CT3* 331 Posted March 18, 2015 I was curious to see how Hakuho would approach his bout against Goeido, and having watched it, my suspicions were confirmed. Hakuho is on another winning streak run and is fighting a bit cautiously and leaving little room for error, imo. He got zensho yusho last time out and I think he is aiming for the same thing in Osaka. And even in the 2 basho before his last zensho yusho, he only lost once each tournament. Without those losses, he'd have been on track to match his 4 consecutive zensho yusho of 2010. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dingo 1,160 Posted March 18, 2015 (edited) It's only me, or we are do seeing an Ozeki "change os guards"? Giku lacks the old power and was stopped by Teru and Ichonojo. Kisenosato seems to have lost interest (almost like Kotooshu) and Goeido... ... I think we'll have at least one ozeki intai and two new ozeki in a few basho. I don't agree, unless someone is badly injured and needs to retire. There's always a possibility that someone loses their Ozeki rank, but I don't think neither Kisenosato, Goeido nor Kotoshogiku would intai after that. More likely they'd hang around in sanyaku and makuuchi until they drop down to Juryo. Edited March 18, 2015 by dingo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mongolith 51 Posted March 18, 2015 (edited) If Hak is gonna break Futa's record now is the time to do it. No one is a serious contender for yok (Kise's run seems ages ago & Kak's promotion passed without much fuss or attention), Kak and Hara seem too nicked up to challenge him, and fuji/ichi seems to need at least a year or two of seasoning to possibly challenge him. He is almost halfway and it will be just 2 more bashos of dominance & moping up a couple bouts in the 1st week which he just about always wins. Edited March 18, 2015 by Mongolith Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andreas21 182 Posted March 18, 2015 sumo right now definitely is a lot more popular than a few years ago. Kensho records, all days sold out in Osaka, And the chance of a Japanese-born Yokozuna and Yusho winner is lower than ever. You know what that means? There is only one explanation. The nationality does not matter as much as it used to. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
krindel 671 Posted March 18, 2015 If Hak is gonna break Futa's record now is the time to do it. No one is a serious contender for yok (Kise's run seems ages ago & Kak's promotion passed without much fuss or attention), Kak and Hara seem too nicked up to challenge him, and fuji/ichi seems to need at least a year or two of seasoning to possibly challenge him. He is almost halfway and it will be just 2 more bashos of dominance & moping up a couple bouts in the 1st week which he just about always wins. What makes this kind of streak extremely difficult is the amount of concentration required when not under pressure. Remember that the last match Hak lost was not some Yusho decider against a big opponent, but a slipping loss against then-maegashira Takayasu... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Adil 232 Posted March 18, 2015 I had no idea Kaisei is so strong. To push out Terunofuji like that... I must say I'm impressed. I got a cheque in my mail by mistake. It was from Ikioi to Harumafuji. I guess he wanted to pay the royalties for using Harumafuji's patented tachi-ai. As someone else mentioned about the Chiyotoori/Kitataiki match: Why was it a matta? Tokitenku's failed henka reminds me of his failed ketaguri against Harumafuji (I believe it was Nagoya 2013). Both times he lost very clumsily. Dominant win by Kisenosato. The throw was both beautiful and hilarious! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 18,786 Posted March 18, 2015 (edited) sumo right now definitely is a lot more popular than a few years ago. Kensho records, all days sold out in Osaka,And the chance of a Japanese-born Yokozuna and Yusho winner is lower than ever. You know what that means? There is only one explanation. The nationality does not matter as much as it used to. Or maybe it hasn't mattered all that much in a long time, except in the minds of the minority of fans who obsess about the issue. (This applies to both Japanese and non-Japanese fans.) And the press, of course, for which it's always been an easy way to fill space. Edited March 18, 2015 by Asashosakari 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
krindel 671 Posted March 18, 2015 sumo right now definitely is a lot more popular than a few years ago. Kensho records, all days sold out in Osaka,And the chance of a Japanese-born Yokozuna and Yusho winner is lower than ever.You know what that means? There is only one explanation. The nationality does not matter as much as it used to. Or maybe it hasn't mattered all that much in a long time, except in the minds of the minority of fans who obsess about the issue. (This applies to both Japanese and non-Japanese fans.)And the press, of course, for which it's always been an easy way to fill space. When you can't have what you want, love what you have... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kishinoyama 582 Posted March 18, 2015 Seems, Terunofuji had no game plan against Kaisei. Kaisei is slow and easily overwhelmed by any clever attack. But if he has the time, he's strong enough to Yorikiri anybody. Anway, I'm sure Teruno will learn that quickly. You need to have a plan for everybody even as "low" as M5. Looking at the replay, Kaisei secured a two handed grip right from the start. Terunofuji had only one hand on the belt. Two beats one MOST of the time in sumo but not every time. :-) 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gurowake 3,919 Posted March 19, 2015 Once again Kotoshogiku and Goeido have to concentrate on not becoming kadoban. Goeido has Harumafuji, Terunofuji and Myogiryu left. Goeido and Myogiryu are from the same heya, along with Sadanoumi. The two maegashira Goeido will face will likely be Tochinoshin and Toyonoshima as the highest remaining rikishi for him to face and are still realistic possibilities for sanyaku. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sumozumo 240 Posted March 19, 2015 sumo right now definitely is a lot more popular than a few years ago. Kensho records, all days sold out in Osaka,And the chance of a Japanese-born Yokozuna and Yusho winner is lower than ever.You know what that means? There is only one explanation. The nationality does not matter as much as it used to. Or maybe it hasn't mattered all that much in a long time, except in the minds of the minority of fans who obsess about the issue. (This applies to both Japanese and non-Japanese fans.)And the press, of course, for which it's always been an easy way to fill space. I attended my first live match this basho, and I have to say, other than the Ozeki Kisenosato-Goeido matchup that day, the two most popular guys from the noise factor and name shouting seemed to be Ichinojo and Terunofuji. So it seems it is generally a non issue. For sure Endo and Okinoumi are absent, spoiling the comparison but the lady next to me didn't even know Hakuho was Mongolian. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Masumasumasu 902 Posted March 19, 2015 Apparently, Terunofuji blamed his day 11 loss against Kaisei on the fact that he had to go number two, badly. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Masumasumasu 902 Posted March 19, 2015 The baseball player Jeter is in the arena with his Cameron Diaz look-alike girlfriend. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kuroimori 1,634 Posted March 19, 2015 Former New York Yankees star Derek Jeter is in the audience today. The NHK just confirmed that - I first noticed the hottie sitting next to him though... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Morty 1,480 Posted March 19, 2015 Poor Shohozan's performance today was that of a mentally beaten man. I hope he gets a win this basho, I really do. Also, Chiyotori continues to improve. That win against Osunaraashi today was a thing of beauty. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Xris 2 Posted March 19, 2015 I forgive you for being relatively new, but... sumo right now definitely is a lot more popular than a few years ago. Kensho records, all days sold out in Osaka, what more do you want? Or another question, what actually is your time frame for "already decreasing"? The last two months? The last week? I really don't understand this one. (Eh?)Well, I think popularity was decreasing up to like the start of 2014, then it picked back up… lolWhat was that a Tachi-ai by Hakuho? I'm sure, he was expecting a Henka.The commentators called it the “go no sen”, maybe Hakuhō thought it was a good idea to practice it on Gōeidō for some reason?Terunofuji looked absolutely use- and clueless as Kaisei easily ecorted him across the tawara.He lost at the tachi-ai. There wasn’t much he could do after that. "Go no sen" is used in all Japanese fighting arts. It means to react at the moment of the action, which means also nearly too late, and especially means that you didn't plan your reaction at all (the opposite is sen no sen and tai no sen). So it means that, from the commentators point of view, Hakuho's reaction was not planed, but something that he did because of what, at the precise moment of action, Goiedo did. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ALAKTORN 346 Posted March 19, 2015 Harumafuji–Gōeidō was a thing of beauty. Too bad Gōeidō is risking kadoban now… 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob S. 42 Posted March 19, 2015 Former New York Yankees star Derek Jeter is in the audience today. The NHK just confirmed that - I first noticed the hottie sitting next to him though... Derek Jeter watches Hakuho: With his girlfriend Hannah Davis, definitely a hottie. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kuroimori 1,634 Posted March 19, 2015 Former New York Yankees star Derek Jeter is in the audience today.The NHK just confirmed that - I first noticed the hottie sitting next to him though... Derek Jeter watches Hakuho:With his girlfriend Hannah Davis, definitely a hottie. She really has some deep, deep mawashi grip skills there - nokotta, nokottaaaaaaah! 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jakusotsu 5,815 Posted March 19, 2015 (edited) Hooray for the wonders of photoshop! The truth in the upper pic looks more like Madonna's grandma on botox. Edited March 19, 2015 by Jakusotsu 12 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Highway 46 Posted March 19, 2015 Man, some losing streaks have really surprised me this basho. My man Aoiyama just seems to be out of ideas, and is dropping down the board fast. I'm even more surprised for Takayasu - a couple of basho agos he looked like he would be aiming for ozeki, gave the top guys some really great matches, but now....and Shohozan at 0-12. O.o He's always reminded me a bit of Goeido, shows good fighting spirit every bout, but nothing is working for him. Speaking of Goeido, great bout he gave Haramafuji, who just barely hanged on. Contrast that to Hakuho, who swapped a tough as nail opponent as Kotoshogiku like a fly...he's out of this world. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
orandashoho 720 Posted March 19, 2015 Can we perhaps do without images of this sort? It has nothing to do with the sbject of this topic. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Masumasumasu 902 Posted March 19, 2015 Can we perhaps do without images of this sort? It has nothing to do with the sbject of this topic. I concur. Do they have to show her entire womb? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kuroimori 1,634 Posted March 19, 2015 Can we perhaps do without images of this sort? It has nothing to do with the sbject of this topic. Ehhm? You are having trouble with images almost naked human beings? I guess we need to put giant black censor bars at a ton of pictures in this forum then... ;-) 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andreas21 182 Posted March 19, 2015 In today's match I had a flash of an idea what is wrong with Shohozan. I had the impression that he does not see what is going on. He had Amuru pushed to the edge, who then sneaked to the side - one of the most straightforward moves in this situation. Amuru did not really force him somewhere - he just sneaked away. And Shohozan seemed not to recognize which way Amuru sneaked away, he just stood there facing the Tawara, did not follow Amuru with his eyes and head. Maybe he has a problem with his eyesight, or his circulation is weak, that he momentarily could not grasp the situation. I may be totally wrong, but this is my impression in the situation. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
