Nagoya 2014 Discussion Thread

[Asashosakari 19,668]

While there aren't any more recent examples similar to this, Asasekiryu got one for beating an Ozeki as an M12 in a Haru 2004 where Asashoryu went 15-0 as the only Yokozuna.

I dare say that was more because he was a major yusho contender (as a fairly new makuuchi rikishi, to boot), which used to be another way towards the shukun-sho, but has fallen somewhat out of fashion in recent years. (Most egregious case of non-awardment: Toyonoshima's big run four years ago.)

Also note that Asasekiryu was unable to face Asashoryu.

[Gurowake 4,109]

I hate to be the last person to be part of a conversation and then go off on something else, but this was spectacular. I didn't even plan to watch it, it just came up after the 3-0 match that preceded it and thought the mismatch of size might be amusing. 0:33 to 0:36 is one of the most amazing moves I've ever seen.

Edited July 19, 2014 by Gurowake

[Ajisen 15]

Had to watch that more than once or twice. Brilliant ring sense.

Thanks Gurowake!

[Vikanohara 171]

day 7 highlights : "beauty is a gift, being gifted the real beauty" (Vikanohara)

Jk1 : Nakaishi (1-2) - Isamifuji (1-2), there was also a tsukihiza between winless rikishi, though not captured on video

Jk2 : Takashinryu (2-1) - Ichiryu (2-1) : also competing at the olympics at hammer throwing, though does it show ?

Jk3 : Hamaguchi (3-0) - Ishii (3-0) : Ishii that strong to also beat a former Ms4 rikishi ?

Jd : Takamai (3-0) - Kumao (3-0), not such amazing but couldn't find much better, sadly not that nichonage on video

Sd* : Higonoryu (1-2) - Sakabe (1-2), David vs Goliath part 3481, see Gurowake's video B-)

Sd- : Mizuta (3-0) - Kotaro (3-0), top matchup, no dito fight though

Sd- : Takagenji (3-0) - Kai (3-0), making circles

Sd~: Kirinofuji (3-0) - Minatosho (3-0), kotenage
Sd~: Aragyoshi (2-1) - Takamiryu (2-1), my man does it again !
Sd~: Chiyohayate (1-2) - Maeta (1-2), lost and found again, then a kimetaoshi

Sd+: Hitachigo (3-0) - Daigofuji (3-0), it goes on and on ...

Ms~: Tsurubayashi (1-2) - Terao (1-2), twice as nice, ending in a shitatehineri aka a Kim Clijsters split
Ms+: Chiyoshoma (1-2) - Yoshiazuma (1-2), okurihikiotoshi aka plain fun (Laughing...)
Ms+: Sakigake (3-0) - Tatsu (3-0), almost the same old song as above, but being given the stamp okuridashi

J- : Wakanoshima (1-5) - Chiyonokuni (3-3), just WOW ! :-O

J~: Satoyama (4-2) - Homarefuji (5-1), really turning into a regular client in these highlights
J+: Amuru (3-3) - Tamaasuka (1-5)

M- : Arawashi (3-3) - Sotairyu (2-4), how on earth !?

M~: Kagamio (3-3) - Toyonoshima (4-2), YES ! did you see that classic utchari, baby ?!

M~: Tochinowaka (1-5) - Takayasu (6-0), 9-3 in previous meetings, classic uwatenage this one
M~: Terunofuji (3-3) - Tokushoryu (1-5), 0-3 from earlier matchups

M+: Tamawashi (2-4) - Jokoryu (3-3), they had a pattern TTJJTT so far

S : Goeido (4-2) - Osunaarashi (4-2), can't say Ikioi-Tochiozan was uninteresting, but this one more anticipated

And we go out with some more sumo riffs : a koshinage, a fumidashi & a fat tsukitaoshi (Band playing...)
Tomorrow more of that. (Punk rocker...)

Edited July 19, 2014 by Vikanohara

[Morty 1,505]

The tape covering Tochiozan tells the tale of why he isn't winning, but I think it's the left leg that is causing the most issues. He seems to have absolutely no capacity to go forward with power, or to hold his opponent when they push.

And that Toyonoshima utchari was awesome to behold:)

[torquato 1,075]

Sd*

Sd-

Sd+

Ms~

BTW, what's actually the secret about the *, -, +, and ~, if I may ask?

And I've got a small little pattern especially for you: Osunaarashi has never lost on day 6 of a tournament. ;-)

[Kotogouryuu 131]

The tape covering Tochiozan tells the tale of why he isn't winning, but I think it's the left leg that is causing the most issues. He seems to have absolutely no capacity to go forward with power, or to hold his opponent when they push.

He really seemed to avoid using the left leg, which of course meant he was pretty much weaponless. No ozeki talks for him then, he'll struggle to stay sekiwake.

[bettega 431]

Bad sumo again from Osuna. Rightly punished! Hope him to see that that forearm will soon be a lost cause to him.

[Asojima 2,874]

Shimizu appears to have attended the Osuna School of Hard Knocks.

Kaisho v. Kaiho. Shortest monoii in history:

Gyoji: I pointed in the wrong direction.

Shimpan (in unison): Yep .. Let's get outa here.

Edited July 20, 2014 by Asojima

[Asojima 2,874]

Abiko is a class act. Zensho through Mz, Jk, Jd and probably Sd.

[Gurowake 4,109]

Indeed, Abiko has completely dominated all his opponents so far.

In Jonidan, Shodai looks even more dominant than Abiko, although he is obviously facing weaker competition. Shiba, the guy who's only lost to Shodai, has also thoroughly overpowered his opponents thus far, even the other guy he fought that had only one career loss. Those two will probably meet at 5-0.

[kuroimori 1,634]

With Tochiozan going kyujo we have another musubi no ichiban fusen (after Kakuryu picking up the fusen-sho with Homasho kyujo on Day 6).

[shimodahito 317]

Epic battle between Sasakiyama & Hakuyozan..... the drained ending made me stand up and cheer for such a great effort. thanks arraibira for your hard work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjA1uA2QG28&list=PLOChNxokH-WQnSTDc0Dbep3DhW6YTJz1H&index=120

-shimodahito

[Vikanohara 171]

day 8 lower division highlights

Jk- : Sadahikari (2-1) - Takunoumi (2-1), in a state of confusion

Jk~: Shoki (2-1) - Shinyashiki (2-1), close call, isamiashi

Jk+: Nakatani (1-2) - Hokutosato (1-2), dancing the Walpurgis Waltz

Jd- : Urutora (0-3) - Miyakojima (0-3), abisetaoshi

Jd~: Tochigenbu (1-2) - Kotonoshima (1-2), ashitori
Jd+: Koju (2-1) - Fujitaisei (2-1), kotenage

Sd- : Yakunoshima (2-1) - Kakutaiki (2-1), always nice to see an utchari, but almost injury here as well
Sd~: Mienosato (0-3) - Kotoryusei (0-3), kotehineri with the eye of the tiger

Ms- : Ikeru (3-0) - Rendaiyama (3-0), always nice to watch Ikeru

Ms+: Onosho (2-1) - Ishiura (2-1), quickly over, but just for the interesting matchup

Ms+: Iwasaki (3-0) - Keitenkai (3-0), same as above

J- : Daido (2-5) - Kyokutaisei (4-3), what a survivor

J+ : Takanoiwa (6-1) - Tosayutaka (6-1), first encounter

And as promised, more of the bearded guitar man : amiuchi, yoritaoshi & kawazugake (Bearded disguise...)

[Umigame 82]

Osunaarashi's oyakata warned him not to do kachiage to the opponent"s face.

Important to note he's not saying that ANY kachiage is no good, but that kachiage *to the face* is dangerous. I believe this means kachiage to the throat/chin/jaw is OK.

In this morning's Sponichi:

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2014/07/20/kiji/K20140720008597080.html

[kuroimori 1,634]

The aforementioned absorbing technique of Kisenosato really works well - against maegashira rikishi.

He needs to get the upgrade to use it against sanyaku opponents (or did he just give a helping hand to Goeido's ozeki-run...?)

[kuroimori 1,634]

Great effort by Oosunaarashi against Hakuho!
He didn't get his third consecutive kinboshi in as many tries but he did put up a great fight that lasted more than one minute! He surely wasn't afraid to meet the Dai-Yokozuna.
Looking forward to Boody's next encounter with the Yokozunae, if he manages kachikoshi it will be at the next basho in September.

Edited July 20, 2014 by kuroimori

[Jakusotsu 6,050]

With Ozan out and the Komusubi struggling, Osunaarashi might end up as Sekiwake in Aki.

[Morty 1,505]

C'mon Kotoshogiku! Tamawashi laid a couple of really good headbutts on Giku and clearly rocked him, yet he stayed focused, kept his feet and won the day. Dominant display to get his KK with 8 from 8. He seems healthy for the first time in ages and I'll be interested to see if he can translate that into 14 or 15 wins and the possibility of a yusho. He's one in front of Kak and two in front of HF, Kise and Goeido. Given that he's been my favourite rikishi for a long time I'd love him to go on with it and compete for the yusho.

And I'm bemused as to how Gagamaru could lose from the dominant position he got himself into.

[kuroimori 1,634]

With Ozan out and the Komusubi struggling, Osunaarashi might end up as Sekiwake in Aki.

Before O-3 went 9-jo, i already thaught that Osunaarashi was competing with the 2 Kazes for the two likely to be vacated Komusubi slots - but I didn't want to jinx him. :-)

[Gernobono 467]

And I'm bemused as to how Gagamaru could lose from the dominant position he got himself into.

i somehow had the feeling it was more gaga draging sadanofuji across the doyo than sada pushing....

[ALAKTORN 346]

Great bout between Hakuhō and Ōsunaarashi, but it felt to me like Hakuhō was testing him, purposefully not ending the bout quickly.

[lackmaker 438]

Hakuho showed a good deal of patience(and respect?)towards Osunaarashi today. Made a few attempts to throw him before succeeding and seemed to want to show he had the better upper body strength.

[Kotogouryuu 131]

Hakuho showed a good deal of patience(and respect?)towards Osunaarashi today. Made a few attempts to throw him before succeeding and seemed to want to show he had the better upper body strength.

Respect was the word that came to my mind when watching the bout. He knew that Osunaraashi can be dangerous, and took his time to work on him. There are still weaknesses in Osu's game but he already makes yokozunas pause to think how they'll take him on. Quite impressive.

[kuroimori 1,634]

Kotoshogiku cleared the kadoban status in the fastest possible - and maybe not vastly expected - fashion, reaching kachikoshi with his 8th straight win on nakabi (aka Day 8).

It is only the second time he starts a basho with 8 straight wins, the first occasion was at Kyushu basho 2012, the first basho after he was promoted to Ozeki. He started 9-0 in that basho, winning agains future Yokuzana Kakuryu on Day 8 before losing to then-Ozeki Baruto on Day 10.

Let's see if he takes a breather after clearing the kadoban hurdle in his bout with Kakuryu tomorrow or if he feels that good as to challenge the Yokuzunae.