Rising Star Kotonowaka Upsets Mitakeumi to Stay Undefeated at Summer Basho

Up-and-coming wrestler Kotonowaka defeated Mitakeumi on Tuesday, May 10 to stay undefeated while completing a clean sweep of the ozeki wrestlers on the third day of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament.

Kotonowaka used a thrust down technique at the edge in a closely contested bout at Ryogoku Kokugikan. 

Both wrestlers fell out at the same time and the ringside judges had to meet to determine that Mitakeumi’s forearm touched down before Kotonowaka’s foot.

“It was very close but the referees made the ruling,” Kotonowaka said. “I wasn’t sure if I got the win but I’m glad. I’ve been moving very well this tournament.”

No. 2 maegashira Kotonowaka, who defeated ozeki grapplers Takakeisho and Shodai in the first two days, improved to 3-0 and now shares the lead with four other rank-and-file wrestlers. Mitakeumi, winner of the New Year tournament, dropped to 1-2.

The 24-year-old Kotonowaka will have another big bout on Wednesday when he takes on grand champion Terunofuji.

After graduating from high school, Kotonowaka turned pro by joining the Sadogatake stable where his father was the stable master.

Kotonowaka’s grandfather was Kotozakura, the sport’s 53rd yokozuna. His breakthrough tournament came in July of 2021 when he went 12-3 and won his first of three Fighting Spirit Prizes.

In the day’s final bout, lone grand champion Terunofuji flipped fellow Mongolian Kiribayama to improve to 2-1. No. 2 maegashira Kiribayama hobbled off the raised ring after being handed his second loss.

After an opening-day loss to Daieisho, Terunofuji has looked better as he attempts to overcome injuries that forced him to pull out of the  March basho.

In other major bouts, top maegashira Takayasu toppled Takakeisho to complete a tough day for the ozeki and give both wrestlers a record of 1-2.

Komusubi Daieisho, who beat Terunofuji on the opening day, used a series of powerful arm thrusts to force out ozeki Shodai and pick up his second win. 

“I was happy with my sumo today,” Daieisho said. "I’m just taking each bout as it comes. I need to continue moving forward and stay focused to move up the ranks.”

Shodai Continues to Struggle

Shodai fell to 0-3, a similar start to the one he had in the March tournament when he lost his first four bouts only to recover and secure a winning record.

Sumo officials, who have called for stronger performances from the ozeki wrestlers, won’t be pleased with the first three days of the 15-day meet in that regard. 

Mitakeumi, Takakeisho and Shodai have only two wins among them.

Sekiwake Wakatakakage bounced back from a loss on the previous day to Tamawashi when he used an arm throw to defeat fourth-ranked maegashira Endo (1-2) to improve to 2-1.

Wakatakakage won the March tournament and has been mentioned as a possible ozeki candidate if he gets a strong result in this meet.

Sekiwake Abi outmaneuvered Takanosho with superb footwork at the edge and shoved out the fourth-ranked maegashira for his second win against a lone loss. Takanosho stands at 1-2.

Komusubi Hoshoryu picked up his second win against Hokutofuji when he dodged to his side and thrust the third-ranked maegashira out to his third straight defeat.

Tobizaru Still Unbeaten

Fifth-ranked maegashira Tobizaru stayed in the pack of wrestlers who are undefeated at 3-0 when he shoved out struggling No. 7 maegashira Takarafuji, who has yet to post a win.

Veteran Tamawashi, a third-ranked maegashira, used a thrust down technique to overpower Onosho and stay undefeated at 3-0. Fifth-ranked Onosho fell to 2-1.

Wakamotoharu showed deft footwork on the straw ridge where he deployed a perfect arm throw to topple winless No. 8 maegashira Shimanoumi.

Sixth-ranked maegashira Wakamotoharu, the older brother of Wakatakakage, improved to 2-1.

Further down the ranks, 11th-ranked maegashira Aoiyama won his third straight bout when he used an arm-lock throw to defeat No. 12 Myogiryu, who fell to 2-1.

Ichiyamamoto is also at 3-0 after defeating fellow rank-and-filer Yutakayama (2-1).

In a crowd-pleasing bout, diminutive No. 8 maegashira Terutsuyoshi overcame a 57-kg weight disadvantage when he got hands on the belt of Georgian Tochinoshin and lifted the winless ninth-ranked maegashira over the edge to pick up his second win.

Author: Jim Armstrong

The author is a longtime journalist who has covered sports in Japan for more than 25 years. You can find his articles here.