2020 Hatsu Basho.

[Trick-or-Treat Stevens]

I don't think anybody would have predicted Tokushoryu being in the lead at this stage. But they're bound to bring him against Takakeisho or another of the top-rankers in the next couple of days.

Swami

Agreed! I thought at some point some upper level riksihi would defeat him but so far he's been consistent.

Having said that I'm eager to see Shodai vs Tokushoryu on Saturday.

I'm still hoping Shodai pulls it off but my brain says Takakeisho will win the yusho race.

Looks as if Ichinojo is still floundering in juryo, 5-8.

 

[Swami]

Agreed! I thought at some point some upper level riksihi would defeat him but so far he's been consistent.

Having said that I'm eager to see Shodai vs Tokushoryu on Saturday.

I'm still hoping Shodai pulls it off but my brain says Takakeisho will win the yusho race.

Looks as if Ichinojo is still floundering in juryo, 5-8.

Yes, I think Ichinojo's career is probably as good as over. Terunofuji on the other hand may well return to Makunouchi in March depending how other promotions/demotions go.

Swami

 

[Swami]

Hatsu Day 14: Unfancied Tokushoryu 1 win from title after beating Shodai
Details
Written by Kyodo
Published: 25 January 2020
Hits: 32

Occupying the lowest rung of sumo’s top division, the No. 17 maegashira took the outright lead at Ryogoku Kokugikan as he outmaneuvered No. 4-ranked Shodai and improved to 13-1 on the penultimate day.

The 15-day meet became a two-way race between the pair of rank-and-file grapplers after ozeki Takakeisho (11-3) lost to sekiwake Asanoyama (9-5). The 33-year-old Tokushoryu continued defying predictions by using a right outside grip to thrust down Shodai (12-2), winner of their only previous meeting.

After the pair locked up in the middle of the ring, Shodai took the offensive and drove Tokushoryu backward. But the lower-ranked wrestler kept his cool and was able to pull Shodai off balance and down to the clay, all while backpedaling toward the straw.

Should Tokushoryu maintain his lead through the final day, the 188-kg pusher-thruster will become the first bottom-ranked wrestler to raise the Emperor’s Cup since Takatoriki in March 2000.

With Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako watching, Summer Grand Tournament winner Asanoyama ended Takakeisho’s title hopes in a back-and-forth battle.

Takakeisho knocked Asanoyama off balance with a powerful opening blast, but the sekiwake rallied back to the middle after resisting an attempted thrust-out. As the two young stars jockeyed for position, Asanoyama used his left arm to pin Takakeisho’s right before toppling him with an overarm throw.

The disappointments continued to mount for ozeki Goeido (5-9), who was quickly driven from the ring by No. 7 Shohozan (7-7). The maegashira used his footspeed to ambush Goeido — whose demotion from the second-highest rank is already assured — and quickly secure the win with a frontal crush out.

Sekiwake Takayasu (5-9) defeated No. 6 Tochinoshin (5-9) by overarm throw in a battle of injury-hampered former ozeki. The Tagonoura stable wrestler took just 1.4 seconds to send the burly Georgian to the clay.

Komusubi Daieisho improved to 6-8 with a win against crowd-pleasing No. 5 Enho (8-6). The 99-kg maegashira, who has claimed a string of thrilling wins over much-bigger opponents, tried to evade Daieisho at the perimeter of the ring, but was not nimble enough to avoid a thrust out.

The other komusubi, Abi, continued his underwhelming run, dropping to 5-9 with a loss to No. 6 Takarafuji (6-8). The Saitama native opened with his trademark thrusting attack but was unable to dislodge Takarafuji, who yanked him over the straw by his arm.

No. 7 Onosho (8-6) clinched a winning record by pushing out No. 1 Myogiryu (4-10), while former sekiwake, No. 2 Mitakeumi (7-7), needs victory on the final day to secure a winning record after being forced out by No. 8 Ryuden (10-4).

Swami

 

[Trick-or-Treat Stevens]

It will be an interesting day. What an upset if Tokushoryu can pull it off. Has a No. 17 maegashira ever won a yusho? Shodai still has a chance though.

 

[Swami]

Hatsu Day 15: Tokushoryu defies odds to claim maiden title at New Year meet
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Written by Kyodo
Published: 26 January 2020
Hits: 37

Rank-and-filer Tokushoryu overcame all odds at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament and beat ozeki Takakeisho in the final bout on Sunday to win his first top-division championship.

The 33-year-old Nara native delivered the performance of his career at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan to cap off a streak of 13 straight wins and finish with a 14-1 record over 15 days of improbable sumo. The No. 17 maegashira became the first bottom-ranked wrestler to win a top-division title since Takatoriki in March 2000 and delivered the first makuuchi championship for his Kise stable.

Needing a win to avoid a playoff with his closest pursuer, No. 4 Shodai, Tokushoryu faced an uphill battle against Takakeisho (11-4). He muscled the ozeki back after securing a right-handed belt hold, but was nearly swung out when Takakeisho rallied at the straw. After regaining his balance, Tokushoryu stepped on the gas and drove Takakeisho to the other side of the ring, forcing him to step out as both wrestlers tumbled down.

Tokushoryu, who spent 12 of the last 13 grand tournaments in the second-tier juryo division, is the first Nara-born wrestler to lift the Emperor's Cup in nearly 100 years. He also won an Outstanding Performance Prize for his efforts, one of two special prizes earned here, and the first two of his 12-year career.

Earlier, No. 4 Shodai (13-2) kept his title hopes alive by steamrolling No. 2 Mitakeumi (7-8). Shodai instantly drove the former sekiwake back to the edge, and delivered a final shove as Mitakeumi teetered on the straw.

Both Tokushoryu and Shodai earned Fighting Spirit Prizes for their domination as co-leaders during the second half of the tournament.

The other stars of the year's first meet had mixed fates.

No. 1 Endo easily dispatched No. 7 Shohozan (7-8) and ended the meet at 9-6. The popular top-ranked maegashira, who beat both yokozuna before they pulled out with injuries, won his first Outstanding Performance Prize.

No. 2 Hokutofuji (11-4) looked on the verge of claiming his 12th win, but was pushed out at the last moment by No. 9 Yutakayama (11-4). Hokutofuji won his second Technique Prize for his impressive pusher-thruster style of sumo that helped him beat both ozeki and grand champion Kakuryu in the early days of the meet.

Asanoyama clinched a 10th win in his sekiwake debut after driving No. 8 Ryuden (10-5) to the edge and flattening him on the dohyo.

Among the struggling elite, soon-to-be demoted ozeki Goeido (5-10) was thrown down by No. 7 Onosho (9-6), while sekiwake Takayasu (6-9) outmaneuvered No. 8 Aoiyama (4-11).

New komusubi Daieisho beat his colleague Abi (5-10) to salvage a 7-8 record in his first appearance in the "sanyaku" ranks, the three below yokozuna.

In the lower ranks, makuuchi debutant Kiribayama finished with an 11-4 record to earn a Fighting Spirit Prize.

No. 5 Enho (8-7) had been in the running for a Technique Prize but fell short in getting a conditional ninth win when he was pushed out by No. 11 Kagayaki (10-5).

No. 4 Okinoumi, No. 15 Ikioi and No. 16 Kaisei all collected winning 8-7 records on the final day.

Swami

 

[Swami]

Rumours now circulating to the effect that Goeido may announce his retirement by Tuesday, Toyonoshima looks likely to quit as well.

The changing of the guard is well under way, and the chance are both Yokozuna will retire sooner rather than later.

Swami

 

[Trick-or-Treat Stevens]

BIG congratulations to Tokushoryu! He deserves the Emperor's Cup. I didn't think he'd pull it off due to his rank but it shows what I know. I did like the emotions after beating Takakeisho. Just looking at his career record and being in juryo for the past few years and winning the yusho is really amazing. I see he's never been higher in rank than a Maegashira 4. Would he start March's basho as a Maegashira rank?

Rumours now circulating to the effect that Goeido may announce his retirement by Tuesday, Toyonoshima looks likely to quit as well.

The changing of the guard is well under way, and the chance are both Yokozuna will retire sooner rather than later.

Swami

That would be something. Goeido, having been an ozeki since 2014 he must know what a challenge it would be to regain the ozeki rank again at age 33.

 

[Swami]

Yes, I suspect Tokushoryu will get promoted to high maegashira but the chances are he will not fare well in March, very few maegashira yusho winners, especially those who have never featured in sanyaku before, do well in the next tournament.

Swami

 

[Trick-or-Treat Stevens]

Yes, I suspect Tokushoryu will get promoted to high maegashira but the chances are he will not fare well in March, very few maegashira yusho winners, especially those who have never featured in sanyaku before, do well in the next tournament.

Swami

Tokushoryu's win seems like an anomaly especially from a 33-year old rikishi with his recent record. It certainly made this basho interesting and entertaining.

Do you think Kotoshogiku's 7-8 record at Maegashira #13 will keep him from dropping to juryo in March?

I just read that Goeido has indeed retired. https://english.kyodonews.net/news/...injury-plagued-goeido-to-retire-as-ozeki.html

 

[Swami]

Injury-plagued Goeido to retire as ozeki
Details
Written by Kyodo
Published: 27 January 2020
Hits: 41

Injury-plagued ozeki Goeido, who was poised to forfeit his elite ranking after finishing the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament with a 5-10 record, has decided to retire, a Japan Sumo Association spokesman revealed Monday.

The 33-year-old wrestler, who won one grand tournament championship, was facing demotion to sekiwake after two straight tourneys without a winning record. Goeido was promoted to ozeki ahead of the September 2014 grand tournament. He fought in 33 tournaments at sumo's second highest rank, the 10th most in the sport's history.

Prior to that promotion, he fought in 14 consecutive tournaments as a sekiwake, the longest streak since the start of the Showa era in 1926.

Sumo elder Shibatayama, the JSA's director of communications, said, "I was told by (stablemaster) Sakaigawa of his intention to retire. An official announcement will come after the process is complete."

Goeido withdrew hurt from November's Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament, making him a "kadoban" ozeki in January who would forfeit his ozeki rank if he failed to notch eight wins. But he entered the New Year tourney nursing an ankle injury.

He becomes the first wrestler to retire as an ozeki since Kaio called it quits following the July 2011 Nagoya tourney.

Goeido won 11 special prizes over the course of a pro career in which he won 696 bouts and lost 493.

A year ago, Goeido, who had prided himself on portraying an image of strength, spoke about his uncertain future.

"When I consider may age, I am not going to be able to keep going for a lot longer," he said. "Going forward, my focus is not on one tournament at a time, but just getting through the challenge of each day."

His retirement will leave 23-year-old Takakeisho as the lone ozeki in March, the first time this has happened since January 1982.

Since Tochinoshin was demoted after the July tourney, Goeido's downfall marked a record fourth straight tournament in which a relegation-threatened ozeki failed to win eight bouts, following Takakeisho in September and Takayasu in November.

Swami

 

[Swami]

Juryo promotions and retirees after Hatsu Basho
Details
Written by Tachiai.org & Sumoforum.net
Published: 29 January 2020
Hits: 8

New sekitori Midorifuji

As expected, the NIhon Sumo Kyokai has announced that Wakamotoharu, Midorifuji, Chiyonoumi, Akiseyama and Hakuyozan will be promoted to the Juryo Division for the upcoming Haru Basho. This represents a return to sekitori status for all but Midorifuji, who will be making his Juryo debut.

The Juryo promotions are:

Midorifuji - Ms2e 5-2, Isegahama-beya, Shizuoka, 23 years old
Wakamotoharu - Ms1w 6-1, Arashio-beya, Fukushima, 26 years old, 3rd promotion, back after 1 basho
Chiyonoumi - Ms3w 5-2, Kokonoe-beya, Kochi, 27 years old, 2nd promotion, back after 2 basho
Akiseyama - Ms4e 4-3, Kise-beya, Aichi, 34 years old, 7th promotion (tied 3rd-most all-time), back after 1 basho, former maegashira
Hakuyozan - Ms4w 6-1, Takadagawa-beya, Yamagata, 24 years old, 3rd promotion, back after 4 basho

Happy days for Kindai University with former sumo club member Midorifuji adding to Tokushoryu's glory. Also the first new sekitori for Shizuoka prefecture since Tochihiryu exactly 7 years ago.

Also, the rikishi who called it quit after the New Year's Basho are:

Hamaeiko (Onoe)
Narumi (Onomatsu)
Takatenshu (Chiganoura)
Kotofukujuno (Sadogatake)
Kaishu (Musashigawa) - link
Rendaiyama (Kise)
Fujihisashi (Azumazeki)
Wakakoki (Shikoroyama)
Hokutoyu (Hakkaku)

Swami

 

[Swami]

Goeido secure in decision to retire
Details
Written by Kyodo
Published: 29 January 2020
Hits: 25

Retiring sumo wrestler Goeido said there were no questions about his choice to hang up his mawashi, because he had failed in a do-or-die promise to himself.

He said he made the decision the day he suffered his eighth loss at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament, when his demotion to the third-highest sekiwake rank was assured.

“I feel like I’ve gone the distance. I’m good with myself,” said Goeido, who drew the curtain on a 15-year career in which he won one Emperor’s Cup. “A few years back, I promised myself I’d retire when I fell from ozeki rank. So there was no doubt in my mind. I may be selfish in this decision but I’m retiring,” he said.

Goeido is the first wrestler to retire as an ozeki since Kaio in July 2011. The Japan Sumo Association announced his retirement on Tuesday, and said he would become a toshiyori elder at the Sakaigawa stable.

Two losing tournaments meant Goeido, who now goes by his newly assumed toshiyori name Takekuma, would be demoted for the next one.

He needed at least eight wins at the New Year meet to retain his ozeki rank, and opted not to try to regain that status at the next grand tournament, in his hometown of Osaka, in March.

The 33-year-old rikishi, whose real name is Gotaro Sawai, will continue to be involved in the sport through a support role. He will be running and coaching junior wrestlers in the Sakaigawa stable.

A retired wrestler who wishes to stay a member in the JSA is required to purchase toshiyori-kabu, or elder stock.

Appropriately, Goeido’s retirement press conference was held at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan, where his last bout as an active wrestler — and ninth tournament as a demotion-threatened kadoban ozeki — took place Sunday.

Goeido fought in 33 tournaments at sumo’s second-highest rank, the 10th most in the sport’s history.

“He never whines. He’s got more guts than any man I know,” his stablemaster Sakaigawa said.

Goeido’s retirement ceremony is scheduled for January next year, after the New Year tournament. His career record includes 696 wins, 493 losses and 11 special prizes.

Swami