Basho Talk ** Haru Basho 2017 ** (SPOILERS)

[Amamaniac 2,079]

Sadly, Kaisei got his makekoshi against Arawashi.  Despite a poor start, Arawashi's sumo has improved with his gold star victory over Harumafuji on Day 9.  In his bout versus Kaisei, he lost balance while executing a tsukiotoshi.  But he had the presence of mind to hold his arms close to his body so that Kaisei's hand(s) hit the dohyo first.  Great awareness!  He sacrificed his body (leaving the ring with a nice scrape on his left elbow) to secure the white star.  He will have to be perfect here on in if he wants to avoid a makekoshi.  I'm not holding my breath.

[Kuroyama 715]

6 minutes ago, Amamaniac said:

Sadly, Kaisei got his makekoshi against Arawashi.  Despite a poor start, Arawashi's sumo has improved with his gold star victory over Harumafuji on Day 9.  In his bout versus Kaisei, he lost balance while executing a tsukiotoshi.  But he had the presence of mind to hold his arms close to his body so that Kaisei's hand(s) hit the dohyo first.  Great awareness!  He sacrificed his body (leaving the ring with a nice scrape on his left elbow) to secure the white star.  He will have to be perfect here on in if he wants to avoid a makekoshi.  I'm not holding my breath.

I think it was an existing injury. On the replay you can see a bandage fall off his arm on that spot. I'll try to get a screencap of it later if I have time.

Edited March 22, 2017 by Kuroyama

[Rocks 1,809]

Well, Kotoshogiku got Takarafuji for Day 12 so that means he'll get Terrorfuji, as Terror has to face Kak and Kise on 14 & 15, on Day 13 which could be his 1st chance to get 10 wins. I wonder if they'll put Tochiozan against Giku, instead of an M4,  if Tochiozan keeps winning?

[Tiger Tanaka 226]

Takayasu vs Kakuryu should be a good one. Takayasu is 5-11 lifetime against Kak, but has won 2 of the last 3.

[mikawa 1,794]

3 wins out of 4 is that much harder now for Kotoshogiku, he may still make it.

Kise's still looking good, though pity we won't be having a zensho playoff now between him and Takayasu.

Takagenji's got his kachikoshi today, on his way to replacing Takakeisho as the youngest sekitori?

[Dwale 419]

Not sure why Kotoshogiku did that. Not a smart move. He can still pull this off, however. Good luck to him, he'll need it.

How about Terunofuji v. Arawashi? Easily the best match of the day, IMO, and a real nail-biter. Both men deserve full credit for their performance.

As for Kisenosato, well, not to dwell on how good his footwork is, but it's just so good, you guys. lol. That was also an excellent match. A lesser rikishi would have lost there, no question about it.

I think Takayasu was unwise to try the same move twice in a row like that. Smart sumo from Kakuryu, credit where it's due, he took him into deep water, biding his time for the perfect moment to explode. Well, Takayasu got ten in a row, so he can't complain too much. And I think he'll finish strong, probably get another win or two before all is said and done.

EDIT: I think Takarafuji saw a five yen coin on the floor and wanted to snatch it before anyone else did.

Edited March 22, 2017 by Dwale

[YoungSumo 93]

I expected either Harumafuji or Kakuryu to retire after this basho but that's not looking likely at all. Both are coming off injuries and still have a respectable 8-3 record. Now let's see how Hakuho and Goeido return next basho and not to mention what will happen with Giku. Will he get his 10 wins and if not will he retire?

Out of these 5 guys I expect at least 2 guys to not be around in 2018.

[Rocks 1,809]

Well, I thought there was zero chance all 3 Yokozuna would win so kudos to them. Harumafuji and Kakuryu actually looked as strong as Kise for the 1st time this basho. Takayasu gave Kak a heck of a bout but he looks like he's tiring a bit.  Best bout was easily Terrorfuji-Arawashi though.

And here goes Endo fading again and he has Terrorfuji Day 12. Endo needs to keep his head up.

[PawnSums 59]

Kise will go 15-0, it's happened, another boring zensho basho that has an obvious winner.

[WAKATAKE 2,672]

1 hour ago, PawnSums said:

Kise will go 15-0, it's happened, another boring zensho basho that has an obvious winner.

Boring would be Hakuho winning the basho on day 13 at 13-0 because everybody else couldn't keep up by losing early. This is anything but boring.

I am disappointed that Geek attempted the henka, especially against someone like Ikioi. A waste of an opportunity and now he's dug himself a deeper hole to get out of.

If this had been the Terunofuji of the last year, he would have lost today against Arawashi. To see him go double digits in over a year has to make me wonder, is Teru really back?

At least all the yokozuna competing are going to finish KK now. 

Unfortunate Takayasu lost, and the ozeki run now will go into May.

I thought Kise stepped out at the end but he stayed in, he's really keeping the basho exciting, and has the opportunity to win in his yokozuna debut. Again, only three others have done it.

[PawnSums 59]

1 minute ago, WAKATAKE said:

Boring would be Hakuho winning the basho on day 13 at 13-0 because everybody else couldn't keep up by losing early. This is anything but boring.

I am disappointed that Geek attempted the henka, especially against someone like Ikioi. A waste of an opportunity and now he's dug himself a deeper hole to get out of.

If this had been the Terunofuji of the last year, he would have lost today against Arawashi. To see him go double digits in over a year has to make me wonder, is Teru really back?

At least all the yokozuna competing are going to finish KK now. 

Unfortunate Takayasu lost, and the ozeki run now will go into May.

I thought Kise stepped out at the end but he stayed in, he's really keeping the basho exciting, and has the opportunity to win in his yokozuna debut. Again, only three others have done it.

Hakuho will go MK 2-3-10 if he doesn't come back

[ryafuji 815]

1 hour ago, PawnSums said:

Kise will go 15-0, it's happened, another boring zensho basho that has an obvious winner.

I doubt the Japanese public are finding it boring. Plus Kise could become the first shin-yokozuna to go 15-0 since his own mentor Takanosato over thirty years ago - where's your sense of history?

[WAKATAKE 2,672]

1 minute ago, PawnSums said:

Hakuho will go MK 2-3-10 if he doesn't come back

Hakuho is already the equivalent of makekoshi, he dropped out on day 5

[PawnSums 59]

Just now, ryafuji said:

I doubt the Japanese public are finding it boring. Plus Kise could become the first shin-yokozuna to go 15-0 since his own mentor Takanosato over thirty years ago - where's your sense of history?

I know that, I don't find a zensho entertaining, he still technically could lose, but I wasn't thinking that he would get 2 in a row.

[PawnSums 59]

1 minute ago, WAKATAKE said:

Hakuho is already the equivalent of makekoshi, he dropped out on day 5

that's what I said.

[Arn 24]

1 hour ago, PawnSums said:

Kise will go 15-0, it's happened, another boring zensho basho that has an obvious winner.

You are getting so far ahead that its a bit silly. We are at day 11 and you declare the basho boring because of Kisenosatos zensho? Its building up to an epic deciding fight with Terunofuji! And we have Kisenosatos first match-up against another yokozuna. Or maybe Kise will lose four straight... I think its a (another) great basho!

[Koorifuu 1,020]

Other than Takayasu's beastly mode, what worries me the most is actually the very last bout of this basho. I hope Harumafuji wins against Kakuryu, it'd make his position much safer within the council.

[Fukurou 534]

3 hours ago, PawnSums said:

Hakuho will go MK 2-3-10 if he doesn't come back

His current record, according to NSK, is 2-3-7. As you note, that's MK, the equivalent of 2-10.

Edited March 22, 2017 by Fukurou

[RabidJohn 1,856]

4 hours ago, PawnSums said:

Kise will go 15-0, it's happened, another boring zensho basho that has an obvious winner.

Are you watching the same basho as me?

Kise is far from a zensho, though it could still happen and I kind of hope it does. Atm it's Kise's to lose and definitely Terunofuji's to steal - nothing's decided.

I've never found a zensho boring, even it does mean the yusho is decided on day 13. Whenever any rikishi is going into senshuraku at 14-0, I find the will he/won't he suspense absolutely thrilling, no matter who it is.

@Rocks: Harumafuji and Kakuryu may be beat up and nowhere near the top of their game, but they're not yokozuna for nothing and they don't do MKs. They'll probably end up with mediocre ozeki-ish scores as usual, but that's good enough to continue for the time being. Dominant sumo from Haru today and patient, clever sumo from Kak - both good yok traits,but it's Kise who's putting it all together best atm.

[kassidilla 8]

Really curious to see where Kise's head is over the next 4 days. To me, he looked visibly nervous today, and his matches have gotten off to shakier and shakier starts before it's almost like he says to himself, "Ok Kise, you're a Yokozuna now. Let's go." I have a feeling this basho will come down to a playoff...

[rzombie1988 159]

Thoughts:

- Takayasu took the L today as I kind of expected. He put up a good fight but he invested too much into a bad grip and angle. Really nice turnaround near the end for Kakuryu. He needs to win tomorrow to stay in the hunt. But either way, it's been a great basho for him.

- Terunofuji was in beast mode today and he's been looking fantastic all basho. His match against Kise later this basho is gonna be some big boy sumo and I can't wait.

- Yoshikaze put up one hell of a fight but Kise somehow got the W. Very good win for him.

- Koto takes the L to go to 7-4. He's got 1 more loss to spare here.

- Ichinojo actually pushes forward and wins. There's no reason he couldn't be like a Terunofuji if he did more of this.

- Chiyoshouma looked really good in his win today.

- Oh yeah and Tochiozan is at 10-1.

Day 12's matches:
Harumafuji vs Takayasu - Taka's only beaten Harumafuji 4 times out of their 17 matches.
Terunofuji vs Endo - Endo is 3-1 against Terunofuji. I don't think Endo's going to be able to be manhandled here.

[robnplunder 976]

8 hours ago, mikawa said:

3 wins out of 4 is that much harder now for Kotoshogiku, he may still make it.

Kise's still looking good, though pity we won't be having a zensho playoff now between him and Takayasu.

I think regaining Ozekiship is out of reach for Kotoshogiku.  Losing yesterday just about sealed it.

Kise looked very strong early but showing some vulnerability.   Terunofuji can still beat him and there could be a non-zensho playoff between Kise, Taka, or Teruno.  I think Kise will get another yusho. 

The little guys, Takakeisho, Ura, and Ishiura, continue to impress although one or two of them may not get a Kachikosh.  

Looks like Toyohibiki will be back to Makuuchi. 

Anyone has an update on Chiyootori?   Could he be back at the next basho?

Don't look now but when was Hakuho's last yusho?   It could have been his last of his career.   He's looking tired of the game whether it is due to injury or not.  

 

Am I the only one thinking this way?  Rikishi's performance dips right before and after his honeymoon: Kotoshogiku, Kotoyuki, Takayasu ....

 

Edited March 22, 2017 by robnplunder

[Fukurou 534]

26 minutes ago, robnplunder said:

Don't look now but when was Hakuho's last yusho?   It could have been his last of his career.   He's looking tired of the game whether it is due to injury or not.

March 2016 was a 14-1 yusho, then in May he had a 15-0 yusho.

Over the last 2 years (12 basho, since March 2015 inclusive) he was 14-1Y, 11-4J, 14-1Y, 0-3-12, 12-3J, 12-3J, 14-1Y, 15-0Y, 10-5, absent, 11-4, and 11-4.

Edited March 22, 2017 by Fukurou

[PawnSums 59]

21 minutes ago, robnplunder said:

He's looking tired of the game whether it is due to injury or not.  

 

I believe he said he would retire in three years.

[Benihana 1,937]

Did we just see 3 back to back henka in just 2 bouts? Something like this ever happened before?

Et tu Kotoshogiku?

Highlights of the day: The other Y/Os including (and i hate myself for saying it) Terunofuji plus the slappy-dance performed by Shohozan and Tamawashi.