March basho 2021

[Thorbjarn 214]

Hokutofuji didn't have to loose his bout, looked to be doing fairly well. Mitakeumi finally breaking the streak an collecting a w. 

[Seiyashi 4,074]

Just now, Thorbjarn said:

Hokutofuji didn't have to loose his bout, looked to be doing fairly well. Mitakeumi finally breaking the streak an collecting a w. 

Abema comments went to the tune of "won the sumo, lost the bout". Unlucky for him I guess; especially when Hokutofuji is normally pretty good with footwork.

[Rocks 1,807]

Takayasu wins. Sole leader. Dare we even think it?

[Kaninoyama 1,731]

Perfect sumo for Takayasu against Terunofuji. 

[nutzername 16]

4 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

... especially when Hokutofuji is normally pretty good with footwork.

I've been a big fan of Hokutofuji for a long time and I agree with him moving well these last few basho, but reading this about the former poster-child of "slippiotoshi" made me smile. 

[Thorbjarn 214]

Terunofuji brings out the absolute best in Takayasu, I feel like. That was excellent sumo. 

[Seiyashi 4,074]

Tamajiro seems to have learnt his lesson today. Gets right out of the dohyo after the tachiai.

[Kaninoyama 1,731]

Meisei is beginning to regain his pre-injury form. 

[yohcun 401]

Tagonoura-beya still a nightmare for Terunofuji.

[Eikokurai 3,437]

Since Takayasu got promoted to Ozeki, he’s seen no fewer than eight other guys get a hatsu yusho before him: Tochinoshin, Mitakeumi, Takakeisho, Asanoyama, Tokushoryu, Tamawashi, Shodai and Daieisho. He had multiple JYs during that time but couldn’t seal the deal. The poor bloke now has arguably the best chance he’s ever had to finally lift the cup.

Edited March 21, 2021 by Eikokurai

[Seiyashi 4,074]

Just now, Eikokurai said:

Since Takayasu got promoted to Ozeki, he’s seen no fewer than eight other guys get a Hatsu yusho before him: Tochinoshin, Mitakeumi, Takakeisho, Asanoyama, Tokushoryu and Tamawashi, Shodai and Daieisho. He had multiple JYs during that time but couldn’t seal the deal. The poor bloke now has arguably the best chance he’s ever had to finally lift the cup.

Let's not jinx him prematurely, although ex-ozeki pride counts for more than current ozeki pride this basho, it seems.

Shodai's playing an odd form of reverse bowling by sending the relative skittle of Kiribayama into Takakeisho's bowling ball. Badly executed makikae though. Speaking of mattagate a few days ago, Shodai's left hand quite clearly not on the dohyo, but no matta. What gives? Neither was Myogiryu's.

Takakeisho showing glimpses of his yusho form today. Upright, solid, unperturbed, and just slowly sending Myogiryu up and out. Myogiryu eliminated from the 2-loss group.

And Asanoyama failing to complete the ozeki hat trick, sent out virtually by densha-michi. Asanoyama also eliminated from the 2-loss group.

So a relatively thin top end of the leaderboard: Takayasu in sole lead with 7-1, Terunofuji and Chiyonokuni chasing 1 behind, and a whole bunch of randos from across the entire banzuke with 5-3s bringing up the rear.

[Amamaniac 2,079]

46 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

48 minutes ago, Thorbjarn said:

Hokutofuji didn't have to loose his bout, looked to be doing fairly well. Mitakeumi finally breaking the streak an collecting a w. 

Abema comments went to the tune of "won the sumo, lost the bout". Unlucky for him I guess; especially when Hokutofuji is normally pretty good with footwork.

Fan texts were also read out loud on Abema.  There were so many that wrote, "What a waste!"  If anything, Japanese people hate to waste things! 

[Jakusotsu 5,897]

1 minute ago, Amamaniac said:

If anything, Japanese people hate to waste things! 

Unless it's made of plastic.

[Kaninoyama 1,731]

6 minutes ago, Jakusotsu said:

Unless it's made of plastic.

Or wrapping paper. 

[Seiyashi 4,074]

55 minutes ago, Eikokurai said:

Since Takayasu got promoted to Ozeki, he’s seen no fewer than eight other guys get a hatsu yusho before him: Tochinoshin, Mitakeumi, Takakeisho, Asanoyama, Tokushoryu, Tamawashi, Shodai and Daieisho. He had multiple JYs during that time but couldn’t seal the deal. The poor bloke now has arguably the best chance he’s ever had to finally lift the cup.

Of the 12 basho that Takayasu was 7-1 or better by nakabi, here's some interesting stats:

1. Nagoya '11, M11w (7-1): Takayasu's shinnyumaku tournament. Y1e Hakuho was 8-0 together with O1w Harumafuji (eventual winner). Takayasu shared 7-1 with O1e Baruto, S1e Kotoshogiku, and maegashira Homasho and Fujiazuma. However, Takayasu went on to lose 5 of his next 7 to fellow maegashira, ending with a 9-6.
2. Aki '12, M9w (8-0): Shared the lead with Y1e Hakuho, the ozeki pair Harumafuji (eventual winner) and Kisenosato, and maegashira Kyokutenho. Again, dropped 5 of his next 7, mostly to maegashira (although losing on day 10 to Harumafuji), ending 10-5.
3. Nagoya '14, M11w (8-0): Shared the lead with Y1e Hakuho (eventual winner) and ozeki Kotoshogiku. Lost 4 of the remaining 7: 3 to maegashira and 1 to Kotoshogiku, to end with 11-4 and the Kantosho.
4. Kyushu '15, M12w (7-1): 1 behind Y1w Hakuho, together with Y2w Harumafuji (eventual winner), the ozeki pair Kisenosato and Kotoshogiku, and maegashira Shohozan. Lost 5 of the next 7 (again), all to maegashira (again), ending with 9-6.
5. Hatsu '16, M8w (7-1): 1 behind Y1w Hakuho and ozeki Kotoshogiku (eventual winner), together with Y1e Harumafuji and maegashira Okinoumi. Lost 3 more, all to fellow maegashira, to end 11-4.
6. Nagoya '16, K1w (7-1, including 1 fusen against Kotoshogiku): Was co-leading with Hakuho, Harumafuji (eventual winner), and ozeki Kisenosato. Lost 3 to Harumafuji and maegashira Yoshikaze and Aoiyama to end with 11-4 and the Ginosho.
7. Haru '17, S1w (8-0): Shared lead with Y2W Kisenosato (eventual winner). Dropped 2 to yokozunae Kakuryu and Harumafuji, and one more to maegashira Yoshikaze to end with 12-3 and the Shukun-sho. If he hadn't lost to Yoshikaze, he would be 13-2 and in the playoff that basho, although somewhat spoiling that basho's showdown storyline.
8. Natsu '17, S1w (7-1): Sole chaser behind both Hakuho (eventual winner) and Harumafuji with 8-0s. Beat Harumafuji but lost to Hakuho, maegashira Shodai, and ozeki Terunofuji to finish on 11-4 and the Ginosho again.
9. Nagoya '17, O2e (7-1): Opening day loss to Hokutofuji has him one behind Hakuho (eventual winner), together with Aoiyama. However, lost 5 of the next 7 to komusubi Yoshikaze, sekiwake Tamawashi, maegashira Tochiozan, and the yokozuna pair of Hakuho and Harumafuji to end 9-6.
10. Aki '18, O1w (7-1): Lost on Nakabi to maegashira Shodai. Lost 3 more over the second week to yokozuna Hakuho (zensho winner), sekiwake Mitakeumi, and fellow ozeki Tochinoshin, ending 11-4.
11. Nagoya '19, O1w (7-1): Was 1 behind the yokozuna pair of Kakuryu (eventual winner) and Hakuho. However, injured himself in the tournament and withdrew by day 11, ending 8-3-4.
12. And now Haru '21, K1e (7-1): ???????

It's interesting that in all the basho he was jun-yusho for, he had 2 or more losses by nakabi. In fact, of all his 13 notable tournaments (JY or sansho), he was only 7-1 or better by nakabi for 4 of them: Nagoya '14, Nagoya '16, Haru '17, and Natsu '17, all with the sansho and never the jun-yusho. The pattern above also shows his greatest weakness is dropping random matches to maegashira, some of which are still active (Aoiyama and Shodai).

On the flip side, the good news for him is as follows. He's never been on sole lead by nakabi either. Most of the opponents whom he's lost to in the above spiel are out of the picture. Of the ones who remain, Aoiyama is too far down the banzuke to realistically meet him, and Shodai is not having too good of a tournament.

That said, having already disposed of Mitakeumi, Asanoyama, and Terunofuji, and assuming that he has to go through the rest of the sanyaku, his remaining fight card is likely to be Myogiryu (9-13, but 3-2 in last 5), Endo (11-8, 4-1 in last 5), Wakatakakage (1-2), Hokutofuji (9-7 but 2-3 in last 5), Takanosho (1-2), Takakeisho (6-6, but 1-4 in last 5), and Shodai (8-11, 0-5!) in some order. He's fighting some of the best sumo in his life, but only Endo alone is realistically unlikely to trouble him. All the remainder can and probably will give him a serious run for his money this basho.

So as much as I'd like Takayasu to win the basho for the first time, it's not all easy going from here. He has several tough bouts ahead, and he needs to avoid dropping any of them to stay at the top. I'd say he'll have done very well if he drops just one more to meet Terunofuji in a playoff, to beat his personal best of 12-3 in a basho.

Edited March 21, 2021 by Seiyashi

[Amamaniac 2,079]

58 minutes ago, Eikokurai said:

Since Takayasu got promoted to Ozeki, he’s seen no fewer than eight other guys get a hatsu yusho before him: Tochinoshin, Mitakeumi, Takakeisho, Asanoyama, Tokushoryu, Tamawashi, Shodai and Daieisho. He had multiple JYs during that time but couldn’t seal the deal. The poor bloke now has arguably the best chance he’s ever had to finally lift the cup.

Some described today's Takayasu v. Terunofuji bout as a senshuraku-esque bout on nakabi.  We got to see some excellent "big-man" sumo, but unfortunately for Terunofuji, he let himself get too upright, and Takayasu took the advantage by staying low and getting a solid grip on the back of Teru's mawashi.  At that point, Terunofuji had little chance to winning.

Takayasu has been fighting very patient sumo (as usual, I guess).  Abema pointed out that his bouts this tournament are averaging 37s, significantly longer than those of his rivals at the top of the banzuke.  One thing that automatically comes to mind when talking to a Japanese friend is that long bouts early in a tournament have a serious taxing effect on wrestlers' stamina.  But watching Takayasu, he appears to be not worse for wear.  I have yet to see him huffing and puffing (like other wrestlers) after his marathon bouts.  Perhaps training with big-man Kisenosato has helped him get into the shape he needs to be in to fight patient sumo.

As you say, Takayasu looks like he has a serious shot at a hatsu-yusho!  (1) Wakanohana has already cursed Terunofuji's chances; (2) the three Ozeki are suffering upsets left, right, and centre; and (3) Takayasu is looking to be injury-free and is fighting better than ever.

If I were scripting things, a first-time Top-Division championship for the recent new father (i.e., Takayasu) along with a re-promotion to Ozeki for Terunofuji would be a satisfying if not popular conclusion to this tournament.  But there are still 7 days left, and we can't count out a plot twist or two!  March Tournament, you have my attention!

Edited March 21, 2021 by Amamaniac

[Amamaniac 2,079]

Just in case anyone missed it, there was a mishap for a ringside judge down in Sandanme Division today.  Ohnaruto took a foot to the head from one of the wrestlers flying off the ring.  He stayed down for a good long time...   I wonder if the NSK's new concussion protocols included anything for cases involving shimpan!

https://clips.twitch.tv/ClearZealousHamsterOneHand-1OuOaRASq6VLUk-6

[WAKATAKE 2,650]

1 hour ago, Rocks said:

Takayasu wins. Sole leader. Dare we even think it?

All I can say is that the other person was the yusho pick for the Abema HE WHO WILL NOT BE NAMED commentator 

[Jakusotsu 5,897]

I really hope somebody will be defeating Abi. Snatching the Makushita Yusho just feels . . . wrong. Like a kid getting a reward for smashing the cookie jar.

[Seiyashi 4,074]

15 minutes ago, Jakusotsu said:

I really hope somebody will be defeating Abi. Snatching the Makushita Yusho just feels . . . wrong. Like a kid getting a reward for smashing the cookie jar.

I wouldn't count on it; none of his fellow 4-0s are the rapid up-and-comer types, having stayed in Makushita for most of their careers. The best hope is probably Tokisakae and Hiradoumi.

That said being dumped all the way out of the sekitori ranks and losing his salary feels like enough punishment; a makushita yusho means nuts next to the loss of his sekitori privileges (on top of all the other conditions imposed on him). If Kintamayama's info from 2003 still remains correct, the makushita yusho at 500k yen is less than half of what he would have made a month as a sekitori. And even if he 7-0s this time, he doesn't have a surefire ticket back to Juryo. He needs another 7-0 on top of that to guarantee repromotion to Juryo, so realistically we're looking at another 4 months of non-sekitorihood, for which two yushos will only make up for 1 month as sekitori.

Don't forget he now has a family to support too - although it's arguable that hardship on his family is a consequence of his stupidity that he should have thought of. The man's done his time, let him show his rehabilitation.

Edited March 21, 2021 by Seiyashi

[Amamaniac 2,079]

Seems to me that Juryo is featuring at least two doppelgängers this tournament in the likes of Ichimotoyama Ichiyamamoto and Bushozan, both newcomers to Sekitoridom.  Whenever Ichimotoyama Ichiyamamoto climbs onto the dohyo, I see Abi.  And whenever Bushozan climbs onto the ring, I see Takakeisho.  My eyesight is not what it used to be, ... or is it? 

Edited March 21, 2021 by Amamaniac

[Seiyashi 4,074]

1 minute ago, Amamaniac said:

Seems to me that Juryo is featuring at least two doppelgängers this tournament in the likes of Ichimotoyama and Bushozan, both newcomers to Sekitoridom.  Whenever Ichimotoyama climbs onto the dohyo, I see Abi.  And whenever Bushozan climbs onto the ring, I see Takakeisho.  My eyesight is not what it used to be, ... or is it? 

Your eyesight is certainly not what it used to be - it's Ichiyamamoto, not Ichimotoyama!

Ichiyamamoto actually made sekitori before, but was very unluckily injured in his third juryo tournament and went back down the rankings. The other newcomer is Takakento.

But yeah, those two are deadringers for their sekitori seniors. Ichiyamamoto is perhaps a little less lanky, but the face is pretty close.

[Morning 75]

I hope to see Ura vs Enho more often, preferably in makunouchi.

[Gernobono 463]

9 minutes ago, Morning said:

I hope to see Ura vs Enho more often, preferably in makunouchi.

Why? You like the non-tachiai? The later "catch me if you can"?

[Eikokurai 3,437]

It’s a shame that Terutsuyoshi’s gassohineri/tokkurinage hybrid didn’t decide the bout today – it could have been a first gassohineri in Makuuchi since 1965 and only the third ever had it come off.