30th National Middle School Student Championships (2019-07-28)

[mikawa]

Normally this tournament takes place inside the Kokugikan Stadium, but due to renovation works in preparation for next year's Tokyo Olympics, they have moved this event to Yasukuni Shrine. The date has also been moved forward by a week.

Best Team on Paper?

Team Tottori were definitely the strongest going into last year's tournament, even though 2 of their 3 members were still in their sophomore year. One year on, with "the Mountain of Aomori" Narita Rikido and "the Viper from Mongolian" Sosorufu leading the charge, Tottori have a great chance of defending their title.

However, they are not the favourites.

Team Shizuoka are.

Shizuoka will likely have on their team a national semi-finalist in Mochizuki Masaya, a national finalist in Sugahara Haruka (that cheeky sumo kid), and multiple national champion Uchida Kyota.

Furthermore, Narita Rikido vs Uchida Kyota has been a superb rivalry to watch, they are the Naruto & Sasuke of amateur sumo. You can read about their story here:

Rivalries in Amateur Sumo #3 - Narita Rikido & Uchida Kyota

This will be our first chance in three years to see those two square off against each other again. Three years since that EPIC final, where matta was called THREE times. But it was well worth the wait, as they served up an absolute classic. Three years on, will they get a chance to lock horns once again? All eyes on Sunday!

 

Edited July 24, 2019 by mikawa

[Kintamayama]

Talk about soccer moms..

[Yamanashi]

Sorry for the dumb question, but ... do they allow henkas at this level?

 

[mikawa]

5 hours ago, Yamanashi said:

Sorry for the dumb question, but ... do they allow henkas at this level?

Henkas are allowed at all levels of amateur sumo, but prior to middle school, face slaps and throat grabs etc are not allowed.

[mikawa]

In a similar vein to Inter-High, neither Shizuoka nor Tottori managed to win the team event, as both teams fell in the semi-finals. Ishikawa beat Kumamoto in the final.

Sosorufu, the Mongolian Viper, won the individual event, as Narita “the Mountain” Rikido finished third. Uchida Kyota had a poor day by his standards (not enough power maybe?)

Here are Sugahara and Team Shizuoka’s matches from the tournament, uploaded by Sugahara Haruka’s father:

 

Edited July 29, 2019 by mikawa

[mikawa]

I think this is the first time that a Mongolian rikishi has won this tournament?

[Akinomaki]

Another 3rd - in the below 75kg light weight category: the individuals also have weight categories at this national prefectures middle school student championships: Ryugo Mitsugami (???) 満上颯悟 (179cm, 65kg), 3rd year from Takeo city for Saga. 47 were in the prelims, 1 of each prefecture. Mitsugami  won 3 in a row and advanced to the final tournament of the best 8.

Next goal is success at the national middle school championships, both with the team and in the individuals. http://www.saga-s.co.jp/articles/-/409346

[Katooshu]

When is the middle school yokozuna crowning tournament?