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

[Rocks 1,809]

3 minutes ago, Kishinoyama said:

It looked to me like he had a slight grimace when he was being pushed out, before he fell. Or am I seeing things?

Yeah, but I don't think that was from injury. He made a big grimace when he his back hit the dohyo too but I think both are the usual stuff. He didn't even realize his shoulder/chest was hurt till he started to stand and the arm hurt when he went to move it. His reaction looks like extreme pain but it's more "Oh crap what the heck is wrong with my arm!?!?" I think.

[kuroimori 1,634]

4 minutes ago, Kishinoyama said:

It looked to me like he had a slight grimace when he was being pushed out, before he fell. Or am I seeing things?

I think the grimace was when he realized that he had lost the bout, and after that it looked like he didn't care at all about the ensuing fall and impact. But I need to look at the replays a few hundred times more to be certain with that assessment. 

[Rocks 1,809]

I think Tochiozan is out of gas so I doubt he'll get 12 wins. But Takayasu and Harumafuji still could.

[Yubinhaad 11,736]

Hokutoryu has announced his retirement after 31 years on the ozumo dohyo, signing off with a win which secured his kachi-koshi. He made his debut in March 1986 as one of the earliest recruits to the new heya established by former Yokozuna Kitanoumi. With his retirement, Hanakaze stands alone as the last remaining rikishi to have made his debut in the Showa era.

As the ironman of the lower divisions, Hokutoryu chalked up 1,169 consecutive bouts which is a record for a rikishi without sekitori experience. That came to an end in 2014 after he suffered diabetes-related problems with his left foot, requiring surgery to remove the big toe. With the encouragement of Kitanoumi he overcame that and we saw the unlikely occurrence of a 43-year-old participating in maezumo.

Hokutoryu's intention was to continue until Kitanoumi reached the mandatory retirement age (which would have been in May 2018), but sadly Kitanoumi passed away in November 2015. Hokutoryu pledged to continue at least until the first anniversary of his death and then carry on if he felt able. However, in January this year he suffered the first zenpai (0-7) record of his career, which made him realise that the end was near. He shed a few tears when discussing his former shisho with the reporters in the hanamichi.

A few pictures in the box.
 

Spoiler

Hokutoryu gets off to a winning start, defeating Noborifuji on Day 2.

And in the 1,267th bout of his career, he secures his kachi-koshi with an uwatedashinage win against Ito.

Receiving a bouquet of flowers from former stablemate Rikinoumi, who went on to become a pro wrestler known as Don Fujii.

A well-earned sit down while talking to the reporters after a long career.

 

Edited March 24, 2017 by Yubinhaad

[Rocks 1,809]

3 minutes ago, Yubinhaad said:

Hokutoryu has announced his retirement after 31 years on the ozumo dohyo, signing off with a win which secured his kachi-koshi. He made his debut in March 1986 as one of the earliest recruits to the new heya established by former Yokozuna Kitanoumi. With his retirement, Hanakaze stands alone as the last remaining rikishi to have made his debut in the Showa era.

Wow, good luck to him! 

[PawnSums 59]

20 minutes ago, Yubinhaad said:

Hokutoryu has announced his retirement after 31 years on the ozumo dohyo, signing off with a win which secured his kachi-koshi.

Why would he retire if he went Kachi-Koshi?

[Dwale 419]

7 minutes ago, PawnSums said:

Why would he retire if he went Kachi-Koshi?

Go out on a high note.

[PawnSums 59]

Just now, Dwale said:

Go out on a high note.

Nice.

[Rocks 1,809]

18 minutes ago, PawnSums said:

Why would he retire if he went Kachi-Koshi?

Because he's 46.

[Rocks 1,809]

I don't know how accurate this google translation is but I love this quote from the President of the Sumo Association upon seeing Kise wince:

" I stared at the TV and it was a bad time for me. "What kind of situation is it? I want you to be slightly injured.""

Edited March 24, 2017 by Rocks

[PawnSums 59]

2 minutes ago, Rocks said:

I don't know how accurate this google translation is but I love this quote form the President of the Sumo Association upon seeing Kise wince:

" I stared at the TV and it was a bad time for me. "What kind of situation is it? I want you to be slightly injured.""

google translations are terrible inaccurate.

[Naganoyama 5,942]

Harumafuji at his brilliant best but I'm very sad about the outcome.

[Pandaazuma 1,310]

So...with Kise injured and Terunofuji back, we are looking at FIVE yokozuna this year. Terunofuji will be the fave to win in May surely.

[PawnSums 59]

1 minute ago, Pandaazuma said:

So...with Kise injured and Terunofuji back, we are looking at FIVE yokozuna this year. Terunofuji will be the fave to win in May surely.

DO NOT say that.

[Rocks 1,809]

8 minutes ago, Pandaazuma said:

So...with Kise injured and Terunofuji back, we are looking at FIVE yokozuna this year. Terunofuji will be the fave to win in May surely.

I wouldn't necessarily say that. Is Terror back? I think so. But we won't really know for sure until he puts 2 good basho together in a row. I wouldn't make him the favorite even with the yusho but he would certainly be in the mix. He didn't exactly dominate Kakuryu although he did great and Kakuryu is staring at 9 wins this basho along with handing out 2 kinboshi.  .

[Tochinofuji 387]

It certainly looked like Kisenosato tore his pec as well as dislocating his shoulder to me.  If injuries in powerlifting and strongman provide any indication, that is going to take some time to heal.

[Rocks 1,809]

Hey, I just noticed this. Takakeisho who is 9-4 is facing Tochiozan on day 14. If Kisenosato doesn't return for the last 2 days it's likely Terrorfuji would get the winner of that match for Day 15. Takakeisho - Terrorfuji, that could be wild. 

[Rocks 1,809]

1 hour ago, kuroimori said:

This might fall into the hideous jinx category.

 

But theoretically, if Terunofuji loses his remaining 2 bouts and Harumafuji, Takayasu and Tochiozan all win their remaining 2 bouts, we would get a nice 4-way yusho kettei-sen. 

And if Takayasu and Tochiozen both lose in this scenario, we have to start thinking of a completely different dou-beya playoff than 3 days ago. Crazy turn of events, quite fitting for a Haru basho, I guess.

Not that I think it is likely Terror loses both of his remaning matches but I wonder. If Kisenosato goes kyujo for for his last 2 matches and Terror loses both of his can Kise come back for the playoff?

[Taigiin khuu 42]

2 hours ago, CT3* said:

Isegahama beya standing up!

Speaking of which, 35 year old Shunba, Terunofuji's buddy and last remaining Magaki stable mate, has ended Haru 6 - 1 in his Makushita debut basho... 14 years after entering sumo! 

A nice memory from Terunofuji's 1st yusho ;o) hugging Shunba just as the yusho was confirmed.

[rzombie1988 159]

Notes:

- Kisenosato got stomped today by Harumafuji and on his fall out of the ring he dislocated his shoulder. He's out. This is something that could only happen to Kisenosato. It took Kise a million second place finishes to finally win a title. And when he does and gets promoted, he goes 12-0. Then his top rivals are all out of the race and it's clear, he could win the title. Then he gets injured. Unbelieveable. I really feel sorry for him and I think this is a good time as any to mention again that I do not think the sumo dohyo is safe enough. Falling off of a raised platform is always a bad idea and is incredibly dangerous. The ring should be extended or have netting and mats down to weaken the fall.

- Terunofuji needs to win another match to at worst clinch a playoff for his second title due to his win and Kise's injury. He wins Saturday or Sunday and he wins his second title. He follows that up next basho with a second place finish or a title and we could be looking at FIVE YOKOZUNA'S, which I don't believe has happened before.

- Takayasu took another loss to go to 10-3 today. We see this every basho. Some undercard guy does well and then spontaneously combusts in the final few days. He's good and clearly a borderline Ozeki, but he's got a long way to go.

Rankings after Day 13:
12 wins
○○○○○○○○○○○○● Y2w Kisenosato
○○○○○●○○○○○○○ O1w Terunofuji

10 wins
●○●○○○○○●○○○○ Y2e Harumafuji
○○○○○○○○○○●●● S1w Takayasu
○○○○○○●○○○○●● M10w Tochiozan

9 wins
○●●●○○●○○○○○○ M11e Daieisho
●○○○●●○○○●□○○ M13e Takakeisho

Edited March 24, 2017 by rzombie1988

[Morty 1,498]

26 minutes ago, Rocks said:

I wouldn't necessarily say that. Is Terror back? I think so. But we won't really know for sure until he puts 2 good basho together in a row. I wouldn't make him the favorite even with the yusho but he would certainly be in the mix. He didn't exactly dominate Kakuryu although he did great and Kakuryu is staring at 9 wins this basho along with handing out 2 kinboshi.  .

Kakuryu got a morazashi on him and had it on him for nearly a minute, his favourite technique and signature move, and still couldn't win against Terunofuji (am I the only one who hates the nickname "Terror"?). I would say he completely dominated Kak, given that a Yok couldn't beat him with his favourite winning move. 

Edited March 24, 2017 by Morty

[Rocks 1,809]

6 minutes ago, rzombie1988 said:

- Takayasu took another loss to go to 10-3 today. We see this every basho. Some undercard guy does well and then spontaneously combusts in the final few days. He's good and clearly a borderline Ozeki, but he's got a long way to go.

I think this is a little hard on Takaysu.  I think he'll get at least 1 more win to leave him with 11. Combine that with the 11 wins last basho and he is on a very solid ozeki run needing at most 11 wins in May. If you consider he has had double digit wins 4 of his last 5 basho I think it's very likely they promote him with only 10 in May. 

[Rocks 1,809]

7 minutes ago, Morty said:

Kakuryu got a morazashi on him and had it on him for nearly a minute, his favourite technique and signature move, and still couldn't win against Terunofuji (am I the only one who hates the nickname "Terror"?). I would say he completely dominated Kak, given that a Yok couldn't beat him with his favourite winning move. 

To each his own, I'd say the opposite. The fact he gave up the morazashi shows he didn't dominate, but he did overcome. But he overcame a Yokozuna who couldn't finish a guy even with having the morazashi. 

[ryafuji 815]

12 minutes ago, Morty said:

 (am I the only one who hates the nickname "Terror"?)

No, you're not...

[Amamaniac 2,079]

When I first read the news that Kisenosato was injured in his loss against Harumafuji, I had visions of Harumafuji using a dame oshi or vicious throw down as some sort of payback for his stablemate, Terunofuji, getting injured, having his win streak broken, and eventually losing the championship (not to mention a move towards Yokozuna promotion in record time) on Day 12 of the 2015 Aki basho.  But watching the replay, there was no evidence of malice.  Harumafuji was perfectly calm prior to the tachiai.  His face did not reveal any ill intent.  He just drove Kise back out of the ring with surgical precision.  Impeccable sumo, imho.  It was definitely unfortunate that Kise was injured in the fall from the ring.  If anything, the raised ring is to blame.  I've long felt that the raised ring is a disaster (read "serious injury") waiting to happen.