EMPEROR'S CUP WINNER: ASASHORYU
Outstanding Performance Award: Aminishiki
Outstanding Technique Award: Kotomitsuki
Fighting Spirit Award: Kotomitsuki, Toyohibiki
KOTOMITSUKI IS OZEKI
On Jul 25, Japan Sumo Association messengers visited Kotomitsuki at his
stable in Nagoya. They conveyed to him that he has been promoted to ozeki.
At 31 years old, Kotomitsuki is the oldest to become ozeki.
Final day
Kokkai pushed down O-tsukas for his 6th win.
Dejima defeated Wakanosato and both finished the tourney with 5-10.
Miyabiyama drove down Aminishiki for his 7th win. It's Aminishiki's 7th loss.
Tokitenku drove Takamisakari out.
All eyes were on Kotomitsuki. But his opponent, Kisenosato was the won who fought
aggressively and won. Kotomitsuki lost his 2nd bout.
Kisenosato won his 11th.
Ama gave Koto-o-shu thrusts, then quickly moved from one side to another, and
the Bulgarian fell forward. It's the ozeki's 6th loss.
Chiyotaikai attached Homasho then pulled back and successfuly drove his opponent down.
It's Chiyo's 9th win.
It's the first time in 4 year that 2 yokozuna faced eachother.
However, Asashoryu easily got a good grasp of Hakuho's belt and drove him out.
With this win, Asashoryu clinched the Emperor's Cup for the 21st time.
14th day
Miyabiyama lost to Tokitenku, suffering a majority loss.
Kotomitsuki pulled back and drove Tochinonada down.
Ama forced Takamisakari out.
Koto-o-shu pushed dowb Aminishiki. It's the Bulgarian's 9th win.
Asashoryu forced Homasho down by his neck.
Chiyotaikai gave Hakuho thrust, pulled back, and pulled back.
He barely kept one foot inside the ring, with the other up in the air
while Hakuho fail.
The yokozuna suffered his 3rd loss.
Asashoryu and Kotomitsuki lead for the Emperor's Cup.
13th day
Kotoshogiku drove Dejima out.
Aminishiki forced Takamisakari out.
Ama drove out Miyabiyama.
Kotomitsuki powerfully beat Homasho.
Kaio pulled out as he hurt himself the previous day. His opponent, Tokitenku was
given an automatic win.
Koto-o-shu immediately got a hold of Hakuho's belt with his let and drove the yokozuna out.
The Bulgarian clinched a majority win.
Chiyotaikai stood up, but he was not ready to fight.
Asashoryu nevertheless pushed Chiyo out.
After the bout Chiyo is reported to have said, he asked for time, but the
umpire did not accept his request.
12th day
Tochinonada quickly drove Homasho out of the ring. Both are 9-3.
Kisenosato forced Kitazakura out for a majority win.
Miyabiyama pushed out Kasugao.
Tamanoshima forced Kokkai down. Both are 5-7.
Takamisakari thrust down Takekaze. Both have 3 wins 9 losses.
Ama drove Dejima out, and the former ozeki suffered a majority loss.
Kotomitsuki attacked Chiyotaikai to win. It's his 11th win.
Asashoryu pulled back and forced Koto-o-shu down.
Hakuho attacked and shifted position slightly against Kaio.
Kaio kept his eye on Hakuho, and as the yokozuna pushed him, he shifted to the side.
The bout was called a draw.
In the retake, Hakuho easily walked Kaio out.
The 2 yokozuna and Kotomitsuki lead the race.
11th day
Dejima charged into Asasekiryu but the Mongolian shifted his position and drove down the
former ozeki.
Kaio banged into Homasho, pulled back, then shoved down Homasho to win his 8th bout.
Koto-o-shu and Miyabiyama took awhile to official face off.
The Bulgarian managed to thrust down the former ozeki.
Chiyotaikai gave Takamisakari thrusts and forced the Robocop out.
Ama suddenly collapsed on the ring in the bout against Hakuho.
Asashoryu and Kotomitsuki both got a good hold of eachother's belt.
The yokozuna proved his power by winning with an overarm throw.
Kotomitsuki suffered his first loss, to tie with Asashoryu and Hakuho for the Emperor's Cup.
10th day
Homasho grabbed the front part of Kitazakura's belt and drove him out.
Miyabiyama drove out Kokkai. Both are 5--5.
Dejima shoved down Takekaze's head with his right and with his left,
threw Takekaze from the side.
It's Dejima's 4th win, while Takekaze suffered a majority loss.
Koto-o-shu shoved Tamanoshima out of the ring.
Chiyotaikai defeated Kotoshogiku with thrusts. It's the ozeki's 6th win.
Kaio was totally helpless, facing an easy defeat before Takamisakari.
Asashoryu managed to drive Ama out.
Kotomitsuki grabbed Hakuho's belt with his left hand and drove the yokozuna down.
With this victory, Kotomitsuki is the sole leader for the Emperor's Cup.
Runners up are Hakuho, Asashoryu and Homasho.
9th day
Homasho drove Wakanosato out the ring to clinch a majority win.
Asasekiryu hooked his leg around Takamisakari's and made the Robocop drop and succumb to
a majority loss.
Tokitenku shoved Dejima's head to win with the thrust. Both are 3-6.
Kotomitsuki gripped Toyonoshima's belt with his right and drove him out.
Chiyotaikai made Ama fall on his hands.
Kaio slapped Koto-o-shu as he stood up to fight and then threw the Bulgarian by his arm to
throw him out.
Hakuho thrust down Kotoshogiku.
Asashoryu struggled against Miyabiyama but managed to get a hold of the former ozeki's
belt to force him out.
Hakuho and Kotomitsuki still have clean records.
8th day
Miyabiyama was taken out by Kakuryu.
Kisenosato shoved Dejima's head down as he pulled back and won his 6th bout.
Homasho pushed down Kotoshogiku for his 7th win.
Kotomitsuki slightly shifted to the side, putting Kaio off balance.
Kotomitsuki forced down the ozeki to secure a majority win.
After clashing against Koto-o-shu, Chiyotaikai shifted to the side.
But lost his own balance and touched the dirt. At the same time the Bulgarian ozeki lost balance and tried to
stay within the ring but couldn't. The bout was given to Chiyo.
Asashoryu picked Takamisakari up and dropped him.
Hakuho had a soft start, but managed to drive Toyonoshima down to clinch a majority win.
7th day
Miyabiyama with thrusts forced Ryu-o out for his 4th win.
Kotomitsuki kept his head low to push out Takamisakari.
Koto-o-shu got a good hold of Asasekiryu's belt and drove the Mongolian out.
Takekaze shifted to the side, and Chiyotaikai fell forward. The ozeki suffered his 4th loss.
Kaio clashed into Dejima then shoved the former ozeki's head to win his 6th bout.
Hakuho grabbed Aminishiki's arm and threw him.
Asashoryu slapped Tokitenku as he stood up to fight and took his time to drive
his fellow countryman out.
6th day
Miyabiyama pushed out Kotoshogiku.
Kotomitsuki got hold of Ama with his left and drove the small Mongolian out.
Chiyotaikai clashed into Dejima and then pulled back, which actually
gave Dejima an advantage. Both are 3-3.
Kaio quickly drove Takekaze down on his hands.
With his 702nd career win, Kaio exceeded Takanohana's record for 5th place.
Koto-o-shu shifted position as he faced off, but that made him lose control and
Wakanosato thrust the Bulgarian down.
Asashoryu managed to defeat Toyonoshima by forcing him down.
Hakuho got Takamisakari's arm and beat him.
The top contenders are still Hakuho and Kotmitsuki.
5th day
Miyabiyama gave Futen-o thrusts and then pulled back to win his 2nd bout.
Kotoshogiku's great start enabled him to drive Takamisakari out.
Dejima appeared to be the first to give a throw, but he fell first and the bout
was given to Aminishiki.
Kotomitsuki immediately got behind Tokitenku, and forced the Mongolian out.
Ama stood up faster to fight than Kaio, but Kaio powerfully shoved him and
made the small Mongolian fall.
Koto-o-shu hooked his arm around Toyonoshima and forced him down.
Chiyotaikai with thrusts drove Wakanosato out the ring.
Hakuho pushed out Asasekiryu.
Asashoryu shoved the back of Takekaze's head and drove him down to win.
Leading are Hakuho and Kotomitsuki.
4th day
Miyabiyama drove Kisenosato down on the ring.
Dejima attacked Tamanoshima and forced him out.
Kotomitsuki charged straight ahead and drove out Aminishiki.
It's his 4th win.
Koto-o-shu got hold of Takamisakari with his right and forced the Robocop down.
Chiyotaikai dashed forward, lost balance and lost to Tokitenku.
Asashoryu was automatically given a win as Roho pulled out from the tourney.
Kaio thrust Wakanosato down for his career 700th win.
Hakuho kept his eyes glued on Takekaze and thrust his opponent down.
3rd day
Kokkai drove out Futen-o.
Miyabiyama attacked Tochiozan with thrusts to win his first bout.
Takamisakari was forced down the ring by Homasho.
Kotomitsuki carefully fought Asasekiryu and in the end, twisted the Mongolian to win.
Chiyotaikai and Roho had to retake the bout. And in the 2nd try, Roho's powerful shoved forced Chiyo down.
Kaio drove Aminishiki out.
Koto-o-shu got hold of Takekaze's belt with his right and threw him down.
Hakuho grabbed Wakanosato's arm and dropped the veteran rikishi on the ring.
Asashoryu shoved Dejima out.
2nd day
Hokutoriki forced Kokkai down for his 2nd win.
Kisenosato drove Tamanoshima out for his 1st win.
And so did Takamisakari won his first bout by throwing Miyabiyama on the ring.
Toyonoshima lost balance and Roho forced him out.
Kotomitsuki grabbed Takekaze's belt with his right and forced him down.
Asasekiryu kept on shifting to Kaio's side, prompting the ozeki to lose balance.
The Mongolian drove out Kaio.
Koto-o-shu threw Tokiteku on the ring for his first win.
Chiyotaikai banged into Aminishiki and pulled back to force Aminishiki to fall.
Asashoryu managed to take Wakanosato out for his first win.
Hakuho thrust Dejima down on the ring.
1st day
Miyabiyama took off striking Toyonoshima, but Toyonoshima managed to force out the
former ozeki.
Roho got hold of Takamisakari's belt and drove the "RoboCop" out the ring.
Kotomitsuki immediately attacked Wakanosato. Wakanosato stopped him but in the
end Kotomitsuki forced his opponent down.
Dejima forced Koto-o-shu to fall, but he fell too.
Chiyotaikai gave Asasekiryu fast thrusts and won.
Kaio grabbed Kotoshogiku's arm then thrust him down.
In Hakuho's first bout as yokozuna, he got Tokitenku's belt and forced him out.
Aminishiki got to a fast start in a bout against Asashoryu.
While the yokozuna struggled, his right leg slipped past the ring and
that cost him the bout.
Already on the first day 1 ozeki and 1 yokozuna lost.
Pre Tourney highlights
Young sumo wrestler dies
It was reported that on June 29, 17 year old Takashi Saito, died after practice.
He only began fighting on the professional ring in May.
Sumo tour goes to Hawaii
From Jul 7 to 11, 38 sumo wrestlers visited Hawaii, as a group for the first time in 14 years.
Asashoryu won the first day of the tournament.
Hakuho clinched the 2nd day.
But the tournament drew only 8450 spectators in all.