Hokutofuji Stuns New Ozeki Mitakeumi While Takayasu Motors on at Spring Meet

Rank-and-filer Hokutofuji upset new ozeki Mitakeumi on Tuesday, March 22 while surprise leader Takayasu maintained his slim one-win lead on Day 10 of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.

Hokutofuji quickly knocked Mitakeumi off balance when he got a firm left-hand grip of the belt shortly after the face-off and the new ozeki couldn’t recover and dropped to 8-2.

Hokutofuji, who drove his opponent out over the edge in a matter of seconds, improved to 5-5.

“It was my plan to get that grip as soon as possible,” Hokotofuji said. “My footwork hasn’t been that good lately so it was important to take the initiative. It was my son’s birthday today so I was motivated to get a big win for him.”

Mitakeumi is aiming to win his first tournament since winning the New Year Basho in January and being promoted to sumo’s second-highest rank.

While he is far from out of it, the loss to sixth-ranked Hokutofuji certainly makes his path to the championship a little more difficult.

Takayasu faced a serious challenge from Mongolian Hoshoryu who came close several times to pulling off an upset and knocking the seventh-ranked maegashira out of the lead.

Takayasu eventually forced Hoshoryu (4-6) to the edge where he got both hands on the belt and shoved the komusubi out to improve to 10-0. 

Takayasu is bidding for his first-ever Emperor’s Cup. It won’t get any easier for the Tagonoura stable wrestler on Day 11 when he faces rising star Wakatakakage, who has been practically unbeatable.

Komusubi Wakatakakage used a barrage of arm thrusts to the upper body and absorbed a crushing blow to the head before shoving out fellow sekiwake Abi.

Wakatakakage improved to 9-1 while Abi dropped to 6-4 and is virtually out of the title chase.

Sixth-ranked maegashira Kotonowaka dodged to his side and swatted down Daieisho to stay in the thick of the title chase and improve to 9-1. Top maegashira Daieisho fell to 5-5.

Takakeisho bounced back from Monday’s loss to Endo when he hauled down Takarafuji to move to within one win of wrapping up the winning record he needs to maintain his ozeki rank for the next tournament in May.

Fifth-ranked maegashira Takarafuji fell to 3-7.

Shodai Extends Winning Streak

In the day’s final bout at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, ozeki Shodai won his fourth straight bout to improve to 5-5 when he shoved out fourth-ranked maegashira Endo, who dropped to 6-4.

Shodai lost his first four bouts and there was speculation that he would never get the winning record he needs to avoid demotion for the next tournament.

Now all he needs is three wins over the last five days of the 15-day meet so things are looking much better for the Tokitsukaze stable wrestler.

Shodai won’t have to worry about grand champion Terunofuji, who pulled out earlier in the tournament due to injury.

Mongolian Kiribayama, a fourth-ranked maegashira, moved one win away from wrapping up a winning record when he used a beltless arm throw to dispatch Onosho and improve to 7-3. Third-ranked maegashira Onosho dropped to 4-6.

In a showdown of No. 2 maegashira, Mongolian Ichinojo got a double inside grip and shoved out compatriot Tamawashi (4-6) to earn his sixth win against four losses. 

Further down the ranks, Kotoeko deployed a textbook beltless arm throw at the edge to defeat Ichiyamamoto while improving to 7-3. 

Kotoeko may be just a No. 12 maegashira but he has been giving the fans in Osaka a thrill with his powerful arm throws. No. 17 maegashira Ichiyamamoto, who is much bigger than Kotoeko, dropped to 3-7.

Follow Jim’s daily reports on the sumo Spring Basho here.

Author: Jim Armstrong