Day 7: Tamawashi Ties Kotoshogiku for Sixth in Makuuchi Wins With 718, Two Days Before Turning 42
East Maegashira 15 Tamawashi, 41 (Kataonami), the oldest sekitori, pushed down Maegashira 13 Toshinofuji, 26 (Isegahama), in their first meeting to go 4-3. His 718th makuuchi win ties Kotoshogiku (now Hidenoyama oyakata) for sixth all-time (Nikkan Sports). He attacked with a right nodowa and left ottsuke, sending the 15-years-younger Toshinofuji tumbling below the dohyo; his injured right calf has healed and his pushing sumo is back (Sankei Shimbun). Tamawashi returned to makuuchi this basho at 41 years 11 months, the oldest since the start of Showa, and turns 42 on Day 9 (November 16).
'Even now, on days I lose, I think, "Damn." It makes me angry, so I learn from it... People who have won more than they've lost probably think differently. My thinking still falls short. I can still evolve,' he said. His 718 wins came with 787 losses; Sankei says he is the only man in the all-time top 10 with more losses than wins. His stablemaster Kataonami (ex-sekiwake Tamakasuga): 'Even with basics, he's only recently noticing a lot of things... In a way he's a genius' (Sankei Shimbun). On NHK, Sakaigawa called it 'a model of pushing sumo... Young wrestlers should learn from it,' and joked about the birthday: 'In Japan, I suppose that's his yakudoshi' (Nikkan Sports).
Nikkan Sports' all-time makuuchi wins list: Hakuho 1,093; Kaio 879; Chiyonofuji 807; Kitanoumi 804; Taiho 746; Kotoshogiku and Tamawashi 718; Kisenosato 714; Harumafuji 712; Musashimaru 706.
Sources: Yahoo! Japan Sports (Nikkan Sports) · Yahoo! Japan Sports (Sankei Shimbun) · Yahoo! Japan Sports (Nikkan Sports / Sakaigawa) · Yahoo! Japan Sports (Nikkan Sports / list) · Yahoo! Japan Sports (Jiji Press photo)