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

[Treblemaker 254]

Azumaryu has still not recovered fully from what Ichinojo did to him last year. I hope the same thing doesn't happen to Takayasu.

Hopefully it truly will not be devestating, but having 204 kilos fall on your knee can be devastating. One prime example of a career destroyed by such a fall would have been Mainoumi falling victim to Konishiki.

Or YMY falling on himself.

[Treblemaker 254]

I've enjoyed this basho so far. Went back and re-watched all of Moti's 4 videos from Day 1, and this is definitely NOT your normal basho. Even with Hakuho out (I will bet a good steak dinner that says he's NOT injured), it's wide open. To make predictions after only 4 or 5 days of dancing is risky. Keep your shekels in your pockets. This next stretch of 4-5 days will tell the tale.

I watched both of Hak's bouts in slo-motion, almost frame-to-frame, and there's absolutely NO evidence that he pre-injured his knee. if you have something loose within the kneecap, like cartilage, or maybe you've given it a twist, you'd be favouring that leg. Watched both dohyo-iri's, his warm-ups and his action within each bout. I didn't see him favour either leg, even during squats - which, as I can recall from experience, would make most people scream. He's had his ass handed to him, plain and simple, and has "gracefully" take the short exit, which frankly, I think is the best move. He deserves it.

Now, without Hak and HF, I'm thinking, maybe there's some paint on a wall somewhere that needs to be watched. But this thing has turned out to be the best basho in recent memory. Lots of slapping, pushing, yanking, henka-ing, even the belt bouts are pretty good.

But this is still Day 5 coming up - people still have energy. Lots of room for position jockeying.

Sorry that Kitataiki is having a rough time - I like this guy. The Human Rain Delay.

Amuru reminds me of all the good stuff from Takanoyama, Kotooshu, Aran and Wakanoho. All in one very potent package.

Watching Gaga and Toyonoshima dance was like Me and MiniMe.

Having said all that in the lines above, I don't think there's anyone that will give Terunofuji a hard time waltzing to the cup. But you never know.

And fighting Yoshikaze is like having to deal with a blender.

[ScottyJoyJrBebe 97]

I see that tomorrow its Kisenosato vs Choki.....uh....TOCHIozan. THAT'S the match I will be paying attention too.

Terunofuji 14-1 Y.

Kisenosato 13-2 J.

It would have been decided on the last day by a straight up match, but now it will be decided by the last match.

[Masumasumasu 902]

Sumo is in parliament today.

[grigorian 10]

Sumo is in parliament today.

...and they really have figthing spirit... :-D

[Akinomaki 40,814]

Complete joke. Aoiyama won that match 100%.

Aoiyama stepped back out of the ring well before Kisenosato landed.

I posted this in my day 4 pics thread, where one can see it pretty clearly (+ sand in the air)

Aoiyama

not yet out and Kise looks like dead as a body can be - and in addition his foot was out nearly at the same time as Aoiyama's: but he was the one going forward

...

and got lucky they didn't decide on a rematch

...

Goeido:

not quite that dead a body but retreating - another mono-ii-lucky Japanese ozeki without rematch against a foreigner today

Edited September 17, 2015 by Akinomaki

[Mongolith 51]

Get in there Tochiozan. Always thought he was the better of his rival Goeido so only right that he matches him in rank. Imo he is even better than Kise atm as the latter seems to be fading a bit and Tochi has handled him quite easily in a few recent basho (Today's win was cake just nonchalantly tossing him out). Hopefully he even pulls off the yusho as Fuji has quite a few in his future.

Edited September 17, 2015 by Mongolith

[torquato 1,075]

Sumo is in parliament today.

...and they really have figthing spirit... :-D

[egparis18 622]

I've enjoyed this basho so far. Went back and re-watched all of Moti's 4 videos from Day 1, and this is definitely NOT your normal basho. Even with Hakuho out (I will bet a good steak dinner that says he's NOT injured), it's wide open. To make predictions after only 4 or 5 days of dancing is risky. Keep your shekels in your pockets. This next stretch of 4-5 days will tell the tale.

I watched both of Hak's bouts in slo-motion, almost frame-to-frame, and there's absolutely NO evidence that he pre-injured his knee. if you have something loose within the kneecap, like cartilage, or maybe you've given it a twist, you'd be favouring that leg. Watched both dohyo-iri's, his warm-ups and his action within each bout. I didn't see him favour either leg, even during squats - which, as I can recall from experience, would make most people scream.

He's had his ass handed to him, plain and simple, and has "gracefully" take the short exit, which frankly, I think is the best move. He deserves it.

Do you think he'll retire? Final exit?

He works that ass off for sumo - off the dohyo as well as on, being an ambassador, doesn't he? And the smelly stuff's been in the fan recently, and Hakuho expected to explain why he didn't see it coming and God knows what else. He certainly deserves at least a rest from such stress, but I imagine he'll be back. I hope he can spend some time with his family and come back feeling good.

Now, without Hak and HF, I'm thinking, maybe there's some paint on a wall somewhere that needs to be watched. But this thing has turned out to be the best basho in recent memory. Lots of slapping, pushing, yanking, henka-ing, even the belt bouts are pretty good.

But this is still Day 5 coming up - people still have energy. Lots of room for position jockeying.

Sorry that Kitataiki is having a rough time - I like this guy. The Human Rain Delay.

Amuru reminds me of all the good stuff from Takanoyama, Kotooshu, Aran and Wakanoho. All in one very potent package.

Watching Gaga and Toyonoshima dance was like Me and MiniMe.

Having said all that in the lines above, I don't think there's anyone that will give Terunofuji a hard time waltzing to the cup. But you never know.

And fighting Yoshikaze is like having to deal with a blender.

[CT3* 331]

I watched both of Hak's bouts in slo-motion, almost frame-to-frame, and there's absolutely NO evidence that he pre-injured his knee. if you have something loose within the kneecap, like cartilage, or maybe you've given it a twist, you'd be favouring that leg. Watched both dohyo-iri's, his warm-ups and his action within each bout. I didn't see him favour either leg, even during squats - which, as I can recall from experience, would make most people scream. He's had his ass handed to him, plain and simple, and has "gracefully" take the short exit, which frankly, I think is the best move. He deserves it.

I too watched Hakuho's bouts multiple times and in slow motion. And I honestly can't see what Yoshikaze did to make Hakuho fall. I really can't. Maybe it was a balance thing. But I certainly didn't see Yoshikaze hand Hakuho his ass.

I'm just glad this isn't a basho that I'm attending in person. It'd be pretty disappointing to travel all the way to Japan and have 2 of the 3 Yokozuna sitting out.

[egparis18 622]

This is my Whoopsie below, planted by mistake in Treblemaker's post above and I don't know how to take it out. Apologies. I don't know my yrse from my eblow yet.

"He's had his ass handed to him, plain and simple, and has "gracefully" take the short exit, which frankly, I think is the best move. He deserves it."

Do you think he'll retire? Final exit?

He works that ass off for sumo - off the dohyo as well as on, being an ambassador, doesn't he? And the smelly stuff's been in the fan recently, and Hakuho expected to explain why he didn't see it coming and God knows what else. He certainly deserves at least a rest from such stress, but I imagine he'll be back. I hope he can spend some time with his family and come back feeling good.

Edited September 17, 2015 by egparis18

[inhashi 2,363]

Multiple matta today in Juryo. Daishomaru/Shohozan had at least 3, Asahisho/Satoyama 2. Looks like they are observing hands down at tachiai a lot more carefully. I'm surprised that Kotoyuki got away with it for so long until yesterday.

[inhashi 2,363]

Sumo is in parliament today.

[rhyen 1,846]

I predict that today's sumo broadcast will be interrupted by multiple report on tsunamis and rogue waves.

[Akinomaki 40,814]

Toyonoshima won on day 5, but it was a painful shiroboshi: Tokushoryu had landed on his left shin as he was waiting for his turn. Afterwards he had to put ice on the leg against the swellings and the pain: "Can't blame Tokushoryu, but curse him!"

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2015/09/18/kiji/K20150918011154820.html

Edited September 18, 2015 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki 40,814]

Osunaarashi injured the left Achilles tendon in the day 4 bout against Kakuryu. The pain was "last night so that I couldn't walk". He takes pain killers and won his first bout of the basho on day 5 against Tochinoshin.

http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/1539749.html

[orandashoho 720]

Great fighting spirit. If he manages to stay in the basho and gets a decent score, he will surely be considered for a sansho award.

[ALAKTORN 346]

Tochiōzan threw that away… bad makikae.

[luispereira 383]

day 6 .. best day of sumo so far..nice!

[Akinomaki 40,814]

Another foreigner deprived of a rematch?

Gagamaru is furious to have lost by reversal of gyoji decision after mono-ii: "I was the one attacking. In the worst case down at the same time. That's rematch, isn't it?"
http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASH9L3CT4H9LUTQP009.html

The one who also always has to suffer in those cases is the gyoji, with a reversal of his decision in his record.

Gyoji rule in cases impossible to decide at first glance (on the feet, where the eyes of the gyoji always are fixed upon) is to give it to the attacker, the one applying the technique.
Usually the shimpan decide the same way, but lately less so.

[Asojima 2,874]

Another foreigner deprived of a rematch?

Gagamaru is furious to have lost by reversal of gyoji decision after mono-ii: "I was the one attacking. In the worst case down at the same time. That's rematch, isn't it?"

http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASH9L3CT4H9LUTQP009.html

The one who also always has to suffer in those cases is the gyoji, with a reversal of his decision in his record.

Gyoji rule in cases impossible to decide at first glance (on the feet, where the eyes of the gyoji always are fixed upon) is to give it to the attacker, the one applying the technique.

Usually the shimpan decide the same way, but lately less so.

Gagamaru was clearly dragging his right foot before Aminishiki went out. Good call.

See UBS at 1:07:55 for live and several replays from multi-angles.

Edited September 18, 2015 by Asojima

[inhashi 2,363]

And once again, Aminishiki always a gyoji's worst nightmare ;P

[torquato 1,075]

I can only judge by what I have seen from Kintas video. I imediately had the impression that Asojima describes and that this deserves a monoii. I'd guess it's all well done.

[Akinomaki 40,814]

After being cautioned for too many hands-not-down matta by the Isegahama head shimpan yesterday, today Kotoyuki got it from NHK's main guest commentator Kitanofuji for showing too much of "the best bow in the business": "A waste of time! I think it's splendid, but no need to do it that much".

After nearly a whole wasted bout he was bowing to the shimpan and then to the gyoji who gave him a word - but not to his opponent Homarefuji.

http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20150918/sum15091817410006-n1.html

Izutsu vice head shimpan also complained about hands not down yesterday: In juryo Daishomaru-Shohozan also needed 3 attempts and starting with that 3 bouts had those matta.

http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20150917/sum15091721090010-n1.html

Edited September 18, 2015 by Akinomaki

[Kaibun 5]

Stupid NHK, they're broadcasting nothing but politics or tsunami reports. It's been nearly two days already, I just wanna watch the basho.

Edited September 18, 2015 by Kaibun