
Sumo: Onosato grabs share of lead after Mitakeumi takes 1st loss
Onosato, the only competing grand champion following Hoshoryu's injury withdrawal, advanced to 6-1 after exploding out of the blocks and pushing No. 3 maegashira Kinbozan (1-6) straight off the dohyo in the final bout of Day 7 at IG Arena.
The 25-year-old yokozuna shares the top of the leaderboard with former ozeki Mitakeumi, sekiwake Kirishima, plus rank-and-file wrestlers Tamawashi, Ichiyamamoto and top-division debutant Kusano, competing as a No. 14 maegashira.
Three-time Emperor's Cup winner Mitakeumi, fighting near the bottom of the rankings as a No. 16 maegashira, saw his bid for a perfect opening week thwarted by another newcomer to the elite makuuchi division, No. 14 maegashira Fujinokawa (5-2).
Kirishima made quick work of Takayasu (5-2) in a battle of former ozeki, slapping the 35-year-old komusubi to the clay.
Ozeki Kotozakura finished the first week of the 15-day tournament one win off the pace at 5-2 after forcing out up-and-coming No. 4 maegashira Hakuoho (3-4).
Exciting young Ukrainian No. 1 maegashira Aonishiki (5-2) also moved to the second rung by pushing out new komusubi Oshoma (1-6) and adding another name to his growing list of higher-ranking victims.
Veteran No. 4 maegashira Tamawashi sprang an upset by thrusting out sekiwake Wakatakakage (3-4), while No. 8 maegashira Ichiyamamoto continued his bid for a maiden Emperor's Cup by slapping down No. 6 maegashira Takerufuji (4-3).

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Kyodo News
7 hours ago
- Kyodo News
Sumo: Onosato survives against Ichiyamamoto, stays 1 win off pace
NAGOYA - New yokozuna Onosato stayed one win off the pace at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament following a lucky escape against joint overnight leader Ichiyamamoto on Thursday. The 25-year-old grand champion won a rematch with the No. 8 maegashira after the ringside officials could not determine a clear winner in the day's final scheduled bout, which was initially awarded to Ichiyamamoto. The result saw Onosato (9-3) finish Day 12 at IG Arena alongside Ichiyamamoto and two other wrestlers on the second rung of the leaderboard, as the four-man leading pack was whittled down to young Ukrainian sensation Aonishiki and No. 15 maegashira Kotoshoho at 10-2. Having failed to beat Onosato in two previous attempts, Ichiyamamoto appeared to find success with a push out after the yokozuna opted for a badly judged pull. But replays showed the maegashira's leg hitting the clay as his top-ranked opponent flew off the dohyo, prompting the judges to convene in the middle. After a long deliberation, the officials ordered a rematch, with Onosato once again ceding ground with a pull but ultimately winning by push out. No. 1 maegashira Aonishiki continued his stunning run at the 15-day tournament with victory over two-time Emperor's Cup winner Tamawashi (8-4). The 21-year-old European absorbed Tamawashi's initial thrusts before securing a belt grip and executing an underarm throw. The 25-year-old Kotoshoho, whose career-high ranking is No. 3 maegashira, kept his share of the lead by slapping down title-contending komusubi Takayasu (8-4), the winner of six of their eight past meetings. Top-division rookie Kusano (9-3) relinquished his share of the lead in a loss to sekiwake Wakatakakage (8-4). The former college star, fighting as a No. 14 maegashira, succumbed to a frontal crush out after a vigorous battle between the two athletic combatants. No. 10 maegashira Atamifuji (9-3) stayed one win back from the lead by thrusting out No. 16 maegashira Mitakeumi (8-4). Ozeki Kotozakura (7-5) closed to within one win of the eight needed to avoid demotion-threatened "kadoban" status in September with a force-out victory over sekiwake Kirishima (8-4) that dented the Mongolian-born grappler's title hopes.


The Mainichi
7 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Sumo: Onosato survives against Ichiyamamoto, stays 1 win off pace
NAGOYA (Kyodo) -- New yokozuna Onosato stayed one win off the pace at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament following a lucky escape against joint overnight leader Ichiyamamoto on Thursday. The 25-year-old grand champion won a rematch with the No. 8 maegashira after the ringside officials could not determine a clear winner in the day's final scheduled bout, which was initially awarded to Ichiyamamoto. The result saw Onosato (9-3) finish Day 12 at IG Arena alongside Ichiyamamoto and two other wrestlers on the second rung of the leaderboard, as the four-man leading pack was whittled down to young Ukrainian sensation Aonishiki and No. 15 maegashira Kotoshoho at 10-2. Having failed to beat Onosato in two previous attempts, Ichiyamamoto appeared to find success with a push out after the yokozuna opted for a badly judged pull. But replays showed the maegashira's leg hitting the clay as his top-ranked opponent flew off the dohyo, prompting the judges to convene in the middle. After a long deliberation, the officials ordered a rematch, with Onosato once again ceding ground with a pull but ultimately winning by push out. No. 1 maegashira Aonishiki continued his stunning run at the 15-day tournament with victory over two-time Emperor's Cup winner Tamawashi (8-4). The 21-year-old European absorbed Tamawashi's initial thrusts before securing a belt grip and executing an underarm throw. The 25-year-old Kotoshoho, whose career-high ranking is No. 3 maegashira, kept his share of the lead by slapping down title-contending komusubi Takayasu (8-4), the winner of six of their eight past meetings. Top-division rookie Kusano (9-3) relinquished his share of the lead in a loss to sekiwake Wakatakakage (8-4). The former college star, fighting as a No. 14 maegashira, succumbed to a frontal crush out after a vigorous battle between the two athletic combatants. No. 10 maegashira Atamifuji (9-3) stayed one win back from the lead by thrusting out No. 16 maegashira Mitakeumi (8-4). Ozeki Kotozakura (7-5) closed to within one win of the eight needed to avoid demotion-threatened "kadoban" status in September with a force-out victory over sekiwake Kirishima (8-4) that dented the Mongolian-born grappler's title hopes.


Yomiuri Shimbun
16 hours ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Sumo Scene / Nagoya Tourney Strides into Future in Striking New Venue
The venues for grand sumo tournaments rarely change. For four decades since opening in 1985, Ryogoku Kokugikan arena in Tokyo, which also serves as the Japan Sumo Association's headquarters, has been the familiar home for the capital's three annual tournaments. But right now as July temperatures soar outside, the heated matches of the Nagoya tournament are being seen daily inside a new venue for the first time in 60 years. The new facility is called 'IG Arena.' IG is the name of an England-based securities company that paid for the naming rights. The Aichi prefectural government and other entities built the arena as a successor to Aichi Prefectural Gym, the venerable arena located in the vicinity of Nagoya Castle that had long hosted the city's annual tournament. Its sheer size makes IG Arena a sight to behold. It has a total floor area of 63,000 square meters, a ceiling 30 meters high and a maximum seating capacity of 17,000 for all manner of events. However, to ensure optimal viewing for sumo spectators, the capacity was limited during the tournament to about 7,800 for the three types of seating: ringside, box and chair. Given that the Nagoya tournament is also the inaugural event of the new arena, many fans are eagerly awaiting to see which wrestler will be the first to lift the Emperor's Cup there. The first tournament held at the current Ryogoku Kokugikan in 1985 was won by legendary yokozuna Chiyonofuji, who was in his prime at the time. Such milestone events seemed to make Chiyonofuji even stronger, as he also came away with the title at the first Kyu-shu tournament held at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center when it opened in 1981. Tochinishiki, an ozeki at the time who later became a yokozuna, won the title when the Osaka Prefectural Gym hosted its first Spring tourney in 1953. In 1965, the first tourney held at Aichi Prefectural Gym was won by the great yokozuna Taiho, who dominated sumo in the Showa era (1926-1989). The winners of these maiden tournaments form an illustrious lineup indeed. The Nagoya tournament will likely continue at the new arena for years to come. The moment when a new name is carved into sumo history there will be one to remember. — Kamimura is a sumo expert.