This IS the July 2020 Basho thread!! Spoilers!!

[Amamaniac 2,020]

16 hours ago, Sue said:

Yutakayama and Onosho really need to pull their socks up in a hurry.

What's up with YY? 0-7 feels like something beyond the usual joi hangover is going on with him.

The best part is that they get to fight each other tomorrow!  A Makekoshi all-star bout.

[Amamaniac 2,020]

19 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

Abi was not alone. "Other Makushita and under kyujo rikishi were with him." Looking at the probabilities, either Irodori or Teraou or both or maybe Teraoushou. "They will be dealt with." We shall see.

Did Abi lie to the NSK?  The Japan Times reported: 

“He has admitted that he was out with people from outside the association,” sumo elder Shibatayama, the JSA’s director of communications said.

This is getting messy!

[RabidJohn 1,425]

Serendipity: Tochiozan goes intai, and Kagayaki pops up as the man to get special treatment every time he meets the GOAT from now on. You slap Hakuho at your peril!

Asanoyama is building the foundations of his legend. Wonderful to watch.

Today's laugh out loud moment was the aftermath of the Kiribayama-Enho bout. Does giving your defeated aite a wedgie count as dame-oshi?

Shodai's turn today in the lottery of his h2h record with Mitakeumi. The latter seems to have plateaued, whereas the former appears to be in the ascendancy. 'Nah...' and all that, but! We shall see...

I hope Kotonowaka's kyujo is his dad being extra-careful. Kotoshogiku's astonishingly lengthy career (considering how many of us though him on the verge of intai a couple of years ago) gives me some confidence that Sadogatake-oyakata has extensive knowledge of treating knee injuries and mitigating their effects. Another loss for the heya's new star in the making, Kotoshoho, but I like the way he came up from the throw looking like he'd just learned something valuable. I really like the way this kid comes across in general and I wish him well.

Terunofuji showing the kind of inexorable sumo that made me such a fan when I first saw him, but that was back when he was facing the top ranks and had uninjured knees... I can only admire the tenacity he's shown in getting back to makuuchi, but I'm yet to be convinced the beast of old is back - or can ever come back.

Edited July 26, 2020 by RabidJohn

[Kashunowaka 296]

2 hours ago, Amamaniac said:

IMO, that's Hanaregoma Oyakata (ex-Tamanoshima).

Thanks, I figured it might be by elimination. The list of shimpan was mentioned on the stream but I wasn't sure if I missed someone.

When I got back to watching sumo again this year after being away from it for a long time, I probably recognized more shimpan than rikishi. Most are quite easy to spot. Ex-Tamanoshima is one of the former rikishi who IMHO looks nothing like his old self, whereas ex-Tochinonada looks the same to me.

[Kashunowaka 296]

Let's talk about Takanosho! First time in the meat-grinder, has now faced 6 of the 8 ranked above him (only Endo tomorrow and Okinoumi left) and is 5-3. I think he is doing extremely well.

Edit: Takakeisho is in the same heya.

Edited July 26, 2020 by Kashunowaka

[Kintamayama 42,781]

1 hour ago, Amamaniac said:

Did Abi lie to the NSK?  The Japan Times reported: 

“He has admitted that he was out with people from outside the association,” sumo elder Shibatayama, the JSA’s director of communications said.

This is getting messy!

Too. Other rikishi too, in addition to the people. I think.

[sumojoann 1,226]

1 hour ago, Kintamayama said:

Too. Other rikishi too, in addition to the people. I think.

The Japan Times says he was out with "supporters".

[Sue 463]

49 minutes ago, sumojoann said:

The Japan Times says he was out with "supporters".

Remember: if you can't be an athlete, be an athletic supporter.

[Sue 463]

Araiso-oyakata's high tenor is absolutely not the voice I would have expected from him. I know I've heard it on other occasions, but having him do the match commentary really drove that home today.

[Sue 463]

I think that if I were to point out that Kotoshogiku looks like he's on track for his first KK in more than a year, I'd probably jinx him, so I'll refrain from doing that.

[RabidJohn 1,425]

England international cricketer Jofra Archer recently rejoined the test match squad after getting suspended for breaking their quarantine bubble about 3 weeks ago.

"NSK quick to follow international sporting trends shock!"

[Millwood 41]

9 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

Yes...I'm sorry, but sometimes I am 100% sure about something that doesn't exist. I promise to do better nest time.

What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so.  Mark Twain.

[Ack! 374]

Is anyone else paying attention to this child Yoshii at Ms54w?  He has a chance at posting a KK in Makushita before he turns 17 on Saturday!

[orandashoho 720]

5 minutes ago, Ack! said:

Is anyone else paying attention to this child Yoshii at Ms54w?  He has a chance at posting a KK in Makushita before he turns 17 on Saturday!

Of course his career kachikoshi streak could not remain unnoticed. But his rise was slowed down a bit in Sandanme and with 2-2 at Ms54w he has a long way to go yet.

[Yamanashi 3,360]

18 minutes ago, orandashoho said:

But his rise was slowed down a bit in Sandanme and with 2-2 at Ms54w he has a long way to go yet.

Hanakaze (top rank Sd18), please call your office ...

[Kintamayama 42,781]

Day 8 nakabi nikibi bikini talk;

Kotoekou, beating ex-Ozeki Takayasu for his sixth win: "It was good that i never let up on my offense. My young heyamate rookie Kotoshouhou has been a great stimulus to me!! " (Hey, I suggested that in my video today..)

Kotoshouhou, second loss for the rookie: "I used too much power. My feet didn't follow.."

Tochinoshin, getting a freebie because of Kotonowaka going kyujo: "I learned about it around 11:30 am. I'm happy to get the win but feeling-wise  I wanted to do some sumo..'

Chiyotairyuu, overwhelmed by Kotoshougiku's yori: "Maybe I'm wrong, but i thought my opponent did not have his right hand down. The minute we clashed I thought it was a matta but till I realized it wasn't I was out of the dohyo.."

Yutakayama, 0-8 and makekoshi: "This is inexcusable towards the people who are cheering me on. Tomorrow i want to win with my willpower.."

Daieishou, back in Komusubi and with 5 wins: "I have been able to do my own sumo at sanyaku these eight days. I shall gambarize, knowing that good things come if you go all out!"

Hokutofuji, pulling Takakeishou down : "I thought it was frantic sumo and I couldn't use all my power, but I was able to concentrate and get that result. I was able to see my opponent well. In all, I'm able to concentrate and my tachiai is good. I will gambarize and make each day a good day!""

Kotoshougiku, his rival ex-Kisenosato in the NHK commentator booth today, and tying his record of 714 career Makuuchi wins: "I'm happy to have reached a milestone.I'd like to get as many wins as i can for those that support me!"

Tamawashi, in a tie for 9th place for all time record of consecutive appearances at 1264: "I really haven't thought about that record, but I've managed to come all this way because I have done the fundamentals.."

Ounoshou, endless bouts against the joi rankers continue as he drops to 0-8: "I've been going about it as usual. I shall gambarize, believing that good things come if you go all out! " (Second part - almost word for word what Daieishou said..)

Terunofuji, getting his 7th win after returning to Makuuchi this basho: "I need to get my kachikoshi at this rank. I shall gambarize for one more win!"

Hakuhou, 50th  kachikoshi on day 8: "50? Sounds good.. I was able to overcome Kagayaki's skill with power. Asanoyama is fighting as if he has been Ozeki for 2-3 years. Calling him a new Ozeki seems inappropriate.. Doing my best while being the sole active Yokozuna is part of my job and my responsibility.."

Asanoyama, getting his kachikoshi on day 8 of his first basho as an Ozeki, beating Aoiyama: "My opponent uses huge pushes, so I came in from under in order not to lose. I know now that I'm tied for sixth place overall as a new Ozeki who won his first eight matches. If I think about that too much  my body goes rigid. I just want to concentrate a day at a time and will think only of doing my own brand of sumo." 

Shoudai, keeping his one loss record: "I managed to win my last two bouts after getting pushed to the edge of the dohyo, so I told myself to try to avoid that as much as possible..  My hometown Kumamoto has seen devastating floods, after the earthquake we had 4 years ago.. I'd like to do whatever I can to help the people there, take some initiative. At the moment, all I can do is do good sumo and if that delights them,  nothing can make me happier. I'll be facing tougher opponents now, but I'm ready for them. I'll do my best and the results will follow. The TV set I gave the guys a few days ago? It was a small set and a good opportunity.."  Did I say nice guy?

[Amamaniac 2,020]

OK, I'm just going to go ahead and say how disappointed I am that Forum member, John Gunning, is pretty much MIA this tournament.  I miss his spots as a guest commentator on NHK's English-language broadcasts.  Apparently, NHK has its own Corona Guidelines, and having two English-speaking commentators in the booth is too great a risk.  Oddly enough, English-speaking guest commentators were allowed back in March when the pandemic response seemed way more serious (i.e., no fans).  Perhaps John can fill us in on why NHK decided to drop the guest commentary this time around.  Is the commentary booth smaller in Tokyo than in Osaka?  Or does NHK not want to shell out for the cost of yet another plexiglass shield?

# not angry just disappointed

[dada78641 871]

I really miss Kisenosato. Loved the short clips of him practicing during today's broadcast. He's still the most dapper man in sumo.

I also loved that segment where they shoved an iPad in his hands and made him demo the website and he got a little lost.

[Ichimawashi 573]

1 hour ago, Amamaniac said:

OK, I'm just going to go ahead and say how disappointed I am that Forum member, John Gunning, is pretty much MIA this tournament.  I miss his spots as a guest commentator on NHK's English-language broadcasts.  Apparently, NHK has its own Corona Guidelines, and having two English-speaking commentators in the booth is too great a risk.  Oddly enough, English-speaking guest commentators were allowed back in March when the pandemic response seemed way more serious (i.e., no fans).  Perhaps John can fill us in on why NHK decided to drop the guest commentary this time around.  Is the commentary booth smaller in Tokyo than in Osaka?  Or does NHK not want to shell out for the cost of yet another plexiglass shield?

# not angry just disappointed

Can it really be that hard to set up a phone link?  Perhaps Murray and John would be even spicier toward one another if the risk of coming to blows was removed.

[Amamaniac 2,020]

2 hours ago, dada78641 said:

I really miss Kisenosato. Loved the short clips of him practicing during today's broadcast.

What was particularly interesting about the clips was that apparently Kisenosato (Araiso) more or less man-handled the Shin-Ozeki east Sekiwake Asanoyama in a pre-January 2020 tournament practice.  If Asanoyama couldn't really get the better of a retired Kisenosato then, can he expect to beat Hakuho just six months later?  Kisenasato's experience allowed him to prevent Asanoyama from getting his favourite grip.  I'm sure Hakuho is all the more capable of keeping the young star from getting his favourite weapon...  But often all bets are off in real tournament competition.

Edited July 26, 2020 by Amamaniac
Edited to reflect date of clips

[Kintamayama 42,781]

52 minutes ago, Amamaniac said:

What was particularly interesting about the clips was that apparently Kisenosato (Araiso) more or less man-handled the Shin-Ozeki in pre-tournament practice.  If Asanoyama can't really get the better of a retired Kisenosato, how does he expect to beat Hakuho?  Kisenasato's experience allowed him to prevent Asanoyama from getting his favourite grip.  I'm sure Hakuho is all the more capable of keeping the young star from getting his favourite weapon...  But often all bets are off in real tournament competition.

I think that the clip was from about 4 months ago at least, pre- Coronavirus. We can all agree Asanoyama isn't what he was back then..

[Kintamayama 42,781]

Abi has been going out a lot at night, it appears. Cabarets, bars, all-night restaurants, you name it. He was at places where a lot of humans frequent.

[Amamaniac 2,020]

1 hour ago, Kintamayama said:

Abi has been going out a lot at night, it appears. Cabarets, bars, all-night restaurants, you name it. He was at places where a lot of humans frequent.

I just hope he didn't post any pix on SNS!  

[Kaninoyama 1,466]

2 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

Abi has been going out a lot at night, it appears. Cabarets, bars, all-night restaurants, you name it. He was at places where a lot of humans frequent.

In other words, all the places where the majority of Japan's corona cases are coming from these days.

[Ichimawashi 573]

6 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

Abi has been going out a lot at night, it appears. Cabarets, bars, all-night restaurants, you name it. He was at places where a lot of humans frequent.

“Broadway” Abi Masatora?