Harumafuji faces final test against Hakuho

Harumafuji put one hand up on his fourth career Emperor's Cup with a ransacking of fellow ozeki Kakuryu on Saturday, setting up a final day showdown against yokozuna Hakuho for all the marbles at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.

Business as usual: Harumafuji (right) improves to 14-0 in the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament by beating fellow ozeki Kakuryu on Saturday. KYODO

After Harumafuji blazed through Kakuryu in the day's penultimate bout to improve to an unblemished 14-0 mark, Hakuho defeated longtime nemesis Kisenosato with an equally powerful performance, bringing his record to 13-1.

Hakuho, seeking his 23rd career title and first in three meets, can force a playoff against Harumafuji with a win against him on Sunday. Harumafuji, who won the Nagoya Basho in July with a perfect 15-0 record, would all but guarantee his promotion to yokozuna with a win over Hakuho in the grand finale of the Tokyo meet.

The lone Mongolian yokozuna holds a 22-12 record over his countryman, but has lost his previous two meetings with the fiery ozeki.

Harumafuji got a turbo start at the tachiai, getting his right hand under the armpit of Kakuryu (10-4) in the blink of an eye before sending his rival retreating over the edge in a frontal force out to extend his winning streak to 30 consecutive bouts.

In the day's finale at Ryogoku Kokugikan, fireworks were set to erupt before the bout even got started as the two men exchanged glares with Kisenosato intent on not backing down. However, the ozeki's bark proved to be much louder than his bite once the match begun.

Hakuho rammed Kisenosato with a right elbow to the face that all but stopped the ozeki's forward motion, and proceeded to violently slap him to the sandy surface with an emphatic thud. Kisenosato slipped to a 10-4 mark.

In other noteworthy bouts, maegashira wrestler Okinoumi beat Chiyotairyu (5-9) by frontal force out to pick up his 10th win, but fellow rank-and-filer and early title contender Takayasu (10-4) was sent packing by technician Aminishiki (9-5).

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Title still up for grabs as Hakuho stays in hunt

Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho exacted swift revenge over bogey man Kisenosato on Friday, producing a power-packed display to blow the title race wide open heading into the final weekend of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament.

Defeat dropped Kisenosato into a three-way share of the lead at 10-3 with veteran Mongolian Kyokutenho and fourth-ranked Tochiozan at the 15-day basho, at Ryogoku Kokugikan while Hakuho (9-4) revived his hopes of a 23rd Emperor's Cup, despite wrestling with a fractured finger. Rank-and-filers Okinoumi and Aoiyama are tied with Hakuho in second place.

Overnight leader Kisenosato, famous for ending Hakuho's streak of 63 consecutive wins at the 2010 Kyushu Basho, was looking to follow up on his victory at the last tourney in March.

But Hakuho had other ideas and wasted no time sending the ozeki packing with his best impression of a juggernaut.

A championship win for either Kisenosato, Tochiozan or Okinoumi would be the first by a Japanese-born wrestler since now retired Tochiazuma won the New Year Basho as an ozeki in 2006.

Kyokutenho moved into double digits when he toppled 11th-ranked Sadanofuji (5-8) with an under-shoulder swing down, and Tochiozan soaked up a flurry of thrusts from Aminishiki (7-6) before charging the komusubi out of the dohyo.

Elsewhere, Harumafuji moved to within one bout of a winning record, drawing in Baruto with a clever arm pull and shoving his fellow ozeki off the raised clay to a fifth loss.

Kotooshu secured a majority of wins with his second straight victory over an ozeki rival, the Bulgarian tipping Mongolian Kakuryu off the straw ridge to leave both men with 8-5 marks.

Kotoshogiku was dumped to a fifth defeat, the ozeki getting sent sprawling to the dirt by a well-timed beltless arm throw from sekiwake Goeido (7-6).

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Toyohibiki upsets Hakuho

Ozeki Kotoshogiku saw his unbeaten start come to a crashing halt with a defeat to Myogiryu, while yokozuna Hakuho also suffered an upset loss and dropped his second bout as the first week of action wrapped up at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Saturday.

Defeat for Kotoshogiku left the overnight leader at 6-1 in a group of five wrestlers, including ozeki Kisenosato and Kakuryu, tied at the top of the leaderboard.

Kotoshogiku never got going against Myogiryu (4-3), who had already defeated three ozeki in his first six bouts. The No. 2 maegashira took the initiative at the charge and worked the ozeki toward the bails before completing victory with a meaty one-handed shove to the chest.

In the day's biggest shock, Hakuho, seeking his 23rd Emperor's Cup, was initially awarded victory despite television replays clearly showing he had hit the dirt first as he went sailing over the edge with third-ranked maegashira Toyohibiki (4-3).

But ringside judges correctly overruled the umpire's decision, sending Toyohibiki back to the locker room at Ryogoku Kokugikan weeping tears of joy.

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Hakuho triumphs again

His opening-day defeat seemingly a minor blip, Hakuho chased out top-ranked maegashira Takayasu to post his second straight win at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Tuesday.

The Mongolian yokozuna, who started a meet with a defeat for the first time since the 2008 Kyushu Basho in losing to Aminishiki on Sunday, was rarely in danger in the day's finale, thrusting a defensive Takayasu (0-3) back out of the dohyo at Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Kisenosato and Kotoshogiku were among the early leaders at 3-0 at sumo's second rank of ozeki.

Five out of six ozeki, including Kakuryu, won, with Bulgarian Kotooshu the day's only major casualty in a narrow defeat to third-ranked maegashira Toyohibiki.

Baruto was never in any danger of failing to post his third win, the Estonian giant quickly chasing second-ranked maegashira Myogiryu (1-2) over the straw bales to keep a clean slate.

Harumafuji (2-1), sporting a black eye after taking a poke on the opening day Sunday in his bout against Homasho, put on a clinical display to oust top-ranked Russian Aran (0-3) and Kakuryu (2-1) handed sekiwake Goeido his first loss of the tournament.

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Hakuho calls time on Baruto's perfect record

Yokozuna Hakuho drew a line in the sand Sunday, beating ozeki Baruto to deny the Estonian goliath a 15th win on the final day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.

Sting in the tail: Hakuho (right) pushes Baruto out of the ring on the final day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday. KYODO

Baruto was trying to become the first wrestler at sumo's No. 2 rank to win a tournament with a perfect 15-0 mark since Hakuho achieved the feat at the 2007 summer basho, but Hakuho had other plans for sumo's jolly giant in the grand finale at Ryogoku Kokugikan.

With his mother and wife in the audience looking on, Baruto came flying out at the charge and attempted to grab Hakuho's arm, but the yokozuna escaped his grasp before heaving Baruto out for a first loss in front of another full house.

Hakuho, who had been bidding to win his third straight title, finished his campaign with a 12-3 mark.

"I feel great. I tried my best till the end. Next basho I will give it my all," said Baruto, who will need to continue to perform at a high level to make a run at promotion to sumo's highest rank of yokozuna.

Asked if he felt much pressure during the 15-day meet, Baruto said, "Not really. I just remained focused on my own sumo each day. If I can continue to perform well like I did at this meet I have confidence that I can reach my ultimate goal, yokozuna," he said.

In other noteworthy bouts, Kisenosato unleashed a salvo of strikes against Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu (10-5) before wrapping his left hand around his opponent's mawashi and escorting him over the edge to finish his ozeki debut at 11-4.

Ozeki Kotoshogiku, who needed a majority of wins, escaped with his eighth victory in an intense battle with Mongolian ozeki Harumafuji (11-4), getting his left hand inside before muscling his rival over the straw bales.

Sekiwake Toyonoshima was twisted down to his knees by Kitataiki (2-13) to end on an unflattering 5-10 mark.

Kakuryu chased out Myogiryu after a series of quick shoves to pick up his 10th win, further building his case for a run at ozeki at the spring basho in March.

Mongolian sekiwake Kakuryu received his first Outstanding Performance Prize after being the first to send Hakuho to a defeat on the 10th day.

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Hakuho rebounds; Baruto still leads

Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho relaunched his bid for a third consecutive title with a satisfying victory over Kisenosato on Wednesday, while Estonian ozeki Baruto also won handsomely to maintain his slender lead heading into the final stretch of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.

Kisenosato famously ended Hakuho's 63-bout winning streak at the 2010 Kyushu Basho, but there was only ever going to be one winner in the day's finale as the yokozuna quickly took control at Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Looking to rebound from a shock first loss to Kakuryu on Tuesday, Hakuho wasted no time in grabbing Kisenosato's arm to set himself up for the kill, ushering out the ozeki to move into double digits at 10-1.

Kisenosato dropped to 9-2 in his debut at sumo's second rank, tied with rank-and-filer Tochiozan.

In the preceding bout, ozeki Harumafuji (8-3) stood no chance as a scowling Baruto ripped into the Mongolian with a flurry of meaty thrusts, easily shoving him over the straw bales.

Former night club bouncer Baruto, whose easy smile and quirky sense of humor has endeared him to sumo fans, is seeking his first Emperor's Cup.

Ozeki Kotooshu dropped further off the pace as Kakuryu claimed another major scalp, the Mongolian sekiwake picking his moment to upend the Bulgarian with a perfectly executed "shitatenage" underarm throw, leaving both men at 8-3.

"I am just trying to wrestle my brand of sumo in each bout and hopefully can keep going strong through the end of the tournament," said Kakuryu.

Kotoshogiku, who has been frustratingly inconsistent in his second tournament at ozeki, moved back into the winning column at 6-5 with a routine forceout win over fourth-ranked maegashira Homasho (5-6).

Sekiwake Toyonoshima traipsed back to the locker room contemplating a majority of losses after being rammed out by top-ranked maegashira Takekaze with alarming ease, while it was a day of mixed fortunes for sumo's fourth rank of komusubi.

Wakakoyu slapped down No. 2 maegashira Okinoumi (2-9) to pick up only his third win, but Miyabiyama was sent out by a pulling overarm throw and condemned to a losing record by Aminishiki (6-5).

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Hakuho handed first defeat in New Year Basho

One false move and it was all over for Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho in a shock defeat to countryman Kakuryu at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Tuesday.

Estonian ozeki Baruto emerged as the improbable sole leader after Hakuho suffered his first loss, improving his record to a perfect 10-0 with a dismantling of Toyonoshima at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Hakuho was brought crashing back down to earth in the day's final after Kakuryu got his hand on the yokozuna's mawashi and spun him like a top before heaving his opponent over for his first "kinboshi," win against a yokozuna.

Kakuryu, who improved to 7-3, won his first bout in 21 meetings against the lone yokozuna. Things got off to an ominous start for Hakuho when the yokozuna, who is seeking his third straight title, stood up once to delay the clash.

Hakuho, who fell out of the lead for the first time as yokozuna on the 10th day, on Wednesday faces ozeki Kisenosato, who ended his 63-bout winning streak at the 2010 Kyushu Basho.

Baruto got his huge right arm on the back of Toyonoshima's mawashi out of the crouch and slammed the sekiwake (3-7) with an earth-shattering overarm throw to remain spotless.

Ozeki debutant Kisenosato claimed bragging rights in a rumble with rival ozeki Kotoshogiku on Tuesday, remaining one behind Baruto in a tie with Hakuho. Harumafuji and fellow ozeki Kotooshu sit in a group of four two off the pace at 8-2.

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Referee injured in fall; Hakuho wins

Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho made short work of Okinoumi, but Japanese ozeki pair Kotoshogiku and Kisenosato both tasted defeat at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Wednesday.

The scariest moment of the day, however, was when gyoji (referee) Shozaburo Kimura took a nasty spill in ozeki Baruto's bout against Wakakoyu and was left unconscious at ringside before he had to be carted out of the auditorium on a stretcher by sumo officials.

After the bizarre accident which left sumo fans with looks of concerned silence, Hakuho remained in a share of the lead at 4-0 with ozeki trio Kotooshu, Baruto and Harumafuji, as well as sekiwake Kakuryu and maegashira Asasekiryu.

Kotoshogiku had one false start against Aminishiki (1-3) and flubbed his lines on the second asking as he was sent backpedaling from the ring to his second loss while Kisenosato never got rolling in his bout with Toyonoshima (2-2), the sekiwake deftly darting about the ring before shoving the ozeki to a first loss at Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Hakuho, who is seeking his third straight title and 22nd overall, was business as usual with Okinoumi, dragging the winless No. 2 maegashira to the dirt surface after one strike.

"This has never happened before in sumo. I guess things like this can happen," said Hakuho, referring to referee Shozaburo, who later was revealed to have suffered a concussion. "I hope he is okay. He is a referee from my stable's group. I wasn't influenced by that, though, because I have to perform my best for the fans," he said.

Baruto came charging out of the crouch and knocked winless Wakakoyu on top of Shozaburo, who appeared to hit his head after falling from the raised ring.

Kotooshu knocked the daylights out of Goeido (0-4), the Bulgarian ozeki using his longer arms effectively in a flurry of thrusts to send his opponent sprawling in seconds.

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Kisenosato, Hakuho roll; Kotoshogiku falls at New Year basho

Newly promoted ozeki Kisenosato tossed aside Goeido to get off to a high-octane start, Kotoshogiku took a first-day spill and yokozuna Hakuho was his usual dominant self on the opening day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday.

Kisenosato kept his eyes transfixed on Goeido as he blasted him with a torrent of shoves before sending his opponent fleeing over the edge at Ryogoku Kokugikan.

But Kotoshogiku, promoted to sumo's No. 2 rank after the autumn basho last year, never got rolling against Takekaze who slapped the ozeki down immediately after the face-off.

"I lost to Goeido at the last meet (in Kyushu) last year, so I just wanted to make sure my opponent never got inside for an attack," said Kisenosato, who got the green light for ozeki after the Kyushu basho. "I wasn't really that nervous. I just kept the pressure on him by pushing him down from above and stayed calm. This was a good start."

"Darn it! My sumo today was halfhearted," Kotoshogiku said. "I wasn't ready for the challenge and my body and mind were not in sync. I got ahead of myself when I should have been more relaxed."

After a tumultuous 2011 when sumo was mired in its worst-ever crisis due to a match-fixing scandal, the January meet kicked off to a packed house amidst much anticipation as the national sport attempts to clean up its tarnished image in 2012.

Although expectations are riding high with Kotoshogiku and Kisenosato having gained promotion, for the first time ever, there are no Japanese wrestlers amongst the 32 plaques of title winners draped around the auditorium.

Retired ozeki Tochiazuma's plaque from the 2006 New Year meet has been removed, leaving 20 of Mongolian Hakuho and the rest of other foreign wrestlers including former yokozuna Asashoryu, Mongolian Harumafuji and Bulgarian Kotooshu.

It's the first time since the 2010 summer basho that two Japanese ozeki are competing together, and fans are hoping one of them will be the first Japanese wrestler in six years to cart the coveted Emperor's Cup.

Hakuho, who is the strong favorite to match former yokozuna Takanohana with his 22nd career title, made mincemeat of Wakakoyu in the day's final bout, sending the new komusubi sprawling in a matter of seconds.

Asked for his thoughts on trying to tie Takanohana's record, Hakuho said, "This is just the start but of course I am thinking about it. If I put in the work I feel like I'll definitely be able to match it."

Harumafuji took care of Okinoumi in one swoop, getting his left hand inside for a tight grip on the mawashi before flinging his opponent over with an underarm throw.

Kotooshu unleashed a series of shoves against Aminishiki before getting both hands wrapped around the top-ranked maegashira and jolting his opponent over the ridge.

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Hakuho moves within sight of title

Yokozuna Hakuho moved within grasp of a record-tying seventh consecutive title on Saturday after beating Estonian ozeki Baruto with a powerful display, but was forced to wait with a possible showdown looming against Georgian Tochinoshin on the final day of the May Technical Examination Tournament.

Hakuho rebounded from a loss to ozeki Harumafuji the previous day, giving him a 13-1 record, while Tochinoshin sent out sekiwake Kotoshogiku (9-5) in a frontal force-out to improve to a 12-2 mark at the 15-day Tokyo test meet.

In the day's final at Ryogoku Kokugikan, Hakuho and Baruto squared off in a grappling duel at the ring's center and the heavier ozeki was not about to go quietly.

But Hakuho stood firm against the ozeki's strong right-handed grip before getting his left hand on his opponent's mawashi and heaving all 184 kg of the behemoth over the straw bales. Baruto slipped to 10-4.

"I was able to get my left hand inside. He is a big opponent, so it was tough for sure," said Hakuho.

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Hakuho faces up to gloomy basho

Yokozuna Hakuho has been in this tenuous situation before — sort of.

The Mongolian, who is taking part in a "test meet" in Tokyo in place of the summer basho following a match-fixing scandal, had to deal with disappointment when, despite winning last year's Nagoya basho, he received nothing for his efforts, including the coveted Emperor's Cup.

There are no awards, trophies or cash prizes being offered either at the May Technical Examination Tournament, as it is being called, but the results still count.

The Ryogoku Kokugikan appears even gloomier, due to the reduced lighting to conserve energy following the March 11 earthquake in northeastern Japan.

"I felt the same way at the Nagoya basho last year but I fought through it," said Hakuho, who is aiming to match former yokozuna Asashoryu's all-time record of seven consecutive titles at this meet.

"Last time when I was in this type of situation, I tried to remember the joy of sumo as I wrestled. That's the same thing I have to do here. I have to feel appreciation while I wrestle."

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