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

[hamcornheinz 839]

I don't think anyone in sumo short of a henka was stopping today's Harumafuji. Faster than a speeding bullet is the old saying...

[Morty 1,480]

Kisenosato. So disappointing. I have been waiting and waiting and waiting and I think I need to come to the conclusion that he just isn't good enough. Ho hum.

[Yubinhaad 11,546]

Should one of the Yokozuna win the Makuuchi yusho, this would be the 9th basho in the modern era in which a Yokozuna has given up two or more kinboshi but still managed to win the yusho. The last to do so was Musashimaru in 1999 Aki; the "record" is held by 41st Yokozuna Chiyonoyama, who gave up three kinboshi (on consecutive days, too) on his way to winning the 1955 Hatsu basho. (Expanded table)

Chiyonokuni has really livened up the lower Maegashira ranks this basho, and I think a lot of more recent fans have seen why some of us have been cheering for him for years. He really puts in his full effort every time. I feared it was another shoulder injury the way he was flexing it after Arawashi's tottari yesterday, but it seems it is a medial meniscus injury causing the right knee to lock. Hopefully it will heal properly and he'll be in reasonably good shape for the Aki basho.

Sokokurai was outclassed by a superior rikishi, he should be able to do better sumo than the cheap tachiai he tried today. Deserved win for Myogiryu.

Endo trying his best to not go down to Juryo.

I wonder why he doesn't / can't fight like that every day.

It worked today because he was attacking from the side of Sadanofuji, who wasn't able to produce any forward driving force in return. That seems to be the problem for Endo's knee(s) or ankle, as soon as any significant pressure comes at him from the front, he struggles to stop it and gets pushed out easily.

Makushita yusho- Ryuusei(Ms44W,7-0), 30 years old veteran, 13 years in sumo. Has a Jonidan yusho in the past.

Jonokuchi yusho- Shuuji(7-0), back from a 6 basho absence due to injury.

Ryusei lost a Jonidan kettei-sen, this is his first yusho. I have nothing against Yamaguchi but I was hoping Ryusei would win this one. Been around a long time, part of a very small heya with his father as his shisho. Very happy to see him win.

Shuji suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in May last year, and had surgery two months later to replace it with a patellar tendon. He was able to resume keiko from January this year, fighting and winning one bout in each of the last three basho in order to stay on the banzuke.

Edited July 22, 2016 by Yubinhaad

[Jojo 11]

What on earth was Goeido attempting?

Well... It has a name ;-) ! But it seems in his rush to go right, he landed his right foot on the gyoji's left one and lost his balance because of that....

[MrGrumpyGills 119]

So is Kisenosato definitely out of the race?

Of course not. Today was just to show there is no plot to get him the yusho. So that over the next 2 days the plan to get him promoted can take effect. Please try and keep up.

Silly me! XD

[ScottyJoyJrBebe 97]

Today's match proved why Kisenosato will remain "Ozeki" Kisenosato.

Perhaps Your Right.

However, it is NOT over......till its OVER.

[Dapeng 232]

Now Hakuho the story-teller holds the key.

I don't think Hakuho will shatter the tsuna dream of NSK. As a result, most probably, this basho be ended with Kise at 12 wins, Hakuho at 10 wins and Harumafuji at 13 wins.

[ScottyJoyJrBebe 97]

Now Hakuho the story-teller holds the key.

I don't think Hakuho will shatter the tsuna dream of NSK. As a result, most probably, this basho be ended with Kise at 12 wins, Hakuho at 10 wins and Harumafuji at 13 wins.

An 8th yusho from Harumafuji is quite appealing. I always thought that he would get 10 before he hangs it up.

[Jakusotsu 5,815]

Well, if Kise has proven to be uncomfortable at tsunatori time and time again, it might be a blessing we never see how uncomfortable he would be at the next level.

(Goeido anybody?)

[hamcornheinz 839]

HMFJ will be out for blood this time too, after that henka last basho.

And the big story seems to me to be Terunofuji and his tsuna hopes. Is this injury career-maiming or a temporary setback? Certainly there are still flashes of brilliance now and then, but hes definitely not the guy fighting Kakuryu for the cup a few months back.

[Naganoyama 5,854]

...

Ryusei lost a Jonidan kettei-sen, this is his first yusho. I have nothing against Yamaguchi but I was hoping Ryusei would win this one. Been around a long time, part of a very small heya with his father as his shisho. Very happy to see him win.

...

Is he also related to this guy?

[Randomitsuki 2,768]

Now Hakuho the story-teller holds the key.

I don't think Hakuho will shatter the tsuna dream of NSK. As a result, most probably, this basho be ended with Kise at 12 wins, Hakuho at 10 wins and Harumafuji at 13 wins.

If that pattern materialized, Goeido would end up kadoban.

You appear to be firmly under the spell of Sumotalk writers (Hakuho the storyteller, yadda yadda). Therefore it's ironic that you do not take into account the only "shady sumo" theory that has a substantial factual basis: the regular "Save the Ozeki Campaign".

[Benevolance 2,478]

My hometown started a community recycling program to save endangered ozeki.

[RabidJohn 1,665]

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!".

A bit off-topic, I know, but this caught my eye.

They definitely shout "Nokotta", but tend to add an indeterminate number of (sounds like) "ragata-ragata" with an emphasis on the final "tah" - it just seems to vary from gyogi to gyogi.

I can't find any explanation for this; everywhere I've looked tells me it's just "Nokotta". I've come to the conclusion that it's something like a Japanese equivalent of Ned Flanders' "iddly-diddly" unnecessarily added to words, and it's just as meaningless, therefore no translation.

Or am I miles off?

[robnplunder 974]

So is Kisenosato definitely out of the race?

IMO, he's 90% out although mathematically still in. Let's see ... he needs to win out, and Terunofuji needs to lose to Hak. Then, he needs to win the 3 way playoff against the two Yokozuna. Hmmm. Make that 99% out.

[Asashosakari 18,786]

IMO, he's 90% out although mathematically still in. Let's see ... he needs to win out, and Terunofuji needs to lose to Hak. Then, he needs to win the 3 way playoff against the two Yokozuna. Hmmm. Make that 99% out.

If Kisenosato ends up in a 12-3 playoff, Hakuho won't be there.

[robnplunder 974]

IMO, he's 90% out although mathematically still in. Let's see ... he needs to win out, and Terunofuji needs to lose to Hak. Then, he needs to win the 3 way playoff against the two Yokozuna. Hmmm. Make that 99% out.

If Kisenosato ends up in a 12-3 playoff, Hakuho won't be there.

Thanks for the correction. In that case, I believe Kisenosato has 20% chance at best.

Edited July 22, 2016 by robnplunder

[shumitto 418]

Kisenosato. So disappointing. I have been waiting and waiting and waiting and I think I need to come to the conclusion that he just isn't good enough. Ho hum.

I came to this very conclusion many years ago but every now and then I feel tempted to let my hopes go up. Fortunately I resist that.

If only Shodai were a bit taller... but he must be the best college rikishi I've seen climbing up the ranks in the last decade. I am still holding my horses though.

[Asashosakari 18,786]

If only Shodai were a bit taller... but he must be the best college rikishi I've seen climbing up the ranks in the last decade. I am still holding my horses though.

He's deceptively strong, isn't he? Every time he's facing a high-ranker I'm sort of expecting to see a bout that looks like, say, Myogiryu's do, but instead Shodai is totally capable of taking them chest-to-chest.

[bettega 427]

Kisenosato. So disappointing. I have been waiting and waiting and waiting and I think I need to come to the conclusion that he just isn't good enough. Ho hum.

I came to this very conclusion many years ago but every now and then I feel tempted to let my hopes go up. Fortunately I resist that.

If only Shodai were a bit taller... but he must be the best college rikishi I've seen climbing up the ranks in the last decade. I am still holding my horses though.

Shodai has almost the same build as Goieido (1cm and 8kg less, in fact). I think he'll do ok in sanyaku :)

[Jakusotsu 5,815]

He's deceptively strong, isn't he? Every time he's facing a high-ranker I'm sort of expecting to see a bout that looks like, say, Myogiryu's do, but instead Shodai is totally capable of taking them chest-to-chest.

And he even looks like Kitanoumi! (who was smaller)

[Morningstar 118]

Makushita Yusho winner Ryusei is spotting a nice beard! first time to see this (sideburns excluded)

Maybe it's because Mediterranean people are a bit closer to our common ancestor with the monkeys than the rest of you, ...

This is the kind of thing I would expect to see on Storefront, 4chan, or Sumo Talk. Certainly not here. :'-(

[Jakusotsu 5,815]

Makushita Yusho winner Ryusei is spotting a nice beard! first time to see this (sideburns excluded)

Maybe it's because Mediterranean people are a bit closer to our common ancestor with the monkeys than the rest of you, ...

This is the kind of thing I would expect to see on Storefront, 4chan, or Sumo Talk. Certainly not here. :'-(

Easy there. Being from Greece, McBugger has a prerogative.

[egparis18 622]

Maybe it's because Mediterranean people are a bit closer to our common ancestor with the monkeys than the rest of you, ...

This is the kind of thing I would expect to see on Storefront, 4chan, or Sumo Talk. Certainly not here. :'-(

It's just a joke. :-)

Here's the full quote;

"Maybe it's because Mediterranean people are a bit closer to our common ancestor with the monkeys than the rest of you, but come on. I had a more complete beard than Ryuusei at 14."

Zeus and Poseidon had full flowing beards too, so perhaps that's who McBugger inherited from.

Monkeys are cool anyway. especially gorillas.

[MrGrumpyGills 119]

Maybe it's because Mediterranean people are a bit closer to our common ancestor with the monkeys than the rest of you, ...

This is the kind of thing I would expect to see on Storefront, 4chan, or Sumo Talk. Certainly not here. :'-(

It's just a joke. :-)

Here's the full quote;

"Maybe it's because Mediterranean people are a bit closer to our common ancestor with the monkeys than the rest of you, but come on. I had a more complete beard than Ryuusei at 14."

Zeus and Poseidon had full flowing beards too, so perhaps that's who McBugger inherited from.

Monkeys are cool anyway. especially gorillas.

Gorillas are apes.

:-P