March basho 2021

[Amamaniac 2,078]

8 minutes ago, Jakusotsu said:

So, what else is new?

 

16 minutes ago, Benihana said:

On another note, this just came in: Tokyo olympics without foreign visitors 

 

[Amamaniac 2,078]

Anyone feel that the senior-most gyoji are interfering with the bouts of the "top-ranked" wrestlers recently?  On the final day of the January tournament, Shikimori Inosuke dashed behind Shodai as Asanoyama was forcing him back.  Shodai ended up stepping on the tategyoji's slipper, which made him let up, which prevented him from trying one of his signature last-minute desperation moves.

Today, while it was not quite as obvious, I felt that Kimura Tamajiro interfered when he brushed behind Takakeisho at the bales.  At that point, Takakeisho seemed to let up too (but arguably he was already in the process of losing at that point).

Ironically, oozumo is designed to provide the most experienced gyoji for bouts between the best of the best (in terms of the banzuke), and yet perhaps due to their age, the top-ranked gyoji are not fleet-footed enough to stay out of the top-ranked wrestlers' way!  Dare I mention the "R" word?

[Seiyashi 4,071]

32 minutes ago, Benihana said:

Huh? He didn't retire, because he was banged up. He retired, because he banged someones head with a karaoke remote. Without that mishap, he could still be around, probably in better shape than Kakuryu.

While Harumafuji did prematurely bang his career off, it's arguable whether he would be in better shape than Kakuryu; he'd already shown signs of injuries and, amongst the 4 yokozuna active then, had the highest kinboshi-giving count.

17 minutes ago, Amamaniac said:

As for Shodai's win, the finish may have been "great", but the bout as a whole made Shodai look less than dominant (nay "vulnerable").  Since becoming an Ozeki, Shodai seems to be having one good tournament followed by one miserable tournament.

Agreed. It took getting backed up to the tawara for Shodai to engage properly; that's really not a strategy you want to be running with.

Despite the loss, Asanoyama's still the best performing ozeki in general. The yusho race should be him, Terunofuji, and Takayasu by day 10, I think.

1 minute ago, Amamaniac said:

Anyone feel that the senior-most gyoji are interfering with the bouts of the "top-ranked" wrestlers recently?

There were a couple of cases last year too, if I remember correctly. It might just be these two gyoji, though; I vaguely remember SI 41 having similar incidents either last year or the year before, and of course Tamajiro was the gyoji who infamously fell off the dohyo mid-bout, leaving SI41 flat footed and trying to rise to replace him before the bout ended.

[Jakusotsu 5,815]

I almost expect Takayasu to win the pre-decider against Terunofuji tomorrow. Will the furry one finally live up to those years-old expectations and get the pot or rather turn into his same old self in the second week?

[Benihana 1,901]

1 minute ago, Seiyashi said:

While Harumafuji did prematurely bang his career off, it's arguable whether he would be in better shape than Kakuryu; he'd already shown signs of injuries and, amongst the 4 yokozuna active then, had the highest kinboshi-giving count.

To back up my claim, i compared their basho history before posting. My verdict stands. And Kakuryu won 3 of his 6 yusho, after Harumafuji left. With Harumafuji still around, that would look different. Conspiracy theory: Kakuryu bribed Takanoiwa into aggravating Harumafuji, so without Haru still around, he would look better.

[Tigerboy1966 1,376]

40 minutes ago, Amamaniac said:

'm not inclined to call Asanoyama's loss sloppy.  If anything, he was caught sleeping by a speedy Kiribayama.

That's how I saw it, with Kiribayama springing the trap and Asanoyama never having a chance to recover. The move reminded me of the good old HNH.

[hakutorizakura 590]

Yokozuna or not, Terunofuji will at least match Kakuryu's yusho count at this rate. 

Speaking of kinboshi, I kind of forget what it is... Also I have a vague memory of this thing called purple rain. When was the last time we've seen those rare animals? (And when would be the next sighting...)

[Seiyashi 4,071]

Just now, hakutorizakura said:

Speaking of kinboshi, I kind of forget what it is... Also I have a vague memory of this thing called purple rain. When was the last time we've seen those rare animals? (And when would be the next sighting...)

The purple rain is likely gone for good, but Raja Pradhan was just commenting on no kinboshi recently because no kinboshi pinatas..

[ViscountessNivlac 24]

1 hour ago, Seiyashi said:

The purple rain is likely gone for good

Those darn Japanese fans and their respect for rules.

[Joaoiyama 306]

3 hours ago, pricklypomegranate said:

Kiribayama had more than a shade of Harumafuji today. Quick, tactical and above all, decisive. Exceptional performance. Great performance by Hoshoryu too. They have big shoes to fill, but there’s still some quality in the Mongolians yet. But the homegrown wrestlers did well today too. Meisei outclassed Takakeisho in his own game, and Shimanoumi put in a noble resistance today, putting the meaning of fear in Shodai’s heart. It’s like the Ozeki rank doesn’t mean anything anymore. It’s certainly contributing the growing successional crisis in sumo. 

Enho v. Ura tomorrow. Might be clash of the basho. 
 

Bonus

Oh, hell. 

 

Didn't he once picked the right the yusho winner after his original pick went kyujo?

[Thorbjarn 214]

2 hours ago, Benihana said:

Huh? He didn't retire, because he was banged up. He retired, because he banged someones head with a karaoke remote. 

 

I didn't say he retired because of wear and tear. I said he was banged up (as in not in his top condition). I remember him wearing elbow tape and dropping quite a few matches. He won Yusho after I started watching again, but that was whacky Aki 2017. And it's of course speculation, but I'm not as sure Harumafuji would be in better shape than Kakuryu. Age catches up with everyone, especially athletes. 

And soon retired meant that he wasn't around long enough to show Yokozuna sumo. Not commenting on the circumstances, simply because it makes me sad. I quite liked Harumafuji. 

Edited March 20, 2021 by Thorbjarn

[Rocks 1,807]

Have to agree with those commenting about the Gyoji getting in the way. I don't think they cost anyone a match but what possible reason was there to attempt run behind Takakeisho to get to the other side when the entire ring was open? And to do it late no less? 

 

Pretty shocked at Assanoyama's loss. Even with Kiribayama making that quick move Assanoyama should have at least been able to resist it for awhile. 

Amazed to see Takayasu tough out such a long match. Great win.  Next ozeki? 

Edited March 20, 2021 by Rocks

[Seiyashi 4,071]

10 minutes ago, Rocks said:

Amazed to see Takayasu tough out such a long match. Great win.  Next ozeki? 

It's mildly weird that our next two top contenders for ozeki are ex-ozeki. What next, Tochinoshin putting on one last late-career spurt?

[code_number3 694]

1 hour ago, Joaoiyama said:

Didn't he once picked the right the yusho winner after his original pick went kyujo?

...then his yusho pick crashed heavily next basho!

Let’s hope Waka never make a yusho pick ever.

Edited March 20, 2021 by code_number3

[Joaoiyama 306]

7 minutes ago, code_number3 said:

...then his yusho pick crashed heavily next basho!

Let’s hope Waka never make a yusho pick ever.

Who was the yusho pick he got right?

[Yubinhaad 11,546]

Wakahiroto won today (after a couple of false starts) with a rare susotori ankle pick. It's the 21st susotori in the last three decades, and the first since Day 3 of the 2015 Kyushu basho, when Harumafuji won in the musubi-no-ichiban.

 

[Seiyashi 4,071]

6 minutes ago, Yubinhaad said:

Wakahiroto won today (after a couple of false starts) with a rare susotori ankle pick. It's the 21st susotori in the last three decades, and the first since Day 3 of the 2015 Kyushu basho, when Harumafuji won in the musubi-no-ichiban.

 

Not a great look when the first thing seen is a vigorous enough matta-oshi to send his opponent off the dohyo. And the susotori more or less fell into his hands thanks to his opponent fouling up his own inashi.

[Eikokurai 3,433]

3 hours ago, Amamaniac said:

I'm not inclined to call Asanoyama's loss sloppy.  If anything, he was caught sleeping by a speedy Kiribayama.

I think being caught sleeping fits my definition of ‘sloppy’. :)

[pricklypomegranate 730]

2 hours ago, Joaoiyama said:

Didn't he once picked the right the yusho winner after his original pick went kyujo?

He picks twice. Once in the beginning, and then has an opportunity to pick again before nakabi. He was announcing that he'll make a prediction, and the commentator next to him cheered but Waka chastised him, saying that it was nothing to celebrate about because it's a death sentence for the rikishi involved. Should have said Kaisei or something. 

[rhyen 1,809]

5 hours ago, pricklypomegranate said:

Kiribayama had more than a shade of Harumafuji today. Quick, tactical and above all, decisive. Exceptional performance. Great performance by Hoshoryu too. They have big shoes to fill, but there’s still some quality in the Mongolians yet. But the homegrown wrestlers did well today too. Meisei outclassed Takakeisho in his own game, and Shimanoumi put in a noble resistance today, putting the meaning of fear in Shodai’s heart. It’s like the Ozeki rank doesn’t mean anything anymore. It’s certainly contributing the growing successional crisis in sumo. 

Enho v. Ura tomorrow. Might be clash of the basho. 
 

Bonus

Oh, hell. 

 

Man, the NSK should stop utilising the weapon of mass destruction on such a regular basis. 

[Seiyashi 4,071]

Now that I look at the Waka photo, he almost has an attitude of the portrait-carrying pallbearer at a funeral. 

[Amamaniac 2,078]

2 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

It's mildly weird that our next two top contenders for ozeki are ex-ozeki. What next, Tochinoshin putting on one last late-career spurt?

If he does, then I'll definitely want some of what he's drinking (and I don't mean Emerald Mountain coffee)!

[Tigerboy1966 1,376]

6 hours ago, pricklypomegranate said:

Kiribayama had more than a shade of Harumafuji today.

I think a yak sacrifice may have been involved to channel the spirits.

I do wonder if the current crop of top boys in the 27-30 age group might have plateaued and be about to get leapfrogged by the 21-26 year olds like Meisei, Kiribayama, Wakatakakage, Hoshuryo etc. I know that Takakeisho is only 24 but his limitations have been exposed and he's gone as far as he's going to go.

I have loved Meisei's facial expressions in his last two wins: "Yep. I can beat these guys. I belong here. Get used to it".

[Seiyashi 4,071]

5 minutes ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

I think a yak sacrifice may have been involved to channel the spirits.

Is Harumafuji now a spirit?! 

[Amamaniac 2,078]

1 minute ago, Seiyashi said:

Is Harumafuji now a spirit?! 

He's always been a "god" in my books, for reasons that should be obvious!