Basho Talk Natsu 2018 (SPOILERS)

[Eikokurai 3,433]

8 minutes ago, ALAKTORN said:

Tochinoshin is a monster. I think he can beat Hakuhō this basho.

If he takes this yūshō and then the next, who thinks he’ll be promoted to yokozuna with just 1 ōzeki tournament? I don’t know if that’s even possible but it looks promotable to me.

Not sure about your timeframe, but if he takes this yusho and continues in the same form, he could very well get a rope before too long. People play down his first yusho as he was ‘only’ M3 but he fought 6 sanyaku rikishi that tournament (3 others dropped out) and beat 5 of them. It was a joi schedule, hardly a cakewalk. 

A lot of ‘ifs’ here though and there’s still a long way to go in this basho. I’m sure he’ll be taking one bout at a time. Not that it stops us thinking ahead of course. :)

[Eikokurai 3,433]

10 minutes ago, Yubinhaad said:

Mawashi grip is not mandatory for tsuridashi to be called. This is specified on the Japanese side of the Kyokai's old kimarite list (unfortunately the English version lacks some of those finer details). The relevant line is:

まわしを取らずに相手を抱えて吊るときもある。

Fair enough. Thanks. My Japanese reading isn’t up to much. I haven’t studied the language for a decade and my level wasn’t great anyway. I mostly end up reading the kanji in Chinese and the kana in Japanese and end up with this weird Chipanese.

[Morty 1,469]

On 20/05/2018 at 21:13, since_94 said:

Takakeisho rally beat up on Yoshikaze today. I felt it over here. Wouldn’t surprise me if his face was six shades of purple tomorrow. He will lead with it anyway, whatever color it is

I counted six deliberate headbutts from yosh in that bout...

[Rocks 1,801]

31 minutes ago, ALAKTORN said:

Tochinoshin is a monster. I think he can beat Hakuhō this basho.

If he takes this yūshō and then the next, who thinks he’ll be promoted to yokozuna with just 1 ōzeki tournament? I don’t know if that’s even possible but it looks promotable to me.

Not possible. But I would think any 13 win jun yusho in the second Ozeki basho might do it  under that scenario.

[Kintamayama 44,165]

6 hours ago, Taikoubana said:

Giku's hands were nowhere near the ground when Hakuho charged. The Geek got robbed.

Neither were Hakuhou's.

[Benevolance 2,453]

Neither were Takanohana's.

 

DUN DUN DUNNNNN!!

[ALAKTORN 346]

8 hours ago, Taikoubana said:

Giku's hands were nowhere near the ground when Hakuho charged. The Geek got robbed.

He shouldn’t have accepted the tachiai if he wasn’t ready. He robbed himself.

Looked like a fair match to me anyway.

Edited May 21, 2018 by ALAKTORN

[Flyric 94]

24 minutes ago, ALAKTORN said:

He shouldn’t have accepted the tachiai if he wasn’t ready. He robbed himself.

Looked like a fair match to me anyway.

I remember Harumafuji and Hakuho losing matches by trying to not accept a tachiai. Their best bet is to go for it and hope for a matta.

[Asojima 2,870]

1 hour ago, ALAKTORN said:

Looked like a fair match to me anyway.

This was the 60th hon-basho match between these two.  No telling how many jungyo and keiko matches they have had. They have, by now, worked out a synchronization routine that suits them well.

[Asashosakari 18,648]

1 hour ago, Flyric said:

I remember Harumafuji and Hakuho losing matches by trying to not accept a tachiai. Their best bet is to go for it and hope for a matta.

Standing up and not doing anything afterwards isn't the only way to (try to) not accept a tachiai. Just stay crouched, there's no way they'll let the bout go on then.

[Philioyamfugi 378]

Hahuhou got a bit of a jump on him...still a good bout, geek still looks better then he has for most of a year.  Tochinoshin just looking unstoppable. 

[WAKATAKE 2,610]

25 minutes ago, Asojima said:

This was the 60th hon-basho match between these two.  No telling how many jungyo and keiko matches they have had. They have, by now, worked out a synchronization routine that suits them well.

Geek holds the current record with Kisenosato but the way he’s going The Geek/Hak pairing could pass up Geek/Kise.

[Jabbamaru 166]

Oh brother...0-9 is so hard on that Oyanagi kid...he had many nice bouts and, dispite his unexperience, should be had more luck.

Im tryng with all my forces  not jinxs the pink beast on his ozeki run but is getting more and more dificult.

[Kaioshoryu 62]

Is it just me, or is Kimura Kounosuke a lot more subdued than usual this basho? He usually sounds a lot more assertive and strict, now he sounds kinda tame...

[ALAKTORN 346]

19 minutes ago, Kaioshoryu said:

Is it just me, or is Kimura Kounosuke a lot more subdued than usual this basho? He usually sounds a lot more assertive and strict, now he sounds kinda tame...

Was mentioned some time ago that rikishi complained about him being loud.

[Flyric 94]

4 hours ago, Asashosakari said:

Standing up and not doing anything afterwards isn't the only way to (try to) not accept a tachiai. Just stay crouched, there's no way they'll let the bout go on then.

Fair enough, I guess those weren't the best examples. I would say staying crouched only covers the really obvious early-tachiais. For the ones that are really close (and still gives one side an advantage), it's a lot tougher to (not) react in time, because you just realize it mid-charge.

This all said, I don't think Giku was robbed. Just making a comment that Rikishi sometimes have no choice but to rely on the Gyoji noticing.

[Eikokurai 3,433]

So an injured Endo returns today then. A nice gift for Hakuho.

[Tiger Tanaka 218]

Still a ways to go, but could be setting up for an amazing final three days. Tochi has the inside track, but he's 0-25 and 2-21 against Hak and Kak respectively for his career (though 1 of his 2 wins was last basho). So zensho seems unlikely, but neither Hak nor Kak have looked at their recent best. With Tochi already facing the rest of Sanyaku, only Chiotairyu, Geek, or a similar level maegashira are available, so it's up to the yokozuna to show their pride and stop the man possessed for ozekiship.

Just re-reading my post and realized Hak and Kak does not sound great when read aloud.

[WAKATAKE 2,610]

1 hour ago, Tiger Tanaka said:

Still a ways to go, but could be setting up for an amazing final three days. Tochi has the inside track, but he's 0-25 and 2-21 against Hak and Kak respectively for his career (though 1 of his 2 wins was last basho). So zensho seems unlikely, but neither Hak nor Kak have looked at their recent best. With Tochi already facing the rest of Sanyaku, only Chiotairyu, Geek, or a similar level maegashira are available, so it's up to the yokozuna to show their pride and stop the man possessed for ozekiship.

Just re-reading my post and realized Hak and Kak does not sound great when read aloud.

He could go 12-3, lose to both the yokozuna, and probably still get the nod. What's going to work in his favor? Both Takayasu and Goeido will be kadoban next basho. I'm not sure where I read it but there seems to be a rule that there must be at least two ozeki on the banzuke. With both those guys kadoban I'm sure the NSK will not want to take a chance. But he's looking as strong as ever and this could be the basho where he finally beats the GOAT. That alone I think can secure the promotion.

[Eikokurai 3,433]

11 minutes ago, WAKATAKE said:

He could go 12-3, lose to both the yokozuna, and probably still get the nod. What's going to work in his favor? Both Takayasu and Goeido will be kadoban next basho. I'm not sure where I read it but there seems to be a rule that there must be at least two ozeki on the banzuke. With both those guys kadoban I'm sure the NSK will not want to take a chance. But he's looking as strong as ever and this could be the basho where he finally beats the GOAT. That alone I think can secure the promotion.

I think he’s got the ozeki promotion wrapped up, even if not yet mathematically. Barring a catastrophe he’ll get a minimum of two more wins in the next six days. The question is whether he can take the yusho on the way. I’d love to see that happen as it will make him a serious contender to become the first European Yokozuna in time. I’m getting ahead of myself though. 

[WAKATAKE 2,610]

Goeido's absence marks the first time since Aki 1959 that no ozeki are competing during the honbasho. The lone ozeki Kotogahama had withdrawn within the first week of that basho, versus Takayasu who did not enter to begin with, and Goeido who limped his way into the second week.

https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/201805220000182.html

[Hakuyobaku 33]

1 hour ago, WAKATAKE said:

 I'm not sure where I read it but there seems to be a rule that there must be at least two ozeki on the banzuke. With both those guys kadoban I'm sure the NSK will not want to take a chance. But he's looking as strong as ever and this could be the basho where he finally beats the GOAT. That alone I think can secure the promotion.

For the purposes of that rule, Yokozuna also count as Ozeki, which is what they technically are anyway. If there's only one ozeki and n number of yokozuna, one of them becomes yokozuna-ozeki on the banzuke. If there are no ozeki, two become Y-O. What is needed is having at least two rikishi ranked either at O or Y. And it's hard to imagine a situation where there is only one ozeki and no yokozuna or vice versa. Although... if you make a couple assumptions it's possible in like half a year.

[Eikokurai 3,433]

Great opening bout. Kotoeko did his promotion prospects a world of good there, securing his KK on a day trip to Makuuchi. 

[Eikokurai 3,433]

Wow. What a start to the day. Sadanoumi and Arawashi doing a power waltz, Chiyonokuni and Nishikigi bull rushing each other, two mono ii, two decisions overturned and we’re only four bouts in!

[Pandaazuma 1,310]

Hokutofuji bout.  Sumo and concussion. That was not pleasant to watch at all.