04 July 2021

Sumo returns to the screens again for the Nagoya Basho. This is the 
first time a sumo tournament/basho has been held outside of Tokyo 
since Covid sprang up. It is promising to be a real nail biting basho 
with lots at stake. The greatest wrestler of all time based on 
statistics alone, Hakuho returns to fight after a knee operation. He 
is currently under a warning to perform from the Yokuzuna Council (a 
collection of old men who judge atheletes for 'honour' purposes) and 
this might prove to be his last basho. The body is getting old and he 
has met his target of being fit for the Olympics so that he can take 
part in the ceremonial side. Alongside this, there are 2 wrestlers 
with the opportunity to gain the highest rank - Terunofuji and 
Takakeisho. Terunofuji has stormed through the past 6 basho and has 
replaced the void left by the highest rankers/Yokozuna, Hakuho and the 
now retired Kakuryu. He has won 2 basho in a row which lead to his 
being re-promoted to the second highest rank, Ozeki and then proving 
it was no fluke. His rise after falling so low on the banzuke 
(rankings) has been amazing. Will he reach the top? I certainly hope 
so. Takakeisho has been improving since he first became an Ozeki. He 
is apparently in with a chance for becoming Yokozuna but I am not 
entirely sure why other than effort. Typically a wrestler has to win 2 
basho in a row to gain Yokozuna but that has not always been the case. 
There are certainly exceptions with at least one never having won a 
basho at all. There are also some suspicions that the Yokozuna council 
are keen to see a Japanese Yokozuna again after Kisenosato. The most 
recent have been Mongolians although they have all gained the Japanese 
citizenship necessary to remain working for the Japanese Sumo 
Association as a stable master. Alongside that, there are plenty of 
other reasons to keep watching and supporting each wrestler to 
gambarize and do their best forwards thinking sumo! 

Well it was certainly an exciting end to today's bouts. All 3 Ozeki 
and the Yokozuna won their respective bouts. All were exciting and not 
easy wins.

Takakeisho faced a cheeky Daieisho who decided to use the 
slapping push and thrust technique favoured by Takakeisho to get 
Takakeisho to the edge of the ring/Dohyo. A sudden side step from 
Takakeisho sent Daieisho out of the Dohyo. 

Terunofuji faced Endo. Both kept low while trying to grab something. 
Bit of spinning around like a rugby scrum with an overly strong prop 
on one side. Eventually Terunofuji rose up and got an arm lock on 
Endo's right arm. It was a case of shoving then until Endo was out of 
the Dohyo. 

Meisei gave Hakuho a good run for his money today. Straight into belt 
grabs from the tachiai (initial launch towards one another at the 
start of the bout) and Meisei had a few good goes at making Hakuho 
sweat. Both swing each other around towards the straw bales at the 
edge of the Dohyo. Then Hakuho uses his left leg to raise Meisei's 
right leg and pulls him down. At the same time, Hakuho rotates so 
Meisei hits the clay first. A nice technical move which gave a clear 
outcome instead of usual mono-ii. The crowd errupted for this one. It 
certainly did not feel like Hakuho having control for the whole match. 
We shall see what happens with the remaining 14 bouts. Hakuho did not 
have a good face on the win but is keen to remain I think. Endo may 
prove troublesome tomorrow for him.

A nice starting day to the basho with some good bouts. It is great 
having a crowd thirsty for some sumo too. The atmosphere feels really 
different to Tokyo.