September 2021 Basho--DAY 15--SEPTEMBER 25, 2021--Sensurako
===============================
September 2021 (Aki) Basho
===============================
Day 15--September 26, 2021--Sensurako (Final Day)
Video: Note: NHK videos will be available on demand until 2 weeks after the end of the Basho. After that, they will be removed from the site. They are usually available for on demand viewing about 1 day after the matches. Note that "highlights" means complete full match video of all daily Makuuchi matches.
NHK match highlights (condensed, all matches in their entirety, the highlights are 27 minutes long).
All NHK Video Highlights from one link (latest day should be uploaded by about 12:30 am Central Daylight Time the next day (i.e. Day 15 video should by available by 12:30 the next day. It might be available before that, so check.
Chris Sumo Youtube
JSA Youtube has offered 3 full matches on its Youtube and Website channel. Hopefully they will do this every day. It is a live feed, no commentary, but it gives another perspective on these matches.
1. Terunofuji (Y1w) v Shodai (O1w) (Terunofuji is on the right)
2. (Daieisho M4w) v Ichinojo (K1w) (Daieisho is on the left)
3. Meisei (S1w) v Myogiryu (M10w) (Meisei is on the right)
++++
Notable:
Terunofuji topped off another great Basho by easily forcing out Shodai (O1e) to win the Yusho (Championship) with a 13-2 record. He did give up his first Kinboshi (Gold Star win--when a Maegashira [Rank and Filer] defeats a Yokozuna, and was beaten convincingly by Meisei (S1w) in his other loss, but he had an excellent, if a bit labored Tournament.
His match times in his wins--in order (seconds):
4.1, 10.3, 11.7. 11.3, 68.5, 16.5, 22.4, 7.4, 92.3, 86.7, 37.6, 16.9, 6.5
His median win time was 16.7 and average 38 seconds.
In his losses: 14.1, 5.7 (average 9.9)
He used patience to wait for his opening, no matter how long it took, and won with mostly power moves: 8 Frontal Force Outs (Yoriki) 1 Frontal Crush Out (Yoriotaoshi), and 1 Arm Barring Forceout (Kimedashi--one of the most brutal moves in the sport). He also used 2 throws (Over Arm--Uwatanage). His losses came via Yorikiri, and, perhaps in a most unlikely but skilled effort, Under Arm Throw (Shitatenage) to Meisei.
Terunofuji led the Tournament from start to finish, and never looked in real trouble. 13 wins is a "minimum" for Yokozuna and he achieved that. He also won in his first tournament as a Yokozuna, something that has been done only 8 other times in the recorded history of the sport. He has been dominant this year, easily scoring the most victories in a year with 62, which is more than his closest pursuer can win with a perfect December Tournament. Perfection in December for the Yokozuna would give him 77 for the year, out of a possible 90. Recently retired Yokozuna Hakuho holds the record with 86.
Terunofuji, it can be said, has lapped the field this year. He has won three Yusho and two Jun-Yusho (second place) this year's five Tournaments . He started in January with an 11-4 record, tied for 2nd as a Sekiwake 1. In March he scored 12-3 to win as S1. In May, his first Ozeki Basho, he scored 12-3 and won a Playoff with Ozeki Takakeisho (who had beaten him in a Playoff the previous November). Then in July, in his Yokozuna "run", he had his best score of the year, 14-1, but lost on the final day, in Hakuho's final match, finishing second. And now a 13-2 shin-Yokozuna win. 62-13 for the year.
Considering where he has been (serious knee injuries and illness that drove him all the way down to Jonidan--Division 5--non-salaried, from his first period as an Ozeki (July 2015-September 2017), he has had a remarkable comeback.
The story, unfortunately, is not as bright on the Ozeki front. From last September to this Ozeki have had losing records (Make-koshi) and become "Kadoban" (must have a winning record the next Tournament or they lose their rank--important because Yokozuna can only be promoted Ozeki after winning consecutive Tournaments or the equivalent). For Takakeisho the Make-koshi occurred in January (2-8-5) and July (1-2-12). For Shodai, November (3-2-10) and March (7-8), and for Asanoyama (who is no longer Ozeki) November (1-2-12) and May (7-5-3) (the last 3 due to suspension for Pandemic restriction violations). While each Ozeki recovered from Kadoban in the next Tournament, it has been a very difficult time. The two active Ozeki both had 8-7 records in this Basho, but both lost all their matches after reaching Kachi-koshi (Shodai at 8-3 and Takakeisho at 8-4).
Once again Maegashira held their own against san'yaku, although there were only 2 such matches today. At 1-1 they finished 26-41 (.388) against their betters. In July (the last and only other time during this period that a Yokozuna fought a full slate of matches), they were 18-44 (.290). In May they were 22-45 (.328). In March they were 21-47 (.309).
There were two Juryo (2nd Division) substitute matches today, and a total of 19 matches on the final day. The subs were 1-1 and finished 6-5 (.545) against the Top Division.
Today's Kachi-koshi
8-7: Meisei (S1w); Takarafuji (M5w); Shimanoumi (M7e); Kotoeko (M11w); and Yutakayama (M14w)
Today's Make-koshi
7-8: Takanosho (M1w); Aioyama (M9e); Chiyotairyu (M10e), and Tochinoshin (M12w)
Today's "Darwin" matches:
Yutakayama defeated Chiotairyu
Kotoeko defeated Aioyama
Takarafuji defeated Tochinoshin
Shimanoumi defeated Takanosho
Finally, a note on Kotoeko (M11w). After losing 14 consecutive bouts going back to the July Basho, he recovered from 2-13 in July and an 0-2 start to finish with a Kachi-koshi (8-5), including five wins in a row and 6 of his last 7. A great comeback for him. Today he pushed out Aioyama, sending him to Make-koshi. Aioyama outweighs Kotoeko by about 50 kg (110 pounds).
Quotable: (source: Chris Sumo Youtube, and Kyoto News)
1. I went into today prepared for the worst case scenario. Even fighting three bouts if that's what it took. (CS)
2. I could not have achieved this level of performance on my own. Starting with my stable master and his wife, to my colleagues at the stable, to my family, and to all those who come to watch. They are the ones who make this possible, and I am grateful to all of them...I'm glad I gave it all I could. It doesn't help to dwell too much on some things. Rather, it's our job to wrestle well once you're in the ring and to show your giving it your best. Every championship is extremely difficult, so each time what I feel most is a sense of gratitude. (KN, quoting from the after Tournament public interview).
Terunofuji, on his win over Shodai (O1w) which was superfluous, as he won the Yusho when Myogiryu lost. It was a clinical win that was sealed at the Tachiai (initial charge) when he grabbed Shodai's belt in an eye blink and forced him out 6 seconds later via Yorikiri.
3. It was my first time to be in this situation, so please excuse the nerves. But it was good to experience that pressure. And it's good to know I can still do this. There's life left in me. (CS)
4. It was a first for me of course, and I was nervous, thinking of those various things. I had winning performances and losing ones, but the whole tournament was fought on my terms, my way. A wrestler of my ranking doesn't normally face Ozeki, so I wanted to do well against them to show my appreciation to those who have been supporting me. (KN)
Myogiryu (M10w) after losing to Meisei (S1w), falling to Meisei's go to move, the side step, this time leading to an Under Shoulder Swing Down (Katsukashi--the first time it was employed in this tournament--and the second time he has employed the only finishing move used in the entire Tournament). It was all over in 2.1 seconds and quieted the critics who said Myogiryu (11-3) should have had a final day show down with Terunofuji (Y1e) (12-2) for a chance at the Yusho if he could win and then win a playoff. Myogiryu, a 12 year veteran who also won a Gino-sho (Technique Prize--his 6th but first since May of 2013), had a great tournament, finishing 11-4, his best finish since July of 2020, and his first Jun-Yusho (2nd place finish). But he was quickly dispatched by a 7-7 Sekiwake who needed the win to retain his rank.
5. Confidence boosters all round. (CS)
Daieisho (M4w and winner of the January 2021 Basho) on his convincing push out win of Ichinojo (K1w), a man who outweighed him by 44 Kg (97 pounds). Daieisho also won a Shukun-sho (Outstanding Performance Prize), his 4th, all since November 2019, as well as he only Kinboshi of the Bash. He finished 10-5.
Note: "Gambarize" means "do my best," or "work very hard."
Note 2: According to the Sumo Forum translator, "the three words used most by Rikishi in interviews are "properly" (shikkari), "concentrate" (shūchū) and "do my best", or "work very hard" (gambarimasu). For more on "gambarize," see the Tachiai.org explanation
++++
Condensed results (19 matches)
Key: Time of Match--s=seconds; Rank; Winner; Basho Record; Finishing Move; Rank; Loser; Basho Record
Day 15 Condensed results
Partial or complete absences from this Basho
Wins-Losses-Absences
Y1e---Hakuho (0-0-15)
S2e---Asanoyama (0-0-15)
M12e--Ishiura (0-0-15)
M2e---Hokutofuji (2-3-10) (including 1 forfeit loss)
M1e---Hoshoryu (5-8--2) (including 1 forfeit loss)
M3w---Kotonowaka (3-7--5) (including 1 forfeit loss)
K1e---Takayasu (4-8--3) (including 2 forfeit wins and 1 forfeit loss)
51.7s M14e Kaisei (6-9) yorikiri J2e Daiamami (7-8)
30.5s J4e Shohozan (10-5) uwatenage M13w Tsurugisho (5-10)
13.7s M14w Yutakayama (8-7) uwatenage M10e Chiyotairyu (7-8)
05.1s M11w Kotoeko (8-7) oshidashi M9e Aoiyama (7-8)
13.7s M8w Tobizaru (7-8) yorikiri M15w Chiyonoo (4-11)
16.7s M11e Endo (11-4) uwatenage M8e Okinoumi (10-5)
33.2s M13e Kagayaki (7-8) yoritaoshi M7w Terutsuyoshi (5-10)
07.4s M6e Ura (7-8) tsukidashi M15e Ichiyamamoto (4-11)
11.2s M5w Takarafuji (8-7) yorikiri M12w Tochinoshin (7-8)
01.1s M5e Chiyoshoma (5-10) uwatenage M16w Tokushoryu (4-11)
03.2s M4e Tamawashi (6-9) tsukidashi M6w Onosho (10-5)
02.0s M3e Wakatakakage (9-6) tsukiotoshi M17e Chiyonokuni (9-6)
16.8s M2w Kiribayama (9-6) tsuridashi M16e Chiyomaru (8-7)
04.8s M7e Shimanoumi (8-7) oshidashi M1w Takanosho (7-8)
19.5s M9w Hidenoumi (7-8) makiotoshi M1e Hoshoryu (5-8-2)
02.5s M4w Daieisho (10-5) oshidashi K1w Ichinojo (8-7)
02.1s S1w Meisei (8-7) katasukashi M10w Myogiryu (11-4)
01.9s S1e Mitakeumi (9-6) oshidashi O1w Takakeisho (8-7)
06.5s Y1w Terunofuji (13-2) yorikiri O1e Shodai (8-7)
Source: Sumo Reference (text results) and Nikkansports.com length of bouts data (see result sources below)
----
Finishing Moves (19 matches--283 total) Note: finishing move links below link to short NHK videos demonstrating the technique.
Frontal Push Out (Oshidashi)..............4(77)
Frontal Force Out (Yorikiri)..............4(64)
Frontal Thrust Out (Tsukidashi)...........2(10)
Under Shoulder Swing Down (Katasukashi)...1(1)
Twist Down (Makiotoshi)...................1(1)
Thrust Down (Tsukiotoshi).................1(17)
Frontal Lift out (Tsuridashi).............1(1)
Frontal Crush Out (Yoritaoshi)............1(6)
Totals for Basho
Slap Down (Hatakikomi)....................28
Hand Pull Down (Hikiotoshi)...............17
Frontal Push Down (Oshitaoshi)............10
Pulling Over Arm Throw (Uwatedashinage)...6
Under Arm Throw (Shitatenage).............5
Arm Barring Force Out (Kimedashi).........2