Newly promoted ozeki Takayasu
No. 2 maegashira Hokutofuji refused to play the role of fodder at Aichi Prefectural Gym, instead taking Takayasu head-on at the jump-off and getting the new ozeki out of position. Takayasu broke into scramble mode, backing up as he tried to escape along the bales, but the ozeki wasn’t able to get a grip for a last-ditch throw.
Hokutofuji finished the bout by throwing down the shiny new ozeki for a surprising start to the tournament.
Yokozuna Hakuho, who ended his one-year championship drought in the previous tournament in May in Tokyo, enjoyed a quick victory over komusubi Kotoshogiku (a former ozeki) to give the four yokozuna a combined two wins on a day of eye-opening results.
Komusubi Yoshikaze got Harumafuji turned around and ushered him out — after the yokozuna tried a last-resort spin at the bales — to continue the shocks.
Yokozuna Kisenosato, who was forced to pull out of the May basho with an injured left shoulder, didn’t look like the time off had improved his sumo. Sekiwake Mitakeumi worked Kisenosato to the bales right off the start, and forced out the yokozuna after a moment of resistance.
Yokozuna Kakuryu didn’t put together a masterpiece, but he found a way to nudge feisty No. 1 maegashira Shodai off the raised ring to open on a positive note after having to pull out midway through the previous tournament with an ankle injury.
The other two ozeki followed Taka- yasu’s lead. No. 2 maegashira Tochinoshin outlasted ozeki Goeido in a bout that saw both wrestlers exit the ring at the end.
Tochinoshin, however, was able to teeter on the bales long enough to let the stumbling Goeido hit the surface outside the ring first and claim the victory.
Terunofuji wasn’t able to save face for the ozeki as No. 1 maegashira Takakeisho backed him up at the start-off and pushed his way to a relatively easy victory.
Sekiwake Tamawashi needed just one good push to end things against No. 3 maegashira Ikioi. The sekiwake knocked his opponent off balance right after the start-off, Ikioi slipping and tumbling to the surface in the process.
In a matchup of first-time opponents, No. 4 maegashira Ura took advantage of a passive No. 3 maegashira Endo to open strong in Nagoya.Speech
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