Basho Talk - Hatsu Basho 2017 ** (SPOILERS)

[Akinomaki 39,581]

You can see how much better Mitakeumi is than Shodai in how much better he was against Hakuho.

[Jyuunomori 226]

Soho gets some redemption by beating poor Harumafuji.

''You get a Kinboshi...and you get a Kinboshi...do you get a Kinboshi? Of course you do!''

[Akinomaki 39,581]

(trivia, but the spoiler-phobics might complain there)

Yesterday Mitakeumi got a kinboshi for Nagano prefecture again after Onobori 62 years ago http://www.shinmai.co.jp/news/nagano/20170110/KT170109ATI090004000.php

That was the 30th that Harumafuji gave away, in his 26th yokozuna basho, but it only makes him 10th in the list of most kinboshi distributors. http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/1763215.html

He already added another one today though.

[Asashosakari 18,670]

14 hours ago, Benihana said:

Don't be so harsh. A nice "please cease this" would have done it.

Perhaps. On the other hand, you had half a year to figure it out on your own and realize that nobody else on this forum is persistently trashing up threads in those ways, and that maybe there are reasons for that.

[ryafuji 806]

 

7 hours ago, sekitori said:

Yoshikaze's tsuriotoshi was outstanding, but the best one I ever saw was the one Asashoryu pulled off against Kotomitsuki.

Asa's signature move, of course.

[ALAKTORN 346]

Harumafuji seems to be moving well, he doesn’t show signs of being injured but I guess he must be…

Hokutofuji looks like he could be pretty decent to me, 24 years old.

Shōdai not living up to expectations, I now think Mitakeumi is better than him (I always cheered for Mitakeumi over him so I’m happy).

[Morty 1,480]

Shodai needs to improve his tachiai if he is going to get to the next level. However Mitakeumi is the Man, despite losing to the GOAT.

And I hate to say this, and I state categorically that I don't want it to happen, but both Harumafuji and Kotoshogiku will Intai this year. Neither will be an active rikishi at Hatsu 2018. 

 

[Dwale 419]

So, Kotoyuki, about your crappy henka... XP

Takayasu getting a win over the ozeki, uh-oh! If he's demoralized, he's not showing it. Fun match.

Knew Shodai was in trouble as soon as he put his hands down. I was like, "Don't do it, don't...aww." lol. 

Think Satou is gonna change his name back after this tournament? He looks so doughy. 

Takanoiwa...was it that hard of a slap? Kaisei just crumpled, but he seemed to have his wits about him. Kinda strange.

I hope Ishiura can pull something out, he's getting served like a tennis ball in there.

Takekaze getting a win and having a good basho so far. I just like to see the older guys doing well. Is he senior-most in makuuchi at the moment?

Mitakeumi made a valiant effort, and you can see Hakuho was taking no chances and went all out on him. 

Congratulations to Shohozan on his kinboshi! 

[Harry 67]

4 hours ago, Jyuunomori said:

Soho gets some redemption by beating poor Harumafuji.

''You get a Kinboshi...and you get a Kinboshi...do you get a Kinboshi? Of course you do!''

The real question is whether or not the kinboshi machine will show up to give one to Arawashi tomorrow. I suspect Harry will take the rest of the basho off.

[hamcornheinz 839]

16 hours ago, McBugger said:

Only forbidden to grab the strip that covers the kintama. The other vertical strip (ato-tatemitsu) is fair game. 

I had no idea that was what kintama means.... wait so... never mind..

[Dapeng 232]

2 hours ago, Morty said:

Shodai needs to improve his tachiai if he is going to get to the next level. However Mitakeumi is the Man, despite losing to the GOAT.

And I hate to say this, and I state categorically that I don't want it to happen, but both Harumafuji and Kotoshogiku will Intai this year. Neither will be an active rikishi at Hatsu 2018. 

 

Haru may have to retire but Geeku does not have to because he is allowed to drag on even after being demoted. 

[Dapeng 232]

22 hours ago, Benevolance said:

It's a good thing I'm not a sekitori, because I thought the tournament started NEXT Sunday. Sneaky first Sunday of the year. 

 

 

My guess would be 12 wins, another jun-yusho, but still not actually in the yusho race. The perfect blend of success and failure to generate pages and pages of articles in newspaper sports sections and thread after thread of pointless armchair speculation on nerdy internet forums. 

As someone once said, he is unbelievable in that he could beat three yokozuna in a row but then lost to a hiramaku. 

[hamcornheinz 839]

can someone enlighten me as to what a perfect HNH is?

[Ryoshishokunin 260]

9 minutes ago, hamcornheinz said:

can someone enlighten me as to what a perfect HNH is?

A harumafuji non-henka.  Taking the blow of the tachi-ai, and then stepping around the opponent to get on the belt from the outside and propelling them elsewhere, typically.

[pmac 34]

i think the chances for kise are best ever to pull one off now.... haruma isnt well, hakuho also doesnt really look like himself, i doubt kak will win 2 in a row, goeido out already and the other 2 ozeki will be more than happy with 8 wins! my magic glassball tells me theres only kak who could spoil the party!

Edited January 10, 2017 by pmac

[Asojima 2,870]

18 minutes ago, pmac said:

 my magic glassball tells me theres only kak who could spoil the party!

or Kise.

[pmac 34]

Just now, Asojima said:

or Kise.

haha, thats the 2nd option ofc.....but seriously, i feel his chances are better than ever this basho, i almost dare to predict kise goes yusho!

[Dwale 419]

6 minutes ago, pmac said:

haha, thats the 2nd option ofc.....but seriously, i feel his chances are better than ever this basho, i almost dare to predict kise goes yusho!

Would love to see. I mean, at this point it seems like the law of averages would hold it comes down to one match and the other guy trips or passes out or something... I tease, but yeah, always cheering for Kisenosato. 

[Akinomaki 39,581]

5 hours ago, Akinomaki said:

the 30th that Harumafuji gave away, in his 26th yokozuna basho, but it only makes him 10th in the list of most kinboshi distributors.

He already added another one today though.

And with 31 he already is joint 8th now, together with Tochinishiki (28 basho) and Kagamisato (21 basho) http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20170110/sum17011019350010-n1.html

[Benevolance 2,472]

I guess Harumafuji wants to get in on the records race, but Hak keeps making it tough. Way to carve out his own niche, though!

[Rocks 1,805]

So, if Harumafuji loses to Arawashi what do you all put the odds of him going kyujo at? Greater than 50%?

[robnplunder 974]

7 hours ago, Dwale said:

So, Kotoyuki, about your crappy henka... XP

Takayasu getting a win over the ozeki, uh-oh! If he's demoralized, he's not showing it. Fun match.

Knew Shodai was in trouble as soon as he put his hands down. I was like, "Don't do it, don't...aww." lol. 

Think Satou is gonna change his name back after this tournament? He looks so doughy. 

Takanoiwa...was it that hard of a slap? Kaisei just crumpled, but he seemed to have his wits about him. Kinda strange.

I hope Ishiura can pull something out, he's getting served like a tennis ball in there.

Takekaze getting a win and having a good basho so far. I just like to see the older guys doing well. Is he senior-most in makuuchi at the moment?

Mitakeumi made a valiant effort, and you can see Hakuho was taking no chances and went all out on him. 

Congratulations to Shohozan on his kinboshi! 

Shodai's tachi-hai was poor, seemed unsure of himself.   He needs a little more confidence at tachi-hai, IMO.

Sato & Ishura are being pushed around like a rag doll in this basho.  I sure hope they find their footing and get some wins, and stay in Makuuchi.

I agreed with your sentiment on Takakaze.   I hope he goes make-koshi.

Mitakeumi's effort against Hakuho was good.   He's getting better.  I think he has a decent chance at another kinbosh today at day 4.

BTW, it seems to be that there are more slippotage (I think it is Kintanayama san's term) loss in this basho than before.  Am I mistaken (happens often) or do others see the same?

Edited January 10, 2017 by robnplunder

[dingo 1,133]

All Shodai has to do is to have a proper tachiai. He should know that standing up passively doesn't cut it... I mean I'm sure he knows it but seems like he's losing mentally. If he has something to learn from Mitakeumi, it's fearlessness against higher ranking and more senior / famous opponents. 

[RabidJohn 1,644]

You could almost see the "Wow!" on Hak's face when Mita easily resisted the very serious throw attempt immediately following the HNH! I know he lost, but Mita's really showing some excellent sumo.

Unlike Shodai... Those hesitant tachi-ai are rubbish! It's all mental - he's choking against certain opponents.

Really nice moves from Chiyoshoma today. I thought the way he put his momentum into the throw coming down from having both feet off the ground was somewhat Chiyonofuji-esque. He's caught my eye before with some lovely sumo, and I think he could be a sanyaku contender if he can get some consistency to it.

When you look at the performance of all the ozeki, it really is remarkable that Kise is the only one without a yusho! He's beaten everyone he needs to beat at some point, so maybe this time things will all align at the same basho for him. Unfortunately for him, though, both Hak and Kak are looking fairly handy.

[Benihana 1,900]

7 hours ago, Asashosakari said:

Perhaps. On the other hand, you had half a year to figure it out on your own and realize that nobody else on this forum is persistently trashing up threads in those ways, and that maybe there are reasons for that.

Thank you for pointing it out, sometimes i'm blind to things like that. I apologize for any inconvenience, will keep it in mind and adapt my posting style.

 

Again a lot of spirited sumo, i really hope Ura gets his promotion. Finally a day of rest for Osu's knees :) If Hakuho has to HNH you, you pose a threat to him. But Mitakeumi will fight on. If i had to put my money on the yusho winner right now, i would put it on Kisenosato.