MATCH OF THE DAY: Tobizaru and Nishikigi had a great match today. Nishikigi was trying his absolute hardest to pin Tobizaru and Tobizaru seemed less than pleased with the result. Nishikigi shoved Tobizaru over but there was a mono-ii to confirm. It appears that Nishikigi stepped out and lost. This is the first losing technique we’ve seen in a while: isamiashi, a step out. There are five and isamiashi is the most common. Still, that’s rough… poor Nishi.
KIMARITE OF THE DAY: Midorifuji and Ichiyamamoto had a small-man playoff. Ichi did his. best with the tsuppari but Midorifuji wasn’t having it and went for the belt, so they locked up for a little while. Midorifuji ended up taking Ichiyamamoto to the edge and threw him down, but both fell together. Surprisingly, there wasn’t a mono-ii. Midorifuji’s win was a shitatenage, a pretty typical underarm throw.
PINK MAWASHI DAY TEN: Back on track today! Roga managed to pull out of the kimarite of the day competition by fighting Ura today, and also managed to lose, something that Ura seemed slightly confused about at the end. A win’s a win, pink man! We will always take the oshidashi.
THE YUSHO REPORT: Shodai was taken down by Takanosho, knocking him back to the 2-loss group. (Damn it.) Tobizaru, Ura, and Kotozakura lead the chase of the three-win guys, right behind the two aforementioned as well as Aonishiki and Ryuden. Hoshoryu is still on his quest for a zensho-yusho, and Onosato chases him. It’s good to see the two young Yokozuna so steadily impressive. I yapped yesterday about how brilliant Hoshoryu looks and Onosato looks great, too, but WOW, Hoshoryu!
OVERALL SUMMARY: Daieisho had a good win today, and Abi got his first. Gonoyama did not, though I think the JSA was trying a little harder to be less hard on him. So close, too. What a terrible tournament. I thought Abi’s reaction to Tamawashi falling was sweet, as he seemed very concerned about the Iron Man and tried to help him up. Good to see.
Fun fact of the day is that Kotodaishin, Kotozakura’s tsukebito, has gained mild internet fame in the sumo circles for matching his shiko and pre-match rituals. And he has the best things to say about Kotozakura! Please check out the Sadogatake-beya YouTube channel because it’s the most absurdly wholesome thing in the world.
[Edit: They showed Kotodaishin on the Abema broadcast Day Eleven. It’s amazing.]