Sumo

Wakatakakage Stuns Terunofuji on Opening Day of New Year Basho

Yokozuna Terunofuji is attempting a comeback after missing two tournaments, but he looked sluggish in his first bout of the 15-day New Year Basho in Tokyo.

by
Jim Armstrong
January 12, 2025

Komusubi Wakatakakage upset grand champion Terunofuji on the opening day of the New Year Basho on Sunday, January 12, casting doubt on the Mongolian's fitness for a comeback.

Immediately after the initial face-off, Wakatakakage deployed a perfect under-shoulder swing-down technique to send the stunned yokozuna sprawling to the dirt surface.

"I had my plan and I stuck to it," Wakatakakage said. "I had good practice sessions leading up to the tournament and am happy with my condition."

Terunofuji won his 10th title at the July 2024 tournament and then was absent for the final two basho of the year as he dealt with his injured knees and other ailments.

The 33-year-old Mongolian owned a 10-1 record over Wakatakakage heading into Sunday's final bout at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

While he didn't show any obvious effects of injury, it was clearly not the start Terunofuji wanted as he bids to make a comeback from his prolonged absence.

Hoshoryu Outwrestles Kirishima in New Year Basho Showdown

In other major bouts at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament, yokozuna promotion hopeful Hoshoryu got the start he wanted when he established a right-handed grip on the belt of Mongolian compatriot Kirishima and used a bread-and-butter frontal force-out to open with a win over the top maegashira.

Ozeki Kotozakura, who is also seeking promotion to sumo's top rank after winning the previous tournament, also used a frontal force-out to defeat top maegashira Takanosho.

In the day's only major upset, No 2 maegashira Tobizaru pulled down ozeki Onosato after stunning his opponent with a thrust to the chin.

Onosato, who went 9-6 in the previous tournament, has fallen behind his fellow ozeki Hoshoryu and Kotozakura in the discussion for promotion to yokozuna.

The Ishikawa Prefecture native has shown a weakness to transition after the initial face-off and that was very much on display on the opening day. Therefore, he will have to correct that if he hopes to move up to sumo's highest rank.

Sekiwake Wakamotoharu got a right-handed grip on the belt of Atamifuji at the face-off and shoved the No 2 maegashira out with a frontal force-out to start on a winning note.

Takerufuji Triumphs on Opening Day

Further down the ranks, Takerufuji showed superior footwork when he was pushed back by Nishikigi but used an overarm throw at the edge to topple his fellow rank-and-filer.

The March tournament winner in 2024, Takerufuji comes into the New Year Basho as a No 11 maegashira. He is hoping to move up the ranks this year as he bounces back from an ankle injury sustained when winning the Emperor's Cup in Osaka.

Sumo's ironman Tamawashi pushed down Mongolian compatriot Oshoma to open his New Year campaign with a win over the ninth-ranked maegashira.

No 10 maegashira Tamawashi, who entered sumo in July of 2004, has appeared in 92 top division tournaments.

Oho, a No 3 maegashira, survived a barrage of arm thrusts to the face and upper body before dodging to his side and shoving komusubi Abi out from behind.