Hatsu Basho 2013 - Discussion Thread

[Masumasumasu 902]

A makushita rikishi looked like he may have been badly injured today, G-d forbid. The two combatants were Asanotosa and Koshinoryu. I caught the match just after it ended. Does anyone have an update on the condition of this rikishi?

[Treblemaker 254]

Aminishiki: Proof that experience and brains trumps physical handicaps (on occasion). The guy is still dangerous on one leg. Mind you, Toyo got him today, but it was close.

Miyabiyama: Man, quit now. Visions of Chiyotaikai and Dejima in their post-nova stages... Even Takamisakari puts up more of a fight.

Aoiyama: Memories of Kaio.. Great arm-bar. And against Tokitenkuu. Karma's a nasty thing.

Takayasu pushing Gaga out looked like someone pushing a bus. Interesting thought: why do the tsupari experts almost always have big stomachs? If you have to reach past your tummy to push someone, isn't that like trying to open a door while carrying a three-year-old? Anyway, Gaga rolls good.

Kise: Still not crazy about this guy, but today's dance with Hibiki shows he's got focus and ability. Wish he'd do that all the time.

Kakuryu beat Baruto, but against someone that big, getting into a belt battle and pushing is the wrong strategy. With one really bad leg, and the fact that Baruto leans over so much, a good pull-down would have ended the story.

HF: Love watching this guy. Throws 3-4 different moves (and a slap) at The Gold Mawashi before wrapping him up. If you have a video player that allows it, watch some of HF's matches frame-by-frame. He's so fast that you miss lots of action.

A good day was had by all.

(Except perhaps Masunoyama... )

[Koorifuu 1,105]

Takageppo struggled to get up after his loss today, then seemed to be limp off the dohyo.

And eh.. Takanoyama just massively disappointed me. I have seen a lot of henkas already, but that one takes the cake. It's a major letdown specially since the bout's first try was dang thrilling.

[Kuroyama 715]

(Except perhaps Masunoyama... )

Today too. Dead silence in the Kokugikan after his hansoku. Poor guy; I'm sure it was inadvertent.

[Tsubame 378]

Takageppo struggled to get up after his loss today, then seemed to be limp off the dohyo.

And eh.. Takanoyama just massively disappointed me. I have seen a lot of henkas already, but that one takes the cake. It's a major letdown specially since the bout's first try was dang thrilling.

But Takanoyamas second henka was quite perfect. Noone expect this in the rematch after the first one. As you could see on Chiyonokuni who was straight running (headless) through the dohyo. I am not a fan of henkas but this was well served :)

[Gottsueekaze 7]

And eh.. Takanoyama just massively disappointed me. I have seen a lot of henkas already, but that one takes the cake. It's a major letdown specially since the bout's first try was dang thrilling.

Have you seen this one?

http://www.youtube.com/embed/czARaoONQQI?start=99&autoplay=1

Takanoyama reminds me of Mainoumi, probably not ever going to be the greatest but really fun to watch. Anyone that runs head first at him with their eyes closed deserves to be in the stands.

[Vikanohara 171]

My day 7 highlights :

S : Shohozan - Kotoshogiku (could have gone either way)

M : Tochinoshin - Okinoumi (living on the edge) and this battle of the green mawashi

J : Kyokushuho - Oiwato (2-0 in their previous encounters) & of course also this one

Ms hi : Oniarashi - Arawashi (Mongolian top fight, both 3-0)

Ms lo : Iwasaki - Osunaarashi (premature yusho decider ?)

Sd : Saio - Wakanofuji (great turnaround)

Jd : Aragyoshi - Ebisumaru (2x 3-0)

Jk : Okino - Miyakojima (2x 0-3)

And interesting that Akinokawa & Chiyosakae have been so close to one another for several basho during their career, but the former winning all 4 of their previous encounters.

[Ajisen 15]

My highlight bouts today were :

Tochinoshin-Okinoumi

What a evenly matched pair. If only Tochinoshin could up his confidence against the Sanyaku guys and gain consistency, he would be a serious contender. Ah, the woulda coulda shoulda song.

Harumafuji-Kaisei

The speed and the ability to go to plans B C D in a blink of an eye on the part of the Yokuzuna was great to watch. I really like Kaisei as well but was outclassed today.

Wonder if the extra hip thrust will be criticized like the extra shoves have been?

Edited January 19, 2013 by Ajisen

[Kuroyama 715]

S : Shohozan - Kotoshogiku (could have gone either way)

They called the kimarite on that one amiuchi at first, before changing it to kotenage. I guess because Shoho had the arm locked up instead of grabbing it?

[Asashosakari 20,223]

S : Shohozan - Kotoshogiku (could have gone either way)

They called the kimarite on that one amiuchi at first, before changing it to kotenage. I guess because Shoho had the arm locked up instead of grabbing it?

I would say so, yes. To my eye, kotenage as a kimarite call seems to have undergone an expansion in its application over the last few years anyway. There are awfully many kotenage these days where the arm-lockup is a lot more pronounced than the nage'ing (or it's a "lock-up" that is more a tottari-like grab in the first place), and which I could swear were probably assigned other kimarite in the past.

Edited January 19, 2013 by Asashosakari

[Bugman 384]

I have to say i thoroughly enjoyed Takanoyama's henka today, the old me of 2011 would have been disgusted, maybe if i live to 2014 i'l start enjoying Harumafuji's throat fixation.

[Koorifuu 1,105]

By the way... Miyabiyama's woes just got to a new low. If you get outpowered by an out-of-shape, old Takekaze it doesn't really mean anything good. It's painful to watch and I doubt it's any better to be standing on his shoes, when he goes 0-8 later on today he could very well call for an early intai. Hell, even if he loves the sport and he wants to carry on he's just going to be a worse version of Kakizoe.

[Treblemaker 254]

I have to say i thoroughly enjoyed Takanoyama's henka today, the old me of 2011 would have been disgusted, maybe if i live to 2014 i'l start enjoying Harumafuji's throat fixation.

The henka on the rematch was just wonderful.

Question: If Taka doesn't touch Kuni, and the latter ends up 5 rows deep, what do you call it? (Yeah, I know: Airball...) But seriously...

[Asashosakari 20,223]

Question: If Taka doesn't touch Kuni, and the latter ends up 5 rows deep, what do you call it? (Yeah, I know: Airball...) But seriously...

"Hikiotoshi" would be my guess, that's what all the undefinable stuff gets called. Though Takanoyama was nice enough to apply a clear slap to Chiyonokuni's back/side, so they had an excuse to call this hatakikomi instead.

[krindel 688]

On another note, Gagamaru looks disappointing to me as well this basho... I keep thinking he has it in him to be better than a jo'i - mid maegashira elevator, but he doesn't seem solid once more once he gets a bit higher up the ladder. And this time he's not even REALLY high, just on the jo'i borders...

[Masumasumasu 902]

On another note, Gagamaru looks disappointing to me as well this basho... I keep thinking he has it in him to be better than a jo'i - mid maegashira elevator, but he doesn't seem solid once more once he gets a bit higher up the ladder. And this time he's not even REALLY high, just on the jo'i borders...

Shouldn't he lose some weight?

[Umigame 82]

On another note, Gagamaru looks disappointing to me as well this basho... I keep thinking he has it in him to be better than a jo'i - mid maegashira elevator, but he doesn't seem solid once more once he gets a bit higher up the ladder. And this time he's not even REALLY high, just on the jo'i borders...

On the day of the big snowstorm (Day 2) Nikkan Sports reported that Gagamaru slipped on wet stairs in the Kokugikan and fell down "about 7 steps"!... scraping his left shin.

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/news/p-sp-tp3-20130115-1072109.html

I kinda wonder if that had some bad effect on his sumo... but it's unclear how bad a fall he took. Maybe it was nothing compared to just falling off the dohyo.

[Masumasumasu 902]

Great basho-iri video from Myjetsetlife:

[Koorifuu 1,105]

During the makuuchi dohyo-iri the camera was focusing on Miyabiyama for the most part. No wonder...

[Jaak 7]

The henka on the rematch was just wonderful.

Question: If Taka doesn't touch Kuni, and the latter ends up 5 rows deep, what do you call it? (Yeah, I know: Airball...) But seriously...

Could it be isamiashi? Then again, I suppose if Taka does touch then any hiwaza would be avoided....

[Vikanohara 171]

Very clinical display yesterday by Kakuryu on how to defeat someone who has only one good leg: get a good grip on the mawashi and at the first opening drive against the weak leg. I wouldn't bet that Tochiozan learned anything from it, but there will be other rikishi who are smart enough that they will. I'll be especially interested to see how Aminishiki chooses to address this situation when his opportunity comes.

Not so much happening. Perhaps Baruto has been becoming a little more confident last couple of days ?

My day 8 highlights :

S : Goeido - Kakuryu (Ozeki material or not yet ?)

M : Tochinowaka - Okinoumi (impressive !) as this is rather painful to watch :-S

J+ : Takanoyama - Daikiho (simply in a class of his own (I am not worthy...) )

J : Tokushoryu - Takanoiwa (dancing the waltz) though heya-mate Tokushinho put up a great fight as well

Ms hi : Kamei - Chiyomaru (Juryo hopes at 2-1)

Ms lo : Bushuyama - Higoarashi (up & down :-P )

Sd : Orora - Wakarikido (super heavy vs. heavy sideburned (Toki...) )

Jd : Shuho - Ichiki (David vs Goliath, part MMXIII) almost as epic as this one from last basho

Jk : Sato - Tamao (new kid on the block vs. rebooting former Makushita, both 3-0)

Edited January 20, 2013 by Vikanohara

[JariM 29]

Hakuho - Baruto tomorrow. Baruto can afford to lose two more bouts. If he beats Hak he'll be much closer to regaining his Ozeki rank.

[shumitto 418]

By the way Takamisakari is losing his bouts, one must assume it is the end of the road for him. And as his kabu is already available, no further changes will be needed in that department to accomodate the retiring rikishi. MIyabiyama, on the other hand, must take to the 3-year-grace-period given to former Ozeki if he is to remain in the association.

[shumitto 418]

Hakuho - Baruto tomorrow. Baruto can afford to lose two more bouts. If he beats Hak he'll be much closer to regaining his Ozeki rank.

If Baruto beats Hakuho tomorrow, he is back, I guess. In that scenario, he would need 4 wins out of 6, with two rikishi of higher rank left on the schedule, namely Kotooshu and Harumafuji. That means someone in the so called meatgrinder would have to come between him and his goal of repromotion. What I think is that the closer he gets to regaining his rank, the more the sentiment of his Ozeki-worthiness will spread - a win tomorrow would do wonders in that department - and less inclined the likes of Toyohibiki and Kyokutenho would feel to play the spoiler.

Edited January 20, 2013 by shumitto

[krindel 688]

I would be really surprised if Baruto needs a win when facing Kotooshu and doesn't get it. Having said that, with the yusho race on, I find it hard to anticipate him managing to beat either of the Yokozuna, especially Hakuho.

However, even losing to both of them, he might still just make it, as he will have faced all rikishi with a drive... He reasonably still has to face Kotooshu, Myogiryu, Toyonoshima, Kyokutenho and Kaisei (some of which he might not even have to face if the Kyokai decide to help him a little and use him as a Maegashira stopper for the likes of Takarafuji). None of these I imagine have a burning desire to defeat him at all costs, and they are all rikishi he has a very reasonable chance of defeating.

Its still pretty tough for him, but not a lost cause for sure. If he was healthy it would be a non-issue, but even now I give him a fair possibility of making it, even if he loses to both the Yokozuna.