dingo 1,263 Posted March 19, 2015 I think also age has caught up with both Shohozan and Yoshikaze, who were/are both fierce brawler types. I just didn't expect it to happen so fast nor so dramaticaly as they were both doing quite well not too long ago. It's unfortunate cause I enjoyed watching them both when they were doing well. Tomorrow I think Terunofuji has not much chance against Hakuho, unless Hakuho screws up at the tachiai and gives away a good position. Terunofuji's kimedashi is fearsome, but he doesn't always get a good enough grip/position to execute it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shumitto 418 Posted March 19, 2015 At this point Shohozan is simply desperate. A few days ago he got into morozashi with Kyokutenho. Everyone knows how the Mongolian responds to this and yet Shohozan was very careless in his approach, falling easily to a well-executed Kotenage. It is not simple to counter that manouver but Shohozan put himself in the worst position to try it. Takayasu is injured and limping since the early days of the basho. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lost ballet fan 29 Posted March 19, 2015 Hakuho is quite scary in this basho. It's clear he's determined to win and I must admit that those claims of him occasionally leaving openings for other guys in the past may hold some water after all - there is a different vibe about him right now and the gap to the rest suddenly seems even wider. Was he like that in his most dominant phase (before my Sumo-watching time)? Or am I imagining things? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andreas21 184 Posted March 19, 2015 Hakuho is quite scary in this basho. It's clear he's determined to win and I must admit that those claims of him occasionally leaving openings for other guys in the past may hold some water after all - there is a different vibe about him right now and the gap to the rest suddenly seems even wider. Was he like that in his most dominant phase (before my Sumo-watching time)? Or am I imagining things? He was different back then. Scary, but in a different way. He left openings a lot in his 63-streak, often on the brink of defeat, the scary thing was it still came off. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sumozumo 240 Posted March 20, 2015 I remember not too long ago after he broke his hand a lot of people were sure that he was in his twilight years too... He's crazy. How long can it last? Terunofuji and Ichinojo are the new guys on the block but I think it will take them a while to gather the experience and move up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CT3* 331 Posted March 20, 2015 I was impressed with the way Hakuhou almost casually dispatched of Kotoshogiku today. It was as if he was saying, "get off my dohyo!" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Masumasumasu 902 Posted March 20, 2015 Hakuho didn't know who Jeter was: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2015/03/19/derek-jeter-shook-hands-with-a-top-sumo-wrestler-who-had-no-idea-who-jeter-was/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CT3* 331 Posted March 20, 2015 Really looking forward to a couple of matches in particular: Tochinoshin vs Goeido Hakuhou vs Terunofuji Can't wait!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Naganoyama 5,911 Posted March 20, 2015 Hakuho didn't know who Jeter was: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2015/03/19/derek-jeter-shook-hands-with-a-top-sumo-wrestler-who-had-no-idea-who-jeter-was/ Kitanoumi did. Perhaps he googled him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
krindel 671 Posted March 20, 2015 Hakuho didn't know who Jeter was: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2015/03/19/derek-jeter-shook-hands-with-a-top-sumo-wrestler-who-had-no-idea-who-jeter-was/ Kitanoumi did. Perhaps he googled him. I assume it would be the chairman's job to know who high profile visitors that are likely to attract media attention to the Kokugikan are. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rhyen 1,840 Posted March 20, 2015 Hakuho just lost to Terunofuji. Kisenosato and Harumafuji, do your stuff!!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Masumasumasu 902 Posted March 20, 2015 We may have witnessed a changing of the guard with Terunofuji's win over Hakuho. Aminishiki wrote Terunofuji a note telling him to "work hard". Looks like he did. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
torquato 1,075 Posted March 20, 2015 Hakuho loses and the sun hides in shame... WTF 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Adil 232 Posted March 20, 2015 Shohozan is still on course for his 'zensho yusho'. Will he 'succeed' in accomplishing what Daido 'failed' to accomplish in Nagoya 2013? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Morty 1,495 Posted March 20, 2015 And the kid knocks Hak off! The crowd goes nuts! Not only that but he beat him fair and square - Hak threw everything but the kitchen sink at him and Teronofuji had an answer for it all. The look on Hak's face straight after was priceless - he couldn't believe it. I guarantee he was going for that record that really matters to him, Futabayama's 69, and now he has to start all over again. I really hope Teronofuji can back it up over the next few bashos, get to Ozeki and then actually provide a sustained challenge to Hak's dominance. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mongolith 51 Posted March 20, 2015 Kise basically got owned by the nodowa again you would think he would learn. (At least it did not look quite as bad as last time and hara lost the grip near the end) Damn what final bout and what a win by fuji. Now that is how a future oz/yok should look challenging Hak. Even if he had lost he would deserve kudos. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tenshinhan 1,607 Posted March 20, 2015 (edited) It's really too bad that Terunofuji lost to Kaisei. I can not imagine Harumafuji (with his elbow injury) or Kisenosato (with his post Kachikoshi depression) to beat an "angry" Hakuho. But I couldn't imagine that Terunofuji wins today either, so let's see... Kotoshogiku still in trouble with Harumafuji and Kisenosato left. Maybe Kise will do him a favour. Edited March 20, 2015 by Tenshinhan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Monnodo 60 Posted March 20, 2015 (edited) Maybe Hakuho should have tried to get a good grip with a fast Tachiai and then go straight forwardi, since Terunofuji is kinda slow and often ends up in the worse position at the Tachiai. And if he can not power him out, than he could go for the throw. To be honest, Hakuho did not really seem to have a good game plan today. Anyway, I am sure he will win anyway. I do not see Terunofuji win all his remaining matches And Hakuho losing one. But we will see. Edited March 20, 2015 by Monnodo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kuroimori 1,634 Posted March 20, 2015 (edited) It's really too bad that Terunofuji lost to Kaisei. I can not imagine Harumafuji (with his elbow injury) or Kisenosato (with his post Kachikoshi depression) to beat an "angry" Hakuho. But I couldn't imagine that Terunofuji wins today either, so let's see... Kotoshogiku still in trouble with Harumafuji and Kisenosato left. Maybe Kise will do him a favour. That loss might go down in Sumo history as "Poop-Gate", I can't believe that Teru went so deep into details as to why he lost... (Help me...) Edited March 20, 2015 by kuroimori Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shikona 148 Posted March 20, 2015 Oh, yeah! I don't recall such a loss by Hakuho in the last many years, where he looked to be in good form and got out-maneuvered and overpowered chest-to-chest. And thought went into the bout as well--Terunofuji kept his right hip out of reach right up until the end. Then Hakuho had to lean in a little bit to try to get his favorite outside left, and that small opening was enough to drive him out. So similar to Hakuho's long list of easy looking yorikiri wins where he would wait for the precise moment when his opponent thought there was an opportunity to improve the grip, and then put on the power surge. Let the sumo gods protect these two from injury, and we should have some yusho races to look forward to. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shikona 148 Posted March 20, 2015 Also some props to the much-maligned Goeido today. He is Mr. Inconsistency for sure, but he is capable of excellent sumo as he showed today against a tough opponent. Of course every prediction must have the caveat "barring serious injury," but given that, I think Goeido's tenure at the ozeki rank, though not the longest since he was last to arrive, will at least still be running when the other two incumbents have left the rank. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shikona 148 Posted March 20, 2015 Kintamayama thinks Osunaarashi is underestimated, but it's more that he hasn't met the expectations set when he was widely overestimated on first climbing up the ranks. Today he faced Kyokushuhou, a man willing to trade him slap for slap, and it was when Osuna decided to go for the belt that he won the match. He could learn from that and make further progress. We will see. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dingo 1,263 Posted March 20, 2015 (edited) It's really too bad that Terunofuji lost to Kaisei. I can not imagine Harumafuji (with his elbow injury) or Kisenosato (with his post Kachikoshi depression) to beat an "angry" Hakuho. But I couldn't imagine that Terunofuji wins today either, so let's see... Kotoshogiku still in trouble with Harumafuji and Kisenosato left. Maybe Kise will do him a favour. I can't imagine Kisenosato doing Kotoshogiku a favour, especially since he has at least a couple of times cost Kisenosato a good yusho opportunity.Also, Gagamaru is the next yokozuna! You heard it here first! Edited March 20, 2015 by dingo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doitsuyama 1,185 Posted March 20, 2015 Hakuho's win streak against shin-Komuusubi or shin-Sekiwake ended today as well at 35 wins. It's not so much a streak but an unblemished record which got tarnished. 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pandaazuma 1,310 Posted March 20, 2015 There was a real sense today (from me anyway) that the win by Terunofuji was one of those era-defining bouts that they will be replaying again and again a la Takanohana-Chiyonofuji. Hakuho isn't finished by any means and has three good years in him. But today a future Yokozuna put down his marker...and he did it in serious style. I don't remember seeing Hakuho so comprehensively beaten in a straight-up match. Great stuff. 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites