Basho Talk - Kyushu Basho 2015 +++ Spoiler Alert! +++

[luispereira 383]

130 kg weight difference :-D

It seemed more like he was "carried" with Kenho to the floor after a slip (Laughing...)

the "little one" bounced back at the tachiai ahah :D

[taresu 38]

More like Henkaho.

Seriously though, I'm not sure he meant to win like that - like he didn't want to catch Yoshikaze head on, but seemed surprised when Yoshikaze went flying past.

Afterwards, he had a look on his face like: "Man, they're gonna think I pulled a henka!"

It seemed to mee that way too. Right after yoshikaze falls, Hak shake his head like he was not happy for what happened. Or myabe he was just playing upset to dont feel bat about the henka. (Laughing...) (Laughing...)

Oosunarashi did well fighting Kakuryu and Terunofuji keeps surprising me with that knee. Hold Ichinojou for a long time today! :-O

[CT3* 331]

Seemed pretty clear to me that the Hak henka was not intentional. It looked like a flukey tachi ai that caused the result.

[Katooshu 3,090]

I understand that he's an oshi man, but Mitakeumi looks useless on the belt so far.

Edited November 11, 2015 by Kotooshu's Revenge

[taresu 38]

Mitakeumi looks useless on the belt so far

he had a great start on the first day but then not anymore. :-P

[Treblemaker 254]

Well, looks like I got my wish.. a pseudo-henka by Hak. And I thought Yoshikaze was henka-proof. But then, who expects Hak to pull one? It may have been unintentional, or it may have been one of preservation, given Kaze's penchant for coming on like a food processor and knocking things off of the table. Or maybe Hak's hurting somewhere? (And Kaze isn't your average opponent - too much kinetic activity, like trying to dance with a Shiatsu massager.) Still, it gave me my first raised eyebrow of the basho.

And give Gaga credit. Staying on her his feet and being successful.

And doesn't Mitakeumi remind you of Endo from a while ago?

I'm getting the impression that more than a few guys are "playing it safe" up there, going for the belt rather than other techniques. Still waiting for the first Bitch Slap-fest.

And I always have rising respect for Toyonoshima. I think, pound for pound, this is one of the best guys up there. Aggressive, intelligent, resilient.

Ok, so today was a little more interesting. Let's see if someone adds another sequin to the dress tomorrow.

Edited November 11, 2015 by Treblemaker

[Gurowake 3,886]

It's interesting that Shohozan, also not known for going to the mawashi, decided to against Mitakeumi. He clearly thought he would have an advantage doing so, or at least more of one than if they went with their normal fighting techniques, and Mitakeumi may have not been as pro-active about keeping Shohozan away from the belt because he normally doesn't go there. I haven't watched all his Juryo bouts so I really don't know if he has a long history of useless there or if it was just the Sokokurai match that gave Shohozan that idea. I assume he intentionally did it at least; it would be weird that they ended up in a belt fight accidentally, and what we've seen of Mitakeumi suggests he's not likely to have done it intentionally.

[dingo 1,133]

It's interesting that Shohozan, also not known for going to the mawashi, decided to against Mitakeumi. He clearly thought he would have an advantage doing so, or at least more of one than if they went with their normal fighting techniques, and Mitakeumi may have not been as pro-active about keeping Shohozan away from the belt because he normally doesn't go there. I haven't watched all his Juryo bouts so I really don't know if he has a long history of useless there or if it was just the Sokokurai match that gave Shohozan that idea. I assume he intentionally did it at least; it would be weird that they ended up in a belt fight accidentally, and what we've seen of Mitakeumi suggests he's not likely to have done it intentionally.

Shohozan faced Mitakeumi also last basho in Juryo and interestingly enough that bout wasn't a slapfest either and ended with Shohozan's victory with sukuinage. So maybe he also tried to emulate last basho and try something other than his usual tsuki attack.

Last basho's bout itself is here:

[Arashifuji 10]

Henkas would be the most boring thing in the world if it were not for the "despicable" character some give to it.

It adds some "poetical beauty" in the choice of using it: paying the price of dishonor for an effortless and almost automatic win.

Long live the henka buzz, it just gives flavor to things!!!

About Hakuho's henka: it looked like sort of a "freudian slip". Maybe unintentional, but probably thought before the bout, considering Yoshikaze's newfound dangerousness... Something like: "not that I wanted to, but it came in just handy..."

[taresu 38]

Henkas would be the most boring thing in the world if it were not for the "despicable" character some give to it.

It adds some "poetical beauty" in the choice of using it: paying the price of dishonor for an effortless and almost automatic win.

Long live the henka buzz, it just gives flavor to things!!!

About Hakuho's henka: it looked like sort of a "freudian slip". Maybe unintentional, but probably thought before the bout, considering Yoshikaze's newfound dangerousness... Something like: "not that I wanted to, but it came in just handy..."

Like the way you pointed the Henka. I think the same thing as well. If everybody doesn't give so much importance to the henka doing, we wouldn't have something to talk about!

[rzombie1988 157]

Thought the henka was a little of both parties faults. Hak clearly went up and to the side, Yoshi went really low. Even if they both hit, I think Yoshi woulda slipped.

Gaga looked good today. If he could only not flop.

Ichinojo almost pulled it off, but man does he have that lack of soul and spirit.

Tochinoshin had a great grip early which he should have pushed with, but he let Kisen stall and after the stalling was done, Kise had the better grip.

I'm really not sure why people have so many issues with Kotoshogiku. He literally does the same thing every match. Get low, get in close and push forward.

Edited November 12, 2015 by rzombie1988

[Kasutera 258]

My new nickname for Aoiyama is "Ol' Bumbleboobs."

[Kuroyama 715]

I'm really not sure why people have so many issues with Kotoshogiku. He literally does the same thing every match. Get low, get in close and push forward.

It's the "do one thing really well" approach. Works really well for some sports.

[Asashosakari 18,674]

Tamaasuka at 0-5...like the last two times they gave somebody a reprieve from demotion with the same rank/record, it looks as though it won't be any use for that rikishi.

[ALAKTORN 346]

I saw Aminishiki’s hair pull from a mile away… no idea how it wasn’t called.

[taresu 38]

Somebody knows what happened to ichinojou? I mean, two years ago i still could see some fire in him, but last basho he was dead and this one he kinda started fighting back but now he just gave up again, same as Kaisei, good start but know this numbness (sic). I dunno if Aminishiki really pulled the hair, seemed to me that he did it, but not shure tho. Is nice to see him fighting and not doing henka for a change.

Terunofuji finally is start to showing some limits to his knee, couldn't hold today. And Yoshikaze did a nice bout today.

Edited November 12, 2015 by taresu

[Kurikara 28]

Tochinoshin needed his best to force out the wounded Terunofuji. Teru is a beast for sure, hope he'll get fit again soon.

[dingo 1,133]

Wow, Yoshikaze could be a real contender for Sekiwake if things don't turn out well for one of the incumbents.

Also, when I watch Harumafuji's bouts recently I somehow get the feeling that he's very fragile. This is totally based on a gut feeling, but he might not last very long as a yokozuna anymore...

And Kakuryu... is that supposed to be the highest-ranked yokozuna and winner of the previous basho? Seriously?

[Asojima 2,870]

And Kakuryu... is that supposed to be the highest-ranked yokozuna and winner of the previous basho? Seriously?

Kakuryu barely survived the last days of the Aki basho with an injury. He spent the inter-basho period in recovery with minimal keiko. He was not expected to do well in Kyushu.

[egparis18 622]

Somebody knows what happened to ichinojou? I mean, two years ago i still could see some fire in him, but last basho he was dead and this one he kinda started fighting back but now he just gave up again, same as Kaisei, good start but know this numbness (sic). I dunno if Aminishiki really pulled the hair, seemed to me that he did it, but not shure tho. Is nice to see him fighting and not doing henka for a change.

Terunofuji finally is start to showing some limits to his knee, couldn't hold today. And Yoshikaze did a nice bout today.

Ichinojo had plenty of fire in him this January - that's when he did the first of his two marathon boust with Teronofuji and won. He's only been in makuuchi just over a year. People keep saying he 'gives up', or 'gives up at the edge'.The same people might also trash him if he falls on someone and hurts him. Ichinojo doesn't get low enough. He doesn't squat down below the other guy's centre of gravity and sometimes he straightens up and gets pushed out. A commentator on day three said he has "terrible back-pain". I don't know why a commentator would lie. I have a student, a bit lighter than Amuuru, who has to keep standing up during his lessons (he's not up against Hakuho, just learning English), about every five minutes, to straighten his back because of the pain he's in. Myself I have to walk, and sit, ramrod straight as a brigadier or it will start, just mild back pain, and it's awful. Perhaps that explains why Ichinojo stands up too straight. Also, he wouldn't want to fall the way, say, Takekaze did today if his back's already dodgy.

I can't know why he seemed so despondent in March, May and July, but I'm convinced he's coming out of it. He went 9 wins to 6 losses in September. That's respectable. They've put him up to maegashira 1 and thrown all three yokozuna and two ozeki at him in his first five days and he's given them all a fight, even if he lost. Winning isn't everything.

I thought Aminishiki tugged a bit where he shouldn't too.

Hats off to Terunofuji fighting on a bum knee and doing so well.

[dingo 1,133]

And Kakuryu... is that supposed to be the highest-ranked yokozuna and winner of the previous basho? Seriously?

Kakuryu barely survived the last days of the Aki basho with an injury. He spent the inter-basho period in recovery with minimal keiko. He was not expected to do well in Kyushu.

Was it mentioned here? I seem to have missed it.

[Tenshinhan 1,595]

I dunno if i can say this, but Kakuryu don't seem like a yokozuna material, at least not as hak and harumafuji..

One year ago I thought the same. But since November 2014 Kakuryu was even a better Yokozuna than Harumafuji was. Excluding the bashos where he was injured, Kakuryu got three 12-3 records in his last four tournaments resulting in one yusho and two jun-yusho. Harumafujis latest 12-3 was in March 2014, he mostly got only 11-4 records. I guess Kakuryu and Harumafuji are just usual Yokozuna having bad luck that Hakuho exists. If my memory is correct, it was said in another thread that they both are better than the average Yokozuna in history and that we think they are not because we are used to Hakuhos Yokozuna performances.

[Kintaro 7]

Yoshikaze is the biggest surprise to me. He was positively smoking in the Aki Basho, but at 33 yo, it seemed more like a lucky fluke than a coming of age. I think of 28 or 29 as the peak of performance (just a general thumb rule). Heck, we all knew Yoshi had skills, but such performances two basho in a row is astounding. Stay tuned.

[Kintamayama 44,275]

My predictions which will all come true:

Terunofuji out by day 9.

Yoshikaze makekoshi.

Tochinoshin 9 wins.

Amuuru 4 wins.

Goueidou wins his 8. At least.

Kotoshougiku loses his last 4 bouts.

I know who will take the yusho but I'm not telling.

[Kintamayama 44,275]

Yoshikaze is the biggest surprise to me. He was positively smoking in the Aki Basho, but at 33 yo, it seemed more like a lucky fluke than a coming of age. I think of 28 or 29 as the peak of performance (just a general thumb rule). Heck, we all knew Yoshi had skills, but such performances two basho in a row is astounding. Stay tuned.

33 wins in the last three bashos. Should have been promoted to Ozeki but was overlooked because of his age and height which are non-symmetric.

Edited November 12, 2015 by Kintamayama