dazunoyama 2 Posted January 24, 2015 Here we are on day 15 and between the ranks of sekiwake and M6 we only have 1 kachikoshi so far. Quite amazing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Benevolance 2,511 Posted January 24, 2015 Edit: I wonder, how do you say "Count the ringzzz!" in Japanese? According to Bing Translate it's: Countu da riiiiiiingzzzzzu. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Adil 232 Posted January 24, 2015 Hey, Andreas21... Could you please expand on what you meant when you said Hakuho's victories are often "cheap"? He has been the epitome of sound, controlled sumo, with textbook wins over all of his opponents. I would have found it surprising even if you had said his wins are "sometimes" cheap, but often? Your comment makes me think there are two possibilities: 1) You have a great eye and can see something in Hakuho's sumo technique that pretty much everybody has missed. There have been discussions about his extra shoves, but his victories being cheap? I don't think so, or maybe I just missed those threads. 2) You don't like Hakuho all that much. Just curious; no offense meant whatsoever. Please don't interpret so much in the word "cheap". It was in the impression of a bout which I though was very beautiful. For sure, I do like Hakuho a lot. What I was referring to is that in many bouts he is not really pressed to exploit his potential. Often opponents don't act like they have a real chance to win, and don't give it their all. Either, they just passively get into the bout just to submit to be run over. Or, they do some hopeless trick. In both cases he has to basicially stand there, doing nothing exceptional. "Cheap" in the meaning, that we don't get what he could really give us. Okay? Thanks for the response, Andreas21. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 19,653 Posted January 24, 2015 My personal disappointment (as in "that's too bad", not "he sucks") continues to be just how mortal Myogiryu looks these days...with age not on his side, I wonder if we'll ever see him as a sanyaku regular again. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CT3* 331 Posted January 24, 2015 I was starting to think that both Myogiryu and Takayusa were "back". But Myogiryu seems inconsistent as of late. And I think Takayusa (and to a greater extent Ikioi) is simply having a tough basho. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dingo 1,294 Posted January 24, 2015 Takayaso hasn't looked particularly bad this basho, but he just didn't get the wins. Kinda like Ikioi in the first half of the basho. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CT3* 331 Posted January 24, 2015 The end of this basho doesn't feel anti-climatic to me at all. There are still questions to be answered. Will Hakuhou put an exclamation point on his record breaking yusho by going zensho? Will Goeido save his Ozeki rank or will Kotoshogiku send him back down to Sekiwake? Last night I thought about how interesting things would be if Hakuhou got zensho and then Kisenosato stepped up and won the next tournament. Interest in sumo would be at a fever pitch! Ahahahahaha. No seriously: ahahahahaha. I hope that G fucking slips in the upcoming charade. Then again, no, I wouldn't be able to stand the follow-up 10-5... Ha! While anything could happen, I also think that Goeido likely retains his rank. It would be disastrous for him to get demoted. Most of the noteworthy stories of late have been about Mongolian rikishi. Hakuhou tying the great Taiho's record...the arrival of Ichinojo...Hakuhou now tops the all time Yusho list, etc. Goeido's ascension to Ozeki has been the only Japanese story. So he will rise like a Phoenix and vanquish Kotoshogiku and give the homegrown fans something to cheer about! Bank on it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Monnodo 60 Posted January 24, 2015 (edited) My personal disappointment (as in "that's too bad", not "he sucks") continues to be just how mortal Myogiryu looks these days...with age not on his side, I wonder if we'll ever see him as a sanyaku regular again. I never count out anybody who has beaten Hakuho :D But I am really concerned, too, espacially since I enjoy his sumo. But I see a lot room for improvement. He has to work on his balance and on his variety, and he will be up there again. So I cheer for him and believe that he will come to Osaka in very good shape^^ Edit: But age is really not working in his favour, I did not know he is nearly thirty. Edited January 24, 2015 by Monnodo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CT3* 331 Posted January 24, 2015 Is it me or does it seem that Myogiryu has been playing mind games at the tachi ai over the last few basho? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Benevolance 2,511 Posted January 25, 2015 The first match today between Minei and Kiyomushashi was an awesome comedy of errors. The poor gyoji. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gernobono 467 Posted January 25, 2015 asasekiryuy - akiseyama was kinda funny.....2 elderly men doing some schoolyard-shoving.....and all of that at the topspeed they still can manage... looked like a slowmotion-brawl.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 19,653 Posted January 25, 2015 (edited) Sakaigawa-beya cleaning house on 7-7 rikishi today... Edited January 25, 2015 by Asashosakari Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gernobono 467 Posted January 25, 2015 goeido is through but i cannot believe that sekiwake-striving tochiozan lost to myogiryu today......same surprise as a win of shoki would have been Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
I am the Yokozuna 194 Posted January 25, 2015 (edited) Hakuho in his yusho interview admited to have thought about intai in the two days after he has won the 33rd cup. He thanked his wife, which I hear for the first time. Said he has not stopped working a single day since progressing to Yokozuna rank. But says that he has not drained himself psychologically so intends to carry on. Edited January 25, 2015 by I am the Yokozuna 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kuroimori 1,634 Posted January 25, 2015 former Yokozuna Kitanofuji, who was again guest at the NHK commentator booth seems to give up hope to see the next Japanese Yokozuna. Right after Kisenosato had been swiped off of the dohyo with ease by Harumafuji, he uttered something like "I won't be around when the next Japanese rikishi will be promoted to the Yokozuna rank". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
I am the Yokozuna 194 Posted January 25, 2015 I think he was speaking in that manner when the question of when a Japanese rikishi would surpass the Hakuho record. He said it will take 30 to 50 years, to which the announcer said - you are still healthy it won't be a problem. He spoke of Kisenosato to the effect - if he is the best Japanese hopeful, he has not got it enough to become Yokozuna or a regular yusho contender. And he is right, despite his xenophobic rant. Mainoumi then said that he looks forward to see if Goeido would get involved in yusho contention for the Haru basho, and if he does so what the quality of sumo would be...... In short - a lot of wishful thinking. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kuroimori 1,634 Posted January 25, 2015 I think he was speaking in that manner when the question of when a Japanese rikishi would surpass the Hakuho record. He said it will take 30 to 50 years, to which the announcer said - you are still healthy it won't be a problem. He spoke of Kisenosato to the effect - if he is the best Japanese hopeful, he has not got it enough to become Yokozuna or a regular yusho contender. And he is right, despite his xenophobic rant. Mainoumi then said that he looks forward to see if Goeido would get involved in yusho contention for the Haru basho, and if he does so what the quality of sumo would be...... In short - a lot of wishful thinking. Thanks for getting that right! I guess I am not used to watch the broadcast in the wee hours here in NYC and I was also distracted by the sumo gaming yusho decider over at Sumo Game :-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chiyozakura 148 Posted January 25, 2015 goeido is through but i cannot believe that sekiwake-striving tochiozan lost to myogiryu today......same surprise as a win of shoki would have been For Myogiryu a Komusubi spot was on the line. Had he lost he would have been surpassed by Sadanoumi. All in all I do not understand the criticism on the day 15 bout planning: - Arawashi had Chiyomaru who needed to win to stay in Makuuchi (maybe even the 7-8 is not enough this time. It is either he, Chiyotairyu or Amuru stays in Juryo) - Terunofuji had Tamawashi who was still in Sanyaku contention - Takarafuji faced Sadanoumi who was in Sanyaku contention - Tochiozan faced Myogiryu who was in Sanyaku contention So they did quite a good job and four guys going for kachi koshi lost. I feel sorry for Takarafuji who missed out on kachi koshi so closely. Had he had last basho's result this time he would have made Sekiwake, now he was unlucky again. I also feel a bit sorry for Tokushoryu. I would have given him the Kanto-sho for his 11-4. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 19,653 Posted January 25, 2015 (edited) So they did quite a good job ...Just dumb luck; the Day 15 schedule was out after only a few bouts of Day 14, and if a couple of the Day 14 results had gone differently it would have looked as stupid as several other recent senshuraku schedules did. It's pretty obvious that the late schedule announcement is merely for show these days, which is actually a bit insulting to the audience. Brownie points for the completely gratuitous Endo-Osunaarashi matchup, though. Edited January 25, 2015 by Asashosakari Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ayagawa 14 Posted January 25, 2015 you already count Goeido out with 5-5? ok, he still has Hakuho (day 11): 5-24 overall, but won 3 of last 4 fights! Kakuryu (day 12): 9-20 and only 1 win in 2014 Aoiyama (day 13): 10-1, is a "must-win" Endo (day 14): 2-0, is a "must-win", too Kotoshogiku (day 15): 17-13, the deciding match! If there is such thing as OBSC or just an "Ozeki-peers-Agreement", Goeido will get his needed 8-7 against Kotoshogiku as suspected, Goeido got the needed win from Kotoshogiku 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CT3* 331 Posted January 25, 2015 Good day of sumo with some nicely contested bouts! I'm happy for Terunofuji...he's fun to watch. Kisenosato never had a chance against Harumafuji who summarily dismissed him from the dohyo. Goeido saves his rank as expected and a nice epic bout between Hakuhou and Kakuryuu to end the day. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Morty 1,505 Posted January 25, 2015 (edited) Just an all around brilliant basho from start to finish. Amazing sumo, great fighting spirit from everyone, and a joy to watch. Even knowing the result on Day 13 didn't spoil it for me, as days 14 and 15 had some amazing matches to make up for it. The highlights for me in watching this basho were: - The number of young up and comers who are natural belt wrestlers rather than slappers and pushers and who's first instinct is to go for the belt. Teronofuji, Ichinojo, Endo, Jokoryu and to a lesser extent Chiyotori are all young, talented and do the kind of sumo I love to watch, and in doing so, have gone straight past the slappers who have been in front of them - The return of a Tokitenku I remember enjoying years ago - kicking and crafty matches where he just beats his opponent inch by inch - Toyonoshima working out all of the big guys and showing them that a low base, if used properly, can be used to counter height and reach - Kisenosato being ice cool throughout the basho and not losing anything due to nerves - Harumafuji vs Kakuryu, possibly the best sumo match I have ever seen - And of course, the superlative Hakuho Edited January 25, 2015 by Morty 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gernobono 467 Posted January 25, 2015 Good day of sumo with some nicely contested bouts! i guess, i must have seen a different basho......today's action was as boring as it can get.....nearly every bout come out with the expected winner (everyone but tochiozan was happy) I'm happy for Terunofuji...he's fun to watch. Kisenosato never had a chance against Harumafuji who summarily dismissed him from the dohyo. Goeido saves his rank as expected and a nice epic bout between Hakuhou and Kakuryuu to end the day. this was a textbook case of what i call "mongolian bout".....much ado about nothing in the end......"nothing" means that the "right" rikishi wins in the end.....there are so many cases for such fights.....and i call it "mongolian" because most of the times those bouts re betwenn mongolians..... they act better.....the bouts are much more lively.....but still they end the way that is most convenient for the overall-result....there are examples of how not to throw a bout, but usually those do not have mongolians in them...... so.....hakuho - kakuryu was epic, but in a way that it has to be in any textbook about boutfixing......THEY know how to do it...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pandaazuma 1,310 Posted January 25, 2015 Although it might seem that Kakuryu wanted to let Hakuho get the zensho in his record-breaking basho, there is absolutely no evidence that the Hakuho-Kakuryu bout was fixed. Hakuho is the superior rikishi AND he wanted the zensho. Easily enough motivation there. Regarding the ozeki back-scratching club, I think it's now around 15 or 20 bouts going back where the one who needed the win from someone who was already safe got what he wanted. There may be a couple of anomalies, but statistically it's extremely probable that they help each other out. That would make sense anyway, as sumo has long contained this element of back-scratching, and it's a part of Japanese culture in general. As long as they're not sending texts and haggling over how much they're going to pay each other, as they were in the yaocho scandal, I don't really have any problem with it. After all, when it's time for an ozeki to go, he goes, getting little or no favours from his peers. I still rate Goeido...he's had injuries and he's good when he's on his game. I hope he flies in Osaka! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
