J10 – Hakuho conserve seul la tête

Yokozuna Hakuho outfoxed Aoiyama on Jan. 20 to stay undefeated and move a step closer to rewriting the history books at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.

In the day’s final bout at a sold-out Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Mongolian Hakuho found himself in a standoff with the 195-kilogram Bulgarian. But the yokozuna deftly shifted his weight to one side and swatted his opponent down to secure his 10th consecutive win and remain in the sole lead at the 15-day meet.

Sekiwake Aoiyama, who was unable to capitalize on his weight advantage, dropped to 3-7.

Hakuho, who is aiming to surpass the legendary Taiho on the all-time list with his 33rd career title, has looked dominant so far and with five days left looks set to become the all-time leader in championship wins.

Mongolian yokozuna Harumafuji, who failed to win a title in 2014, stayed one win off the pace at 9-1 when he deployed a series of powerful arm thrusts to send ozeki Kotoshogiku out in a matter of seconds.

Kotoshogiku, who fell to 7-3, needs just one more win to save his rank for the next tournament.

Yokozuna Kakuryu, who is seeking his first title at sumo’s highest rank, got a left-hand grip on the belt of Ichinojo and thrust his fellow Mongolian out to improve to 8-2.

Ichinojo, who has struggled at the rank of sekiwake, saw his record fall to 4-6.

Ozeki Kisenosato bounced back from the previous day’s loss to Kotoshogiku when he dispatched Endo shortly after the face-off to stay in the title hunt at 8-2. The maegashira No. 3 was no match for Kisenosato and dropped to 3-7.

Goeido, who has struggled so far to live up to his ozeki status, was all business when he came bursting out of the face-off and quickly thrust maegashira No. 3 Aminishiki out to give both grapplers a 5-5 mark.

Komusubi Takayasu got both arms around Tochinoshin and waltzed the top maegashira out over the edge to give both wrestlers a 3-7 record.

Top maegashira Takarafuji dodged to the side at the edge and swatted out Tochiozan to pick up his third win against seven losses. Komusubi Tochiozan saw his record fall to 4-6.

Further down the ranks, maegashira No. 6 Okinoumi used several powerful arm thrusts to the chest to send Egypt’s Osunaarashi backpedaling off the raised ring. Okinoumi improved to 7-3 while Osunaarashi, a maegashira No. 13, dropped to 6-4.

Maegashira No. 8 Myogiryu overpowered Mongolian Kyokushuho to improve to 6-4. Maegashira No. 12 Kyokushuho dropped to 7-3 but has looked impressive after 10 days of the tournament.

Written by The Asahi Shimbun