Basho Talk Haru 2018 (SPOILERS)

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

2 hours ago, Yatagarasu said:

Oh yes, the way he threw him off afterwards...Kotoshogiku looked p*ssed! 

Abi needs to work on bulking up his legs. They seem disproportionately gangly compared to the rest of him. Might help wean him off the daily tsuppari as well. 

 

[Rocks 1,804]

Okay, congrats to Kakuryu on the Yusho. It's a little sad the Ozekis couldn't handle Chiyomaru which would have made this interesting.

It's good to see someone lit a fire under Ichionjo's ass but the guy needs to stay more focused. He's gotten better with that but he's not all the way there quite yet. 

Great match between Takayasu and Mitakeumi. Best of the basho IMO.

Congrats to Kaisei too. Great basho for him except for Yokozuna match.

Congrats to Endo and Ikioi too. 

[Morty 1,479]

Endo has the most spectacular balance. The only other one who can stay on his feet in the same way is Hak. Anyone else would have fallen over twice there today instead of getting the win.

And it looked to me like Ichinojo had a handful of hair there during that throw. In the slow mo you can't see his fingers until the end when they appear from out of Shodai's mage. At least that's what it looked like to me.

[Rocks 1,804]

5 minutes ago, Morty said:

And it looked to me like Ichinojo had a handful of hair there during that throw. In the slow mo you can't see his fingers until the end when they appear from out of Shodai's mage. At least that's what it looked like to me.

I thought the same but it was close. He let's it go when he realizes which is why i think they didn't make an issue of it. 

[YoungSumo 93]

That Takayasu/Mitakeumi bout was insane. Mitakeumi staying in San'yaku probably depends on if he can beat Goeido tomorrow though since there are multiple Maegashira with a claim to climb to San'yaku (Endo, Kaisei, Tamawashi).

Definitely excited for Endo finally getting it together and will get a chance at Komusubi next basho (I'm at least 99% sure no matter tomorrow's result). Will definitely be interesting to see if the great Japanese hope can deliver on his promise.

Tochinoshin now with 23 wins in the last 2 basho (24 if he wins tomorrow of course) should be going on an Ozeki run next tournament. This will be the most interesting thing to watch next basho imo and unless he gets injured I see a good chance of him making it.

[RabidJohn 1,637]

3 hours ago, Yatagarasu said:

 Might help wean him off the daily tsuppari as well. 

That's not gonna happen with ex-Terao as his shisho!

---

Congratulations to Kakuryu - should keep all the doubters (guilty, m'lud!) off him for half a year or so.

We seriously kyboshed Mitakeumi with this:

didn't we?

[Morty 1,479]

1 minute ago, RabidJohn said:

didn't we?

Nah. He'll be back. He's too good not to. Just a wee bump in the road upwards.

[ALAKTORN 346]

Congratulations to Kakuryū.

Ichinojō pulled hair, should’ve been hansoku.

I hope Mitakeumi didn’t injure himself…

[Akinomaki 39,549]

29 minutes ago, RabidJohn said:

4 hours ago, Yatagarasu said:

Might help wean him off the daily tsuppari as well. 

That's not gonna happen with ex-Terao as his shisho!

NHK told that Shikoroyama won't let Abi do any sumo on the belt - he is forced to master the Terao tsuppari tornado

[Jakusotsu 5,743]

1 hour ago, ALAKTORN said:

Ichinojō pulled hair, should’ve been hansoku.

He didn't, he pushed head. Big difference.

[Yatagarasu 352]

1 hour ago, Akinomaki said:

NHK told that Shikoroyama won't let Abi do any sumo on the belt - he is forced to master the Terao tsuppari tornado

Well then I guess his new nickname will have to be Ab-E Honda from now on. 

[YoungSumo 93]

A 7-8 or 6-9 record at sekiwake after getting 6 kachikoshi at san'yaku in a row is only a small road bump and not even that big of a change from the usual 8/9 wins. Mitakeumi'll be fine.

[Bumpkin 438]

7-8 puts Mitakeumi at Komusubi. 6-9 puts him at Maegashira 1. Sanyaku > Hiramaku.

[Benevolance 2,465]

4 hours ago, YoungSumo said:

Mitakeumi staying in San'yaku probably depends on if he can beat Goeido tomorrow

So...what I'm hearing is that you think Mitakeumi will still be in sanyaku next tournament. 

[Chankomafuji 51]

I'm glad that Tamawashi earned his KK. If he wins today and Endo loses, both will be at 9-6 which of course is great for M1. But for me, Tamawashi is the rikishi who fits lower san'yaku better. He is the more dangerous and unpredictable one. He is perhaps the only rikishi that I always avoid making predictions. A true sekiwake in my opinion. 

At long last , Mitakeumi's "ozeki run" is over. I always found this laughable as he never really had a basho which can be counted as a start of ozeki run. He was "okay" as a sekiwake, as he had to fight the big guys, but nothing more than that. I never understood why he was expected to perform on ozeki level either.

Which leads me to mention that the younger rikishi were a  disappointment overall. Asanoyama managed to get his KK, but keep in mind he is at M13. Abi's sumo is very unpleasant for me to watch, but at least it works for him. Takakeisho showed chaotic and unreliable sumo (before the bout where he injured himself). 
And there is no young rikishi coming from Juryo for next basho. Mitoryu, I hope his injure will heal, showed some promise. Meisei and Takagenji will stick there for a while I believe. As for Enho, good footwork, he knows and understand his weakness and I believe it was a good lesson for him. I don't expect him in Juryo for several tournaments, and if he wants to go back there he has to focus above all on chanko.

Another thing I can not predict is Tochinoshin for next tournament - now he finally will be able to go back home and have good time with his family, rest a bit, no more pressure on him. Will he come back focused and determined to complete his first (and maybe last) chance to make ozeki or he will come back  without caring too much. I think a key to this will be tonight's bout with Ichinojo. The double digit score will bring him some confidence. 

As for Ichinojo, I'm quite neutral. I want to see him keep the sekiwake rank in 2 straight tournaments with 10 wins until I start even thinking about "Ichinojo" and "ozeki" in the same sentence. Something very wrong that many did with Mitakeumi.

As a Kakuryu fan, I would not have said this if Goeido won, but now I'm safe - I'm very satisfied from Takayasu. Not just by his sumo, but his presence too. For 2 tournaments now, he proves that he is a good ozeki. Will he make yokozuna? I don't know. But at this point if anyone will, it will be him. I expect (and I hope) Kisenosato will be kyujo for next tournament too so he can heal better because they help each other with training so much. And this is exactly why the perfect time for Takayasu will be in may. But it certainly won't come easy for him. It will be tougher basho as the next banzuke hints to be. 

If Goeido gets his 10 win it will be enough to say "good". He is not getting younger either, but there is still sumo in him. We should not hate him for one henka against a rikishi who had to wake up and shine at 30 years of age. And in this bout he was still a yusho contender. He is still dangerous, unpredictable and several times this basho he was very very close from winning his bouts. I think that his emotions affect his sumo, it can be noticed that when he is waiting for his bout or after his bout he watches the other rikishi compete and sometimes makes slight expressions. 

As for Kakuryu again, I'm very happy. Such a relief, he can finally take some fresh air. He looks very strong right now, I  hope for a safe bout with Takayasu. He did not have enough time to heal his hand, but hopefully next basho he will come even stronger. And yet there will be no pressure on him. Speaking of pressure, he dealt with it the best way he could. I can't wait for the next bout with ...

Hakuho, I hope he will come rested and in good mood. It will be once again a basho with the old dogs who will keep carrying the tournaments for the near future. Something that I find romantic. Enjoy sumo while we still have these men around, these great competitors that we will remember, because the long future does not seem bright. At least, that is what Juryo says.   

Edited March 24, 2018 by Chankomafuji
misspell

[ALAKTORN 346]

5 hours ago, Jakusotsu said:

He didn't, he pushed head. Big difference.

You can tell he has a closed fist on the hair, and lets go near the end of the throw.

[shumitto 418]

Sumo is very dynamic but I am still amazed at how fast things have changed over the last year. In Haru 2017 Kisenosato lifted his first Yusho as a Yokozuna, and ironically also started his downfall. The runner-up was Terunofuji, who seemed finally recovered from the many injuries that are still with him.

Kotoshogiku finished one win short of immediate repromotion to Ozeki while Takekaze, Sokokurai and Takanoiwa were all above M3.

Look at where all these guys are now. Not not mention Harumafuji.

Starting last year, Hakuho has started to show that pattern we see when the Yokozuna approach the end of their careers, the difference being that when Hakuho shows up, he often performs at a high level.

With all due respect to Kakuryu, but the Emperor's Cup will be more often than not up for grabs. Is it part of the reason behind Tochinoshin's and Ichinojo's kind of resurgence ?

Goeido, who was a fan favorite of the list "most likely to drop from either Ozeki or Yokozuna" has been profiting from it as well.

I wish that Hokutofuji could make a move, if he has any to make. His right knee is shot, methinks. For the likes of O3, Okinoumi, Myogiryu this change of guard has come too late. Well, one can say they are part of the group being replaced. Luck is also important.

 

 

[RaeucherLax 287]

11 hours ago, Jakusotsu said:

The hall went completely silent when Kakuryu won the yusho. I know, they were all rooting for their local boy Goeido, but still....awkward.

Karma took its revenge on Goeido for his cheap Henka vs. Tochinoshin 

[Jakusotsu 5,743]

1 hour ago, ALAKTORN said:

You can tell he has a closed fist on the hair, and lets go near the end of the throw.

Watched the slomo replay again - you're not entirely wrong about closed fingers, but c'mon, no hair was actually pulled. Should have still warranted a mono-ii, though.

[WAKATAKE 2,619]

Somewhat anti-climactic to say the least, but I could see the emotions in Kakuryu's face. A great weight has been lifted off his shoulders, especially the way he had been getting criticism from all directions. It didn't make it any easier when he dropped four straight the last basho, and essentially the yusho, but this time he held his ground. And the reaction of the Osaka crowd unfortunately took away from the celebratory mood that should have been.

Takayasu and Mitakeumi were definitely fighting like they had everything to lose. In the end, the ozeki won out and maintains his status. Hopefully Mitakeumi can rebound tomorrow and finish 7-8.

Ichinojo seemed to be showing the technique and resourcefulness that got people excited about him in the first place. If only he could keep this up all the time, he'd be an ozeki.

Geek no happy, a gyaku dameoshi.

Endo KK, and I don't doubt that we'll finally be seeing him in sanyaku.

[Amamaniac 2,078]

Takayasu has owned Goeido over the past year, and today was no different.  Kakuryu wants to win tomorrow's bout, but Takayasu may have something to say about that.  The thing is, Takayasu has the same record as two hiramaku wrestlers (Ikioi and Kaisei), and as Ozeki, he may want to make sure he gets the junyosho rather than a lower-ranked maegashira.  The potential kensho will be an incentive for both wrestlers...

Can't help but feel that Kakuryu has had bad luck in both of his last two meetings with Goeido.  Last tournament, he fell and dislocated his finger(s) on the stairs in his win over Goeido.  This tournament, he slipped down the stairs on another side of the dohyo, which couldn't have been very comfortable.  He must be wondering how to change his sumo so as to avoid injuries on the stairs in the future.

[Eikokurai 3,433]

13 hours ago, Bumpkin said:

7-8 puts Mitakeumi at Komusubi. 6-9 puts him at Maegashira 1. Sanyaku > Hiramaku.

Yeah, I think with a 7-8 he’ll straight swap with Ichinojo and Endo will take the other komusubi slot. Tamawashi takes M1 East. 

[Eikokurai 3,433]

4 hours ago, Amamaniac said:

He must be wondering how to change his sumo so as to avoid injuries on the stairs in the future.

Less retreat-and-pull would be a start.

[Eikokurai 3,433]

5 hours ago, WAKATAKE said:

Takayasu and Mitakeumi were definitely fighting like they had everything to lose. In the end, the ozeki won out and maintains his status.

Takayasu wasn’t in danger of losing his status. He got his kachikoshi on day 10 and after 12-3 last time around he wasn’t kadoban anyway.

[WAKATAKE 2,619]

22 minutes ago, Eikokurai said:

Takayasu wasn’t in danger of losing his status. He got his kachikoshi on day 10 and after 12-3 last time around he wasn’t kadoban anyway.

When did I say Takayasu was kadoban? He was still in the yusho race until today.