Exciting Sumo - はつ ばしょ

きのうのばんのすもうは,とってもすばらしかったですね！

Wow!!! Last night's sumo was super exciting! In fact, this tournament has got to be the best I've seen since Jan. 2005, when I first started watching the live sumo on NGN.

As you may know (or may not have know), Asashoryu, the only Yokozuna, has completely DOMINATED the sumo world since the Kyushu Basho in November 2004. He won that tournament and ALL 6 tournaments in 2005! But not this New Year's basho!

Going into the final and 15th day it was a two-man race as 13-1 Ozeki Tochiazuma (one of the only wrestlers able to match Asashoryu in technique and speed) held destiny in his own hands. If he beat the Yokozuna, he would win the tournament, no matter what second placed Hakuho did.

In the second to last match, Hakuho beat recently promoted Ozeki Kotooshu for a final record of 13-2. Hence the stage was set...if Tochiazuma lost to the Yokozuna, there would be a playoff between Hakuho and Tochiazuma. In the final match of the night, the Yokozuna never had a chance as Tochiazuma threw the Yokozuna with an uwatedashinage - pulling overarm throw. Tochiazuma finished with a 14-1 record and won the yusho.

Fwiw, it seemed to me that the Yokozuna was injured, especially since the 12th day when he fell on his arm losing to Hakuho. Since that day, he has looked tentative and favoring his right side. But Asashoryu dosen't make excuses for his bad performance, and neither should I.

Hopefully, Tochiazuma can become a Yokozuna this year! I'll be rooting for him since he is one of my favorite sumotori, along with Asashoryu and Kotooshu and Ama (smallest man in sumo)!

This is a pic of my friend Randal and I in front of the Fukuoka International Center on the 14th day of the 2004 Kyushu Basho. You can click on this link if you want to see all the pictures I took back then: Pictures: Sumo - Kyushu Basho 2004