Non-K-November basho 2020 Discussion (spoiler space)

[Thorbjarn 214]

11 minutes ago, Dwale said:

And that, as they say, is that. What a wild end. Takakeisho, in the first match, shoved Terunofuji so hard that the kaiju literally got some air! But even that wasn't enough, and we end up with I think the most vicious pancaking I can remember ever seeing.

At that point I said, "Whoever wins this fought their ass off for it, and they deserve it." I had the feeling Takakeisho was done, but he kept his head and his heart and he came back from that crushing defeat. The guy has backbone, you've got to grant him that at least.

It's been a fun ride, sumo peeps. We will see y'all in January. Peace and love.

I will co-sign all of this, very well put. I wasn't a huge fan of either, Terunofuji and Takakeisho, going into 2020. As the year went on, they managed to change a big portion of my mind. Same for Shodai btw. 

Maybe 2021 Mitakeumi will manage the same feat? 

[Kaninoyama 1,649]

Whatever Takakeisho's limitations as an Ozeki, mental toughness is not one of them.

During his interview he said that once he lost the initial bout, he was able to immediately put it out of his mind and focus on the playoff. 

IMO it's his mental toughness that will eventually earn him the rope. 

[Christopher 15]

God, I love this sport - can't wait to see it live again!

[Seiyashi 4,068]

14 minutes ago, Kaninoyama said:

Whatever Takakeisho's limitations as an Ozeki, mental toughness is not one of them.

During his interview he said that once he lost the initial bout, he was able to immediately put it out of his mind and focus on the playoff. 

IMO it's his mental toughness that will eventually earn him the rope. 

Yes, he easily has the best headgame of all the non-yokozuna makuuchi rikishi, although Terunofuji might come a close second. 

[pricklypomegranate 730]

26 minutes ago, Kaninoyama said:

Whatever Takakeisho's limitations as an Ozeki, mental toughness is not one of them.

During his interview he said that once he lost the initial bout, he was able to immediately put it out of his mind and focus on the playoff. 

IMO it's his mental toughness that will eventually earn him the rope. 

The trinity of sumo is shin gi tai - and it is often said that though the techniques and body is necessary, the heart - the will to persevere and win is of utmost importance. Today, Takakeisho's yusho is yet another proof of this belief. With that spirit and heart, I think Takakeisho has a better chance of being a Yokozuna than his older, less mentally and emotionally controlled Ozeki peers. Of course, he'll have Yokozunas in survival mode to contend with, and I can scarcely think of any rikishi in history, let alone on the banzuke, who has as much love, heart and will for sumo as Hakuho. So, though I hope to be proven wrong, I do not think Takakeisho will make it on his first attempt, but that doesn't matter to me in the long run as I have full confidence he can quickly recover from it should it happen - I think Takakeisho is superior to even Kisenosato in this respect. 

Edited November 22, 2020 by pricklypomegranate

[Benihana 1,900]

Did anyone miss Hakuho and Kakuryu? IMHO this basho at least proved we don't need them for good entertainment.

I hope Asanoyama and Shodai will get back in tracks quickly. The next basho will be very exciting. It could end with only one Ozeki left, or we could even have four! Or three Ozeki and three Yokozuna? Could we please fast forward to january?

Edited November 22, 2020 by Benihana

[Eikokurai 3,433]

Though Kisenosato's first yusho in January 2017 was the most recent Ozeki yusho, we will see our first 'proper' Yokozuna promotion attempt since Goiedo had a try the previous basho in November 2016. Kisenosato got the promotion with his yusho after all; he didn't need a second.

There is something extra special about a basho where an Ozeki cup-holder is making a Yokozuna attempt and we will have waited 4+ years for one.

 

Also, fun fact: if my query is correct, 2020 was the first year since 1972 that every basho was won by a different rikishi (though of course there were only five this year).

Edited November 22, 2020 by Eikokurai

[Jakusotsu 5,721]

10 minutes ago, Eikokurai said:

Also, fun fact: if my query is correct, 2020 was the first year since 1972 that every basho was won by a different rikishi (though of course there were only five this year).

Any doubt that Mitakeumi would have won the yusho in Natsu?

[Eikokurai 3,433]

5 minutes ago, Jakusotsu said:

Any doubt that Mitakeumi would have won the yusho in Natsu?

They should just give it to him, frankly. 

 

Edit: Just realized I made Yokozuna on the forum. When did that happen? Is it 2,500 posts?

Edited November 22, 2020 by Eikokurai

[Asashosakari 18,650]

15 minutes ago, Eikokurai said:

Also, fun fact: if my query is correct, 2020 was the first year since 1972 that every basho was won by a different rikishi (though of course there were only five this year).

1991, too.

[Jakusotsu 5,721]

4 minutes ago, Asashosakari said:

1991, too.

Also a year with lots of yokozuna kyujo...

[Eikokurai 3,433]

3 minutes ago, Asashosakari said:

1991, too.

Damn. I scanned the list manually and think I must have read Konishiki and Kotonoshiki as the same name.

I guess I should retire from my newly earned Yokozuna rank as my hasty declaration of “fact” shows I clearly lack hinkaku.

[Thorbjarn 214]

Even Hakuho didn't win a Yusho as shin Yokozuna, as long as you come back in January, all is well. I would say your post is equivalent to 11-4, no kinboshi, but losses in week 2 meant you were mathematically out once Day 13 concluded. 

[code_number3 694]

39 minutes ago, Eikokurai said:

I guess I should retire from my newly earned Yokozuna rank as my hasty declaration of “fact” shows I clearly lack hinkaku.

Congratulation, shin-yokozuna.

Rookie yokozuna mistake, like losing on shonichi on first yokozuna basho. Nevermind, just beat another 14 days and another yusho for you 

[Amamaniac 2,078]

Extra, extra: Enho Ends the November Tournament on a High Note!

Enho probably wishes 2020 never happened.  He definitely must wish that November never happened.  The 3-12 was his worst tournament record in the Top Division, and is the one that is going to send him tumbling down to the Juryo Division.  At least, on the Final Day, he showed that he still has "the stuff" by beating Tobizaru, who's no push over.  That victory (and Kiribayama's loss) helped Enho avoid having the sole worst record of the tournament (among those who competed all 15 days).  It was like Enho and Kiribayama were in a inverse yusho race ... they tied, but there is no ketteisen playoff for that.

Over the last two weeks, Enho had his mawashi handed to him 12 times, and it was pretty difficult to watch.  One of the worst parts of that was seeing him get caught on the bales over and over.  He would valiantly (yet foolishly) try to hold off his opponents' charges, only to end up tossed down off the ring onto his back.  The worst example of that came on day 11 against Sadanoumi, in a nasty fall that for a second left many worried that he had just suffered the career jeopardising injury that fans seem to be expecting (?). But Enho proved that he is made of steel (in large part thanks to the gruelling training regime that Hakuho puts him through), and he returned to the ring no worse for wear.  Huge relief all around.

If anything, November was a demonstration of perseverance amidst adversity.  Enho did not give up, and as frustrating as it must have been for him losing all those bouts, he kept on going and giving it his best, even though his best wasn't getting the results he wanted.

So Enho did manage to stay in the Top Division for nine straight tournaments ... this time around.  His first year (i.e., four tournaments in 2019) was pretty consistently good, and he was riding high with the fans.  2020 was another story.  He started the year with a KK (just barely), but from there on out, it was one makekoshi after another.  Considering the timeline, it may not be entirely a coincidence that Enho's "slump" coincided with the pandemic.  The first wave hit around March, and oozumo stadiums started looking like ghost towns.  If anything, Enho feeds off fans cheering in the stands.  No fans and/or no cheering deprives the little man of the "je ne sais quoi" or extra will to win bouts against the odds in a big man's world.

I, for one, seriously hope that Enho will regroup after this painful November lesson, and will shoot back up to the Makuuchi Division straight away.  But the Top Division is starting to see a wealth of small men in its ranks.  Going forward, Enho will have his job cut out for him if he wants to succeed.

Edited November 22, 2020 by Amamaniac

[Zannah 49]

I loved it today... 

Ofc Takakeisho & Terunofuji was THE highlight, and Teruno managed to surprise me a bit there, but yay for Takakeisho to collecting his calm and showing why he is an ozeki. 

I have to give my -mentions to: Ichinojo, he found that extra-gear at 7-7 and managed to win. I almost expected him to freeze at the halfway, but he made it. Other one to Hokutofuji, he was in 'unstoppable train' -mode today. And one more to Shimanoumi, I had no info about this newbie, but really liked his style in this basho.

[Gernobono 447]

1 hour ago, Amamaniac said:

I, for one, seriously hope that Enho will regroup after this painful November lesson, and will shoot back up to the Makuuchi Division straight away.

[nonironic]

I hope this non-sumo rikishi is leaving juryo as quick as possible, but for makushita and further down.....seeing him manhandled really gave me a boost and i was not amused him getting 3 wins in the end......a fujiazumaesk performance was, what  i was hoping for 

[/nonironic]

[Morty 1,469]

Great drama at the end, thoroughly enjoyed it. But Takakeisho's win in the replay was decisive and the second bout was really one-sided - that tachiai and first thrust was pretty brutal and what won it for him. 

Great basho - even without two Yokozunae and two Ozeki it was still entirely entertaining.

[Eikokurai 3,433]

23 minutes ago, Gernobono said:

[nonironic]

I hope this non-sumo rikishi is leaving juryo as quick as possible, but for makushita and further down.....seeing him manhandled really gave me a boost and i was not amused him getting 3 wins in the end......a fujiazumaesk performance was, what  i was hoping for 

[/nonironic]

This must be the weirdest post I've ever read on this forum. 

[lackmaker 428]

So you don't read many then. Isn't that required of yokozuna!? Have the YDC asked for your retirement?

[Shinobi Steve 146]

This ended up being a very entertaining basho. I’m glad Takakeisho pulled it out and loved seeing the playoff match. 

The last few days watching Fujiazuma in juryo were pretty painful. Each time the camera zoomed in on his face you could see the agony he was going through. 
 

I really enjoyed the jonidan playoff as well. Osuzuki is the lower ranker I adopted to follow earlier this year. I wish he could have won, but it was great to see a match between two Naruto stablemates. 
 

 

[Philioyamfugi 378]

Of course the really big news is Akiseyama 9-6 up to the top division, he last made it in 2016 and highest rank was M16. Gamberizie Akiseyama !

Edited November 22, 2020 by Philioyamfugi

[just_some_guy 248]

With the benefit of hindsight and watching both Takakeisho/Terunofuji matches it looks to me like Takakeisho was just too hesitant in the first match. Did his usual in the second and there you have it.

As a Takakeisho anti-fan I'm disappointed, but It was a fun end to the basho. Always good to have the yusho come down to the last match(es).

[Kotomiyama 161]

I am no Takakeisho fan, his sumo seems to me one-dimensional, lackluster and without a pan B. After he suffered such a defeat against an overwhelming Terunofuji I thought he was done, but he was not. His mental strength is on par to his physique.

Great finish to a great basho.

[Yamanashi 3,671]

5 hours ago, Eikokurai said:

Edit: Just realized I made Yokozuna on the forum. When did that happen? Is it 2,500 posts?

That and your evident hinkaku, along with an unquenchable yearn to post. Congratulations!