There’s no fresh news about Mita, though some photos were released, including this one. His oyakata clarified that he had shaved his head after seeing how “depressed” Mita was after his injury. No other sekitori are kyujo as of yet, except Meisei, who (as we knew prior to the basho) is extremely unlikely to be returning.
In this photo, I would like to note, Hitoshi looks incredibly guilt-stricken for someone who didn’t actually do anything wrong. It’s going to be okay, Hitoshi. Really.
MATCH OF THE DAY: Wakamotoharu and Takayasu had a long bout today where each of the rikishi seized the belt of the other, probably aiming for a throw, but both lost their grip. Takayasu, in the end, lost his hold on Waka while he cemented his. Wakamotoharu went for the throw down but Takayasu held strong then shoved Waka’s hands from his belt and pushed him out of the ring. A simple oshidashi to end the bout.
KIMARITE OF THE DAY: Tamawashi’s bout against Hiradoumi was wonderful today. Hiradoumi is a lot younger and smaller, and charged at Tamawashi with all the fire in his heart. However, Tamawashi grabbed him by the head and twisted him to the clay with a kubihineri, a head-twisting throw. Wow! And keep in mind that Tamawashi will turn 41 in a mere four days, the oldest rikishi in the top division. Wow 2.0!
PINK MAWASHI DAY FOUR: Ura took on his first sanyaku member today, Oho–and won! There was a surprisingly intense tsuppari battle, and Ura, also surprisingly, ended up the winner after dodging one of Oho’s charges. Ura knows our motto: We’ll always take the oshidashi! He’s 2-2 and takes on Ozeki Kotozakura tomorrow… oh boy.
OVERALL SUMMARY: Our sole Maegashira leader is now Fujinokawa, after Shonannoumi ended Asakoryu’s win streak. Asakoryu joins Kotoshoho, Yoshinofuji, Nishikifuji, Atamifuji, Tokihayate, Ryuden, Churanoumi, Tamawashi, Takayasu, and Hoshoryu as the 3-1 team. So, obviously, a lot of rikishi, including three younger threats from Isegahama beya–the guys whose names end with -fuji, basically. Wakatakakage, Takanosho, and Tomokaze are the early leaders in the Disaster Basho competition at 0-4. And Onosato and Aonishiki, of course, remain strong at the top of the banzuke. They look hard to beat.
Today’s fun fact is about ex-Kusano’s shikona change to Yoshinofuji: most likely out of a desire to fit in a little better with Isegahama-beya, he took the traditional -fuji ending to the name that most Isegahama-beya rikishi share. Kusano was recruited by Hakuho, much like Ochiai/Hakuoho before him, and joined Hakuho’s Miyagino-beya before Hakuho left the JSA. Hakuoho, then-Kusano, and their stablemates were relocated to Isegahama-beya for training, where they look like they’ll spend the rest of their careers. His oyakata, ex-Terunofuji, stated that the new shikona ((義理人情) is about “duty and human feeling.” I wonder, personally, if Kusano was at all bothered by the name Asahifuji being granted to young Ochirsaikhan instead of him, but he no doubt understands that he is, oddly, newer to the stable than Ochirsaikhan.