2012 KYUSHU GRAND SUMO TOURNAMENT
(November 11 to 25 Fukuoka Kokusai Center)

B>WINNER: HAKUHO
Outstanding Performance Award: None
Outstanding Technique Award: Goeido
Fighting Spirit Award: Shohozan

Final day
Kaisei won again by taking out Shotenro, or his 5th win in a row. But he finished with 7 win 8 losses. Shohozan gave thrusts and pushed out Aran for his 10th win. Toyonoshima drove Tochiozan out for his 11th win. Koto-o-shu shoved and drove Toyohibiki out the ring. It's the Bulgarian's 9th win. The ceremonial ring entrance ceremony of the contestants of the final bouts took place as its supposed to on the final day. Goeido, who was supposed to be in the front with 2 behind him was at a lost, not knowing where to stand. So all 2 had to redo the ceremony. Right after that Goeido had to fight Kotoshogiku. But he managed to drive the ozeki down for his 11th win. Kakuryu and Kisenosato both had a hold of eachother's belt. Kisenosato shoved forward, but lost balance and Kakuryu drove him down. Harumafuji went quickly into Hakuho and tried to shove. Hakuho withstood then in the end threw the new yokozuna to end the tourney with 14 wins.

14th day
Shohozan and Tochiozan fought a long bout, which in the end Tochiozan forced Shozan to fall. It's Tochiozan's 10th win. Goeido kept his eyes on Aran, and in the end won with a push out to earn his 10th win. Koto-o-shu forced a throw but he touched the dirt before Toyonoshima did. It's the Bulgarian's 6th loss, and Toyonoshima's 10th win. Kyokutenho was powerlessly taken out by Kotoshogiku. The Mongolian's loss assured Hakuho's Emperor's Cup. Kotoshogiku meanwhile was able to secure a majority win. Hakuho threw Kakuryu to show he didn't need Kyokutenho to loose to clinch the trophy. It's his 23rd Emperor's Cup victory. Kisenosato powerfully drove Harumafuji out. It's Harumafuji's 4th loss in a row. The new yokozuna was forced into the audience.

13th day
Shohozan changed his poistion and pushed down Chiyotairyu. Both are 9-4. Kyokuteho banged into Tochiozan, then pulled back and forced Tochiozan to fall. It's the Mongolian's 10th win. Goeido went round and round, which Koto-o-shu could not keep up with, lost balance and was driven down. It's Goeido's 9th win while the Bulgarian's 5th loss. Kotoshogiku grabbed Miyogiryu who pushed and drove the ozeki out. Kakuryu got hold of Harumafuji's belt, pushed and shoved and forced down the yokozuna. Hakuho quickly charged into Kisenosato and drove him out. Hakuho keeps the lead with a loss, followed by Kyokutenho with 3 losses.

12th day
Miyabiyama lost to Gagamaru succumbing to a majority loss. Shohozan and Goeido fought an aggressive bout in which Shohozan in the end won by forcing Goeido down. Kisenosato shoved Masunoyama down. Aminishiki charged into Kakuryu and defeated the Mongolian ozeki. Tochiozan drove out Koto-o-shu. Hakuho gave Kotoshogiku an overarm throw to keep his lead. Harumafuji and Myogiryu threw eachother at the edge of the ring. But the yokozuna was ruled the loser. It's Harumafuji's 3rd loss.

11th day
Shohozan pleased the local crowd by pushing out Homasho for his 7th win. Goeido dashed towards Tochiozan quickly but he lost control and was thrown by Tochiozan. Tochiozan secured a majority win. Kisenosato shoved out Toyohibiki from his back to also clinch a majority win. Myogiryu again overwhelmed Kakuryu with a push out. Kotoshogiku banged into Harumafuji. Harumafuji went it the ozeki in a lowered postured, perhaps too low, he touched the dirt to lose his 2nd bout. Hakuho struggled against Koto-o-shu who took control, put the yokozuna off balance from time to time, and finally drove out the yokozuna. Hakuho, however, still leads with a loss as Harumafuji lost another bout.

10th day
Tochiozan earned a win without fighting as his opponent Okinoumi withdrew with an injury. Kakuryu thrust down Takekaze. Kotoshogiku fell to Masunoyama's force. Masunoyama is in the spotlight for having a lung problem that enables to fight a bout for up to 20 seconds otherwise he suffers from lack of oxygen. Koto-o-shu grabbed Kisenosato and pushed the younger ozeki down. Hakuho thrust down Goeido to improve his win to 10. Goeido lost his 2nd bout. Harumafuji threw Toyonoshima for his 9th win.

9th day
Koto-o-shu grabbed Homasho's arm and threw him down. Kotoshogiku charged into Shohozan and won. Kakuryu shoved and shoved and drove Tochinoshin out. Goeido quickly stood up and shoved Harumafuji. Then the bout was stopped. One of the judges thought Harumafuji had stepped out of the ring. Judges gathered to review the bout and decided it was a misjudgment. It was an unprecedented occurrence. The bout had to be taken again. This time, Harumafuji gave thrusts and drove Goeido out. It's Goeido's first loss. Harumafuji secured a majority win. Hakuho drove Miyogiryu down the ring, while the yokozuna himself was forced to fall in to the audience. Hakuho leads alone.

8th day
Kaisei won his first bout by shoving Tochinoshin. Tochinoshin's foot left the ring before throwing Kaisei. Shohozan powerfully shoved out Aminishiki for his 5th win. Goeido drove Okinoumi out to secure a majority win already. Kisenosato managed to drive Kotoshogiku out for his 6th win. Tochiozan charged into Kakuryu and pushed forward to defeat the ozeki. Both are 5-3. Hakuho gave Takekaze thrusts than forced him down for a perfect record so far. Harumafuji prompted Koto-o-shu to touch the dirt.

7th day
Shohozan attacked Kaisei and shoved the Brazilian out for his 4th win. Kaisei has no wins yet. Goeido forced Homasho out for his 7th win. Kisenosato struggled again, but this time he was able to force Myogiryu out. Okinoumi pressed himself on Koto-o-shu and shoved down the ozeki. It's the Bulgarian's 2nd loss. Kakuryu stepped aside then thrust down Kotoshogiku. The audience responded negatively to the technique the Mongolian used againt the Kyushu born ozeki. Harumafuji drove Takekaze out. Hakuho fought a rather long bout against Tochinoshin. But the yokozuna managed to win with an overarm throw.

6th day
Koto-o-shu and Kakuryu gave eachother thrusts. Then the Bulgarian Ozeki got a hold of Kakuryu's belt, turned the Mongolian and pushed him out. Kotoshogiku was pushed to the edge of the ring but shoved back and managed to force Homasho out the ring. Kisenosato collapsed, giving Goeido his 6th win. It's Kisenosato's 2nd loss in a row. Shohozan charged towards Hakuho. The yokozuna thrusted his head twice and drove him down. Harumafuji got a good grasp of Tochinoshin and forced out the Georgian. Hakuho and Goeido are the only ones with perfect records.

5th day
Miyabiyama won his first bout by defeating Wakakoyu. Koto-o-shu drove out Aminishiki. Kotoshogiku fought his style and forced Tochinoshin out. Kisenosato struggled against Shotenho. During the bout, the ozeki lost balance and went out of the ring. It's Kisenosato's first loss. Kakuryu managed to drive out Okinoumi. Harumafuji pulled Kaisei's arm then forced the Brazilian on his rear. Hakuho threw Homasho to win his 5th bout.

4th day
Goeido ushed out Aminishiki for his 4th win. Kotoshogiku banged into Okinoumi and shoved him out. Kisenosato pulled away then drove Tochiozan down on the dirt. Kakuryu thrusted Homasho's head and put him down on the ring. Koto-o-shu managed to shove Takekaze out. Hakuho grabbed Kaisei's belt with his left and threw the Brazilian for his 4th win. Harumafuji slapped Shohouzan then forced him to collapse.

3rd day
Baruto pulled out due to his injury. Since he was unable to complete the last tourney and recorded a majority loss, if he is unable to return to this tourney and win the majority of bouts, he will be demoted from ozeki. Meanwhile Kisenosato drove out Homashou for his 3rd win. Kakuryu shoved Shohozan from behind. Koto-o-shu managed to take out Tochinoshin. Harumafuji tucked low, charging into Tochiozan and won the bout. Hakuho and Okinoumi stopped fighting for a while, watching eachother's next move. Then Hakuho quickly took action and drove out Okinoumi.

2nd day
Kakuryu drove Kaisei out for his first win. Baruto fell on his rear in the bout against Shohozan. The Estonian appeared he was in pain, and had difficulty walking back. Koto-oshu forced Myogiru out with a thrust. Kotoshogiku banged into Homasho then forced him down. Kisenosato pushed out Aminishiki. Hakuho quickly forced Tochiozan on the dirt to win. Harumafuji and Okinoumi threw eachother on the verge of the ring. Both fell. But Harumafuji fell with no control of the bout whereas Okinoumi was taking an aggressive position. The bout, after discussions by juries was awarded to Okinoumi. With this loss, Harumafuji's consecutive bout win ended at 32.

1st day
For the first time Harumafuji performed a ring entrance ceremony at a grand tournament. He looked tense but completed his job. As to bouts of the day, all ozeki were on the ring. Baruto tried to swing Kaisei several times, and in the end drove out the Brazilian from behind. Koto-o-shu reached out for Shohozan's belt but could not get a good hold and was instead driven down. The next bout was disappointing too with Kotoshogiku falling on the ring against Tochiozan. Kisenosato was ablt to push out Okinoumi. Goeido hooked his leg around Kakuryu's forcing the ozeki on the dirt. Harumafuji gave thrusts then dived into Homasho and shoved him out to win his first bout a yokozuna. Hakuho pressured Aminishiki, driving him out.

Pre Tourney highlight
One newcomer to sumo
Sumo drew the least number of new applicants. It's 1 in Kyushu. And that one person passed the test on Nov 2. He's a 17 year old, 183 cm tall and 164 kilos. Overall, there're 56 new sumo wrestlers born this year.

Two yokozuna to be listed
Japan Sumo Association released the list of rankings for the Kyushu tourney on Oct 29. For the first time since New Year tourney of 2010 there are yokozuna on both the east and west side. They are Hakuho and Harumafuji. Meanwhile 3 ozeki are in danger of a demotion unless they secure a majority win. They are newly wed Kotoshogiku, Koto-o-shu and Baruto.



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