September (Aki) Basho- offical thread (yay..)

[Eikokurai 3,437]

I was momentarily confused by what was on Kotoshogiku’s knees and then I realized it was skin and I was seeing his actual leg for the first time since before Shinzo Abe took office. It may be the last judging from the way it seemed to give at the end.

It’s early days, but Shodai has a fantastic opportunity here to put up double-digits again and properly be on an Ozeki run. I have a good feeling about him this basho.

[Seiyashi 4,072]

3 minutes ago, since_94 said:

57 minutes ago, Hakuryuho said:

Hoshoryu robbed

Agreed. Should have been a torinaoshi. Was this the dead body rule in effect? I suppose. As for the judge’s explanation by former Mitoizumi, now Nishikido...Wow. What a shambles. That’s all I can say.

Based on my limited understanding, Nishikido said Hoshoryu was dead first. On the slow motion replays you can see that while Shimanoumi touched down first (with a foot firmly outside the janome), Hoshoryu was clearly irrecoverable by then. In any case, I wouldn't say Hoshoryu was robbed; it's a far cry from the Tochinoshin - Asanoyama bout last year. Shimanoumi was clearly in the driver's seat all the way, and Hoshoryu was attempting nothing near a Tokushoryu twist down attempt or anything else fancy on the bales.

[Rainoyama 1,157]

To all people wondering about the Hoshoryu decision, Nishikido got confused because he couldn't remember/wasn't so sure about the names of the two guys fighting... When he actually remembered them, he didn't mention the dead body rule, he simply said that the monoi was called to determine if Shimanoumi's leg was out first but concluded Hoshoryu was out first and that the gyoji got it right. Probably was the dead body rule (even though Hoshoryu is trying something imho) but when the guy in charge can't even remember the names of the guys fighting you cannot  be sure that was the actual conclusion and not something he just made up because he had to say something and wanted to go back to sleep quickly.                                                                                                                                                                                                    

[Akinomaki 40,038]

A YDC meeting is planned for after the basho, not online, real - but without meal. The meetings after the last 2 basho were canceled. http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202009140000364.html

They won't have to discuss about Asanoyama's possible promotion though

[Yamanashi 3,774]

3 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

The three ex-ozeki all look like they're running out of gas in the tank

Ahem ... Takayasu?  Not that I noticed.

[Seiyashi 4,072]

2 minutes ago, Yamanashi said:

Ahem ... Takayasu?  Not that I noticed.

Naw, the ones that I mentioned. There's four ex-ozeki, and you'll probably agree the other three look nowhere near as good as Takayasu.

[rhyen 1,823]

12 hours ago, Katooshu said:

I hope footage of 200cm Hokuseiho vs 164cm Baraki surfaces!

Didn’t Baraki retired?

[Seiyashi 4,072]

3 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

There's four ex-ozeki, and you'll probably agree the other three look nowhere near as good as Takayasu.

I mean, for chrissakes, one of them got beaten at his own game by someone who's been learning to do it for all of one basho.

[rhyen 1,823]

8 hours ago, Sakura said:

I've never seen a mage quite so undone after a bout as Kitaharima's was.

Obviously you never notice Sadanoumi’s ponytail.

[Seiyashi 4,072]

Just now, rhyen said:

Didn’t Baraki retired?

There's Bariki and then there's Baraki. Bariki retired, Baraki's still fighting. 

[Kashunowaka 300]

8 hours ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

Have to agree sadly. Look at the juryo banzuke and ask yourself how many of these men can you see reaching sanyaku. The only one I can spot is Kotonowaka.

Perhaps Nishikifuji? Good debut so far.

[Seiyashi 4,072]

6 minutes ago, Kashunowaka said:

Perhaps Nishikifuji? Good debut so far.

Mm. Hopefully the makushita joi sort out their stuff and start another wave of promotees heading up through juryo. But the context was about how the bulk of juryo is comprised of journeymen who probably will be one and downs in makuuchi at most; the exceptions are some rikishi at either end of the division which would be sekitori debutants (Oki, Nishikifuji) or just unlucky makuuchi mainstays (Nishikigi, Chiyomaru). Basically all the excitement in juryo over the past few basho of new blood coming in has now gone to makuuchi.

Edited September 14, 2020 by Seiyashi

[Reonito 1,384]

7 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

Honestly? Right now, either Shodai or Takakeisho, even though both are jinxed by Wakanohana. Terunofuji's feeling the effects of the NHK preview team's jinx, and Asanoyama is probably a bit too eager for the yusho to do his own sumo right now. It's still early days, but of the rest of the perfect winrate rikishi, only Takayasu and Kotoshoho are probable dark horses; everyone else is a bit too far of a shot in the dark.

Mitakeumi?

[Seiyashi 4,072]

19 minutes ago, Reonito said:

7 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

Honestly? Right now, either Shodai or Takakeisho, even though both are jinxed by Wakanohana. Terunofuji's feeling the effects of the NHK preview team's jinx, and Asanoyama is probably a bit too eager for the yusho to do his own sumo right now. It's still early days, but of the rest of the perfect winrate rikishi, only Takayasu and Kotoshoho are probable dark horses; everyone else is a bit too far of a shot in the dark.

Mitakeumi?

I personally dislike the chap for his big talk and choking-when-it-counts combination, although if he's past that then in principle he's also a contender. I rate Shodai or Takakeisho as generally having a stronger mental game than him though. Especially Shodai - it's amazing how much his sumo and outlook has matured in the past year.

[Seiyashi 4,072]

On watching Chris Sumo's footage today, it's just occurred to me - if Takakeisho continues his form and wins this, with chances good that neither yokozuna will appear in November in top form, future Wikipedia editors are going to say of him that "he came alive these two bashos to post strong results and earn promotion to yokozuna". His motivation seems strong too, especially after his engagement - and having your own private dohyo can't hurt!

Edited September 14, 2020 by Seiyashi

[Highway 46]

1 hour ago, Seiyashi said:

On watching Chris Sumo's footage today, it's just occurred to me - if Takakeisho continues his form and wins this, with chances good that neither yokozuna will appear in November in top form, future Wikipedia editors are going to say of him that "he came alive these two bashos to post strong results and earn promotion to yokozuna". His motivation seems strong too, especially after his engagement - and having your own private dohyo can't hurt!

Yep, I'd eat my hat if Takakeisho doesn't make yokozuna. Whether that's in the immediate future or a year or two, barring injury he has everything it takes. 

[Millwood 41]

24 minutes ago, Highway said:

Yep, I'd eat my hat if Takakeisho doesn't make yokozuna. Whether that's in the immediate future or a year or two, barring injury he has everything it takes. 

Was there ever a Yokozuna who couldn't fight on the belt and wasn't humongous?

[dada78641 884]

Goeido in the commentary box:

I still don't like how they shoved Mainoumi into a closet. I thought that was just temporary out of necessity last basho but it seems it's his permanent location now.

[Seiyashi 4,072]

31 minutes ago, Highway said:

Yep, I'd eat my hat if Takakeisho doesn't make yokozuna. Whether that's in the immediate future or a year or two, barring injury he has everything it takes. 

On the contrary I'd say it's now or never. His main rivals in sanyaku have got their own concerns and he's been largely written off in terms of public expectation. The yokozuna are sidelined now for the next basho as well. He's got everything going for him privately - with his own dohyo and the motivation of an engagement, and professionally - with a good sparring partner of at least sanyaku level. Give the rest of the current sanyaku time to settle in, and he won't stand a chance.

[Kashunowaka 300]

7 minutes ago, Millwood said:

Was there ever a Yokozuna who couldn't fight on the belt and wasn't humongous?

Was there ever a Yokozuna who couldn't fight on the belt? 

[Jakusotsu 5,873]

47 minutes ago, Kashunowaka said:

Was there ever a Yokozuna who couldn't fight on the belt? 

It certainly wasn't Akebono's zone of comfort, but then again, he was the epitome of humongous.

[Jakusotsu 5,873]

8 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

For the hell of it, on the flip side - let's play the "crash and burn" game - which rikishi do you think will wind up with the worst records (of course, excluding kyujos, complete or partial)?

1 hour ago, Tamanaogijima said:

Selection Stats

 

[Tigerboy1966 1,414]

2 hours ago, Millwood said:

Was there ever a Yokozuna who couldn't fight on the belt and wasn't humongous?

Hokutoumi? OK he could fight on the belt if he had to but he was really an oshi guy. And he wasn't that big.

[Dwale 419]

You know, there were a lot of cool wins on day two, but I think my favorite was the relatively low-key victory by Takarafuji. He was just like, "You in a hurry to get to the bales? Ok, here go the bales!" 

[Godango 973]

5 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

On watching Chris Sumo's footage today, it's just occurred to me - if Takakeisho continues his form and wins this, with chances good that neither yokozuna will appear in November in top form, future Wikipedia editors are going to say of him that "he came alive these two bashos to post strong results and earn promotion to yokozuna". His motivation seems strong too, especially after his engagement - and having your own private dohyo can't hurt!

 

3 hours ago, Highway said:

Yep, I'd eat my hat if Takakeisho doesn't make yokozuna. Whether that's in the immediate future or a year or two, barring injury he has everything it takes. 

 

3 hours ago, Millwood said:

Was there ever a Yokozuna who couldn't fight on the belt and wasn't humongous?

Takakeisho strikes me as something of an enigma. I was super into his Ozeki run, but always a bit guarded as he is so obviously one dimensional. Once the injuries came in and he cooled off a bit I saw it as a 'return to normal' with a talented young rikishi having a hot streak. 

That said, in so many ways, he is following a yokozuna career trajectory. Check out the ages of the last ten yokozunae upon their ozeki promotion and how Takakeisho compares:

His style/physique remind me of Musashimaru in his earlier career (granted, 17cm / 6.7inches shorter [EDIT: Obviously shorter limbs, too]). Looking at the above, they also were promoted around the same time, and while Musashimaru was very much an pusher-thruster in the beginning he eventually developed his own belt game, often by just wearing others out with his size.

Takakeisho's weight gain suggests to be that he's looking to put more power behind his thrusts and make himself harder to deal with on the belt in the same way, I wouldn't be surprised if there is a lot of tactical thinking behind how to make his "unique for sanyaku" body work for him. If he follows in Musashimaru's footsteps, we could be seeing a long ozeki career with an eventual promotion. That said, from memory Musashimaru benefited to a degree from others being kyujo (not to suggest at all that he wasn't a worthy yokozuna) -- and look at where we are now with Takakeisho?

Or, maybe he's sumo's Ronda Rousey? One ludicrously strong attack that can't be stopped even though all of his opposition know what's coming? If that's the case, I'd expect a similar career trajectory - a short burst of dominance before an exploitable weakness is exposed. Could still be yokozuna, but maybe not for very long?

Maybe injuries will get on top of him, or his weaknesses will be exploited sooner rather than later and he'll crash and burn?

He fascinates me, though. He has a mental strength and determination I don't think we've seen in a rikishi since Hakuho himself. I am very much enjoying being along for the ride.

Edited September 14, 2020 by Houmanumi