BASHO TALK -- Natsu 2017 -- SPOILERS

[Washuyama 635]

It may have been noted before and I missed it, but Hakuho's 13th zensho came exactly ten years after his first which capped off his tsuna run.  I tried to see if anyone else in the 6-basho era had such a long time between first and (hopefully not) last zensho by checking the obvious (Taiho, Chiyonofuji, etc.)  Did I miss anyone?

 

Anyway, here's to hoping were taking about Hakuho going zensho in the May 2027 basho!

[lackmaker 431]

And by then  will we also still be talking about Goeido's kadoban struggles, Endo's yo-yoing in and out of joi and Aminishiki and his fight to stay in the paid ranks?

[Tsuchinoninjin 1,244]

Well I never thought Hakuho wouldn't zenshou again! Hopefully they'll all get a bit more healed before next.

I'll be in Nagoya next Basho, maybe I can finagle a ticket...

[RabidJohn 1,663]

Hakuho seemed to get a very good response from the crowd in his yusho interview. He said he's been fighting to regain fitness since having the op last September. He also mentioned his motivation to beat Kaio's makuuchi wins record and said something about 40 being a good milestone, which I took to mean yusho rather than how old he'll be at intai.

In his sansho interview Mitakeumi said something about wanting to recover from his injury. Does anyone know what that injury is/was. I'm even more impressed with his shukun-sho if he got it while hurt. What is a 100% fit Mitakeumi capable of?

[orandashoho 720]

1 hour ago, RabidJohn said:

In his sansho interview Mitakeumi said something about wanting to recover from his injury. Does anyone know what that injury is/was. I'm even more impressed with his shukun-sho if he got it while hurt. What is a 100% fit Mitakeumi capable of?

In my mind, I call him "The Bulldozer" for the way he has charged and impressed me as a seemingly unstoppable oshi force. Time will tell how he will adjust to needing multiple strategies to prevail against those who can withstand his onslaught like immovable rocks.

[Amamaniac 2,078]

11 hours ago, orandashoho said:

Thank you @Otokonoyama for splitting that drivel off this thread.

I completely agree!

[Dapeng 232]

4 hours ago, RabidJohn said:

Hakuho seemed to get a very good response from the crowd in his yusho interview. He said he's been fighting to regain fitness since having the op last September. He also mentioned his motivation to beat Kaio's makuuchi wins record and said something about 40 being a good milestone, which I took to mean yusho rather than how old he'll be at intai.

In his sansho interview Mitakeumi said something about wanting to recover from his injury. Does anyone know what that injury is/was. I'm even more impressed with his shukun-sho if he got it while hurt. What is a 100% fit Mitakeumi capable of?

It seems he said something that makuuchi yusho-40 has not been reached by anyone before him and now he plans to reach it this year, and something that he'll overtake Kaio's 1047-wins record next basho.

[Dapeng 232]

23 hours ago, ryafuji said:

But that wasn't what I was responding to. The question was, could he be promoted after Nagoya. 

Even a zensho will not ...... I believe the standard is back to two consecutive yusho (and more than 13-wins each).

[Kishinoyama 582]

11 minutes ago, Dapeng said:

Even a zensho will not ...... I believe the standard is back to two consecutive yusho (and more than 13-wins each).

Just out of curiosity, why do believe this? I thought the standard had been a yusho equivalent and a yusho. That standard worked for Kakuryu and Kisenosato. It just so happened that the candidates prior to them had managed to win two tournaments in a row leaving no room for the decision makers. 

[Bumpkin 438]

6 minutes ago, Kishinoyama said:

Just out of curiosity, why do believe this? I thought the standard had been a yusho equivalent and a yusho. That standard worked for Kakuryu and Kisenosato. It just so happened that the candidates prior to them had managed to win two tournaments in a row leaving no room for the decision makers. 

The Yokozuna promotion standard is not set in stone. It obviously changes. In general, if the Kyokai wants to promote an Ozeki to Yokozuna than they will do so. If not, than they won't.

[Rocks 1,807]

The biggest issue for Terunofuji is the 4-11 2 basho ago and his roller coaster record. If he had say 9 wins 2 basho ago and hadn't been kadoban recently there would be more talk of promotion I think. A zensho next basho, especially if all 4 Yokozuna are in and he beats at least 3 of them, could do it. But I think he may need a Yusho and something very good after that instead. That would put the 4-11 far enough into the background.

Edited May 29, 2017 by Rocks

[Dapeng 232]

2 hours ago, Bumpkin said:

The Yokozuna promotion standard is not set in stone. It obviously changes. In general, if the Kyokai wants to promote an Ozeki to Yokozuna than they will do so. If not, than they 

2 hours ago, Kishinoyama said:

Just out of curiosity, why do believe this? I thought the standard had been a yusho equivalent and a yusho. That standard worked for Kakuryu and Kisenosato. It just so happened that the candidates prior to them had managed to win two tournaments in a row leaving no room for the decision makers. 

After the disastrous promotion of Futahaguro, the two consecutive yusho rule had been enforced until Kakuryu, even not relieved for Takanohana.  It's reasonable to believe the old rule should be enforced again. 

[Bumpkin 438]

Futahaguro never won a yusho. That's a little different than Kakuryu going 14-1 D, 14-1 Y or Kisenosato going 12-3 J (12th), 14-1 Y.

[Wakaebala 151]

20 hours ago, dada78641 said:

To close things off, let's look at Hakuho drinking victory sake:

 

Can anyone tell me more about this tradition? Who are all these people Hakuho invites to drink? I can see that this is more than just a photo-op... :)

 

[d_golem 213]

2 minutes ago, Wakaebala said:

Can anyone tell me more about this tradition? Who are all these people Hakuho invites to drink? I can see that this is more than just a photo-op... :)

 

Would like to know too. Is this a regular thing for every yusho won?

[robnplunder 974]

Satoyama went 7-8 in juryo but some of his wins & losses were simply priceless.  I can't think of any other rikishi in Makuuchi or Juryo who was more entertaining than Satoyama was at this basho.   Even Ura didn't come close in entertainment value.  

Edited May 30, 2017 by robnplunder

[dada78641 884]

Watching Hakuho's victory speech, and generally his demeanor even before the basho started, I'm reminded of something @Kintamayama said in a livestream a while back. (Maybe three basho ago? Four?) He said that Hakuho doesn't seem mentally in the right place, that he might feel like the sumo world doesn't appreciate him enough for his massive and historic accomplishments. And I think he might have been right.

But today's Hakuho is totally different. Even during the public training session and heya visits before the basho started, he seemed totally genki. I think he's mentally in a better place right now, which means the next couple of basho might be his to lose.

[ryafuji 807]

4 hours ago, robnplunder said:

Satoyama went 7-8 in juryo but some of his wins & losses were simply priceless.  I can't think of any other rikishi in Makuuchi or Juryo who was more entertaining than Satoyama was at this basho.   Even Ura didn't come close in entertainment value.  

He's smaller than Ura too. And he will be 36 tomorrow. Remarkable.  

[shumitto 418]

1 hour ago, ryafuji said:

He's smaller than Ura too. And he will be 36 tomorrow. Remarkable.  

36 is the new 20. Take a look at Oiwato going places in makushita

[kassidilla 8]

I, like most of you, watched Kotoshogiku's body language after his final bout. I just had an overwhelming feeling that he is leaning towards retirement. He seemed awfully reflective and inwardly emotional, but maybe that's just me over analyzing things

[Atenzan 1,074]

7 hours ago, Wakaebala said:

Who are all these people Hakuho invites to drink?

First guy is his oyakata, which makes the woman right after him likely to be his oyakata's wife. Next is Ishiura, after that I have no clue.

Edited May 30, 2017 by McBugger

[Jakusotsu 5,806]

3 hours ago, kassidilla said:

I, like most of you, watched Kotoshogiku's body language after his final bout. I just had an overwhelming feeling that he is leaning towards retirement. He seemed awfully reflective and inwardly emotional, but maybe that's just me over analyzing things

Either that, or his newborn firstborn lifted his spirits.

[robnplunder 974]

5 hours ago, kassidilla said:

I, like most of you, watched Kotoshogiku's body language after his final bout. I just had an overwhelming feeling that he is leaning towards retirement. He seemed awfully reflective and inwardly emotional, but maybe that's just me over analyzing things

If he can be injury free by the next basho, he can still be around for a few years.   But his heavily taped knees are telling me that Kotoshogiku is at the end (or near) his successful career. I, too, think he may hang up his mawash by the next basho.

Edited May 30, 2017 by robnplunder

[Shatsume 116]

3 hours ago, Jakusotsu said:

Either that, or his newborn firstborn lifted his spirits.

I read some interesting articles years ago about the implications of first born children on elite athletes, if I remember correctly it noticeably improved their performance for the next 18 months, peaking at 12 months after birth. So maybe we will have the Geek kicking around sanyaku for a little while yet!

[lackmaker 431]

Does this mean the same effect on mothers as well as fathers?

Edited May 30, 2017 by lackmaker