January 2022 Basho (Hatsu)--DAY 4--January 12, 2022
Links to selected Basho (Tournament) Blog Posts--March 2020--Present
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January 2022 (Hatsu) Basho
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Day 4--January 12, 2022
Recap and statistics
A. Video and Photos:
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 4 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.
Shodai is on the right. While Wakatakakage was judged the winner by the Gyogi (referee), a mono-ii (Judges Conference) reversed the decision. Watch Wakatakage's feet closely as he pushes Shodai out. He stepped out before Shodai was pushed out. This is a non-technique charged to Wakatakage. It is called Isamiashi (see below for a NHK video explanation of the non-technique), literally, according to the NHK highlights, "jumping the gun."
3. Mitakeumi (S1e) (3-0--4-0) v Meisei (K1e) (2-1--2-2) (Match Video) Mitakeumi is on the left. Here the Gyoji adjudged Mitakeumi the winner but another mono--ii determined that both men went out simultaneously. An immediate rematch was ordered. The video shows both matches
Abi 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.
Includes footage from selected matches in Divisions 1 (Makuuchi), 2 (Juryo), and 3 (Makushita--non salaried).
2. Best lower division bouts Division 4 (Sandanme), 5 (Jonidan), and 6 (Jonokuchi)--all non salaried.
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Photos:
Nikkan Sports Day 4 Photo Feature: There 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
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B. Notable and Quotable
Notable:
First the bad news. Takakeisho (O1e) has dropped out of the Basho (Tournament) due to an ankle injury suffered in his loss yesterday. He has now been forced to drop out of four of his last ten Basho due to injury. He has not finished three consecutive Basho since March 2020 (when he finished 7-8). He will be Kadoban again in the March 2022 Basho, meaning he must achieve Kachi-koshi (a winning record) or he will lose his Ozeki rank. Since March 2020, he has kept his rank with 8-4-[3 absences], 10-5 (after 2-8-5) , and 8-7 (after 1-2-12). During that period he has also won a Yusho (Championship)--13-2 with a playoff win against then Komusubi ranked Terunofuji, and three Jun-Yusho's (all with 12-3 records). One of those was a playoff loss to then Ozeki ranked Terunofuji. It will be interesting to see how he rebounds in March.
After his first relatively easy win of the Basho (Tournament), Terunofuji (Y1e) had his most difficult match today, 26 seconds of back and forth, with the Champion teetering at the tawara (rice straw bales), but he dug deep and came back to win, upping his record to 4-0. It was his 22nd consecutive victory. If you look closely at the Chris Sumo video, you will see that Taru is not exactly helpless from a position where he seems to be teetering. But he has been tested in three of his first four matches. Today he won with his fourth different Kimarite (finishing move).
There are 5 unbeaten Rikishi left after four days, Terunofuji, Mitakeumi, Onosho (M5e), Abi (M6w), and Myogiryu (M10). With Rookie Oho (M18e) dropping out of the ranks of the unbeaten today, there are now 8 Rikishi at 3-1.
The other Ozeki Shodai (O1w) has one of the weakest 3-1 records you will see. Sandwiched around his one decisive win was a victory snatched from the jaws of defeat, and today, when he was thoroughly out fought by luckless Wakatakakage, who accidentally stepped out while escorting Shodai out. At this rate, there may be two Kadoban Ozeki when the March Basho begins.
And speaking of Ozeki, there might be a new one in March. Mitakeumi looked to have won a tough bout with Meisei, but a mono-ii judged it too close to call. The now 4-0 Sekiwaki 1 East then showed that he means business in his attempt to reach the 13 wins he needs for Ozeki promotion by dismantling his opponent in the rematch. He is looking very determined at the moment, and may be in some very big matches next week.
Today's matches were completed in 3 minutes 36.7 seconds of fighting time, making the total for the first four days (79 matches) 12 minutes 0.8 seconds. At the same juncture in the November Basho (Tournament) the time was 20 minutes 41.6 seconds, also in 79 matches.
There were 9 Kimarite (finishing moves) used today, as well as one forfeit and one non-technique (error charged to the loser) for a total of 17 winning Kimarite in the first four days. In November the number after four days was 19. Of the first 79 matches 39 have been won by the two dominant Kimarite (Yorikiri--Frontal Force Out, and Oshidashi--Frontal Push Out). 35 of the first 79 matches in November were won by those Kimarite. 10 throws and swings have been used so far in this Basho. 11 were won by throws and scoops in November.
Top Rankers were 3-4 (one of the defeats was Takakeisho's forfeit) today to slightly diminish their overall record to 17-11. In November they were 19-9 after four days. The composition of the Top Rank (1 Yokozuna, 1 Ozeki, 2 Sekiwake, and 2 Komusubi) will shrink by one beginning tomorrow .
Rank and Filers (Maegashira) won their first Day today (3-2), with Kiribayama's (M1w) forfeit win over Takakeisho helping them over the line against their san'yaku (Top Rank) opponnents. Their overall record is now 7-13 against their betters. In November it was 5-15 after four days.
The two Rookies lost their matches today, making them 5-3 overall. It was Oho's first loss.
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Quotable (all, except where specifically noted, are from Chris Sumo Youtube).
"He's not going to be fit to compete (again) in this tournament. "I want him to focus on his rehab so he'll be ready in time for the Spring Grand Tournament (in March)." (Kyodo News).
Tokiwayama (JSA), Takakeisho's (O1e) stable master, regarding Takakeisho's injury.
"I just couldn't pull it off. But it was nice to fight in that special final bout (of the Day) atmosphere."
Ura on coming up just short against Terunofuji
"Somehow I got the win. I had no more than an inkling his foot might have gone out."
Shodai, on his win over Wakatakakage.
"It was a close one for sure. And I was the one praying for a rematch, so I could beat him properly."
Mitakeumi, on his win over Meisei.
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C. Condensed results (20 matches)
Key: Time of Match--s=seconds; Rank; Winner; Basho Record; Finishing Move; Rank; Loser; Basho Record
Day 4
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)
10.6s M16e Aoiyama (2-2) oshidashi M18e Oho (3-1)
08.2s M17e Kotoeko (3-1) yorikiri M16w Tsurugisho (0-4)
26.7s M17w Kaisei (2-2) yorikiri M15w Tochinoshin (1-3)
09.2s M14e Kotonowaka (3-1) yoritaoshi M15e Wakamotoharu (2-2)
11.7s M13e Chiyomaru (3-1) hatakikomi M14w Ichiyamamoto (2-2)
01.7s M13w Yutakayama (3-1) hatakikomi M12e Ishiura (2-2)
10.0s M11w Terutsuyoshi (2-2) tsukiotoshi M12w Chiyotairyu (0-4)
10.3s M10e Myogiryu (4-0) sukuinage M10w Akua (0-4)
14.5s M9w Shimanoumi (2-2) uwatedashinage M11e Sadanoumi (2-2)
16.7s M7w Takarafuji (3-1) yorikiri M8w Tobizaru (2-2)
03.9s M6w Abi (4-0) oshidashi M9e Chiyonokuni (0-4)
09.9s M5e Onosho (4-0) yoritaoshi M6e Hoshoryu (2-2)
16.1s M4w Hokutofuji (2-2) uwatedashinage M5w Chiyoshoma (1-3)
07.9s M3e Tamawashi (3-1) yorikiri M4e Okinoumi (0-4)
07.7s M2w Ichinojo (2-2) oshidashi K1w Daieisho (1-3)
02.4s S1e Mitakeumi (4-0) oshidashi K1e Meisei (2-2)
15.7s M3w Endo (2-2) shitatenage S1w Takanosho (2-2)
----- M1w Kiribayama (1-3) fusen O1e Takakeisho (1-3)
07.2s O1w Shodai (3-1) isamiashi M1e Wakatakakage (0-4)
26.3s Y1e Terunofuji (4-0) tsukitaoshi M2e Ura (1-3)
Source: Sumo Reference (text results) and Nikkansports.com length of bouts data (see result sources below)
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D. Finishing Moves (19 matches--79 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.
Frontal Force Out (Yorikiri).................4(18)
Frontal Push Out (Oshidashi).................4(21)
Slap Down (Hatakikomi).......................2(7)
Pulling Over Arm Throw (Uwatedashinage)......2(3)
Frontal Crush Out (Yoritaoshi)...............2(3)
Under Arm Throw (Shitatenage)................1(2)