Basho Talk Haru 2018 (SPOILERS)

[Rocks 1,810]

1 minute ago, Gurowake said:

I don't think Kakuryu's heel is "clearly" out in that photo.  It could easily just be hovering over the sand, with all the weight on the tawara.

 

Not only is it not hovering you can see the sand behind the heel that it has displaced. If it appears hovering it may be because he has already touched down and is in the process of lifting his heel from the sand.

[Gurowake 4,148]

Just now, Rocks said:

Not only is it not hovering you can see the sand behind the heel that it has displaced. If it appears hovering it may be because he has already touched down and is in the process of lifting his heel from the sand.

Maybe *you* can tell that from the photograph with enough confidence, but I can't.

[Rigel 62]

24 minutes ago, Gurowake said:

Maybe *you* can tell that from the photograph with enough confidence, but I can't.

I can, and its pretty clear

[ALAKTORN 346]

5 minutes ago, Rigel said:

I can, and its pretty clear

Doesn’t change the fact that that photo was taken far after Takayasu had already lost. Watch the video instead.

[Rigel 62]

Just now, ALAKTORN said:

Doesn’t change the fact that that photo was taken far after Takayasu had already lost. Watch the video instead.

That is a separate issue, I was only referring to the photo

[Rocks 1,810]

2 hours ago, ALAKTORN said:

Doesn’t change the fact that that photo was taken far after Takayasu had already lost. Watch the video instead.

Your assumption the top of his toe touching does not make this so. First, it isn't clear the top actually touches and not the side or front of the toe, both of which are considered parts of the sole of the foot. Second, had this been important the gyoji would have called the match must sooner, he didn't, and they would have mentioned it after  the monoii, they didn't. Kakuryu's heel on the other hand clearly goes down outside the dohyo, both in the pictures and the video.

What constitutes the sole of the foot is not cut and dry and is not just the parts of your foot touching the floor when standing. The side of the foot is considered part of the sole as you will often see a rikishi plant their foot that way to make a push.

[dingo 1,477]

Kakuryuu lucked into the yusho this time. The only difference with his usual sumo was that his backpedaling was mostly not caught out and he managed to squeeze out the necessary wins. 

[Rocks 1,810]

3 minutes ago, dingo said:

Kakuryuu lucked into the yusho this time. The only difference with his usual sumo was that his backpedaling was mostly not caught out and he managed to squeeze out the necessary wins. 

I wouldn't call it luck, but it is amazing how many guys just seem to ignore the pull they know is coming and blunder in low anyway. Just look at the Aminishiki / Myogiryu bout.

[Rocks 1,810]

BTW, could someone please explain to me what the heck Myogiryu was thinking? It's bad enough he goes in low after his history with Aminiskiki but  to still do it after a matta just seems ridiculous. 

[Bumpkin 438]

37 minutes ago, dingo said:

Kakuryuu lucked into the yusho this time. The only difference with his usual sumo was that his backpedaling was mostly not caught out and he managed to squeeze out the necessary wins. 

Kakuryu's yusho was the least impressive yusho I've seen since I started watching sumo again in May 2014.

[Tiger Tanaka 226]

So much fighting spirit from Ryuden in the last 3 days, he was determined not to go MK and fought with quite a bit of tenacity. Great rebound after a 1-5 and later 3-7 start.

I think Mitakeumi gets double digits in Natsu. He looked banged up this basho, but still had a ton of fight and his back to back battles with the two ozeki were very impressive. 

Glad to see Kakuryu get his 4th yusho. Hope he can continue on for another year or so.

[Kishinoyama 623]

4 hours ago, Bumpkin said:

Kakuryu's yusho was the least impressive yusho I've seen since I started watching sumo again in May 2014.

Including Harumafuji's last 11-4 playoff win yusho?

[sekitori 492]

Did anyone notice Chiyoshoma's amazing henka against Nishikigi? I'm not sure if it can really be called a henka because although he avoided direct contact, his leaping move to the right enabled him to get a uwatenage which immediately dropped Nishikigi to the dohyo. The match lasted no more than a second and to me, his move was a thing of beauty. One of the rikishis who used a similar move in the past was Hayateumi. I thought his leaping tachiais were the most spectacular ones I'd ever seen. Chiyoshoma's on day 15 was just as good as Hayateumi's--and maybe even better. 

Edited March 26, 2018 by sekitori

[Bumpkin 438]

2 hours ago, Kishinoyama said:

Including Harumafuji's last 11-4 playoff win yusho?

Harumafuji's yusho was magnificent! He was 6-4 and halfway out the door. Yet, he won 4 straight and then beat Goeido twice on day 15.

[Eikokurai 3,437]

9 minutes ago, Bumpkin said:

Harumafuji's yusho was magnificent! He was 6-4 and halfway out the door. Yet, he won 4 straight and then beat Goeido twice on day 15.

If having to claw your way back from 6-4 is what you think of as magnificent, then yeah, but that’s not my definition. Dramatic perhaps, but hardly a stellar performance. Kakuryu won 11 straight  and was comfortably the winner. It may not make for great spectacle but it was certainly more impressive than an 11-4.

[dingo 1,477]

2 hours ago, sekitori said:

Did anyone notice Chiyoshoma's amazing henka against Nishikigi? I'm not sure if it can really be called a henka because although he avoided direct contact, his leaping move to the right enabled him to get a uwatenage which immediately dropped Nishikigi to the dohyo. The match lasted no more than a second and to me, his move was a thing of beauty. One of the rikishis who used a similar move in the past was Hayateumi. I thought his leaping tachiais were the most spectacular ones I'd ever seen. Chiyoshoma's on day 15 was just as good as Hayateumi's--and maybe even better. 

I forgot to say something about that, but when I saw it my jaw dropped. I'm not generally a fan of Chiyoshouma, but this was amazing timing and athleticism. He basically jumped over and around Nishikigi and in one smooth move delivered the throw. When people talk about good and juicy henkas this is what I think of. 

Edited March 26, 2018 by dingo

[Eikokurai 3,437]

49 minutes ago, dingo said:

I forgot to say something about that, but when I saw it my jaw dropped. I'm not generally a fan of Chiyoshouma, but this was amazing timing and athleticism. He basically jumped over and around Nishikigi and in one smooth move delivered the throw. When people talk about good and juicy henkas this is what I think of. 

And yet of all rikishi Chiyoshouma is probably the most visibly pissed when someone henkas him. I’ve never liked him for that hypocrisy.

[Katooshu 3,481]

Ha, I've noticed that too. Does it regularly himself but then acts totally affronted when it's done in return.

Incidentally, it reminds me of prolific slapper Shohozan griping to the press after a match about how his opponent slapped him at the tachiai. I think Chiyoshoma might have actually been the opponent..

Edited March 26, 2018 by Katooshu

[Eikokurai 3,437]

1 hour ago, Katooshu said:

Ha, I've noticed that too. Does it regularly himself but then acts totally affronted when it's done in return.

Incidentally, it reminds me of prolific slapper Shohozan griping to the press after a match about how his opponent slapped him at the tachiai. I think Chiyoshoma might have actually been the opponent..

Sometimes he stares down the guy who did it and takes an age to get back to his side and bow. He seems like a bit of a knob, tbh.

[since_94 650]

7 hours ago, sekitori said:

Did anyone notice Chiyoshoma's amazing henka against Nishikigi? I'm not sure if it can really be called a henka because although he avoided direct contact, his leaping move to the right enabled him to get a uwatenage which immediately dropped Nishikigi to the dohyo. The match lasted no more than a second and to me, his move was a thing of beauty. One of the rikishis who used a similar move in the past was Hayateumi. I thought his leaping tachiais were the most spectacular ones I'd ever seen. Chiyoshoma's on day 15 was just as good as Hayateumi's--and maybe even better. 

I liked it, but I am still not a fan of Chiyoshoma for the reasons mentioned above. I've seen him refuse to bow after a defeat. Poor sport

Edited March 26, 2018 by since_94
add relevant content after reading other comments

[Rocks 1,810]

I'm not a fan of Chiyoshoma either but I like him better than I used to. He henkas a lot. His henka against Nishikigi was brilliant but I think many would ask why would anyone need to henka against Nishikigi? The thing that bothers me about Chiyoshoma is he has the Mongolian attitude without the ability or strength to back it up. 

[rhyen 1,858]

Best Senshuraku photo yet

Spoiler

 

 

[ALAKTORN 346]

10 hours ago, sekitori said:

Did anyone notice Chiyoshoma's amazing henka against Nishikigi? I'm not sure if it can really be called a henka because although he avoided direct contact, his leaping move to the right enabled him to get a uwatenage which immediately dropped Nishikigi to the dohyo. The match lasted no more than a second and to me, his move was a thing of beauty. One of the rikishis who used a similar move in the past was Hayateumi. I thought his leaping tachiais were the most spectacular ones I'd ever seen. Chiyoshoma's on day 15 was just as good as Hayateumi's--and maybe even better. 

It’s called hassōtobi 八艘飛び.

[Dapeng 236]

11 hours ago, Eikokurai said:

If having to claw your way back from 6-4 is what you think of as magnificent, then yeah, but that’s not my definition. Dramatic perhaps, but hardly a stellar performance. Kakuryu won 11 straight  and was comfortably the winner. It may not make for great spectacle but it was certainly more impressive than an 11-4.

As to Harumafuji, he was in bad condition and could have withdrawn from the basho, but it would be terrible and embarrassing for the NSK to have all four yokozuna kyujo or absent from the same one basho, which never happened in history. Harumafuji persevered and eventually yushoed, fulfilling the duty of a yokozuna. That's why his yusho was magnificent and he deserved to be respected. 

Edited March 26, 2018 by Dapeng

[Philioyamfugi 378]

Actually did miss Haramafuji this time around...would have been a bit more exciting and perhaps down to the last match.