Basho Talk Hatsu 2018 (SPOILERS)

[Akinomaki 40,038]

13 hours ago, Irakusamaru said:

Did anyone watching the live stream catch why the yobidashi have rikishi's names on the backs of their trousers? They did it explain it, but I was distracted at the critical moment!

When rikishi get promoted to yokozuna or ozeki, they hand these work hakama trousers (tattsuke-bakama 裁っ着け袴) as presents to the yobidashi - NHK didn't say if to all, or e.g. only of their ichimon or even only the heya. The yobidashi may have also other names on it - e.g. of the oyakata/heya - Hakkaku here

Edited January 23, 2018 by Akinomaki

[Dwale 419]

Just a couple of thoughts...

Takakeisho should never have let himself get into that position. He realized it, but a split-second too late. Ah, well. I've been enjoying the old Ichinojo after the long string of mediocre basho from him. Dude is straight-up scary when he's healthy and spirited. He needs to stay that way!

Not sure whether to praise Arawashi and condemn Mitakeumi there. XP Strange to talk of patience in a sport where most matches are over in seconds, but you've got to have it. Mitakeumi didn't, that time, and left himself open to Arawashi's wiles. 

And they gave Kakuryu Okinoumi. Really? Okinoumi has skills, but he's fighting like poop this time around. That was kinda embarrassing. 

Endo showed excellent presence of mind in his match. Having Shohozan all up in your grill like that has got to be disconcerting. 

Edited January 23, 2018 by Dwale
forgot something

[Katooshu 3,179]

14 minutes ago, ALAKTORN said:

Does Tochinoshin look more muscular than usual this basho or is it just me? Edit: I mean his shoulders/back, he’s always had gigantic thighs.

I thought the same

[Dwale 419]

15 hours ago, PawnSums said:

you know, Ichinojo's Really channeling his inner Hakuho this basho, and since Harumafuji got kicked out of sumo it must mean he IS Harumafuji.

Ichinojo and Harumafuji have ever-so-slightly different builds.

28 minutes ago, ALAKTORN said:

Does Tochinoshin look more muscular than usual this basho or is it just me? Edit: I mean his shoulders/back, he’s always had gigantic thighs.

I do think he's put on some muscle mass, not that he didn't have plenty already.

[maorencze 144]

4 minutes ago, Dwale said:

Ichinojo and Harumafuji have ever-so-slightly different builds.

Just a little bit!

4 minutes ago, Dwale said:

I do think he's put on some muscle mass, not that he didn't have plenty already.

Looks like a walking advertisement for World Strongest Man, really scary! (in a good way, though honestly I wouldn't want to meet him in dark alley, my pants wouldn't survive unscathed!)

Also, I hope I am wrong, but I got a feeling that Mitakeumi's stretched leg (left one) while falling might have led to some damage, hopefully minor. With such a move it wouldn't be that unusual to pull a thigh or hamstring, or mildly sprain a knee. I hope I'm wrong, just that he seemed to be limping a little bit...

[maorencze 144]

And to stay true to my hard earned reputation here...

[Naganoyama 5,881]

Not everybody likes that sort of thing. Just saying.

[yorikiried by fate 2,001]

27 minutes ago, Dwale said:

And they gave Kakuryu Okinoumi. Really?

 

Yes, really. Which is just about the right thing to do. If Kakuryu gets the remaining Komusubi, the two Sekiwake and two Ozeki in the last five days, he will have fought all available opponents from the banzuke's top downwards.

What should they do? Give him an M13 with a couple of more wins (achieved against M14s, M15s and the like)?

It also works the other way around, you know: Who deserves to fight against a Yokozuna? Traditionally, even early double-digit Maegashira are first fed to a Sekiwake or some such.

Sidenote: In private I wouldn't mind if the Mongolians would face each other five times per basho, as long as they guarantee to pull the stops.

Edited January 23, 2018 by yorikiried by fate

[Dwale 419]

22 minutes ago, yorikiried by fate said:

Yes, really. Which is just about the right thing to do. If Kakuryu gets the remaining Komusubi, the two Sekiwake and two Ozeki in the last five days, he will have fought all available opponents from the banzuke's top downwards.

What should they do? Give him an M13 with a couple of more wins (achieved against M14s, M15s and the like)?

It also works the other way around, you know: Who deserves to fight against a Yokozuna? Traditionally, even early double-digit Maegashira are first fed to a Sekiwake or some such.

Sidenote: In private I wouldn't mind if the Mongolians would face each other five times per basho, as long as they guarantee to pull the stops.

I would rather someone who at least seemed to be healthy. But, it was a rhetorical question. I'm sure they had their reasons, it just didn't make for an entertaining match.

[Bumpkin 438]

The real question is who will Kakuryu face on Day 12? By rank it should be M5w Endo (6-4). By record it should be M6e Takarafuji (7-3). We shall see.

[Rocks 1,807]

Endo.

[yorikiried by fate 2,001]

21 minutes ago, Bumpkin said:

The real question is who will Kakuryu face on Day 12?

 

Oh right, I forgot about the Onosho kyujo. Endo seems right.

Edited January 23, 2018 by yorikiried by fate

[maorencze 144]

38 minutes ago, Bumpkin said:

The real question is who will Kakuryu face on Day 12? By rank it should be M5w Endo (6-4). By record it should be M6e Takarafuji (7-3). We shall see.

I'd say it is more likely to be determined by tomorrow, if Endo is 6-5 and Takarafuji 8-3 after tomorrow, then Kak-Taka is a no-brainer to me, given only one spot difference in banzuke between the two mentioned above

[rhyen 1,823]

Endo, records don’t matter this close to the end stage. 

[yorikiried by fate 2,001]

 

1 minute ago, maorencze said:

I'd say it is more likely to be determined by tomorrow, if Endo is 6-5 and Takarafuji 8-3 after tomorrow, then Kak-Taka is a no-brainer to me, given only one spot difference in banzuke between the two mentioned above

Fair call. Except the problem is that the Day 12 torikumi will be determined before tomorrow's bouts.

[maorencze 144]

1 minute ago, yorikiried by fate said:

 

Fair call. Except the problem is that the Day 12 torikumi will be determined before tomorrow's bouts.

You're right, forgot about that. And anyway, Takarafuji is facing the Tochi muscle mountain, so it's pretty much decided to be Endo in any circumstance

[wys 55]

Takakeisho's loss is heart-breaking because he really put himself in a bad position when he made that huge step back at the end. Aside from his loss and not to sound callous, Takakeisho falling off the dohyo is the cutest thing in sumo.

And I am glad Endo won against Shohozan. I can't stand Shohozan's face-slapping sumo. It irks me to no end.

And what's with the stare-down between Tamawashi and Takayasu? Is there bad blood between these two?

Cheers,

[Jakusotsu 5,873]

21 minutes ago, wys said:

And what's with the stare-down between Tamawashi and Takayasu? Is there bad blood between these two?

Nah, it's all playing to the crowd.

[PawnSums 59]

the conspiracy theorist in me says that onosho pulled out because he is the one person ho could beat kakuryu, because every time all but one yokozuna is out, the remaining one wins the yusho

[Benihana 1,913]

I hope Hokutofuji wakes up pretty fast now or he will miss his shot for a 5th kinboshi in a row even before next basho starts.

Damnit, i jinxed Mitakeumi. No more losses, please.

Aminishiki should be at home, but his loss today was mainly to the unintentional headbutt to his mouth/nose. you can even hear the impact and that's the exact moment he stops fighting.

 

[Sakura 1,480]

3 hours ago, yorikiried by fate said:

 

Fair call. Except the problem is that the Day 12 torikumi will be determined before tomorrow's bouts.

I think it'll be Kakuryu-Mitakeumi on Day 12, leaving Day 13 for the mysterious maegashira.

13 Goeido- Takayasu

14 Kakuryu- Takayasu and Goeido - Mitakeumi
15 Kakuryu - Goeido and Takayasu - Mitakeumi

[Yukiarashi 195]

Kotoeko the sole leader of Juryo at 8-2. Eight more words I knew I'd say before the basho. That sounds like Juryo.

Something wrong with Asanoyama? My day 6 yusho pick has lost four straight. 

Yutakayama finally showing up, Daieisho 8-2!

Terunofuji returning vs. Ishiura should be interesting tomorrow

Aminishiki

TOCHINOSHIN! 9-1! , Hokutofuji? 2-8? 

Arawashi does it again! Another upset of a high ranker, on Aminishiki knees too. Mitakeumi looks lost.

Tamawashi vs. Takayasu was intense! Finally a stare-down this basho

Goeido

Kakuryu 10-0 now! Okinoumi though? Come on Torikumi makers be creative! You've subbed out Ozekis before. Why not a 3-6 M5 with um an injury somewhere. Takarafuji? Daieisho? Someone creative!

 

[yorikiried by fate 2,001]

In which way did you perceive the world of sumo til now as creative?

[Bumpkin 438]

1 hour ago, Sakura said:

I think it'll be Kakuryu-Mitakeumi on Day 12, leaving Day 13 for the mysterious maegashira.

13 Goeido- Takayasu

14 Kakuryu- Takayasu and Goeido - Mitakeumi
15 Kakuryu - Goeido and Takayasu - Mitakeumi

It is traditional for the four highest rikishi to do a round-robin on Days 13, 14 and 15.

[Sakura 1,480]

11 minutes ago, Bumpkin said:

It is traditional for the four highest rikishi to do a round-robin on Days 13, 14 and 15.

I understand, but putting Kakuryu - Mitakeumi on Day 12 would ensure at least one intra-Sanyaku bout per day.