Your Surprises, Disappointments and Discoveries at Nagoya

[Jonosuke 28]

Just wondering about a few of your disappointments, surprises and discoveries at just finished Nagoya.

Not meant as any scientific poll (I will leave that to the gamers), just your impressions.

I guess Kotooshu must have been the biggest disappointment of all in Nagoya with so much expected of him prior to the basho. But one thing we can say about him is that he sold good many pre-basho tickets for people wanting to see the birth of yokozuna. They sold out nine days out of 15 this year even having one yokozuna withdrawing, I'd say that's pretty good and impressive.

Like many others, my surprise was Toyonoshima as I didn't expect him to be this successful against yokozuna and ozeki.

I didn't think much of Masatsukasa up till this basho - somehow he was always under my radar. I didn't think of him much more than a low Juryo high Makushita type but since I first started seeing him about a year or so ago, he has improved his techniques and with his size, he may even be a Sanyaku in the near future.

We all know about Yamamotoyama as he can hardly be ignored but this basho he showed me more than his size. Even as big as he is, he showed he has good skills too and his sumo was not just about using his size. And equal to his big physical side, he has as big of good heart too. I sure will be looking out for him in Juryo next basho.

[Bealzbob 0]

My Surprises (positive)

Baruto going 6-1 after a 4-4 start. I thought the knee was back to haunt him then ... it wasn't. Which was nice.

Toyonoshima going 3-0 with opening opponents of yokozuna, ozeki, ozeki. Very impressive. Plus finishing in double figures in his first genki sanyaku basho (Asa injured him training just before his only previous appearance in Natsu '07).

The biscuit winning 9 in a row on the way to a kanto-sho.

Old sad face (10-ho) showing he's still got it. Good man.

Disappointments

Undoubtedly Kisenosato. Just as he looked like putting a concerted effort into climbing the sanyaku he drifts into old habits. Perhaps fatigue, otherwise I don't know. Was egging him on though. Maybe next time young man.

The geeku going the same way. Didn't see any of his bouts so don't know why, but had him down as a solid sanyaku.

Tosayutaka falling away in the juryo yusho race. I fully expected (hoped) he could do it.

YMY missing out on the makushita yusho although I'm more than happy he'll be comfortably in juryo for Aki.

Discoveries

The 15 year old Okinoshita going 6-1 in jonokuchi, whom I've promptly adopted :-D

[HenryK 38]

My five cents:

My Surprises (positive)

No major surprises, but several smaller ones. Toyonoshima obviously beat expectations, good to see a small, technical rikishi do so well. Oldie Tochinonada had a fine basho in the midst of the meatgrinder in spite of MK. The Ozeki performed well overall, although they fell a bit apart towards the end and could not seriously threaten Hakuho (each gave Hakuho a decent run for his money though).

Baruto 10-5 and up to K is nice but not really a surprise, especially as he fought from below the meatgrinder. Similar with Kyokutenho -- still too good for middle M, struggles with the joi-jin.

A surprise of sorts was Ichihara's 8-7. When healthy he'd be expected to do much better, of course, but given that he started 0-5 and seemed a sure demotion to Ms, this was an impressive turnaround. I wish he could take some time off to get his knee into decent shape.

Nice also to see Kasugao back at Makuuchi where he belongs. Good that Aran and Tosayakuta had some impact at the bottom of J, expect both in M within one year. Yamamotoyama had his breakthrough basho. I'm curious about what the big man can do at J.

Disappointments

The big disappointment was Asashoryu, who came in poorly prepared and out of form. I hope he gambarizes for the next basho, otherwise one-sided basho races are looming -- again.

Kisenosato and Kotoshogiku obviously failed to perform up to expectations. Ama started brilliantly, faltered a bit towards the end -- 10-5 seems too little to start a promising Ozeki run. Kotooshu -- well, I for my part thought he had a pretty solid basho, better than 9-6 would suggest, but after 14-1 Y expectations were of course higher.

Kokkai was off, as was Tokitenku, and Dejima looks like a man of the past. I felt sorry for these guys. In the case of Dejima I'd not be surprised if he retired soon. Wakanoho's basho was dreadful, but I felt not sorry as he was truly annoying. Hope he grows up; until then I don't mind if he finds himself further down the food chain.

In Makushita, Kyokoshuho had a poor basho, as had Matsutani. I had both down as promising rikishi.

Discoveries

Must be Masatsukasa. Seemed an obvious candidate for a J-demotion, instead he made it into the middle M-ranks with fine sumo.

Edited July 28, 2008 by HenryK

[ilovesumo 12]

Well, let's say happy and sad about. Who am I calling one disappointment.

happy about :

Mokonami's good kk. It seems his back is better.

Bushuyama's Yusho. Great. :-)

Hoshizakura's rise. Slowly but rising. No more injuries and he can reach his goal.

He is part of the "mongolian gang" :-) but the one being less successful.

It was nice that most great Rikishi like Wakanosato gave a lesson to Wakanoho.

I hope very much he will change his style. The jumping is awful.

Yes, Hayateumi and Shuzan jumped as well, but these were great Rikishi who knew the Kimarite well.

Waka tries to win without working for it.

Bart learned to work with his problematic knee. Smart move. If he goes on like this, he has a future.

I hoped Hoshikaze wins but his great kk helps a lot even without the Yusho.

Would have been strange if he'd won it...just a feeling. He is much too "cool" for that. Totally stressed whenever on the dohyo it seems.

Towanoyama. I hope again. Makushita west, 6, 5-2 record. He can do it next Basho.

His knee is as bad as Bart's, Osh's and Buyuuzan's together... :-D

sad about :

Kaiho and the "mongolian gang" in Juryou (including Koryuu)

mk mk mk mk mk ....what's wrong with them?

Hoshihikari seems to be a changed man...I have no idea what's wrong with him.

I know him as a guy who never gave up, even in keiko. He had a will to win every bout. No matter who the aite was.

He was a real fox at the dohyo. He did fast and intelligent Sumo. His speed and power seem to be gone. He fight's like Shoryu did this Basho.

I want him to be the great Rikishi he was during his time in Makushita. Yes, Juryou is harder, but Hoshi changed.

Kaiho became my very favorit during the time I spent in Japan. It's strange how the "like" and "don't like" changed. So many guy's I never noticed before,

some guys I was fan of, but they were far behind my favorites (who are now less favorite favorites)...Nr. 1 became Nr. 5 or so...strange...

I would love to make him 10 years younger. Must have been great being his fan in those days...I fear the day he retires...which might be close...one or two more mk and he would be Makushita. I don't think he would try again to come back...Makushita is a no go...During my time in Japan he reached Makuuchi again and had a great return Basho. I was so full of hope...now I fear to loose him. There are not many Sekitori who's matches I am waiting for while viewing the stream...please hang on... :-)

Kyokushuho is no disappointment at all. He once fought with a broken bone in his foot and had a great kk.

Now this Basho he could only win 2 bouts. I don't know what went wrong, but I know he can fight. My guess is an Injury.

He will bite and come back. I remember the topic when Hakuho injured his toe and couldn't fight. Some people thougth "that's it" - look at him now.

Shuho will be a number one. He is so young and has all opportunities.

Jumonji......oh dear...he won't come back at all I fear...

Kanbayashi...2-5...hope he is ok.

not sad about :

Kisenosato's mk. He maybe was already too confident.

Edit:

miss:

Buyuzan

Edited July 28, 2008 by ilovesumo

[Shomishuu 0]

I didn't think much of Masatsukasa up till this basho - somehow he was always under my radar. I didn't think of him much more than a low Juryo high Makushita type but since I first started seeing him about a year or so ago, he has improved his techniques and with his size, he may even be a Sanyaku in the near future.

Was there also a bit of panache/attitude detected (in a good way...)? Was it always there, or maybe Robocop is grooming his replacement?

[Kintamayama 45,442]

I didn't think much of Masatsukasa up till this basho - somehow he was always under my radar. I didn't think of him much more than a low Juryo high Makushita type but since I first started seeing him about a year or so ago, he has improved his techniques and with his size, he may even be a Sanyaku in the near future.

Was there also a bit of panache/attitude detected (in a good way...)? Was it always there, or maybe Robocop is grooming his replacement?

Aside from the salt throwing (I'd say he's definitely getting ready to be Kitazakura's replacement..) nothing extraordinary.

Except the fact he won more than 4, of course.

[Kintamayama 45,442]

Surprised by: Chiyotaikai, but he never ceases to surprise me.

Disappointment in: Kokkai. He usually turns into a yotsu expert at these depths.

Discovery: I still say Kimurayama, regardless of his MK. I think of the Chiyomasayama trio, he will be the only one around next year in Makuuchi.

Happy: That the Babe is still worth 9 on his way back to Ozeki. And he will get there!

Wishing that: KaioU, Tamakasuga and KaihoU will retire. From a good place, not because I dislike them or anything.

Amused by: Wakanohou. I don't know why. I think many of us are taking his antics too seriously. Give him time-he may grow up.

Worried about: Asashouryuu, who seems to be somewhere else - and not on a temporary basis, I fear.

Not giving a toss about: Kitataiki, Hakurozan, Yoshikaze, and the Inagawa kabu.

Will start noticing: Homarefuji, Fukao, Ozakumi, and Hoshikaze.

Miss: Ichinoya

[Bealzbob 0]

Worried about: Asashouryuu, who seems to be somewhere else - and not on a temporary basis, I fear.

:-D I agree. I hope we're wrong.

Not giving a toss about: ... Yoshikaze .....

Ahhh :-) Gotta like wee Yoshi.

Miss: Ichinoya

Agreed. And I'll add Sakaizawa to that (despite it making me start a sentence with 'and' :-) )

[Fay 1,677]

Surprise

- the biggest surprise for me was Masatsukasa. I like him but I hadn't thought he would do so well in makuuchi

- Mokonami really surprised me in the first week of the basho, just to disapoint me again in the second one

Disappointment

- a bit disappointed by Minami who was too nervous to fight for juryo. Although he is a bigger talent and works harder than Yamamotoyama, he couldn't turn his efforts over to the basho.

Happy

- about Kakuryu, that he managed a KK. No brilliant sumo but I will give him all the time he needs.

- about Toyohibiki, not brilliant at all, sometimes just lucky, but somehow I like him.

- Toyonoshima, when I grant someone taking over Shoki's sekiwake rank, than it's Toyonoshima (Shoki will get it back anyway :-P)

Hoping

- still hoping for Sokokurai, Nakanokuni and the Sadogatake double Kotokuni and Kotoyutaka to make it to juryo

- and of course for Kotomyozan to make it to Jonidan 99 on the Hatsu Banzuke (Showing respect...)

Edited July 30, 2008 by Fay

[Kaikitsune Makoto 209]

Biggest surprise is somehow the general consensus that Masatsukasa was such a big surprise with his kk and that his talent, skill and spirit hasn't caught the eyes of most of forum members. Masatsukasa had been riddled with so many injuries during his short life that it is quite something he made it to makuuchi but sumo wise he has shown remarkable talent for long time and this is the type of rikishi that tend to do better after promotions to higher divisions. Reminds me of Hochiyama in that sense. Hochiyama was eternal high makushita but when he broke that spell, he became much more prominent rikishi in salaried ranks before his injuries killed his sumo. Masatsukasa is very smart on the dohyo. Maybe his honey moon with makuuchi was this basho but I wouldn't be surprised if he stayed in makuuchi for long time.

[higginbotham 0]

Masatsukasa was definitely a surprise. That does not mean he is not good; actually he is quite good, otherwise it would have been impossible to keep a Juryo rank for some time carrying so many injuries, specially the right knee which is/was looking very bad. However, if one gets his first double-figures basho in career at Makuuchi, that is a surprise.