Hatsu 2014 Discussion - *contains spoilers

[Hakuyobaku 33]

If he pulls another splendid performance, then we can talk about a Yok-run.

True! if he wins a yusho with say 14-1 we can talk that he can be promoted next time provided he stops losing that one time..

[Akinomaki 41,845]

If Kakuryu gets a 13+ yusho next basho Kitanoumi indicated a possible promotion to yokozuna – but he had a lot of single digit results lately: only a convincing yusho will get him there. Shimpan top Isegahama is cited ambiguously: In addition to the yusho next basho he wants him to show a stable, high level sumo, pointing out his many wins by pulling. Mainichi gives the impression that he wants a run to start only after a yusho, Sanspo etc. say he doesn't want to comment definitely (Kyodo source).

The other shimpan top Kagamiyama also indicates a run.

Several quotes can be interpreted though that it (=with a yusho next time talk of the possibility of getting to yokozuna to emerge) can mean both promotion at once or start of a real yokozuna run.

It would mean an easier promotion than all 8 Heisei promoted yokozuna from Asashifuji till Harumafuji, who all had 2 yusho in a row. But Kitanoumi said that rather than a runner-up result, with which Kisenosato qualified for the runs, it is like a draw and 14 wins is quite something: that qualifies for the run.

Meanwhile all papers say that he'll have a run next basho.

http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=spo_30&k=2014012600188

http://mainichi.jp/sports/news/20140127k0000m050090000c.html

http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20140126/sum14012621130010-n1.html

http://www.daily.co.jp/newsflash/sumo/2014/01/26/0006664757.shtml

[ALAKTORN 346]

It would be crazy if Kakuryū is suddenly promoted with Kisenosato kadoban. Next basho should be fun.

[dingo 1,481]

I don't understand Kisenosato's decision to go kyujo on the final day at 7-7 at all. He could've shown up, done a quick henka and gotten kachikoshi, after which he'd be able to rake his time to recuperate, even skip a basho if necessary. Even if he'd lost, I doubt he would've aggravated it much more.

Instead he chose to go kyujo and now he's kadoban, injured and has a huge pressure to get kachikoshi next time -- which, depending on the status of his injury might not be that easy.

Then again I suppose his injury could've been very serious, seeing as he had 950-some bouts without skipping one... Would be interesting to have an update regarding his situation.

[krindel 688]

I don't understand Kisenosato's decision to go kyujo on the final day at 7-7 at all. He could've shown up, done a quick henka and gotten kachikoshi, after which he'd be able to rake his time to recuperate, even skip a basho if necessary. Even if he'd lost, I doubt he would've aggravated it much more.

Instead he chose to go kyujo and now he's kadoban, injured and has a huge pressure to get kachikoshi next time -- which, depending on the status of his injury might not be that easy.

Then again I suppose his injury could've been very serious, seeing as he had 950-some bouts without skipping one... Would be interesting to have an update regarding his situation.

He was definitely injured too much to fight, Kise is definitely not known for going kyujo at the drop of a hat.

As for the henka, it is not that easy to do actually, especially if you are a very big rikishi with a heavily injured foot. And Kotoshogiku has not been known to do favors to Kisenosato anyway, so I doubt that he would have gotten anything more out of it than a possible aggravation of his injury.

[Akinomaki 41,845]

Day 15, full house with of course 10605 spectators
http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20140127/sum14012705030002-n1.html
The YDC agrees that a yusho with at least 13 wins should be enough to promote Kakuryu. No yusho and the shimpan department won't raise the question.
http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASG1W658VG1WUTQP01F.html

Edited January 29, 2014 by Akinomaki

[CT3* 331]

Wild end to the basho! Although I knew it wouldn't happen, I found myself hoping for Kakuryu to win the tournament. But what a nightmare that would have been for the NSK! A Kakuryu tsuna run would be something though...

[Akinomaki 41,845]

Endo is popular with female fans – a recap at
http://www.j-cast.com/2014/01/27195186.html?p=all
His rikishi goods in the shops were day by day sold out just after noon.
Endo in the ROLa women's magazine January 2014 edition from last November:

Shinchosha's culture magazine for women around 30 “ROLa” interviewed him afterwards (editor in chief is a fan of him, sold Nov. 30^th): “I appreciate any accounts, but a women's magazine is unexpected.”

[Akinomaki 41,845]

NHK news7 (hidden) video: YDC on Kakuryu

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20140127/k10014808091000.html

YDC member film director Yoji Yamada ended his last term in the YDC after 10 years as a member.

http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20140127/sum14012719530005-n1.html

[Akinomaki 41,845]

Kisenosato wanted to enter, Tagonoura-oyakata stopped him: “If he does something unreasonable it will take longer (to recover). The man said he'll enter and wouldn't listen, but I submitted it (the kyujo notification) on my own.”

Of course he had aggravated his injury further on day 14.
Kokonoe in the senshuraku message: “Kisenosato's is kyujo, which I deem very regrettable.” The echo of the fans to that sounded like a scream.

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2014/01/27/kiji/K20140127007464570.html

[dingo 1,481]

I don't understand Kisenosato's decision to go kyujo on the final day at 7-7 at all. He could've shown up, done a quick henka and gotten kachikoshi, after which he'd be able to rake his time to recuperate, even skip a basho if necessary. Even if he'd lost, I doubt he would've aggravated it much more.

Instead he chose to go kyujo and now he's kadoban, injured and has a huge pressure to get kachikoshi next time -- which, depending on the status of his injury might not be that easy.

Then again I suppose his injury could've been very serious, seeing as he had 950-some bouts without skipping one... Would be interesting to have an update regarding his situation.

He was definitely injured too much to fight, Kise is definitely not known for going kyujo at the drop of a hat.

As for the henka, it is not that easy to do actually, especially if you are a very big rikishi with a heavily injured foot. And Kotoshogiku has not been known to do favors to Kisenosato anyway, so I doubt that he would have gotten anything more out of it than a possible aggravation of his injury.

I agree that a henka is not as easy as it seems, but still most everyone in makuuchi can do it. I don't think a rikishi who wouldn't be nimble enough would last long in the top division (with a few exceptions like Gagamaru etc). Even Baruto who's a big and heavy guy landed one against Kise after his infamous tachiai antics. Kise was/is probably quite injured as well, but all I'm saying is that in my mind the rewards would outweigh the risks at least in this case.

Edited January 27, 2014 by dingo

[ALAKTORN 346]

Kisenosato wanted to enter, Tagonoura-oyakata stopped him: “If he does something unreasonable it will take longer (to recover). The man said he'll enter and wouldn't listen, but I submitted it (the kyujo notification) on my own.”

Wow, Kise must’ve been really pissed when he heard about it…

[CT3* 331]

Or maybe Tagonoura-oyakata is saying that for PR reasons and to help Kise save face.

[ALAKTORN 346]

You conspiracy theorists aren’t even funny.

[CT3* 331]

I'm no conspiracy theorist. The only sports I follow are boxing and sumo. And its very common for a fighter's trainer to state that he's the one that stopped a fight. The fighter is a true warrior and wanted to continue, but the trainer had to step in. Happens all the time.

It deflects any criticism away from the fighter for being called a quitter, lacking heart, etc.

[Fay 1,677]

I must say this once and then shut up forever (or maybe not ;-) )

I still remember the days in this and the other forums when nobody had any belief in Kakuryu (and also Kotoshogiku). When I said something that they will make it to Ozeki or even Yokozuna. I constantly was slammed. I must say this gives me some kind of satisfaction :-P

And I see that even those people who were yelling and flagging against Kakuryu on his Ozeki run in Osaka now jump the bandwagon.

When we had dinner in Fukuoka last year he said his next wish would be the yusho. I didn't expect the chance coming so soon cause he was injured in November and close to kyujo. I'm more than glad that he recovered completely.

Just let me say that I'm really happy and proud of Kakuryu and Kotoshogiku :-D

[Masumasumasu 902]

I still remember the days in this and the other forums when nobody had any belief in Kakuryu (and also Kotoshogiku). When I said something that they will make it to Ozeki or even Yokozuna. I constantly was slammed. I must say this gives me some kind of satisfaction

I doubt that. If anyone does the slamming, it's.....

[Akinomaki 41,845]

The painter who was in charge of the colouring of a b&w photo for the yusho portrait has retired from her work at 85 – from now on a colour photo will be used.

http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20140122/sum14012217450003-n1.html

With technical cooperation by Fuji-film the new type photo yusho portrait from the Hatsu-basho is prepared.

Hakuho with the retired painter

http://mainichi.jp/sports/news/20140207k0000m050032000c.html

Edited February 6, 2014 by Akinomaki

[Couginishiki 33]

The painter who was in charge of the colouring of a b&w photo for the yusho portrait has retired from her work at 85 from now on a colour photo will be used.

http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20140122/sum14012217450003-n1.html

With technical cooperation by Fuji-film the new type photo yusho portrait from the Hatsu-basho is prepared.

Hakuho with the retired painter

http://mainichi.jp/sports/news/20140207k0000m050032000c.html

That had to be one of the strangest photos I have seen in a while.

Yusho portrait pose (complete with "I'll tear your head off" scowl), holding a geriatric (possibly blind) woman's hand.

I get what they were doing and I love the thought of honoring a wonderful artist by including her in the imagery she excelled at producing. It is just an odd and divergent combination of elements.

In context it is a touching tribute to a great career and the death of a small part of the tradition of craftsmanship. Out of context it becomes a "WTF is this" moment.

Edited February 6, 2014 by Couginishiki

[Benevolance 2,534]

She's spent most of the last six or eight years painting Hakuho, so I think it's pretty fitting they get a yuusho portrait together. :D

[kuroimori 1,634]

The painter who was in charge of the colouring of a b&w photo for the yusho portrait has retired from her work at 85 – from now on a colour photo will be used.http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20140122/sum14012217450003-n1.html

With technical cooperation by Fuji-film the new type photo yusho portrait from the Hatsu-basho is prepared.

Hakuho with the retired painter

http://mainichi.jp/sports/news/20140207k0000m050032000c.html

Seems like she has watched Monty Python's sketch

"How Not to Be Seen" ;-)

[Masumasumasu 902]

He looks a little bit like a Sleestack from the old 70s show 'Land of the Lost'. I loved that show.