TOKYO - Komusubi Wakatakakage clinched his second top-division championship with a tie-breaking victory over ozeki Kirishima at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday after both finished with 12 wins and three losses.
The former sekiwake from Fukushima Prefecture spoiled Kirishima's bid for back-to-back titles at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan after the Mongolian-born technician earned promotion back to sumo's second-highest rank with his championship in March.
The 15-day tournament was marked by the absence of injured yokozuna Onosato and Hoshoryu, as well as ozeki Aonishiki and Kotozakura.
Kirishima and Wakatakakage started the final day in a two-way tie for the lead at 11-3, chased by a five-man pack at 10-4 comprising rank-and-file wrestlers Yoshinofuji, Hakunofuji, Kotoeiho, Ura, and Fujiryoga.
Wakatakakage, the first overnight leader to step into the ring, dispatched No. 17 maegashira Fujiryoga (10-5) to eliminate the four-loss group from contention and put the pressure on Kirishima.
The ozeki answered by blowing away No. 11 maegashira Ura (10-5) in the final regulation bout and setting up the winner-take-all championship decider.
The pair were evenly matched at the opening collision before Wakatakakage gained the momentum with his second drive and pushed Kirishima over the straw bales.
Wakatakakage won his previous Emperor's Cup as a sekiwake in March 2022, before a severe knee injury led to his relegation to the third-tier makushita division.
"When I got injured, my family supported me, so I was really happy to get this championship in front of them," said Wakatakakage, who had lost to Kirishima when they battled on Day 11.
"I just wanted to maintain my concentration and make sure I stuck to my game plan. I wanted to make sure that I wouldn't regret anything."
For Kirishima, the frustrating defeat in the championship race comes after he relinquished the outright lead in an upset loss on Day 14 to No. 10 maegashira Hakunofuji.
He is nevertheless likely to be eligible to bid for yokozuna promotion at July's Nagoya tournament, according to Japan Sumo Association executive Asakayama, the former ozeki Kaio.
Hakunofuji finished at 11-4 after slapping down No. 6 maegashira Fujiseiun (7-8), while No. 2 maegashira Yoshinofuji (11-4) also remained one off the pace by forcing out No. 13 maegashira Kotoeiho (10-5), handing the one-time joint leader his third straight loss to finish the meet. Both Hakunofuji and Yoshinofuji earned Fighting Spirit prizes.
Kotoshoho, the older brother of Kotoeiho, concluded his first tournament as a sekiwake with a 9-6 record after pulling down No. 6 maegashira Churanoumi (9-6). Fellow sekiwake debutant Atamifuji also finished 9-6 after pushing out No. 8 maegashira Oshoma (8-7).
After pulling out with a back issue on Day 12, Kotozakura finished with a 3-9-3 record and will enter July's Nagoya tournament as a demotion-threatened "kadoban" ozeki.
Ukrainian sensation Aonishiki, who had kadoban status after going 7-8 in March, sat out the entire tournament and will be demoted to sekiwake for the Nagoya meet, where he will be eligible to earn re-promotion to ozeki with 10 or more wins.
The Japan Sumo Association is set to hold a June 13-14 exhibition in Paris, showcasing the sport abroad for the second time in as many years following last October's London tour.
