Haru Basho 2013 - Discussion Thread

[Bugman 384]

I feel pretty privileged to have watched that Yokozuna encounter today, Harumafuji's ankle gave way (i think) at the end but what a clash of the titans, that's one for my favourites folder.

[shumitto 418]

How could Toyonoshima lose against one like Takekaze yesterday? - losing today was nearly inevitable. The shukun-sho he had received with a kachi-koshi is gone - what a bad second half of the basho.

Toyonoshima's record versus Takekaze is very bad (5-15) given the quality of both, but his sumo gave no signs of an apparent injury. I'd say it has more to do with his losing momentum.

[Treblemaker 254]

And after picking 10 out of 17 choices, I officially put away my wizard's hat and confess (a) that my crystal ball seriously needs a software upgrade, (b) that I will continue to lose my shirt at casinos.

[Koorifuu 1,102]

These yokozuna showdowns on senshuraku never cease to amaze me. The mutual respect between both is clear, the intensity of these bouts is simply otherwordly. I found myself tense and clapping most of the time. And I'm sure I'm not the only one.

[yorikiried by fate 2,038]

Yeah, quite epic, as in the Wikipedia definition: "[...] from the Ancient Greek adjective ἐπικός (epikos), from ἔπος (epos) "word, story, poem" [...]."

Edited March 24, 2013 by yorikiried by fate

[ArchangelEST 13]

Hakuho when he is in top shape, which he so often is - is a true monster on the dohyo and when any other rikishi can show strength against him and not lose in the first 10 seconds, the match becomes epic almost instantly. :D - I also liked Baruto's efforts against Hakuho, but I agree that Harumafuji vs Hakuho was indeed a truly Epic battle.

Also Kisenosato vs Kotoshogiku was a very nice Ozeki vs Ozeki bout that lasted a while.

Edited March 24, 2013 by ArchangelEST

[Chiyozakura 163]

I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere so I will add it here. Hakuho's Yusho was actually a historic one as he has now beaten Taiho's record of eight 15-0 Yusho and now leads the zensho yusho list with nine ahead of Taiho's and Futabayama's eight.

[Akinomaki 41,723]

Completely new mood in the YDC with the new chief: not even a reprimand for HF, only the comment that his ups and downs are too extreme, but that he did his best with both ankles injured and both yokozuna are the backbone of sumo.

[krindel 688]

Completely new mood in the YDC with the new chief: not even a reprimand for HF, only the comment that his ups and downs are too extreme, but that he did his best with both ankles injured and both yokozuna are the backbone of sumo.

Nooooooooooooooo..... This is so wrong... How will we live now without the entertaining Mr. Tsuruta reprimanding half of the upper rankers every basho?

[yorikiried by fate 2,038]

Maybe we can take turns in making up quotes that would most certainly come to existence with the old regime.

"Harumafuji's performance is inexcusable. As a Yokozuna he is expected to win every single bout moving forward. While being blindfolded and with one arm tied to the back. We expect him to intensify his training, while getting into touch with the fans all over the country every single day. He has to realize that his rank is full of responsibilities. If he won't be able to break the alltime highscore of Pacman til May, retirement is unavoidable. I can't find my teeth."

[Bugman 384]

Harumayoyo.

You can't criticise a Yoyo for being down because pretty soon it will be back up again to prove you wrong lol.

Edited March 26, 2013 by Bugman

[Masumasumasu 902]

Maybe we can take turns in making up quotes that would most certainly come to existence with the old regime.

"Harumafuji's performance is inexcusable. As a Yokozuna he is expected to win every single bout moving forward. While being blindfolded and with one arm tied to the back. We expect him to intensify his training, while getting into touch with the fans all over the country every single day. He has to realize that his rank is full of responsibilities. If he won't be able to break the alltime highscore of Pacman til May, retirement is unavoidable. I can't find my teeth."

Hakuho can do all that stuff.

I'm not joking.

[Masumasumasu 902]

Harumayoyo.

You can't criticise a Yoyo for being down because pretty soon it will be back up again to prove you wrong lol.

Yo-Yokozuna.

[Jakusotsu 6,383]

Still no comment from the self-proclaimed Kyokushuho bandwagon members about the yusho? Or is it simply taken for granted?

[Fay 1,677]

I'm a new member of the bandwagon ;-) . Kyokushuho really developped to a very nice and serious young man. I wasn't so much convinced of him in the beginning but in the meantime I'm quite impressed and happy about the progress he made.Beside keiko at Tomozuna he worked very hard in a gym in the last year. He'll be soon number one at Tomozuna Beya and I think he will make his way to sanyaku. :-D

[Tochinofuji 405]

While not a member of the Kyokushuho bandwagon (at least officially), I've always liked his style and technique (dame-oshi on Masunoyama excluded), and was glad to see him take the yusho!

[Koorifuu 1,102]

Kyokushuho's maegashira basho was a very, very noisy wake-up call. It's like all those guys were saying "Good to see you made it up here, boy. But this is a completely different league." Jokoryu's exceptional skill took a few months to mature and recover. His makuuchi debut spanking + rightaway juryo demotion was admittedly not nearly as bad as Shuho's, but still. After one year and a half of some skill sharpening, it's probable we'll see Shuho battling for a kk.

Edited March 26, 2013 by Koorifuu

[Yubinhaad 11,954]

Assorted pictures from the Haru basho. First, Hakuho with a cake to celebrate his 28th birthday.

Some Yokozuna dohyo-iri shots. The scar on Harumafuji's backside is from when he burnt himself on the heater in keiko before the basho.

Back on yumitori-shiki duty this basho - Shoho getting warmed up, and in action.

Kotokuni with oicho-mage for his Juryo appearance on Day 6, when he beat Sensho.

Maezumo participants waiting backstage for their shussehiro ceremony.

A couple more of Kimura Mitsunosuke being chucked into the air by the rookies.

Megaphone Man returns.

Suited and rebooted - Furiwake and friends.

Okinoumi: "Waiter, there's a fly in my chikara-mizu."

And some bout images, kicking off with the first two kinboshi:

Edited March 28, 2013 by Yubinhaad