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

[WAKATAKE 2,624]

An extra shove by Hakuho to the inside so no one can get hurt - booing for the half-henka.

Utter garbage from Hakuho. He can be the champion all he wants, doesn't mean he's going to be the fan favorite. That's clearly been established for a while.

Edited May 15, 2016 by WAKATAKE

[d_golem 213]

First Yokozuna-Ozeki match up of the basho as Kotoshogiku squared up to Harumafuji. The obligatory cheer for the Koto-bauer. Harumafuji received Giku's charge head-on as an almighty bang rang around the Kokugikan. Giku was no match for the nimble feet of Harumafuji. Delicious tottari.

Final bout. Aoiyama vs Kakuryu. I think I know where this is going. Aioyama faceplant. No! Kakuryu took his time putting his hands down and matta. Aoiyama looked pissed. Second tachiai followed by furious pushing and thrusting. Kakuryu swivelled and...well, half-a-faceplant by Aoiyama.

End result : Hakuho and Kise still leads unbeaten followed by Harumafuji and Goeido at one loss. Now for a nice, small tub of Hagen-Dasz Rum Raisin ice cream....bliss....

[Jyuunomori 226]

Hakuho is the best Yokozuna ever but man his manners are <BEEP>:n garbage. Utterly atrocious. I hope he gets called in because of that, just cause. Just retire already so we can see more Harumafuji domination and Gagamaru's rise to Yokozunahood. He is like 15 year old teenager who thinks he can do whatever the heck he wants.

Osunaarashi vs Tochinoshin was the best bout of today. What a titanic battle of epic strenght.

Also: TERUNOFUJI STOP :'-( GO HOME :-( :-( :-( :'-(

[Kaioshoryu 62]

白鵬右に交わして。。。横綱は少し交わす相撲になった。。。

Why the japanese text?

[Morty 1,480]

Anyone have any idea what injury (or injuries) Teronofuji is actually suffering? He is a shadow of his former self at the moment.

And speaking of injuries, Endo looks like his has healed up a bit - seems to have his full mobility back and that good balance that was one of his major weapons previously.

[hamcornheinz 839]

It didn't seem like that was Hakuho's fault at all. He didn't jump to the side that much, he swiped Kotoyuki to his side, sort of an arm drag. If anything it was Kotoyuki over-committing to the strike.

Edited May 15, 2016 by hamcornheinz

[hamcornheinz 839]

It didn't seem like that was Hakuho's fault at all. He didn't jump to the side, he swiped Kotoyuki to his side, sort of an arm drag. If anything it was Kotoyuki over-committing to the strike.

In the vid you posted people can check Mainoumi's comments for themselves. He said that Hakuho was reacting to Kotoyuki's tachi-ai, who was coming in hard with the two-hand thrust and thus the dodge by the yokozuna after coming out with his customary harite.

Don't speak Japanese, but that seems about right. If you're Kotoyuki or Kotoshogiku, and you lose everytime someone takes any sort of an angle, you're not fighting to your best ability, and deserve to be sidestepped every time.

[hamcornheinz 839]

It didn't seem like that was Hakuho's fault at all. He didn't jump to the side, he swiped Kotoyuki to his side, sort of an arm drag. If anything it was Kotoyuki over-committing to the strike.

In the vid you posted people can check Mainoumi's comments for themselves. He said that Hakuho was reacting to Kotoyuki's tachi-ai, who was coming in hard with the two-hand thrust and thus the dodge by the yokozuna after coming out with his customary harite.

Don't speak Japanese, but that seems about right. If you're Kotoyuki or Kotoshogiku, and you lose everytime someone takes any sort of an angle, you're not fighting to your best ability, and deserve to be sidestepped every time.

Hakuho has for some years now been focusing on a go-no-sen tachi-ai, in which he harmonizes with his aite's tachi-ai by allowing himself to wait until the last possible moment, and reacting to their intention. He is very good at this, and it sometimes gives him such advantage that the fans find it hard to appreciate.

He hardly has an offensive tachiai either, he always starts out with staggered legs and always leaves one behind, and usually gets pushed back a bit. He used to be more focused on throws, whereas now that his body is starting to age hes starting to focus on the pushouts, which is why he hasn't had the reputation for extra shoves until now, I think. But yeah, he's always been a reactive one.

[CT3* 331]

At this point, it seems that everything Hakuho does gets hyper-scrutinized and critiqued. I didn't see much to complain about in the Kotoyuki bout.

[Dwale 419]

The trappings of sumo hold spiritual significance for the Japanese, at least nominally. What does Hakuho think that rope means? But I think for him, this is just a sport.

[Benevolance 2,474]

Goeido for tsuna run?

Aw, seriously. Why do you gotta threaten the man?

[WAKATAKE 2,624]

I'm not sure that is so. Hakuho has dedicated literally half his life, more or less 24-7-365, to sumo. Along the way he learned a foreign language, adapted to a foreign culture, and became an the avatar and ambassador of sumo in his role as yokozuna. I think in some ways he is very disappointed that the fans do not appreciate his acheivements and dedication, and cheer loud and long for any Japanese national across the shikiri-sen from him. Akebono and Musashimaru never had to experience such bias from the fans. But, they did share their roles as yokozuna with the Hanada brothers. It's not Asashoryu nor Hakuho's fault that no local rival has risen to the challenge, but it must hurt to be scorned by the fans after pouring their heart and soul into sumo. At least some of Hakuho's recent antics seem to be a reaction to a percieved disrespect from the fans attending honbasho.

That in as much is obvious. However he does himself no favors by the ring edge tactics that either leave opponents bloodied, a judge in the hospital, or however other ways he can to show the nice friendly gesture to the fans. Fans like great matches, and by betraying the excitement that the fans are looking for in a match by side stepping doesn't help his cause either. I know, I know. Hakuho is free to do sumo as he pleases. I'm not Hakuho, I don't know what's going on in his mind, but as a former athlete who is trying to get back into his own ring, you never feel great by cheating or playing by ways that may seem unethical or kills the momentum even if it's legal in the sport. Sportsmanship is a pet peeve of mine, and Hakuho clearly has lacked it. He is a great wrestler, and has achieved many great things. That can never be taken away. However where attitude is unbecoming of his rank, it is surely something that will come back to bite him in the ass. He may think he doesn't need friends, but the way you treat people sometimes can show in their attitude towards you later on when you don't have the power over them like you used to. Hakuho may be in for a very rude awakening come retirement time.

[rzombie1988 157]

Thoughts on the day - watched it but nothing sunk in to me for some reason:

- LOL Hakuho. I guess it wasn't a henka and was a legit technique, but it somewhat felt like one since he didn't fully engage. Knocks Koto's arms away which was a good move. Pushes him out, then goes for the extra shove but realizes it's not a good idea. Pulls him in, then pushes him into the ring LOL This guy. Why didn't he just slap him on the ass while he was at it? Glad they booed his ass.

- Nice Ikioi vs Kaisei battle. Ikioi had it won at one point but still got turned around.

- Kisenosato teasing us again? Like cycling, the first week of sumo is super important and Kisenosato's biggest fault besides choking was taking stupid losses in the first week. Hak's still gonna win but due to Kakuryu not doing so well, Koto being Koto and Terunofuji being injured, he's got a shot. Harumafuji is sneakily staying in the race.

- Nice game of chicken by Goeido today. I like seeing Ichinojo actually move forward in his matches, that's progress to me and that is what he should be doing, so I'll give credit where it is due.

And to add to the discussion above, I don't get why Hakuho is doing all of this. I thought he built up a good reputation and seemed like an honorable guy, but this stuff is just throwing all of that down the tubes.

Edited May 15, 2016 by rzombie1988

[rzombie1988 157]

At this point, it seems that everything Hakuho does gets hyper-scrutinized and critiqued. I didn't see much to complain about in the Kotoyuki bout.

He went for the extra shove but seemed aware people were waiting for it then stopped. The intent was there, he just held back. Then, he pulls Koto back in like a child. Then he shoves him out of his area. If you watched it on Kinta's slow-mo you can see what he was doing.

Edited May 15, 2016 by rzombie1988

[taresu 38]

Hakuho is just trying to heaten things up in a cold cold basho.

[taresu 38]

Talking seriously now, I don't understand the extra shove back to the Dohyo as well, but that was not a henka. People are not expecting to see that kind of sumo from Him and you have to be prepared to get this kind of treatment when you are the top yokozuna and as people said here before "international sumo embassador". His position gives him some privilege but he must think about what his actions means for the sport, and of course, for the fans. I don't get it why he likes so badly to be in the wrong spotlights. He always seems to find something uncanny to people discuss about besides his good techniques and records. The guy just beated the 800 wins mark in the makuuchi division and now people will talk about this basho as the one he did that unnecessary extra shoves. Man, is hard to be him, and get him. One think i can say, he still one of most interesting Rikishis to follow, even with all this bad reputation.

Edited May 15, 2016 by taresu

[Kintamayama 44,278]

At this point, it seems that everything Hakuho does gets hyper-scrutinized and critiqued. I didn't see much to complain about in the Kotoyuki bout.

Especially not the angry pull and shove way after the match, after he did all he could to not administer that extra shove that he so wanted to. Watch the body language. A Yokozuna is always scrutinized and held to the highest standards. When it was Asashouryuu it was why this and that. Even Akebono was under fire. Waka (weak), Taka (witch doctor and general strangeness)-everyone and his reason.And mind you, it's not us couch fans scrutinizing from afar-it's the Kyokai cronies, including his own Oyakata on air on national TV saying he asked Hakuhou countless times to take it easy but "he gets hot headed during bouts-what can we do?"

So yeah, he is overboard, if one from the other side of the world may say so.

Edited May 15, 2016 by Kintamayama

[orandashoho 720]

Great match between Osanaarashi and Tochinoshin. These two are almost of a size and weight and have very similar styles. It was a joy to watch, it was truly a battle.

[wuli 67]

because we are in a time of uberdomination, with a single rikishi head and shoulders above all others, for years

we must suffer the views of a thousand couch potato experts

for them, whatever hakuho does invites their correction

for them, hakuho will always be wrong

even so, even for these, sumo world continues to revolve around the overlord

[hamcornheinz 839]

because we are in a time of uberdomination, with a single rikishi head and shoulders above all others, for years

we must suffer the views of a thousand couch potato experts

And mind you, it's not us couch fans scrutinizing from afar-it's the Kyokai cronies, including his own Oyakata on air on national TV saying he asked Hakuhou countless times to take it easy but "he gets hot headed during bouts-what can we do?"

Read the forum, will you.

Edited May 15, 2016 by hamcornheinz

[Kintamayama 44,278]

Hakuhou on Kisenosato today: "I think he's doing good sumo but he has to lower his back.."

And the battle of wits begins?

Edited May 15, 2016 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 44,278]

Tomozuna head shinpan on Terunofuji. seeming worried: "It feels like his knee is weak. Isn't it better if he didn't do anything unreasonable?'"

[wuli 67]

Tomozuna head shinpan on Terunofuji. seeming worried: "It feels like his knee is weak. Isn't it better if he didn't do anything unreasonable?'"

much too late for that

one must wonder about teru's advisors

[Harry 67]

Tomozuna head shinpan on Terunofuji. seeming worried: "It feels like his knee is weak. Isn't it better if he didn't do anything unreasonable?'"

If only.... if only there was some way they could take a rest to heal or have surgery without going kadoban or dropping out of ozeki completely.... hmmm, strange thoughts and ideas I know...

[Asojima 2,870]

If only.... if only there was some way they could take a rest to heal or have surgery without going kadoban or dropping out of ozeki completely.... hmmm, strange thoughts and ideas I know...

Take 2 basho off, come back strong, win the expected 10 for an ozeki, and back to "normal". What's strange about that?