March 2022 Basho (Haru)--DAY 14--March 26, 2022
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March 2022 (Haru) Basho
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Day 14--March 26, 2022
Makuuchi [Top Division] Basho Standings (still in mathematical contention for outright Yusho [Championship])
Key: Rikishi; Rank; Number of wins (n* = fusen--forfeit) (Strike through=eliminated from contention)
Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Takayasu(M7e) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 10 11 12 12
Wakatakakage(S1e) 1 2 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 11 12
Kotonowaka(M6w) 1 2 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 9 9 10 11
Mitakeumi(O2e) 1 2 3 4 4 5 6 7 8 8 9 9 10 10
Ichinojo(M2e) 0 1 2 2 3 4 4 5 5 6 7 8 9 9
Kiribayama(M4e) 1 2 2 3 4 4 5 5 6 7 7 8 9 9
Kotoeko (M12e) 0 1 1 2 3 4 4 5 6 7 7 7 8 9
Tochinoshin(M15w) 1 1 1 2 3 4 4 5 6 7 8 8 8 9
Nishikigi (M16e) 1 2 3 3 3 4 5 5 6 7 7 7 8 9
Takakeisho(O1w) 1 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 6 7 8 8 8 8
Wakamotoharu(M9w) 0 1 2 2 3 4 5 5 6 6 7 8 8 8
Endo (M4w) 0 1 2 3*3 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 7 7
Tomorrow's match ups
Takayasu (M7e) (12-2) v Abi (S1w) (7-7)
Wakatakakage (S1e) (12-2) v Shodai (O1e) (8-6)
Kotonowaka (M6w) (11-3) v Hoshoru (K1w) (8-6)
Wakatakage beat Takayasu on Day 11. The only way they could fight again would be in a playoff. Both of them are facing the highest ranked Rikishi available.
Takayasu and Wakatakakage have already beaten Kotonowaka and could only face him again in a playoff.
Kotonowaka is facing the highest ranked Rikishi available.
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Juryo (Division 2) Basho Standings (still in mathematical contention for outright Yusho [Championship])
Key: Rikishi; Rank; Number of wins
Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Ryuden (J13e) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8 8 9 10 11 12
Midorifuji (J6e) 1 2 3 4 5 5 6 7 7 8 9 9 10 11
Azumaryu (J2e) 0 1 2 3 3 4 5 6 7 7 8 9 10 10
Mitoryu (J7e) 1 1 2 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 9 9 10
Kitanowaka (J10e) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7 8 9 9 9 9 10
Oho (J1e) 1 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 9
Enho (J11w) 1 2 3 3 3 4 4 5 6 7 8 9 9 9
Tomorrow's match ups
Midorifuji (J6e) (11-3) v Churanoumi (J10w) (5-9)
Ryuden has already beaten Midorifuji. They can only meet again in a playoff.
Why Midorifuji is not matched up with a better Rikishi is a bit of a mystery. There are three possibilities for Rikishi that have a better record than Churanoumi who A) he has not already fought; B) are not stable mates; or C) are within his Rank Range (based on who is the actual match up): They are Enho (J11w) (9-5); Bushozan (J9w) (6-8); and Hiradoumi (J11e) (6-8).
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Recap and statistics
A. Video and Photo
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 14 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.
2. Takakeisho (O1w) (8-5--8-6) v Wakatakakage (S1e) (11-2--12-2) (Match Video) Takakeisho is on the right.
3. Mitakeumi (O2w) (10-3--10-4) v Kotonowaka (M6w) (10-3--11-3) (Match Video) Mitakeumi is on the right.
4. This was a Juryo (2nd Division) Match
The day after a bitter loss to Midorifuji (J6e), his third consecutive loss, which taken together knocked him from 2nd Division Lead to an also ran, 21 year old Kitanowaka, in his 2nd sekitori (salary level) match, took out his frustration on 25 year old ex-university star Tohakuryu, who desperately needed a win to keep his Kachi-koshi (winning score) hopes alive. If Tohkuryu had won, winning tomorrow would mean an 8-7 finish and at least promotion to J2, from where another winning score in May could have promoted him to Makuuchi (Top Division). The loss meant a demotion in rank (how far depends on whether he finishies 6-9 or 7-8), to a place from which only a Yusho (Championship) in the next Basho will get him there. Kitanowaka's win kept his Yusho hopes alive until, three matches later, Ryuden (J13e) snuffed them out with his 12th win.
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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.
A look at the key bouts on a highly eventful Day 14, with some unique insights from a sumo legend and bonus lower division footage.
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Photos:
Nikkan Sports Day 14 Photo Feature: There are photos today's Makuuchi matches, with selected Rikishi quotes. (Japanese). Today's feature includes photos from the Division 3 and 4 Championship matches.
Mainichi Shimbun Day 14 photo feature (10 photos)
Japanese Sumo Association Twitter Feed provides a steady stream of great photos throughout the Basho. Look for the dates on the tweets for the latest ones.
Sumo Forum's daily Photo Features are appearing on a one day delay at present
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B. Notable and Quotable
Note: Rikishi names that are not linked are those who are linked above in the videos.
Notable:
The Basho had a wild day today, with Wakatakakage (S1e) winning (his 9th win in the last 10 matches) while leader Takayasu (M7e) lost, leaving the top spot knotted at 12-2. Meanwhile Kotonowaka (M6w) won to move within one of the leaders at 11-3. And Mitakeumi (O2w) was eliminated by Kotonowaka as his record fell to 10-4. So it will all come down to the final match ups (see above) with Wakatakakage and Takayasu having control of their fate. A win for either and they either win the Basho or play off. Kotonowaka needs to win and get some help. There are possibilities for a two way or even three way playoff. It should be great to watch.
Today is also "Darwin" Day, the day where each Rikishi that is 7-7 must win in order to earn a Kachi-koshi (winning record) and promotion. Loss means Make-koshi (losing record) and demotion.
Here are tomorrow's "Darwin" matches. In each, either one or both Rikishi are involved.
R=Rookie
Both Rikishi
Shimanoumi (M10e) 7-7 v Kotokuzan (R) (M16w) 7-7
One Rikishi
Abi (S1w) 7-7 v Takayasu (M7e) 12-2
Hoshoryu (K1e) 7-7 v Kotonowaka (M6w) 11-3
Meisei (M3w) 1-14 v Chiyotairyu (M12w) 7-7
Hokutofuji (M6e) 8-6 v Yutakayama (M14w) 7-7
Terutsuyoshi (M11w) 7-7 v Kagayaki (M17e) 6-8
Ichiyamamoto (M17w) 7-7 v Hidenoumi (J2w) 8-6
Kachi-koshi (8 wins) today:
Shodai (O1e)
Hokutofuji (M6e)
Tobizaru (M9e)
Terutsuyoshi (M11w)
Kotoshoho (M14e)
Make-koshi (8 losses) today:
Chiyotairyu (M12w)
Kagayaki (M17e)
For the Day: (san'yaku)
Yokozuna Terunofuji (Y1e)--Out of the Basho with right heel and left knee problems
Ozeki: 1-2: Shodai (W) 8-6; Takakeisho (L) 8-6 Mitakeumi (L) is now 10-4
Sekiwake: 1-1 Wakatakakage (W) 12-2, Abi (L) 7-7
Komusubi: 1-1 Takanosho 4-10 (L) Hoshoryu 7-7 (W)
Through 14 Days Top Rankers are 59-45-8 (absences) (including 1 forfeit)
Through 14 Days in January: 46-42-10
The Maegashira (Rank and File) won 3 of 5 to san'yaku today. Takayasu (M7w) won and Kotonowaka (M6w) split against Ozeki in crucial matches. In the Day standings Maegashira are now 3-7-4 against the Top Rankers
Through 14 Days: Maegashira are 29-42 v san'yaku
Through 14 Days in January: 30-34
Rookie Kotokuzan (M16w) (7-7) defeated Chiyotairyu (M12w) (6-8) . He needs to win his last match to earn Kashi-koshi and be promoted, which means he would stay in the Top Division. A losing record will almost certainly drop him back to Juryo (2nd Division). Today's win doomed Chiyotairyu to a Make-koshi (losing record) but probably will not drop him out of the Top Division.
In today's Juryo Substitute match Hidenoumi (J2w) (8-6, 1-1 in Juryo Substitute matches) defeated Kagayaki (M17e) (6-8), continuing a trend of dominance in this Basho by the 2nd Division men. They have won 5 of the 8 Substitute bouts, and in this one, a hungry J2w, one who has bounced back and forth between Makuuchi (Top Division) and Juryo four times, the last due to what was, in the end, a baseless accusation of gambling that led to suspension, won a long (17 seconds) battle with a low ranking Maegashira who has just regained Top Division status after one Juryo Basho. Before that he was a Top Division Maegashira (reaching as high as M3e) for the previous 32 Basho going back to July 2016, during a career that began in July 2010. They are both "fringe" Top Division men at this time, but their stories, as read by the white and black circles in their records, show yet another side to Sumo, one in which matches like these are just as crucial, in their own way, as matches for the Championship. Will Hidenoumi, with his newly minted Kachi-koshi (winning record) from a high ranked Juryo position, be promoted to Top Division? Will Kagayaki, with his disappointing Make-koshi (losing record), his eighth consecutive Top Division Maki-koshi, punctuated only by his 8-7 Juryo record that brought him back), be demoted to Juryo? Only time will tell.
There were 11 Kimarite (finishing moves) used today, including 1 throw. Two moves were used for the first time today:
Over Thigh Scooping Body Drop (Komatasukui)
Rear Push Down (Okuritaoshi)
Through 14 Days: 29 winning and 1 non-winning (losing); 9 throws, one swing.
Through 14 Days in January: 27 winning and 2 non-winning (losing); 7 throws, one swing.
Average Fighting Time
Through 14 Days: 10.2 seconds (286 matches)
Through 14 Days in January: 10.9 seconds (272 matches)
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Quotable:
"I let him get into his groove and only my persistence dug me out.
Shodai (O1e), on his 7th consecutive victory, this time over Takaysu (M7e). The win took Shodai out of "Kadoban" (chance of losing record that would cost him Ozeki rank) and put crimp in Takayusu's quest for his first Top Division Yusho.
"All I was conscious of was staying low."
Wakatakakage (S1e) on his victory over Takakeisho (O1w). The Ozeki has now lost 3 straight since clinching his Kachi-koshi (8 wins) and escaing "Kadoban."
"I went in with the confidence to make my power tell on him. And mentally, I'm not getting unsettled"
Kotonowaka (M6w) on his conquest of Mitakeumi (O2w), ending the hopes of the Ozeki for a second consecutive Yusho which, if achieved, would have left him only a Yusho in May away from Yokozuna. It also kept Kotonowaka's Yusho hopes alive.
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C. Condensed results (21 matches)
Key: Time of Match--s=seconds; Rank; Winner; Basho Record; Finishing Move; Rank; Loser; Basho Record
Day 14
Partial or complete absences from this Basho
*=Re-entered the Basho on Day 11
**=Re-entered the Basho on Day 12
Ishiura* (M5w) (2-6-6) (including 1 forfeit loss)
Terunofuji (Y1e) (3-3-8) (including 1 forfeit loss)
Chionokuni** (M13w) (5-5-4) (including 1 forfeit loss)
17.2s J2w Hidenoumi (8-6) oshidashi M17e Kagayaki (6-8)
02.3s M17w Ichiyamamoto (7-7) okuridashi M13w Chiyonokuni (5-5-4)
03.6s M16w Kotokuzan (7-7) oshidashi M12w Chiyotairyu (6-8)
14.7s M11e Myogiryu (6-8) yoritaoshi M14w Yutakayama (7-7)
08.5s M16e Nishikigi (9-5) oshidashi M10e Shimanoumi (7-7)
07.3s M14e Kotoshoho (8-6) yoritaoshi M10w Aoiyama (7-7)
17.0s M15w Tochinoshin (9-5) yorikiri M9w Wakamotoharu (8-6)
07.6s M11w Terutsuyoshi (8-6) komatasukui M8e Chiyoshoma (5-9)
12.5s M12e Kotoeko (9-5) sukuinage M8w Sadanoumi (4-10)
30.0s M5e Takarafuji (5-9) sukuinage M15e Akua (3-11)
12.3s M9e Tobizaru (8-6) oshitaoshi M4e Kiribayama (9-5)
16.4s M13e Chiyomaru (5-9) oshitaoshi M3w Meisei (1-13)
02.5s M2w Tamawashi (7-7) hatakikomi M3e Onosho (5-9)
02.9s M1e Daieisho (7-7) tsukidashi M2e Ichinojo (9-5)
08.2s M5w Ishiura (2-6-6) okuritaoshi M1w Ura (3-11)
04.6s M7w Okinoumi (5-9) katasukashi K1e Takanosho (4-10)
02.9s K1w Hoshoryu (7-7) hatakikomi M4w Endo (7-7)
10.4s M6e Hokutofuji (8-6) oshidashi S1w Abi (7-7)
06.7s O1e Shodai (8-6) sukuinage M7e Takayasu (12-2)
03.1s M6w Kotonowaka (11-3) oshidashi O2w Mitakeumi (10-4)
08.0s S1e Wakatakakage (12-2) yorikiri O1w Takakeisho (8-6)
Source: Sumo Reference (text results) and Nikkansports.com length of bouts data (see result sources below)
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D. Finishing Moves (21 matches--289 Total) Note: finishing move links below link to short NHK videos demonstrating the technique.
Source: Sumo Ref. BoutQuery..D14;(All)(Note: I have adjusted the query so that it reflects only wins. There is no longer any need to divide the linked bout query results by two. (Corrected March 23, 2022)
Frontal Push Out (Oshidashi).................5(62)