Very sparse coverage for today, and Day 10 …

Day 9

I did manage to catch the NHK recap of the day’s notable wins, which includes the two European stars of this hon-basho… Kotooshu (EO) and Baruto (ES) who both started at 7-1 … but Baruto got the upper hand first, and used his mass to first unbalance the Bulgarian, and then push him out with a yoritaoshi win.

Baruto moved to (8-1) and Kotooshu fell to (7-2).

Asashoryu’s (WY/8-1) kirikaeshi victory against Kisenosato (WM3/5-4) was nothing short of blisteringly fast, and Hakuho (EY/8-1) far outstripped Kakizoe (EM4/4-5), where both yokozuna further cement their places at the zenith of this basho.

Kaio (WO/5-4) eked out his 812th career win from a rather mediocre Hokutoriki (EM3/2-7)… and he seems to have struggled to do so. He will need three more wins to “break even” with a kachi-koshi (8-7). I honestly think that he is also heading down the same path that made Chiyotaikai finally tender his inai; I just hope that he doesn’t let himself fall back to sekiwake or maegashira status first.

Day 10

I’ll have to catch the recap tonight to comment in any greater depth - but it appears that Baruto and Kotooshu have both lost bouts, falling to 8-2 and 7-3 respectively, and removing them further from the possibility of a yusho.

The two yokozuna remain impressive at 9-1.