Nagoya Basho: Terunofuji Beats Takanosho in a Playoff to Secure Status as a 'Dai Yokozuna'

Grand champion Terunofuji defeated rank-and-filer Takanosho in a thrilling winner-take-all playoff on Sunday, July 28 to win his 10th Emperor's Cup on the final day of the Nagoya Basho.

In the playoff at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Terunofuji was pushed back to the edge but got a left-handed grip on the belt of Takanosho before using a frontal force-out to send the sixth-ranked maegashira over the edge.

Takanosho beat Terunofuji on the previous day when the yokozuna had a chance to win the basho.

But the determined Mongolian yokozuna made no mistake on Sunday, fighting off a thrust to the neck at the face-off before getting a grip on the belt and overpowering Takanosho.

It was a hugely satisfying win for Terunofuji, who has struggled mightily with injuries that prevented him from completing the previous two tournaments.

Terunofuji Achieves Goal of Winning 10 Emperor's Cups

The 32-year-old Terunofuji won the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in January and has long said he wanted to win 10 Emperor's Cups, which enabled him to achieve the status of a "Dai Yokozuna," or a great grand champion.

"I am happy I was finally able to achieve the goal," Terunofuji said of winning his 10th title.

He added, "I knew in the playoff I would just have to fight as usual and that is exactly what I was able to do."

Terunofuji has now cemented his place in the history books as one of the all-time great yokozuna. 

It hasn't been easy. There were points when because of his absences over the past several years, some were calling for him to retire.

But bolstered by the huge win, Terunofuji gave no indication on Sunday that he is ready to hang up his mawashi.

"I've been in this world for 14 years," Terunofuji said. "I feel that I am getting closer to the sumo I want to achieve so I will continue to give it my best."

Nagoya Basho Drama: Kotozakura Forces a Playoff by Beating Terunofuji

In the final bout of regulation at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, ozeki Kotozakura beat Terunofuji for the first time to improve to 10-5 and set up a winner-take-all playoff between the Mongolian grand champion and Takanosho.

Kotozakura got an outside grip on the belt of Terunofuji, pivoted to his side and used an overarm throw to send the yokozuna sprawling to the dirt surface and his third loss against 12 wins.

Terunofuji could have won the tournament outright with a win over Kotozakura. But he was handed his second straight loss to force the playoff.

In an earlier bout, Takanosho used a powerful right-handed arm thrust to the neck immediately after the face-off to send May tournament Onosato out of the ring.

No 6 maegashira Takanosho won his eighth straight bout to pull even with Terunofuji at 12-3 while sekiwake Onosato dropped to 9-6.

Hiradoumi Notches 10th Win

In other major bouts, Hiradoumi wrapped up a highly successful debut as a new komusubi when he deployed an arm-bar throw to dispatch seventh-ranked Kotoshoho (8-7) and improve to 10-5.

"One of my goals at this tournament was to get double-digit wins," said Hiradoumi, who took home a Technique prize. "I wanted to keep moving forward and was able to do that. I have to work on my face-off and my overall speed."

Kirishima shoved out Mongolian compatriot Tamawashi to pick up an all-important eighth win against seven losses, a result that means he will hang on to his sekiwake rank for the next basho.

Ninth-ranked maegashira Tamawashi, who turns 40 in November, closed out the Nagoya meet with a 7-8 record.

Kirishima's win probably means Hiradoumi will remain as komusubi for the next tournament.

Fourth-ranked maegashira Tobizaru thrust down sekiwake Abi to close out with a strong 9-6 record. Abi, who dodged to his side after the face-off, fell to 8-7, a result that will allow him to stay at sekiwake.

Fifth-ranked Shonannoumi executed an arm throw immediately after the face-off to send Takakeisho sprawling to the dirt surface.

Shonannoumi picked up his seventh win against eight losses while ozeki Takakeisho, who will be going down to sekiwake for the next basho, dropped to 5-10.

Wakatakakage Triumphs for 11th Time at Nagoya Basho

No 14 maegashira Wakatakakage used a rare thigh-grabbing push-down to defeat Hokutofuji and improve to an impressive 11-4. No 13 Hokutofuji finished at 6-9.

Former sekiwake Wakatakakage turned in a strong performance in his return to the elite makuuchi division after suffering a leg injury in 2023.

The native of Fukushima Prefecture will be moving up the rankings for the Autumn Basho in September at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

RELATED:

• With a Win Against Terunofuji, Takanosho Ensures Nagoya Basho Title Race Goes Down to the Final Day
• Terunofuji Swats Down Takakeisho to Maintain a Two-Win Lead at the Nagoya Basho
• Nagoya Basho: Terunofuji Beats Abi and Moves Closer to Winning the Title

Author: Jim Armstrong

The author is a longtime journalist who has covered sports in Japan for over 25 years. You can find his articles on SportsLook.