Doitsuyama 1,192 Posted July 25, 2008 (edited) Toyohibiki and Kotomitsuki reached double digits with wins over Tokitenku and Miyabiyama, pressuring Hakuho in the musubi-no-ichiban. But the yokozuna showed good tactics against Kaio, not letting the oldest ozeki come close to his mawashi and securing his seventh yusho with a yorikiri win. Ama won against Asasekiryu and at 9-4 he is close to starting an ozeki run. Toyonoshima on the other hand lost to Goeido, with 8-5 an ozeki run for the short komusubi is rather unlikely. He must also wait longer if he can occupy a sekiwake slot next basho as Kotoshogiku beat Wakanosato to avoid make-koshi. In other bouts Kyokutenho beat Baruto with tsuridashi for his eighth win and shin-makuuchi Chiyohakuho also is kachi-koshi with a henka-aided okuridashi against Kakuryu. Masatsukasa got his ninth win, beating Tamanoshima with watashikomi and is getting very close to a kanto-sho. Koryu is down to juryo with his tenth loss, and the two veterans Tamakasuga and Tosanoumi also are within one loss of demotion. Two of the four juryo leaders met today with Kitataiki beating Tosayutaka for the tenth win. Bushuyama easily won against Kaiho while Aran had a quick loss to a henka from Shimotori and in best Russian tradition looked annoyed afterwards to see his favorite tactic employed upon him. Kyokunankai and Sagatsukasa with his eighth consecutive win stay one behind while Mokonami is dropping out of the yusho race with his fourth consecutive loss. Day 13 Juryo J13e Tamaasuka (5-8) yorikiri Ms3w Wakatenro (4-3) J11w Ryuo (7-6) yorikiri J12e Mokonami (8-5) J11e Shirononami (6-7) tsukiotoshi J10w Wakakoyu (5-8) J12w Ichihara (7-6) hatakikomi J9e Katayama (2-11) J8e Bushuyama (10-3) yorikiri J7e Kaiho (4-9) J6e Shimotori (8-5) hikiotoshi J14e Aran (9-4) J5w Hakuba (4-9) yorikiri J5e Kotokasuga (4-8-1) J6w Kasuganishiki (7-6) yorikiri J4w Hakurozan (6-7) J4e Kitataiki (10-3) oshidashi J14w Tosayutaka (9-4) J13w Sagatsukasa (9-4) yorikiri J3w Hoshihikari (5-8) J9w Kyokunankai (9-4) hikiotoshi J3e Kitazakura (6-7) J2w Kasugao (7-6) uwatedashinage J8w Kirinowaka (5-8) J10e Otsukasa (7-6) yorikiri J2e Wakakirin (6-7) J7w Ushiomaru (5-8) okuritaoshi J1w Toyozakura (4-9) Makuuchi M15e Yoshikaze (8-5) hatakikomi M14e Tosanoumi (5-8) J1e Tamawashi (7-6) oshitaoshi M13w Koryu (3-10) M11e Tochiozan (7-6) yoritaoshi M12e Takekaze (6-7) M15w Kakizoe (6-7) oshidashi M10w Kokkai (5-8) M16e Masatsukasa (9-4) watashikomi M10e Tamanoshima (7-6) M9w Iwakiyama (6-7) yorikiri M11w Tamakasuga (3-10) M16w Chiyohakuho (8-5) okuridashi M7w Kakuryu (6-7) M7e Roho (7-6) yorikiri M14w Tochinoshin (7-6) M13e Toyohibiki (10-3) oshidashi M6w Tokitenku (7-6) M6e Homasho (7-6) hikiotoshi M12w Kimurayama (6-7) M9e Kyokutenho (8-5) tsuridashi M5w Baruto (8-5) M3w Tochinonada (6-7) yorikiri M8e Takamisakari (5-8) M2w Hokutoriki (2-11) hatakikomi M8w Dejima (4-9) M1w Wakanoho (3-10) yorikiri M3e Futeno (2-11) M4w Goeido (7-6) shitatenage K1w Toyonoshima (8-5) K1e Kisenosato (5-8) tsukiotoshi M1e Aminishiki (5-8) S1w Kotoshogiku (6-7) yorikiri M4e Wakanosato (5-8) S1e Ama (9-4) yorikiri M2e Asasekiryu (8-5) O1w Kotomitsuki (10-3) yorikiri M5e Miyabiyama (7-6) O1e Kotooshu (9-4) yorikiri O2w Chiyotaikai (8-5) Y1w Hakuho (13-0) yorikiri O2e Kaio (8-5) Day 14 Juryo Ms2w Asofuji (4-2) J10w Wakakoyu (5-8) J14e Aran (9-4) J9w Kyokunankai (9-4) J8e Bushuyama (10-3) J14w Tosayutaka (9-4) J7e Kaiho (4-9) J11w Ryuo (7-6) J6e Shimotori (8-5) J12e Mokonami (8-5) J13w Sagatsukasa (9-4) J6w Kasuganishiki (7-6) J5e Kotokasuga (4-8-1) J8w Kirinowaka (5-8) J12w Ichihara (7-6) J5w Hakuba (4-9) J11e Shirononami (6-7) J4w Hakurozan (6-7) J7w Ushiomaru (5-8) J3w Hoshihikari (5-8) J2e Wakakirin (6-7) J3e Kitazakura (6-7) J13e Tamaasuka (5-8) J2w Kasugao (7-6) J1e Tamawashi (7-6) J10e Otsukasa (7-6) J9e Katayama (2-11) J1w Toyozakura (4-9) Makuuchi M11e Tochiozan (7-6) M13w Koryu (3-10) J4e Kitataiki (10-3) M11w Tamakasuga (3-10) M10e Tamanoshima (7-6) M15w Kakizoe (6-7) M9e Kyokutenho (8-5) M12w Kimurayama (6-7) M10w Kokkai (5-8) M9w Iwakiyama (6-7) M8e Takamisakari (5-8) M16w Chiyohakuho (8-5) M14e Tosanoumi (5-8) M8w Dejima (4-9) M7e Roho (7-6) M15e Yoshikaze (8-5) M16e Masatsukasa (9-4) M7w Kakuryu (6-7) M6e Homasho (7-6) M12e Takekaze (6-7) M14w Tochinoshin (7-6) M6w Tokitenku (7-6) M13e Toyohibiki (10-3) M5w Baruto (8-5) M3e Futeno (2-11) M2w Hokutoriki (2-11) M1e Aminishiki (5-8) M1w Wakanoho (3-10) K1e Kisenosato (5-8) M3w Tochinonada (6-7) M2e Asasekiryu (8-5) K1w Toyonoshima (8-5) S1e Ama (9-4) M4w Goeido (7-6) M5e Miyabiyama (7-6) S1w Kotoshogiku (6-7) M4e Wakanosato (5-8) O2w Chiyotaikai (8-5) O1e Kotooshu (9-4) O2e Kaio (8-5) Y1w Hakuho (13-0) O1w Kotomitsuki (10-3) Edited July 25, 2008 by Doitsuyama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Harry 67 Posted July 25, 2008 (edited) The old ozekis couldn't win today with Kaio failing to keep the yusho race interesting (edit: failing to keep it a race at all) and Chiyotaikai still chasing his ninth win after losing to Kotooshu. Yesterday I highlighted the Wakanosato/Kotoshogiku, Takamisakari/Tochinonada, Kakizoe/Kokkai and Tosanoumi/Yoshikaze matches which had koshi's on the line. Well, first up Yoshikaze took KK and gave Tosanoumi MK. Kokkai continues to tumble from his high haru rank with a loss and MK to Kakizoe who still has a chance for promotion. Takamisakari lost and got MK with Tochinonada still in the hunt for KK. Wakanosato is now MK while Kotoshogiku still needs two wins to avoid the same demotion record. Tomorrow also contains many nail biters with Tamanoshima looking for KK while trying to give Kakizoe MK at the same time. Homasho is in the same boat, looking for his 8th win which will give Takekaze his 8th loss, continuing his slide from the komusubi position he had earlier this year (seems so long ago now). Tochinoshin and Tokitenku are at 7-6 so someone will be happy with KK tomorrow while the other will have to wait for senshuraku. Miyabiyama can get KK himself and put Kotoshogiku back into komusubi with a win tomorrow. Masatsukasa tries for double digit wins which would put Kakuryu into MK. Toyohibiki tries to continue his jun-yusho run and go for 11 wins against big Baruto whom he has yet to beat. Futeno and Hokutoriki meet to decide the worst record in makuuchi. Who will get the boobie prize? Kisenosato is trying to salvage his basho with the most wins possible even though he is already MK, which would put Tochinonada into MK. Asasekiryu vs. Toyonoshima should be a great match with Asasekiryu likely promoted to komusubi alongside Toyonoshima if Kotoshogiku can manage to get an 8-7 record. Ama goes for double digit wins which would put Goeido on the ropes at 7-7 on senshuraku. Finally in musubi no ichiban, Kotomitsuki is fighting for the jun-yusho and trying to stop Hakuho's zensho run while at the same time making a point about his own eventual yokozuna prospects. Those who say there is no reason to watch makuuchi with the yusho already decided are very wrong IMO. Edited July 25, 2008 by Harry Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mokele 3 Posted July 25, 2008 I am surprised and pleased that short, stumpy Sagatsukasa is 9-4 and apparently more than holding his own in Juryo. The guy is less than 5'6" tall and looks way overmatched physically against most of his opponents. He's not a judo technician like Mainoumi was, and is not nearly as heavy and strong as Toyonoshima, so it's always tough for him. If he can make it to Makunouchi just once in his career it would be cause for celebration. Hakuho combines great stability and balance with strength and is still improving his sumo. We may be witnessing zensho yusho from him this basho. Chiyotaikai and Kaio both are in the same situation, veteran ozeki just hanging onto the title as long as they can. It looks like double digit records are unlikely for either one of them here in Nagoya or in the future. 3 or 4 years ago there was talk of Wakanosato possibly becoming an ozeki, but it's clear now that he's no longer close to that level. He's had a fine career for a sub-ozeki rikishi and can still get an occasional upset, but he's now unlikely to even make it back to sanyaku in the future. Kisenosato is plenty big and strong enough and is still young and improving overall but he's just not a great athlete. He's predictable and lacks agility. I don't see him becoming an ozeki in the future although he should be in and out of sanyaku many times over the next 5 or 6 years. I like Wakanoho's enthusiasm and intensity but he has a long way to go before he will be competitive against the joi-jin. He gets caught by superior technique way too often, a good example of which was his loss to Toyonoshima on day 12. Toyohibiki is having a great basho and with the right training could hold his own near the top of the maegashira. He has a strong nodo-wa and good oshi but needs to improve at yotsu-zumo. Tosanoumi's career may be just about over. Although I always liked him and his honest, straightforward oshi-zumo, he never learned to overcome his bad habit of putting his head down and losing by hatakikomi. He's not bad on the belt but has always preferred oshi-zumo, which makes it very hard for him to win as he gets older and slower. Kakizoe is very close to being demoted to Juryo. He's 1 of the best sportsmen I've ever seen in sumo, and has always come through with a win just when he needed it, but he's rather small and really lacks power. Maybe a few readers remember Kasugafuji, Asanowaka and Takamisugi, wrestlers with a similar style. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jakusotsu 6,017 Posted July 25, 2008 Aran had a quick loss to a henka from Shimotori and in best Russian tradition looked annoyed afterwards to see his favorite tactic employed upon him. Which deity do we need to pray at to keep him out of Makuuchi? We've got more than enough of these brats already. Time for Abramovich to set up a league of their own. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 19,543 Posted July 25, 2008 Which deity do we need to pray at to keep him out of Makuuchi? We've got more than enough of these brats already. Alas, he's probably going to be up there by January at the latest... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HenryK 38 Posted July 25, 2008 Dummy question: suppose Kisenosato wins his last two and ends 7-8, while Asasekiryu loses his and goes 8-7 at M2E (and Baruto doesn't pull a 10-5) -- how likely would it be then that Kisenosato just moves sideways to K1W? Is there still a chance that he may stay in the sanyaku ranks? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HenryK 38 Posted July 25, 2008 Aran had a quick loss to a henka from Shimotori and in best Russian tradition looked annoyed afterwards to see his favorite tactic employed upon him. Which deity do we need to pray at to keep him out of Makuuchi? We've got more than enough of these brats already. Time for Abramovich to set up a league of their own. Hmmm.... Aran looked to the floor and his face was somewhat reddened, but there was none of the rude Roho- or Wakanoho-type behavior whatsoever. Unless he did something after leaving the dohyo (?) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HenryK 38 Posted July 25, 2008 Some remarkable turnarounds: -- Yoshikaze (M15E) from 1-3 and 3-5 to 8-5; -- Kasugao (J2W) from 2-4 and 4-6 to 7-6 -- we may see him back at Makuuchi; -- Shimotori (J6E) from 1-3 to 8-5; and most impressively -- Ichihara (J12W) from 0-5 to 7-6, probably escaping demotion to Makushita that seemed near-certain after 5 days. Amazing what this fella is pulling, as he clearly is very much handicapped by the injury contracted at Haru. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Harry 67 Posted July 25, 2008 Some remarkable turnarounds: -- Yoshikaze (M15E) from 1-3 and 3-5 to 8-5; -- Kasugao (J2W) from 2-4 and 4-6 to 7-6 -- we may see him back at Makuuchi; -- Shimotori (J6E) from 1-3 to 8-5; and most impressively -- Ichihara (J12W) from 0-5 to 7-6, probably escaping demotion to Makushita that seemed near-certain after 5 days. Amazing what this fella is pulling, as he clearly is very much handicapped by the injury contracted at Haru. Trying to get things back to positive thoughts here... yes it is quite an impressive turnaround! I had several of them written off almost completely but they've proved me wrong and good on them. I hope we see Kasugao HEALTHY in makuuchi again soon, Ichihara too and I'm glad Yoshikaze will be sticking around; he's earned it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HenryK 38 Posted July 25, 2008 (edited) Some remarkable turnarounds: -- Yoshikaze (M15E) from 1-3 and 3-5 to 8-5; -- Kasugao (J2W) from 2-4 and 4-6 to 7-6 -- we may see him back at Makuuchi; -- Shimotori (J6E) from 1-3 to 8-5; and most impressively -- Ichihara (J12W) from 0-5 to 7-6, probably escaping demotion to Makushita that seemed near-certain after 5 days. Amazing what this fella is pulling, as he clearly is very much handicapped by the injury contracted at Haru. Trying to get things back to positive thoughts here... yes it is quite an impressive turnaround! I had several of them written off almost completely but they've proved me wrong and good on them. I hope we see Kasugao HEALTHY in makuuchi again soon, Ichihara too and I'm glad Yoshikaze will be sticking around; he's earned it. A great turnaround is of course also Asasekiryu's -- from 0-4 after 4 days of fighting Ys and Os to 8-4 (now 8-5). If this didn't struck me as that "remarkable" first it is because the fella has taught us often enough that you better always expect the extraordinary from him. Edited July 25, 2008 by HenryK Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hananotaka 8 Posted July 25, 2008 I'm with Jakusotsu on this. I'd rather not have another 185+ cm rikishi jumping around the dohyo and pulling down rikishi smaller than him, with piss-poor dohyo demeanor to boot. It may be legal, it may be "sumo", but it sure as hell ain't Ozumo. I have nothing against the Russians -- all things considered I'd love for them to do well while doing fantastic exciting sumo. But to a man their sumo, particularly considering their size and strength, leaves a lot to be desired. Man, I miss the Hawaiians. Their sumo may not have been technically subtle, but they never made me wish for the time I spent watching their "sumo" back. So, I hope eventually there's Russian rikishi that will be an exception to the current rule. In the interest of fairness, there are a lot of crappy Japanese rikishi filling the Makuuchi ranks, too, and all things considered I wish a Japanese rikishi would come up and break the mold. About the only folks on the dohyo these days doing decent sumo are the Mongolians. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryafuji 815 Posted July 25, 2008 Some remarkable turnarounds: -- Yoshikaze (M15E) from 1-3 and 3-5 to 8-5; -- Kasugao (J2W) from 2-4 and 4-6 to 7-6 -- we may see him back at Makuuchi; -- Shimotori (J6E) from 1-3 to 8-5; and most impressively -- Ichihara (J12W) from 0-5 to 7-6, probably escaping demotion to Makushita that seemed near-certain after 5 days. Amazing what this fella is pulling, as he clearly is very much handicapped by the injury contracted at Haru. Not forgetting Ryuo (J11W) from 1-6 to 7-6 -- he seemed certain to be demoted to makushita as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HenryK 38 Posted July 25, 2008 Some remarkable turnarounds: -- Yoshikaze (M15E) from 1-3 and 3-5 to 8-5; -- Kasugao (J2W) from 2-4 and 4-6 to 7-6 -- we may see him back at Makuuchi; -- Shimotori (J6E) from 1-3 to 8-5; and most impressively -- Ichihara (J12W) from 0-5 to 7-6, probably escaping demotion to Makushita that seemed near-certain after 5 days. Amazing what this fella is pulling, as he clearly is very much handicapped by the injury contracted at Haru. Not forgetting Ryuo (J11W) from 1-6 to 7-6 -- he seemed certain to be demoted to makushita as well. Very true. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sokkenaiyama 81 Posted July 25, 2008 Ichihara hasn't been exactly impressive in his wins. I remember two or three blatant henkas (I guess it's the opponents' fault, because they fell for a slow henka form an injured Ichihara). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HenryK 38 Posted July 25, 2008 Ichihara hasn't been exactly impressive in his wins. I remember two or three blatant henkas (I guess it's the opponents' fault, because they fell for a slow henka form an injured Ichihara). The guy can hardly walk. I find this darn imperssive, although I wish he could just take a basho off and get his leg in better shape. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
