Day 5

(There were no sumo pictures availble:) The first flight of Taiwanese airline Eva Air's jet featuring a fuselage painted with the popular Japanese cartoon character Hello Kitty touched down at Fukuoka airport on Saturday. To access full stories on Kyodo News English website, it is necessary to subscribe.

Asashoryu keeps on rolling

FUKUOKA (Kyodo) Yokozuna Asashoryu grabbed sole possession of the lead with the demolition of Miyabiyama while promotion-chasing sekiwake Kotooshu stayed one off the pace with a convincing win at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Thursday.

After the first third of the 15-day meet, Mongolian Asashoryu, who is chasing an unprecedented seventh straight Emperor's Cup title, took the lead with a 5-0 record with eight wrestlers pursuing the grand champion at 4-1.

In the day's final bout at Fukuoka Kokusai Center, Asashoryu took control from start to finish, shoving the fourth-ranked maegashira off-balance several times, lifting him up in the air once and promptly pushing him out of the ring in a relentless attack. Miyabiyama fell to 3-2.

Bulgarian Kotooshu (4-1) made quick work of top-ranked maegashira Hokutoriki (1-4), getting a solid two-handed grip on his opponent's belt after the face-off before ushering him over the ridge in convincing fashion.

In September, Asashoryu dispatched main rival Kotooshu in a playoff to win the autumn tourney and is also looking to become the first wrestler to win all six tournaments in a year.

Kotooshu, who is aiming to promotion to sumo's second highest rank of ozeki with a strong showing of 13 or more wins in Kyushu, finally began to show signs of life after a nightmare first-day loss and one win by default.

Elsewhere in the upper echelon, Kaio was railroaded by top-ranked maegashira Tamanoshima (4-1) and slipped to a second defeat while fellow ozeki Chiyotaikai (4-1) rammed winless Dejima after the face-off before sending the third-ranked maegashira floundering over the edge to his fifth loss in a row.

Kaio, who pulled out of the autumn basho with a hamstring injury, must win eight bouts here as he faces relegation for a record-tying eighth time.

In other main bouts, crowd favorite Takamisakari (3-2) snapped an 0-4 career losing streak against Takekaze (3-2), quickly wrapping both arms around his fellow ninth-ranked opponent before slamming him to the dirt surface.

Mongolian Ama, a No. 5 maegashira, escaped the grasp of Toyonoshima before dumping the eight-ranked maegashira to the clay with a well-executed underarm throw.

Day 4

Sekiwake and ozeki contender Kotooshu slams down No. 4 maegashira Miyabiyama to improve his record to 3-1 at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.

Asashoryu downs Dejima to stay undefeated in Kyushu

FUKUOKA (AP) Grand champion Asashoryu posted a hard-fought win over Dejima on Wednesday to remain undefeated and tied for the lead on the fourth day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.

Asashoryu, who is bidding for a record seventh straight Emperor's Cup, had his hands full with the No. 3 maegashira in the day's final bout at Fukuoka Kokusai Center, but eventually prevailed after shoving Dejima out to improve to 4-0.

Asashoryu, the only yokozuna competing in sumo, is also bidding to become the first wrestler to win all six tournaments in a year. Dejima, who put up a good fight against the Mongolian grappler, dropped to 0-4.

In other major bouts, Bulgarian sekiwake Kotooshu improved to 3-1 when he overpowered Miyabiyama to hand the fourth-ranked maegashira his first loss of the tourney.

Sekiwake Kotomitsuki remained tied for the lead with Asashoryu when he overwhelmed fourth-ranked Iwakiyama to stay undefeated. Iwakiyama fell to 1-3.

Rank-and-filer Jumonji is also undefeated at 4-0 after a win over Katayama.

Local favorite Kaio barely broke a sweat, shoving out top maegashira Hakutoriki to pick up his third win against a lone loss. Struggling Hokutoriki dropped to 1-3.

Ozeki Chiyotaikai deployed his trademark arm thrusts to send Kakizoe back after the faceoff, and then deftly sidestepped the No. 2 maegashira to improve to 3-1. Kakizoe fell to 1-3.

Earlier Wednesday, ozeki Tochiazuma withdrew after aggravating a rib muscle injury in a bout on Tuesday.

Tochiazuma, who dropped to 2-2, initially sustained the injury during a regional training tour last month.

Unless he returns to action and posts eight wins, Tochiazuma will have to notch at least eight wins at the New Year meet in January to maintain his ozeki rank, the second highest in sumo.

Day 3

Sekiwake Kotooshu throws No. 3 maegashira Dejima out of the ring on the third day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament at Fukuoka Kokusai Center on Tuesday.

Asashoryu teaches teen a lesson

FUKUOKA (Kyodo) Yokozuna Asashoryu held off a challenge from up-and-coming teenager Kisenosato for his third straight win while Bulgarian Kotooshu earned his second win at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Tuesday.

Asashoryu greeted Kisenosato with a right-hand slap to his cheek at the face-off, quickly crouched deep inside and, after fending off a leg-trip attempt with ease, toppled the 19-year-old with an excellently executed right-thigh sweep at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.

Asashoryu, who is aiming for an unprecedented seventh straight Emperor's Cup, is among six unbeaten wrestlers in the top makuuchi division three days into the 15-day tournament.

In September, Asashoryu ousted main rival Kotooshu in a playoff to win the autumn tourney and is also looking to become the first wrestler to win all six tournaments in a year.

Kisenosato, who has risen to his highest rank of No. 5 maegashira after a 12-3 showing at the autumn meet, is 1-2 after his loss to Asashoryu in his first-ever meeting with a yokozuna.

Promotion-chasing sekiwake Kotooshu notched his second win in convincing fashion as the Bulgarian held the belt tightly with both hands at the face-off and grabbed the right leg of Dejima before wildly barging out the winless No. 3 maegashira.

Earlier in the tournament, Kotooshu got off to a nightmare start to his bid for promotion to the second-highest rank of ozeki with an opening-day loss to No. 2 maegashira Kakizoe. On Monday, he was awarded his first win here by default after injury-hit No. 2 maegashira Futeno withdrew.

The 22-year-old looked set to become the first wrestler from Europe to capture the Emperor's Cup in September but wilted under the pressure and surrendered a two-win lead before losing to Asashoryu in a playoff.

Kotooshu posted an impressive 13-2 record last time out and will need an equally strong performance here to earn promotion to ozeki.

In other key bouts, ozeki Chiyotaikai (2-1) survived an initial charge from Iwakiyama and slapped down the No. 4 maegashira after backpedaling to the ring's edge. Iwakiyama slipped to 1-2.

Tochiazuma (2-1) let a win slip away after failing to fend off a deft maneuver by in-form fourth-ranked maegashira Miyabiyama (3-0), who sidestepped near the edge to see off the onrushing ozeki.

Day 2

Komusubi Kyokutenho pushes ozeki Chiyotaikai down to the ground for an upset win Monday in second-day action at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka.

Unbeaten Asashoryu stomps Iwakiyama

FUKUOKA (Kyodo) Yokozuna Asashoryu plowed over Iwakiyama to remain unbeaten as he moved a step closer in his bid to winning a record-setting seventh straight Emperor's Cup after the second day of action at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday.

Meanwhile it was a day of mixed fortune for ozeki Kaio, Tochiazuma and Chiyotaikai while newly promoted Bulgarian Kotooshu picked up his first win by default after Futeno (0-2) withdrew from the 15-day meet with an ankle injury.

In the day's finale at Fukuoka Kokusai Center, Asashoryu hit his fourth-ranked opponent with a barrage of slaps to the face and moved deftly to the side before marching his opponent out from behind to improve to 2-0. Iwakiyama slipped to 1-1.

Asashoryu has a chance to win all six basho this year and seven straight titles -- a feat never accomplished by a wrestler.

Kotooshu, who suffered a shock defeat to Kakizoe on Sunday, appeared set to become the first wrestler from Europe to a win a title at the autumn basho in September but relinquished a two-win lead before buckling under the pressure in a playoff with the yokozuna.

The 22-year-old gentle giant posted an impressive 13-2 record last time out but will need an equally strong performance here to earn a promotion to sumo's second highest rank of ozeki.

Tochiazuma stopped Dejima (0-2) in his tracks and got a grip on his opponent's left shoulder before swiftly dragging him to the clay to stay undefeated but Kaio (1-1) was sent packing in one-sided affair with Miyabiyama (2-0).

Kaio, who faces relegation for a record-tying eighth time and needs eight wins at this meet to keep his rank, absorbed a fierce charge from the No. 4 maegashira but retreated over the edge without much fuss.

Chiyotaikai was the second ozeki casualty, hitting the clay with a thud as he was forced onto his back after his trademark thrusts proved ineffective against komusubi Kyokutenho (1-1).

In other key bouts, sekiwake Kotomitsuki (2-0) was sent reeling onto his heels by Kakizoe (1-1) but recovered nicely at the last moment to toss his second-ranked opponent over the ridge with a well-executed arm bar throw.

In a battle of eastern European wrestlers, Georgian Kokkai (1-1) prevailed over Russian Roho (1-1), crushing his opponent back after the face-off before shoving him quickly to the clay.

Ama charged ahead to grind out winless Tokitenku to improve to 2-0, making quick work of the same opponent he got locked into a marathon bout in their last meeting in September.

Teenager Kisenosato, who was promoted to his highest rank of No. 5 maegashira after a strong showing in September, manhandled Hokutoriki, sending his opponent to a second straight loss.

Mongolian Hakuho, who tried a sneaky "henka" sidestep maneuver in his loss to Asashoryu on the opening day, slipped to a second straight defeat when he retreated and was abruptly shown an exit after the face-off.

Sumo's court jest Takamisakari got a deft right-handed grip on Kotoshogiku before slapping the seventh-ranked wrestler to the dirt, leaving both men at 1-1.

Thirty-seven-year old Kotonowaka got his hands wrapped around the belt of Hakurozan (1-1) and muscled his opponent over the straw ridge in an earlier bout to improve to 2-0.

Day 1 - Asashoryu off to winning start in Kyushu

FUKUOKA (Kyodo) Grand champion Asashoryu dodged a bullet and made a winning start in his bid for an unprecedented seventh straight Emperor's Cup by beating fellow-Mongolian Hakuho on the opening day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday.

No. 2 maegashra Kakizoe pulls down sekiwake Kotooshu on the first day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.

Ozeki Kaio and Chiyotaikai also posted victories but Bulgarian sekiwake Kotooshu got off to a nightmare start in the 15-day meet in Fukuoka with a shock loss to second-ranked Kakizoe.

In the day's finale, Asashoryu looked in all sorts of trouble after being barged to ring's edge. But he recovered well, spinning round and charging at Hakuho, who lost his balance and stepped over the straw ridge.

Asashoryu ousted main rival Kotooshu in a play-off to win the autumn tourney in September and is also looking to become the first wrestler to win all six tournaments in a year.

Kotooshu looked set to become the first wrestler from Europe to capture the Emperor's Cup at the autumn meet but wilted under the pressure and surrendered a two-win lead before losing the playoff.

This time he suffered an early meltdown and looked lost as Kakizoe got hold of the sekiwake and slapped him down in a matter of seconds.

The 22-year-old Kotooshu posted an impressive 13-2 record last time out and will need a similar performance here to earn promotion to sumo's second rank of ozeki.

In contrast, Kaio, who pulled out of the autumn meet with a hamstring injury, had little trouble in forcing out Futeno to record the first of eight wins he needs to save his ozeki rank for the eighth time in his career.

Chiyotaikai soaked up a series of thrusts and dragged down Hokutoriki and Tochiazuma completed an ozeki hat-trick, diving in low to send top-ranked maegashira Tamanoshima packing with a head charge.

In other bouts, popular maegashira Takamisakari was unable to match his comical pre-bout warm-up with victory and left his fans disappointed after being promptly marched out of the ring by eighth-ranked Toyonoshima.

Japanese teenager Kisenosato, who has risen to his highest ever ranks of No. 5 maegashira after an excellent showing at the autumn meet, also suffered defeat after being outclassed by fourth-ranked Iwakiyama.

It was a mixed day for eastern European wrestlers competing in sumo's top flight as rugged Russian Roho and younger brother Hakurozan emerged victorious but Kokkai came unstuck after an entertaining bout with Ama.

Eighth-ranked Roho came out on top of a street brawl with Mongolian Tokitenku but Kokkai failed to execute a pair of leg trips and Ama came back to force the Georgian wrestler out to a first defeat.

In the lower echelons of the makuuchi division, Hakurozan opened with a slap-down win over Asasekiryu while Tochinohana overcame a false start to see of Shunketsu, the wrestler formerly known as Ishide.

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