pmac 34 Posted January 19, 2018 2 minutes ago, Bumpkin said: No. Minimum 2 bashos as an Ozeki needed for Yokozuna promotion. There is a very slight possibility that if Mitakeumi goes 15-0 Y he would be promoted to Ozeki after this basho. ok, thank you Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yukiarashi 195 Posted January 19, 2018 5 minutes ago, Dwale said: Oh, and I'm pretty sure Shohozan was intentionally trying to provoke Kotoyuki. Kotoyuki can be pretty fast, but only in a straight line and he's not good at stopping, either. Looked like Shohozan wanted to get him riled and then use Kotoyuki's charge against him. Kotoyuki really needs to learn to chill, he defeats himself half the time by being too hasty. Kotoyuki has changed. He's no longer the polite, hooting owl we all (well some of us) fell in love with a couple of years ago. Now he's feisty (not on a Roho level) but still..., arrogant, angry, and a lot less polite than his renown manners days, and glares at a Gagamaru level. Not to mention his losses are mostly his own fault and uses harite with the iron clubs of tied up fingers he has, but glares when someone does it to him (Chiyoshoma does the same with henka). He loses due to his balance being that of a rhinoceros on ice skates. His slow down time when he flies off the dohyo rivals that of an airport runway, leading to a three-time-a-basho squash of an audience member thinking he's seated far enough back to worry about safety. Today he looked like a barrel rolling over a hillside. 4 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amamaniac 2,092 Posted January 19, 2018 2 hours ago, robnplunder said: How many wins in this basho is needed for promoting Mitakeumi to Ozeki? 13, 14, or 15? Mitakeumi ended the Kyushu Tournament with a 9-5 record. He had an 8-5 record before that. That makes a total of 17. Not having double-digit wins in the two previous tournaments, he is not currently eligible for consideration to be promoted to Ozeki. But for the sake of argument, if he ends this basho with 15 wins, his three-previous-tournament total would be 32, which could get your average sekitori promoted to Ozeki. But consistency is a factor. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Burajirotono 99 Posted January 19, 2018 Kotoyuki will kill someone in the audience someday.... I Really enjoyed arawashi´s win, niiiice sotogake. Hope Ichi can put a KK, he is fighting so hard. Tochi and Mita are looking so fine, but i still think this one is going to Kak...I mean Mita never got more them 11 and Tochi 12 wins, so i guess that even if the Yokozuna loses tomorrow he still can menage this. Im definetly cheering for Tochi, and i think Mita have a bright future, but Kak have so much in the line...He will make it. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
orandashoho 720 Posted January 19, 2018 (edited) 39 minutes ago, Bumpkin said: There is a very slight possibility that if Mitakeumi goes 15-0 Y he would be promoted to Ozeki after this basho. What helps is his ability to hold on to his Sekiwake rank, like Kisenosato's constancy had been a factor in his yokozuna promotion too. But there is still the matter of the numbers. 10+10+12 would have been much a better 32 than 8+9+15 even with the Y thrown in. I think he needs at least one more 10+ result to be even considered. OTOH they may want more Japanese yokozuna so badly that anything even half decent will do to get him to a place from where he can start a tsuna run. Edited January 19, 2018 by orandashoho 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amamaniac 2,092 Posted January 19, 2018 (edited) 3 hours ago, Morty said: It isn't just that he has "yokozunaitis" it is also that he is extremely one-dimensional and so the better rikishi can exploit the fact he has only one real plan. He is very good at that plan but doesn't have much capacity to change to another if it doesn't work. Rikishi that will go chest to chest with him in an old fashioned belt battle will struggle, but there are many other options beyond that. He is one of my favourites but I would be extremely surprised if he kept winning and took the yusho. Very good point. As long as Kakuryu keeps your advice in mind (and there is every reason to believe he will), he should take tomorrow's matchup. But if Tochinoshin can get a hand on Kakuryu's mawashi, things will get really interesting. I remember watching Kakuryu fight effectively against power tsuridashi opponents like Baruto (Tochinoshin falls in the same category), and win using uchigake. The final bout tomorrow should be a cracker! Just imagine what a Tochinoshin win would do to the dynamics of this tournament going forward... Edited January 19, 2018 by Amamaniac 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amamaniac 2,092 Posted January 19, 2018 Kakuryu's victory over Kotoshogiku today was less than convincing. I couldn't help think that he looked like a bucking bronco rider holding on for dear life! If he doesn't start asserting himself more, I don't think he will be able to get past some of his tougher opponents going forward. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amamaniac 2,092 Posted January 19, 2018 Completely overlooked the fact that current co-leader Mitakeumi will face "Mr. Spoiler" Yoshikaze tomorrow. Are the shimpan setting the torikumi like icebreakers that arrive on the scene early? What happened to building tension? Day 7 will have some critical bouts making things really interesting. Say Mitakeumi and Kakuryu both lose, and Asanoyama takes care of Daieisho. That would leave two Maegashira wrestlers as the front runners! Are we in for another WakyAki? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RabidJohn 2,075 Posted January 19, 2018 5 minutes ago, Amamaniac said: Kakuryu's victory over Kotoshogiku today was less than convincing. I couldn't help think that he looked like a bucking bronco rider holding on for dear life! If he doesn't start asserting himself more, I don't think he will be able to get past some of his tougher opponents going forward. On the contrary, that was excellent defensive sumo and calm, yokozuna patience. I'm not a Kakuryu fan, but he's impressing me with his comeback so far. Tochinoshin looking like a yusho contender! Who'd a thunk that? I've always known that he was strong when he was fit, but he seems at last to have figured out what to do with it. He's making that dodgy knee do a lot of work, though... I'm not so sure Mitakeumi has taken the next step so much as simply regained full fitness. He's showing the same sort of form he had last January, which I thought was ozeki level then. A very respectable 12-13 wins looks a distinct possibility from here, as does yusho contention! I think he may be 'excused' his 9-6 from November on account of his 6KK in 2017 (similar to how Kisenosato's most wins for 2016 counted towards his yokozuna promotion) and be given a target for promotion in March. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
robnplunder 978 Posted January 19, 2018 40 minutes ago, RabidJohn said: On the contrary, that was excellent defensive sumo and calm, yokozuna patience. I'm not a Kakuryu fan, but he's impressing me with his comeback so far. Tochinoshin looking like a yusho contender! Who'd a thunk that? I've always known that he was strong when he was fit, but he seems at last to have figured out what to do with it. He's making that dodgy knee do a lot of work, though... I'm not so sure Mitakeumi has taken the next step so much as simply regained full fitness. He's showing the same sort of form he had last January, which I thought was ozeki level then. A very respectable 12-13 wins looks a distinct possibility from here, as does yusho contention! I think he may be 'excused' his 9-6 from November on account of his 6KK in 2017 (similar to how Kisenosato's most wins for 2016 counted towards his yokozuna promotion) and be given a target for promotion in March. If Mitakeumi gets the yusho with 14 or 15 wins (that's a big IF), why not the promotion in March. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yatagarasu 352 Posted January 19, 2018 2 hours ago, Yukiarashi said: Today he looked like a barrel rolling over a hillside. Comment of the day. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flyric 94 Posted January 19, 2018 (edited) 4 hours ago, Yukiarashi said: ... This could explain [Giku] putting off retirement. I'm of the mind Giku's just farming a couple more Kinboshis to pad his retirement pay. He has to pay for his boat somehow! Edited January 19, 2018 by Flyric Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wys 55 Posted January 19, 2018 7 hours ago, McBugger said: What's a tadpole? Promising newcomer? Yes, that's how I understand the Tachiai folks are using it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yukiarashi 195 Posted January 19, 2018 25 minutes ago, Flyric said: I'm of the mind Giku's just farming a couple more Kinboshis to pad his retirement pay. He's going to have to pay for his boat somehow! Or his Olympic mountain biking career Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RabidJohn 2,075 Posted January 19, 2018 1 hour ago, robnplunder said: If Mitakeumi gets the yusho with 14 or 15 wins (that's a big IF), why not the promotion in March. Why is everybody jinxing the bejasus out of Mitakeumi? lol Look, I know that zensho yusho often come out of the blue, but Mitakeumi's best makuuchi score so far is 11-4... But if we're going to enter the realm of the hypothetical, I think a 14-1 would give him a target of 10 in March. In ordinary times I think even a zensho (bringing him to 32 wins over three basho) would not be sufficient to secure immediate promotion, but these are not ordinary times. Mitakeumi seems to be a very popular rikishi on an outstanding run of KKs at sekiwake and the NSK might be keen to have a positive news story out there for a change. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yorikiried by fate 2,038 Posted January 19, 2018 (edited) 55 minutes ago, Flyric said: I'm of the mind Giku's just farming a couple more Kinboshis to pad his retirement pay. He has to pay for his boat somehow! The kinboshi itself "just" gives a boost to the basho allowance, paid out every two months. The allowance itself is rather small compared to the monthly rank income. In conclusion, kinboshi gained at the beginning of a long career are much more valuable than those at the end. Much more significant is the kensho cash offered in a Yokozuna bout. Edited January 19, 2018 by yorikiried by fate 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PawnSums 59 Posted January 19, 2018 Kisenosato Intai Coming Up, if not him deciding it will be the YDC, Kakuryu has this in the bag. probably. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yorikiried by fate 2,038 Posted January 19, 2018 (edited) 9 minutes ago, RabidJohn said: Look, I know that zensho yusho often come out of the blue, [...] Then you know more than reality. The only "out of the blue [envelope]" zensho I could think of without looking at data was Goeido's. Then I have to move back maybe to Musashimaru's in 94 and further to Onokuni's in 87. Each and every other one in the last three decades was totally plausible and not at all unlikely. Edited January 19, 2018 by yorikiried by fate Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RabidJohn 2,075 Posted January 19, 2018 2 minutes ago, yorikiried by fate said: Then you know more than reality. The only "out of the blue [envelope]" zensho I could think of without looking at data was Goeido's. Then I have to move back maybe to Musashimaru's in 94 and further to Onokuni's in 87. Each and every other one in the last three decades was totally plausible and not the least unlikely. By 'out of the blue' I mean unpredictable from previous basho results and not borne out by subsequent results. Yep, Goeido's is definitely in this category, but then you only have to go back to Harumafuji's. He went 11-4, 11-4, 8-7 before his back to back zensho, which is about as out of the blue as it's possible to get! Then he went 9-6, 15-0, 9-6 and rarely went over 11-4 after that. I'd also argue that Hakuho's last zensho came out of the blue - after just about everyone here said he was never going to do it again! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yorikiried by fate 2,038 Posted January 19, 2018 (edited) Which is merely another way of saying "zensho yusho by anyone else than dominant Yokozuna are unlikely". But then your quantifier "often" breaks down. Sidenote: I disagree about both Hakuho and Harumafuji. A Hukuho zensho is always in the cards, even to this day. Harumafuji's were surprising many but a clear possibility for a few people looking at the right signs. All IMHO. Edited January 19, 2018 by yorikiried by fate Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gurowake 4,154 Posted January 19, 2018 5 hours ago, Amamaniac said: Completely overlooked the fact that current co-leader Mitakeumi will face "Mr. Spoiler" Yoshikaze tomorrow. Are the shimpan setting the torikumi like icebreakers that arrive on the scene early? What happened to building tension? Day 7 will have some critical bouts making things really interesting. Say Mitakeumi and Kakuryu both lose, and Asanoyama takes care of Daieisho. That would leave two Maegashira wrestlers as the front runners! Are we in for another WakyAki? The order of the torikumi among the top-ranked rikishi is almost completely decided by rank, and is guessable to a reasonable degree if you pay attention (see the game Guess Kisenosato's Aite). It's designed so that the very top ranked guys face each other last, because on average that will create the most tension. They can't really change the plan based on how well the rikishi are actually doing because there's a lot of tradition behind having the Yokozuna and Ozeki all face each other as late as possible regardless of record. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Benevolance 2,534 Posted January 20, 2018 (edited) 6 hours ago, Amamaniac said: Kakuryu's victory over Kotoshogiku today was less than convincing. I couldn't help think that he looked like a bucking bronco rider holding on for dear life! If he doesn't start asserting himself more, I don't think he will be able to get past some of his tougher opponents going forward. It's been so long since he's been on the dohyo that Kakuryu's instincts from the OBSC days kicked in: he was powerless to defeat a needy Kotogoshogiku until he remembered that neither were ozeki any longer. Edited January 20, 2018 by Benevolance 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PawnSums 59 Posted January 20, 2018 14 minutes ago, Benevolance said: It's been so long since he's been on the dohyo that Kakuryu's instincts from the OBSC days kicked in: he was powerless to defeat a needy Kotogoshogiku until he remembered that neither were ozeki any longer. What are the OBSC Days? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Oshirokita 199 Posted January 20, 2018 6 hours ago, RabidJohn said: Tochinoshin looking like a yusho contender! Who'd a thunk that? I've always known that he was strong when he was fit, but he seems at last to have figured out what to do with it. He's making that dodgy knee do a lot of work, though... Yes, I agree about his taped right knee. Tochinoshin has been leading with his right leg a lot lately, especially that last match, and tends to plant it forward. I assume this is so that if he is pushed backwards that he can brace with his healthier left leg. To his credit, Tochinoshin's forward motion and strength has largely meant that he hasn't needed to backpedal and has resulted in wins. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rigel 62 Posted January 20, 2018 (edited) I was watching Jason's Day 6 videos, even though I saw the matches live I like to hear his take. While he was talking about Kisenosato, he said that he elected not to have surgery. Is that true?!? If so, that is fucking insane. I know that the recommended 9 month rest and rehab after surgery for his particular injury is a lot to accept by sumo standards, but he ended up getting hurt and having to withdraw a lot anyway, and now his arm is possibly still screwed up and he doesn't have the benefit of getting the surgery and rehabbing to full strength. Again, maybe Jason is wrong, but if he didn't get the surgery, then his possible forced retirement after the next basho or two is completely on him. Edited January 20, 2018 by Rigel Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
