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

[CT3* 331]

Guys that enter Sumo dream of being "average" enough to become a Makuuchi mainstay like Kaisei.

Perspective...

[CT3* 331]

Yeah to some people "average" apparently means achieving something that over 97% of those who turn pro don't.

Bingo!

[d_golem 213]

It's wonderful to see such healthy discussion in this forum. But yeah, if me myself reach 97% percentile in any given professional endeavour (and that not including the much larger number of amateur practitioners), I'll be very well chuffed about myself.

[Jyuunomori 226]

Osunaarashi is taking a laugh now. He seems to be determined to use a different kimarite every bout, showing us his skills.

Nishikigi and Dewahayate are also having wonderful bashos. I think it is pretty safe bet that all three of them are getting kachi-koshi.

[Jojo 11]

If Homarenishiki gets to be as good as Kaisei, I think my point will be proven: he is average.

It won't. See above

If Kaisei is the long term view you have in mind, I don't find it a reasonable refutation.

Don't care.

Yes, Hakuho started with an MK. At 15. Brody is much older, and actually somewhat experienced.

Yeah said that.

When he improves, then I'll start caring about him again

I'll pass that along to him. He'll be delighted

you cannot get me to care.

Rats. Foiled again

Perhaps you expect me to be a rah-rah guy who openly supports people vaguely similar in demographics to me for absolutely no reason

Being vaguely similar in demographic isn't a reason?

you think I'm a traitor because I'm not taking a long view.

No. I think you are short-sighted because you aren't taking a long view.

I don't give a damn about your long view.

You say that now but in time.....

I'll give a damn when there's reason to give a damn.

Rhett? Is that you?

Tsuppari-like response... I like it :-)

[Jyuunomori 226]

//Trying to live post my reactions and thoughts that are immediate again! Excuse me for being unfiltered! Let's hope the stream can keep up. :P//

1: Kitataiki vs Daiesho: Daiesho rushed forward and managed to stay up as Kitataiki failed with his hatakikomi. Pretty easy win to say the least.

2: Daishomaru vs Satoyama: Satoyama submarined fearlessly but Daishomaru didn't have none of that nonsense! Pushed him back up from the crouch and pushed him just enough to get his feet of the dohyo!

3: Akiseyama vs Tamawashi: Tamawashi wins by Oshiwashi! A wild tsuppari bout where both rikishi took some big hits. Tamawashi was more balanced and managed to rush in for the victory!

4: Gagamaru vs Mitakeumi: Our favourite tone-deaf crybaby continues to dominate Mitakeumi. It was tri-push railroad for Gagamaru. Mitakeumi doesn't have any clue what to do against bigger opponents than him. Gagamaru is great but not someone Mitakeumi should struggle against.

5: Chiyootori vs Sadanoumi: Well that was tame. They met at the middle of the ring and Sadanoumi almost voluntarily walked of the dohyo. Chiyootori's win!

6: Toyohibiki vs Hidenoumi: Hidenoumi's nerves broke down and he lost his initial tachiai form by raising his hands off the ground. Toyohibiki took a hard look at Kotoyuuki yesterday and won against confuzzled Hidenoumi. It was basic and typical rush attack from Toyohibiki. Basic, but effective.

7: Tokushouryu vs Chiyotairyu: Chiyotairyu got a hidari-yotsu early on but didn't know what to do with it. Tokushouryu calmly took a migi-yotsu and forced Chiyotairyu of the dohyo. Yorikiri.

8: Takanoiwa vs Amuuru: Amuuru continues to prove that he belong to the makuuchi. He did a good tachiai but there was some fumbling because of Takanoiwa. Amuuru didn't loose his cool and managed to grab Takanoiwa's mawashi and neck and performed the fabled shittyshieldthrow. Great bout, probably my favourite thus far today.

9: Ichinojo vs Kaisei: Ichinojo was sleeping at tachiai but managed to neutralize Kaisei A's rush with his sheer size and mongolian genetics. Pushing from both sides ensued only to end with a good throw by Ichinojo. Why doesn't this Ichinojo show up more often. I call him Ichinojo (A)lpha. Better bout than the last one. Some good sumo shown today.

10: Takekaze vs Shohozan: Takekaze wins against spirited Shohozan. The popular new trend of a victory ballet was also present after Takekaze had perfomed his textbook hatakikomi.

Osunaarashi replay showing of his flare and swag. He looks bored.

11: Kyokushuho vs Shodai: MADA MADA MADA! HANDS DOWN! DAMMIT! Chounosuke the Gyoji is strict! Next try! Overpowering and overskilling is Shodai. Kyoukushuho ran into a brick wall and got migi-yotsu'd! Yorikiri! Shodai is back on track to get his kachi-koshi. When will the streak end?

12: Ikioi vs Myogiryuu: Most exciting match of today. Let's see what happens! Stand-off and stood up! Tingling excitement! Myougiryuu gets the superior belt grip but Ikioi takes his opponent and throws the former Sekiwake like he was a bag of potatoes. IT'S HAPPENING HOLY SHIT!

13: Kotoyuuki vs Takayasu: Here comes the Owl. A Hoot echoes and gets a joyful response from the crowd. Kotoyuuki takes Takayasu head on and pushes him aside and wins by oshidashi. Kotoyuuki is highly succesful and Takayasu is now on the suicide watch.

14: Tochiozan vs Takarafuji: Tochiozan stalls like a madman and managed to get a neck up on Takarafuji. Clash and a easy throw.

15: Okinoumi vs Kisenosato: Okinoumi huffs and puffs but cannot collapse Kisenosato. Yorikiri victory for Kisenosato. Is this fucking happening too? What is going on with this basho? But to be honest if Okinoumi had won he should have ran straight to airport to buy tickets and take refuge in Mongolia.

16: Kotoshogiku vs Toyonoshima: Highschool rivals clash! Will the dream be broken today, let's see! HOLY SHIIIT! From the brink of DEATH Kotoshogiku managed to bring it back with the greatest throw we have seen this year. Holy shit I LOVE SUMO! Bumbety bumb was reversed and he was 5 foot under but somehow he found the power and the will to win. UNF**KINGBELIVABLE!

17: Sokokurai vs Terunofuji: Sokokurai gets the migi-yotsu but it doesn't matter. Pure power forceout with no technique. Superior body, superior genes, superior size. Nothing that Sokokurai could have done. Except try to tsuppari him and blind him. Yorikiri win, super boring match after that last one. Still reeling, can't believe it happened.

18: Kadoban vs Wily Old Cripple: HE DOES A HOP! HE JUMPED! And gets pushed out of the dohyo by Kadoban.

19: Kakuryu vs Yoshikaze: Yoshikaze attacks valiantly! Pushing and pulling tries but Kakiryuu puts a stop to that nonsense and gives Yoshikaze a good chop to the head and he falls like a rotting tree. Hatakikomi!

20: Tochinoshin 0 vs Hakuho 21: We all know who is gonna win, but let's watch it anyway. For the grunts! Hakuho catches him easily and pushed Tochinoshin back like he was air. What? We all knew this was going to happen. 0-22.

21: Harumafuji vs Aoiyama: Can Aoiyama defeat the best currently competetive Yokozuna? Surely not, right? AND STREAM CUT OUT! THANKS FOR READING! :D Just kidding. Harumafuji uses his skill and power to push Aoiyama staight of the dohyo!

Edited March 19, 2016 by Jyuunomori

[Pandaazuma 1,310]

Jyuunomori: you should do a live commentary blog/site, mate! ;)

Edited March 19, 2016 by Pandaazuma

[kuroimori 1,634]

Who's today's guest at the NHK commentary booth today?

Don't know him and can't understand a word due to the UBS guys being really talkative today.

[kuroimori 1,634]

What a close one for the Geek!

Toyonoshima fought so well and almost had him...

[Pandaazuma 1,310]

Who's today's guest at the NHK commentary booth today?

Don't know him and can't understand a word due to the UBS guys being really talkative today.

Some actor on the morning NHK drama. He's driving me bonkers! So, in a rare move, I changed to the English broadcast! But the guest commentator there drove me bonkers too...so I am now watching in silence! :(

[Pandaazuma 1,310]

What a close one for the Geek!

Toyonoshima fought so well and almost had him...

Well, they are best mates in real life...if you know what I mean. ;)

[kuroimori 1,634]

Who's today's guest at the NHK commentary booth today?

Don't know him and can't understand a word due to the UBS guys being really talkative today.

Some actor on the morning NHK drama. He's driving me bonkers! So, in a rare move, I changed to the English broadcast! But the guest commentator there drove me bonkers too...so I am now watching in silence! :(

Alright, thanks mate!

Seems like he also drove Kitanofuji bonkers as he is no longer in the commentators' booth ;-)

Edited March 19, 2016 by kuroimori

[kuroimori 1,634]

Who's today's guest at the NHK commentary booth today?

Don't know him and can't understand a word due to the UBS guys being really talkative today.

Some actor on the morning NHK drama. He's driving me bonkers! So, in a rare move, I changed to the English broadcast! But the guest commentator there drove me bonkers too...so I am now watching in silence! :(

Alright, thanks mate!

Seems like he also drove Kitanofuji bonkers as they sent him out of the commentators' booth ;-)

Talking about the booth, I am not sure which booth/studio wins the awkward interior design awkward:

The NHK booth with the 60s psychedelic wall design or

The UBS studio (garage? bunker?) where nobody seems to give a damn about anything regarding design

Edited March 19, 2016 by kuroimori

[Jyuunomori 226]

What an exciting day this was. Ikioi, Kisenosato and Giku's matches were tremendous.

Jyuunomori: you should do a live commentary blog/site, mate! ;)

Nah, I am nowhere near talented enough for that. I am just doing this a few times for my own amusement really.

[Irakusamaru 77]

No sure if anyone has explained it, but why are all the spectators in the fancy seats on the east and west sides of the dohyo wearing the brown jackets?

[Dwale 419]

We've a number of rikishi having unfortunate tournaments. Easier matches to come, but at this point, some of these fellows are probably too demoralized to put up many wins next week, either. We'll see. (It's not like I'm over here going, "How will Takayasu ever recover from this!?" He's been up and down that maegashira ladder so many times.)

Oh, found the Osunaarashi match, might as well share that. With apologies to any Kagayaki fans...

[Arn 24]

If I were Tochinoshin and facing Hakuho I would go for something crazy, just dive for a leg or something.

[mikawa 1,794]

Nice to see Sato's found his form again, improving to 4-0 today.

Could we see a straight shootout in Jonidan between young Kotokamatami and Masunoyama?

Onosho is now at 2-5, will he get demoted? Won't he?

[Akinomaki 39,568]

Perhaps you expect me to be a rah-rah guy who openly supports people vaguely similar in demographics to me for absolutely no reason

Being vaguely similar in demographic isn't a reason?

Sumo in Japan is all about the demographics, the shusshin: "Rather than the ozeki from Tokyo, the sandanme from North America (home)", to use the famous sumo proverb in the relevant version - for Europeans one might replace the home with "from the West", for Canadians of course with Canada for Homarenishiki, with "the States" for those from the US for Musashikuni. Which is the closest to you is your jimoto and you support those from there in sumo.

This basho also those from Kobe have a home basho, and adjacent locations closer to Osaka than Nagoya etc.

Edited March 19, 2016 by Akinomaki

[egparis18 622]

4: Ichinojo vs Daieisho: Huge upset! Daieshou wins by severely scaring Ichinojo out of the ring. That was funny.

You, of course, wouldn't pee yourself if Ichinojo so much as gave you a level stare.

You, and anyone else who casually trashes rikishi, Ichinojo or any other, without a thought for how it might hurt his fans, or even the rikishi himself if he happens to understand English and follow this forum, are not funny.

I mean trashes too. There's nothing wrong with consructive criticism.

[Kishinoyama 582]

Since 'rikishi following' has been mentioned, it was not too long ago that members of the forum would adopt rikishi and keep up with their progress. I know that some still do including myself. One of my adoptees has retired (Ozeki Baruto) but the other one is still plugging away in upper Sandanme. Oazuma is 2-2 so far this tournament. Just because I (or we?) don't mention a particular rikishi does not mean we aren't interested in their progress. I do follow others as well and I will definitely be following the new kid joining Musashigawa for the Natsu tournament, Ryutaro Tokuda. :-)

Sorry for being.... (I am going off-topic...)

[dingo 1,130]

Yay Ikioi! And Kisenosato and Kotoshogiku as well for that matter. It would be super exciting if this basho turned out to be a yusho race between the three of them.

Gotta feel bad for Shohozan, Takayasu, Takarafuji et al. They're not doing anything massively wrong per se, but it just isn't coming together for them. They must feel quite awful.

Edited March 19, 2016 by dingo

[hamcornheinz 839]

Kotoshogiku's match

[Asashosakari 18,670]

I'm (too) late to the debate, but I just wanted to second this:

So we've already stopped caring about Homarenishiki??? He won his 3rd bout against Fujinokaze on day 6.

Not at all. Just at a less bruhahah way about it. Not everybody can do an Ura and skyrocket beyond people's expectation like that. Homarenishiki might loiter around sandanme/makushita for years before something suddenly clicks and he start bumping that big body around, taking him up to paid levels.

I don't think prospect-type rikishi are ever really forgotten, until they get old and it becomes definitive that they won't make it. But when it comes to the average (err...) prospect who might take 4-7 years to reach the sekitori ranks, it's only natural that the initial fan enthusiasm burns out a bit after a while - and IMHO it's healthy, too, as it were. Rikishi like that will spend enough time in makushita to (re-)build anticipation and a following again - it's fine to let them get through the lowest three divisions first without obsessing over every win and loss of theirs. Doesn't mean they're being ignored. Edited March 19, 2016 by Asashosakari

[Jyuunomori 226]

4: Ichinojo vs Daieisho: Huge upset! Daieshou wins by severely scaring Ichinojo out of the ring. That was funny.

You, of course, wouldn't pee yourself if Ichinojo so much as gave you a level stare.

You, and anyone else who casually trashes rikishi, Ichinojo or any other, without a thought for how it might hurt his fans, or even the rikishi himself if he happens to understand English and follow this forum, are not funny.

I mean trashes too. There's nothing wrong with consructive criticism.

I don't think I have ever trashed a rikishi before, sure I poke fun at them when they behave weirdly. Ichinojo even commented that it was his bad habit of pulling and jumping backwards instead of going forward. I wouldn't pee myself from Ichinojo rushing towards me? I don't really know if I would. I am 201cm tall and weigh 155kg. I think I'd manage somehow without pissing myself, would be scary still though considering how build he is.

Only rikishi who I keep poking fun at is Hattorizakura. But this poking of fun ain't malicious, infact I am inspired his guts. Lesser rikishi would have already given up on his situation. But for real with Hattorizakura. He is 70 kilos and hasn't won a single bout and this is his third basho out of Mae-zumo. He has to be one of the gutsiest persons I have seen. But is his heya feeding the poor man? I'd expect him to put on a bit of weight right now. But then again Sumo is tought sport so integrating takes time.

Sorry if I offended you as an Ichinojo fan.