2008 Natsu Makuuchi recap and analysis by Harry Clinton Pulley

Recap:

Day 1, yorikiri night in Tokyo

Kotokasuga Hakuba - Hakuba is looking light for makuuchi, too small I fear for now in his first match at this rank. Kotokasuga scoops him down, sukuinage.

Hakurozan - Toyohibiki - Hakurozan tries for a hikiotoshi, big surprise, but then steps out himself too soon, perhaps too eager today. The gyoji give it to Toyohibiki as oshidashi.

Tochinoshin Yoshikaze - Good battle, good dohyo edge defense by Tochi who wins his first match inside the curtain with a second oshidashi win for the night.

Kakizoe Tamanoshima - Kakizoe pushes him straight back and out, making it look very easy via yorikiri.

Tosanoumi Tamakasuga - Tamakasuga wins, pushing him out finally after a good effort by Tosanoumi, another yorikiri.

Iwakiyama Homasho - Good yotsu for Homasho who pushes out the heavy 'Beast' (his mother coined the name comparing him to his beautiful wife, not me!) with a morote grip to continue the good things that happened in haru 2008. Yet another yorikiri.

Dejima - Wakanosato - Dejima pushes him straight back for the easy win, oshidashi.

Kasugao Roho - Roho flips him over for the win, uwatenage.

Tochinonada Takekaze - Tochinonada a nice throw for the win and Takekaze's ills spill over from the spring tournament, tsukiotoshi.

Takamisakari - Goeido - Tak had him to the edge and then defended the edge himself before falling down poorly, not a good showing for Robo after a good matchup between these two in March. Somehow that falling down became an uwatedashinage -- perhaps I'll have to look again.

Futenou Hokutoriki - Futeno a solid win, not exciting but solid, yorikiri one of his favorites.

Tochiozan Toyonoshima - Toyonoshima pushes him straight but, some gabu at the edge and out with a bit of Kotoshogiku's trick there. What's that, a yorikiri?

Tokitenku, Aminishiki - Tokitenku looked like he had the win but he'd stepped out giving Tokitenku the win via hatakikomi. A rare mistake at this level but happening twice today.

Kakuryu - Kotoshogiku - Kakuryu almost had him but Shogiku recovered and won via yorikiri at the other side of the ring. Yes, another yorikiri.

Ama Miyabiyama - Ama takes his back and takes out the big mountain, okuridashi.

Wakanoho Kotooshu - a nice yotsu win for the ozeki, yorikiri!

Chiyotaikai - Kyokutenho - Nice tsukidashi win from Chiyotaikai after his kadoban save basho at haru.

Baruto Kaio - Try, try, try and try again and Kaio pushed Baruto out of the ring. Yorikiri!! Not a good start after such a promising haru basho.

Kotomitsuki Kokkai - An easy flip out of the ring for 'Mickey' via shitatedashinage. Like Baruto, not a good beginning for his joi rank this basho.

Asasekiryu - Hakuho - Asasekiryu makes it easy, falling down mostly.

Hatakikomi, not the kimarite a yokozuna wants to win by but... a win is a win as Asashouryuu always tells his fellow Mongolian yokozuna.

Kisenosato - Asa - and Kisenosato wins! First day and the purple zabuton are already flying. Oshitaoshi and already the rumours of injury and withdrawal from the tournament are swirling.

Day 2

Kotokasuga 1-0 Toyohibiki 1-0 - Toyo wins after a nice battle via tsukiotoshi.

Tochinoshin 1-0 Hakuba 0-1 - Both go out but Tochi takes the flying win, uwatenage.

Hakurozan 0-1 Yoshikaze 0-1 - Yoshi takes him out easily, yorikiri.

Tosanoumi 1-0 Tamanoshima 0-1 - Nice fight, yoritaoshi in the end.

Kakizoe 0-1 Tamakasuga 0-1 - Kakizoe takes it, hatakikomi.

Dejima 1-0 Iwakiyama 0-1 - Harite and yoritashi win it for Beast.

Homasho 1-0 Wakanosato 0-1 - Wakanosato wins via yorikiri. Homasho tried at the end for a lift but it was in vain.

Tochinonada 1-0 Kasugao 0-1 - Tochi wins at the edge, tsukiotoshi.

Roho 1-0 Takekaze 0-1 - Take's woes continue, hatakikomi loss.

Futeno 1-0 Takamisakari 0-1 - a quick yorikiri win for Futeno and Robo is already oh and two.

Goeido 1-0 Hokutoriki 0-1 - easy win for Goeido via yorikiri and Hokutoriki is down 0-2.

Tokitenku 0-1 Tochiozan 0-1 - a long battle but yorikiri takes Tochiozan out and down to 0-2.

Toyonoshima 1-0 Aminishiki 1-0 - Ami almost had him at the edge but Toyo pushed him out to get a great 2-0 start to the summer basho.

Ama 1-0 Kakuryu 0-1 - Ama pushes him out with vigor, oshidashi for a good start against Kakuryu's bad one.

Miyabiyama 0-1 Kotoshogiku 1-0 - Yorikiri and Sho pushes out Yabi for a great start for Sho and a poor one for the big mountain of a rikishi.

Kotomitsuki 1-0 Wakanoho 0-1 - a fairly easy push back for Mickey and another pair of good and bad starts.

Kyokutenho 0-1 Kotooshu 1-0 - a nice lift out for the kadoban ozeki, a great start for him.

Chiyotaikai 1-0 Kisenosato 1-0 - Taikai dancin on the edge and he pushes out Kisenosato for the win! Looking good!

Asasekiryu 0-1 Kaio 1-0 - Kaio gets turned around and cannot recover, both men are now even in wins and losses.

Asashoryu 0-1 Baruto 0-1 - Asa gets low, double underhooks for Baruto but it was no use. Asa wins one, perhaps he won't pull out of the tournament after all (yes, that was sarcasm).

Kokkai 0-1 Hakuho 1-0 - a fairly easy yorikiri win for Hak.

Day 3

Hakurozan 0-2 Hakuba 0-2 - Both winless, Hakuba tries for a throw but is thwarted a few times before being thrown, uwatenage, himself to remain winless.

Tochinoshin 2-0 Kotokasuga 1-1 - A nice effort by Kotokasuga, both men in their first tournament at makuuchi. Tochinoshin remains perfect with the win, yorikiri.

Toyohibiki 2-0 Tamanoshima 1-1 - A nice takedown by Tamanoshima, tsukiotoshi.

Kakizoe 1-1 Yoshikaze 1-1 - Oshidashi Kakizoe wins.

Tamakasuga 1-1 Homasho 1-1 - Homasho pushes him out, yorikiri.

Iwakiyama 1-1 Tosanoumi 1-1 - Beast pulls him down, hatakikomi.

Wakanosato 1-1 Roho 2-0 - An easy yorikiri push out by Wakanosato, yorikiri.

Kasugao 0-2 Dejima 1-1 - Kasugao, uwatenage win.

Takekaze 0-2 Goeido 2-0 - Goeido wins easily via hikiotoshi.

Takamisakari 0-2 Tochinonada - 2-0 Tak to the edge a few times before getting his first win, yorikiri.

Hokutoriki 0-2 - Toyonoshima 2-0 - Rather easily, Toyonoshima pushes him out, oshidashi.

Tochiozan 0-2 Futeno 2-0 - A standoff in the centre of the dohyo, yorikiri eventually by Futenou to remain perfect.

Aminishiki 1-1 Kakuryu 0-2 - An easy uwatenage by Aminishiki.

Tokitenku 1-1 Kotoshogiku 2-0 - Migiyotsu. Yorikiri Tokitenku and both men are now 2-1.

Ama 2-0 Asasekiryu 1-1 - A leaping henka wins it for Asasekiryu.

Kisenosato 1-1 Kaio 1-1 - Kisenosato pushes him out, oshidashi.

Kotomitsuki 2-0 Kyokutenho 0-2 Good battle, yorikiri Kyokutenho.

Miyabiyama 0-2 Kotooshu 2-0 - The Bulgarian pushes out the blobmonster, oshidashi.

Chiyotaikai 2-0 Wakanoho 0-2 - Wakanoho takes down the ozeki, hikiotoshi for his first win this basho.

Baruto 0-2 Hakuyo 2-0 - Hak takes his back and then trips Baruto for the win via susoharai with the men having opposite records. Suso means hem or skirt of the kimono. While rikishi wear mawashi's without skirts
obviously, the "susoharai" (skirt sweep) looks an awful lot like judo's "harai tsurikomi ashi" (lifting, pulling foot sweep), though of course you grab the judogi instead of the arm directly. It is funny that the judo name doesn't refer to a hem when there is one present while the sumo one does.

Asashouryu 1-1 Kokkai 0-2 - Kokkai pretty makes takes himself out, an easy yorikiri for Asa.

Day 4

Hakuba 0-3 Toyohibiki 2-1 - Easy win for Toyo, oshidashi.

Kotokasuga 1-2 Yoshikaze 1-2 - Kotokasuga wins oshidashi over Yoshi.

Kakizoe 2-1 Hakurozan 1-2 -- Hatakikomi Hakurozan.

Tochinoshima 3-0 Tamanoshima 2-1 - Tama pushes him out where Tochinoshim

does a back sommersault, oshitaoshi.

Iwakiyama 2-1 Tamakasuga 1-2 - Beast pushes him out, yorikiri.

Tosanoumi 1-2 Homasho 2-1 - Homasho runs himself out, tsukiotoshi.

Kasugao 1-2 Wakanosato 2-1 - Kasugao almost out but recovers, and then wins shitatenage.

Dejima 1-2 Roho 2-1 - Roho wins by henka, hatakikomi.

Takamisakari 1-2 Takekaze 0-3 - And Robo goes down, Take has a win, tsukiotoshi.

Tochinonada 2-1 Goeido 3-0 At the edge, Tochinonada saves it and wins via sukuinage, the scooping throw.

Tochiozan 0-3 Hokutoriki 0-3 - zeroes meet, Hokutoriki wins yorikiri after some tsuppari.

Futenou 3-0 Toyonoshima 3-0 - a perfect record will fall, stalemate for a while with Toyonoshima to the edge of the dohyo, but then Futenou mostly falls down for the loss, katasukashi is the official kimarite.

Tokitenku 2-1 Kakuryuu 0-3, Kakuryu wins by henka, tsukiotoshi.

Ama 2-1 Kisenosato 2-1 - Kisenosato wins at the edge, tsukiotoshi.

Aministiki 2-1 Kotoshogiku 2-1 - Gabu win for Sho, yorikiri.

Chiyotaikai 2-1 Asasekiryu 2-1 - Taikai is pushed out backward rather easily, yorikiri.

Miyabiyama 0-3 Kaio 1-2 - Kaio goes down, a win for the blobmonster, hatakikomi.

Kotomitsuki 2-1 Baruto 0-3 - Stalemate near the centre, Baruto is taken down with an arm and remains winless, uchimuso for the kimarite.

Kokkai 0-3 Kotooshu 3-0 - Kokkai basically falls down to go to 0-4 oshitaoshi.

Asashouryu 2-1 Wakanoho 1-2 - A good grip for Wakanoho but Asa takes him down with relative ease, kotenage.

Kyokutenho 1-2 Hakuho 3-0 - An easy uwatenage for the yokozuna, uwatenage.

Day 5

Hakuba 0-4 Tanmanoshima 3-1 - Hakuba is easily taken out by Tamanoshima, yorikiri.

Kakizoe 2-2 Kotokasuga 2-2 - Kotokasuga falls down at the tachiai, hikiothoshi.

Toyohibiki 3-1 Tamakasuga 1-3 - Easy win for Toyohibiki, oshidashi.

Tosanoumi 2-2 Hakurozan 2-2 - Hakurozan pulls him down, hatakikomi.

Yoshikaze 1-3 Homasho 2-2 - A good battle. Yoshikaze looked like he was winning but Homasho won in the end, hikiothoshi.

Tochinoshin 3-1 Wakanosato 2-2 - Yorikiri win for Wakanosato and the great start by Tochinoshin is over with a losing streak.

Kasugao 2-2 Iwakiyama 3-1 - Kasugao tries a henka. Beat avoids it. A good back and forth battle. Then a stalemate in the middle, catching their breath. Long stalemate... Zzzzzzzzzzzz Kasugao wins via yorikiri.

Tochinonada 3-1 Roho 3-1 - Roho is pushed out, yorikiri.

Dejima 1-3 Goedo 3-1 - Goeido steps out, Dejima wins though he ends up in the second row himself, oshidashi.

Takekaze 1-3 Toyonoshima 4-0 - Toyonoshima pushes him out after a short pause in the action, oshidashi.

Tochiozan 0-4 Takamisakari 1-3 - At the edge as often happens, Robo wins, tsukiotoshi.

Futenou 3-1 Aminishiki 2-2 - Aminishiki wins, uwatenage.

Tokitenku 2-2 Hokutoriki 1-3 - A pull down win for Hokutoriki, hikiotoshi.

Kakuryu 1-3 Wakanoho 1-3. Kakuryu henka attempt missed. A longish embrace in the middle before Wakanoho pushes him out, yorikiri.

Ama 2-2 Kyokutenho 1-3 - Active Ama pushes him out, yorikiri.

Asasekiryu 3-1 Kotooshu 4-0 - The strong ozeki pushes him out to remain zensho, yorikiri.

Chiyotaikai 2-2 Baruto 0-4 - Baruto can't even beat the injured Ozeki, hikiotoshi.

Kokkai 0-4 Kaio 1-3 - The other old ozeki wins too, uwatenage.

Kotomituki 3-1 Kisenosato 3-1 - Kisenosato has him right to the edge and wins, yoritaoshi.

Kotoshogiku 3-1 Hakuho 4-0 - An easy uwatenage by Hakuhou to remain perfect.

Asashouryu 3-1 Miyabiyama 1-3 - The blobmonster is pushed out, oshidashi.

Day 6

Tochinoshin 3-2 Toyohibiki 4-1 - A nice armlock and take down by Toyo, tsukiotoshi.

Kakizoe 3-2 Hakuba 0-5 - Finally, Hakuba wins, pushing him out from the back, okuritaoshi.

Kotokasuga 2-3 Tamanoshima 4-1 - A good battle, finally won by yoritaoshi by Tamanoshima for an excellent 5-1 start.

Hakurozan 3-2 Tamakasuga 1-4 - Hatakikomi, another yank down by Hakurozan. Mono-ii declared! Tamakasuga wins instead, oshidashi.

Iwakiyama 3-2 Yoshikaze 1-4 - Beast pushes him out easily, okuridashi, not a good start for Yoshi at 1-5 now.

Dejima 2-3 Tosanoumi 2-3 - Tosa runs out, hatakikomi.

Homasho 3-2 Roho 3-2 - Pull down attempted by Roho. Low stances. Roho wins by hatakikoumi.

Wakanosato 3-2 Takekaze 1-4 - Takekaze pushes him out, oshidashi.

Kasugao 3-2 Goeido 3-2 - Goeido wins, shitatenage.

Tochinonada 4-1 Hokutoriki 2-3 - Hokutoriki wins, tsukiotoshi and seems to be getting back on track.

Takamisakari 2-3 Toyonoshima 5-0 - Robo wins! Okuritaoshi to go 3-3.

Toyonoshima gets his first loss this tournament.

Tokitenku 2-3 Futenou 3-2 - Tokitenku scoops him sukuinage for the win.

Tochiozan 0-5 Aminishiki 3-2 - Tochizan has him, twice, but Aminishiki runs him out, yorikiri.

Kokkai 0-5 Kakuryu 1-4 - Kokkai tries a few pull downs but is yanked down himself to remain winless, hatakikomi.

Kisenosato 4-1 Asasekiryu 3-2 - A good battle, leg trip, Kisenosato pushes him out from the back, sukuinage they call it.

Kotomitsuki 3-2 Miyabiyama 1-4 - Miyabiyama a nice battle, nodo wa's, but some Koto-gabu from Mickey wins it, yorikiri.

Baruto 0-5 Kotooshu 5-0 - opposite records, the europeans collided. The ozeki made it look pretty easy with a yorikiri win.

Chiyotaikai 3-2 Ama 3-2 - Ama pushes him out and then takes care not to hurt his aite, oshidashi.

Kotoshogiku 3-2 Kaio 2-3 - A good battle, but Kaio flips Sho over, hatakikomi.

Asashoury 4-1 Kyokutenho 1-4 - Mirror records, still mirrored. Yorikiri, Asa.

Wakanoho 2-3 Hakuho 5-0 - Wakanoho backs out, easy win for the horizontal rope, tsukidashi.

Day 7

Tochinoshin 3-3 Hakurozan 3-3 - Another clash of the europeans, good belt battle, Hakurozan defends well at the edge of the rice straw bales but the second time Tochi takes him to the edge he wins via yorikiri.

Yoshikaze 1-5 Tamanoshima 5-1 - henkaish win by Yoshikaze, hikiotoshi.

Kakizoe 3-3 Toyohibiki 5-1 - A good battle, oshidashi Toyohibiki.

Tosanoumi 2-4 Kotokasuga 2-4 - Kotokasuga loses when he pretty much falls down, hikiotoshi.

Hakuba 1-5 - Wakanosato 3-3 - Hakuba looks small again, too small and puts up a valiant effort but it isn't enough. Yoritaoshi Wakanosato, later amended to uwatenage.

Dejima 3-3 Homasho 3-3 - Homasho holds at the edge but Dejima can't keep from going out afterward, hikiotoshi.

Iwakiyama 4-2 Roho 4-2 - Roho rolled him last basho but the Beast takes him into the second row this time, yorikiri.

Kasugao 3-3 Tamakasuga 2-4 - Kasugao goes down hard, oshitaoshi.

Takamisakari 3-3 Hokutoriki 3-3 - Nodo wa on Robo and he can't defend at the edge this time, yorikiri win for Hokutoriki.

Futenou 3-3 Takekaze 2-4 - Two of the shorter guys, a good battle, Futenou takes him out, yoritaoshi.

Tochinonada 4-2 Toyonoshima 5-1 - Wow, nice save by Toyonoshima, katasukashi.

Tochiozan 0-6 Goeido 4-2 - Tochiozan is taken down falling face first outside the dohyo, hatakikomi.

Aminishiki 4-2 Wakanoho 2-4 - A pull down by Wakanoho, hatakikomi.

Kyokutenho 1-5 Baruto 0-6 - At last, Baruto wins, yorikiri.

Kokkai 0-6 Asasekiryu 3-3 - Kokkai goes down, still winless at 0-7, shitatenage.

Ama 4-2 Kaio 3-3 - Kaio pushes him out, wow! Madamada genkidesho! Oshidashi.

Kotomitsuki Tokitenku -- Mickey falls down, tsukiotoshi.

Kisenosato 5-1 Kotooshu 6-0 - Kisenosato is pushed out from behind, okuridashi.

Chiyotaikai 3-3 Kotoshogiku 3-3 - Taikai mostly falls down, not a good sign. Tsukiotoshi.

Miyabiyama 1-5 Hakuho 6-0 - Hatakikomi by the yokozuna for the win.

Asashoryu 5-1 Kakuryu 2-4 - A good try by Kakuryu, a good grip on the

yokozuna but not enough, he is pushed out, yorikiri.

Day 8

Toyohibiki 6-1 Yoshikaze 2-5 - Yoshikaze wins by yorikiri, a nice battle.

Tosanoumi 3-4 Tochinoshin 4-3 - Tochi henka attempt but Tosanoumi pulls

him down instead, tsukiotoshi.

Iwakiyama 5-2 Hakuba 1-6 - Easy work by the Beast for a win, kotenage.

Kotokasuga 2-5 Homasho 4-3 - Homie pulls him down, hatakikomi.

Dejima 3-4 Tamanoshima 5-2 - Dejima pushes him back, made it look easy,

yorikiri.

Hakurozan 3-4 Wakanosato 4-3 and yorikiri easily wins it for Waka.

Tochinonada 4-3 Tamakasuga 3-4 - Nodo wa for Taka, Tochinonada wins, after Tama seemingly lost his concentration, tsukiotoshi.

Kakizoe 3-4 Takekaze 2-5 - Kaki pushes him to the edge but Take wins, tsukiotoshi.

Takamisakari 3-4 Roho 4-3 - Roho pushes Robo out, yorikiri.

Futenou 4-3 Goeido 5-2 - Futenou wins, yorikiri.

Kasugao 3-4 Toyonoshima 6-1 - A hard fall by Kasugao after what looked like a judo trip/throw and he's hurt, sotogake.

Hokutoriki 4-3 Aminishiki 4-3 - A good battle, Hokutoriki pushes him out, oshidashi.

Miyabiyama 1-6 Tochiozan 0-7 - Tochiozan goes down to remain zenpai, hikiotoshi.

Kyokutenho 1-6 Kakuryu 2-5 - Kakuryu wins, yorikiri.

Ama 4-3 Wakanoho 3-4 - Wakanoho can't believe it but Ama snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with an uchari.

Baruto 1-6 - Kotoshogiku 4-3 - Easy Gabu yorikiri win for Sho.

Chiyotaikai 3-4 Kokkai 0-7 - Finally, Kokkai gets a win, oshidashi.

Kotomitsuki 4-3 Asasekiryu 4-3 - Micky wins, yorikiri.

Kotooshu 7-0 Kaio 4-3 - The two ozeki lock up, double yotsu grip for

Kotooshu and Kaio is out, yorikiri. Kotooshu remains zensho.

Asashoryu 6-1 Tokitenku 4-3 - Yorikiri for the yokozuna.

Kisenosato 5-2 - Hakuho 7-0 Hak wins, zensho still, shitatenage.

Day 9

Hakurozan 3-5 Tamanoshima 5-3 - easy fast push out for Tama, oshidashi.

Hakuba 1-7 Tamakasuga 3-5 - Hakuba wins! Yoritaoshi.

Tosanoumi 4-4 Toyohibiki 6-2 - Toyo goes down, tsukiotoshi.

Kakizoe 3-5 - Homasho 5-3 - Oshidashi win for Homasho

Iwakiyama 6-2 Tochinoshin 4-4 - Beast shows him how its done in makuuchi, shitatenage.

Dejima 4-4 Yoshikaze 3-5 - Dejima wins, yorikiri I thought but it was scored as oshidashi.

Kotokasuga 2-6 Roho 5-3 - A nice uwatenage by Roho.

Takamisakari 3-5 Wakanosato 5-3 - Robo needs a recharge. He can't defend the edge again, yorikiri loss for him.

Hokutoriki 6-2 Kasugao 3-5 - Fusen win after Kasugao was forced to withdraw from the tournament.

Futenou 5-3 Tochinonada 5-3 - A good battle, all around the dohyo, yorikiri Futenou.

Goeido 5-3 Toyonoshima -1 - Another good fight, Goeido wins, yoritaoshi.

Tochiozan 0-8 Takekaze 3-5 - Tochiozan finally gets a win, oshidashi.

Kyokutenho 1-7 Miyabiyama 2-6 - The blobmonster pushes him out, yorikiri.

Wakanoho 3-5 Baruto 1-7 - Wakanoho wins, yorikiri.

Kisenosato 5-3 Kokkai 1-7 - Kisenosato wins in a better attempt by Kokkai this basho but still not enough.

Asasekiryu 4-4 Kotoshogiku 5-3 - Sho survives a bit of a henka attempt, then puts Asasekiryu down for the win, makiotoshi.

Tokitenku 4-4 Kotooshu 8-0 - yorikiri win for the continuing run at a zensho by Kotooshu.

Chiyotaikai 3-5 - Kaio 4-4 - Kaio wins the battle of the aging ozeki, pushing Taikai out from behind, okuridashi. Not good at all.

Kotomitsuki 5-3 Aminishiki 4-4 - Aminishiki pulls him down, hatakikomi; a mono-ii confirms the win.

Kakuryu 3-5 Hakuho 8-0 - Hakuho wins rather easily, uwatenage.

Asashouryu 7-1 Ama 5-3 - Ama jumps out of the blocks but then a battle of wills and strength, won by the yokozuna with a push out at the end with Ama flying down the hanamichi, yorikiri.

Day 10

Kotokasuga 2-7 Wakakirin 4-5 - Wakakirin wins in his juryo pull up match via oshidashi.

Hakuba 2-7 Yoshikaze 3-6 - Yoshikaze wins, yorikiri.

Kakizoe 3-6 Tochinoshin 4-5 - Kakizoe pushes him out, oshidashi.

Iwakiyama 7-2 Tamanoshima 6-3 - Tamanoshima wins with a straightforward yorikiri.

Hakurozan 3-6 Homasho 6-3 - Hakurozan takes out Homie, hatakikomi.

Tamakasuga 3-6 Takekaze 3-6 - Takekazeloses, sent out the back, oshidashi.

Goeido 6-3 Tosanoumi 5-4 - Goeido sends Tosanoumi down for the win, hikiotoshi.

Futenou 6-3 Toyohibiki 6-3 - Futenou wins right at the end. Mono-ii confirms, tsukiotoshi.

Wakanosato 6-3 Hokutoriki 6-3 - Hokutoriki wins, hatakikomi.

Tochiozan 1-8 Dejima 5-4 - A stalemate in the middle of the ring.

Tochiozan eventually pushes him out, yorikiri.

Roho 6-3 Toyonoshima -2 - Toyo pushes him out, yorikiri.

Tokitenku 4-5 Tochinonada 5-4 - Tochininada wins, oshidashi.

Takamisakari 3-6 - Aminishiki 5-4 - Robo is out and a loss away from MK, yorikiri.

Kokkai 1-8 Miyabiyama 3-6 - Miya falls down and Kokkai has his second win, hikiotoshi.

Kisenosato 6-3 Baruto 1-8 - Kisenosato is sent out! Hatakikomi.

Wakanoho 4-5 Asasekiryu 4-5 - A long standoff, a good match but Wakanoho goes down, uwatehineri.

Kakuryu 3-6 Kotooshu 9-0 - From the back Kotooshu takes him out, 10 wins, zensho continues! Okuritaoshi.

Kotomitsuki 5-4 Chiyotaikai 3-6 - Taikai goes down and is a win from kadoban, uwatedashinage.

Kyokutenho 1-8 Kaio 5-4 - Kaio is out, pushed back without much trouble, yorikiri.

Asashoryu 8-1 Kotoshogiku 6-3 - Sho is pushed out, yorikiri.

Ama 5-4 Hakuho 9-0 - Ama wins! He throws Hakuho at the edge, uwatenage. Good mongolian wrestling. Zabuton sail through the air.

Day 11

Kitataiki 4-6 Hakuba 2-8 - Hakuba wins over the juryo pull up with a pull down, hikiotoshi.

Yoshikaze 4-6 Tamakasuga 4-6 - Tamakasuga wins though the action continued on for a while until stopped by the gyoji as Yoshikaze had in fact already gone out. Oshidashi.

Kakizoe 4-6 Wakanosato 6-4 - Kakizoe wins, tsukiotoshi.

Dejima 5-5 Kotokasuga 2-8 - Koto wins, katasukashi.

Tosanoumi 5-5 Roho 6-4 - Roho is put out of the ring effortlessly, oshidashi.

Hakurozan 4-6 Takekaze 3-7 - Take scoops him to the clay, sukuinage.

Tochinonada 6-4 Tamanoshima 7-3 - A long hunched over clinchoff in the east-middle of the dohyo At last, they restart, but then stop after a few attempts at a victory. Zzzz. Then Tamanoshima makes a move but Tochinonada wins, I think, yes oshidashi.

Takamisakari 3-7 Tochinoshim 4-6 - Robo wins, yorikiri.

Toyohibiki 6-4 Hokutoriki 7-3 - Hokutoriki wins, hikiotoshi.

Futenou 7-3 Homasho 6-4 - Another good one, yorikiri for Homie.

Iwakiyama 7-3 Toyonoshima 8-2 - Toyo already has kachikoshi but he still takes the Beast out via yorikiri.

Goeido 7-3 Aminishiki 6-4 - Aminishiki takes him out easily, oshidashi.

Miyabiyama 3-7 Tokitenku 4-6 - Nodo wa for Miyabiyama and he wins, tsukidashi.

Kyokutenho 2-8 Tochizan 2-8 - the battle of 2-8s is won by Tochiozan as Kyokutenho steps out at the edge, tsukiotoshi.

Baruto 2-8 Asasekiryu 5-5 - Baruto finds his form and lifts out Asasekiryu, yorikiri.

Kisenosato 6-4 Kotoshogiku 6-4 - Sho was looking good until the end when he was taken down at the edge, tsukiotoshi.

Ama 6-4 Kokkai 2-8 - Kokkai is giving him trouble, a standoff in the middle but Ama wins via yorikiri

Wakanoho 4-6 Kaio 5-5 - Kaio pushes him out, yorikiri.

Kotomitsuki 6-4 Kakuryu 3-7 - Kakuryu wins, confirmed by mono-ii, Mickey stepped out, putting a toe down when it appeared as if he won at first, isamiashi.

Chiyotaikai 3-7 Hakuho 9-1 - Taikai looked good for a moment or two but it was not to be, yorikiri.

Asashoryu 9-1 Kotooshu 10-0 - Yorikiri for Kotooshu! Zabuton fly.

Zensho!

Day 12

Otsukasa 3-8 Hakuba 3-8 - Both were already MK. Otsukasa, the juryo pullup shows why Hakuba will be welcomed back there with an uwatenage win.

Hakurozan 4-7 Kotokasuga 3-7 - Kotokasuga sends Hakurozan to makekoschi and also likely juryo with a yorikiri.

Tosanonumi 6-5 Yoshikaze 4-7 - Blink and you missed it, Yoshikaze won in an instant, hatakikomi.

Tochinoshin 4-7 Homasho 7-4 - Round and round and round they go! Tochinoshin sends him spinning out, crashing into the judge, utchari.

Dejima 5-6 Toyohibiki 6-5 - Crashing into Roho went Toyohibiki, yoritaoshi.

Takamisakari 4-7 Kakizoe 5-6 - Robo takes him down to stave off makekoshi for another day, hatakikomi.

Roho 6-5 Goeido 7-4 - Goeido attempts to escape from the yank downs of Roho but ends up being pushed out, oshitaoshi.

Futenou 7-4 Tamanoshima 7-4 - Futeno eventually pushes him out and gets kachikoshi with yorikiri.

Iwakiyama 7-4 Hokutoriki 8-3 - Hokutoriki makes the Beast fight on for KK after pushing him out, oshidashi.

Tochiozan 3-8 Tamakasuga 5-6 - Oshidashi win for Tochiozan.

Wakanosato 6-5 Toyonoshima 9-2 - Wakanosato works hard and it pays off with a win, yorikiri.

Tokitenku 4-7 Takekaze 4-7 - Kaze pulls him down, katasukashi.

Tochinonada 7-4 Aminishiki 7-4 - Aminishiki wins by yorikiri, more interesting than it sounds. Lots of belt work going on before the push out.

Miyabiyama 4-7 Baruto 3-8 - Miyabiyama falls second to win, tottari.

Kisenosato 7-4 Wakanoho 4-7 - The crafty young european stays low and forces Kisenosato out to save his KK chances, yorikiri.

Kyokutenho 2-9 Asasekiryu 5-6 - Yorikiri Kyokutenho wins.

Kokkai 2-9 Kotoshogiku 6-5 - And Kokkai goes down easily again, obviously injured or something this basho, hatakikomi.

Kakuryu 4-7 Kaio 6-5 - Kaio is just too big and carries him out, yorikiri. MK for Kakuryu.

Kotomitsuki 6-5 Ama 7-4 - Ama Gabuyorikiri's him out for kachikosi. Mickey's KK is getting precarious now at 6-6.

Asashouryu 9-2 Chiyotaikai 3-8 - Taikai sidesteps the yokozuna for a tsukiotshi win in what could be their last match to take Asa out of the running for the yusho.

Kotooshu 11-0 Hakuho 10-1 - A bit of a sidestep from Kotooshu and then a yorikiri to keep up the zensho chances of the european ozeki. Zabuton fly.

Day 13

Kimurayama 9-3 - Yoshikaze 5-7 Yoshikaze wins a lively won over the daily juryo pull up, oshidashi.

Kotokasuga 4-8 Tamakasuga 5-7 - Tama wins hatakikomi.

Iwakiyama 7-5 Wakanosato 7-5 - Who will get the KK today? Two big men clinch, lock arms, and... Beast is pushed out, yorikiri. Waka gets his kachikoshi.

Dejima 6-6 Hakuba 3-9 - a headlock doesn't help Dejima and Hakuba wins, okuritaoshi!

Tochinoshin 5-7 Takekaze 5-7 - who will get MK today? Tochinoshin is big and reaches right over for a double handed grip but Takekaze stays in.

Standoff in the middle... but this time Tochinoshin carries him out, yorikiri.

Tochinonada 7-5 Toyohibiki 6-6 - An oshidashi makes quick work of Tochi for the win by Toyohibiki.

Kakizoe 5-7 Goeido 7-5 - Goeido pushes him out after a lively bout, oshidashi.

Takamisakari 5-7 Hakurozan 4-8 - Robo takes him out and farther back into juryo, yorikiri.

Tamanoshima 7-5 Hokutoriki 9-3 - Tamanoshima wins, getting his KK in the process, yorikiri.

Futenou 9-4 Tosanoumi 6-6 - Futeno's unrelenting yorikiri attack payed off again.

Homasho 7-5 Toyonoshima 9-3 - Homasho had Toyo at the edge but then a stalemate. Toyo was dug in deep, trying to keep himself in the dohyo. Then Toyo was pushing into the centre. Then Homie was pushed to the edge. Another standoff... Then a push by Toyonoshima and at the edge, Homie got his KK. Toyo couldn't believe it. Mono-ii needed to confirm Homasho's victory, by hikiotoshi.

Tochiozan 4-8 Roho 7-5 - Roho gets KK by pushing him out from behind, okuritaoshi.

Kyokutenho 3-9 Wakanoho 5-7 - The long legs of the young european keep him in a good strong stance and he staves off MK yet again with a win, by yorikiri.

Kokkai 2-10 Baruto 3-9 - These two looked great last basho but not this one... Kokkai shares the pain of 3-10 as he wins, by yorikiri.

Tokitenku 4-8 - Asasekiryu 5-7 - Another centre standoff... before Asasekiryu takes him down, uwatedashinage.

Kisenosato 7-5 Kakuryu 4-8 - Yorikiri and kachikoshi for Kisenosato.

Ama 8-4 Kotoshogiku 7-5 - With KK on the line for Sho, Ama shows no charity sending Shoki out by oshidashi and Sho will have to try again tomorrow.

Aminishiki 8-4 Kotooshu 12-0 - Aminishiki pushes Kotooshu back out via oshidashi, no zensho yusho for you! The yusho race is back on.

Chiyotaikai 4-8 Miyabiyama 5-7 - The kadoban ozeki puts down the former ozeki with hikiotoshi and Miyabiyama is now makekoshi.

Kotomitsuki 6-6 Hakuho 10-2 - Stable-mate Sho's Gabu used again, Mickey wins by yoritaoshi! The yusho race is now a long shot...

Asashoryu 9-3 Kaio 7-5 - Kaio wins on upset day, by uwatedashinage no less! KK for Kaio, a bad looking record now for the Yokozuna.

Day 14

Kaiho 4-9 Hakuba 4-9 - Kaiho wins via sukuinage.

Dejima 6-7 Hakurozan 4-9 - Dejima wins with a fast tachiai and a yoritaoshi.

Tosanoumi 6-7 Wakanosato 8-5 - Grunting all the way, Wakanosato is not in a giving mood and it is 6-8 MK for Tosanoumi via yorikiri.

Kakizoe 5-8 Roho 8-6 - Roho is in a giving mood however with a fusen win given to Kakizoe.

Tochinonada 7-6 - Kotokasuga - Tochinonada takes his KK with a nice kubinage at the edge.

Toyohibiki 7-6 Takekaze 5-8 - KK for Toyo with oshidashi.

Takamisakari 6-76 Tamakasuga 6-7 - Who will get MK today? Robo falls forward and no promotion for him in Nagoya, hatakikomi.

Yoshikaze 6-7 Goeido 8-5 - Goeido almost recovered but no, he goes out and Yoshi's KK hopes remain alive with an okuridashi.

Futenou 9-4 Tochinoshin 6-7 - Tochinoshin wins by Futeno's favorite kimarite yorikiri.

Homasho 8-5 Hokutoriki 9-4 - both tumble out, gumbai says Hokutoriki with an ushiromotare.

Tamanoshima 8-5 Toyonoshima 9-4 - The battle of the islands is won by Toyonoshima via oshidashi.

Tokitenku 4-9 Iwakiyama 7-6 - Beast still can't get his KK today, hikiothoshi win for Tokitenku.

Kokkai 3-10 Kyokutenho 3-10 - battle of 3-10s... Not good bashos for these rikishi. Kyokutenho is the more genki of the two however and wins via yorikiri.

Tochizan 4-9 Baruto 3-10 - Baruto wins with hikiotoshi, both are 4-10, not records to be proud of.

Kisenosato 8-5 Aminishiki 9-4 - Kisenosato owns him, oshitaoshi.

Miyabiyama 5-8 Asasekiryu 6-7, big henka attempt... Miyabiyama wins with oshidashi.

Wakanoho 6-7 - Kotoshogiku 7-6 - henka keeps Wakanoho's KK hopes alive and puts Sho on the edge with hatakikomi.

Ama 9-4 Kotooshu 12-1 - Can Ama keep the yusho race interesting? No. The yusho is going to the Bulgarian yogurt man, his first with a okuritaoshi win.

Chiyotaikai 5-8 Kakuryu 4-9 - Kakuryu gabutsuridashi's out the already kadoban ozeki.

Asashoryu 9-4 Kotomituki 7-6 - Asa puts him down with uwatenage and Kotomitsuki's KK comes down to senshuraku. Asa's record is now almost respectable.

Kaio 8-5 Hokuho 10-3 - Hakuho puts him out, yorikiri.

Day 15

Toyohibiki 8-6 - Homasho 8-6 - Another edge win for Homasho when Toyo falls down right before pushing Homie out, hikiotoshi.

Iwakiyama 7-7 Hoakurozan 4-10 - KK on the line, the Beast makes good on his chance on senshuraku, oshidashi.

Kotokasuga 4-10 Wakanosato 9-5 - Waka scoops (sukuinage) for double digit wins.

Dejima 7-7 Tochinoshin 7-7 - who will get KK? Dejima makes no mistake about it with oshidashi. Tochinoshin gets MK but should stay in makuuchi.

Hakuba 4-10 Takekaze 6-8 and Takekaze almost got KK this basho via oshidashi.

Tochinonada 8-6 Kakizoe 6-8 - Tochinonada wins in a spirited bout via hatakikomi.

Tamanoshima 8-6 Goeido 8-6 - Tamanoshima takes him out with yoritaoshi.

Takamisakari 6-8 Tosanoumi 6-8 - both MK, Robo takes him out so he won't fall too far with yorikiri.

Tochiozan 4-10 Yoshikaze 7-7 - KK on the line for Yoshi, but Tochiozan is not in a giving mood with a yorikiri.

Hokutoriki 10-4 Wakanoho 7-7 - Gabu yorikiri for Wakanoho and KK!

Kyokutenho 4-10 Tamakasuga 7-7 - KK on the line, and he gets it, Tamakasuga wins with oshidashi.

Kakuryu 5-9 Baruto 4-10 - Baruto pushes out the smaller man with yorikiri and both finish 5-10.

Kokkai 3-11 Tokitenku 5-9 - Kokkai's terrible natsu basho finishes on a bad note, 3-12 losing to yorikiri.

Aminishiki 9-5 Asasekiryu 6-8 - Aminishiki gets double digit wins with yorikiri.

Kisenosato 9-5 - Miyabiyama 6-8 - Kisenosato double digit wins too with oshidashi.

Futenou 9-5 - Kotoshogiku 7-7 - KK on the line, after a long standoff, Gabu attempts, at last a second gabuyorikiri attempt works and Sho is KK.

Ama 9-5 - Toyonoshima 10-4 - Another standoff, Ama looking small next to Toyo. Oshidashi at last for Toyo.

Chiyotaikai 5-9 Kotooshu 13-1 - A rather easy push back for the yusho winner, yorikiri.

Kotomitsuki 7-7 Kaio 8-6 - KK on the line and, Mickey gets it with okuritaoshi.

Asashoryu 10-4 Hakuho 11-3 - Asa wins with hikiotoshi and the extra shove and stare down are of course old news by now but both Yokozuna get the same record so Asa should remain east yokozuna in Nagoya. This was supposed to be the yusho deciding bout but Kotooshu had other plans.

Analysis:

Both Yokozuna were a bit hobbled by injuries when they came in. They said otherwise but don't believe it, Hak's ankle was hurt and so was Asa's calf. They both did well at the beginning and then faded as their injuries became more apparent. Asa didn't take his training that seriously and is doing the same for Nagoya so I expect similar results for him while Hakuho may do better.

In the Ozeki ranks, Chiyotaikai is still hurt from 2007 Aki and I'm not sure he'll ever be at 100%. Hopefully he can manage kachikoshi in Nagoya to avoid intai but it is more a matter of when than if at this point. Kaoi is still trucking along with twenty years on the dohyo but he too is at the twilight of his career. I would like the two of them to be able to challenge for a yusho but I just don't see it. Kotooshu obviously did very well so the main factor going forward will be the question: can he make it two in a row, can he keep it up and make a run for the rope? I think he can but he needs to remain focused and mentally positive which can be a challenge for him but overall it is nice that the yusho appears to be a three way race for Nagoya rather than just which yokozuna could win it. Kotomitsuki was disappointing; he got his kachikoshi which is nice but I saw nothing spectacular in his sumo.

At Sekiwake both Ama and Kotoshogiku had good but not specular natsu bashos. Both showed shining moments and dull ones. Both have solid games overall but with holes which can be exploited; hopefully their keiko and oyakata can help them to round out their games so they can make ozeki runs.

In komusubi Kisenosato had a good run, not quite enough for real sekiwake consideration but good. Bad luck against the likes of Chiyotaikai and not doing his best perhaps against Wakanoho hurt in the end and could have made a big difference. Asasekiryu had a bad basho and likely won't be komusubi in Nagoya; losing to the likes of Baruto and Miyabiyama when nearly everyone including Chiyotaikai was able to beat them shows that he just wasn't right for natsu. We'll likely see Aminishiki or Toyonoshima here next basho though both will find the komusubi position difficult as always.

In joi maegashira, life was really tough. In all the top ten maegashira ranks, only Wakanoho and Toyonoshima achieved kachikoshi. Kokkai really crashed and burned from M1E with a 3-12 record, must have been due to injury. Baruto's record was better but he looked almost as bad at 5-10, nowhere near his "construction crane" like performance in haru. Kyokutenho looked bad at 4-11 and Miyabiyama was unable to do his usual job of squeaking out a kachikoshi in the final week. Kakuryu had some health problems and it really hurt his performance, dropping a 5-10 week. Tochiozan really let us down at 5-10 after an excellent haru basho; his start was poor and while he came on later there was no way to make up for lost time. Same for Tokitenku at 6-9. For his age and experience Wakanoho did well to put a KK together; hopefully he can keep it up. Toyonoshima has held a komusubi rank before and hopefully he can return and surpass it; possible if he keeps up the good work but he could also crash in Nagoya.

For the rest of the makuuchi 'regulars' there were certainly surprises but also a lot of consistent performances. Futeno at 9-6, Hokutoriki at 10-5, Tochinonada at 9-6, Wakanosato at 10-5 and Homasho at 9-6 all had good bashos. Takamisakari was disappointing at 7-8 with some tough early losses and Takekaze did poorly even at M8W after free falling out of komusubi last basho. Kasugao suffered a nasty knee injury which will likely take him right out of it. Roho has satisfied with KK and bowed out after that, citing a back injury but he'll move up modestly.

For the new promotions into makuuchi it was mostly bad news. Tochinoshin did well to begin with but then most figured out his game; he finished at 7-8 which will likely let him remain in makuuchi and hopefully he will learn quickly. Kotokasuga's long string of KK is over with a 4-11 so he will be back to juryo along with Hakuba who just looks too small and also turned in a 4-11. Returning to makuuchi, Hakurozan was really disappointing and former sekiwake Tosanoumi also turned in a poor performance.

I think I preferred the makuuchi performance in haru to natsu but I hope Nagoya will be better. The banzuke should be out any time now and then the real fun beings. See you again after Nagoya!