Shikona 139 Posted January 21, 2015 It's matches like today's why I like Kotoshogiku. Kakuryu is no pushover, but had nothing when Giku got into gear. The amount of power is sheer entertainment. I'm so pleased Kotoshogiku got his KK today and retained his rank. My favourite rikishi (with Toyonoshima). When he gets his arms around you and goes forward there aren't many people who can counter it. He was never going to be a Yokozuna but he has been a solid, solid Ozeki who has only ever had issues due to injuries. If everyone would stand up straight in front of him like Kakuryu did, he would be a Yokozuna. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shikona 139 Posted January 21, 2015 Worth Repeating. Here's a stat. Tochinoshin 43-2 (and 20 straight wins) since returning from the surgery. And don't tell me Makushita, Juryo, etc. This is phenomenal. If only Baruto had gone that way when he still could. I'm guessing Tochinoshin hasn't been healthy for a few years before the surgery. We'll have to see how far he goes. Tochinoshin is really looking great. I mean, 13-2 and 15-0 in Juryo is no small task. He's just looking really solid. I was a big fan of his back when I first started watching Sumo, second to Harumafuji of course. Before his injury drop, he was a rock solid M4w rikishi. Below that, he would kick ass. Above that, the joijin would hand him his ass. Hatsu will tell his future. Whatever he does here, it has to have been the right decision to go for the surgery and the time out. It is about making it possible for him to perform at the best level he can. If only other rikishi in a similar position could follow his lead rather than Baruto's. Agree. He came back just as strong as he was before he got hurt. A solid M4 guy could be expected to be pretty impressive, even against guys in Juryo. But healing properly was not going to make him better than he was before he got hurt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Adil 232 Posted January 21, 2015 Tochinoshin demonstrated the best way to defeat Ichinojo today, as had Takayasu this basho and Hakuho for two basho before this one. Ichinojo just likes to lean on his opponents. Being as big as he is, he saps his opponents' strength by simply not moving and resting against them. In all four matches that I've mentioned, his opponents make a sudden move away from him, taking away his support. The key is to follow it up properly. Hakuho followed it up with the uwatedashinage both times, Takayasu by pushing him from behind and Tochinoshin with an arm to his knee to knock him off balance and getting the uchimuso kimarite. Speaking of uchimuso: remember Hakuho's emphatic uchimuso against Kotoshogiku in Hatsu 2014? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Adil 232 Posted January 21, 2015 There are three things that are certain in life: Death, taxes.......... and Gagamaru's belly flops. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mongolith 51 Posted January 21, 2015 (edited) Ichi really has not looked good this basho. Hope he gets a 7-8 and only drops to K. He should be a more offensive as he has a bit of quickness for a guy his size. He should be bullying undersized guys like Endo/Takayuska and Aminishki with 2 bum knees. Edited January 21, 2015 by Mongolith Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andreas21 182 Posted January 21, 2015 Ichinojo looks good enough to be Ozeki in the future. Surprise, surprise, among the top dogs it is not enough just to stand there and absorbing. Last basho he experimented with Henka, fair enough. Eventually he will figure out something that works. He's only 21. Tochinoshin somehow has his number - that started back in Juryo. @Ayagawa It's not that Goeido is sealed to be demoted. It's more his body language, it's his Sumo, it's losing to Rikishi which he shouldn't. He's had great wins, even over Hakuho. It looks like he's not in the shape of doing this anymore. He looks like ... Tochiozan ... struggling for KK in high Meagashira. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 18,786 Posted January 21, 2015 Endo's style seems to be based on acting as if he were 30 kg bigger. Instead of using maneuvering about, he stands still and dares you to push with him. Against guys with lesser skills he can do this. Against the joi, he will need that extra beef to fight like this.Might be a case of old habits dying hard, after 4 years on the college circuit and his first year as a pro where that was a viable strategy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vikanohara 171 Posted January 21, 2015 (edited) The losses of Harumafuji & Kakuryu have perhaps raised the hope for Goeido to stay Ozeki ? Giku has what he needed, Kakuryu is far out now and if Hakuho keeps winning, Harumafuji won't bother too much anymore either (EDIT : hmm, he already played him, never mind). Let's see how the back scratching will turn out. :-) Edited January 21, 2015 by Vikanohara Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Benevolance 2,478 Posted January 21, 2015 Goeidou's got Kakuryu today, and he'll face 'Giku still. Who else is he likely to be up against? Aoiyama? Aoi tomorrow, Giku on senshuraku? I'd love for 'Giku to be the one to break him and end all hope. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kotoshoumi 31 Posted January 21, 2015 Really enjoyed Tamawashi-Oosunaarashi and Tochinoshin-Ichinojou on Day 11. Botch for completely different reasons. The many faces of sumo... :) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dingo 1,160 Posted January 21, 2015 What an amazing day this was, the best day so far! Tochinoshin vs Ichinojo was a classic, Tochinoshin showed some real power by picking him up for a splitsecond and then that wonderful uchimuso... wonder if he expected to win with that move or did it just come as a bonus? Anyway, bouts between these two are always something to look forward to. Kyokutenho showed he still has a lot of juice left in the battery. Kisenosato showed great balance at the edge, though he shouldn't have been in that situation at all... Aoiyama vs Harumafuji was a huge upset, HF just extended a bit too much and the slapdown expert Aoiyama saw his chance. Goeido actually had a good start against Hakuho and pushed him back a bit but didn't manage to follow up with anything. Hakuho was just too good for him today. Couldn't be more happy about Kotoshogiku's win against Kakuryu. That was classic Kotoshogiku. It's really amazing what difference it makes having his health and genki back. I hope he'll stick around for a long time because he's an excellent Ozeki. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Masumasumasu 902 Posted January 21, 2015 Hakuho has been using hatakikomi/back-pedaling like a wizard. It is truly a sight to behold. Who wants to see a boring, controlled yori-kiri anyhow? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shumitto 418 Posted January 21, 2015 What a half-hearted, disrespectful excuse of a bow from Endo today after losing to Tochiozan and going makekoshi. He only cares about winning. Tochiozan is not known for doing great bows either. He is one of those rikishi who bow and turn in a single move so that the bow does not stand out. Why they make this I don't know but I suppose it is a mix of arrogance and disrespect. By the way, with Homasho gone the only rikishi I can think of with passable dohyo manners is Kaisei. Aminishiki has great qualities overall and could be better in that regard, but he is not. This is probably some kind of trickle-down effect, although the terminology is not precise here. One rikishi starts doing "bad bows", all the others follow and it becomes a habit - and a bad one for that matter. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Highway 46 Posted January 21, 2015 Aoiyama's win was so unexpected, given his bad run and Harumafuji's great form...Haru just beats himself sometimes,which is why Hakuho has it so easy sometimes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Masumasumasu 902 Posted January 21, 2015 What a half-hearted, disrespectful excuse of a bow from Endo today after losing to Tochiozan and going makekoshi. He only cares about winning.Tochiozan is not known for doing great bows either. He is one of those rikishi who bow and turn in a single move so that the bow does not stand out. Why they make this I don't know but I suppose it is a mix of arrogance and disrespect. By the way, with Homasho gone the only rikishi I can think of with passable dohyo manners is Kaisei. Aminishiki has great qualities overall and could be better in that regard, but he is not.This is probably some kind of trickle-down effect, although the terminology is not precise here. One rikishi starts doing "bad bows", all the others follow and it becomes a habit - and a bad one for that matter. I totally agree. Sumo is a way of life and the totality of behavior is all part of what makes a great rikishi/Yokozuna. That's why I feel that Takanohana II was the greatest rikishi of modern times. Commence stone throwing. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Senkoho 552 Posted January 21, 2015 Tochiozan is not known for doing great bows either. He is one of those rikishi who bow and turn in a single move so that the bow does not stand out. Why they make this I don't know but I suppose it is a mix of arrogance and disrespect. By the way, with Homasho gone the only rikishi I can think of with passable dohyo manners is Kaisei. I would also mention Kotoyuki, I remember his massive bow after a matta this basho. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Morty 1,480 Posted January 21, 2015 What a half-hearted, disrespectful excuse of a bow from Endo today after losing to Tochiozan and going makekoshi. He only cares about winning. Tochiozan is not known for doing great bows either. He is one of those rikishi who bow and turn in a single move so that the bow does not stand out. Why they make this I don't know but I suppose it is a mix of arrogance and disrespect. By the way, with Homasho gone the only rikishi I can think of with passable dohyo manners is Kaisei. Aminishiki has great qualities overall and could be better in that regard, but he is not. This is probably some kind of trickle-down effect, although the terminology is not precise here. One rikishi starts doing "bad bows", all the others follow and it becomes a habit - and a bad one for that matter. Kotoyuki bows in the same way Homasho used to - deep and respectful 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gurowake 3,919 Posted January 22, 2015 They decided to go with Tochiozan v. Ichinojo on Day 13 instead of Day 14 as I thought they would, given the choice, to put it on the weekend. My best guess is they want to delay the last Ichinojo maegashira matches another day to find the most compelling candidates instead of giving him the well-out-of-contention Ikioi. On a similar note, it's also a bit odd that they would give Goeido the already-MK Endo; based on what I'd seen in most previous basho they'd have Ozeki skip over any normal maegashira opponents who are already MK even in absence of an obvious candidate (see 1-5-3 m2w Toyonoshima in Aki getting passed over on day 11 for Kotoshogiku in favor of 3-6 m4w Osunaarashi). It might be a combination of Endo's (manufactured) popularity and Goeido's impending demotion; that gives me a great stupid conspiracy theory: it's because Endo's required to follow Kyokai orders due to their cultivation of his popularity and will be forced to take the fall whereas another opponent might not. They've obviously gotten Kotoshogiku enough wins already that he can afford to give his last match to Goeido. But can Goeido get past Aoiyama? Maybe he won't need to because he'll take down Kakuryu. Well if that happens, you heard it here first! And if it doesn't happen, forget I ever said it and only pay attention to the times I'm right. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kuroimori 1,634 Posted January 22, 2015 They decided to go with Tochiozan v. Ichinojo on Day 13 instead of Day 14 as I thought they would, given the choice, to put it on the weekend. My best guess is they want to delay the last Ichinojo maegashira matches another day to find the most compelling candidates instead of giving him the well-out-of-contention Ikioi. On a similar note, it's also a bit odd that they would give Goeido the already-MK Endo; based on what I'd seen in most previous basho they'd have Ozeki skip over any normal maegashira opponents who are already MK even in absence of an obvious candidate (see 1-5-3 m2w Toyonoshima in Aki getting passed over on day 11 for Kotoshogiku in favor of 3-6 m4w Osunaarashi). It might be a combination of Endo's (manufactured) popularity and Goeido's impending demotion; that gives me a great stupid conspiracy theory: it's because Endo's required to follow Kyokai orders due to their cultivation of his popularity and will be forced to take the fall whereas another opponent might not. They've obviously gotten Kotoshogiku enough wins already that he can afford to give his last match to Goeido. But can Goeido get past Aoiyama? Maybe he won't need to because he'll take down Kakuryu. Well if that happens, you heard it here first! And if it doesn't happen, forget I ever said it and only pay attention to the times I'm right. prepare for impact in 3... 2... 1.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Morty 1,480 Posted January 22, 2015 I have really enjoyed Tokitenku's sumo this basho. He has annoyed me in the past but this basho it has just been the sheer application of patience that has got him his fair share of wins and KK. He has sat back and waited his opponents out. Where possible he has used a kick, but it is those occasions where that hasn't been possible that I have really enjoyed. In each of those long bouts he hasn't just leaned on his opponent, but instead has used a series of very small, almost inconsequential movements to maneuver his opponent closer to the edge of the dohyo. And then once he has them in position he puts them out. Simple really but it in the context of sumo where most bouts last just a few seconds it requires the patience of Job and is admirable in the extreme. Just waiting for each of those little openings to move your opponent a couple of inches closer to the edge, doing that five or six times in two minutes, then capitalising at the end. Admirable stuff. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andreas21 182 Posted January 22, 2015 What a beautiful Yorikiri Hakuho-Kotoshogiku. Often Hakuhos wins are a bit cheap and fast. But this was Sumo basics executed with perfection. Terunofujis win over Okinoumi was big. He was favourite - but still young and new in this role in these parts of the Banzuke. He executed it solid and calm, like an old one. This paves his way to Sanyaku. I enjoyed Kisenosato today, and the whole Basho. Classic Sumo, with dignity. Pity that he didn't succeed in the Yokozuna roulette - that bout today could have been called Yokozuna Sumo. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Morty 1,480 Posted January 22, 2015 I enjoyed Kisenosato today, and the whole Basho. Classic Sumo, with dignity. Pity that he didn't succeed in the Yokozuna roulette - that bout today could have been called Yokozuna Sumo. Agreed, Kise has been a joy to watch this basho. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jakusotsu 5,815 Posted January 22, 2015 Hmm... well, he still has a bit of work to do to earn me a good steak, but I guess Jakusotsu already can look for a good one. :-DThat steak is still grazing happily on an Argentinian meadow. In two months time we'll decide whether it's going to the slaughter. B-) (for the record: a simple KK will do) Looks like Tochinoshin is cattle-friendly. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Highway 46 Posted January 22, 2015 Tomorrow is the big one, Hakuho-Kisenasato....Kise only has a small chance probably, but if he can't get the win, it's all over. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bettega 427 Posted January 22, 2015 Tomorrow is the big one, Hakuho-Kisenasato....Kise only has a small chance probably, but if he can't get the win, it's all over. I kind of hope that ends the best way to Hakuho: 33 basho with Zensho. He deserves it. Maybe a little boring, but he deserves it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
