2010 OSAKA GRAND SUMO TOURNAMENT
(March 14 to 28 Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium)

EMPEROR'S CUP WINNER: HAKUHO
Outstanding Performance Award:
None
Outstanding Technique Award: Baruto
Fighting Spirit Award: Baruto

Baruto is ozeki
On Mar 31, Baruto was visited by messengers of the Japan Sumo Association. They conveyed to him that he has been promoted to ozeki. He accepts the promotion. He's only the 2nd European to reach ozeki ranking and the 8th foreigner.

Final day
Takamisakari lost to Homasho, unable to finish this tourney with a majority win. Kisenosato pushed out Miyabiyama for his 9th win. Baruto powerfully drove out Kotomitsuki to earn his 14th win. Koto-o-shu got hold of Kaio's belt and pushed him down. The Bulgarian earned his 10th win. Hakuho struggled against Harumafuji. They both tried different techniques that did not finish the bout. In the end, Hakuho forced a throw with just his left arm and defeated rival Mongolian. Hakuho clinched the Emperor's Cup for the 13th time. This time with a perfect victory.

14th day
Asasekiryu leaped a bit and the drove Miyabiyama down for his 10th win. Takamisakari had to redo his face off. And when he did, he got hold of Kakizoe's belt. Kakizoe's knee bent from the force and then fell. It's Takamisakai's 7th win. Baruto gave Kotoshogiku thrusts and drove him down for his 13th win. With this win, experts are saying Baruto should be promoted to ozeki. Kotomitsuki pulled away then gave thrusts, pushing out Toyonoshima for his 9th win. Kaio shifted position after he thrust Harumafuji and drove the Mongolian down. The popular ozeki secured a majority win. Hakuho threw Koto-o-shu on the ring for another win.

13th day
Takekaze pushed out Takamisakari forcing the Robocop to succumb to his 7th loss. Baruto gave thrusts after another and forced Miyabiyama out. Tochiozan threw Kotomitsuki as he shoved the ozeki's head. Harumafuji forced Koto-o-shu to fall on the ring. Hakuho and Kaio had stalled for a while with neither side getting a good hold of eachother's belt. Then Hakuho took action, and threw Kaio for his 13th win.

12th day
Takamisakari lost his 4th bout in a row. This time he lost balance, turned his back towards Yoshikaze and was pushed out. Miyabiyama shoved forward and won his 10th bout. Tokitenku lost his 3rd bout on Homasho's push out. Kaio stood up fast and with his powerful right shoved Tochinoshin which forced the Georgian to fall. Both are 7-5. Koto-o-shu threw Toyonoshima to win his 9th bout. Harumafuji attempted to throw Baruto around, but he stopped. And then Baruto force the Mongolian out. Kotomitsuki fought rigorously against Hakuho. But in the end, he crashed on the ring. Hakuho remains the sole leader.

11th day
Tokitenku got hold of Kitadaiki's belt and drove him down to win his 9th bout. Miyabiyama also won his 9th bout by driving down Kokkai. Takamisakari lost again, this time to Tochiozan's push out. Tochiozan clinched a majority win. Koto-o-shu kept his right hand on Homasho's belt and drove him out also to secure a majority win. Harumafuji give Kotomitsuki shoves. Kotomitsuki barely keeps within the ring, then fights back and wins. Kotomitsuki has saved himself from falling from ozeki ranking with his 8th win. Kaio stood up fast to fight. The popular ozeki tried to thrust down Tamawashi once then twice and managed to drive Tamawashi down. Hakuho carefully fought against Baruto. He reached out for Baruto's belt and with that forced the Estonian down the ring.

10th day
Miyabiyama kept on shoving Takamisakari's throat and pushed him out to secure a majority win. Tochinoshin pushed down Tokitenku who succumbed to his 2nd loss. Harumafuji grabbed Toyohibiki's upper body and also his leg to drive him down. Kotomitsuki pushed down Kaio for his 7th win. Baruto took off by giving Koto-o-shu thrusts. Then both huge men got hold of eachothers belt. The sweaty bout ended with Baruto driving out the ozeki for his 10th win. Hakuho easily defeated drove Tosayutaka down with a throw.

9th day
Hakuba got hold of Takamisakari's arm and tried a throw. The Robocop tried to use that arm to shove Hakuba, but when Hakuba attacked his leg, he fell. Miyabiyama pushed Tokitenku's throat the pulled away, making the Mongolian fall.It's Tokitenku's first loss. Kotomitsuki had to redo his bout against Toyohibiki. The ozeki was able to drive Toyohibiki out. Baruto drove Kaio out to improve his perfect record. Koto-o-shu charged into Tamawashi and forced him down for his 7th win. Harumafuji shoved Tosanoyutaka's throat and pushed him out to clinch a majority win. Hakuho's push forced Toyonoshima to fly out the ring.

8th day
Takamisakari faced new makuuchi rikishi Tokusegawa for the first time. The Robocop was able to drive the him down. Miyabiyama gave thrusts then pulled away to force Shimotori down. Tokitenku tried a kick then kept a distance from Kakizoe while trying to slap him. And managed to win in the end by driving Kakizoe down. Tokitenku already clinched a majority win. Aran and Wakanosato fought a long bout. Wakanosato managed shove his opponent out to win his first bout. Baruto drove Kyokutenho out for his 8th win. Kisenosato did not allow Kaio to get hold of his belt, and shoved the ozeki out. Tosayutaka in his very first bout against an ozeki shoved the drove Koto-o-shu down. It's Tosayutaka's first win. Harumafuji stood up and banged into Kotoshogiku with his hands which was too weak that Kotoshogiku charged ahead. Harumafuji lost his first bout. Aminishiki got hold of Kotomitsuki's belt with his left. They danced around, Aminishiki tried to grab Kotomitsuki's leg and shoved him. It's the ozeki's 3rd loss. Hakuho took his time to drive Tamawashi out the ring to secure a majority win.

7th day
Tokitenku drove Tamanoshima down for his 7th win. Kakuryu moved to the side, prompting Baruto to lose balance. But Baruto was quick to be in control and drove out Kakuryu. Koto-o-shu shoved and shoved to force down Kisenosato. Harumafuji tried to force Toyonoshima out. But Toyonoshima withstood. It was not an easy bout but in the end the ozeki managed to win. Kotomitsuki banged into Tamawashi, then shoved his head and pushed him out. Kaio got hold of Aran's belt with his right and forced him down. Hakuho threw Kotoshogiku on the ring.

6th day
Tokitenku was able to win a long bout against Mokonami to improve his record. Takamisakari forced Sakatsukasa down for his 4th win. Hokutoriki shoved Miyabiyama's throat, but after that, Miyabiyama drove Hokutoriki down. Toyonoshima appeared to be strategically moving around. But he went too long inside Baruto, and was driving down. Baruto kept his record clean. Harumafuji drove out Tamawashi also for his 6th win. Kotomitsuki forced Wakanosato out. Koto-o-shu was automatically given a win as his opponent, Goeido withdrew from the tourney. Kaio banged into Kotoshogiku then pulled away, forcing Kotoshogiku down. Kaio fell off the ring too appearing to have hurt further his already painful looking leg. Hakuho immediately pushed out Aran. Four are tied with a perfect record.

5th day
Tokitenku threw Bushuyama to earn his 5th win. It's the first time the Monglian has a clean record until the 5th day. Mokonami hooked his leg around Takamisakari. The Robocop was desperate not to fall, but he had no power to keep himself inside the ring. Miyabiyama gave thrusts and forced Toyohibiki down for his 3rd win. Baruto managed to push Wakanosato out of the ring. Kotomitsuki with thrusts drove out Kakuryu. Kaio pulled away and managed to drive down Aminishiki for his 3rd win. Koto-o-shu got a hold of Aran's built and shoved him out. Harumafuji pushed out Kyokutenho. Hakuho thrust down Kisenosato.

4th day
Takamisakari was able to drive out Tamanoshima. Miyabiyama forced Iwakiyama down for his 2nd win. It's Iwakiyama's first loss. Baruto struggled against Aminishiki but managed to force an underarm throw to win in the end. Kisenosato pushed out Toyonoshima for his 2nd win. Kakuryu gave Kaio thrusts and defeated the popular ozeki for his 1st win. Koto-o-shu drove out Wakanosato. Aran tried to keep himself from leaving the ring. But seeing that he was struggling to keep his balance, Harumafuji pushed him and out the Russian went. Kotomitsuki slapped Goeido as he stood up. But that was not an effective move. He was instead thrown down to face his 2nd loss. Hakuho easily drove Kyokutenho out to keep his record clean.

3rd day
Kokkai banged into Takamisakari forcing the Robocop to drop. It's his first loss. Miyabiyama attacks Homasho. But Homasho shifts to the side, prompting Miyabiyama down. Baruto powerfully thrusts Kisenosato and drive him down to win. Koto-o-shu got hold of Kyokutenho's belt and cautiously shoves him out. Harumafuji dives out Kakuryu. Kotomitsuki lost grasp of Aran's belt. But shoved forward and won. Toyonoshima was in control of the bout. Although he lost balance while trying to shove Kaio, because Kaio was seen to have fallen first, the bout was given to Toyonoshima. Hakuho easily drove Wakanosato out.

2nd day
Takamisakari threw new makuuchi rikishi Oginoumi. Baruto overwhelmed Goeido by forcing him out. Harumafuji drove out Wakanosato. Kisenosato forced Kotomitsuki out. Kaio quickly drove out Kokyokutenho. Aminishiki banged into Koto-o-shu then pulled back and forced the Bulgarian to fall. Hakuho threw Kakryu powerfully to win.

1st day
Chairman of the Japan Sumo Association, Musashigawa apologized to the audience for the worries regarding Asashoryu who retired after the last rourney. The Emperor's Cup was handed to the tourney organizers by Asashoryu's stable master Takasago. Asashoryu's retirement controversey was still haunting the sumo world. Still bouts were held as usual. Takamisakari shoved Hokutoriki out. Tochinoshin drove out Miyabiyama. Baruto, who is trying for ozeki ranking, forced down Aran. Kotomitsuki has to win a majority win to retain his ozeki status. He managed to force Kyokutenho out. Kaio pulled back and made Wakanosato fall forward. It's Kaio's career 816th win. Koto-o-shu's hand lost grasp of Kakuryu's belt but he carried on fighting and won with a push out. Harumafuji banged into Kisenosato. Kisenosato collapsed on his knee, and that was it. Hakuho who's now the only yokozuna attacked Aminishiki's face and drove him out.

Pre Tourney highlight
Kitazakura says he's retiring
The man who's been regarded as a fan's best friend announced he's calling it quits on Mar 9. 38 year old Kitazakura said he was actually preparing for the Osaka tourney but he could not maintain his motivation. His highest rank of maegashira no. 9. He fell to the makushita division.

Kaio celebrates 100 tourney in makuuchi
37 year old Kaio gave a press conference on Mar 2 after he has confirmed he's fighting his 100th basho in the makuuchi division. He said, he was feeling a sense of achievement.

Whereabouts of former Asashoryu
After Asashoryu announced he was quitting on Feb 4, he was caught playing golf in Hawaii. Then he was spotted in New York's Kennedy Airport. He returned to Japan and made a speech for his former stable Takasago in Osaka on March 6, and said he was preparing for his retirement ceremony on Oct 3. He was back in Mongolia on Mar 6.



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