January 2022 Basho (Hatsu)--DAY 12--January 20, 2022

Links to selected Basho (Tournament) Blog Posts--March 2020--Present

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January 2022 (Hatsu) Basho (Tournament)

Introduction and Previews (including 2 Fred Pinkerton height x weight scatter plots)--links to all player information (ranking, prefecture or country of origin, date of birth, stable height, weight)

Day 1; Day 2; Day 3; Day 4; Day 5

Day 6; Day 7; Day 8; Day 9; Day 10

Day 11; Day 12; Day 13; Day 14; Day 15 

Summary; Cumulative Statistics; Selected Comparisons with November 2021 Basho and Index to all Videos and Photos (Scroll to the bottom of the page)

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Day 12--January 20, 2022

Recap and statistics

A. Video and Photo

Day 12 NHK Sumo Sumup: A concise recap of Today's top three matches. Full match video of these matches. Part of NHK World News. About 2 minutes. 

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NHK Full match videos

Note: NHK videos will be available on demand until 2 weeks after the end of the Basho (Tournament). 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 12 video should by available by 12:30 the next day. It might be available before that, so check).

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Japan Sumo Association Youtube offers selected full matches on its Youtube and Website  channel. They are usually Makuuchi (Top Division) bouts, but sometimes there are Juryo (2nd Division) bouts as well. There is no commentary.

1. Terunofuji (Y1e) (10-1--10-2) v Meisei (K1e) (4-7--5-7) (Match Video) 

Terunofuji is on the left. (TERUNOFUJI RECORD CORRECTED JANUARY 22, 2022).

2. Mitakeumi (S1e) (10-1--10-2) v Onosho (M5e) (7-4--8-4) (Match Video) 

Mitakeumi is on the left. 

3. Takanosho (S1w) (6-5--6-6) v Abi (M6w) (9-2--10-2) (Match Video)

Abi is on the left. 

4. Kiribayama (M1w) (5-6--5-7) v Endo (M3w) (4-7--5-7) (Match Video)

Kiribayama is on the right.

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Chris Sumo Youtube. Chris Gould is a long time free lance Sumo journalist and videographer. His videos are shot at the venue.

1. January 2022 Sumo, Day 12: Surprise!  

Includes footage from selected matches in Divisions 1 (Makuuchi), 2 (Juryo), and 3 (Makushita--non salaried). Today's bouts are centered around the mammoth, 3 minute battle between Ichinojo (M2w) and Takarafuji (M7w). Parts of the match are spliced into the narrative of the video at different times throughout the course of both. The three main Top Division matches are also available here, from a different angle than the JSA videos above.

2. Best lower division bouts: 4 (Sandanme), 5 (Jonidan), and 6 (Jonokuchi)--all non salaried. As has been featured in earlier installments of this series and back by popular demand is Moriurara (Jk7e--Jonokuchi--Division 6--lowest division--non-salaried). Moriurara is 34 years old and in his 18th year of Sumo. He trains and lives at Otake Beya (Stable--of which Oho [M18e] is also a member). He is 168 cm [5 feet 6 inches] tall and weighs 148 kg [326 pounds]. He has fought 758 bouts in 111 Basho and has a career record of 241-518-10 (absences). He has risen as high as Jd56w (Jonidan--Division 5--non salaried). No Rikishi loves his Sumo more than this man. As an American sports fan new to Sumo, constantly exposed to the fact that in American Professional Sports only the best make it to the top, and those less athletically endowed must fall by the wayside in an effort to get out of the way of the best, I find this (in spite of all the Medieval aspects of Sumo, the myriad issues that have plagued Stables, etc., etc.) aspect of the Sport quietly astonishing. This is a Rikishi who is living his dream, though he will probably never be a Yokozuna (or even a Sandanme). Now that Shonanzakura has lost his last fight, I have become a Moriurara fan for as long as he fights, which I hope will be as long as he wants to fight. And by the way, today he won!  

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Photos:

Photo of the day: Meisei employing a nodawa (throat) attack to keep Terunofuji at bay and off his mawashi (belt). The move also put the Yokozuna off balance and set up the the win via Katasukashi (Under Shoulder Swing Down) that sent the Yokozuna out of the dohyo (ring) to his 2nd loss. (IMAGE LINK CORRECTED JANUARY 21, 2022).

Nikkan Sports Day 12 Photo Feature here are photos today's Makuuchi matches, with selected Rikishi (wrestler) quotes. 

Sumo Forum's daily Photo Features are appearing on a one day delay at present

Sumo Forum Day 11 Photo Feature

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B. Notable and Quotable

Notable:

Injury News: Today Kaisei (M17w) dropped out of the Basho after injuring his ankle yesterday. He finishes 5-6-4 and Make-koshi (losing record). He will be demoted to Juryo (2nd Division)  The rest of the Basho will feature 19 matches per day.

The Basho came alive today as both leaders (Terunofuji and Mitakeumi were upset and 2nd Place Abi  (M6w) won. When the dust cleared there was a three way tie at the top (10-2), with Kotonowaka (M14e) one win off the pace. Mitakeumi will fight Abi tomorrow, while Terunofuji draws Takanosho. It's now anybody's "ball game" and should make absorbing Sumo for the last 3 days.

Congratulations to Onosho (whose win over Mitakeumi was his 8th), Hoshoryu (M6e), and Ishiura (M12e) on their 8th victories (Kachi-koshi and Rank promotion).

Commiserations to Chiyoshoma (M5w), Chiyotairyu (M12w), Yutakayama (M13w), and Ichiyamamoto (M14w), all now 4-8 (Make-koshi and Rank demotion).

Today's matches were completed in 5 minutes 20.4 seconds of fighting time, making the total for the first 12 days (235 matches) 42 minutes 57.1 seconds. At the same juncture in the November Basho (Tournament) the time was 51 minutes 16.0 seconds, in 239 matches. 

There were 9 Kimarite (finishing moves) used today,  for a total of 25 winning Kimarite in the first 12 days.  In November the number of Kimarite after 12 days was 29. Of the first 235 matches 118 have been won by the two dominant Kimarite (Yorikiri--Frontal Force Out, and Oshidashi--Frontal Push Out). 113 were used in the 1st 235 matches in November. 32 throws, sweeps, and swings have been used so far in this Basho. 29 were won by throws, sweeps, and swings in 239 matches in November.

Top Rankers were 3-3 today, slightly lowering their overall record to 41-35-8. In November they were 54-30 (CORRECTED JANUARY 20, 2022) after 12 days. The composition of the Top Rank (1 Yokozuna, 1 Ozeki, 2 Sekiwake, and 2 Komusubi) is now 6. In November it was 7.

Rank and Filers (Maegashira) were 2-2 against san'yaku today.  Their overall record is now 24-30 against their betters. In November it was 16-40 after 12 days.

The two Rookies split their matches today, making them 14-10 overall.  One of the wins was a forfeit. Both Rookies are within one win of Kachi-koshi (winning record and Rank promotion.

 

Today's Juryo Substitute, Kagayaki  (J1e) defeated Kaisei (M17w) by forfeit. Kagayaki earned his Kachi-koshi (8-4) and, because of his Juryo rank, automatically earns a promotion back to the Top Division.  The Juryo men are now 5-3 v the Top Division. 

This was only the 2nd time Kagayaki had been demoted to Juryo from Makuuchi since he first reached the Top Division in January of 2016. In his first Top Division Basho he was 4-11 and spent the next two Basho back in Juryo. He was then promoted back to Makuuchi (July 2016) and had been in the Top Division for 31 consecutive Basho until he was demoted for this one. He has been in Sumo since May 2010 and is a solid and dependable Rikishi who has never missed a match in 70 Basho and over 800 bouts. At age 27, he still has a lot of fight in him, and hopefully he will again be a staple of the Top Division for a long time to come.

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Quotable (all, except where specifically noted, are from Chris Sumo Youtube).

 "I was very pleased to beat the yokozuna, who is so strong. I will just concentrate on winning my remaining bouts." (Kyodo News)

Meisei, on his victory over Terunofuji

"I gave absolutely everything, And I'm delighted to beat a strong Yokozuna, which should give me real confidence." 

Meisei

"My poor form overall is not down to an injury or bad condition. It's just for some reason, my second or third step forward isn't coming off. And maybe that's getting me down. 

Shodai (O1w) on his victory over Hokutofuji (M4w). 

"Ahhh! What a waste. I was far too cautious when I should have just been smacking into him."

Hokutufuji, on what he considered a missed opportunity to defeat Shodai.

"Coach told me it would be best not to pull today, so I focused on my signature style. I'm only focusing on my Sumo and doing what I myself can.I haven't the time to think about Titles and returns to Komusubi."

Abi on his big win today. He now can focus on his opponent tomorrow, Mitakumi. The winner will keep control of his destiny.

"I need to attack more than that. But digging out the win from a tight situation is a welcome boost."

Kotonowaka (M14e) on his 9th victory. Welcome boost indeed. Before this day was over he would find himself in 2nd place, just one win off the lead, and with a chance for two very important matches at the end of the Basho.

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C. Condensed results (19 matches)

Key: Time of Match--s=seconds; Rank; Winner; Basho Record; Finishing Move;  Rank; Loser; Basho Record

Day 12

Partial or complete absences from this Basho

Wins-Losses-Absences

M7e---Takayasu  (0-0-15)

M8e---Hidenoumi (0-0-15)

O1e---Takakeisho (1-3-11) (including 1 forfeit loss) 

M9w---Shimanoumi (5-6-4) (including 1 forfeit loss)

M10e---Myogiryu (5-6-4) (including 1 forfeit loss)

M17w---Kaisei  (5-7-3) (including 1 forfeit loss)

-----  J1e  Kagayaki (8-4)     fusen       M17w Kaisei (5-7)

06.6s  M15e Wakamotoharu (7-5) yorikiri    M17e Kotoeko (8-4)

26.3s  M13e Chiyomaru (7-5)    yorikiri    M18e Oho (7-5)

01.5s  M12e Ishiura (8-4)      hikiotoshi  M14w Ichiyamamoto (4-8)

04.2s  M16w Tsurugisho (5-7)   yorikiri    M12w Chiyotairyu (4-8)

09.7s  M14e Kotonowaka (9-3)   uwatenage   M11e Sadanoumi (7-5)

03.2s  M16e Aoiyama (7-5)      okuridashi  M11w Terutsuyoshi (5-7)

06.4s  M9e  Chiyonokuni (2-10) oshitaoshi  M15w Tochinoshin (5-7)

18.7s  M4e  Okinoumi (3-9)     uwatenage   M10w Akua (3-9)

07.8s  M6e  Hoshoryu (8-4)     oshidashi   M3e  Tamawashi (7-5)

11.5s  M2e  Ura (6-6)          oshidashi   M13w Yutakayama (4-8)

178.4s M2w  Ichinojo (6-6)     yorikiri    M7w  Takarafuji (8-4)

06.7s  M1e  Wakatakakage (6-6) oshidashi   M8w  Tobizaru (5-7)

16.0s  M3w  Endo (5-7)         uwatenage   M1w  Kiribayama (5-7)

02.5s  K1w  Daieisho (4-8)     oshidashi   M5w  Chiyoshoma (4-8)

02.3s  M5e  Onosho (8-4)       hikiotoshi  S1e  Mitakeumi (10-2)

04.4s  M6w  Abi (10-2)         tsukidashi  S1w  Takanosho (6-6)

10.0s  O1w  Shodai (5-7)       hatakikomi  M4w  Hokutofuji (5-7)

04.2s  K1e  Meisei (5-7)       katasukashi Y1e  Terunofuji (10-2)

Source: Sumo Reference (text results) and Nikkansports.com length of bouts data (see result sources below)

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D. Finishing Moves (18 matches--235 total) Note: finishing move links below link to short NHK videos demonstrating the technique.  

Note: finishing move links below link to short NHK videos demonstrating the technique. 

Source: Sumo Ref. Bout Query.................D12;(All)(divide # by 2)

Frontal Force Out (Yorikiri).................4(55)

Frontal Push Out (Oshidashi).................4(63)

Over Arm Throw (Uwatenage)...................3(8)

Hand Pull Down (Hikiotoshi)..................2(12)

Slap Down (Hatakikomi).......................1(17)

Under Shoulder Swing Down (Katasukashi)......1(4)

Rear Push Out (Okuridashi)...................1(7)

Frontal Push Down (Oshitaoshi)...............1(6)

Frontal Thrust Out (Tsukidashi)..............1(8)

Fusen (Forfeit)..............................1(4)

Totals for Basho

Thrust Down (Tsukiotoshi)....................15

Frontal Crush Out (Yoritaoshi)...............9

Under Arm Throw (Shitatenage)................6

Pulling Over Arm Throw (Uwatedashinage)......5

Beltless Arm Throw (Sukuinage)...............4

Arm Lock Throw (Kotenage)....................2

Rear Push Down (Okuritaoshi).................2

Frontal Lift Out (Tsuridashi)................2

Leg Pick (Ashitori)..........................1

Minor Inner Foot Sweep (Kekaeshi)............1

Twisting Backward Knee Trip (Kirikaeshi).....1

Twist Down (Makiotoshi)......................1

Twisting Under Arm Throw (Shitatehineri).....1

Outside Leg Trip (Sotogake)..................1

Rear Foot Sweep (Susoharai)..................1

Frontal Thrust Down (Tsukitaoshi)............1

Non-Technique (Losing Technique)

Forward Step Out (Isamiashi).................1

Hand Touch Down (Tsukite)....................1

Out 10(144), Down 8(89), Non-technique 0(2), Forfeit 1(4)   

Frontal 10(137), Rear 1(8), Backward 0(1), Beltless 0(4), Minor Inner 0(1), Outside 0(1), Pulling 0(5), Twisting 0(2)  

Push 6(78), Force 4(55), Throw 3(26), Pull 2(12), Slap 1(17), Swing 1(4), Thrust 1(24), Crush 0(9), Lift 0(2), Pick 0(1), Sweep 0(2), Trip 0(2), Twist 0(1)    

Under 1(10), Over 3(13)   

Arm 3(26), Hand 2(12), Shoulder 1(4), Foot 0(2), Knee 0(1), Leg 0(1)  

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E. Match Time

Day 12 (18 matches)

Total Time: 5 minutes 20.4 seconds (320.4)

Longest Match: 178.4 s (Ichinojo[4] v Takarafuji)

Shortest Match: 1.5 s (Ishiura v Ichiyamamoto)

Average (18 matches): 17.8 s

Total (235 Matches)

Total Time: 42 minutes 57.1 seconds (2577.1)

Longest Match: 178.4 s (Ichinojo[4] v Takarafuji) (Day 12)

Shortest Match: 0.8 s (Hoshoryu v Takanosho) (Day 11)

Average (235 matches): 11.0 s 

Time/Matches Day 12(cumulative)

0-4.9 seconds:        7(83)  

5-9.9 seconds:        5(76)    

10-19.9 seconds:      4(46)

20-29.9 seconds:      1(19)

30-39.9 seconds:      0(4)

40-49.9 seconds:      0(3)

50-59.9 seconds:      0(2)

90-99.9 seconds:      0(1)

170-179.9 seconds:    1(1)

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F. Kachi-koshi/Make-koshi (8 or more wins--promotion in rank/8 or more losses--demotion)

Key: Basho Day on which the minimum record was achieved; Rikishi; Rank; Current Record

Kachi-koshi

Day 8: Mitakeumi (S1e) 10-2

Day 9: Terunofuji (Y1e) 10-2

Day 10: Abi (M6w) 10-2; Takarafuji (M7w) 8-4

Day 11: Kotonowaka (M14e) 9-3; Kotoeko (M17e) 8-4

Day 12: Onosho (M5e) 8-4; Hoshoru (M6e) 8-4; Ishiura (M12e) 8-4

Make-koshi

Day 8: Chiyonokuni (M9e) 2-10; Takakeisho (O1e) 1-3-11; Takayasu (M7e) 0-0-15; Hidenoumi (M8e) 0-0-15 

Day 9: Akua (M10w) 3-9

Day 10: Okinoumi (M4e) 3-9

Day 11: Daieisho (K1w) 4-8; Shimanoumi (M9w) 5-6-4; Myogiryu (M10e) 5-6-4

Day 12: Chiyoshoma (M5w) 4-8; Chiyotairyu (M12w) 4-8; Yutakayama (M13w) 4-8; Ichiyamamoto (M14w) 4-8; Kaisei (M17w) 5-7-3

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G1. Top Rank Wins (san'yaku--Yokozuna, Ozeki, Sekiwake, Komusubi)

G2. Maegashira v san'yaku Standings (Rank and File [M1-18] v san'yaku [Yokozuna, Ozeki, Sekiwake, Komusubi])

G3. Rookie

G4. Juryo Substitute Standings

G1. Top Rank Wins

10-2: Terunofuji (Y1e);  Mitakeumi (S1e)

6-6: Takanosho (S1w)

5-7: Shodai (O1w); Meisei (K1e)

4-8: Daieisho (K1w) 

1-3-8: Takakeisho (O1e) (including 1 forfeit loss) 

Day 12 Total: 41--35--8 (.539)

Day 11 Total: 38--32--7 (.543)

Day 10 Total: 36--28--6 (.563)

Day  9 Total: 34--24--5 (.586)

Day  8 Total: 30--22--4 (.577)

Day  7 Total: 27--19--3 (.587)

Day  6 Total: 23--17--2 (.575)

Day  5 Total: 21--13--1 (.618)

Day  4 Total: 17--11 (.607)

Day  3 Total: 14---7 (.667)

Day  2 Total:  9---5 (.643) 

Day  1 Total:  4---3 (.571)

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G2. Maegashira v san'yaku (defined as Komusubi, Sekiwake, Ozeki, and Yokozuna for these purposes) 

Day 12(cumulative)

*=Kinboshi--Gold Star Win over Yokozuna

Hoshoryu (M6e)      0-0(1-0)

Abi (M6w)           1-0(1-0)  

Tamawashi* (M3e)    0-0(4-2)

Ichinojo (M2w)      0-0(3-3)

Hokutofuji (M4w)    0-1(2-2)

Onosho (M5e)        1-0(2-2)

Kiribayama (M1w)    0-0(3-4)(including 1 forfeit win)

Ura (M2e)           0-0(3-4)

Endo (M3w)          0-0(2-3)

Wakatakakage (M1e)  0-0(2-5)

Okinoumi (M4e)      0-0(1-3)

Chiyoshoma (M5w)    0-1(0-2)

Win and Loss by Days 

Maegashira 4, san'yaku 6, 2 tied

Day  12 Total 24-30 (.444)

Day  11 Total 22-28 (.440)

Day  10 Total 19-27 (.413)

Day   9 Total 16-26 (.381)

Day   8 Total 15-23 (.395)

Day   7 Total 13-21 (.382)

Day   6 Total 12-18 (.400)

Day   5 Total  9-17 (.346)

Day   4 Total  7-13 (.350)

Day   3 Total  4-11 (.267)

Day   2 Total  3--7 (.300)

Day   1 Total  2--3 (.400)

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G3. Rookies

F=fusen (forfeit)

Wakamotoharu (M15e) (1-0; 1-1; 2-1; 2-2; 2-3; 2-4; 3-4; 4-4; 5-4; 5-5; 6-5F; 7-5)

Oho (M18e) (1-0; 2-0; 3-0; 3-1; 3-2; 4-2; 4-3; 5-3; 6-3; 7-3; 7-4; 7-5)

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G4. Juryo (2nd Division) Substitutes

Day 1: None

Day 2: None

Day 3: None

Day 4: None

Day 5: Kagayaki (J1e) (1-0; 3-2) defeated Oho (M18e) (3-2) 

Day 6: Kaisei (M17w) (4-2) defeated Bushozan (J1w) (0-1; 0-6)

Day 7: Kotoeko (M17e) (5-2) defeated Nishikigi (J2e) (0-1; 3-4)

Day 8: Kotoshoho (J2w) (1-0; 7-1) defeated Tsurugisho (M16w) (3-5) 

Day 9: Daiamami (J3e) (1-0; 5-4) defeated Aoiyama (M16e) (4-5)

Day 10: Tochinoshin (M15w) (5-5) defeated Shohozan (J3w) (0-1;3-7)

Day 11: Kotokuzan (J4w) (1-0; 7-4) defeated Oho (M18e) (7-4)

Day 12: Kagayaki (J1e) (2-0; 8-4) defeated Kaisei (M17w) (5-6-4) by forfeit

Total:

5-3 (including 1 forfeit win)

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H. Results

Day 12: January 20: (Sumo Reference)--includes Standings--see left side of the page

Makuuchi (Top Division) Basho Cumulative Win-Loss Martrix (Sumo Reference)

Juryo (Second Division) Basho Cumulative Win-Loss Matrix (Sumo Reference)

Sekitori  Basho Cumulative Win-Loss Matrix (Makuuchi and Juryo--all salaried rikishi)

Day 12:  (Japanese Sumo Association) (click on rikishi name for relevant data including percentage of each Kimarite (finishing) move used, rank and full results of last 5 tournaments, all on one page)

Day 12 Time of Each Match: (nikkansports.com) (in Japanese,use Google Translate) Matches are in order from lowest rank to highest. 

Day 12 Heya Watch  (wins by Stable) Cumulative daily; all Divisions added together (source: sumoforum.net Hatsu Heya Watch thread)

Day 12 Kensho (Cumulative bonus envelopes by Rikishi) (source: sumoforum.net Hatsu Kensho thread). 

Terunofuji (Y1e) lost but remains in the lead with 261.  Mitakeumi (S1e) lost but remains in 2nd place with 104. Shodai (O1w) added 9 envelopes and remains in 3rd place with 65. Each envelope represents about $632 US, although it actually contains half that amount (See introduction for explanation).

Absent rikishi information (Japanese Sumo Association)

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I. Articles:

Tachiai.org Day 12 Preview

Tachiai.org Day 12 Recap

Kyodo News 

Terunofuji, Mitakeumi both lose, fall into 3-way tie with Abi

Nikkansports.com carries the most exhaustive coverage of Sumo that I have seen. It publishes multiple daily articles about the Basho.

All coverage is in Japanese and can be accessed from the Nikkan Sports News Page. It can be easily (if not well) translated by Google Translate, which can be easily attached to your browser for seamless "translation." It is the next best thing to being able to read Japanese.

Google Translate.

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January 2022 (Hatsu) Basho (Tournament)

Introduction and Previews (including 2 Fred Pinkerton height x weight scatter plots)--links to all player information (ranking, prefecture or country of origin, date of birth, stable height, weight)

Day 1; Day 2; Day 3; Day 4; Day 5

Day 6; Day 7; Day 8; Day 9; Day 10

Day 11; Day 12; Day 13; Day 14; Day 15

Summary; Cumulative Statistics; Selected Comparisons with November 2021 Basho and Index to all Videos and Photos (Scroll to the bottom of the page)

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