Day 10 results and day 11 pairings

[Doitsuyama]

Asashoryu won against Iwakiyama and will face the last Maegashira tomorrow in an interesting bout with Kotooshu. Chiyotaikai and Kyokushuzan still are only one win behind with Tochiazuma and Kotomitsuki following with a kachi-koshi win today. Takekaze and Hokutoriki lost and are out of the yusho race if there is such a thing with Asashoryu in the sole lead.

Kotooshu was the sole winner in the 6-3 group, with an isamiashi (inadvertent step out) from Dejima and Kotooshu emerges as the favorite for the likely free Sanyaku position of Tosanoumi who lost and is 3-7. Tokitenku likes to work with the legs of his opponents and today was no exception as he won with ashitori against Ama.

Tochinohana continues to pull away in Juryo at 9-1 with another win, with now only Tochisakae being one win behind. Hakurozan was the sole winner in the next group, so the number of Juryo yusho contenders shrinks by the day as Harunoyama and Daimanazuru are out now with a loss and 6-4. Tochinohana (9-1), Tochisakae (8-2), Hakurozan (7-3) and Daishodai (7-3) are the only real candidates left. Tomorrow one of Tochisakae and Hakurozan will lose as they fight each other. Oh, and the two leaders are from the same Kasugano stable, so they can meet only in a yusho playoff. On another note, Gojoro returned to the basho, but lost to Senshuyama.

--

Doitsuyama

Day 10

Juryo

Ms2e   Chiyohakuho (4-2)   oshidashi      J14e   Dewanosato (2-8)
J11e   Kanbayashi (5-5)    okuridashi     J12w   Harunoyama (6-4)
J11w   Chiyotenzan (6-4)   tsukiotoshi    J13w   Kotokasuga (5-5)
J9e    Kobo (5-5)          hatakikomi     J14w   Maikaze (3-7)
J7w    Wakanoyama (6-4)    yorikiri       J13e   Daimanazuru (6-4)
J10e   Yotsukasa (4-6)     oshidashi      J5w    Kitazakura (4-6)
J4e    Senshuyama (6-4)    yorikiri       J10w   Gojoro (3-6-1)
J8w    Tochinohana (9-1)   okuritaoshi    J4w    Otsukasa (5-5)
J3e    Takanotsuru (2-8)   hatakikomi     J12e   Sumanofuji (4-6)
J3w    Hakurozan (7-3)     yorikiri       J9w    Kinkaiyama (5-5)
J2e    Tochisakae (8-2)    oshitaoshi     J5e    Kasugao (4-6)
J2w    Tamaasuka (6-4)     yorikiri       J6e    Daishodai (7-3)
J7e    Kasuganishiki (6-4) oshidashi      J1e    Wakatoba (2-8)
J6w    Asofuji (3-7)       okuridashi     J1w    Ishide (3-7)

Makuuchi

M12e   Buyuzan (5-5)       kotenage       M17e   Shimotori (4-6)
M11e   Aminishiki (6-4)    okuridashi     M17w   Toki (5-5)
M11w   Kisenosato (5-5)    oshidashi      M16w   Katayama (6-4)
M10e   Futeno (6-4)        tsukiotoshi    M16e   Tamakasuga (6-4)
M13w   Toyonoshima (4-6)   okuritaoshi    M10w   Toyozakura (2-8)
M15w   Tokitenku (6-4)     ashitori       M9e    Ama (6-4)
M9w    Kyokushuzan (9-1)   oshidashi      M15e   Takekaze (7-3)
M8e    Kotonowaka (4-6)    uwatenage      M12w   Tokitsuumi (3-7)
M8w    Asasekiryu (5-5)    yorikiri       M13e   Takanowaka (2-8)
M14e   Kotoshogiku (5-5)   yorikiri       M7e    Takamisakari (3-7)

M5e    Kotooshu (7-3)      isamiashi      M6e    Dejima (5-5)
M5w    Kakizoe (5-5)       oshidashi      M6w    Hokutoriki (7-3)
M7w    Jumonji (4-6)       yorikiri       M3w    Kyokutenho (4-6)
M3e    Miyabiyama (4-6)    oshidashi      M2w    Tochinonada (2-8)
K1e    Kotomitsuki (8-2)   yoritaoshi     M1w    Roho (3-7)
M2e    Kokkai (4-6)        oshidashi      K1w    Wakanosato (4-6)
S1e    Hakuho (6-4)        uwatenage      M1e    Tamanoshima (3-7)
O1w    Tochiazuma (8-2)    hatakikomi     S1w    Tosanoumi (3-7)
O2w    Chiyotaikai (9-1)   tsukitaoshi    M4e    Kaiho (2-8)
Y1e    Asashoryu (10-0)    yorikiri       M4w    Iwakiyama (2-8)

Day 11

Makushita

Ms5w   Hamanishiki (2-3)                  Ms4w   Asahimaru (2-3)
Ms4e   Ushiomaru (5-0)                    Ms9w   Raiko (5-0)
Ms3e   Onishi (3-2)                       Ms12w  Kakuryu (3-2)
Ms8e   Dairaido (4-1)                     Ms2w   Kyokunankai (4-1)
Ms1e   Kaido (3-2)                        Ms6w   Shiraishi (3-2)

Juryo

J12e   Sumanofuji (4-6)                   Ms1w   Masatsukasa (2-3)
J14e   Dewanosato (2-8)                   J11w   Chiyotenzan (6-4)
J14w   Maikaze (3-7)                      J10w   Gojoro (3-6-1)
J10e   Yotsukasa (4-6)                    J13e   Daimanazuru (6-4)
J11e   Kanbayashi (5-5)                   J9w    Kinkaiyama (5-5)
J13w   Kotokasuga (5-5)                   J7w    Wakanoyama (6-4)
J6e    Daishodai (7-3)                    J12w   Harunoyama (6-4)
J5e    Kasugao (4-6)                      J4w    Otsukasa (5-5)
J4e    Senshuyama (6-4)                   J5w    Kitazakura (4-6)
J3e    Takanotsuru (2-8)                  J9e    Kobo (5-5)
J8w    Tochinohana (9-1)                  J2w    Tamaasuka (6-4)
J2e    Tochisakae (8-2)                   J3w    Hakurozan (7-3)
J7e    Kasuganishiki (6-4)                J1w    Ishide (3-7)
J1e    Wakatoba (2-8)                     J6w    Asofuji (3-7)

Makuuchi

M16w   Katayama (6-4)                     M15w   Tokitenku (6-4)
M13e   Takanowaka (2-8)                   M17w   Toki (5-5)
M16e   Tamakasuga (6-4)                   M12w   Tokitsuumi (3-7)
M12e   Buyuzan (5-5)                      M11w   Kisenosato (5-5)
M11e   Aminishiki (6-4)                   M14e   Kotoshogiku (5-5)
M17e   Shimotori (4-6)                    M10w   Toyozakura (2-8)
M10e   Futeno (6-4)                       M13w   Toyonoshima (4-6)
M9e    Ama (6-4)                          M15e   Takekaze (7-3)
M9w    Kyokushuzan (9-1)                  M6w    Hokutoriki (7-3)
M6e    Dejima (5-5)                       M8e    Kotonowaka (4-6)

M8w    Asasekiryu (5-5)                   M5w    Kakizoe (5-5)
M4e    Kaiho (2-8)                        M7w    Jumonji (4-6)
M3e    Miyabiyama (4-6)                   M7e    Takamisakari (3-7)
M2e    Kokkai (4-6)                       M1w    Roho (3-7)
M1e    Tamanoshima (3-7)                  K1w    Wakanosato (4-6)
K1e    Kotomitsuki (8-2)                  M2w    Tochinonada (2-8)
S1e    Hakuho (6-4)                       M3w    Kyokutenho (4-6)
S1w    Tosanoumi (3-7)                    O2w    Chiyotaikai (9-1)
M4w    Iwakiyama (2-8)                    O1w    Tochiazuma (8-2)
Y1e    Asashoryu (10-0)                   M5e    Kotooshu (7-3)

[Asashosakari]

Day 10, time to summarize the promotion/demotion situation a bit. :-D

Makuuchi->Juryo:

Still a surprising number of rikishi in nominal danger of demotion, although many can save themselves with one or two wins in the upcoming five bouts. Of course, one spot is already available due to Hayateumi's sad injury.

Most threatened are probably Takanowaka (M13e, 2-8) and Shimotori (M17e, 4-6) who each need four more wins to stay in Makuuchi. Especially Takanowaka has looked very lackluster the this basho and may find it difficult to rally.

Three wins are what it'll likely take Toyozakura (M10w, 2-8), Tokitsuumi (M12w, 3-7) and Toki (M17w, 5-5) to secure their spot in the top division. Toki is probably the one who has looked the best out of these three, but this can easily go either way for him.

Just two more wins are in order for Toyonoshima (M13w, 4-6), Kotoshogiku (M14e, 5-5), Tamakasuga (M16e, 6-4), and Katayama (M16w, 6-4). Katayama and Kotoshogiku have looked quite good in recent days, and if that trend keeps up they should have no trouble making those two wins. Toyonoshima's performance has been somewhat erratic, and Tamakasuga better give another interview soon to announce that he's planning to end his losing streak and start another run of wins. Hard as it may be to conceive him getting demoted to Juryo after a 6-0 start, but stranger things have happened.

Lastly, nearly safe is Tokitenku (M15w, 6-4) who should need just one more win. Kisenosato (M11w, 5-5) and Buyuzan (M12e, 5-5) might be out of danger already but should probably win one more to make it certain, as a sudden dearth of demotees at the bottom could see them in danger even with 5-10.

Juryo->Makuuchi:

So far, nobody is completely assured of promotion to Makuuchi yet, and more than that, one only rikishi is even close, that being Tochisakae (J2e, 8-2) who can likely celebrate his return to the top division with one more win. Everybody else will have to gambarize (TM Moti):

Three more wins to be reasonably sure of promotion are needed for Tamaasuka (J2w, 6-4), Hakurozan (J3w, 7-3) and Tochinohana (J8w, 9-1). All three may slip in with only two more wins though, especially if none of those with an outside chance step up.

Two rikishi can get in with four wins, Senshuyama (J4e, 6-4), and Daishodai (J6e, 7-3). Again, one less win may even suffice, but historically 9-6 and 10-5 from their respective ranks have rarely led to promotion, so four wins it probably is.

A small chance left have Ishide (J1w, 3-7), Otsukasa (J4w, 5-5), Kasuganishiki (J7e, 6-4), and Wakanoyama (J7w, 6-4) who could make their Makuuchi returns with a run of 5 wins. Again, stranger things have certainly happened.

All in all though, it looks like this basho could see a smaller than usual number of rikishi changing divisions, and some demotion candidates in Makuuchi may get lucky.

Juryo->Makushita:

Still very many rikishi in danger here as well. Two spots have already been vacated, with Kotoryu's retirement and Dewanosato's early make-koshi (J14e, 2-8). Next in line to follow him is likely Maikaze (J14w, 3-7) who can only save his rank by winning the remainder of the basho.

Three more wins are likely needed for Gojoro (J10w, 3-6-1), Sumanofuji (J12e, 4-6), and Kotokasuga (J13w, 5-5). Having seen Gojoro's tentative steps on the dohyo today, I'm afraid that's a tall order for him...he might be better off just taking the losses and not endanger his knee again, so he can make a fully-healed return from upper Makushita next basho. Sumanofuji has been the man with two faces this basho, going from ragdoll to Juryo's strongest oshi rikishi and back. The last few days he has been in ragdoll mode so those three wins may be hard to come by. Kotokasuga finds himself in the same situation as Toki one division above, with an even record thru Day 10 and the imperative to get kachi-koshi. Let's hope he fares better than he did six months ago when he squandered a 7-3 record with 5 losses and found himself back in Makushita.

In less danger but by no means safe yet are Yotsukasa (J10e, 4-6), Kambayashi (J11e, 5-5), and Daimanazuru (J13e, 6-4), needing two more wins to be completely secure of their rank. Yotsukasa is Yotsukasa and will probably do what he has to do to remain in Juryo, as he always does. Kambayashi had a rocky start with 1-4 but has looked much better the last few days, so two wins shouldn't be difficult for him. Daimanazuru has taken the opposite course, starting out 5-1 only to drop 3 of his last 4 bouts. Still, two wins should be doable for him as well. Just one win might do it for Daimanazuru and Kambayashi, even, but that's not something for them to rely on.

Only one win away from another Juryo tournament are Asofuji (J6w, 3-7), Kobo (J9e, 5-5), Kinkaiyama (J9w, 5-5), Chiyotenzan (J11w, 6-4), and Harunoyama (J12w, 6-4). I'd be shocked if either of them doesn't make it, but then there's the warning example of Kotokasuga mentioned above.

Makushita->Juryo:

As usual, nothing is really decided here yet after 10 days, although Chiyohakuho (ms2e, 4-2), Kyokunankai (ms2w, 4-1) and Ushiomaru (ms4e, 5-0) are in excellent positions for promotion to Juryo. One more win can't hurt for either of them though, especially if Kaido (ms1e, 3-2) wins his two remaining bouts and dark horse Raiko (ms9w, 5-0) takes the yusho. Other than these five, reasonable candidates for promotion are Masatsukasa (ms1w, 2-3) who gets an exchange bout with Sumanofuji tomorrow, and Onishi (ms3e, 3-2). Outside chances in the event of many open spots (or multiple make-koshi among the above-mentioned) remain for Asahimaru (ms4w, 2-3) and Hamanishiki (ms5w, 2-3).

[Zuikakuyama]

Tochiazuma's henka was quite sad. (Sign of disapproval)

So was Kakizoe's. Both of them deservedly got disgusted looks from their opponents.

[kotooshu_bulgaria]

Just saw some of the movies on banzuke.com from today and must say that Kakizoe's henka was OK, for he didn't win by it. After all, Hokutoriki can't expect anyhing else but henka from his opponent after his jumping tachiai... ;-) Oh, and didn't the female commentator have anything better to say than "That was...strange" after the bout? :'-(

However, she did well to notice the shadow under Kotooshu's foot, as did the shinpan, who awarded him a close win. B-)

Otherwise, I really liked Tokitenku's handling Ama's leg, seems that this guy is finally going to succeed staying in Makuuchi in his third attempt. (Applauding...)

[Araiwa]

Tochiazuma's henka was quite sad. (Sign of disapproval)

So was Kakizoe's.  Both of them deservedly got disgusted looks from their opponents.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I just wonder why on earth did Azuma do it? Was it the fear of achieving the most important 8th win? Tosanoumis expression was really big sadness as it was the second henka against him after Kotomitsuki did it on day 4. Standing 7-2 as an ozeki Azuma really surprised me in the most negative way...Sometimes he is such a great rikishi to watch but today... *has no words* The commentator said: "This is not ozeki sumo..." For me it is not sumo at all.

Hokutoriki was so slow from recovering from Kakizoes henka that he deserved the loss. But both of these rikishi Tosanoumi and Hokutoriki rely on strong tachiais that almost the worst henka will be successfull against them.

Kotoshogiku reminds me strongly of an ozeki of the 70s. He wasn't a good ozeki and he now is a shimpan. His only sekitori now is in great shape. Know who I mean? :'-(

[AsaMoe]

I am very disappointed.

There could be NO excuse, except maybe injury.

Maybe i even hope, that he is injured.

[Yubiquitoyama]

Just saw some of the movies on banzuke.com from today and must say that Kakizoe's henka was OK, for he didn't win by it. After all, Hokutoriki can't expect anyhing else but henka from his opponent after his jumping tachiai... :'-(

I'm not going to try to defend Tochiazuma's henka (because it tends to get really ugly, and because I still haven't figured out why it has to be defended at all), but I must say I don't understand the reasoning that "henka is okay, if the rikishi doing it is so bad at it that he can't get the win immediately".

Edited May 17, 2005 by Yubiquitoyama

[Kintamayama]

Just saw some of the movies on banzuke.com from today and must say that Kakizoe's henka was OK, for he didn't win by it. After all, Hokutoriki can't expect anyhing else but henka from his opponent after his jumping tachiai... :'-(

I'm not going to try to defend Tochiazuma's henka (because it tends to get really ugly, and because I still haven't figured out why it has to be defended at all), but I must say I don't understand the reasoning that "henka is okay, if the rikishi doing it is so bad at it that he can't get the win immediately".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I usually detest these "I agree", "yes", " I couldn't have said it better" etc posts, but this time, I will take off my moderator cap and say "I AGREE!!! YES, YES, YES!!!".

[Guest Kyuzo]

Just saw some of the movies on banzuke.com from today and must say that Kakizoe's henka was OK, for he didn't win by it. After all, Hokutoriki can't expect anyhing else but henka from his opponent after his jumping tachiai... :'-(

I'm not going to try to defend Tochiazuma's henka (because it tends to get really ugly, and because I still haven't figured out why it has to be defended at all), but I must say I don't understand the reasoning that "henka is okay, if the rikishi doing it is so bad at it that he can't get the win immediately".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I couldn't agree more. It's one more bit of strategy that needs to be factored into one's game. I'll give twenty-to-one odds that Asashoryu steps up on the dohyo, every single time, knowing what he will do if his opponent tries to henka. Just like he knows what he will do if they try for yotsu, or if they come at him with strong tsuppari. It's all a part of the mind-game.

While I understand that this does not make for the most entertaining sumo in the world, it is still a valid method of the art.

--Kyuzo