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

[ScottyJoyJrBebe 97]

Sometimes I think becoming Yokozuna isn't meant to be. The trick here is that once you get promoted and you start doing poorly, then all of your achievements prior to becoming Yokozuna is easily torn down. There were many ozeki in the past who strived and had better and prolonged careers because they didn't make Yokozuna. And this helped them to the end wind up in certain record books. For example, Kaio would have never broken Chiyonofuji's wins records had he made Yokozuna. On top of that both he and Chiyotaikai would have never set the ozeki longevity records had they made yokozuna. A favorite thing of my dad's, Konishiki would probably never had had the rivalry that amused sumo fans with Mainoumi had he made Yokozuna. And I think the same goes for those who DID end up making Yokozuna. Futahaguro, Onokuni, Mienoumi, Asahifuji, Takanosato, Wakanohana II and Wakanohana III all ended up having issues and while some of them did win yusho during their tenures, they all didn't last long at the rank.

I would rather see that Kisenosato wins the yusho first, then they start talking about another tsuna-run. I think there is no reason to hurry things up only to have it blow up in everybody's faces. For all we know Kisenosato could survive another 5-6 years as an ozeki and break records there held by the greatest of the ozeki. And maybe that's a good thing. Better to be remembered sometimes as a great ozeki than a poor to mediocre yokozuna.

THIS was a VERY SORE SPOT for me and MANY people. I was in 8th Grade in 1992 when "Sale" won his 3rd yusho, The newspapers in Hawaii were gearing up for his promotion announcement, everyone was talking about it. The Samoan Community here was also very aware of what his promotion would mean for them.

All of it came crashing down when he was passed over. Tension towards anything Japanese (already kinda high as the 50th anniversary of Pearl Harbor had just occurred) rose higher, especially in the Samoan community. I will not get into the intricacies of racial culture in Hawaii, but lets just say everyone was jumping in on the anti-Japanese bandwagon. Of course, it passed quickly when "Chad" was promoted a year later.

Sometimes, I still think there is a "Mirror Universe" where "Sale" got his Tsuna (and Koknoe Oyakata had a goatee!!!).

[CT3* 331]

Speaking of Musashimaru, today is the day he was promoted to Yokozuna back in 1999.

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=32045603&clienttype=generic&mobilecgbypass&sf26956073=1

[Tsubame 359]

I really hope for the future of sumo that he doesn't become a yokozuna.

Don't worry...he simply won't. The gap that he has to jump through is between a recovering Terunofuji and a declining Hakuho. And its already shrinking as it is. Kisenosato couldn't win the yusho when Hakuho and Harumafuji were absent. Sad truth is that the only man between him and that cup is not Hakuho, but Kisenosato.

But Kotoshogiku did won a yusho, despite the fact that all yokozuna and Ozeki were present. And I think most people will think that Kisenosato is a slightly better sekitori than Kotoshogiku. So, when he could win a yusho out of nothing, why not Kisenosato also?

[hamcornheinz 839]

I really hope for the future of sumo that he doesn't become a yokozuna.

Don't worry...he simply won't. The gap that he has to jump through is between a recovering Terunofuji and a declining Hakuho. And its already shrinking as it is. Kisenosato couldn't win the yusho when Hakuho and Harumafuji were absent. Sad truth is that the only man between him and that cup is not Hakuho, but Kisenosato.

But Kotoshogiku did won a yusho, despite the fact that all yokozuna and Ozeki were present. And I think most people will think that Kisenosato is a slightly better sekitori than Kotoshogiku. So, when he could win a yusho out of nothing, why not Kisenosato also?

There are 2 types of athletes, consistent athletes and explosive athletes. Kisenosato is a consistent athlete, Kotoshogiku is an explosive athlete.

[mikawa 1,794]

I really hope for the future of sumo that he doesn't become a yokozuna.

Don't worry...he simply won't. The gap that he has to jump through is between a recovering Terunofuji and a declining Hakuho. And its already shrinking as it is. Kisenosato couldn't win the yusho when Hakuho and Harumafuji were absent. Sad truth is that the only man between him and that cup is not Hakuho, but Kisenosato.

But Kotoshogiku did won a yusho, despite the fact that all yokozuna and Ozeki were present. And I think most people will think that Kisenosato is a slightly better sekitori than Kotoshogiku. So, when he could win a yusho out of nothing, why not Kisenosato also?

Guess the stars haven't been in his court thus far. He had a golden opportunity in Aki Basho last year when Hakuho and Harumafuji were both injured, but still couldn't get over the line

[ryafuji 811]

Sometimes I think becoming Yokozuna isn't meant to be. The trick here is that once you get promoted and you start doing poorly, then all of your achievements prior to becoming Yokozuna is easily torn down. There were many ozeki in the past who strived and had better and prolonged careers because they didn't make Yokozuna. And this helped them to the end wind up in certain record books. For example, Kaio would have never broken Chiyonofuji's wins records had he made Yokozuna. On top of that both he and Chiyotaikai would have never set the ozeki longevity records had they made yokozuna. A favorite thing of my dad's, Konishiki would probably never had had the rivalry that amused sumo fans with Mainoumi had he made Yokozuna. And I think the same goes for those who DID end up making Yokozuna. Futahaguro, Onokuni, Mienoumi, Asahifuji, Takanosato, Wakanohana II and Wakanohana III all ended up having issues and while some of them did win yusho during their tenures, they all didn't last long at the rank.

I would rather see that Kisenosato wins the yusho first, then they start talking about another tsuna-run. I think there is no reason to hurry things up only to have it blow up in everybody's faces. For all we know Kisenosato could survive another 5-6 years as an ozeki and break records there held by the greatest of the ozeki. And maybe that's a good thing. Better to be remembered sometimes as a great ozeki than a poor to mediocre yokozuna.

THIS was a VERY SORE SPOT for me and MANY people. I was in 8th Grade in 1992 when "Sale" won his 3rd yusho, The newspapers in Hawaii were gearing up for his promotion announcement, everyone was talking about it. The Samoan Community here was also very aware of what his promotion would mean for them.

Konishiki only got third place in the preceding January 1992 tournament, which disqualified him from consideration. There was never a chance that he would have been promoted after his third yusho.

[shumitto 418]

There are 2 types of athletes, consistent athletes and explosive athletes. Kisenosato is a consistent athlete, Kotoshogiku is an explosive athlete.

Kyokutenho was the epitome of the risk-shy, consistent rikishi and he of all people won the Yusho. I know that's the exception, but hey, we can hope, too.

[hamcornheinz 839]

There are 2 types of athletes, consistent athletes and explosive athletes. Kisenosato is a consistent athlete, Kotoshogiku is an explosive athlete.

Kyokutenho was the epitome of the risk-shy, consistent rikishi and he of all people won the Yusho. I know that's the exception, but hey, we can hope, too.

fair enough.

[Gurowake 4,031]

There are 2 types of athletes, consistent athletes and explosive athletes. Kisenosato is a consistent athlete, Kotoshogiku is an explosive athlete.

Kyokutenho was the epitome of the risk-shy, consistent rikishi and he of all people won the Yusho. I know that's the exception, but hey, we can hope, too.

And the yusho Kyokutenho won probably would have ended up to be Kisenosato's if he had just beaten an 8-win Ozeki on Day 15. It's one thing that you don't beat Hakuho when he's on a long winning streak. It's quite another when you can't beat someone who has nothing to fight for (except a small mochikyukin bump).

[luispereira 383]

highlights:

http://www.sumo.or.jp/en/honbasho/topics/ko_torikumi15/list