Head-to-head stats

[Guest Kaikitsune]

I figured it could be interesting to see how the current ozeki and yokozuna Musashimaru have been dealing with each other on the dohyo. I won`t include Takanohana this time as he most likely (and hopefully) skips Hatsu basho.

Kaio-Tochiazuma 13-7 all time...10-0 since Aki basho 1999!

Tochiazuma`s versatile skills should prevent him from suffering many consequtive losses to any rikishi. He doesn`t find the way to beat Kaio nowadays. Kaio beats Tochiazuma convincingly basho after basho. Strange phenomenon really although analysing the details of their encounters might reveal some reasons. Tochiazuma can`t push Kaio straight out and he definitely is in big trouble if Kaio gets any kind of grip on his mawashi. Furthermore Tochiazuma is constantly drawn too close to Kaio and without an attempt to morozashi and being slightly strained by his less than impressive reach, that is hapless position to be in a bout against Kaio.

Tochiazuma-Musoyama 15-3 (all time)

Tochiazuma has beaten Muso 7 times in a row now. Their bouts are usual very dynamic and mobile. Perhaps Muso`s 35kg heavier body is his vulnerability against Azuma who seems to simply outwit Muso every time being the more cunning one! 7 of the 15 Tochiazuma wins have become with a slapdown or okuridashi. Then again the recent reports from Musashigawa-beya training (de-geiko for Tochiazuma) contradict this formula of Tochiazuma dominating Muso. Something inexplicable there is though in this somewhat surprising head to head score!

Tochiazuma-Chiyotaikai 10-8 (all time)

Although Tochiazuma has the upper hand in all time stats, it is Taikai who has been the stronger of the two lately. Chiyotaikai has beaten Azuma 4 times out of the 5 most recent bouts. Last three encounters have been quite one-sided bouts too.

Kaio-Musoyama 22-16 (all time)

Kaio and Muso have a long rivalry. Out of the last 7 bouts Kaio has emerged victorious on 6 occasions. Couple of vastly entertaining (and resembling each other) bouts they have had quite recently. If Kaio gets the belt Musoyama loses always (once I think Muso has beaten Kaio on the belt during the last three years or so, mae-mitsu it was naturally). Musoyama enchances his chances to win if Kaio is lax at the tachi-ai, strength-wise the difference is minimal so Kaio as the better technician usually has decisive advantage after an even tachi-ai.

Chiyotaikai-Kaio 10-8 (all time)

After Kaio`s worst year 1998 Taikai and Kaio have had an even record in their mutual bouts. 1-1 in 2001 and 3-3 in 2000. Kaio never gets the belt but endures Taikai`s pushing attack well.

Musoyama-Chiyotaikai 10-5 (all time)

Musoyama has been a real obstacle for Taikai but now has been able to outwrestle Muso twice in a row smoothing the record a bit. Musoyama is a tank if anyone; not very tall but heavy and extremely solid. Taikai can`t usually push him out nor can he back-pedal Muso down. In Natsu and Nagoya basho Taikai was however pushing relentlessly and Musoyama stepped over the bales. I still think Musoyama has clearly the advantage over Taikai when they meet (hopefully) in Hatsu basho.

Musashimaru-Chiyotaikai 9-7 (all time)

Chiyotaikai was nightmarish opponent to Maru until Aki basho 2000. Since then Maru has taken 4 wins in a row.

Musashimaru-Kaio 25-18 (all time)

First Maru won most bouts, then Kaio had a long series of victories over Maru after which Maru took few in a row again. Since 1999 Maru has beaten Kaio 8 times whereas Kaio was the better one 7 times. 3-3 in 1999, 3-2 to Maru in 2000 and 2-2 in 2001.

Musashimaru-Tochiazuma 15-7 (all time)

Tochiazuma lost his first 8 bouts against Maru before clinching his first win. Since Hatsu 2000 Tochiazuma has visibly used his superior speed and has owned Maru so to speak with a clear 5-3 record.

[Manekineko 200]

It's interesting to see that Musashimaru doesn't dominate any of the ozeki, having about 50-50 record with each of them...

[Gernobono 467]

i have to answer to that....50:50 is far underestimated...it is over 60% actually with the above mentioned:

tochiazuma : 68,2

kaio: 59,5

chiyotaikai: 56%

i would say that this a fairly nice record...i guess anyone including yokozunas would be pleased with such records against ozeki...

[Yubiquitoyama 4]

I agree with Gernobono.It's easy to forget but not even relatively great Yokozunas such as Takanohana and Akebono has a total winning record against Makunouchi rikishi that exceeds 80 per cent. Takanohana is at 76.5%, Akebono 74.1% and Musashimaru at 72.8% Makunouchi wins. These records are historically quite good for a Yokozuna.

The current Ozeki (whose winning percentages historically also are quite good) have much less, around 60 per cent:

Chiyotaikai: 62.0%

Tochiazuma: 61.2%

Musoyama: 60.3%

Kaio: 60.1%

And some recent Ozekis and Ozeki candidates:

Kotomitsuki: 61.0%

Takanonami: 60.7%

Dejima: 59.6%

Asashoryu: 58.9%

Miyabiyama: 55.7%

Wakanosato: 53.0%

Normal rank-and-file Maegashira have without exception records of less (and often much less) than 50%

With this in mind, I think records of around 60% and more against Ozeki should be considered quite good. If not exceptional, at least about what can be expected of any Yokozuna.