Dwale

I do think he was caught off guard. Abi came out in honey badger mode and Asanoyama didn't know what hit him until he was already outside the bales.

I can't believe it's only day 4, this basho feels like it's been a month long already. I guess that's gonna be Kakuryu kyujo now. Once Hakuho lost to Myogiryu I figured it would be either Takakeisho or Asanoyama to take the cup. Now I don't know. Crazy basho like this are upside-down land where anything can happen. Terutsuyoshi yusho? Sure, why not. Anything goes in upside-down land! Ok, that was hyperbole, but still. Crazy.

Still very satisfied with what I'm seeing from Terunofuji down in juryo. He keeps this up and he'll be back in makuuchi in no time. Might even take the juryo championship along the way.

Hakuho kyujo! EDIT: Source https://tachiai.org/2020/01/15/yokozuna-hakuho-kyujo-2/

That is certainly true, but if he's posting losses against the appetizers it does not bode well for the tougher matches ahead.

What can I even say but, "Guess who's not winning the cup this basho?"

Oh, man, today was worth a watch for Hakuho's angry face alone. Man, was he ever pissed. Endo better watch himself next time they meet, Hakuho isn't gonna let that slide... This has been an unusually heated basho thus far. Things may settle into a predictable rhythm later, but then again, maybe not. Terunofuji wasn't as overwhelming today down in juryo, but he still looked pretty good. I'm hopeful for his return to makuuchi. Never realized how much I liked the guy until we suddenly didn't have him anymore. I don't wanna say Takayasu won't manage ten, but he really doesn't look like he's gonna pull it off. And that's a shame if so, but I'll keep cheering him regardless. Mitakeumi managed to get out of that? o.o; Wow. Things not looking so hot for Goeido... Asanoyama continues to impress. I think he'll make ozeki, maybe not as fast as he'd like, but eventually.

Asanoyama came out so fast and fierce that he really looked like an ozeki. Takakeisho looked strong, too. That Tochinoshin is resorting to such tactics on day one, but still losing, is not a good sign. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for the guy but it may be that the end is near. I'm not too terribly worried for Takayasu, at least not yet. Tamawashi is the sort of guy who can blow most anyone off the dohyo on a good day. It's kind of his thing. We'll see if Takayasu can rally tomorrow against Okinoumi.

Enho was amazing. That was an awesome match, I can't wait to watch it again. Props to him.

Terunofuji rocked that win. Dude looked completely clueless. That gives me hope for the prospects of a return to makuuchi. Keep chugging along, big guy. We're cheering for you.

I was up late enough last night to live stream those lower-division playoffs, which was entertaining, but I had to sleep, so I didn't get to makuuchi until I woke up. Well. For a basho that started out crazy, it had kind of an anti-climactic end, at least in makuuchi. But we had some good stuff, like Enho's surprise kachi-koshi. One nice thing about sumo is there are so many participants, and so many permutations of match-ups, that you're bound to see something that floats your boat. Some basho are more entertaining than others, but I never walk away feeling like I should have watched something else. Sumo remains awesome. And so I bid you all adieu. 'Til next time.

Wow, no kidding. Daieisho on a good day is a handful for just about anyone. What's the little guy to do? We'll find out!

As much as I would have loved for Mitakeumi to take that win, it was all but a foregone conclusion that he would not. Not this basho. Sotogake. Problem solved. Luckily, we had some more entertaining stuff elsewhere. I enjoyed Ishiura and Enho's wins (I did not expect Enho to manage Terutsuyoshi today, so that was especially exciting). So, Nishikigi is going to juryo, right? Here's a song, sung to the tune of "Here's to the State of Mississippi" "Here's to the fans you've torn out the heart of Nishikigi go find yourself a new division to be part of!" Phil Ochs fans, high five! No? Ok... [No disrespect intended to Nishikigi or his fans. His name just happens to fit neatly into the rhythm.]

All the congrats to Terunofuji! He's had a rough time but I'm pleased and excited to have him back in the ranks of the sekitori. Here's hoping he can keep it up. I doubt we'll ever see him fulfill that potential he had at his peak, but I'd be content just to have him back in makuuchi. Asanoyama pulling double digits at komusubi. What can I say about this kid other than "holy crap?" If he wasn't on everyone's radar before, he is now. High expectations mean high pressure, but I think he's up to the challenge. Takakeisho will likely finish double digits as well. And good for him. M10 is too low a rank for Shodai. Mitakeumi...oh, Mitakeumi. Wtf.

I don't remember if he did, but he would. He was just like that. Slapping Hakuho would a good way to ensure you get "the treatment." I think most rikishi would sooner not.

That is feasible. I certainly hope his eye isn't that bad, but it might be. You weren't talking to me, but I agree about Chiyomaru. Sadanoumi got rag-dolled, there is no world in which he can be given the win for that match.

I understand Ryuden is at seven losses, and that he correctly surmised his best chance to beat Takakeisho was to henka. Still lame, though. Terutsuyoshi and Ishiura have shown some really excellent sumo this basho. You've gotta hand it to 'em. But who would have thought Asanoyama would lose a grappling match with Mitakeumi? Moreover, why does Mitakeumi keep resorting to it?

The fact almost no one does strongly suggests it is not the advantage people are making it out to be. But I've already been over this and have no desire to retread that tired ground.

Peak Terunofuji was a serious threat to Hakuho (along with the rest of makuuchi). But while I hold out hold out hope of seeing him return to the top division someday, he is not that same monster he once was.

Some good stuff today, but still no real yusho race unless someone can hand Hakuho a loss, which is looking ever more remote by the day. Still within the realm of possibility, however. I thought it was a little strange to see Hakuho rely so heavily on brawn to secure that victory. While it's always been obvious that he's enormously strong, his technique is so good that you usually don't notice or think about it? Or something. I don't know. Just seemed a little odd to me. I did get a kick out of Okinoumi playing mind games with Abi. I reckon it did dawn on Abi what was about to happen, but too late to do anything about it. So it goes. Mitakeumi.

I believe I saw a thin trickle of blood from Takakeisho's eye.

Terutsuyoshi was so fired up he even took the envelopes with authority. lol. That was really funny. Good win, though. Really nice moves from Ishiura, too! Asanoyama's future is looking bright, provided he keeps his body from getting wrecked. You saw him today, calm, cool, in total control of the bout. I'm not gonna say it, because I don't wanna jinx him, but he looks like... Abi is so spindly he doesn't look all that strong, but I guess he must be to do Hokutofuji like that. Had a bit of a rough patch at the end of last year, but he seems to be well and thoroughly over it now.

If Kotoshogiku were in better condition, Enho wouldn't have taken that bout. Alas, you get who you get, and he did a fine job using his speed advantage to run rings around Kotoshogiku and get the win. Loved the Shohozan bout, and that glorious finish. Picture perfect. The fire Shohozan brings is why I support him. Glad to see Mitakeumi rounding out his game with grappling. It's not translating into ozeki promotion (grumble, grumble) but it never hurts to have a plan B. Takakeisho v. Hokutofuji: again, not clean, not pretty, but lots of movement and entertaining as all hell. Thumbs up. Extra points for Hokutofuji's spring-loaded catapult jump at the end. Hey, if you're gonna go out, might as well go for distance.

Almost forgot to mention how cool it was to see Ishiura pull a Mainoumi move like that. Both small guys, but Ishiura isn't the same caliber of tactician that Mainoumi was, so it's nice to see him try something new in there.

Yutakayama v. Enho was a lot of "What the hell is that?" I expect they'll both get a good chewing out. In the ten years or so I've been watching sumo, I've never seen anything quite like it. Strange match for a strange basho. Endo vs. Hokutofuji. Well now, here's a match. Hokutofuji all over the place with his feet, but definitely did not want to stop out. He must have calves of steel. Not the cleanest bout, but entertaining nonetheless. Tamawashi stepped out quite a ways before they stopped wrestling there. It occurs to me that all the rikishi who could consistently play spoiler for Hakuho in the past are no longer around to do so. It's his to lose.