WINNER: ?
Outstanding Performance Award: ?
Outstanding Technique Award: ?
Fighting Spirit Award: ?
6th day
Ura stood firm and low as he kept Mitakeumi from getting hold of his belt.
Then he moved, grabbing Mitakeumi's belt then driving him out.
Ura is the sole leader.
Mitakeumi lost his first bout.
Daeisho gave Wakamotoharu powerful thrusts to win his 5th bout.
Kotozakura could not resist Ohnosato's force and his foot went out the ring.
It's the ozeki's 2nd loss.
Hoshoryu drove out Tobizaru for his 4th win.
Kirishima again lost. This time the ozeki fell to Ohho's thrust.
5th day
Takarafuji drove out Ohamami to earn his 5th win.
Mitakeumi forced out Meisei to keep his record clean.
Ura slammed Nishikigi's head and made him fall, to win his 5th bout.
Daieisho gave Abi powerful thrusts to win.
Hoshoryu quickly drove out Gonoyama fo his 3rd win.
Ohnosato and Kirishima shoved eachother at the verge of the ring and fell.
The judges ruled Ohnosato won.
Kotozakura forced down Tobizaru for his 4th win.
4th day
Mitakeumi managed to stay inside the ring while he forced down Oonosho for his 4th win.
Ura drove out Midorifuji for his 4th win.
Ohnosato forced Wakamotoharu to roll on the ring.
Abi forced Atamifuji to fall on his hands.
Daieisho and Kirishima was at one point were far apart from eachother during the bout.
But in the end Daieisho pushed out the poorly performing ozeki.
It's Kirishima's 3rd loss.
Kotozakura managed to stay inside the ring and forced down Gonoyama for his 3rd win.
Hoshoryu struggled against Hiradoumi but in the end forced him down to win his 2nd bout.
3rd day
Ryuden threw Nishikifuji for his 3rd win.
Kinbozan thrust down Ichiyamato also for his 3rd win.
Mitakeumi won his 3rd bout by immediately forcing out Nishikigi.
Ura forced Oonosho to fall to earn his 3rd win.
Ohnosato drove out Tobizaru for his 2nd win.
Hiradoumi gave thrusts which Kotozakura stopped then pushed him out for his 2nd win.
Hoshoryu in a competitive bout drove out Daieisho for his first win.
Atamiumi pushed out Kirishima. It's the ozeki's 2nd loss.
2nd day
Mitakeumi threw Midorifuji for his 2nd win.
Ura forced Meisei to lose balance and pushed him down.
Takayasu pushed out the up and coming Ohnosato.
Hoshoryu was easily forced out by Abi.
Kirishima fought hard against Hiradoumi and was able to push him out.
Kotozakura forced Atamifuji on his hands.
Takakeisho and Terunofuji were absent. They pulled out from the tourney.
First day
Japan Sumo Association thanked fans for a sell out tourney before the makuuchi division.
All ozeki and yokozuna were present.
As to some of the popular top rankers, Ura charged into Ohho with his head low and drove him out.
Takayasu pushed out Wakamotoharu.
Ozeki Kirishima was quickly driven out the ring by Gonoyama.
Hiradoyama forced out ozeki Takakeisho.
Daieisho pushed out the renamed Kotozakura.
Atamifuji prompted Hoshoryu to turn around and forced him to fall.
Ohnosato for the first time fought with his hair tied as it was long enough.
He pressured Terunofuji and drove him down.
None of the champion rankers won.
Pre Tourney highlights
Last tourney champion withdraws
Takerufuji, the young sensation who won the last grand tourney pulled out.
He forced himself to fight in the final day of last tourney after injuring his right foot.
He hasn't recovered.
Also withdrawing is former ozeki Asanoyama who sustained a knee injury.
Kotonowaka is Kotozakura
On Apr 30, Kotonowaka officially is named Kotozakura, taking on his grandfather's name.
The former Kotozakura was yokozuna.
His father was Kotonowaka and runs Sadogatake stable today.
Former Akebono dies
Hawaiian born Chad Rowan, who became yokozuna died from a heart failure in April.
He was 54.
He was bedridden for several years, paralized after competing in wrestling matches.
Akebono was scouted by the former Takamiyama, a popular Hawaiian born who was regarded the pioneer of Hawaiian born rikishi.
Akebono quickly rose the ladder and became yokozuna. He won the the grand touney 11 times.
He was one of the star rikishi when sumo's popularity was at its height with Takanohana and Wakanohana brothers also yokozuna.
I personally talked to him several times, including doing radio interviews.
He remember his vibrant smile and sparkling eyes.