March basho 2021

[lackmaker 428]

32 minutes ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

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.

Seems a rather harsh opinion on a young man who's already made ozeki.

[Koorifuu 858]

10 hours ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

Credit to Azumaryu for using his height and reach to execute a solid anti-Enho strategy. He stood back from the lines at the start so he had a chance to read any tricks and then tied things up to bring strength into play.The little fellow was certainly not going to get anywhere near a leg-pick.

I feel that many of Azumaryu's shiroboshi have come that way. He's unspectacularly hanging in there, and then out of nowhere, he subtly turns the opponent's forté against them and gets the victory in a split second. There's a reason why he's hanging in there for so long, despite being usually one of the least remarkable sekitori.

... I often forget he's there until it's time for him and my mind goes "Oh, right."

Edited March 20, 2021 by Koorifuu

[Tigerboy1966 1,372]

47 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

54 minutes ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

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

Is Harumafuji now a spirit?! 

Harumafuji's soul still resides within his mortal body but his spirit flies East to energise those who master the mysteries on the Harumafuji non-henka.

First post on the forum to paraphrase Corinthinans 15:45 or I'm a monkey's bum.

[code_number3 694]

3 hours ago, Joaoiyama said:

Who was the yusho pick he got right?

Takakeisho last November. I’m not so sure but i thought it was that pick ┐(‘～`；)┌ 

[Akinomaki 39,515]

21 minutes ago, code_number3 said:

Takakeisho last November. I’m not so sure but i thought it was that pick ┐(‘～`；)┌ 

AFAIK Waka never got one fully right, I think he picked the right one first and then changed to another as his official choice

Edited March 20, 2021 by Akinomaki

[rzombie1988 157]

I haven't been very interested in this tournament. As has been the case for the year now, Hakuho and Kakuryu not wrestling has been the biggest story. They don't compete and the tournament looks lackluster through no fault of the wrestlers. And that problem looks like it is going on until at least July as there is no way Hakuho makes the next tournament and whatever is going on with Kakuryu seems more mental than physical. Even if they do come back, how much left they do they have at 35 and 36?

I think it's going to look bad if Terunofuji pulls this off and only gets Ozeki out of it, which is undoubtedly what will happen. Would a win here and in May even be enough for yokozuna? I'm skeptical. Asanoyama will be similarly stuck too if he pulls this off.

 

Edited March 20, 2021 by rzombie1988

[Kintamayama 44,208]

42 minutes ago, rzombie1988 said:

 

I think it's going to look bad if Terunofuji pulls this off and only gets Ozeki out of it, which is undoubtedly what will happen. Would a win here and in May even be enough for yokozuna?

 

No such thing. Two Ozeki bashos are mandatory.

[Eikokurai 3,433]

1 hour ago, rzombie1988 said:

Hakuho and Kakuryu not wrestling has been the biggest story

Not sure I agree with that. The biggest story right now is Terunofuji’s Ozeki run.

Other than the mandatory grumblings at the start, the Yokozuna don’t seem to be on people’s minds much now. I think many fans are already in the post-Yokozuna era in their heads and now see any appearance by them as something to be appreciated while it lasts. They’re not that important to the basho either in my opinion, as neither is the great power they once were. There’s no discernible rise in quality when they’re on the dohyo now. They’re like any football or basketball legend in the twilight of his career: still a draw for getting bums on seats but no longer the player you build a team around. 

Everyone knows Hakuho and Kakuryu are nearing the end, so the main annoyance is that they don’t retire, not that they don’t compete. It’s time to stop seeing their absence as detrimental to sumo and start recognizing it is the new norm.

Edited March 21, 2021 by Eikokurai

[jsolo 106]

https://jbssumo.blogspot.com/2021/03/grand-sumo-results-with-relevant-links.html

March Basho Blog updated through Day 7. Results, "standings", links to match articles, photos, and all NHK highlight videos D1-6 (7  later today) as well as other videos (including Chris Sumo Ode to Hakuho). Kimarite statistics daily and cumulative, match time statistics daily and cumulative, san'yaku "pennant race", maegashira v san'yaku statistics, Juryo substitute performance statistics, 

 

Enjoy

https://jbssumo.blogspot.com/2021/03/grand-sumo-results-with-relevant-links.html

 

 

[Eikokurai 3,433]

2 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

No such thing. Two Ozeki bashos are mandatory.

I wonder how a Sekiwake yusho > Ozeki yusho > Ozeki jun-yusho sequence would be viewed by the Kyokai. 

If the jun-yusho is a doten, that should see him promoted to Yokozuna under the ‘equivalency’ rule.

If the jun-yusho is in the region of 11-4 or 12-3, maybe not, particularly if the yusho itself is won by 2+ more (e.g. 13-2 or 14-1/15-0). It would depend how they view the Sekiwake yusho I suppose. If being fair, it ought to be seen as equal to an Ozeki yusho as the schedule is the same, but then the ranking system doesn’t really work that way. Each rank is a platform for the next. 

Edited March 21, 2021 by Eikokurai

[robnplunder 974]

I've waited a long time to see Enho vs Ura match.   It was entertaining for sure.  Enho had Ura in trouble but Ura's athleticism saved him.  The monoii would have gone either way IMO.

Ura gets the Juryo yusho, I hope.

Edited March 21, 2021 by robnplunder

[pricklypomegranate 730]

In my opinion, it should have been a do-over - but I did predict that Ura would win this one, though not as close as he did there. I hope Ura gets the Juryo yusho too, but if Chiyomaru wins, he'll be in front. 

[Seiyashi 4,068]

5 hours ago, Eikokurai said:

6 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

No such thing. Two Ozeki bashos are mandatory.

I wonder how a Sekiwake yusho > Ozeki yusho > Ozeki jun-yusho sequence would be viewed by the Kyokai. 

If the jun-yusho is a doten, that should see him promoted to Yokozuna under the ‘equivalency’ rule.

If the jun-yusho is in the region of 11-4 or 12-3, maybe not, particularly if the yusho itself is won by 2+ more (e.g. 13-2 or 14-1/15-0). It would depend how they view the Sekiwake yusho I suppose. If being fair, it ought to be seen as equal to an Ozeki yusho as the schedule is the same, but then the ranking system doesn’t really work that way. Each rank is a platform for the next. 

I don't think the sekiwake yusho would count at all, because as you said the junyusho is a drop compared to the previous two yusho. At best it keeps alive talk of promotion for another basho, but even then the NSK and YDC would be significantly relaxing the yusho equivalent rule for a wrestler who's not guaranteed to be a strong, healthy, yokozuna for a while; they have no real incentive to do that.

[Thorbjarn 214]

It looked very close, I wouldn't have complained about a rematch. Enho spinning in mid-air when it looked 100% certain he would hit the ground was spectacular, though. I hope that both guys can go for 10+ this basho. 

[Rocks 1,804]

I don't even know why they called a monoii in the Ura-Enho match. Enho was headed out because Ura pushed him. Both Enho's feet were off the ground. He's shintai. 

Ura was only headed out do to his own actions. Unless it was very clear he stepped out first inadvertently , which he  didn't even without the replay, it's was Ura's all the way. 

No idea what took them so long.  I though Enho had him early but once Ura recovered it was Ura the rest of the way. 

[Tigerboy1966 1,372]

Upset in jonidan as the January jonokuchi winner Atamifuji beats Tomokaze. Looking forward to seeing what happened. Let's hope Tomokaze didn't get hurt.

[Seiyashi 4,068]

36 minutes ago, pricklypomegranate said:

In my opinion, it should have been a do-over - but I did predict that Ura would win this one, though not as close as he did there. I hope Ura gets the Juryo yusho too, but if Chiyomaru wins, he'll be in front. 

And Chiyomaru didn't, so we have a 3-way tie for Juryo at 6-2: Ura, Chiyomaru and Enho. But Chiyomaru has yet to fight Ura, so if Enho continues winning he'll have one less pursuer to deal with. Ishiura could really assist here by beating Ura (assuming, as is more likely, that Ura beats Chiyomaru).

Edited March 21, 2021 by Seiyashi

[pricklypomegranate 730]

16 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

Ishiura could really assist here by beating Ura (assuming, as is more likely, that Ura beats Chiyomaru).

Enho still in good position. That’s what friends are for. 

[Seiyashi 4,068]

3 minutes ago, pricklypomegranate said:

20 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

Ishiura could really assist here by beating Ura (assuming, as is more likely, that Ura beats Chiyomaru).

Enho still in good position. That’s what friends are for. 

Some friend failed to roll out a dumpling a few days earlier 

[WAKATAKE 2,614]

27 minutes ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

Upset in jonidan as the January jonokuchi winner Atamifuji beats Tomokaze. Looking forward to seeing what happened. Let's hope Tomokaze didn't get hurt.

Would you really call it an upset though? Considering as you said that Atamifuji won the Jonokuchi yusho, Tomokaze had sat out for more than a year

[Tigerboy1966 1,372]

4 minutes ago, WAKATAKE said:

34 minutes ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

Upset in jonidan as the January jonokuchi winner Atamifuji beats Tomokaze. Looking forward to seeing what happened. Let's hope Tomokaze didn't get hurt.

Would you really call it an upset though? Considering as you said that Atamifuji won the Jonokuchi yusho, Tomokaze had sat out for more than a year

I see what you mean, and I didn't see this as a "gimme" for Tomokaze, but I was expecting him to take the yusho without too much trouble. And remember, Atamifuji was having only his 13th professional bout (including play-offs).

[Seiyashi 4,068]

Ichinojo disposes of Chiyonokuni with kotenage. This means we'll have an undisputed leader by the end of the day, and a 2-loss group currently led by Chiyonokuni and Tamawashi.

Edited March 21, 2021 by Seiyashi
need new glasses, thanks Eikokurai

[Eikokurai 3,433]

2 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

Ichinojo disposes of Chiyonokuni with kotenage. This means we'll have an undisputed leader by the end of the day, and a 2-loss group currently led by Chiyonokuni and Tamawashi.

Tamawashi has three losses. Chiyonokuni is the only one whose fought 8 bouts to currently be on 2 losses. Takayasu or Terunofuji will join him and potentially Asanoyama, Takanosho, Hokutofuji and Myogiryu.

[Benihana 1,900]

52 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

And Chiyomaru didn't, so we have a 3-way tie for Juryo at 6-2: Ura, Chiyomaru and Enho. But Chiyomaru has yet to fight Ura, so if Enho continues winning he'll have one less pursuer to deal with. Ishiura could really assist here by beating Ura (assuming, as is more likely, that Ura beats Chiyomaru).

A 4-way-playoff between these 3 and Ishiura would be fan service at it's finest. Please, sumo gods. Make it happen!

Entertaining bout between Chiyonokuni and Ichinojo. Didn't expect that outcome. But Ichinojo is at his A-game this basho and i love it.

[Seiyashi 4,068]

1 minute ago, Eikokurai said:

Tamawashi has three losses. Chiyonokuni is the only one whose fought 8 bouts to currently be on 2 losses. Takayasu or Terunofuji will join him and potentially Asanoyama, Takanosho, Hokutofuji and Myogiryu.

Right you are, my bad.

It's interesting how thoroughly Takayasu is Terunofuji's kryptonite. 8 losses to him in 9 matches, before and after injury! Is it just a completely bad stylistic matchup for Terunofuji?