I've been bad about recaps lately, but that changes today. Hopefully I can keep up and do one every day the rest of the way. Some notes before we get started today...
- Goeido suffered an ankle injury on day 1 and has been ruled out the rest of the way. So much for being the only healthy ozeki, right?
- Tomokaze suffered a dislocated knee & ligament damage on day 2 and will be out for at least a year, according to Oguruma oyakata. Next time we see him may be all the way down in Makush[i]ta or perhaps as low as Sandamne.
That said, let's have at it for day 5.
- Terutsuyoshi (2-2) & Daishomaru (1-3) lead off the Makuuchi action today. Terutsuyoshi is too eager off the tachi-ai and gets himself into a very bad position on the edge of the ring. All Daishomaru has to do is gently push him out, and he does. Both go to 2-3.
- Wakatakakage's withdrawal from the tournament is confirmed now, and thus Kagayaki gets a fusensho win to go to 3-2. Have to feel bad for Wakatakakage, who was making a big impact in his first Makuuchi tournament at 4-0, now he's going back down to Juryo with a 4-1-10 record (essentially 4-11). Hopefully we see him again very soon.
- Moving on from that sadness, we have a pair of 1-3 rikishi looking to stay in Makuuchi as Daishoho faces Takanosho. Evenly matched at the tachi-ai, but Takanosho seizes control and pushes Daishoho out. Takanosho's hopes of staying in the division brighen a bit, while it's not looking good at all for the now 1-4 Daishoho.
- Pair of 2-2's square off next as Nishikigi takes on Chiyotairyu. Chiyotairyu gets right to work with his slaps and it's enough to send Nishikigi backwards and out.
- Ishiura (1-3) needs to step it up, and he'll hope to do it against Chiyomaru (2-2). Ishiura just bounces off Chiyomaru and that pretty much spelled the beginning of the end for him, as Chiyomaru easily slaps him out.
- Now a bout of two rikishi going in opposite directions. Kotoshogiku (0-4) looks like he's on his way out, while Shodai (4-0) has established himself as an early contender. Kotoshogiku shows more fight than he has in the tournament so far, gets the advantage, and pushes Shodai out! Is this the start of a fightback for Kotoshogiku? As for Shodai, he'll be frustrated to lose like he did today and that drops him out of the unbeaten ranks and into the 1-loss pack.
- Shimanoumi (2-2) steps in against Sadanoumi (3-1) next. They jockey for position in the middle in the early going, but Sadanoumi is able to get the upper hand with some good movement and pushes Shimanoumi out.
- Coming off that tongue twister of a bout, we get a pair of 3-1's next as Shohozan battles Yutakayama. Shohozan comes on strong early, but Yutakayama turns him around to eventually take him out.
- Tsurugisho (3-1) gets set to do battle with Kotoeko (0-4) next. Tsurugisho using the long reach to control the action at the start, but he slips and falls! Kotoeko was cunning enough to make Tsurugisho move, and he was rewarded with the victory.
- Aoiyama (3-1) has had a nice start to the tournament, but he's gotta do battle with not just Enho (3-1), but the crowd which favors him by a considerable margin. This is another big size mismatch, but Enho shows no fear by going toe to toe with him! Enho's toughness might have surprised Aoiyama, because the big Bulgarian gets off balance and his hand hits the clay! Enho wins by Hikiotoshi and goes to 4-1.
- Onosho (1-3) vs Kotoyuki (3-1) next. Kotoyuki lands a few good slaps early, but when that doesn't move a rikishi out, what is he to do? Onosho shows him what he can do, and uses a good push attack to send Kotoyuki flying out.
- Tamawashi & Ryuden are both 2-2 and this could be an early crossroads bout for them. Tamawashi was in control throughout, gradually gaining control and pushing Ryuden out.
- Hokutofuji & Asanoyama square off in this battle of 3-1 Komusubi. Asanoyama gets off far better than Hokutofuji, and is in full control, lifting his opponent out. Asanoyama winner by Yorikiri.
- Abi & Endo are both 1-3 and underperforming. Who wants to stay at Komusubi more? Abi goes on the attack and lands a big shove immediately and sends Endo flying out. Good show from Abi who needs to be able to do that more often to get back on track...maybe I spoke too soon, because the judges are calling for a mono-ii! The judges review it, and in the end the decision stands. Abi winner.
- This was gonna be Daieisho vs Tochinoshin next, but instead it's the announcement that Tochinoshin is out with a rib cartilage injury suffered in his day 4 win over Takarafuji. Thus ends Tochinoshin's attempt to try and regain Ozeki status. If he doesn't return to try and post a decent record, it's very likely he will be a maegashira in January. That's if he doesn't retire.
- Mitakeumi (2-2) is sporting a bandage above his right eye as he steps in against Okinoumi (1-3). If Mitakeumi is going to make a run at Ozeki, it has to start now. Okinoumi keeps Mitakeumi on the back foot for the majority of the bout, and is able to lift Mitakeumi out of the ring. Both go to 2-3, and this could easily spell the end of any thoughts of Ozeki for Mitakeumi.
- Meisei (3-1) looks to keep his good start going against Takayasu (2-2). Takayasu was on the front foot for the entire bout, but just could not put Meisei away. He paid for it as Meisei changed Takayasu's momentum and forced him off balance, knocking the ozeki to the clay! Victory for Meisei who goes to 4-1!
- Takakeisho (3-1) moves in to face off with Takarafuji (1-3).Takakeisho gets off okay, but he slips! Takarafuji gets the win, pretty much by default.
- Main Event time! Myogiryu (2-2) looks for the big upset against Hakuho (3-1). Hakuho gets off well, Myogiryu goes off balance and the hands hit the clay. Hakuho wins, but is it just me or did Hakuho favor his left ankle a little bit as Myogiryu hit the clay? Regardless, Hakuho goes to 4-1.
A look at the leaderboard shows us that we have zero unbeaten rikishi left. Instead, we have 8 at the top at 4-1. Unfortunately, one of them (Wakatakakage) is confirmed out...so really we have 7 at the top (Hakuho, Asanoyama, Meisei, Enho, Sadanoumi, Yutakayama, and Shodai). Down at the bottom, while we have no winless non-kyujo rikishi, we have five at 1-4 (Endo, Kotoeko, Kotoshogiku, Ishiura, and Daishoho).
There are still many twists to be had with 10 days of competition still remaining. Who among the pack will establish themselves as the man to beat? Will anyone spring a surprise? Join us tomorrow for Day 6 of the 2019 Kyushu Basho.
Hakkeyoi!!!