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

[Dwale 419]

Yes, would not be surprised if he is kyujo in the first week. Endo is injured and has too many endorsement projects in which that time could be focused on keiko. Kind of let down after all the hype.

I have to wonder what will happen to Endo. I understand it took some persuading to get him to join sumo, he was apparently more interested in following his university degree. With his injury and stalled momentum, we'll have to see if he has the motivation to build himself back up.

You know, I don't think I ever saw what it was Endou did that made him so popular. He's always seemed mediocre to me.

[Benevolance 2,534]

The Endo and Mitakeumi match...matching pink mawashi, pink gyoji, matching pink hand towels...it was nice to see them support Breast Cancer awareness.

[Kasutera 258]

For my puroresu fan friends: Endo is like the Greg Gagne of sumo.

[torquato 1,075]

The Endo and Mitakeumi match...matching pink mawashi, pink gyoji, matching pink hand towels...it was nice to see them support Breast Cancer awareness.

LOL That's evil! :-D

[ScreechingOwl 343]

I think Endo is so popular because he was a collegiate champion and because he is handsome. He's obviously been injured much of his makuuchi career thusfar, and questions regarding his spirit seem reasonable, if perhaps a bit unfair.

That all leads to an interesting question: when is the last time a collegiate champion who get the special ranking (M15 or M10) made it to ozeki? No one has done it in the last decade. Myogiryu has had the best career of any special seed in that time span, and it's doubtful that he'll ever make ozeki, although it's possible Ichinojo will if he learns how to lose weight instead of gain it.

[hamcornheinz 839]

Endo is popular because hes a good wrestler.... if you've watched more than 1 basho you would know that. Hes injured.

[Gurowake 4,151]

I think Endo is so popular because he was a collegiate champion and because he is handsome. He's obviously been injured much of his makuuchi career thusfar, and questions regarding his spirit seem reasonable, if perhaps a bit unfair.

That all leads to an interesting question: when is the last time a collegiate champion who get the special ranking (M15 or M10) made it to ozeki? No one has done it in the last decade. Myogiryu has had the best career of any special seed in that time span, and it's doubtful that he'll ever make ozeki, although it's possible Ichinojo will if he learns how to lose weight instead of gain it.

http://www.sumoforum.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=33453has a list of everyone who has qualified for one since the new system started (through 2014). None of them have made Ozeki. Myogiryu and Ichinojo are the closest, having KKs at Sekiwake, but don't look particularly close right now. Kotomitsuki was the last Ozeki from the Ms60TD days.

Edited January 12, 2016 by Gurowake

[Kotogouryuu 143]

Endo is popular because hes a good wrestler.... if you've watched more than 1 basho you would know that. Hes injured.

Endo is definitely really good. Hhis ability to widen his base of balance with his legwork compensates well for his smaller size. The problem is, his injury is taking that ability out, and it's unknown how long it'll be until he recovers, if at all. Either he toughs it out and is remains mediocre for a long time, or he has surgery an plunges down the banzuke, to work himself back up again. Either choice requires solid motivation.

[WAKATAKE 2,759]

I forgot to mention this after day 1, but better late than never. Aminishiki's win on day one put him solely into 10th place on the all time Makuuchi wins list. He was tied with Konishiki for 10th place at 649 wins but now Ami has 650. Now it's a matter of how far can he go.

[WAKATAKE 2,759]

Ichinojo's win against Terunofuji is career win #100 (all time).

[inhashi 2,363]

Maybe it's just me, but whenever those two are paired it reminds me of two polar bears at each other.

[Masumasumasu 902]

Hakuho is going to kill a spectator with his nonsense.

[WAKATAKE 2,759]

Harumafuji gets Makuuchi win #600 today.

[rhyen 1,858]

Aminishiki 8th Kinboshi!!!

And that fakeout.

[WAKATAKE 2,759]

Kinboshi #8 for Aminishiki!!!

[inhashi 2,363]

:-O are purple pigs flying?? oh wait that's zabuton.

[hamcornheinz 839]

I didn't get to see it but I'm assuming Aminishiki pulled a henka?

[rhyen 1,858]

Imagine Kise#1 transition into Kise#2.

[rhyen 1,858]

Does Aminishiki's latest Kinboshi set the record for a kinboshi by the eldest rikishi?

[Dwale 419]

Endo is popular because hes a good wrestler.... if you've watched more than 1 basho you would know that. Hes injured.

I've been watching sumo for years, chief...still fairly new compared to a lot of you guys, but not fresh off the truck, either.

As far as Endou goes, I'm totally comfortable with the idea that I'm wrong about him. It just seems to me that his popularity is wildly disproportionate to his performance.

Thanks for setting me straight, though. You're a charmer.

[hamcornheinz 839]

Endo is popular because hes a good wrestler.... if you've watched more than 1 basho you would know that. Hes injured.

I've been watching sumo for years, chief...still fairly new compared to a lot of you guys, but not fresh off the truck, either.

As far as Endou goes, I'm totally comfortable with the idea that I'm wrong about him. It just seems to me that his popularity is wildly disproportionate to his performance.

Thanks for setting me straight, though. You're a charmer.

Hes popular with the ladies because hes good looking too. And M1 at that age is a big deal...

[WAKATAKE 2,759]

Does Aminishiki's latest Kinboshi set the record for a kinboshi by the eldest rikishi?

Not sure but apparently it had been more than seven years since his last kinboshi according to the interview.

[Dwale 419]

Shoudai and Mitakeumi both got wins, good on them, and Kagayaki, too. Mitakeumi is looking hungry in there...

Takekaze with a showy win... just...kerplow! (Now whenever I go to rewatch that, I'm going to imagine it like a fight scene from the 60's Batman tv show.)

Did Ichinojo just...? Yes, he did. One of those (many, many) times I'm glad I don't gamble. He did need that win, though. Maybe something happened to light a fire under that substantial butt?

Aminishiki just...pfffft. He's so awesome. If you had told me even just one tournament ago that I was going to be cheering Aminishiki this much, I would have thought you were insane, but he's in there getting it done and I want to see him prevail!

[Dwale 419]

Hes popular with the ladies because hes good looking too. And M1 at that age is a big deal...

Mm. Yeah, I looked into Endou's performance history and saw there was a time when he was doing much better than he has been lately. I was watching sumo back then, but more casually than now and I didn't know where to get full coverage. So, when I said that I never saw what he did to make himself so popular, it's because...I never did. And so the mystery is solved. :-P

[WAKATAKE 2,759]

Nikkan Sports had some nice trivia and records for Aminishiki's 8th kinboshi:

- Most kinboshi for active rikishi at 8

- His seventh kinboshi came against Asashoryu in Natsu 2009

- At 37 years, 3 months, he is the 5th oldest rikishi to score a kinboshi

- Scoring the kinboshi in his 91st makuuchi basho is also the longest served rikishi beating out Terao who scored his last kinboshi in his 89th makuuchi basho

- First kinboshi came against Takanohana in 2003

- Beating Kakuryu means he has scored kinboshi from all Yokozuna he has faced: Takanohana, Musashimaru, Asashoryu, Hakuho, Kakuryu

http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/1591339.html

Edited January 12, 2016 by WAKATAKE