Day 6 in the dohyo!

First the Juryo seed for the day at the bottom of the Makuuchi lineup:

Sagatsukasa (WJ1/4-2) gets the tsukidashi push-out from Toyohibiki (EM16/5-1) who is showing signs of improvement in his game. If the senior maegashira keep up with their sub-par performance, and Toyo keeps his game face on - he might see some action against the Sanyaku rikishi in the March Haru Basho at Osaka.

Skipping past the bulk of the rank and file (as I have a habit of doing), we come to…

Baruto (ES/5-1) shows Kotogoshiku a thing or two, namely an easy (oshidashi) and a another notch on the Komusubi’s loss record, bringing him to 2-4. Will this record herald a return to Juryo for this Sadogatake rikishi?

Kotooshu (EO/5-1) breaks Kisenosato’s (WM3) straight run of wins, reducing him to 5-1 with a (yoritaoshi) that buried him back-first into the dirt, right along with whatever zensho-yusho (perfect win record of 15-0) dreams he might have been harbouring, much less surpassing his previous 5-win run back in the 2009 Natsu-Basho (May).

This also of course, leaves Hakuho the unchallenged (and given his performance this basho, the likely)candidate for a perfect win record.

Toyonoshima (EM1/2-4) came out very strong today against Kaio (WO/2-4) with a double inside grip that put the veteran ozeki down on his back w/ a flawless sukuinage (beltless arm throw)

Miyabiyama (WM2/2-4) dominated Kotomitsuki (EO/1-5) - albeit with a kind of a henka-ish move. Kotomitsuki probably moves further down his path to kadoban status for the next basho with an easy hikiotoshi (arm/shoulder yank-down).

Harumafuji (WO/5-1) blasted Goeido (EM2/2-4) - yesterday’s gold-star winner - with a lightning fast hikkake counter-maneuver behind Goeido, tossing the maegashira out with his own momentum

Hakuho is undefeated still at (6-0), and sends Hokutoriki (EM3/2-4) packing off with his fourth loss. The Khan is all but unstoppable! (yorikiri)

Asashoryu (5-1) also manhandles Kakuryu (WK/2-4) with similiar ease. (yorikiri)

Official scorecard here.