2024 Kyushu Basho: Day 11 results and analysis
Spiders alert! I mean, spoilers. Spoilers alert.
What a day on the dohyo! We had a number of bouts deliver incredible action on Day 11. And, thanks to a few of those, we have a lot of clarity over where we are heading in the last four days of the basho.
We know who has a chance to win this thing and we have the prospect of some pretty epic showdowns to determine who gets that cup.
On Day 11 you’re must-see match was Ura vs. Hiradoumi. Trust me on that.
Other great matches were Takayasu vs. Sadanoumi and Nishikifuji vs. Shishi.
And our ozeki matches were all fascinating, too. We had Kotozakura vs. Wakamotoharu, Hoshoryu vs. Daieisho and Onosato vs. Takanosho.
Scroll down to see those matches and read my analysis on what went down.
Also, are you on Bluesky? There’s a sumo community growing there. If you’re on the butterfly app you can follow me @sumostomp.bsky.social.
Bonus gif is Atamifuji or ‘Clipart’ as he’s known in my household.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Nishikifuji (4-7) def. Shishi (3-8) via uwatenage (over arm throw)*
Chiyoshoma (7-4) def. Tokihayate (4-7) via yoritaoshi (frontal crush out)
Asakoryu (5-6) def. Ryuden (2-9) via shitatenage (underarm throw)*
Ichiyamamoto (7-4) def. Shonannoumi (7-4) via oshitaoshi (frontal push down)
Takayasu (7-4) def. Sadanoumi (3-8) via yorikiri (frontal force out)*
Gonoyama (8-3) def. Takerufuji (8-3) via oshidashi (frontal push out)*
Hokutofuji (4-7) def. Roga (4-7) via oshidashi
Tamawashi (6-5) def. Mitakeumi (6-5) via oshidashi
Endo (6-5) def. Meisei (6-5) via oshidashi
Kotoshoho (3-8) def. Midorifuji (5-6) via oshidashi*
Churanoumi (3-8) def. Nishikigi (3-8) via isamiashi (forward step out)
Onokatsu (8-3) def. Abi (8-3) via oshidashi
Wakatakakage (8-3) def. Takarafuji (7-4) via yorikiri
Ura (3-8) def. Hiradoumi (1-10) via oshitaoshi (frontal push down) after two torinaoshi (immediate replays)*
Oshoma (3-8) def. Oho (3-8) via hikiotoshi (hand pull down)
Atamifuji (5-6) def. Shodai (4-7) via yorikiri
Kirishima (5-6) def. Tobizaru (6-5) via oshidashi
Kotozakura (10-1) def. Wakamotoharu (6-5) via oshidashi*
Takanosho (10-1) def. Onosato (7-4) via oshidashi*
Hoshoryu (10-1) def. Daieisho (6-5) via oshidashi*
*Must see bouts!
Leaderboard
O1e Kotozakura, O1w Hoshoryu, M6e Takanosho: 10-1
M2e Wakatakakage, M3e Abi, M8w Gonoyama, M15e Onokatsu, M16w Takerufuji: 8-3
Analysis
It’s a three way dance ladies and gentlemen. Hoshoryu, Kotozakura and Takanosho are left on 10-1 after Day 11’s action. And their closest rivals are back at 8-3.
Hoshoryu kept his place in the lead by taking out the very tough Daieisho. In this tournament I think we’ve figured out what Hoshoryu plans to do going forwards; throw the little guys and thrust the big guys. I think this is due to his old approach (throw everyone) putting too much strain on his body.
In electing to thrust with Daieisho, Hoshoryu took some risks. Daieisho packs a punch and he was able to back Hoshoryu up on a few of his strikes. After realizing he couldn’t get Daieisho out on thrusts alone, Hoshoryu grabbed his belt and used that to defend against Daieisho’s thrusts (and a half-hearted uwatenage). Daieisho’s power goes down when he doesn’t have space to propel forwards. And in close-range Hoshoryu was able to launch Daieisho off the ring to secure his tenth win.
Kotozakura had a bit of an easier time reaching 10 wins on Day 11. Wakamotoharu’s sumo (belt grab to yorikiri) isn’t that much of a concern to Kotozakura, who is one of the hardest rikishi to move around when going chest-to-chest. In this bout Kotozakura took Wakamotoharu’s best hit off the tachiai and then hand-fought to prevent Wakamtoharu from getting a hand on his belt. Because Wakamotoharu couldn’t grab a hold of him Kotozakura was able to push him back, dramatically, with a hand on his chest.
Sometimes it doesn’t look like Kotozakura is doing that much. But, believe me, that’s because he is so strong and so technically sound that he simply makes some things appear effortless. See the replay below and marvel at the speed he’s able to move Wakamotoharu backwards. It looks like a chest-lending drill. And note Kotozakura’s feet, too, gliding across the dohyo. Man’s a freight train.
Takanosho managed to keep pace with the ozeki by taking out one of their own. He used a brutal nodowa (throat thrust) to push Onosato completely off balance and open up a path for a push out.
Onosato tried to score a slapdown on the way out, but he left it too late.
The loss dropped Onosato down to 7-4, which effectively rules him out of title contention this month.
Ura vs. Hiradoumi was the match of the day/tournament so far. These two exploded into each other and forced two torinoashi (replays) before Ura eventually settled the series with a brutal push out.
See in the replay below the end of their second bout. Ura has tried this flying corkscrew nudge-out move before, but this is the closest he’s come to landing it. Hiradoumi’s athleticism is what saved him from being on the wrong end of a sumo highlight that would have been played to death for years to come.
The loss dropped Hiradoumi to 1-10. That’s shocking given how consistent he had been until the aki basho. He’s faced murderer’s row this month, but I think the pressure of competing in Kyushu (his home island) might be a factor that is negatively affecting his performance.
Takerufuji was pegged back by Gonoyama on Day 11. Yesterday I pointed out some improvements I’ve seen in Gonoyama and he doubled down on those today.
This might be the end of the one gear/one direction Gonoyama. Against Takerufuji he fought like the tide. He rolled in, swept out, and then crashed against the shore to wipe Takerufuji out.
Takerufuji and Gonoyama are tied in second place with Wakatakakage, Abi and Onokatsu. That group will probably cannibalize itself as we clear a path for our three leaders.
There are three more bouts I want to talk about this morning.
Kotoshosho is struggling in this tournament (3-8), but he showed some incredible katasukashi defence against Midorifuji. By pulling up on Midorifuji’s right elbow, he nullified the threat that Midorifuji could drag him down on that side to complete his favorite move. I wonder if training with Kotozakura (who has a high level katasukashi) has helped him figure this out.
Takayasu vs. Sadanoumi was a great bout. There was a lot of good defensive grappling on display here. Watch the counter front belt grab from Sadanoumi and his hip shakes as he tried to prevent Takayasu employing his size advantage. And see Takayasu’s leg checks and blocks to prevent Sadanoumi turning for a throw. Takayasu ends up getting the win after he feinted a grab with his right hand and then locked up a grab with his left, which he then used to force out his fellow vet.
Lastly, I want to show Asakoryu rolling the loathsome Ryuden over his knee and onto the clay. Lovely.
We’re at the business end of this basho now. Day 12 is going to give us Kotozakura vs. Daieisho, Hoshoryu vs. Shodai and Kirishima vs. Takanosho.
Daieisho has given Kotozakura some trouble recently. He’s won the last three contests.
Hoshoryu has a 10-5 record against Shodai and has beaten him in the last two bouts.
Takanosho owns Kirishima with a 14-3 record. Though, Kirishima did beat him in the last basho.
Day 12 will also give us Takerufuji vs. Onosato, too. They’ve only fought once before. Takerufuji won that battle before going on to take his historic yusho.
See you tomorrow!
Holy crap, the double rematch, it's like a double rainbow 🌈 🌈. Ura seems to just power up after each match instead of losing steam.
Man, Shishi just can't seem to finish even when he's got good positions.
I'm interested to see how far Takerufuji can go up the ranks. He's got that yusho but so far a little inconsistent since. I could see him and Wakatakakage making Ozeki. Anybody have any others they think are Ozeki bound?
What a trio up top! I love that Takonosho is still kicking it, perhaps reminding us that his runner-up last basho wasn't a fluke. He's never been on my radar, but I'm paying more attention now. I do think it'll be between Kotazakura and Hoshoryo for the win, and I'd love to see either take it. Both are great fighters and so different from each other.
And the Ura vs. Hiradoumi match-up, all three of them, were action-packed. Just WOW.