Daily Review
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Kyushu 2025: NAKABI
Short again… yet another prior commitment! MATCH OF THE DAY: Asakoryu and Tokihayate pranced around the dohyo together for quite some time. They’re both pretty small and low-ranked, so it could have been a survival match-up–but both are doing very well. Tokihayate wasn’t baited by Asakoryu’s attacks and dragged him to the tawara. They grappled…
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Kyushu 2025: Day Seven
Short one today… prior commitment. Sorry! MATCH OF THE DAY: Asanoyama and Tokihayate went early on but ultimately won the award for the best match. Asanoyama is an injured ex-Ozeki once exiled for some COVID scandals, and is now fighting his way back up after right knee trouble. He’s in Juryo and looking to come…
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Kyushu 2025: Day Six
MATCH OF THE DAY: I don’t usually make this about sanyaku, but I’m making it about our sanyaku henka-er today… Wakamotoharu! I’m concerned for Arashio-beya. I’m a supporter of both Onami brothers and have always been more of a Wakamotoharu fan, and clearly, I was a little upset with Wakatakakage yesterday. But today was just…
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Kyushu 2025: Day Five
MATCH OF THE DAY: Churanoumi and Midorifuji took to the clay for an incredibly long bout today, where Midorifuji eventually emerged the victor. As the president of the “Chu-Chu” fan club, I was not happy with this arrangement, but the Chu-Chu train ran out of steam faster than the little Green Monster. There’s a lot…
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Kyushu 2025: Day Four
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…
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Kyushu 2025: Day Three
Critically, due to Meisei’s kyujo, Ura took up the spot of dewsweeper in Hoshoryu’s dohyo-iri today. He did a wonderful job alongside Hiradoumi in his second tournament dohyo-iri for the Yokozuna. I respect Meisei greatly, but some things are for a greater good… MATCH OF THE DAY: Ichiyamamoto, for some reason, decided to randomly jump…
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Kyushu 2025: Day Two
MATCH OF THE DAY: Ichiyamamoto and Midorifuji were both well out of their comfort zones, with Ichiyamamoto adjusting his tsuppari into a belt-forward approach that ended in what was almost a hatakikomi slap down. However, Ichi reached up and over and ended up tossing the smaller Midorifuji down by the belt. Well played, well played.…
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Kyushu 2025: SHONICHI
And we are back! The only kyujo absence from the top division is Meisei, who had surgery on a herniated disc in his back October 17. The JSA says he’ll be back next basho, and he will fall into Juryo from the rank of Maegashira 18. Best of wishes to him. MATCH OF THE DAY:…
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Aki 2025: Day Ten
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…
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Aki 2025: Day Nine
MATCH OF THE DAY: Ryuden and Tokihayate had a really long match, which Ryuden is a fan of but Tokihayate doesn’t generally like. Tokihayate did his best to keep the fight going, but Ryuden wasn’t having it. Tokihayate eventually just seemed tired and gave in a little before he stepped beyond the tawara. Yorikiri for…
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Aki 2025: NAKABI
MATCH OF THE DAY: It could go to no other than Takayasu and his defeat of Kotozakura in a brilliantly executed shitatenage. Kotozakura came out fast and strong, looking more like his old self than ever before, but Takayasu got the belt and tossed him to the ground. His wins were few in the first…
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Aki 2025: Day Seven
MATCH OF THE DAY: Shodai and Midorifuji get this award for their relatively long bout. Shodai charged and Midorifuji danced around but eventually twirled himself into Shodai and onto the floor. Shodai has looked to be in magnificent form this basho and I’m so happy to see him doing so well, former ozeki status be…
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Aki 2025: Day Six
MATCH OF THE DAY: Mitakeumi and Daieisho! The old sad reddish-pinkish men unite. It was a pretty straightforward oshitaoshi win for Mitakeumi after a long, long snugglefest. It seemed Daieisho was exhausted at the end and was toppled over by Mitakeumi. Not great to see, but at least one of them could win. KIMARITE OF…
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Aki 2025: Day Five
MATCH OF THE DAY: It could be no other than Kirishima and Aonishiki, which was just so well done from Aonishiki. Aonishiki spun him around, Kirishima lost the grip, and Aonishiki forced him out from behind in an okuridashi. I’m sure Kirishima isn’t thrilled to be second to Hoshoryu, but there’s no shame in losing…
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Aki 2025: Day Four
MATCH OF THE DAY: Hiradoumi and Atamifuji win the match of the day competition, though there were plentiful candidates today. Atamifuji, I must say–though he lost the bout–has had the most wonderful series of losses I’ve ever seen. Every single one has been well fought and not given away lightly. I hope he can turn…