Basho Talk - Nagoya 2015 +++ Spoiler alert! +++

[kuroimori 1,634]

Takarafuji showed no fear at all going into his musubi-no ichiban bout against Hakuho,

great strategy from the Isegahama guy, bumping his left shoulder against Hakuho's right shoulder, making it difficult to get the right inside while also keeping a left grip from Hakuho out of reach.

Takarafuji

fear-

reck-

and

neckless!

That's simply

priceless

[kuroimori 1,634]

Kisenosato got a lucky break against Tochinoshin, he rushed it a bit too much at the tawara.

[kuroimori 1,634]

Another belly splash by the Geek, how many more will we see in the next 2 weeks?

[I am the Yokozuna 222]

Amazing bouts in the second part of the makuuchi division. Really really impressed by Takarafuji's effort and Terunofuji's ability to withstand a slip, an attack and then to counterattack a bigger, more muscular guy than him.

Is it just me or Oosunaarashi's balding spot got really bigger in last two months? Stress? Hope he recovers and records a kachikoshi, particularly in his state.

[rhyen 1,858]

Ominous sign for Hakuho?

One man walking behind Terunofuji approaching the dohyo was wearing the Yokozuna yukata.

I am in agreement on Osunaarashi and Harumafuji. I think Osunaarashi will pull out midway but Harumafuji will fight until the end.

[WAKATAKE 2,759]

Looks like Terunofuji had a bumpy start but he was able to recover from that. Not a good start for Kotoshogiku and Goeido. Giku drops his first day and still has Ichinojo, Takarafuji, and the ozeki and yokozuna. It's going to be a long road for him. I'm hoping Harumafuji isn't seriously hurt, he had to fight tooth and nail for that one. It would be a shame if there is one less challenge for Hakuho.

[CT3* 331]

Good bouts! I predict that Harumafuji pulls out before the end.

Oh...and Kisenosato takes the yusho. Unless I just jinxed him.

[Shikona 171]

Regarding Myugiryu-Harumafuji, it looked like they were both airborne and hit at the same time. Is it because Harumafuji was directing the throw and Myugiryu was landing on his back that Harumafuji was the winner?

[teo_heel 33]

Regarding Myugiryu-Harumafuji, it looked like they were both airborne and hit at the same time. Is it because Harumafuji was directing the throw and Myugiryu was landing on his back that Harumafuji was the winner?

Yes. That's why Harumafuji won that bout. Myogiryu was "dead body" at the monent, when Harumafuji land on his elbow (before Myogiryu).

[Tenshinhan 1,612]

I thought Harumafuji has undergone surgery? And now he has still the same elbow problems...

[Kintamayama 47,327]

Ex-Asahiyutaka/Tatsunami Oyakata the Fair assumed shinpan duties for the first time today, replacing the departed Takanonami.

Edited July 12, 2015 by Kintamayama

[Gambitfan 1]

Endou looked pretty good for a guy who tore his ACL. Having said that it was against someone he's historically had success against, so we'll see as this progresses.

I have no idea why Myougiryuu vs. Harumafuji wasn't a torinaoshi (until I read teo_heel's post). I've watched it three times and I still don't know who hit the ground first. So in situations like that is it always given to the aggressor?

[808morgan 814]

_

Good job Kisenosato. The Ama decision was a bit controversial, looked like he fell first, don't think the elbow would have been so good the second time around.

Edited July 12, 2015 by 808morgan

[ALAKTORN 346]

Aoiyama going for the belt… bad.

Really cool bout with Harumafuji, but he looks in pain…

No idea what Hakuhō was doing. Those movements and stances seemed all weird, and when they were chest to chest it looked like he was looking at the crowd instead of his opponent.

Edited July 12, 2015 by ALAKTORN

[Tsubame 378]

regarding the Kisenosato-Tochinoshin bout:

I am sure, if that where two mongolian wrestlers, we would surely have a comment here from Gernobono about that what happend in this bout ;-)

#mongolianconspiracy

Edited July 12, 2015 by Tsubame

[inhashi 2,363]

No idea what Hakuhō was doing. Those movements and stances seemed all weird, and when they were chest to chest it looked like he was looking at the crowd instead of his opponent.

"entertaining the audience with funny faces"

[Adil 232]

Seiro was not touching his right hand down for some reason. He didn't do it even the third time, but I guess the gyoji didn't want to call another matta.

I am starting to pity Kotoshogiku now. I guess that's it for him now. He'll go kadoban a few times, and suddenly there'll be an announcement that he's going intai. How I wish he proves me wrong, but it's looking more and more unlikely. He just looks too busted up. At least Kisenosato is keeping the torch burning.

Speaking of busted up, Osunaarashi seems to be constantly struggling with injuries. Last basho, I was thinking that perhaps he was back, but that injury against Kisenosato derailed him once more. This basho, he looks fragile again. Reminds me of Robin van Persie when he was at Arsenal. I doubt he can go far when he's got so many injuries at such a young age. Again, I hope he proves me wrong. I want to see him at the top level for many, many years.

Harumafuji looked to be in terrible pain. With such a crippling injury, he'll either go kyujo or throw out a few "was/wasn't a henka"s. How can one do proper sumo with an injured elbow? And I'm definitly not going to try and understand the shinitai thing. Yes, I know what it means, and yes, I've seen many in the last few years, but it's always so muddled. There was a great discussion about it last basho, but still... I have alot to learn.

What on earth was Hakuho doing? Sorry, folks, I like Takarafuji just as much as the next guy, but he didn't do anything in there that would have made Hakuho sweat. Looks like Hakuho is really, really bored and is just having fun up there.

Ah, Terunofuji. He's a breath of fresh air. His rise has been astronomical. What a whopping throw... and he made it look effortless, that too with a mountain of a man, Aoiyama (Ha! Mountain!). The sky is the limit for this kid.

[Gurowake 4,154]

Something seemed wrong with Hakuho's match. Like Hakuho was just bored. I suppose it may have been the fact that Takarafuji just absolutely refused to leave him the opening to get the grip he wanted, and Hakuho was just waiting and trying to force Takarafuji to do something that would give him an opening. That Hakuho wasn't willing to attack any way other than the way he preferred makes me think he knows he's in decline. Still a long way to go before anyone is even close to him in ability, but he's clearly passed his peak.

[Kintamayama 47,327]

Seiro was not touching his right hand down for some reason. He didn't do it even the third time, but I guess the gyoji didn't want to call another matta.

90% of the rikishi are not touching the ground with one or both hands. This was just idiotically trying to make a point.

Just from today-Toyohibiki, Kotoyuuki, Endou, both Kitataiki and Homarefuji in their match, Sadanofuji, Yoshikaze, Gagamaru- then I stopped checking as it's pointless and boring...

Nearly nobody does a real two-hands- on -the -dohyo tachiai. Seirou is the new kid in town, therefore bulliable.

Edited July 12, 2015 by Kintamayama

[Andreas21 221]

Takarafuji ... didn't do anything in there that would have made Hakuho sweat.

Takarafuji is a great defender. He absorbed the initial attempt of Hakuho, this doesn't happen very often. Takarafuji is not great in taking the initiative. So it is perfectly reasonable for Hakuho to just wait. In his early career Hakuho often waited for the opponent to attack, bouts like that were frequent then. He just seemed to fall back in this strategy. Often, Hakuhos opponents are impatient, this leaves opportunities. Takarafuji can be very patient, didn't give him the opportunity. Eventually, Hakuho executed a simple Yorikiri attack very carefully, this is what it needs to defeat Takarafuji. Hakuhos victory was never in danger, although he was challenged.

All in all, a reasonable bout between the two. I like it.

[Andreas21 221]

Kisenosato got a lucky break against Tochinoshin, he rushed it a bit too much at the tawara.

Agreed, although the counter-attack was very well executed. These fine counter-attacks brought Kisenosato where he is. I consider them as his signature technique.

[Treblemaker 254]

Um, not sure that (a) Hakuho was bored/toying with him/had it all planned out or (b) was really in trouble/was held in check more than was obvious/was waiting to see what was being offered, if anything, by Takarafuji. What I DO sense was that this wasn't a typical Hakuho Opening Night bout. Not sure if it's an indicator, or an anomaly, but as we get into week two, if these kind of bouts keep occurring, well, I don't know.

Hakuho owes sumo nothing, and sumo owes Hak a ton. Might be a really good time to go out on top. Would be very interesting to see Hak as one of the MIB discussing business in the middle of the ring...

IMHO, of course...

[Fukurou 534]

Jk21E Homarenishiki is now 0-1, losing his first Jonokuchi match to Jk21W Tsukimoto.

[d_golem 213]

Jk21E Homarenishiki is now 0-1, losing his first Jonokuchi match to Jk21W Tsukimoto.

Did you see the bout? How nervous was he?

[Fukurou 534]

Jk21E Homarenishiki is now 0-1, losing his first Jonokuchi match to Jk21W Tsukimoto.

Did you see the bout? How nervous was he?

The result is from the NSK website. I didn't see the bout. Maybe someone will have it on youtube later.

Edited July 13, 2015 by Fukurou