Random Bouts

[Yukiarashi 195]

What are some of your most random bouts of all time? Random upsets, random torikumi, strange matchups as Sekitori were in the lower divisions, large rank differences, large record differences, and just general matchups within divisions that seem strange at the time or in later years

Examples Shotenro 2-13 over Hakuho 14-1-D 2009

Tochinoshin 11-3 vs. lower ranked Toyohibiki 4-10 2017

Orora over Hakuho 2001

1-13 M14 Hochiyama 1-13 M1 Kyokutenho July 2012

Kisenosato 11-0 vs. Terunofuji 2-9 May 2016-I hope someone can think of a better one than this

Tochinoshin vs. Yoshiazuma Makuuchi November 2012, Tochinoshin vs. Tsurugidake November 2011 Makuuchi

[Yukiarashi 195]

One more-Kitaharima over Ichinojo by Oshidashi Nagoya 2016

It didn't even seem real to me at first, I finally comprehended it a half hour later. Kintamayama's video was my favorite reaction.

 

[Yamanashi 3,690]

Kotonishiki (M12w) vs. Takanohana (Y1w) Kyushu 1998 day 13:

His second Yusho.  For the first in 1991, both Yokozuna were out and he won from M5. 

This time he was unbeaten after day 11, but there were two Yokozuna thrown in against him.  Wakanohana beats him on day 12, setting up Takanohana on day 13: if Tak wins, they're tied.

The film shows Tak clearly getting the best of things, but at about 0:25, Kotonishiki throws on a switch and goes ballistic, thumping Takanohana off the dohyo.  The zabuton shower was like a snowstorm in Kyushu ...

[Yukiarashi 195]

Wow, I just watched it I was absolutely enchanted. Kotonishiki winning two yusho as a hiramaku is as random as it gets. I wish there were more basho like that nowadays with hiramaku winners. My favorite and most random entire basho I've ever witnessed and maybe anyone has was Natsu 2012. Hakuho lost to Aminishiki, Toyohibiki!, and Toyonoshima and finished 10-5 in an era of dominance, Kisenosato had a two win lead with a few days left only to not win a yusho for five years after that. But it will be remembered for Kyokutenho (M7) at 37, was suppose to retire, thought he lost on the last day but won and defeated fellow hiramaku Tochiozan (M4) in a 12-3 playoff, the only time that's ever happened. 

[Katooshu 3,090]

Kotoyuki yorikiri Terunofuji last year (database is down so not sure on the basho)

I believe this was something like Kotoyuki's first yorikiri win in about 300 matches, and the result really says it all about Terunofuji's condition at the time. But even taking Terunofuji's decline into account, Kotoyuki being on the record as defeating the once formidable power yotsu specialist by yorikiri just looks so strange to me.

Now he just needs to tsuridashi Tochinoshin and uwatenage Hakuho 

Edited January 21, 2018 by Katooshu

[Atenzan 1,074]

1 hour ago, Katooshu said:

Kotoyuki yorikiri Terunofuji last year (database is down so not sure on the basho)

I believe this was something like Kotoyuki's first yorikiri win in about 300 matches, and the result really says it all about Terunofuji's condition at the time. But even taking Terunofuji's decline into account, Kotoyuki being on the record as defeating the once formidable power yotsu specialist by yorikiri just looks so strange to me.

Now he just needs to tsuridashi Tochinoshin and uwatenage Hakuho 

I remember digging the trivia bit out. 

Edited January 21, 2018 by McBugger

[gijo 27]

7 hours ago, Yukiarashi said:

Orora over Hakuho 2001

Wow, anyone has that video? 

[ALAKTORN 346]

57 minutes ago, gijo said:

Wow, anyone has that video? 

I was about to ask… but I’d like vids for all bouts mentioned, really.

[ryafuji 806]

How about  Sentoryu over Asashoryu in 2000? 

[PawnSums 59]

Endo Vs. Hakuho Kyushu 2017, it's like they were setting up a hakuho yusho. i hate that. it's disappointing.

[Tenshinhan 1,595]

My favourite Jonokuchi bout: Hattorizakura vs. Kinjo (Aki Basho 2016, Day 3)
 

 

[Gurowake 3,886]

6 hours ago, gijo said:

Wow, anyone has that video? 

I highly doubt anyone cared about that match then.  Both of them were random teenagers then.  Hakuho a skinny guy who started with a MK and was only in his third basho, and Orora a guy who was pretty big, but not nearly the monstrosity that he is today and wouldn't have seemed so different than other huge guys.  His reported weight at the time in kg was actually less than his height in cm.

That there exists a video of Hakuho's 7th match from 2002 Aki (4th basho in Sd, at 44W) is quite remarkable - there aren't any more until he was in Makushita by which time he probably was starting to draw some notice at his progress despite his age and size.

[Asashosakari 18,674]

2 hours ago, Gurowake said:

That there exists a video of Hakuho's 7th match from 2002 Aki (4th basho in Sd, at 44W) is quite remarkable - there aren't any more until he was in Makushita by which time he probably was starting to draw some notice at his progress despite his age and size.

That was back when NHK BS was still broadcasting the whole day from jonokuchi up. I actually wouldn't be shocked if there's somebody in Japan who has a stack of VCR tapes with every single bout from those days. And presumably NHK and/or the NSK also has a vault with that stuff. Not that it's likely to ever see the light of day again due to general lack of interest.

In any case, attention to the lower divisions here in the English-speaking fandom was still in its infancy in those days. I had no idea who Hakuho was when he got that fluky early juryo promotion in Kyushu 2003, and outside of a casual mention or two on the SML (which was still the place back then, not the forum yet) I don't recall finding any earlier coverage either. I'm sure he was already catching people's eyes in Japan, of course.

Edited January 21, 2018 by Asashosakari

[gijo 27]

4 minutes ago, Asashosakari said:

somebody

Somebody you know? 

[Asashosakari 18,674]

1 minute ago, gijo said:

Somebody you know? 

 No, I'm honestly just speculating.

[inhashi 2,363]

Just going through some playlists this past week and watching a clip that stood out of Akinoshu vs Tomonohana.  The latter loses his chonmage letting it all loose and wild.  Looked like a relentless Raijin the thunder god!  Haru 2000:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNvei5se0sQ&feature=youtu.be

 

[Yukiarashi 195]

A few more I thought of-

Shimotori over Mushashimaru Nagoya 2002

Minatofuji over Takanohana x2 in 1998

Daizen over Musashimaru Kyushu 2001

Shikishima beat Takanohana twice in a row 1998

Torikumi

Kyokutenho's last bout, M11 3-11 vs. Tochinoshin M1 7-7?????????? Was there a drinking party for the Torikumi makers?

Natsu 2012-9-5 M6 Wakakoyu vs. 5-9 M13 Tenkaiho

Kimarite

Takekaze beat Kaisei by Ipponzeoi last Hatsu

Strange-As one of the 12 Hochiyama fans I remember that his one win in his 1-14 Nagoya 2012 was against 11-4 Masunoyama

[Yamanashi 3,690]

My favorite piece of trivia (because I'm new to sumo and it seems so amazing at this point in his career): Kotooshu's only Yusho in 2008 featured a 14-1 record, beating nine current or future Y/O's.  His only loss was a quick oshidashi from -- Aminishiki!

 

 

[yorikiried by fate 1,987]

7 hours ago, Yamanashi said:

My favorite piece of trivia (because I'm new to sumo and it seems so amazing at this point in his career): Kotooshu's only Yusho in 2008 featured a 14-1 record, beating nine current or future Y/O's.  His only loss was a quick oshidashi from -- Aminishiki!

 

At this point in his career he was absolutely overdue to finally bring one home. In fact, people (rightfully) expected him to live up to his potential ever since his magnificent run to Ozeki. That he had his focus issues is a bit tragic (in recent times maybe only eclipsed by Kisenosato's). He came well into the basho you are referring to and for whatever freak reason skipped his usual fuck-ups in week one. Generally, he was very sharp and aggressive in that basho IIRC.

After his win against a remarkably off Asashoryu, Hakuho also didn't exactly go all out to stand in the way of a premiere Ozeki yusho for Osh. Aminishiki turned up to be a spoilsport for the zensho, though. I remember that Kotooshu was visibly regretful after the bout, and it might have hurt his self-confidence for the years to come. Anyhow, Aminishiki was always a terror for Kotooshu, as he simply knew how to play the latter's insecurities.

[Senkoho 552]

Hatsu 2018, Day 13:

Takekaze beat Terunofuji by yorikiri....

Edited January 26, 2018 by Senkoho

[Jakusotsu 5,762]

Not really. Terunofuji beat himself by entering the basho.

[Sakura 1,465]

14 hours ago, Jakusotsu said:

Not really. Terunofuji beat himself by entering the basho.

At what point does that get forgotten and people only notice the kimarite.

[Yukiarashi 195]

Just noticed one of Yamaguchi's wins in his 2-11 basho was against co-leader of Juryo Kotoeko.

 

 

[Saburo 18]

On 20/01/2018 at 19:59, Yamanashi said:

Kotonishiki (M12w) vs. Takanohana (Y1w) Kyushu 1998 day 13:

One of the greatest torikumi of my life. I just now dug up an audio recording of the NHK radio broadcast for this match. Nothing like Nihongo play by play for sumo!