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

[Harimanada 3]

Yikes! Gagachan having major tachiai problems, then loses to his old nemesis Gravity-san. Poor guy is going backwards right now...

[d_golem 213]

I should stop checking in this thread during the makuuchi bouts while waiting for Kintamayama's daily youtube basho digest. Spoiling myself of the fun.

[kuroimori 1,634]

I guess no one told Mitakeumi that Chyootori can literally not be hatakikomi'd.

His shikona almost sounds like Chiyonotaori, which means "does not fall in ten thousand years" ;-)

I only recognized this skill of being able to stay on his feet no matter what when ex-Kyokutenho mentioned it when he was debuting as commentator.

Edited November 15, 2015 by kuroimori

[kuroimori 1,634]

Teru should go kyujo.

Obviously his knee is not even good enough to get 8 quick wins before taking the much needed break.

[torquato 1,075]

Kitanofuji in a red synthetic leather punk rock band jacket. Cool. :-D

[luispereira 383]

Teru should go kyujo.

Obviously his knee is not even good enough to get 8 quick wins before taking the much needed break.

ye, he's risking it... I advise him to go out before he faces yoshikaze... :D

Edited November 15, 2015 by luispereira7cv

[Taigiin khuu 42]

Kyokushuho (State Department Store, as I call him) is starting to look the real deal, and finally deliver on his potential. I think (hope) he'll graduate from the yo-yo ranks and become a regular near the top.

And great to see Shotenro fighting strongly in Makushita, hopefully he can position himself to be back in Juryo by March. I was somehow surprised that he continued, he obviously feels he can still compete.

Edited November 15, 2015 by Taigiin khuu

[WAKATAKE 2,631]

Yoshikaze looking for that sekiwake promotion. Hakuho marked his 39th 8-0 start today. I'm really hoping that Isegahama tells Terunofuji that he's going to take a break. At 4-4 and still with Kisenosato, Kotoshogiku, Kakuryu and Hakuho to go over seven days, it's not looking too bright for him. Tsuna was out of the question by day 5 so why make it worse for yourself? Nice to see that Hakuho at least isn't running away with the yusho as of yet. But in the world of sports, anything can happen, just look at what happened to Ronda Rousey against Holly Holm yesterday.

[bettega 427]

Chiyotairyu is a mystery. How is his health status? On the first four days he lost after a few seconds and his last three bouts he won like a Yokozuna.

I am consistently mystified by how Chiyotairyu can go from so bad to so good from day to day. He clearly has the talent - a couple of years ago he was getting kinboshi and mixing it with the Sanyaku, now he is a Juryo-Makuuchi yo-yo rikishi. I wonder if it is physical (I know he has had diabetes issues in the past) or mental (lack of motivation, depression, something like that)?

... well, he married :-D

[Kurikara 28]

Kitanofuji in a red synthetic leather punk rock band jacket. Cool. :-D

That jacket was awesome!

[Terarno 46]

just look at what happened to Ronda Rousey against Holly Holm yesterday.

Oh man, you just henka-ed me with that vicious spoiler !

[808morgan 805]

This was a good one. And I love you Aminishiki

Edited November 15, 2015 by 808morgan

[Tenshinhan 1,599]

Kotoyuki, please watch how you did against Aminishiki in September and then shame on you!

[kuroimori 1,634]

Kotoyuki, please watch how you did against Aminishiki in September and then shame on you!

Some sort of intense "wilyness" could literally be felt when they hunkered down for the tachiai.

Edited November 15, 2015 by kuroimori

[Jyuunomori 226]

Here is some breakdown of guys who I am watching out for in lower divisions as well as Makuuchi.

Makuuchi thoughts:

I feel sad for Mitakeumi's loss. Even though his opponent is certainly the bounciest rikishi. Chiyoootori ochinai....ochinai... (Laughing...)

Osunaarashi is getting easier next week, he ain't makekoshi yet!

Yoshikaze continues to be amazing, what can be said about it at this point?

Goeido if you lose your Ozeki rank and take Yoshikaze's Sekiwake ranking there will be hell to pay. Tochiozan and Myogiryu especially look weak this basho.

And Hakuho is the king, undisputed greatest rikishi ever in the history of the sport I'd say. At this point I feel bad calling Kakuryuu and Harumafuji's Yokozuna because that would imply they are at the same pedestal as Hakuho when it clearly ain't so. Anyways all the Yokozuna who come after Hakuho are just that: Yokozuna. Anyone wanna bet that 20 years from now on people are still talking that: ''Yeah he is a great Yokozuna, but he ain't no Hakuho.''

Juryo:

Shodai is leading the pack, never having a make-koshi since he started sumo in 2014. Currently 7-1 this basho and since people who are higher than him are doing poorly (exept Fujiazuma-san) he is clearly gonna be makuuchi next division.

Fujiazuma, Nishikigi and Daishomaru are still in the race though.

Asabenkei who is large rikishi is also doing well, not having a losing record this year. He has gotten a good run going in Juryo too.

Makushita:

Ura is damn brilliant, he is amazing and he is 4-0 and is aiming for Yusho. He is clearly way more skilled than his opposition and he wins from situations where others would lose. How does he do it?

Aiyama is also brillaintly 4-0.

Chiyoshoma who is Makushita 3 after winning Yusho last basho is also 4-0 and is determined to get the Yusho back to back. In any way he is going ot be Juryo next basho.

Sandanme:

Chiyonoumi who lost first time in his career today after winning 2 Yusho's back to back is still aiming for Yusho but he has hell of a company. Sandanme might be the most competetive division this basho if you go check it. Everything is awesome.

Kiribayama who is 4-0 and only weighs 94 kilos is doing wonderfully, but his bouts ain't as impressive as the next guy.

Hirotsukasa is 4-0. He weight a bit more than Kiribayama at 104 kilos but is ONLY 168 cm tall. He is tiny! And is still beating people left and right. Kiribayama is 184 cm btw.

There is multiple other 4-0 holders but these three are rising stars and are to be kept close eye on.

Jonidan:

BRODY: After having a shaky start he seems to be doing fine. His style is being refined and if he wins his next bout tomorrow he is gonna be Sandanme.

Tsukimoto is having a good basho. He is consistantly good and may yet win the Jonidan yusho if it wasn't for the next guy.

Mitsuuchi is incredible. 180 cm and 140kg. Not too tall, not too heavy. Can use multiple kimarite and has enough agility to regularly win by okuridashi yet prefers to attack head on and win with yorikiri or yoritaoshi.

Rundown:

Ura, Mitsuuchi, Shodai, Chiyonoumi, Kiribayama and Hirotsukasa are all worth checking out. Especially Ura who is gonna be fan favourite because of his awkward style.

[Benevolance 2,478]

If someone told me that Kise would be still in the race on day 8, and that Kotoshogiku and Shohozan would be right there with him, I would have laughed and sold him a used car. I know the real test for the two ozeki begins now, but usually they've already blown their chance at this point.

[808morgan 805]

Kotoyuki, please watch how you did against Aminishiki in September and then shame on you!

Hey Kotoyuki, I'm a gunna henka you, ok? Here it comes, I'm gunna do it, OK?.....long pause.......BOOM..... I told you.

[Kurikara 28]

This was a good one. And I love you Aminishiki

It was so satisfying to see Kotoyuki crashing off the dohyo... Just keep on rolling

[Irakusamaru 77]

Not his best roll, but still fun. The only rikishi who comes close to rolling satisfaction is Aoiyama.

[DarthJF 5]

I remember Gagamaru having some nice rolls as well.

[inhashi 2,363]

Yeah but Orora has the best rolls ever. Today's match with Shunjin who gets the win. This kind of reminds me of that movie Akira when that kid gets enveloped in flesh and more flesh.

[808morgan 805]

[taresu 38]

My heart stopped a second there.

[808morgan 805]

Yeah but Orora has the best rolls ever. Today's match with Shunjin who gets the win. This kind of reminds me of that movie Akira when that kid gets enveloped in flesh and more flesh.

I keep pushing but it's just all squishy

[Gurowake 3,921]

Yeah, I don't think pushing Orora gets you anywhere. You have to grab his belt and use it to move his whole body. It's presumably why he can maintain rank in sandanme despite having practically no talent; there's just enough guys out there that can't work the belt well enough.