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

[ALAKTORN 346]

No idea what Hakuho was doing today. It's almost like he was trying to lose. Very unlike Hak. Big win for Terunofuji.

Takarafuji probably lost his only chance at a title today. That golden path was ready for him and he flunked out.

I’m guessing you mean Takayasu.

It was so weird to see Hakuhō completely overwhelmed. Wish the first one didn’t end up being called a matta, I didn’t know the gyōji could say “hakkeyoi” and then take it back.

Edited July 21, 2016 by ALAKTORN

[Dwale 419]

Wow. Hakuho...it looked to me like he just wasn't focused, which is very unlike him. What on earth...? Terunofuji, I don't know. Like I said, it looked to me like Hakuho's mind was elsewhere, and Terunofuji is strong as a horse, if you don't engage, he will have no trouble hauling your flaccid carcass around the dohyo. But he's not himself.

As for Mitakeumi, it's how he recovers from this basho that tells us the calibre of fighter he is. Does he come back and try again or does he drop off the map? His sumo suggests to me that we'll see him up here again.

Shodai is fast, a lesser opponent would have been escorted right past the bales. And as Kinta pointed out, he's effectively joijin this basho because of kyujo. He's focused and proving himself to be a fast learner. So much promise. But props to Kisenosato for getting the upper hand. Kakkoii. XP

Well, Takayasu's streak came to a close with a determined Yoshikaze literally smacking him around the dohyo. Both of these guys have strong fighting spirit, but Yoshikaze just the more fierce today.

Ichinojo looked on point, as you would hope anyone at seven wins would be. I think if he got fired up, he would be scary, but he seems to use his fire sparingly. I often get the feeling that he's depressed, but that's just a gut feeling. And probably transference. XP

Ura's opponent did not seem like his heel touched outside to me. Ura wrestling on one leg, performance is always going to drop in that situation. Bravely battling through it, I'm cheering for him but never cease to be amazed at what these guys will fight through.

EDIT: Should mention Takarafuji's having a great basho and looking game. Does this bode well for his future? I don't know. I don't dislike Takarafuji and he has had some excellent matches, but I just don't feel strongly about him one way or the other. He is competitive, though.

Edited July 21, 2016 by Dwale

[kuroimori 1,634]

Ura was totally robbed in broad daylight today. With the benefit of the NHK replays, you could clearly see Amakaze's heel was out. Nobody spotted it. The announcers were very, very carefully embarrassed. We'll see later.

Edit: Watching it again, maybe I'm wrong. I don't know anymore.

Didn't notice the close encounter when I watched the match.

when the commentators went unusually outspoken I looked at the replays and was wondering if Isegahama Oyakata was on shimpan duties on that side of the dohyo... But after all the replays from different ankles angles, I think the ankle heel did not touch the sand outside the bales.

[Maguroyama 27]

A propos of this discussion, doesn't anyone think that "nokotta" the gyoji yell sounds more like "taragu" or something like that?

A looong time ago, my young children referred to the gyojis as "The Yadata Man".

In my family we always quoted it as "taraga-taraga-taragatta!".

[rhyen 1,809]

https://twitter.com/godspeed_9/status/756076457412087808

perhaps this post might clear things up a bit?

[umbriel2 13]

Will a 12-3 yusho secure the tsuna to Kise?

[Gurowake 3,922]

Will a 12-3 yusho secure the tsuna to Kise?

That's what someone from the judging department said before the tournament.

[ScottyJoyJrBebe 97]

I believe earlier someone, somewhere on the forums quoted an NSK official, who said a 12-3 Yusho will get Kisenosato his tsuna.

FWIW, I predicted Terunofuji would prevail, but I had no idea he would do it twice in one day.

[egparis18 622]

Ichinojo looked on point, as you would hope anyone at seven wins would be. I think if he got fired up, he would be scary, but he seems to use his fire sparingly. I often get the feeling that he's depressed, but that's just a gut feeling. And probably transference. XP.

I think he gets despondent too, and that's not projection since I'm mostly obstinately cheerful. He gets angry too. I'd swear he wanted to chuck the gyoji who called matta on him twice during his bout with Yoshikaze right off the dohyo, for example. He doesn't let it rip, or not much.

[Dapeng 232]

Will a 12-3 yusho secure the tsuna to Kise?

If Kise loses to Harumafuji today, Harumafuji will take the yusho at 13 wins. On the other hand, if Kise wins today, he will yusho at 13 wins and will be promoted.

[Dapeng 232]

No idea what Hakuho was doing today. It's almost like he was trying to lose. Very unlike Hak. Big win for Terunofuji.

Hakuho, like what he did in January, decides to stay away from the game this basho ......

[Dwale 419]

Ok, going to take my medicine here, Kisenosato let Shodai come in like that, but it was a trap. If Kisenosato's timing had been off by just a hair, he would have stepped out. But, it wasn't and he didn't. I don't think Shodai will fall for that a second time, but he didn't have nearly as much control of that match as I thought he did the first time.

[robnplunder 974]

• Let's not declare Yusho to Kisenosato just yet. He needs to beat two Yokozuna which isn't likely. When did he do that last time? He needed to run the table against everyone but didn't. Will see what happens next.

A few of you have mentioned it - Hakuho didn't look like himself today against Terunofusi. I thought he was doing a fellow country man (Teru who is at danger of losing Ozeki title) a favor. If he beats Kisenosato, he'd be insuring a sure Yusho for Harumafusi, another fellow countryman. Conspiracy lovers have something to chew on this one.

Ura almost won but he looked good against a Juryo leader, even with an ankle injury. However, his promotion to Makuuchi division seems to be all but gone with today's loss.

Life of M1 or M2 isn't too good, is it? They are matched against 10 - 11 rikishi who are higher in rank, including all Sanyaku rikishi.

[Katooshu 3,135]

Things are so much more interesting when Hak is losing. Can't wait for tonight's bouts!

[LeoD 17]

With 12-3 Y securing the promotion for Kisenosato, and 13-2 D no longer possible, would 12-3 D prolong the tsuna run or would he have to start over?

[sadanoumi_is_my_favorite 8]

The slap by Takayasu on Yoshikaze was the loudest I've heard in sumo: the crowd reacted to it and seemed to expect Takayasu to win right afterward. Many props to Yoshikaze for being able to take his own medicine.

[shumitto 418]

The slap by Takayasu on Yoshikaze was the loudest I've heard in sumo: the crowd reacted to it and seemed to expect Takayasu to win right afterward. Many props to Yoshikaze for being able to take his own medicine.

I must admit it that for many years I didn't notice Yoshikaze. But he is that kind of rikishi who can 'take it' without giving in, acting as though he were the strongest guy out there.

Kachikoshi is still within reach but I think Aoiyama is having his worst basho in a long while. He is being pushed too easily in a tournament that might see his first make-koshi outside the joi-jin in more than 3 years. Last time, though, he was known to be injured.

Is it good bye Kitataiki ?

Didn't Okinoumi fight in the first-half yesterday ? I don't remember a M2 fighting that early in a long time, specially one with kachi-koshi chances. Or maybe I just don't pay attention to these things.

What would explain it is the presence of 4 'visitors' (<M3) fighting in upper half, I guess.

[Kintamayama 44,354]

Is Shikimori Inosuke drunk? These matta calls just seems like it's all gone to hell.

The matta was called by head shimpan Tomozuna or whoever it was, maybe Elvis.. NHK clearly showed him angry, Gyoji just stopped the match at the shinpan's request.

[ScottyJoyJrBebe 97]

With 12-3 Y securing the promotion for Kisenosato, and 13-2 D no longer possible, would 12-3 D prolong the tsuna run or would he have to start over?

One would think that a play-off would in practice keep his run going, what do the experts say?

[Katooshu 3,135]

A 12-3 D would be even closer to the cup than last basho's 13-2 J, so I'd think the run would continue.

[Gurowake 3,922]

With 12-3 Y securing the promotion for Kisenosato, and 13-2 D no longer possible, would 12-3 D prolong the tsuna run or would he have to start over?

One would think that a play-off would in practice keep his run going, what do the experts say?

I think if he ends up 12 wins without the Yusho he'll have the exact same requirements for next basho - possibly including lowering the bar to just winning the Yusho, even if it means only 11 wins. At least, that would be my criteria if I were in charge, and after 13-13-12 without a Yusho if he manages to win one with only 11 they might not care too much. Of course, 11 win Yusho are extraordinarily rare (although we still could see it happen this tournament if whoever wins Harumafuji-Kisenosato loses their last two matches and Goeido also beats Hakuho and no one else with 9 wins wins their last 3), so they can probably make that sort of guarantee without worrying that it will actually matter.

Edited July 21, 2016 by Gurowake

[bettega 427]

Oh gosh, let Kise be. He's not Yokozuna material.

Well, I said it aloud. I feel better now.

Hakuho really likes the young one, humm?

[inhashi 2,363]

Is Shikimori Inosuke drunk? These matta calls just seems like it's all gone to hell.

The matta was called by head shimpan Tomozuna or whoever it was, maybe Elvis.. NHK clearly showed him angry, Gyoji just stopped the match at the shinpan's request.

For a moment I was sincerely starting to worry about the gyoji.

And with that third loss by Hakuho, just makes it evident that injury (right toe?) is the cause for his rare stumbling performance this tournament.

[Katooshu 3,135]

Does it look to anyone else like Amakaze bopped Ura on the head right after their match (about 1:31)?

[Asashosakari 18,786]

Could I trouble someone to summarize the mono-ii announcement in this one? Kinda curious on what grounds they decided on the torinaoshi.