The Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo got under way last Sunday. At day five, a small group of wrestlers remain unbeaten, though not a single ozeki is amongst them. In fact, all of the frontrunners are rank and file maegashira. That may change in coming days, especially as Takakeisho and Mitakeumi are showing some promising sumo.

Where is the yokozuna, I hear you ask? At 3-2 Terunofuji is off to his shakiest start in a while, doubtless brought on by ongoing injuries. His knees and ankles are bandaged up and he is lacking the standing power that he customarily displays. But that may change too as the tourney continues.

Yesterday he was defeated by veteran Tamawashi, who at 5-0 is powering along. He has beaten the yokozuna a number of times before so it was not a huge upset, in my estimation. The photo I snapped below shows  the two in desperate combat, Terunofuji suffering a thrust to the neck (nodowa) from his opponent. But he will surely live to avenge himself on his fellow Mongolian. Note also the lady in white to the right of Tamawashi's mawashi. She is a regular feature at almost all sumo tournaments.