Day 6: Gyoji Stops Toshinofuji–Kyokukaiyu Before Anyone Leaves the Ring, and the Replay Proves Him Right
The makuuchi bout between Maegashira 13 Toshinofuji (Isegahama) and Maegashira 16 Kyokukaiyu (Oshima) ended suddenly on Day 6 with neither man out of the ring, leaving the crowd puzzled. Kyokukaiyu slapped and stayed low while the 195-cm Toshinofuji attacked from above; when Kyokukaiyu lost his balance, the gyoji rushed over and pointed his gunbai to Toshinofuji. The replay showed Kyokukaiyu's right hand had touched the clay; ABEMA announcer Shigeki Kiyono said, 'It touched,' and the kimarite was tsukite. Viewers wrote 'Good eye' and 'Amazing that he saw that.' Toshinofuji is 2-4 and Kyokukaiyu 3-3. Kiyono noted it was the second tsukite in makuuchi this basho, after Arashifuji's right hand brushed the dohyo against Kyokukaiyu on Day 3. Toshinofuji, a graduate of Doshisha University's theology faculty, reached makuuchi last basho about two and a half years after his debut; Kyokukaiyu, from Nippon Sport Science University, debuted in November 2023 and is a makuuchi newcomer this basho (ABEMA TIMES).