Basho Talk Natsu 2018 (SPOILERS)

[Eikokurai 3,433]

Worth noting that in addition to being 12-0 and his recent tournament records, Tochinoshin currently has more wins in 2018 than any other rikishi. Kakuryu is close behind, so I could have just jinxed him, but assuming it doesn’t change that fact should also be considered if there is still some doubt about the quality of his first yusho (which there isn’t from me!) 

[since_94 650]

There is no doubt being entertained about his January yusho, except maybe you’re alluding to Hakuho not being there? His sumo was rock solid and matched by his willpower 

 

[Eikokurai 3,433]

1 minute ago, since_94 said:

There is no doubt being entertained about his January yusho, except maybe you’re alluding to Hakuho not being there? His sumo was rock solid and matched by his willpower 

 

There has been plenty of doubt about it as it was a hiramaku yusho, so he faced a supposedly weaker schedule. Of course, he still best five sanyaku guys as well.

[Taikoubana 143]

There was definitely a powerful aura when Tochinoshin walked in and when he walked out. Whether or not it's a Yokozuna aura, only time will tell. But I'm eager to see how well Ozeki Tochinoshin will fight in his debut in a couple months.

[Rocks 1,807]

You knew this was a different match when Tochinoshin wasn't his usual beet red with nerves before the match.  Hakuho pulled that matta to try to ice him and give more time for the nerves to work but no dice. This is a Tochinoshin with a Yusho now. Hakuho was strong but not enough this time. Congrats to Ozeki Tochinoshoin.

[Rob S. 42]

22 hours ago, Rocks said:

Just watched. Tochinoshin,  I'm not sure Hakuho is in condition to handle Tochinoshin this basho. I am sure Kakuryu isn't.

 

Kakuryu has no shame. 

I would expect nothing less than a henka from the mediocre Yokozuna desperate to add to his paltry yusho wins. 

He has done it TWICE in the same match vs. Kisenosato, Aki Basho 2015, day 14:

 

 

Edited May 24, 2018 by Rob S.

[Pandaazuma 1,310]

The best thing for me was that he won yorikiri against a dai yokozuna. That is a yokozuna technique. Hakuho is not finished by any means, and Tochinoshin is long in the tooth at 30 and a half, but that was a possible changing-of-the-guard bout right there.

[Philioyamfugi 378]

By rank and rights it should be Kakaruu's basho to lose..... But not this time !  I hope they both win tomorrow to set this up. This match should also go to the belts. I don't think Tochinoshin is as supseptable to a henka. Good drama ...  Good basho. 

[Pandaazuma 1,310]

Just compare Ozeki Goeido with Sekiwake Tochinoshin. That tells a story too.

[Kotogouryuu 126]

4 minutes ago, Pandaazuma said:

The best thing for me was that he won yorikiri against a dai yokozuna.

I also like the fact that Hakuho went for it as well. Of course he knows how strong Tochinoshin is, but Hakuho took him on straight up. He lost, but looked like a yokozuna doing so.

[Eikokurai 3,433]

7 minutes ago, Kotogouryuu said:

I also like the fact that Hakuho went for it as well. Of course he knows how strong Tochinoshin is, but Hakuho took him on straight up. He lost, but looked like a yokozuna doing so.

Yes, that was a proper contest. Hakuho could have pulled a cheap trick and won but he showed Tochinoshin respect by agreeing to battle him as an equal. It didn’t work out for him, but it was good to see. 

[Eikokurai 3,433]

13 minutes ago, Pandaazuma said:

Just compare Ozeki Goeido with Sekiwake Tochinoshin. That tells a story too.

It would be nice if Goeido looked even half as interested in sumo as Tochinoshin does. 

[Eikokurai 3,433]

25 minutes ago, Rob S. said:

 

Kakuryu has no shame. 

I would expect nothing less than a henka from the mediocre Yokozuna desperate to add to his paltry yusho wins. 

He has done it TWICE in the same match vs. Kisenosato, Aki Basho 2015, day 14:

 

 

Maybe but I doubt it. I do expect to see expansive sumo though, with Kakuryu employing his fighting retreat style and using the space of the ring, but that makes sense. He’s not going to outmuscle Tochinoshin in a mid-ring belt tussle right now and Tochinoshin doesn’t have the lightest of feet. Kakuryu has great mobility and so he’d just be being smart to use that strength.

[Morty 1,480]

3 hours ago, Yatagarasu said:

I'm really at a loss at how Ichinojo didn't win that.  It was basically a repeat of yesterday's bout between Kotoshogiku and Tochinoshin - Ichinojo had a good grip on the mawashi, went to execute the throw, had a height, weight and position advantage, but somehow just couldn't follow through.  Maybe Uncle Giku was better prepared this time, but I feel like it was more Ichinojo's loss rather than Kotoshogiku's win.

 

Not giving enough credit to the Geek methinks. He stuffed the throw by putting his hand on Ichinojo's thigh, which allowed him to push back against the leverage and he then took advantage of the double underhooks to bustle Ichi out. It was excellent sumo from the Geek.

[wys 55]

1 hour ago, Rocks said:

You knew this was a different match when Tochinoshin wasn't his usual beet red with nerves before the match.  Hakuho pulled that matta to try to ice him and give more time for the nerves to work but no dice. This is a Tochinoshin with a Yusho now. Hakuho was strong but not enough this time. Congrats to Ozeki Tochinoshoin.

I don't know about that. Tochinoshin looked liked he was gagging before he entered the arena. Nerves?

[Tsubame 356]

I am glad, that I was wrong twofold.

[Tochinofuji 372]

34 minutes ago, Morty said:

Not giving enough credit to the Geek methinks. He stuffed the throw by putting his hand on Ichinojo's thigh, which allowed him to push back against the leverage and he then took advantage of the double underhooks to bustle Ichi out. It was excellent sumo from the Geek.

That was a defensive move I noticed as well. Blocking the leg and hip like that brilliantly killed Ichinojo's throw attempt. 

[lackmaker 431]

1 hour ago, Pandaazuma said:

Just compare Ozeki Goeido with Sekiwake Tochinoshin. That tells a story too.

Says more about Goeido I think. He was a pretty good and consistent sekiwake.

[Jyuunomori 226]

Tochinoshin has performed extremely well. Talk about a memorable Ozeki run.

If he wins a second Yusho now it would be a great boon to him.

So glad that Hakuho didn't try to pull any shenanigans. Head on Sumo and took the loss with dignity.

[mikawa 1,794]

Solid solid sumo today from Tochinoshin, just like all his other bouts this year, such power, just wow.

[Rocks 1,807]

55 minutes ago, wys said:

I don't know about that. Tochinoshin looked liked he was gagging before he entered the arena. Nerves?

Tochinoshin had I seriously mental block, IMO, with Yokozuna. His blood pressure goes through the roof leading up to the match. Not so much today. I think winning that Yusho convinced him he's got what it takes.

[Kotogouryuu 126]

1 hour ago, wys said:

I don't know about that. Tochinoshin looked liked he was gagging before he entered the arena. Nerves?

Or maybe he just sipped some water down the wrong pipe when cameras were present, who knows. He was certainly composed by the time the match started.

[Eikokurai 3,433]

Only around a third of ozeki in the modern era (1958+) won the yusho in their final basho as a sekiwake to secure their promotion. No sekiwake has ever managed a zensho and as far as I can tell no man has ever won two yusho during a three-basho ozeki run.

Tochinoshin could yet make history. 

He also looks likely to increase his total of 36 wins over three tournaments. The current record for an ozeki run is 37 in 45. That’s well within Tochinoshin’s reach to surpass.

 

[Dwale 419]

Well, you know what they say: 26th time is the charm. 

That match made me wish I had a zabuton to fling at my monitor. Which is a terrible idea, but hell, that excitement has to go somewhere. What a match. All the congrats to Tochinoshin!

[lackmaker 431]

1 hour ago, Rocks said:

Tochinoshin had I seriously mental block, IMO, with Yokozuna. His blood pressure goes through the roof leading up to the match. Not so much today. I think winning that Yusho convinced him he's got what it takes.

I will be interested to see if Hakuho comes with a different plan next time they meet. He will for sure be looking for revenge having failed in a straight up battle of strength.