Nagoya Basho 2021 Honour Tanka Day Five: TAKAYASU (2-1-2)

chasing ozeki 
rank, injured Takayasu 
missed the first two days 

needing thirteen wins to get 
that promotion, he came back 

days three and four, we 
saw flash of Takayasu's 
full strength dominance 

at his best, he's one of the 
best in all sumo wrestling 

Takayasu's face 
always perfectly stoic, 
before and after 

Takayasu's chest hair sends 
strong masculine energy 

a multitude of 
injuries has held the big 
man back recently 

day five, facing Meisei, he 
needed yet another win 

dreams of ozeki 
return, fighting through the pain, 
chasing sumo dreams 

Meisei's able to resist 
that first Takayasu surge 

initial impacts 
in Takayasu bouts are 
a thing of beauty 

shoulder thrusts jostling his foes 
into off-balance footings 

Takayasu tries 
to gain advantage, grabbing, 
and misses with hand 

body shifting downward just 
so, Meisei seizes his chance 

quick encouragement 
down, and Takayasu falls - 
first official loss 

no ozeki promotion, 
but you can't deny his strength 

if Takayasu 
stays healthy, he'll be a great 
litmus for the stars 

this basho remains about 
the two men at top of scroll 

Terunofuji 
and Hakuho facing a 
strong Takayasu? 

these would be good tests for both; 
hope for Takayasu's health 

[THE FULL MATCH]

Aki Basho 2018 Honour Tanka Day Six: TAKAYASU (6-0)

[Takayasu the ozeki lounger] 

Takayasu’s still 

one of my favorites - so 

cool-eyed, collected 

day six sees his opponent 

as Brazilian Kaisei 

obviously, not 

much sumo tradition in 

tropical Brazil 

Kaisei's held rank for some time, 

but been struggling this basho 

Takayasu wastes 

no time in wasting Kaisei, 

remains unbeaten 

Kaisei almost scores hip toss, 

yet Takayasu denies 

wobble without flip, 

he digs in and finishes 

Kaisei for six wins 

 one point, I thought he was 

destined for yokozuna 

he’s second-longest 

ozeki, but sat out past May 

basho entirely 

perhaps could’ve gotten wins 

then for the big promotion 

last basho, faired well, 

but wasn’t dominant like 

ozeki should be 

thus far this aki basho, 

unblemished record, calm-faced 

he never shows much 

emotion, possessing eyes 

like a true lounger 

two yokozuna, plus one 

other also unbeaten 

for ozeki to 

take that last step, he’s gotta 

choke out those above 

Hakuho and Kakuryu, 

however, still look too strong 

oh Takayasu - 

were you to gain promotion, 

would demeanor break? 

would yokozuna status 

cause aloof look to liven? 

Hatsu Basho 2018 Honour Tanka Day 14: TAKAYASU (11-3)

[Takayasu ends Kakuryu's pride] 

by rule only one 

tanka per rikishi per 

basho… that’s the rule 

but if ever I was to 

rethink this, it was today 

Tochinoshin’s run 

through New Year’s basho has been 

an absolute joy 

multiple bouts he’s had to 

stay intensely persistent 

against Shohozan, 

he looked understandably 

nervous going in 

never champion, runner-up 

three times over his career 

this bout gave drama… 

Shohozan appeared to have 

early advantage 

Tochinoshin not able 

get belt to overpower 

Shohozan had him 

pushed backwards at edge briefly; 

the Georgian stayed put 

Tochinoshin recovered, 

and attained his destiny 

Shohozan out the 

ring, Tochinoshin showered 

with cheers from the crowd 

at night’s end, the main event 

saw Kakuryu showcase 

the yokozuna 

did not give up, facing off 

thick Takayasu 

ozeki Takayasu, 

quietly still dominant 

Kakuryu held 

center dohyo, hoping to 

maintain his aura 

then almost as if possessed, 

Takayasu exploded 

our yokozuna - 

the last one remaining, was 

left in lump ringside 

Takayasu stood tall (while 

Tochinoshin stood taller) 

[Tochinoshin's victory to seal his title] 

Aki Basho 2017 Honour Tanka Day 2: TAKAYASU (1-1)

(Takayasu going for a ride... WHEEE!)

with hurt rikishi 

galore, I thought it might be 

Takayasu’s time 

but day two Tamawashi 

bout was double injury 

earlier in day, 

my man Ura got fucked up, 

hobbled his way back 

but Takayasu against 

Tamawashi fucked both dudes 

Takayasu slid 

back like sled push training drill, 

but tried to hold edge 

Tamawashi pushed further, 

ankle going the wrong way 

contemplate the low 

center of gravity plus 

all that weight carried 

human ankles not designed 

to handle that level strain 

and yet still, Tamawashi 

was able to finish bout 

adrenaline surge 

with final push, and down 

went Takayasu 

down on floor, Takayasu 

showed lack of mobility 

proper post-bout bows, 

but Takayasu could not 

carry his own weight 

down the hanamichi 

came wheelchair/shopping cart thing 

up hanamichi 

they rolled Takayasu, not 

likely to return 

afterwards, Tamawashi 

also hobbled horribly 

he won the extra 

pay envelopes, but also 

looks done for basho 

who the fuck’s gonna be left 

in battle royal basho? 

did yokozuna 

withdrawing establish bad 

energies with gods? 

will the sumo gods reward 

us before two weeks are done? 

Nagoya Basho 2017 Honour Tanka Day 10: TAKAYASU (8-2)

(Ura revving up but not enough)

Takayasu lost 

first bout of his first basho 

as an ozeki 

after initial slip, he 

settled into pure power 

day 10 saw Ura, 

young raw power punk himself, 

facing off in clash 

Takayasu gives no fucks 

about Ura’s rising star 

their bout is Ura 

attacking like little dog 

on sumo totem 

Takayasu smacks him back 

(one time literally so) 

they lock up early 

on, Ura fighting to gain 

piece of advantage 

big dog Takayasu stands 

almost as if fighting child 

he has armlock on 

young Ura, but cannot end 

the bout this quickly 

Ura’s stubborn heart serves him 

well against Takayasu 

cartoonish Ura 

revs back, tornado spinning 

his legs to charge in 

the young punk slide whistles in; 

Takayasu stops the charge 

Ura bounces off, 

and the two stand in deep stare 

for long half second 

the next lock-up is the last, 

as Takayasu is tired 

Ura goes for one 

behemoth Takayasu 

leg, exposing neck 

Takayasu is quick to 

seize the opportunity 

he grabs Ura’s head, 

twists it back and forth until 

flipping Ura down 

the young punk has been humbled; 

new ozeki proven true 

Takayasu’s star’s 

already risen; he’ll fend 

off more newer stars 

up-and-down of sumo rank 

requires constant diligence 

(the full match if you care)

Natsu Basho 2017 Honour Tanka Day 4: TAKAYASU (4-0)

Takayasu has 

most unbothered look always, 

unphased by sumo 

young Mitakeumi the 

rising star amongst many 

undefeated, both 

men enter; young sensation 

with early control 

Takayasu back pedals, 

retreats in circular path 

Mitakeumi 

appears destined to remain 

perfect this basho 

but Takayasu never 

surrenders, never steps out 

left hamhock forearm 

wraps quickly around youngster’s 

too-confident head 

feet gravity-rooted, arm 

swings body in tornado 

Mitakeumi 

suddenly out of control 

and flipped to his back 

Takayasu calmly walks 

to his side, victorious 

called “kubinage” 

the internet claims it means 

intercourse as well 

perhaps this is true because 

Mitakeumi got fucked