Hatsu 2020 Basho Discussion (SPOILERS)

[Akinomaki 39,585]

The pain in the hand yesterday after the dangerous belt game seems to be a severe obstacle now for a yusho of Takakeisho. I still think 12-3 is the best we can get in the end.

[Eikokurai 3,433]

6 minutes ago, Rainoyama said:

Isn't there a rule thay says there should be at least two ozeki ? I don't remember what is the procedure when the situation happens and they can promote anyone ? I think one of the yokozuna is considered a special ozeki or something can anyone elaborate on that ?

Yes, a Yokozuna will be declared a Yokozuna-Ozeki. I’ve no idea what happens if there’s no active Yokozuna. Presumably that’s never happened.

[Kaninoyama 1,663]

In his post-match interview, Shodai said he felt like he was able to deliver a strong tachiai, and even as he was pushed to the edge of the dohyo he was able to remain calm and react. 

He also said he was so hyped about beating the Ozeki and securing kachikoshi that he got overly excited, causing him to forget his rikishi stoicism and run back to his tsukebito with a wide grin on his face. 

Had Takekeisho won today I would have bet he'd run away with the yusho, but with Shodai winning and now only he and Tokushoryu still with just one loss, all of those with two losses are probably very much still in the yusho hunt. 

The next few days should be exciting. 

[yohcun 393]

I've thought this for a while, but the tate-gyoji really wouldn't know a matta if it slapped him in the face. Enho's hand never even getting close to the clay.

[YoungSumo 93]

And as we all expected Shodai and Tokushoryu are leading the pack after 9 days. 

[robnplunder 974]

13 minutes ago, YoungSumo said:

And as we all expected Shodai and Tokushoryu are leading the pack after 9 days. 

Not in a million years.  What comes next?  Can either one actually take the yusho?   I sure hope so. 

[Eikokurai 3,433]

Tochiozan-Chiyomaru is one of the weirdest bouts of sumo I’ve seen. It was like a three-act play.

[Kintamayama 44,275]

Terutsuyoshi, third loss: "I just floated upright.. I couldn't generate any power in my body. Huge damage.."

Kiribayama, beating ex-Ozeki Kotoshougiku: "I used to watch him on TV growing up in Mongolia so I'm happy.. At the shikiri-sen, I was so scared I couldn't look him in the eye.."

Tsurugishou, unable to use his left foot due to the knee injury, getting his sixth loss: " I guess someone who can't do sumo is facing someone healthy.. It probably is an uncomfortable situation.."

Kagayaki, remaining with only two losses: "I'm going forward so that leads to wins. All I can do is do my own sumo!"

Yutakayama, facing Ounoshou who had beaten him in all 6 previous bouts between them, wins and remains with two losses: "I didn't intend to think about that too much. It was good sumo. If I can continue like this I won't be complaining.."

Ounoshou, getting his face flattened by Yutakayama's tsuppari attacks: "It was OK. I remember only till the middle.. After the bout everything was blurred.."

Shouhouzan, facing leader Shoudai tomorrow: "Our head to heads are in his favor (4-10) but that doesn't mean a thing.. No use thinking about that. I'll be going all out!"

Abi, beating Endou by tsukidashi and now with more wins than losses: " I'm happy. He went for my arm but I managed to counter that, and I feel I'm gradually improving."

Edited January 20, 2020 by Kintamayama

[lackmaker 428]

2 hours ago, Rainoyama said:

Shodai looks so happy aha, I don't know if he is going to take the yusho but man it was so nice to see him like that

The "next ozeki" beats the next yokozuna!

[Kishinoyama 582]

2 hours ago, Eikokurai said:

Yes, a Yokozuna will be declared a Yokozuna-Ozeki. I’ve no idea what happens if there’s no active Yokozuna. Presumably that’s never happened.

Actually it has happened at least once. From July 1992 - January 1993 their was no Yokozuna. The only Yokozuna Hokutoumi retired in May 1992 and Akebono was promoted to Yokozuna for the March 1993 tournament.

[lackmaker 428]

Presume he meant no active yokozuna with less than 2 ozeki.

[Eikokurai 3,433]

2 minutes ago, Kishinoyama said:

Actually it has happened at least once. From July 1992 - January 1993 their was no Yokozuna. The only Yokozuna Hokutoumi retired in May 1992 and Akebono was promoted to Yokozuna for the March 1993 tournament.

I mean no Yokozuna + only one Ozeki at the same time.

[Catalin B 13]

7 minutes ago, Kintamayama said:

Tsurugishou, unable to use his leg foot due to the knee injury, getting his sixth loss: " I guess someone who can't do sumo is facing someone healthy.. It probably is an uncomfortable situation.."

Great quote. Really, what is he hoping for? Even if he somehow pulls off another win, it shouldn't be enough for him to stay in makuuchi. And what about those matta calls today piling on his misery?

[Akinomaki 39,585]

7 minutes ago, Eikokurai said:

I mean no Yokozuna + only one Ozeki at the same time.

Only one ozeki is not allowed by the rules - without yokozeki, the next best gets promoted, if one of the last 2 ozeki gets demoted. I don't think there ever was the need for that - at least in modern times..

[Kaninoyama 1,663]

25 minutes ago, Kintamayama said:

Terutsuyoshi, third loss: "I just floated upright.. I couldn't generate any power in my body. Huge damage.."

And Kaisei beating Terutsuyoshi: "He henka'd around so far all I had to do was reach and give him a little push and he was out of the ring."

Edited January 20, 2020 by Kaninoyama

[Akinomaki 39,585]

14 minutes ago, Catalin B said:

Great quote. Really, what is he hoping for? Even if he somehow pulls off another win, it shouldn't be enough for him to stay in makuuchi. And what about those matta calls today piling on his misery?

Looked like the gyoji tried to remind him that he's not even fit enough to do a proper tachi-ai

Edited January 20, 2020 by Akinomaki

[Kujiramaru 4]

48 minutes ago, Kintamayama said:

Kiribayama, beating ex-Ozeki Kotoshougiku: "I used to watch him on TV growing up in Mongolia so I'm happy.. At the shikiri-sen, I was so scared I couldn't look him in the eye.."

Kiribayama's HNH was very well executed.

Despite the ongoing discussion about whether successful oshi specialists should learn adequate yotsu skills, it's rather frustrating to see an otherwise spirited Daiesho look rather helpless most anytime his opponent gets his belt.

[Kishinoyama 582]

1 hour ago, Eikokurai said:

I mean no Yokozuna + only one Ozeki at the same time.

Ahhh... missed that... My apologies.

[Tsubame 355]

I guess Endo forgot to engage Basho-mode today... 

[Yamanashi 3,690]

1 hour ago, Tsubame said:

I guess Endo forgot to engage Basho-mode today... 

To me it appeared that the cunning Endo had a plan: "when he comes up with those outstretched arms, I'll grab one of them, step to the side, and pull him out."  It might have worked, if Abi weren't coming like a freight train behind it and knocking Endo over before he could get out of the way.

 

[Yamanashi 3,690]

To contrast our Y/O injury-palooza this basho-- I happened across the banzuke for Kyushu 2000 (Akebono's last Yusho).  With three Yokozunae and five Ozeki, the results:

Y Akebono 14-1 Y     Y Takanohana 11-4

Y Musashimaru 11-4

O Kaio 11-4     O Chiyotaikai 9-6

O Dejima 9-6     O Miyabiyama 9-6

O Musoyama 9-6

[Of course, because of the "Conservation of Wins" law, the rest of Sanyaku and the Maegashira joi took it in the shorts!]

P.S.   Akebono sat out the next basho w/ injuries, then retired.

[Oortael 151]

The Good : Shodai using the exact good timing to send Takakeisho pushing the void and staying on top of the leaderboard. Shodai's smile while running back to the locker room was fun to watch.

The bad : Aoiyama, what was that ? Your usual 2-hands-to-the-throat tachiai is what you do 99% of the time and you decide to go lean-forward-shoulder-blast against a guy known for his henka ? Have you ever heard about strategy and matchups ? Geez ...

The ugly : The poor rikishis having to soldier up and compete with one leg, one arm or concused. Stayed motionless after falling on your head off the dohyo ? I suggest banging your head against 200kg men for the next 10 days, that will do wonders. Teared you UCL, MCL and/or whatever-CL ? Let's do multiple squats and try to push 200kg men for a week. The NFL is under the spotlights cause they don"t care about the health of their players, NSK says 'hold my beer'. /RantOver

[Gurowake 3,886]

5 hours ago, Akinomaki said:

Only one ozeki is not allowed by the rules - without yokozeki, the next best gets promoted, if one of the last 2 ozeki gets demoted. I don't think there ever was the need for that - at least in modern times..

I'd suggest that if the lack of two eligible Ozeki is caused by a Yokozuna retirement that they simply don't acknowledge the retirement on the banzuke until someone else at least gets a reasonable run for Ozeki promotion.  If it's an Ozeki being demoted, they could simply not demote him for the same reason they sometimes don't demote lower sanyaku on 7-8 records - there's no good candidate to replace them.   I'd hate to see them have to promote someone to Ozeki without at least 3 straight KK just because they did the best in the most recent tournament.  I wouldn't be surprised though now given the parity of the top of the banzuke if it becomes difficult for anyone to manage that. 

Edited January 20, 2020 by Gurowake

[Rainoyama 1,157]

36 minutes ago, Yamanashi said:

To contrast our Y/O injury-palooza this basho-- I happened across the banzuke for Kyushu 2000 (Akebono's last Yusho).  With three Yokozunae and five Ozeki, the results:

Y Akebono 14-1 Y     Y Takanohana 11-4

Y Musashimaru 11-4

O Kaio 11-4     O Chiyotaikai 9-6

O Dejima 9-6     O Miyabiyama 9-6

O Musoyama 9-6

[Of course, because of the "Conservation of Wins" law, the rest of Sanyaku and the Maegashira joi took it in the shorts!]

P.S.   Akebono sat out the next basho w/ injuries, then retired.

A lot of these guys were on the same stable too.

[Sue 476]

12 hours ago, WAKATAKE said:

Ura 5-0, going for that Jonidan yusho

Dear Osaka Banzuke makers: please schedule an Omote vs. Ura matchup, assuming that both rikishi are in Sandanme in Osaka. Please please please please please.