Maedayama Defeats 'Impregnable' Futaba
Great Excitement Is Created As Grappler's Dream Is Realized
Futabayama, the only undefeated wrestler, was finally
downed by fighting Maedayama on the 13th day of the spring main sumo tourney
at the Kokugikan on January 22, creating a more exciting scene in the bowl
than on the 12th day when Akinoumi and Haguroyama, both undefeated until
then, went down before their respective opponents.
Maedayama, who on the 12th day triumphed over Haguroyama,
halting the latter's winning streak, again shone by beating Futabayama,
who had been considered impregnable in this tourney.
Minanogawa showed his class as "yokozuna" by repulsing
the desperate challenge put up by Terukuni, rising "sekiwake".
By outpointing the West 12 matches to 9, the East
team now leads with the total score of 158 to 136, a margin of 22, which
is enough to assure its team victory in the current tourney.
The results of other leading bouts were:
| Kashimanada | defeated | Aobayama |
| Yamatonishiki | defeated | Bishuzan |
| Sakuranishiki | defeated | Sadogashima |
| Ryuozan | defeated | Tsurugamine |
| Nayoroiwa | defeated | Hishuzan |
| Akinoumi | defeated | Asahikawa |
| Haguroyama | defeated | Ryogoku |
The showings of the high ranking grapplers to date are:
| East Team | West Team |
| Minanogawa - Won 10, lost 3 | Futabayama - Won 12, lost 1 |
| Maedayama - Won 11, lost 2 | Haguroyama - Won 12, lost 1 |
| Akinoumi - Won 12, lost 1 | Terukuni - Won 10, lost 3 |
| Hishuzan - Won 9, lost 4 | Nayoroiwa - Won 10, lost 3 |
| Kasagiyama - Won 8, lost 5 | Asahikawa - Won 2, lost 11 |
The leading matches on the 14th day, January 23, are :
| Tamanoumi | Sakuranishiki |
| Nishikitai | Ryuozan |
| Tatekabuto | Kasagiyama |
| Saganohana | Ayanobori |
| Asahikawa | Fujinosato |
| Terukuni | Hishuzan |
| Nayoroiwa | Maedayama |
| Haguroyama | Minanogawa |
| Futabayama | Akinoumi |