Latest news with #EmperorsCup
Japan Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Japan Times
Disappointing start to Nagoya tournament turns into fascinating final stretch
Ten days into the ongoing Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament and Ichiyamamoto — a 31-year-old journeyman who hasn't posted more than 8 wins in a basho since 2023 — stunningly led the race for the Emperor's Cup going into Wednesday's bouts. Coming off back-to-back losing records — with the most recent being a 5-10 outing in May — no one could have predicted such a hot start for the Chuo University graduate. The big question, of course, is whether or not Ichiyamamoto can keep his title charge going over the meet's final third, and become the 12th first-time champion to be crowned since January 2020. Given that he hasn't had to face any of the 16 highest-ranked men over the tournament's first ten days, the answer to that question is 'probably not.' Sumo's schedule makers will almost certainly ensure that if Ichiyamamoto is going to taste glory for the first time, he'll have to do it the hard way. And while he might have sole possession of first place at the two-third mark, a single-win lead over a chasing pack — including former ōzeki Kirishima, three-time champion Mitakeumi, ageless ironman Tamawashi along with rising stars Aonishiki and Kusano — isn't very secure. With newly crowned yokozuna Onosato also just one win further back, it's far more likely that the Emperor's Cup ends up claimed by one of his pursuers than by Ichiyamamoto himself. But even if he ultimately fails in his quest for silverware, Ichiyamamoto has been a bright spot in a tournament where fans' hopes for something not seen in years were almost immediately extinguished. Following Onosato's promotion to sumo's highest rank earlier this summer, everyone in the sport was looking forward to a first title showdown between yokozuna since March 2020. Those hopes were quickly dashed when Hoshoryu suffered three straight losses from the second day and had to withdraw from the tournament due to injury. It was an unfortunate turn of events that means the 26-year-old grand champion will now finish his first three basho as a yokozuna with a record of 18 wins, 12 losses and 15 absences. That's not what anyone involved in sumo wants to see, and the sooner Hoshoryu gets back into action and wins a first title as a yokozuna the better — not just for his own career and legacy, but the sport as a whole. On the other side of the banzuke, Onosato has, by his own lofty standards, not been having a great tournament either. Three losses in 10 bouts doesn't rule him out of title contention by any means, but the sport's biggest star will need to recapture the form shown over the past few months if he is to claim a third straight championship. But even should Onosato lose one or two more matches, it wouldn't be a cause for concern as the first tournament after promotion to yokozuna is notoriously difficult for wrestlers — particularly younger ones — to do well in. With both yokozuna far from their best, there is a bigger window of opportunity for the aforementioned pack currently chasing Ichiyamamoto. Aonishiki (left) beats Oshoma by oshidashi at IG Arena on Saturday. | JIJI Aonishiki's incredible rise continues unabated with the 21-year-old from Ukraine looking like one of the most accomplished wrestlers in the sport despite only having joined professional sumo two years ago. Just three tournaments into his top division career he is making a 2024 column — which was described at the time as far too optimistic — now look understated. Aonishiki is in the opposite situation to Ichiyamamoto. He has won eight of his first 10 bouts while facing only the highest ranked men in the sport. Everyone that he will be matched up with across the final five days will be of a lower rank. In theory that gives the former refugee, who fled to Japan to escape war in his home country, the inside track to the Emperor's Cup. The mental side of sumo is arguably the most important, however, and being in such a high pressure situation at such a young age will be testing. If Aonishiki can hold his nerve in the spotlight it will create another chapter in what is fast becoming one of sumo's most fascinating stories. In his favor is the fact that all the other main title challengers will have tougher run-ins and are likely to drop bouts to each other. Should Onosato not turn things around, it appears as if Kusano and Kirishima are the main barriers to an Aonishiki championship. Kusano, who is making his top division debut, is currently riding a four-month hot streak. The Nihon University graduate reached sumo's highest tier on the back of consecutive jūryō division titles — something that prompted Hiro Morita, longtime NHK announcer and face of the Japan Sumo Association's English-language YouTube channel, to predict an Emperor's Cup win for the rookie in Nagoya earlier this month. Given that, when Takerufuji managed that exact feat in March 2024 he became the first debutant to win the title in over a century, Morita's prediction seemed outlandish at the time. Ten days later that's not the case, and Kusano has a viable path to history over the next five days if he can keep his hot streak going. Kirishima, meanwhile, not only has legitimate hopes of claiming a third title but also an outside chance of making it back to ōzeki should he do so. With a perfect run-in for the veteran adding up to a combined 32 wins over three tournaments — it's a score that would appear to be slightly short of the oft-cited mark of 33. That's not an official guideline, however, and sumo has just one ōzeki currently. A third Emperor's Cup for a former ōzeki could swing things in Kirishima's favor. However things turn out, a tournament that started in a disappointing manner heads into the final stretch with a range of exciting possible outcomes.
Daily Record
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Celtic see two transfers agreed as Shin Yamada reveals exact deal timeline and Balikwisha goes into 'overtime'
The striker looks to be the next new face in the door during a busy summer at Celtic Park Incoming Shin Yamada has revealed he knew he was going to leave Kawasaki Frontale earlier this month as the striker prepares to join Celtic. The clubs have agreed a £1.2million deal for the 25-year-old who said his goodbyes to Kawaski following the Emperors Cup clash with SC Sagamihara. But the Japan international has now revealed that a deal was all-but done for him to leave the J-League side before he took part in the E-1 Championship with his country. Speaking about his emotional sendoff, he told Targma: "When I played against Kashima Antlers (on July 6), it had already been decided "Today was a game, however, so I had mixed emotions. I was a bit embarrassed to be speaking in front of everyone there, so the tears didn't come." He noted that he jumped at the chance to make a move to European football as he prepares to join his fellow countrymen Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Hayato Inamura at Celtic Park. He said: "When I joined Kawasaki Frontale, I had a desire to go overseas. "I thought that if I didn't make that decision, I wouldn't be able to get any closer to my goal of participating in the World Cup and winning it in Japan. So that's the decision I came to." "Of course, there are a lot of things that happen. I was hesitant., but I had no doubts about going." The arrival comes after the departure of defender Lenny Agbaire for Rotherham United. The 20-year-old spent last season on loan at Scott Brown 's Ayr United and was a regular for the B team. Millers' manager Matt Hamshaw has revealed the club kept the deal for the centre-back 'secret", stating: 'Lenny's kind of taken a little while with paperwork etc. "So it's been really drawn out. So we've, believe it or not, had him here a while. 'We've done well to kind of keep it a secret as long as we have. We had him here obviously out in Portugal with us. So he's only been able to do individual work with us." With one defender going out, the search continues for a new left-back with the Hoops' expected to step up their interest in Cercle Brugge full back Flavio Nazinho. But an alternative Greg Taylor replacement has opened the door - with Djurgarden wonderkid Keita Kosugi keen on a move away from Sweden this summer amid reported interest from the Scottish champions, Everton and PSG. Discussing his future with Fotboll Sthlm, he said: "Something could happen, we have plenty of time." Royal Antwerp wide man Michel-Ange Balikwisha is top of Celtic 's list to replace the Nicolas Kuhn.
Daily Record
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Shin Yamada gets emotional Celtic sendoff as Odsonne Edouard 'welcomed' in double striker transfer push
The striker is set to fly out to Glasgow to be officially unveiled as a Hoops' player Incoming Shin Yamada has been given an emotional farewell by Kawasaki Frontale as he inches closer to rubber stamping a move to Celtic. The Japan international has been with his country at the E-1 Championship but returned to his club side to say a final goodbye to the J-League club before travelling to Glasgow for his official unveiling. After the clubs agreed a £1.2m fee, the 25-year-old travelled back to Kawaski to take in Frontale's Emperors Cup clash with minnows SC Sagamihara. Yamada's soon-to-be former club were stunned by the J-League 3 side as they crashed out of the competition on penalties. However, that didn't deter fans staying after the final whistle to say goodbye to Yamada as he prepares to jet out of the country. The fans unveiled a banner featuring Yamada in front of a Saltire as the emotional striker waved farewell to the club where he has played since 2018. The crowd could be heard chanting his name as he did his final lap of the Uvance Todoroki Stadium as he received the same treatment as Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Kyogo when they sealed a switch to the Scottish Premiership. Celtic have been told former hero Odsonne Edouard is set to become available this summer as they ramp up their attempts to bolster the frontline. And despite the Scottish Premiership champions facing huge financial hurdles if they are to snap up the Frenchman from Crystal Palace, Gordon Dalziel reckons a deal would be "welcomed" for the striker who left for the Premier League in 2021 in a £14m deal. With Edouard understood to be weighing up his options, the former Rangers star told Clyde 1 Superscoreboard: 'He has gone down there after being a big success in Scotland, let's not be kidded. 'He has gone down to England. Played in a top, top league against top centre-halves. For me, he has got to have improved. He's 27. He's at a good age. In fact, a really good age. 'It tells me it will be a case of financially. See if financially, if the deal could be done, I think Celtic would welcome that. I could be wrong. But I think they would welcome it. And I think a lot of Celtic fans would be very positive about it. 'I just look at him, at the right age, coming back to Celtic, he knows the club inside and out. You have seen it. Celtic have a habit of doing this. 'You look at Jota. Put him out for big money and brought him back. (Kieran) Tierney, out for big money and then brought him back. I wouldn't be surprised if this went through.
News.com.au
20-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Patrick Kisnorbo's troubled stint as Yokohama F. Marinos boss ends after two months
Former Melbourne Victory boss Patrick Kisnorbo's tenure as Yokohama F. Marinos manager has ended after only two months. The struggling Japanese top-flight club announced it had 'mutually' parted ways with Kisnorbo after a dismal run under the 44-year-old former Socceroos defender. Since Kisnorbo took over from sacked manager Steve Holland in April, Marinos have lost eight of their 10 games in all competitions, including an embarrassing 2-0 loss to fourth-tier ReinMeer Aomori in the Emperor's Cup (Japan FA Cup). 'Due to personal reasons, the club and I have mutually agreed that it is in the best interest of all parties – my family, the club, the fans, the staff, and the players – that I part ways with Yokohama Kisnorbo told the club's website. 'It has been an honour to be part of such a passionate and professional community. I have truly enjoyed my experience here and will always cherish the moments we've shared on and off the field.' Marinos is bottom of the J1 League ladder with a record of three wins, five draws and 11 losses from 19 games. Kisnorbo shocked the Australian football fraternity in December last year when he left the Victory just seven games into his first A-League season in charge of the club to join Holland's coaching staff at Marinos. He was elevated to the top job four months later, following in the footsteps of other Australians –Ange Postecoglou, Kevin Muscat, Harry Kewell and John Hutchinson – who have been Marinos manager. It's Kisnorbo's second poor stint in charge of an overseas club. Having guided Melbourne City to a championship and back-to-back A-League grand finals, he left to take charge French club Troyes in November 2022. However, after a 12-month tenure that included relegation from the French first division, Kisnorbo was sacked, having won just three of his 40 matches at the helm.
Japan Times
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Japan Times
Sumo title contenders already emerging in early stages of Tokyo meet
Could the destination of the Emperor's Cup be decided in the first handful of days of the ongoing grand sumo tournament? With ōzeki Onosato looking untouchable during the summer meet's opening stages, and maegashira Oho having already downed yokozuna Hoshoryu and ōzeki Kotozakura, it's a distinct possibility. The two front-runners were scheduled to meet on Day 4, and the victor will have a slight, but potentially significant, edge in the early stages of the championship race. For Oho in particular, it's the kind of golden opportunity that doesn't often come along for rank and filers. In most cases, maegashira who rack up a large number of wins in the first week of a tournament do so against relatively weaker opposition, and then have to run the gauntlet as the meet draws toward a conclusion. This time, however, Oho has had the toughest part of his schedule in the opening few days and is in very good shape, giving him a chance to compete for a first career title. For Onosato, even with the basho only a few days old, there are few remaining opponents that could feasibly derail his attempt to claim back-to-back Emperor's Cups and reach sumo's highest rank. Given how dominant he's been thus far though, even if he comes up short in his bid to claim the Emperor's Cup, it's unlikely anything will prevent what is shaping up to be a record-breaking ascent to yokozuna for the Nippon Sport Science University grad. The white rope almost seems like a forgone conclusion for the former collegiate star who made the jump to the professional ranks just two years ago. On Days 1 and 3, respectively, Onosato manhandled former Emperor's Cup winners Wakatakakage and Abi, absorbing their best attacks and calmly marching both men out over the straw bales with ease. Even on Day 2, when resorting to his longstanding bad habit of going backward when forward momentum stops, the ōzeki had little trouble with Takayasu – a man who he faced in a playoff for the title just two months ago. As things stand, a fourth title in his first nine top division tournaments looks more likely than not, putting Onosato on track to ascend to sumo's summit faster than anyone in the history of the sport. Wajima – who like Onosato was a makushita tsukedashi (a term for new entrants with advanced starting positions) – achieved the feat in 1973 after 22 tournaments, while Haguroyama reached the top in 1942 after just 16 basho — but that took eight years because there were fewer meets at that time. Should Onosato earn promotion later this month it will come just 13 tournaments after turning professional – a mark that was almost inconceivable prior to his arrival in ōzumō. So far this week, good starts can be found elsewhere among the upper ranks, with Daieisho going undefeated after three days and on track for the title-contention outing that he likely needs in order to earn promotion to ōzeki. The sekiwake may have to repeat his 13-2 Emperor's Cup-claiming performance from January 2021 to get the nod, but even 11 or 12 wins would put him in a good spot for the next basho. Daieisho has been one of the most consistent performers in sumo's upper echelons over the past 2½ years, with just a single losing record in the past 14 tournaments. The 31-year-old has reached double digits in six of those meets and nine wins in four of the others. It's a level of performance that arguably makes him the best wrestler not to have made yokozuna or ōzeki over the past five to 10 years. Promotion to the latter rank would be a well-deserved reward for those efforts, but the window is closing, and what happens over the next week and a half will go a long way toward determining whether or not Daieisho gets there. Takerufuji — another former champion — is also continuing a good run of recent form and looking close to being back to his best. If the March 2024 champion can maintain his current level of performance, it bodes well for future tournaments as he is a legitimate threat to the main stars when healthy. Hakuoho is another wrestler who got off to a perfect 3-0 start and everything said about Takerufuji (minus the former champion part) holds true for him as well. At the very top of the rankings, Hoshoryu dropped his first bout on Day 3 but has looked sharp and quick otherwise. The yokozuna may not have fully recovered from his recent injury but continues to grow and improve and remains the most likely roadblock to Onosato's title hopes. A first Emperor's Cup at the rank of yokozuna would check the last remaining box for Hoshoryu and remove whatever doubts remain about the speed of his promotion, so staying in the title race through the final weekend will not only benefit him personally but be good for the sport as a whole. Most fans will be hoping to see a title showdown between the current yokozuna and the (likely) next one later this month. Of course sumo's nature as a zero-sum game means there must be losses to balance the wins and popular wrestlers Ura, Midorifuji and Abi are among the names who were shut out over the first three days of the meet. For most men, the gap between a winning and losing record remains small, and so everything is still to play for. It's been the start that most predicted for the summer tournament and one that keeps hopes alive for a titanic clash on May 25th with the Emperor's Cup, and potentially a white rope, at stake.
