yamaguchi Reo (山口 怜央), Kindai University

 

Team Semi-Final #1 - Toyo University vs Nippon Sport Science University

 

Team Semi-Final #2 - Nihon University vs Kindai University

 

Team Final - Nippon Sport Science University vs Nihon University

 

Comments

If Toyo University have Shiroyama Seira, then Kindai University have Yamaguchi Reo. Both entered college sumo as High School Yokozuna, and both have impacted on the college sumo scene very early on. His pull down of his Kindai team-mate, the bigger Motobayashi, in the final was very well timed, as was his spin to stay inside the dohyo. This kid has skill, as some would say.

This was an incredible tournament for Kindai University, who claimed 3 of the top 4 spots. Yamaguchi and Motobayashi are amongst the best college rikishi at the moment, and Tanioka's not far behind either.

For Toyo however, it was a day to forget, as even though they had 5 rikishi in the top 8, only one made it to the semi-finals, and even that was because his opponent was also from Toyo. Shiroishi seemed to be a bit high from his tachi-ais for some reason, while Shiroyama's performance has just been disappointing for someone of his calibre. Nishino did well in his quarter-final against Motobayashi, so close to getting a quick victory, but that attempted pull backfired as Motobayashi took the opportunity to get a morozashi-grip and drove Nishino out.

In the team competition, Toyo University were clear favourites at the start of the day, as they had already claimed the Uwajima and the Usa titles this year. However, they were sub-par for most of the day (though they did beat Kindai 4-1 in the preliminaries), and capitulated in the semi-finals against Nippon Sport Science University.

This opened the door for a Kindai yusho, but individual winner Yamaguchi suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Nihon's Sawada Hitoshi, presumably the younger brother of former Wanpaku Yokozuna Sawada Hideo.

And so we had an all so familiar final match-up between the traditional powerhouses and huge rivals of Nihon and Nippon Sport Science, where the former came out on top (only just). A lot of credit has to go to Nihon's first-year rikishi Kawazoe Keita, who came up with back-to-back utcharis, somehow, in back-to-back 3-2 wins. He has a younger brother called Kawazoe Fuma, who will be the favourite to claim this year's Middle School Yokozuna title.

Honourable mentions go to Nippon Sport Science's second year Ishizaki and first year Takahashi, who are both names to watch out for. Ishizaki Takuma is college sumo's very own Ishiura, while Takahashi Yuta was No.7 in last year's High School rankings. One other thing - Nihon's Kato Shota used to be captain of Komatsuryu Dojo, John Gunning's club.

Edited July 17, 2018 by mikawa

[Katooshu 3,485]

Thanks for that summary. Yamaguchi was impressive throughout the individual competition. He's an all-rounder who is good in many areas. I posted a few weeks ago that Motobayashi is unmatched by any of the collegiate rikishi in West Japan, but I guess I spoke too soon. I agree about the disappointing showings for Toyo. On the surface having 5 quarterfinalists and making the team semifinals is fine, but once they got to those stages there seemed to be a lot of lackadaisical sumo on their end that was below the usual Toyo standards. On the brighter side for them, it's a promising result for Hoshiba to make the quarterfinals as a first-year. He looked strong.

I'm a bit disappointed about that group final, as NSSU is my favourite team (their coach Kazuo Saito is one of my favourite amateur greats + Hokutofuji is my favourite ozumo rikishi). That said, it was a very good match and it's always exciting when it comes down to the 5th match. Takeuchi has been strong for Nihon lately, coming through at 2-2 in the semis and finals and scored one of Nihon's points vs Toyo back in the East Japan semifinals. He is extremely fast. I also really enjoy watching Kawazoe, clearly a very skilled guy and quite strong for his size. He wins by utchari regularly it seems.

Anyone know what's up with Nihon's Hiroo? He had good results last year and is in his 4th year now, but I only recall seeing him at Uwajima. He's the only current Nihon rikishi who made last year's university banzuke.

 

Edited July 18, 2018 by Katooshu