Basho Talk - Hatsu Basho 2016 +++ Spoiler Alert! +++

[kamizake 24]

congrats for the fake yusho :-D

[Morty 1,480]

A Japanese Yusho! Awesome stuff, really happy

[WAKATAKE 2,631]

All division winners are Japanese! Someone please tell me the last time that happened!

[kuroimori 1,634]

Hakuho's kids will be happy that dad will be back home earlier than usual.

[Kaioshoryu 62]

Ugh, so after 10 years of following sumo (first tournament I watched was Haru 2006) all this continuing yaocho talk has made me finally register an account so I can put my two cents in.

I'm going to venture that the reason a lot of the forum regulars are sick of debating conspiracy theories is the same reason that I am: that they've been hearing variations on a theme for years upon years, and none of them come true. 'There's no way the kyoukai will let one/three/five/ten years go by without a Japanese yusho! There's no way they'll let Hakuho reach twenty/thirty/thirty five yusho! There's no way they'll accept another Mongolian yokozuna before promoting Kotomitsuki/Kisenosato/Kotoshogiku!'

Heck, when I first started reading English-speaking sumo fandom the conspiracy theories took it for granted that a Japanese yusho would definitely happen before 2011 (no way they'll let it get to the point there's no Japanese yusho portraits in the Kokugikan!) and that Hakuho would be forced to retire somewhere around twenty yusho (no way they'll let a second foreigner in a row surpass Takanohana!).

Then after close to a decade (in which none of this came true, in which an active yaocho ring of twenty-plus rikishi which the conspiracy theorists never suspected was exposed), we ended up with no Japanese yusho, no Japanese yokozuna, and Hakuho surpassing pretty much every record there is, it became 'It's not the kyoukai organizing the fixing,it's Hakuho and the Mongolian cabal!'

And now that a Japanese yusho is on the cards for the first time in a decade we're back to the kyoukai and/or the Japanese rikishi en masse organizing everything again! If they have this power to fix results at will, why have they waited ten whole years to exercise it? Why is Giku the beneficiary instead of Kise, who's pretty much agreed to be the golden boy of Japanese sumo? Why, instead of Hak and Giku both finishing 14-1 and Giku capping off the tournament with a dramatic and suspenseful playoff win that will draw in maximum media interest are we (probably, at time of writing) going to get Giku securing victory by bulldozing Goeido, who's been so hapless this tournament that I wouldn't put it past him to just slip and fall over on the tachi-ai?

Sorry for prolonging the argument, just needed to get that off my chest.

Post of the year so far! You said everything I have been wanting to say.

[rhyen 1,809]

Congratulations to Kotoshogiku, even Toyonoshima was in the hanamichi to congratulate his rival.

Didn't see Fay yet, we will probably see her in the trophy photo later.

[Morty 1,480]

All division winners are Japanese! Someone please tell me the last time that happened!

And both the sansho winners

[kuroimori 1,634]

And for the first time in ten years they will play the correct national anthem ;-)

[Benevolance 2,478]

Kotoshogiku looked so happy in the corridor before coming out to accept the trophies. The last person I remember being this thrilled at winning a yusho was Baruto.

[WAKATAKE 2,631]

I was already thinking after the end of last basho, and before the beginning of this basho. If you had asked me if I had thought the Japanese yusho winner was going to be Kotoshogiku, I would have laughed at the question. But I am very, very happy for Kotoshogiku. Congrats to him and a big celebration going on tonight in Japan!

[hamcornheinz 839]

Ugh, so after 10 years of following sumo (first tournament I watched was Haru 2006) all this continuing yaocho talk has made me finally register an account so I can put my two cents in.

I'm going to venture that the reason a lot of the forum regulars are sick of debating conspiracy theories is the same reason that I am: that they've been hearing variations on a theme for years upon years, and none of them come true. 'There's no way the kyoukai will let one/three/five/ten years go by without a Japanese yusho! There's no way they'll let Hakuho reach twenty/thirty/thirty five yusho! There's no way they'll accept another Mongolian yokozuna before promoting Kotomitsuki/Kisenosato/Kotoshogiku!'

Heck, when I first started reading English-speaking sumo fandom the conspiracy theories took it for granted that a Japanese yusho would definitely happen before 2011 (no way they'll let it get to the point there's no Japanese yusho portraits in the Kokugikan!) and that Hakuho would be forced to retire somewhere around twenty yusho (no way they'll let a second foreigner in a row surpass Takanohana!).

Then after close to a decade (in which none of this came true, in which an active yaocho ring of twenty-plus rikishi which the conspiracy theorists never suspected was exposed), we ended up with no Japanese yusho, no Japanese yokozuna, and Hakuho surpassing pretty much every record there is, it became 'It's not the kyoukai organizing the fixing,it's Hakuho and the Mongolian cabal!'

And now that a Japanese yusho is on the cards for the first time in a decade we're back to the kyoukai and/or the Japanese rikishi en masse organizing everything again! If they have this power to fix results at will, why have they waited ten whole years to exercise it? Why is Giku the beneficiary instead of Kise, who's pretty much agreed to be the golden boy of Japanese sumo? Why, instead of Hak and Giku both finishing 14-1 and Giku capping off the tournament with a dramatic and suspenseful playoff win that will draw in maximum media interest are we (probably, at time of writing) going to get Giku securing victory by bulldozing Goeido, who's been so hapless this tournament that I wouldn't put it past him to just slip and fall over on the tachi-ai?

Sorry for prolonging the argument, just needed to get that off my chest.

Give me your bank account number, I want to give you some money.

[hamcornheinz 839]

So many awards from the most obcure people..... the american association of retailers..the league for koreans of estonian descent... The bereavement of lost plants corporation...

[WAKATAKE 2,631]

Ugh, so after 10 years of following sumo (first tournament I watched was Haru 2006) all this continuing yaocho talk has made me finally register an account so I can put my two cents in.

I'm going to venture that the reason a lot of the forum regulars are sick of debating conspiracy theories is the same reason that I am: that they've been hearing variations on a theme for years upon years, and none of them come true. 'There's no way the kyoukai will let one/three/five/ten years go by without a Japanese yusho! There's no way they'll let Hakuho reach twenty/thirty/thirty five yusho! There's no way they'll accept another Mongolian yokozuna before promoting Kotomitsuki/Kisenosato/Kotoshogiku!'

Heck, when I first started reading English-speaking sumo fandom the conspiracy theories took it for granted that a Japanese yusho would definitely happen before 2011 (no way they'll let it get to the point there's no Japanese yusho portraits in the Kokugikan!) and that Hakuho would be forced to retire somewhere around twenty yusho (no way they'll let a second foreigner in a row surpass Takanohana!).

Then after close to a decade (in which none of this came true, in which an active yaocho ring of twenty-plus rikishi which the conspiracy theorists never suspected was exposed), we ended up with no Japanese yusho, no Japanese yokozuna, and Hakuho surpassing pretty much every record there is, it became 'It's not the kyoukai organizing the fixing,it's Hakuho and the Mongolian cabal!'

And now that a Japanese yusho is on the cards for the first time in a decade we're back to the kyoukai and/or the Japanese rikishi en masse organizing everything again! If they have this power to fix results at will, why have they waited ten whole years to exercise it? Why is Giku the beneficiary instead of Kise, who's pretty much agreed to be the golden boy of Japanese sumo? Why, instead of Hak and Giku both finishing 14-1 and Giku capping off the tournament with a dramatic and suspenseful playoff win that will draw in maximum media interest are we (probably, at time of writing) going to get Giku securing victory by bulldozing Goeido, who's been so hapless this tournament that I wouldn't put it past him to just slip and fall over on the tachi-ai?

Sorry for prolonging the argument, just needed to get that off my chest.

You sir, have made my day. A stellar debut, welcome to the forums!

[specialweek 2 136]

Carpe diem. Congrats to Kotoshogiku for fighting as he had hoped for all 15 days. Now keep it going.

[WAKATAKE 2,631]

My favorite part of the whole celebration was Toyonoshima congratulating Kotoshogiku in the hanamichi. Rivals, yet friends. Smiles everywhere.

[NisdeZG 1]

Kotoshogiku's father ran out of the auditorium in tears!

.

It look more like his uncle. In the broadcast there was his family in Fukuoka that held picture of some guy (presume father) and the guy who ran out also had same small picture in his hands.

[yorikiried by fate 1,989]

Kotoshogiku's father ran out of the auditorium in tears!

.

It look more like his uncle. In the broadcast there was his family in Fukuoka that held picture of some guy (presume father) and the guy who ran out also had same small picture in his hands.

Is the name of the uncle Robert?

[NisdeZG 1]

Congratulation to Kotoshogiku. Omedeto Kotoshoshogiku dono. He was motivated true some kind of promise to his family.

Yokozunas where not so motivated and last two bouts of Hakuho where not the same quality as the bouts before. maby Hakuho agrivate his injury again. It is very unlikely that Harumafuji would pull out win over Hakuho the usual Harumafuji move. (I'm Harumafuji's fan :-) )

10 years have past since Japanese born rikishi won the Emperors cup and 12 years since someone from Fukuoka won (since Kaio) cup.

:-D

[NisdeZG 1]

Kotoshogiku's father ran out of the auditorium in tears!

.

It look more like his uncle. In the broadcast there was his family in Fukuoka that held picture of some guy (presume father) and the guy who ran out also had same small picture in his hands.

Is the name of the uncle Robert?

I don't know you muss ask them :)

Edited January 24, 2016 by NisdeZG

[WAKATAKE 2,631]

Kotoshogiku's father ran out of the auditorium in tears!

.

It look more like his uncle. In the broadcast there was his family in Fukuoka that held picture of some guy (presume father) and the guy who ran out also had same small picture in his hands.

His father was the one crying in the kokugikan. The old woman holding the picture of the old man in his hometown was his grandmother, while the pictured old man is his grandfather who had passed away. The two men sitting with her were his older brothers.

[NisdeZG 1]

Kotoshogiku's father ran out of the auditorium in tears!

.

It look more like his uncle. In the broadcast there was his family in Fukuoka that held picture of some guy (presume father) and the guy who ran out also had same small picture in his hands.

His father was the one crying in the kokugikan. The old woman holding the picture of the old man in his hometown was his grandmother, while the pictured old man is his grandfather who had passed away. The two men sitting with her were his older brothers.

That's my second guess. Well Kotoshogiku was properly motivated. He won and surprise us all (Holiday feeling...)

[specialweek 2 136]

Grandfather pic I believe.

[yorikiried by fate 1,989]

[sidenote: AAAaaaargh! Dumpyourphoto is dead. All the pics I ever posted here are turned to meaningless text....]

[hamcornheinz 839]

at his age, will they promote him if he wins the next basho(not that I think thats going to happen)?

[kumasama 28]

Congrats to Kotoshogiku! A well-earned unstoppable steam train yusho!

I also thought heyamate Kotoyuki looked like he meant business and Shodai had a great debut. It'll be fun to see how they develop.

Shodai showed a great ability to resist throw attempts and then turn the tables once his opponent commits, but I also thought he was reacting a lot rather than taking initiative. It'll be interesting to see how his stuff plays higher up the banzuke and if he can adjust to more powerful tachiais.