Tokyo Sumo Tournament - Day 2 (long!)

[A & V Antoce <antoce@main.biochem.osakafu-u.ac.jp>]

As promised, here are some notes I took while watching the second day.
Again, I didn't get to see all the matches, because some of them took place
before the beginning of the broadcast. According to the commentators, there
were almost 10,000 spectators in the Ryogoku Kokugikan. Among the
commentators we had Kitanoumi oyakata and a guest in the person of an
actress named Noriko Fujiwara (who didn't obstruct too much :-)). There were
money prizes which totaled JPY 30,000,000 (I transformed this in USD and I
got over $230,000! so now I wonder, is this realistic ? Maybe I got it wrong
in the first place). The winner also went home with a huge-wide-full option
TV set. 

And here they go:

(nikaisen - second round)

Wakanohana - Oginishiki (just a replay)
Oginishiki got his right (I think!) hand on the mawashi and his left arm
around the neck of the ozeki. But Wakanohana had both hands on Oginishiki's
mawashi, so he simply lifted up his opponent and transported him towards the
edge - or maybe even out - of the dohyo. Wakanohana won by (I think) tsuridashi.

Mitoizumi - Tamakasuga (just a replay)
(Earlier in the day Mitoizumi beat Kotoinazuma by utchari).
Mitoizumi had a good mawashi grip and forced out Tamakasuga. (Yorikiri).

Kyokushuzan - Asanosho (just a replay)
At tachiai Kyokushuzan executed a very high jump, landing almost entirely
behind Asanosho and then easily forcing him out. Kyokushuzan won by okuridashi.

Takanonami - Tochinonada (just a replay)
Despite any effort of Tochinonada, Takanonami had a great mawashi grip and
won by yorikiri.

Akebono - Musoyama
At tachiai Akebono shows the same nice form as yesterday and quickly gets
Musoyama's mawashi with both hands outside. Musoyama tried to resist at the
edge for a second or so, but there was nothing he could do. Akebono won by
yorikiri.

Takatoriki - Aogiyama
(Earlier in the day Takatoriki beat Ganyu.)
Both are tsukioshi (thrusting)-type rikishi, said Kitanoumi oyakata, also
mentioning that Takatoriki's tsukioshi is more of the "harite" type
(extended arms), while Aogiyama's attack has an upward direction, aiming to
push / straighten up his opponents.
Indeed, the tachiai consisted of strong tsukioshi, following which Aogiyama
was for a second turned with his back towards Takatoriki. He managed to turn
back, but meanwhile Takatoriki had already pushed him near the edge of the
dohyo. Takatoriki won by oshidashi.

Hamanoshima - Akinoshima
At the tachiai Akinoshima gets his left hand outside and also pushes his
right into the underarm of Hamanoshima, so that the later's left hand just
stays up in the air. Akinoshima won by yorikiri.

Akinoshu - Musashimaru
(Earlier in the day Musashimaru beat Tosanoumi by yorikiri.)
The difference in size is impressive - just seeing Akinoshu you expect some
kind of Mainoumi style...
Akinoshu has a quick tachiai which allows him to get a left hand outside on
the ozeki's mawashi. He doesn't get close to Musashimaru, but instead tries
to put him on a rotation movement using that left hand. Musahimaru makes
about one turn around, but his... inertia helps him a lot, so he finally
stabilizes and gets his hands on Akinoshu. After which there was not much
left. Musashimaru won by yorikiri.

Mitoizumi - Wakanohana
Very nice tachiai from the part of Mitoizumi, who executed his version (only
a little lower...) of Kyokushuzan's jump. It was enough for Wakanohana to go
ahead too much, so that Mitoizumi got his favorite right hand outside, deep
back on the ozeki's mawashi. Then he forced him out. Mitoizumi won by yorikiri.

Minatofuji - Kaio
(Earlier in the day Minatofuji beat Tochiazuma by uwatenage.)
Kaio didn't get his right hand outside as he usually likes - he had to make
to with a left hand inside, while it was Minatofuji who got a right hand
outside. Then both rikishi tried repeated throw attempts (they were no more
facing each other, but fought shoulder to shoulder, sometimes standing in
only in one leg). Finally, Minatofuji gave up the idea of throwing his
opponent, grabbed his mawashi with the other hand too and drove him out.
Minatofuji won by yorikiri.

(sankaisen   -  third round)

Takanonami - Kyokushuzan
Long, "ugly" staring from the part of Kyokushuzan, supported with dignity by
the ozeki.
At tachiai we had a matta, because Kyokushuzan went too early. The second
time, Kyokushuzan went back almost to the edge of the dohyo to take impulse
for his tachiai, which then started the longest match of the day. There was
almost anything you can imagine on the dohyo; Takanonami had to resist a
number of leg trick attempts, then Kyokushuzan literally crawled under the
ozeki, sticking his head under the chin of the opponent - although now
Takanonami could grab the back portion of his mawashi. Then Taka blocked
Kyokushuzan's right arm with both hands, and tried to lift Kyokushuzan by
it, but with only limited success. Somehow the Mongolian, escaped, and again
went with his both hands deep inside, then started a merry-go-round which
finally brought Takanonami with his back towards him. Kyokushuzan won by
okuridashi. (In the last second I had quite a feeling that Takanonami was
really annoyed or bored with all the circus, so although he was caught in
okuridashi position, in a way he simply gave up - it was not a bit of
traditional sumo in this match.... Is such sumo good ? Is it bad ?)

Chiyotaikai - Asahiyutaka
(Earlier in the day Chiyotaikai beat Kotonowaka.)
The tachiai meant strong tsuppari and tsukioshi from Chiotaikai, including a
pretty powerful left to the jaw of Asahiyutaka... Chiyotaikai won by oshitaoshi.

Akebono - Kotonishiki
Kotonishiki went way back from the shikiri line and then charged directly
into Akebono, then quickly stepped aside and it seemed that everything is
over, knowing that Akebono couldn't turn back quickly enough. So Kotonishiki
started what seemed to be a formality - pushing out Akebono from behind; but
the way out was long (across the dohyo), and somehow Akebono thought - or
simply did - a trick I've never seen before: when he was closed to the
tawara (dohyo edge) he violently shook his hips, and literally threw away
Kotonishiki - who was holding his mawashi with both hands! Akebono won by...
(as I said, this was a first time I saw this kimarite!) koshinage! Hip-throw ??

(jun-jun-kessho   - semifinals)
Akinoshima - Takatoriki
Both rikishi belonging to the Futagoyama-beya...
Strong tsuppari right from the tachiai from Takatoriki - Akenoshima is just
busy with receiving the blows and stepping back. Takatoriki won by tsukidashi.

Mitoizumi - Musashimaru
 From the very beginning Musashimaru blocks any access to his mawashi while
pushing Mitoizumi back. Mitoizumi had no chance at all. Musashimaru  won by
yorikiri.

Kyokushuzan - Minatofuji
Again, nice staring during shikiri from both rikishi.
Kyokushuzan jumped again at tachiai, but Minatofuji had not charge blindly
ahead, so he was OK. Then Kyokushuzan tries a "low altitude" attack, which
ultimately gives Minatofuji the chance to grab his mawashi and try to force
him out. Kyokushuzan resist at the edge, then counterattacks and forces
Minatofuji out. Kyokushuzan won by yorikiri.

Akebono - Chiyotaikai
A "hatsu kao awase" -  first time meeting.
Chiyotaikai charges courageously into Akebono's arms - easy victory for the
yokozuna. Akebono won by yorikiri.

(jun-kessho   -   semifinals)

Musashimaru - Takatoriki
Takatoriki did a good job after tachiai, with tsuppari and tsukioshi
directed to the neck of Musashimaru, and almost seemed "decided" to force
out the ozeki at one point; but with one foot on the tawara Musashimaru
stepped laterally and Takatoriki went out mostly on his own. Musashimaru won
by okuridashi.

Akebono - Kyokushuzan
Before the tachiai again Kyokushuzan gets way back from the shikiri line,
which led the yokozuna to go back one step himself for safety. Then the
Mongolian goes right into Akebono; Akebono pushes him back, Kyokushuzan
resists and desperately tries to get one of yokozuna's legs; then Akebono
charges again and this time cannot be stopped. Akebono won by yorikiri.

(kesshosen  - final)
Same as yesterday, the final was announced by some impressive... trumpet
sound, like those we hear in Middle Age based movies when the king comes
in... The same two rikishi which disputed yesterday's final were meeting
again, and I really supported Musashimaru this time.
The tachiai was a powerful collision of the chests of the two rikishi.
Akebono got his right hand outside (migi uwate), and using it he started a
nice over arm throw. Towards the end of it, he also added a left palm push
to the back of Musashimaru's head which made everything perfect. Akebono won
by yorikiri.

---------

This time there was room for a yusho interview. Akebono said that he was
glad that he could show some of the power which somehow he lacked in the
previous basho. He mentioned that after the Nagoya kyujo and the poor hatsu
basho ("barely two-digits wins...") he will be training hard for a title in
Osaka.

In the end, I was really worried seeing Akebono so full of sweat and also
coughing violently... This Nagano business won't to any good to his body.

That's all. Thanks to those who encouraged me. I and my wife will be leaving
Japan soon, after more than 3 years here, and somehow I already miss sumo :-(

Vasile Antoce