Hatsu Basho 2023 Honour Tanka Day Ten: ABI (6-4)

[Takakeisho stumbling in the final third, 

tightening things up] 

Abi won the last 
basho, but has struggled so 
far New Year's basho 

I always associate 
him with Ryuden in mind 

they both debuted at 
top level the same New Year's 
basho, three years back 

both fighting to achieve their 
kachi-koshi, maintain place 

Abi begins with 
thrusting attack, seemingly 
poised for victory 

Ryuden fights it off at 
dohyo's edge, and flips the script 

one-dimensional 
rikishi mind would've flailed 
and been beaten then 

Abi, however, quickly 
stepped aside and slapped holmes down 

Ryuden tumbled 
to the outside, as Abi 
walked back to his side 

taking the pay envelope stack 
from gyoji, like a boss 

Hatsu Basho 2023 Honour Tanka Day Nine: HIRADOUMI (6-3)

[looking like Takakeisho's basho to lose] 

Kotoshōhō came 
into day 9 tied for lead 
with Takakeishō 

his rapid ascent challenged 
by younger Hiradoumi 

Hiradoumi's had 
only two bashos before 
as makuuchi 

last basho, he earned 10 wins, 
and highest ranking ever 

two behind leader, 
Hiradoumi's having an 
impressive basho 

both he and Kotoshōhō 
clutch mawashis for control 

Kotoshōhō backs 
Hiradoumi up, looking 
for lift and push out 

but Hiradoumi holds tight 
his grip of Kotoshōhō 

twisting him sideways,
Hiradoumi forces his 
opponent over 

Kotoshōhō's grip on the 
lead slips just as easily 

entering final 
third of basho, chasing a 
hungry ozeki 

but for now, let us applaud 
Hiradoumi's scrappy win 

Hatsu Basho 2023 Honour Tanka Day Eight: AZUMARYU (6-2)

[been enjoying the fuck out of the NHK World daily highlights] 

over long career, 
Azumaryū's made top tier 
nine different times 

all nine time, make-koshi 
losing records were achieved 

this is only the 
second time Azumaryū 
has remained top tier 

finishing 7 and 8 
last time, still makuuchi 

"inside the curtain" 
for the new year, and chasing 
a winning record 

Azumaryū has shown fight, 
but has not looked excellent 

against Aoiyama 
on day 8, he faced the shock 
leaderboard joiner 

the two do not exactly 
have a picture perfect bout 

it is bumbling and 
off-balance, and yet one man 
must always still win 

the big Bulgarian brute 
loses control moving forward 

Azumaryū does 
a casual slap down to 
achieve victory 

two wins away from first ever 
kachi-koshi performance 

sumo veteran 
at 35, but not as 
famous rikishi 

lower rank and file struggler, 
nearing best ever finish 

Hatsu Basho 2023 Honour Tanka Day Seven: HOSHORYU (5-2)

[been watching but not posting my things, 

but I'm back on my shit temporarily] 

young Mongolian 
sekiwake Hōshōryū's 
rapid ascension 

kachi-koshi as fuck for 
a year's worth of these bashos 

11 wins last 
time, hoping to repeat that 
feat now (and next time) 

33 wins is magic 
number for ozeki rank 

facing last basho's 
winner - Abi, Hōshōryū 
shows strength of calmness 

once all four fists bump the ground, 
Abi comes out thrusting hard 

Hōshōryū's head bends 
at neck, but doesn't break, from 
absorbing energy 

Hōshōryū put on his heels, 
all the way to dohyo's edge 

once there, Hōshōryū 
flips the script, switching places 
with pushy Abi 

once with inside advantage, 
Hōshōryū shoves Abi out 

chipping away on 
his quest for eleven wins 
is young Hōshōryū 

nephew of Asashōryū, 
the former yokozuna 

currently, our lone 
yokozuna is injured, 
and sole ozeki 

but a new generation 
of stars seemed poised to arrive 

[the full match]

Hatsu Basho 2023 Honour Tanka Day Six: MIDORIFUJI (4-2)

[second third of the basho is getting going now, when things heat up]

day six Hōshōryū 
seemingly dominates foe 
Midorifuji 

Hōshōryū is rising star 
Mongolian rikiishi 

only 23, 
and knocking at the door of 
ozeki status 

destined for greatness, he clamps 
Midorifuji's right arm 

pushing smaller man 
to edge, not quite enough 

for elimination 

Midorifuji pushes 
back, and they both re-center 

Hōshōryū mostly 
maintains left arm clamp, begins 
another thrusting 

Midorifuji resists 
Hōshōryū's other arm grasp 

getting underneath 
Hōshōryū's right arm, to 
counter his offense 

at dohyo's edge, Hōshōryū 
puts all his force into foe 

Midorifuji 
contorts himself, flipping his 
opponent's body 

both behemoths go crashing 
off raised platform heavily 

gyoji points to 
Midorifuji's side, but 
the judges confer 

(this means slow motion replay 
for us watching things at home) 

repetitive back 
and forth of two big bodies 
crashing to the ground 

sure enough, Hōshōryū touched ground 
first - Midorifuji wins 

 

[the full match] 

Hatsu Basho 2023 Honour Tanka Day Five: AOIYAMA (5-0)

[I have realized that NHK World app on Roku now has daily recaps with all the top division bouts, for free; this is a game changer for my viewing enjoyment]

big Bulgarian 
Aoiyama ain't pretty, 
but he gets it done 

mostly makuuchi for 
well over a decade now 

not all men have a 
potential yokozuna 
run innate to them 

many toil in rank-and-file 
existence, plugging along 

Aoiyama's body 
shape ain't one that screams "athlete" - 
almost comical 

he's mastered what he's got to 
best of his ability 

on day five, he and 
hapless Ōhō have a push 
and slap around fest 

it ain't beautiful sumo, 
and it drags on a bit long 

but that's rank-and-file 
bread-and-butter... surviving 
those ugly moments 

finally, Ōhō stumbles 
and Aoiyama slaps him down 

somehow, after five 
days of this New Year's basho, 
Aoiyama's perfect 

perfect is relative though... 
unbeaten wabi-sabi 

Hatsu Basho 2023 Honour Tanka Day Four: KOTOHOSHO (4-0)

[getting caught up still, just realized the NHK World app on Roku plays a recap with all the bouts]

Kotohōshō had 
never beat Tochinoshin, 
five previous bouts 

the big Georgian's brawn is hard 
to resist if he gets hold 

Tochinoshin's poor 
right knee, wrapped heavily, and 
always near snapping 

the former ozeki still 
has that barrel chested strength 

a common sight for 
Tochinoshin to grip foe's 
mawashi, then hoist 

in lunging lifts, pushing his 
sizable foe out the ring 

chest to chest, the young 
Kotohōshō gets his arms 
underneath, snugly 

Tochinoshin struggles for 
his favored mawashi grip 

Kotohōshō keeps 
advantage, it is he who 
instead hoists a fool 

Tochinoshin's left shoulder 
socket challenged to hold taut 

Tochinoshin pushed 
back, losing at his own game, 
left clutching shoulder 

Kotohōshō unbeaten
after four days, one of five 

[the full bout]

Hatsu Basho 2023 Honour Tanka Day Three: TAKAKEISHO (2-1)

[catching up on day three action] 

our lone ozeki 
left (with no yokozuna) 
is Takakeishō 

while others clamor to climb 
the banzuke scroll, he holds ground 

three years ozeki, 
but has suffered injuries 
(plus there was covid) 

he's had three bashos in a 
row with ten wins or better 

been very good, but 
not dominant... last yusho 
was three years ago 

now's the chance to prove himself 
potential yokozuna 

day three, and the big 
man already had one loss, 
but it's still early 

bloodied in early basho 
bout, and repeated today 

he and Daieishō 
slap and headbutt each other, 
fighting for control 

neither can gain controlling 
grip around the other though 

center ring, battling 
steady, until Daieishō 
starts pushing forward 

Takakeishō retreats to 
dohyo edge, at defeat's brink 

Daieishō thrusts, but 
Takakeishō deftly steps 
directly to right 

Daieishō crashes out, while 
Takaneishō remains, safe 

with bloody mouth, our 
lone ozeki receives fat 
stack of envelopes 

New Year's basho's main event 
star, chasing that next level 

[full match]

Hatsu Basho 2023 Honour Tanka Day Two: ONOSHO (2-0)

[day two is done and it's still an unsettled storm of characters] 

Onosho is one 
of many young rikishi 
aiming for the top 

top can be quite literal 
in terms of banzuke scroll 

dwindling in top half 
of maegashira for years, 
with great potential 

first two days of this basho, 
he has straight dominated 

bulldozer style - head 
first into opponent, with 
full force bodying 

Takanosho had no hope 
at achieving victory 

irresistable 
force made receiving object 
easily moved back 

undefeated after two 
days, Onosho swaggers off 

Hatsu Basho 2023 Honour Tanka Day One: TAMAWASHI (1-0)

[my paying attention to sumo comes and goes, but I just rewatched all of last year's bashos over the holidays, so am amped for the Hatsu basho this month; usually my attention peters out before day 15, or life snuffs out my time to do these]

no yokozuna 
plus rather weak ozeki 
era of sumo 

opportunity for new 
faces to establish selves 

and yet, on day one 
of new year's basho, an old 
Mongolian macked 

Tamawashi's the eldest 
rikishi still competing 

somehow, better than 

ever... even winning Aki 

basho late last year 

only his second career 

yusho, as this advanced age 

teetering at edge 
of sanyaku (highest-ranked) 
status as old man 

38 years old... and yet 
somehow even more wily 

Kiribiyama 
is young and full of fire, and 
comes out bullrushing 

slapping and thrusting to edge, 
and both men ballet spin out 

simultaneous 
twisting goes to review, and 
deemed too close to call 

a redo is in order - 
second chance for the young bull 

Kiribiyama 
again charges, pushing back 
old Tamawashi 

at dohyo's edge, enormous 
pirouette and body slam 

Tamawashi shifts 
the young bull's momentum back 
against his own self 

thus, old ass Tamawashi 
ends day one with perfect record 

the full match

Nagoya Basho 2021 Honour Tanka Day Eleven: HOSHORYU (8-3)

Shodai the second 
ozeki unseen behind 
Terunofuji 

third-highest ranked rikishi, 
going against Hoshoryu 

another Mongol, 
plus second generation 
sumo combatant 

his uncle was first Mongol 
to attain yokozuna 

Asashoryu's a 
legend second only to 
the great Hakuho 

Hoshoryu's uncle once 
won a year's worth of bashos 

but sumo hated 
a Mongol yokozuna... 
besmirching honor 

a decade later, sumo 
still doesn't love a Mongol 

but Mongolian 
sumo wrestlers dominate 
the sport's top level 

Hoshoryu began training 
as pre-teen, half his life back 

his uncle was still 
a yokozuna, active; 
Hoshoryu learned quick 

this basho completed his 
first year at makuuchi 

to be so young, yet 
show no fear against men like 
ozeki Shodai 

Shodai bullies, Horshoryu 
remained resolute, balanced 

Shodai helped himself 
to handful of mawashi, 
readying for toss 

Hoshoryu calmly returned 
favor with countering grasp 

Shodai's hip toss was 
met with resistance, so he 
stepped to his own right 

Hoshoryu smartly followed, 
but moved his right leg quickly 

one step ahead of 
Shodai, despite following 
the ozeki's lead 

Shodai tumbled to the sand... 
Hoshoryu's biggest win yet 

Nagoya Basho 2021 Honour Tanka Day Ten: KIRIBAYAMA (7-3)

Kiribayama's 
a young Mongol with a year 
at makuuchi 

a mawashi gripping man 
who prefers getting in close 

won Fighting Spirit 
award his first basho as 
at the top level 

these past six tournaments, he's 
struggled to maintain strong form 

day ten, Nagoya 
basho, he got handful of 
purple mawashi 

Kotoeko fended off 
defeat briefly, but not long 

Kiribayama 
got that uwatenage 
flipping victory 

young Mongol's star continues 
to ascend, as he seasons 

Nagoya Basho 2021 Honour Tanka Day Nine: URA (5-4)

unpredictable 
Ura's a crowd favorite, 
being native-born 

four years ago, he had reached 
his highest ranking ever 

shooting through lower 
ranks, making makuuchi, 
and performing well 

got his first kinboshi star 
at Nagoya four years back 

day nine and ten proved 
to be defining moments 
for Ura's career 

beating Harumafuji - 
a yokozuna - day nine 

earning that first gold 
star honor for win over 
a yokozuna 

it seemed Ura has arrived, 
ready for big-time sumo 

day ten (still four years 
ago), Takayasu was 
his planned opponent 

near the lead, looking to be 
challenger for the title 

that day ten bout though 
changed trajectory, tearing 
his knee ligaments 

multiple surgeries and 
extended lay-offs for years 

multiple downward 
demotions, dropping levels 

each basho he missed

he dropped back down the sumo 
pyramid, near the bottom 

finally returned 
nine touraments ago, and 
has dominated 

won jonidan, sandanme, 
and then juryo this past May 

this basho has been 
Ura's triumphant return 
to the top level 

both knees heavily bandaged, 
showing the scars of his path 

fifteen bouts means that 
winning or losing records 
will always happen 

there is no status quo to 
hide behind within sumo 

kachikoshi hopes 
of winning record carry 
Ura on wrapped knees 

Takarafuji has him 
pushed back, about to go down 

Ura's record would 
tip to the negative with 
a day nine defeat 

even on worse-for-wear knees, 
Ura spin steps left, smoothly 

Takarafuji's 
momentum loses balance, 
falling out face first 

Ura bounces on those knees, 
absorbing more and more shock 

it's doubtful Ura 
will ever win a basho, 
or be ozeki 

but his fighting spirit should 
never be questioned; it's strong 

his fighting spirit's 
obvious any time he 
climbs into dohyo 

those heavily bandaged knees 
are sacrifice to sumo 

Nagoya Basho 2021 Honour Tanka Day Eight: ISHIURA (5-3)

lil Ishiura, 
the green Lamborghini mack, 
relies on his speed 

often counting on first side 
step to tumble opponents 

when henka doesn't 
give him the quick victory, 
it becomes harder 

Ishiura is tiny 
next to most sumo wrestlers 

but he's been on hot 
streak at Nagoya basho, 
here facing Ura 

Ura was once promising 
star, who suffered injuries 

Ishiura and 
Ura struggle for hand grips, 
feeling each other 

Ishirua slaps Ura 
and then powers him out ring 

lil Ishiura, 
whose chankonabe bowl needs 
refilling (no diss) 

he still possesses power 
that would topple you or I 

he's a favorite, 
so seeing him do well this 
basho makes me glad 

makuuchi without this 
scrappy dude just ain't the same 

[the full match]

Nagoya Basho 2021 Honour Tanka Day Seven: TOBIZARU (3-4)

Tobizaru, one 
of the smallest rikishi 
in both height and weight 

a year in makuuchi, 
depending on them henkas 

his first time facing 
greatest ever - Hakuho... 
and what a strange bout 

multiple matta as the 
smaller man starts out anxious 

once they engage, to 
his credit, Tobizaru 
keeps himself upright 

then a stand-off - Hakuho 
the cat stalking this small mouse 

Tobizaru stands, 
hands prepared for more grabbing, 
teasing an attack 

but nothing... bizarre moment 
of both rikishi standing 

staring each other 
down - Hakuho picking his 
moment to attack 

Tobizaru just trying 
to survive versus master 

to beat a current 
yokozuna means bonus - 
gold star kinboshi 

comes with financial reward 
as well for lower-ranked man 

was Tobizaru 
dreaming of stealing a win 
from all-time greatest? 

a second time they stand off, 
staring, waiting, sizing up 

let's be honest here - 
Tobizaru is doomed, so 
to confound was win 

for him to cause Hakuho 
this much effort was success 

but finally, the 
all-time greatest hip tosses 
the small rikishi 

Tobizaru loses, in 
his first bout with Hakuho 

but make no mistake, 
Tobizaru impressed with 
his lack of seen fear 

he stood in there with greatest, 
and wiled his way to long bout 

only a single 
year at the top-level, he 
still finding his way 

may never be a star, but 
wile and confidence goes far 

Tobizaru stood 
in there with a true legend 
whose shadow dwarfed him 

and yet Tobizaru gave 
Hakuho far more than most 

[the full match]

Nagoya Basho 2021 Honour Tanka Day Six: KOTONOWAKA (5-1)

been makuuchi 
(or top level) sumo for 
just over a year 

this is his seventh basho 
at makuuchi level 

he's only had a 
winning record twice in those 
previous six times 

but he's begun this basho 
with a pretty strong showing 

Tokoshoryu seems 
to have this one won with an 
initial advance 

Kotonowaka is backed 
to roped edge of dohyo's ring 

ahh yes... casual 
ballet-like tiptoes by these 
sumo behemoths 

Kotonowaka side steps 
and Tokoshoryu tumbles 

a bout seemingly 
lost from jump, with victory 
salvaged at the end 

finding balance in moments 
where none would be encouraged 

sometimes that seems to 
me the biggest lesson of 
sumo indulgence 

in this heavy assed world which 
crushes spirit, find balance 

the earth is not flat, 
but that edge to fall over 
shows itself daily 

trying to find balance, as 
unseen shit pushes on you 

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]

Nagoya Basho 2021 Honour Tanka Day Four: TAMAWASHI (4-0)

day four bout between 
two undefeated upstarts, 
hoping to keep pace 

remaining undefeated 
helps maintain one's relevance 

Terunofuji 
and Hakuho dominate 
the sumo discourse 

sumo fandom is hoping 
for those two's epic showdown 

but other's will stay 
in the mix, on day-to-day 

basis, winning bouts 

Tamawashi is wily 
vet, with decade under belt 

Kotonowaka 
looked to have the advantage, 
pushing his foe back 

Tamawashi regained his 
footing, started to push back 

as he momentum 
was gained, Kotonowaka 
resisted with weight 

Tamawashi stepped right, and 
helped guide his foe to defeat 

thus, after four days, 
three men were undefeated 
at top of the board 

two sumo superstars, and 
scrappy assed Tamawashi 

Nagoya Basho 2021 Honour Tanka Day Three: MITAKEUMI (2-1)

Mitakeumi 
had high expectations when 
he entered sumo 

collegiate champion, 
fast-tracked his way to juryo 

five tournaments in 
to professional career, 
he made the big stage 

this is his tenth tournament 
at sekiwake ranking 

each time before, an 
injury halted further 
growth up pyramid 

this fifth sekiwake stint 
begins with high hopes (again) 

hoping to traverse 
to next level finally, 
become ozeki 

it won't happen this month; it 
takes multiple tournaments 

day three, he battled 
Hokutofuji, who was 
unbeaten thus far 

Hokutofuji had our 
hero at brink of defeat 

Mitakeumi 
powered back, pushing his foe 
across whole dohyo 

Hokutofuji did not 
relent, third tussle ensued 

again at dohyo's 
edge, Hokutofuji's feet 
fighting for balance 

Mitakeumi gives one 
final thrust forwards - both fall 

Hokutofuji's 
heel hitting outside the ring 
before both men crash 

our young hero showing his 
potential fighting spirit 

even as larger 
personas dominate main 
events, tales unfold 

Mitakeumi's chase for 
beyond sekiwake rank 

fifteen times his name's 
been written on banzuke 
scroll, in that third tier 

never has he transcended 
one row up to ozeki 

the scroll weighs heavy 
the larger your name's written, 
the further up top 

good luck Mitakeumi... 
may your potential be reached 

[the full match]

Nagoya Basho 2021 Honour Tanka Day Two: CHIYOSHOMA (2-0)

meta kinetics 
of enormous men well-trained 
in balanced technique 

centers of gravity so 
low the earth sags beneath them 

such tussles as this, 
seen in slow motion climax 
where human girth flows 

Chiyoshoma tosses our 
hapless Bulgarian friend 

Mongolian son 
of that nation's wrestling rank 
like yokozuna 

Chiyoshoma's father took 
him to wrestling and judo 

after meeting a 
yokozuna on tour, 
he moved to Japan 

studied sumo for single year 
in high school, then joined stable 

bouncing between the 
top two ranks, Chiyoshoma 
has not settled in 

but other than injury, 
kachi-koshi for twelve months 

he'll likely never 
be yokozuna, but still 
seeks highest ranking 

five spots away, and starting 
strong in this current basho