2006 Haru Basho, Day 15
26 March 2006

ASASHORYU WINS PLAYOFF FOR SIXTEENTH YUSHO KAIO, TOCHIAZUMA BOTH WIN WINNER LOSER Kimarite & duration -------------------- -------------------- ----------------------- M16-E Ushiomaru [4-11] J1-E Ryuho [5-10] Okuridashi 0:08.9 J2-E Katayama [9-6] M14-E Toyozakura [4-11] Oshidashi 0:06.4 M11-W Takamisakari [7-8] M17-E Buyuzan [8-7] Okurinage 0:03.9 M11-E Wakanosato [11-4] M13-E Kyokushuzan [11-4] Yorikiri 0:05.0 M13-W Kasuganishiki [5-10] M10-W Toyonoshima [6-9] Tsukiotoshi 0:09.2 M10-E Tochinohana [7-8] M16-W Yoshikaze [8-7] Hatakikomi 0:08.1 M9-E Jumonji [4-11] M14-W Kitazakura [7-8] Hatakikomi 0:51.3 M8-W Asasekiryu [10-5] M15-W Otsukasa [4-11] Tsukidashi 0:12.5 M8-E Kotoshogiku [9-6] M9-W Takekaze [9-6] Oshidashi 0:05.0 M7-E Kisenosato [10-5] M12-W Tochinonada [8-7] Yorikiri 0:19.8 M6-E Kakizoe [9-6] M12-E Hakurozan [9-6] Oshidashi 0:05.7 M5-E Kyokutenho [11-4] M15-E Tamakasuga [9-6] Yorikiri 0:04.4 M4-W Dejima [6-9] M3-W Iwakiyama [4-11] Yorikiri 0:16.6 M5-W Tokitsuumi [2-13] M2-W Hokutoriki [1-14] Yorikiri 0:25.5 M7-W Kasugao [7-8] M1-W Kokkai [5-10] Uchigake 0:11.5 M3-E Aminishiki [7-8] M1-E Tamanoshima [5-10] Kotenage 0:09.4 K-W Miyabiyama [10-5] M6-W Tokitenku [8-7] Oshidashi 0:09.7 M4-E Futeno [6-9] K-E Roho [4-11] Yorikiri 0:09.6 M2-E Ama [8-7] S-W Kotomitsuki [8-7] Okuridashi 0:04.6 O-W2 Kaio [8-7] S-E Hakuho [13-2] Yorikiri 0:14.7 O-E2 Chiyotaikai [9-6] O-W1 Kotooshu [9-6] Tsukidashi 0:02.7 O-E1 Tochiazuma [12-3] Y-E Asashoryu [13-2] Oshidashi 0:09.1 Playoff: Y-E Asashoryu [13-2] S-E Hakuho [13-2] Shitatenage 0:29.8

Commentary:

The cream rises to the top

Baruto wins the Juryo yusho with a perfect 15-0 record. In fact, all the yusho are taken with perfect records before the final day, with no playoffs necessary. The o­nly exception might be the top division. It's been more than forty years since the last Juryo zensho yusho, Kitanofuji being the last man to have accomplished it.

Makuuchi doesn't start smoothly. Ryuho and Ushiomaru have four matta before they finally settle down to fight. Ushio pushed his opponent around, got behind him and did the appropriate thing.

As is his wont, Takamisakari twisted aside at the edge in front of a charging Buyuzan, got his left hand o­n the knot and shoved him out.

There's a slow tachi-ai, then Kyokushuzan tries to circle Wakanosato. Waka stepped into him, grabbed the belt and rather gently guided him over the bales. Each man ends up with an impressive eleven win record, and the Fighting Spirit prize for Kyoku.

Kitazakura is 7-7 and at Maegashira 14, will want to have the win to secure his stay in the top division. A loss might mean demotion to Juryo if the conditions are unkind. Jumonji has a good tachi-ai and has the crown of his head under Kita's chin, both men bent low toward each other. They stalemate for almost a minute, Kita leaning o­n his shorter opponent. Suddenly Jumonji jumps back and slaps Kita down when he stumbles forward. A good win for Jumonji and make-koshi for popular Kita.

Asasekiryu gets double digits in the win column with a brisk and focused thrusting attack against listless Otsukasa.

Kise breaks Tochi's balance and shoves him out

Tochinonada had a favorite grip, the left hand inside, pulls Kisenosato around and starts driving to the edge. Kise takes control, however, stopping his retreat and pulling Tochi close with his right hand outside grip of the belt. Putting his right foot behind Tochi's left heel, Kise breaks his opponent's balance and gets the win with a force-out.

Dejima has a good low tachi-ai and drives Iwakiyama to the edge, but the big man springs forward rather quickly and tries to start a belt battle. Iwaki spent ten seconds or so trying to get more than a tenuous hold o­n the former Ozeki's belt and when Dejima decided to surge forward again he shoves Iwakiyama out.

Tokitsuumi and Hokutoriki have managed but o­ne win each so far. Tokitsu gets his right hand inside to Hokuto's belt and fights chest to chest, slowly moving forward until he takes the victory.

Kokkai (right) has his left leg between the tawara and Kasugao's hip as he lands heavily

Kasugao plants his right shoulder into Kokkai's face, driving him back a step. The Georgian unleashed a barrage of tsuppari but Kasugao kept his face up, getting his right hand inside to the belt. Kasugao wrapped his right leg around Kokkai's shin and toppled him backward. It looked like he landed o­n Kokkai's leg as it's o­n top of the tawara, then the pair slide to the ground and pinwheel into the west-side judge and Miyabiyama, sitting ringside. It looks like Kokkai's left knee is injured and he has to be helped back to the hanamichi. The report is that he was transported to the local clinic for an examination.

With o­ne more win Miyabiyama may well earn promotion to the Sekiwake slot that will be vacated by Hakuho. He has a powerful low start and drives to the edge. Tokitenku managed to use nodo-wa to stop the charge for a second, but Miyabi was not to be denied and drives the Mongolian out.

Scrappy Ama will fight for his eighth win today: Kotomitsuki stands in his way. The Mongolian comes in low, shoves Koto back and grabs his right arm at the elbow. Ama circles him, then finished with a slap to the back of the belt to force Koto out! Ama gets his second Gino-sho technique prize as well as kachi-kochi.

All of the Mongolian makuuchi sekitori have earned kachi-kochi.

Kaio has his right hand grip and works Hakuho out

Hakuho picks up two of the three special prizes: the technique prize and the outstanding performance. There's a lot riding o­n this bout with Kaio for both men, notably a first Yusho for the Mongolian, and Kaio's Ozeki rank. Hakuho's promotion to Ozeki is assured. If anything, Kaio looks a little more o­n edge than Hakuho to my eye. When they face each other across the white lines Hakuho starts breathing out through his mouth and has to take an extra few seconds to come forward. Kaio's had so many big bouts in the past six years of being Ozeki, he's not letting the pressure get to him. Hakuho gets his left hand inside to the belt immediately and Kaio's leaning too far forward! The Ozeki seems to know that and gathers Hakuho into him, stepping forward and grabbing the belt with the right hand. Hakuho rocks his hips but isn't moving his feet as Kaio secures his grasp. Kaio lowers his hips and pulls Hakuho to the edge with his powerful right arm, stepping forward to get his eighth win. The crowd cheers loudly and Kaio allows himself a deep sigh of relief. There will be a 35th basho with Kaio ranked as Ozeki o­n the banzuke.

Chiyotaikai uses tsuppari to blow Kotooshu out of the ring. Both men end up at 9-6.

Tochi ousts the mighty Yokozuna

Tochiazuma needs a win to help carry his hopes of Yokozuna promotion to the next basho, while Asashoryu wants to win his sixteenth yusho without fighting a playoff. Tochi comes in low, shifting to his left and catching the Yokozuna under the right arm. Asa's knocked off balance immediately and is hopping to the edge. Asashoryu can't twist to face his opponent; Tochi's trying to push him the other way so he's facing the audience. All Asa can do is hop over the rope! Hakuho will go to the west side hanamichi so he can come back to the ring to fight for the yusho.

The Yokozuna shows his power o­n the belt

This basho has turned out to be o­ne for the fans. The two Japanese Ozeki are triumphant in their quests, and the two top Mongolians still remain to fight for the Emperor's Cup. Will we have another Asashoryu championship, or Hakuho's first? The Sekiwake seems a lot calmer facing his countryman than he did Kaio. He snaps into the fight with his left arm under Asashoryu's shoulder and it's a battle o­n the belt! When Hakuho stepped forward his upper body rose a bit, so the Yokozuna did a quick makke-kai, getting his right hand inside to the belt. Hakuho got his right hand inside as well. He reels Hakuho in and started driving forward. At first Hakuho pulled Asa off his feet, but settled for a more deliberate plan. He patiently circled to his left, then tried pulling Asa upright and went chest to chest, trying to rush the Grand Champion out with raw power. Asa planted his feet as Hakuho's straining against him and pulled up with his right hand belt grip! Asa used Hakuho's momentum to help throw him out of the ring. Both fighters end up o­n the floor, the Yokozuna resting his forehead against the built-up clay as if in thanks.

Asashoryu hoists the Emperor's Cup

More than half of the days of this Osaka basho were sold out, and the sumo was generally at a high level with an exciting yusho race. No sekitori had to withdraw. When the next banzuke is revealed o­n 24 April, there will be five Ozeki, and not a kadoban in sight. Summer basho in the Kokugikan runs from 7 to 21 May.

Final Records in Rank Order: Y-E.....Asashoryu (13-2) O-E1....Tochiazuma (12-3) O-W1....Kotooshu (9-6) O-E2....Chiyotaikai (9-6) O-W2....Kaio (8-7) S-E.....Hakuho (13-2) S-W.....Kotomitsuki (8-7) K-E.....Roho (4-11) K-W.....Miyabiyama (10-5) M1-E....Tamanoshima (5-10) M1-W....Kokkai (5-10) M2-E....Ama (8-7) M2-W....Hokutoriki (1-14) M3-E....Aminishiki (7-8) M3-W....Iwakiyama (4-11) M4-E....Futeno (6-9) M4-W....Dejima (6-9) M5-E....Kyokutenho (11-4) M5-W....Tokitsuumi (2-13) M6-E....Kakizoe (9-6) M6-W....Tokitenku (8-7) M7-E....Kisenosato (10-5) M7-W....Kasugao (7-8) M8-E....Kotoshogiku (9-6) M8-W....Asasekiryu (10-5) M9-E....Jumonji (4-11) M9-W....Takekaze (9-6) M10-E...Tochinohana (7-8) M10-W...Toyonoshima (6-9) M11-E...Wakanosato (11-4) M11-W...Takamisakari (7-8) M12-E...Hakurozan (9-6) M12-W...Tochinonada (8-7) M13-E...Kyokushuzan (11-4) M13-W...Kasuganishiki (5-10) M14-E...Toyozakura (4-11) M14-W...Kitazakura (7-8) M15-E...Tamakasuga (9-6) M15-W...Otsukasa (4-11) M16-E...Ushiomaru (4-11) M16-W...Yoshikaze (8-7) M17-E...Buyuzan (8-7)