robnplunder

Of course, I was kidding a bit. I have no illusion that I can do better than Hattorizakura.

It's hard to pick which one will prevail, Hak, Kak, or Tochinoshin. In Hak's heyday, it'd been no contest but Hak looks unfocused at times these days. And why not? He accomplished everything there is to ozumo. Kak will have just as good a chance to get another yusho but I am hoping it is Tochinoshin who prevails just to balance things out. Takayasu, Goeido kadoban? That will make the next basho more interesting, especially, if Kisenosato comes back. With 3 yokozuna healthy & Tochinoshin, KK will not be a sure thing for Ozekis returning from injury. I am thinking, even I can do better than Hattorizakura. Too bad that there is an age limit to get into sumo.

Takakeisho, with short arm span and all, has been slapping like a mad man in this basho. What goes around will come around. Once he gets a reputation as a slapper, guys with longer reach can fight fire with fire and slap him silly. But if it works for Takakeisho, so be it. I am just saying. As Kintamayama stated in an earlier post, Ichinojo may have injured his back again. He did look better against Tochinoshin in the losing effort. But Tochinoshin has been a man possessed to reach his Ozekihood and possibly gain another yusho. So, losing to him wasn't a shame. Will see how Ichinojo fares the rest of the basho.

It seems Ichinojo decided to fold after incurring his 1st loss of the basho. Since then, he looked like he wants to sit out the rest of the basho. He was looking like an Ozeki contender for the last two basho or so. Looks like we will have a new Ozeki after this basho and it is not Mitakeumi.

Kotoshogiku has been mixing up his tactics in this basho instead of just going bumpity bumpity. That to me is a sign of hope that he may extend his sumo career for a few more years at the top division. Shodai looks to be a bit more determined & stronger in this basho. Will see how they do the rest of the basho. BTW, I no longer see Shodai as a future Ozeki. His head high tachihai won't get him there.

I think Hak took a day off. Abi went at him without any respect and got Hak before he could take Abi seriously. Abi vs Hak the second round will be different. Hak will be ready and blow him off the mat. The bigger question is, can Hak or Kak tame Ozekibound Tochinoshin?

I think it is all the injuries due to bouts & practices.

The way Hak lost was shocking. He didn't do anything it seems. Tochinoshin seems to be worthy of Ozekiship now. If he picks up another Yusho, he will be an Ozeki. Even with a double digit wins, he should be strongly considered for the promotion, I hope. Kotoshogiku is showing signs of life. So is Endo notwithstanding today's loss to Mitaeumi. We saw a a few blatant hard slaps thrown by little guys, short arms and all. Watch out for wild slaps against them the next time. Ishiura picked up a win. How many henkas is he going to try in this basho? 12? 14?

It seems Kotoshogiku is trying other ways to win rather than the chest bumps forward. I like it. I think he will pick up a few more wins by varying his method. There have been other great matches in addition to Endo and Ichinojo. Shodai had a few spirited wins. So did Mitakeumi. After the last basho, this one is turning out to be an exciting one, at least for me.

It was. With the likes of Hak, Kak, Haruama, and Kise around, even a KK for Ozeki was an iffy proposition. For some time, an Ozeki would face 3 Yokozunas, & 3 Ozeki in a basho. Life was even harder for M1 or M2 then. They'd face 6 or 7 Yoko/Ozeki to start a basho. Getting a KK as M1 was hardly possible then. With Haru gone, and the rest of Yokozuna having injury issues, not to mention the demise of Kotoshogiku and Terunofuji, I am surprised that Takayasu has not done better so far to make a claim at Yokozuna title.

That's pretty telling. Two of his 12-3 bashos came when the fearsome foursome (Hak, Kak, Kise, Haruma) were mostly not in the basho due to retirement and injuries. Provided that Hak, Kak, and Kise come back in the next basho, what's Taka's chance of getting an yusho? Heck, he may not even get 10 wins if the returning Yokozunas stay healthy through the basho. I'd say Taka's chance of promotion to Yokozuna in the next basho is nil. Zensho may get a few votes but not enough for the promotion.

This reminds of me the vast difference between the big 4 (Harauma, Kak, Kise, Hak) yokozuna vs whoever can replace them as Yokozuna in near future. Those 4 at top form are far better than any rikishi in Makuuchi division now. No one worthy of replacing any of them for Yokozuna title ....

Yokozuna talk for Takayasu? He needs an yusho in the next basho to be considered. And I think it has to be a convincing yusho. Just a few basho ago, he was facing a kadoban. But something that I've not thought about is Tochinoshin's possible promotion to Ozeki. Asasho's post reminded me of how close Tochi is to the promotion. A decent showing in the next basho may clinch his promotion I hope. Then there is Ternofuji. It's sad to see him keep going down. He's got one step closer to Makushita.

It's amazing how the lumbering Akiseyama can beat anybody in juryo. At this rate, we may see him in Makuuchi again where he didn't fare so well. Personally, this basho has been less exciting/interesting than the bashos in the past. Truth to be told, Juryo goings have been more interesting. The only thing that'd be interesting is if Mitakeumi would KK and keep his Sekiwake ranking.

Ha, ha. But you have to admit that he has improved on his henka move. Blatant and effective.