Latest news with #Ichiyamamoto
Japan Times
an hour ago
- Sport
- Japan Times
Disappointing start to Nagoya tournament turns into fascinating final stretch
Ten days into the ongoing Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament and Ichiyamamoto — a 31-year-old journeyman who hasn't posted more than 8 wins in a basho since 2023 — stunningly led the race for the Emperor's Cup going into Wednesday's bouts. Coming off back-to-back losing records — with the most recent being a 5-10 outing in May — no one could have predicted such a hot start for the Chuo University graduate. The big question, of course, is whether or not Ichiyamamoto can keep his title charge going over the meet's final third, and become the 12th first-time champion to be crowned since January 2020. Given that he hasn't had to face any of the 16 highest-ranked men over the tournament's first ten days, the answer to that question is 'probably not.' Sumo's schedule makers will almost certainly ensure that if Ichiyamamoto is going to taste glory for the first time, he'll have to do it the hard way. And while he might have sole possession of first place at the two-third mark, a single-win lead over a chasing pack — including former ōzeki Kirishima, three-time champion Mitakeumi, ageless ironman Tamawashi along with rising stars Aonishiki and Kusano — isn't very secure. With newly crowned yokozuna Onosato also just one win further back, it's far more likely that the Emperor's Cup ends up claimed by one of his pursuers than by Ichiyamamoto himself. But even if he ultimately fails in his quest for silverware, Ichiyamamoto has been a bright spot in a tournament where fans' hopes for something not seen in years were almost immediately extinguished. Following Onosato's promotion to sumo's highest rank earlier this summer, everyone in the sport was looking forward to a first title showdown between yokozuna since March 2020. Those hopes were quickly dashed when Hoshoryu suffered three straight losses from the second day and had to withdraw from the tournament due to injury. It was an unfortunate turn of events that means the 26-year-old grand champion will now finish his first three basho as a yokozuna with a record of 18 wins, 12 losses and 15 absences. That's not what anyone involved in sumo wants to see, and the sooner Hoshoryu gets back into action and wins a first title as a yokozuna the better — not just for his own career and legacy, but the sport as a whole. On the other side of the banzuke, Onosato has, by his own lofty standards, not been having a great tournament either. Three losses in 10 bouts doesn't rule him out of title contention by any means, but the sport's biggest star will need to recapture the form shown over the past few months if he is to claim a third straight championship. But even should Onosato lose one or two more matches, it wouldn't be a cause for concern as the first tournament after promotion to yokozuna is notoriously difficult for wrestlers — particularly younger ones — to do well in. With both yokozuna far from their best, there is a bigger window of opportunity for the aforementioned pack currently chasing Ichiyamamoto. Aonishiki (left) beats Oshoma by oshidashi at IG Arena on Saturday. | JIJI Aonishiki's incredible rise continues unabated with the 21-year-old from Ukraine looking like one of the most accomplished wrestlers in the sport despite only having joined professional sumo two years ago. Just three tournaments into his top division career he is making a 2024 column — which was described at the time as far too optimistic — now look understated. Aonishiki is in the opposite situation to Ichiyamamoto. He has won eight of his first 10 bouts while facing only the highest ranked men in the sport. Everyone that he will be matched up with across the final five days will be of a lower rank. In theory that gives the former refugee, who fled to Japan to escape war in his home country, the inside track to the Emperor's Cup. The mental side of sumo is arguably the most important, however, and being in such a high pressure situation at such a young age will be testing. If Aonishiki can hold his nerve in the spotlight it will create another chapter in what is fast becoming one of sumo's most fascinating stories. In his favor is the fact that all the other main title challengers will have tougher run-ins and are likely to drop bouts to each other. Should Onosato not turn things around, it appears as if Kusano and Kirishima are the main barriers to an Aonishiki championship. Kusano, who is making his top division debut, is currently riding a four-month hot streak. The Nihon University graduate reached sumo's highest tier on the back of consecutive jūryō division titles — something that prompted Hiro Morita, longtime NHK announcer and face of the Japan Sumo Association's English-language YouTube channel, to predict an Emperor's Cup win for the rookie in Nagoya earlier this month. Given that, when Takerufuji managed that exact feat in March 2024 he became the first debutant to win the title in over a century, Morita's prediction seemed outlandish at the time. Ten days later that's not the case, and Kusano has a viable path to history over the next five days if he can keep his hot streak going. Kirishima, meanwhile, not only has legitimate hopes of claiming a third title but also an outside chance of making it back to ōzeki should he do so. With a perfect run-in for the veteran adding up to a combined 32 wins over three tournaments — it's a score that would appear to be slightly short of the oft-cited mark of 33. That's not an official guideline, however, and sumo has just one ōzeki currently. A third Emperor's Cup for a former ōzeki could swing things in Kirishima's favor. However things turn out, a tournament that started in a disappointing manner heads into the final stretch with a range of exciting possible outcomes.
Kyodo News
2 days ago
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Sumo: Surprise leader Ichiyamamoto 1st to record 8 wins at IG Arena
NAGOYA - Unheralded No. 8 maegashira Ichiyamamoto found himself in an unfamiliar position Monday as outright leader of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament after becoming the first wrestler to seal a winning record at the new IG Arena. The 31-year-old from Hokkaido improved to 8-1 with a victory over sixth-ranked maegashira Gonoyama before his three overnight co-leaders, including sekiwake Kirishima, incurred losses on Day 9. While he regularly opens with a hand thrust, Ichiyamamoto attacked head-first against fellow Chuo University alumnus Gonoyama. "I didn't want to lose," Ichiyamamoto said. "I thought he'd get the upper hand if I didn't hit him firmly." Ichiyamamoto served as an attendant in the grand champion's ring-entry ceremony for the first time on Day 9, standing in for komusubi Takayasu ahead of his match with yokozuna Onosato. The maegashira said he was relieved that the newly promoted Onosato went on to win the day's ultimate bout. "If I was the attendant and the yokozuna lost, it would seem like I brought him bad luck," Ichiyamamoto said. The pusher-thruster from the Hanaregoma stable has not led at this stage of a 15-day tournament since the November 2023 Kyushu meet, when he went on to win 11 bouts and earn a Fighting Spirit Prize. The last wrestler from Hokkaido to lift the Emperor's Cup was yokozuna Hokutoumi, now Japan Sumo Association chief Hakkaku, at the 1991 Spring meet. "Ichiyamamoto has a great opportunity," Hakkaku said. "I hope he can stay in the running for the championship for as long as possible." Ichiyamamato, whose career high ranking is maegashira No. 4, said he simply hoped to move up in the rankings before heading back to his home prefecture next month during sumo's summer tour. "I want to go home with good results," he said. "I hope I can move up at least one rank."
The Mainichi
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Sumo: Onosato beats Takayasu, Ichiyamamoto takes sole lead in Nagoya
NAGOYA (Kyodo) -- New yokozuna Onosato scored a bounce-back win over komusubi Takayasu at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday, as rank-and-file wrestler Ichiyamamoto emerged as the surprise outright leader. A day after his upset loss to up-and-coming No. 4 maegashira Hakuoho, Onosato (7-2) went back to basics with a dominant performance against former ozeki Takayasu (6-3) on Day 9 at IG Arena. Onosato, the lone grand champion in Nagoya after Hoshoryu's injury withdrawal, blasted Takayasu backward at the jump and forced him over the straw bales. The win keeps the debutant yokozuna in strong contention for his third consecutive Emperor's Cup and fifth overall. Having started the day on the top rung of the leaderboard alongside sekiwake Kirishima, veteran iron man Tamawashi and top-division debutant Kusano, No. 8 maegashira Ichiyamamoto took sole possession of first place by advancing to 8-1 before the other front-runners lost one after another. The 31-year-old Hokkaido native clinched his all-important eighth win by pulling down No. 6 maegashira Gonoyama (5-4). Ichiyamamoto said it was "an honor" to be the first sumo wrestler to achieve a winning record at the new IG Arena, but there was still "a long way to go" at the 15-day tournament. "I'm sure I'll get tired, but I'll try to remain focused and continue racking up wins," Ichiyamamoto said. Kirishima (7-2) became the latest big name to fall to the 21-year-old Hakuoho (5-4), who came in low and hard with his opening charge and did not allow the former ozeki to gain any forward momentum on the way to victory by push out. Of the other overnight leaders, No. 4 maegashira Tamawashi was forced out by No. 3 maegashira Onokatsu (3-6), and No. 14 maegashira Kusano was pushed out by No. 11 maegashira Takanosho (6-3). Ozeki Kotozakura dropped to 5-4 as he was forced out by No. 3 maegashira Kinbozan (2-7), who staved off a losing record with the upset. Exciting young Ukrainian grappler Aonishiki (7-2) stayed one win back from the lead by beating fellow No. 1 maegashira Wakamotoharu (2-7) with a superbly executed twisting underarm throw. Sekiwake Wakatakakage improved to 5-4 by forcing out No. 5 maegashira Hiradoumi (5-4).
Kyodo News
2 days ago
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Sumo: Onosato beats Takayasu, Ichiyamamoto takes sole lead in Nagoya
NAGOYA - New yokozuna Onosato scored a bounce-back win over komusubi Takayasu at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday, as rank-and-file wrestler Ichiyamamoto emerged as the surprise outright leader. A day after his upset loss to up-and-coming No. 4 maegashira Hakuoho, Onosato (7-2) went back to basics with a dominant performance against former ozeki Takayasu (6-3) on Day 9 at IG Arena. Onosato, the lone grand champion in Nagoya after Hoshoryu's injury withdrawal, blasted Takayasu backward at the jump and forced him over the straw bales. The win keeps the debutant yokozuna in strong contention for his third consecutive Emperor's Cup and fifth overall. Having started the day on the top rung of the leaderboard alongside sekiwake Kirishima, veteran iron man Tamawashi and top-division debutant Kusano, No. 8 maegashira Ichiyamamoto took sole possession of first place by advancing to 8-1 before the other front-runners lost one after another. The 31-year-old Hokkaido native clinched his all-important eighth win by pulling down No. 6 maegashira Gonoyama (5-4). Ichiyamamoto said it was "an honor" to be the first sumo wrestler to achieve a winning record at the new IG Arena, but there was still "a long way to go" at the 15-day tournament. "I'm sure I'll get tired, but I'll try to remain focused and continue racking up wins," Ichiyamamoto said. Kirishima (7-2) became the latest big name to fall to the 21-year-old Hakuoho (5-4), who came in low and hard with his opening charge and did not allow the former ozeki to gain any forward momentum on the way to victory by push out. Of the other overnight leaders, No. 4 maegashira Tamawashi was forced out by No. 3 maegashira Onokatsu (3-6), and No. 14 maegashira Kusano was pushed out by No. 11 maegashira Takanosho (6-3). Ozeki Kotozakura dropped to 5-4 as he was forced out by No. 3 maegashira Kinbozan (2-7), who staved off a losing record with the upset. Exciting young Ukrainian grappler Aonishiki (7-2) stayed one win back from the lead by beating fellow No. 1 maegashira Wakamotoharu (2-7) with a superbly executed twisting underarm throw. Sekiwake Wakatakakage improved to 5-4 by forcing out No. 5 maegashira Hiradoumi (5-4).
