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

[Morty 1,498]

Okinoumi is looking very solid this basho. Each time he performs like this I think "he is finally living up to his potential" and then he goes on a seven match losing streak or something like that. Still, I really like him and would love him to keep winning. He has always had the size, strength and skill, he has just struggled to use them all together at once

[WAKATAKE 2,667]

You don't see a lot of lower ranked guys get this much media attention, especially when they just make their debut in Jonokuchi. But one rikishi who is now 4-0 gets his own article from Nikkan. That's right, I'm talking about Kotokamatani.

http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/1592861.html

[Kuroyama 715]

So in the past 18 months or so we have had Endo, Jokoroyu, Chiyonokuni, Osunaarashi, Kotoyuki and now Teronofuji all suffer significant knee injuries, and have watched all of them try to gambarize through it rather than take time off. The only person that seems to have worked for is Kotoyuki. Meanwhile Tochinoshin does his knee, takes three or so bashos off, starts again in low makushita and is currently a Komusubi. Go figure.

This could be viewed as a lesson on how to destroy the next generation of talent before they even really get going.

They've got to do something. I remain convinced that Hakuho owes much of his success, and many of his records, to the fact that he's been able to avoid injury for so much of his time in sumo.

He'd clearly still be dominant even if all of his potential challengers were as healthy, but I have to imagine that he wouldn't necessarily be quite as dominant as he is. And in the meantime everyone else suffers, both possible foreign up-and-comers and potential Japanese hopes.

Everything about the ranking system encourages rikishi to fight injured. If they don't, they face loss of rank, status, privileges, salary, sponsorships, and in some cases the possibility of remaining with the Kyokai after retirement. Surely they can come up with some alternative less amenable to abuse than the old kosho system. The fans might be cheated when so many rikishi are fighting below their healthy capability, but also when too many rikishi are absent for no good reason.

Edited January 16, 2016 by Kuroyama

[specialweek 2 136]

You don't see a lot of lower ranked guys get this much media attention, especially when they just make their debut in Jonokuchi. But one rikishi who is now 4-0 gets his own article from Nikkan. That's right, I'm talking about Kotokamatani.

http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/1592861.html

Family connections may have a lot to do with it.

[hamcornheinz 839]

does anyone have brodi's last match?

[Gurowake 4,088]

You don't see a lot of lower ranked guys get this much media attention, especially when they just make their debut in Jonokuchi. But one rikishi who is now 4-0 gets his own article from Nikkan. That's right, I'm talking about Kotokamatani.

http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/1592861.html

As Sadogatake-oyakata's son and having some achievements for someone his age, he had plenty of press before he even entered.

[Gurowake 4,088]

Hakuho has tied Taiho for second place in "Longest win streak against an opponent from hatsugao" at 21-0 after beating Tochinoshin today. Taiho had a 21 match win streak against Annenyama, while first place is currently Kitanoumi who had a 29 match win streak against Kaneshiro.

Did they specifically say it's second place or just that he has tied that Taiho streak? I'm asking because of this.

It may have been specifically ones where at least the last win was as Yokozuna, maybe? Mushashimaru may have been a Yokozuna, but not during any of those matches linked. Even if it wasn't presented as such, the fact he wasn't Yokozuna in the last match may have caused this particular run to go unnoticed. I have to wonder if they use Doitsuyama's database or have their own of stuff like this and didn't bother to file Musashimaru's because it just never came to their attention as Musashimaru just wasn't important enough, whereas this query makes things pretty clear.

Edited January 16, 2016 by Gurowake

[WAKATAKE 2,667]

Hakuho has tied Taiho for second place in "Longest win streak against an opponent from hatsugao" at 21-0 after beating Tochinoshin today. Taiho had a 21 match win streak against Annenyama, while first place is currently Kitanoumi who had a 29 match win streak against Kaneshiro.

Did they specifically say it's second place or just that he has tied that Taiho streak? I'm asking because of this.

It may have been specifically ones where at least the last win was as Yokozuna, maybe? Mushashimaru may have been a Yokozuna, but not during any of those matches linked. Even if it wasn't presented as such, the fact he wasn't Yokozuna in the last match may have caused this particular run to go unnoticed. I have to wonder if they use Doitsuyama's database or have their own of stuff like this and didn't bother to file Musashimaru's because it just never came to their attention as Musashimaru just wasn't important enough, whereas this query makes things pretty clear.

That's what I'm thinking too. They may or not have mentioned Yokozuna specifically, but I need to go back and watch the broadcast if it's available.

[Kotogouryuu 131]

Really excited for Kotoshogiku this tournament being undefeated so far with Takayasu and Hakuho atm. Although unless he's kadoban risking to lose his ozeki rank, it seems he fizzles out the second week. I keep my fingers crossed!

The last time started 6-0 he got jun-yusho. I am curious to see what he can do this time. He does tend to lose focus on the second week, but we'll see.

[Katooshu 3,265]

Second hatakikomi loss of the basho for Brodi today.

[WAKATAKE 2,667]

My nomination for match of the basho is Ishiura vs Dewahayate. Two small guys going against each other with an exciting finish resulting in a flying shitatenage at the end.

[hamcornheinz 839]

Brody is leaning too much to keep guys away from his belt, which he leaves wide open by thrusting with his elbows out and high. Just my two cents.

[Dwale 419]

Good morning, I trust some of you are battling hangover?

One good thing about having so many kyujo is that it's forcing me to take a closer look at the other guys and really get to appreciate their brand of sumo.

Favorite wins today were: Kotoyuki, Shohozan, Kakuryu. Gonna be a fan of half the division at this rate.

[Kintamayama 45,374]

Tomorrow's Kisenosato - Kotoshougiku bout will be their 58th match-up, an all time record.

[WAKATAKE 2,667]

Tomorrow's Kisenosato - Kotoshougiku bout will be their 58th match-up, an all time record.

Ties Musashimaru vs Takanonami is what I heard on the NHK broadcast.

[Akinomaki 40,670]

BTW, like Ura and Kotokamatani, Homarenishiki has his (2-)daily articles just about him as well (from Hochi shimbun), but unlike the other two without pics (yet).

Edited January 16, 2016 by Akinomaki

[kosomo 32]

Kotoyuki at the tachiai is driving me nuts. Ignoring the whole "hands touching down thing", it seems he is incapable of touching down before his opponent, and the VERY FEW times he ever has, he loses quickly. Very one trick pony to me.

[Taigiin khuu 42]

Kotoyuki at the tachiai is driving me nuts. Ignoring the whole "hands touching down thing".

Its getting to me too. He seems to have no intention to even try.

[Dwale 419]

Kotoyuki at the tachiai is driving me nuts. Ignoring the whole "hands touching down thing".

Its getting to me too. He seems to have no intention to even try.

Which is odd because, isn't he sometimes complimented for his form when bowing?

[dingo 1,267]

Damn, Okinoumi really should be sharing the lead with Hakuho and Kotoshogiku at this point. The more he's continuing his streak the more unfair the stupid shimpan-caused loss feels.

[kuroimori 1,634]

Damn, Okinoumi really should be sharing the lead with Hakuho and Kotoshogiku at this point. The more he's continuing his streak the more unfair the stupid shimpan-caused loss feels.

One word, shoganai (it cannot be helped)

Let's hope he converts that anger and fury into some bad-ass aggression which helps him stay in the lead over the next couple of days.

[kuroimori 1,634]

I already smell an impeccable henka from Aminishiki, sort of "out of the flu"... ;-)

[WAKATAKE 2,667]

Well Gagamaru sure is happy, he broke his 8 match losing streak against Tamawashi today. The last time he beat Tamawashi was Aki of 2011.

http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi_opp.aspx?r=6572&r2=5944

Edited January 17, 2016 by WAKATAKE

[WAKATAKE 2,667]

Kotoyuki gets Harumaruji tomorrow, his first Yokozuna match.

[inhashi 2,363]

With Aminishiki back in East position I wonder how many of the remaining in the East division today will catch flu from contaminated chikaramizu... which would be terrible.