2024 Kyushu Basho: Day 12 results and analysis

Got some spoilers in here.

Nov 21, 2024

We are three days away from crowning a winner at the Kyushu basho. And it’s still too close to call! I think we’re in for a very dramatic end to this tournament (and hopefully some more good matches).

We had some nice tilts on Day 12. Among my favourites were Takayasu vs. Kotoshoho, Atamifuji vs. Hiradoumi and Tokihayate vs. Sadanoumi.

The big matches were Kotozakura vs. Daieisho, Hoshoryu vs. Shodai, Onosato vs. Takerufuji and Kirishima vs. Takanosho.

You can see all those below. I also have complete results and, as always, my analysis.

Thanks for everyone who followed me on Blue Sky. I’m up to 100 followers on there now. It’s proving to be a cool space to chat sumo.

Bonus gif today is Kotozakura’s fan section.

SPOILERS BELOW

Results

Shimanoumi (6-6) def. Asakoryu (5-7) via tsukiotoshi (thrust down)
Ryuden (3-9) def. Nishikifuji (4-8) via okuridashi (rear push out)
Hokutofuji (5-7) def. Bushozan (1-7-4) via oshitaoshi (frontal push down)
Tokihayate (5-7) def. Sadanoumi (3-9) via uwatenage (over arm throw)*
Tamawashi (7-5) def. Shishi (3-9) via oshidashi (frontal push out)
Chiyoshoma (8-4) def. Midorifuji (5-7) via oshidashi*
Roga (5-7) def. Onokatsu (8-4) via yorikiri (frontal force out)*
Gonoyama (9-3) def. Takarafuji (7-5) via tsukitaoshi (frontal thrust down)*
Shonannoumi (8-4) def. Endo (6-6) via tsukidashi (frontal thrust out)
Meisei (7-5) def. Mitakeumi (6-6) via yorikiri
Nishikigi (4-8) def. Ichiyamamoto (7-5) via yorikiri
Takayasu (8-4) def. Kotoshoho (3-9) via yorikiri*
Abi (9-3) def. Wakatakakage (8-4) via oshidashi
Ura (4-8) def. Oshoma (3-9) via hikiotoshi (hand pull down)*
Oho (4-8) def. Churanoumi (3-9) via yoritaoshi (frontal crush out)
Atamifuji (6-6) def. Hiradoumi (1-11) via tsukiotoshi*
Wakamotoharu (7-5) def. Tobizaru (6-6) via oshidashi
Kirishima (6-6) def. Takanosho (10-2) via oshidashi*
Hoshoryu (11-1) def. Shodai (4-8) via yorikiri
Kotozakura (11-1) def. Daieisho (6-6) via oshidashi*
Onosato (8-4) def. Takerufuji (8-4) via oshidashi*
*Must see bouts!

Leaderboard

O1e Kotozakura, O1w Hoshoryu: 11-1
M6e Takanosho: 10-2
M3e Abi, M8w Gonoyama: 9-3

Analysis

And then there were two.

Kotozakura and Hoshoryu won on Day 12 to get to 11-1. Takanosho dropped back after a loss to Kirishima. With three days left of competition only Abi and Gonoyama, who both won last night, stand any real chance of challenging the top two for this title.

Hoshoryu got a rather easy win on Day 11 against the underwhelming Shodai. Shodai dropped to 4-8 and again showed that he doesn’t perform well when under a spotlight. The spotlight here comes from him being the most popular wrestler in Kyushu. He also has added pressure from being promoted back into the san’yaku for the first time in over a year.

In this bout Shodai was bounced back off the tachiai by the smaller Hoshoryu. Hoshoryu then grabbed onto his belt and smoothly forced him out and onto the ground.

Kotozakura faced stiffer competition on Day 11, in the form of Daieisho. Kotozakura was aggressive off the tachiai and immediately clinched with Daieisho to stifle his thrusts. Daieisho was able to get free and find some space, but he couldn’t move the sturdy Kotozakura with his strikes. I think this emboldened Kotozakura, who then decided he should thrust back. He used a nodowa to put Daieisho off balance and then closed distance to barge him out.

Takanosho and Kirishima had a fun brawl. Kirishima did a fantastic job of deflecting Takanosho’s nodowa, slapping his hands away and preventing him from getting under his throat. This led to Takanosho thrusting harder to try and get through Kirishima’s hands. That increased the intensity of the fight. Kirishima was eventually able to time one of Takanosho’s thrusts and swat his arm hard enough that it turned Takanosho’s body. When that happened, Kirishima dove in on his belt and rushed him to the edge before finishing the bout with a big shove (and a bit of a staredown).

Onosato tied his personal record with Takerufuji at 1-1 (and effectively ended Takerufuji’s chances of contending for a title this month). He elected to gather Takerufuji off the tachiai. After halting Takerufuji’s opening rush, he was then able to step forwards and marshal Takerufuji off the ring.

Gonoyama continued to impress on Day 11. He ploughed into Takarafuji and then stopped himself from over-shooting. After that he hounded Takarafuji around the ring, firing off hard thrusts right to the chest.

Abi used his reach to beat Wakatakakage. Wakatakakage pushed upwards on Abi’s elbows to try and deflect his thrusts, instead of pushing them off to the side (as we saw Kirishima do to Takanosho). This didn’t work and Abi was able to lean into Wakatakakage and get him out rather quickly.

Hiradoumi’s nightmare in Kyushu continues. The local boy is now 1-11 after a loss to Atamifuji. This was a very exciting match, but Hiradoumi’s desperation for a win showed as he lunged forwards. Atamifuji was able to evade that lunge and push him down along the boundary.

I haven’t mentioned Tokihayate yet this tournament. He’s 5-7, but has picked up some nice wins via throws. This reactive uwatenage on Sadanoumi was very pretty.

It’s a big day tomorrow.

Kotozakura and Hoshoryu’s leading records will be tested by Takanosho and Onosato.

Kotozakura has an excellent 6-2 record against Takanosho and he’s won their last five meetings. If Takanosho can win he’ll find himself right back in the title chase.

Hoshoryu has a 3-1 record over Onosato. In their first three meetings Hoshoryu won via shitatenage. One of those wins came during the May tournament where Onosato won his first yusho. In their most recent meeting, in September, Onosato was able to win by oshidashi to claim his second yusho.

If Gonoyama wants to remain in contention (by the slightest of margins) he’ll need to beat Kirishima (who needs wins to stave off a make-koshi). Abi draws Takerufuji.

Take care folks.