Natsu basho 2021

[Akinomaki 39,595]

The NSK today published the announcement for the basho http://sumo.or.jp/IrohaKyokaiInformation/detail?id=461

A bit closer to normal:

Ticket lottery application on the web: Apr. 2nd-5th - for tamariseki, masu and box seats, secondary lottery: 7th-9th, also for chair seats

Start of ticket sales on the web: Apr. 10th, 10h

Start of ticket sales by phone: May 2nd

Again up to 5000 spectators a day, tamariseki from row 4 on, with 1 empty in between, part of it on sale to the public. 2 for a 4 person masu.

Entry at 13h, except on day 1 (May 9th) and 8, for the shinjo shusse hirou for 33 new recruits from Haru and the one for Natsu - there entry is at 12h.

The rules for masks, eating etc. are the same, open doors for thorough ventilation.

Edited April 2, 2021 by Akinomaki

[Gurowake 3,890]

Seiyashi's brain fart deleted

Edited April 1, 2021 by Gurowake

[Seiyashi 4,068]

11 minutes ago, Gurowake said:

The July basho might be in Nagoya, but that won't be called the Natsu basho (unlike what I insist the naming scheme should be for the 2020 basho, in which it makes perfect sense to call the July Tokyo basho the Natsu basho since there was no May basho), which is what the title of the present thread has.  Perhaps this could be moved to a new thread.

Will you believe I had a complete brain fart and thought the next basho was in Nagoya.

Deleting the post.

[code_number3 694]

49 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

The basho will take place in Nagoya: ７月場所を２年ぶり名古屋開催　五輪で国技館使えず - 大相撲 : 日刊スポーツ (nikkansports.com)

Heya will go separately instead of by the rikishi train. Also, vaccinations will be given before the Nagoya basho: ７月場所は恒例「相撲列車」なし　部屋ごとに移動 - 大相撲 : 日刊スポーツ (nikkansports.com)

I hope this is not April Fools joke by coronavirus.

I have read the articles (even though I don't understand Japanese), just wish the ‘Rona situation won’t get worse as time goes by.

[ryafuji 806]

They don't have a lot of choice, as the Kokugikan will be unavailable due to Olympic boxing. 

[Akinomaki 39,595]

The gomen-fuda for the basho was put in place

o

 

[Kintamayama 44,278]

The first three days will be held without spectators, it was decided today. A rijikai will be held on the 26th to affirm that and see what will happen next. Tokyo will be  under emergency measures again due to the new outbreak of the virus between April 26th and May 11th (day three of the basho). "We have to go along with this. All of Japan, nay, all of the world is suffering from this so we have to be flexible. It is truly a distressing and difficult situation. However, it cannot be overcome unless everyone cooperates and overcomes it," explained Shibatayama PR man.

Edited April 23, 2021 by Kintamayama

[Katooshu 3,108]

Really excited for this! 

Looks like the rikishi are preparing seriously.

Tachiai checks and chanko at an unnamed stable:

 

 

[Haruibono 11]

I have just read that the public will not be allowed into the upcoming basho for the first three days. May 9-11. 

[Eikokurai 3,433]

14 hours ago, Katooshu said:

Really excited for this! 

Looks like the rikishi are preparing seriously.

Tachiai checks and chanko at an unnamed stable:

 

 

Looks like it’s Narooto-beya. 

[The Fat Cyclist 25]

41 minutes ago, Eikokurai said:

Looks like it’s Narooto-beya. 

We need an "Ouch" reaction :)

[Akinomaki 39,595]

Sumo.pia announced that ticket sales for the basho will be stopped after tomorrow, 17h JST.

[Yamanashi 3,693]

1 hour ago, Eikokurai said:

Tachiai checks and chanko at an unnamed stable:

K. Murayama et al.  "The Foundations of Tsuppari in Animal Behavior. Part 3: Marsupials", Japan Journal of Animal Behavior, XVII, August 2014 (pp. 323-341).

[OK, I just made that up]

[Benihana 1,901]

 

[Asojima 2,870]

Day 1 kyujos:  Hakuho, Aoiyama, Ryuden  and Midorifuji  !!!

[Tigerboy1966 1,376]

58 minutes ago, Asojima said:

Day 1 kyujos:  Hakuho, Aoiyama, Ryuden  and Midorifuji  !!!

Hakuho we knew about, Midorifuji was obviously hurt in March, Ryuden has historic injury issues, but Aoiyama is a shock to me.

[白魔ガシ 8]

I knew it was the wrong decision to let Midori compete in Haru

Edited May 7, 2021 by 白魔ガシ

[Yubinhaad 11,509]

No pressing need for an alternative yet, so Shohoryu continues as yumitori-shiki performer this basho.

[ryafuji 806]

I make that three threads in which Hakuho's kyujo has now been mentioned...

[Kintamayama 44,278]

On 23/04/2021 at 15:17, Kintamayama said:

The first three days will be held without spectators, it was decided today.

5000 spectators max from day 4. "We are happy that the powers that be have allowed us to allow spectators from day 4. Since we are not supported by the country, zero audience causes us to not be able to make a living and it is out of our control.. We are grateful for the relaxation of the rules," said Shibatayama.

Edited May 8, 2021 by Kintamayama

[Tigerboy1966 1,376]

It's gone awfully quiet round here, considering that we are only a few hours away from the start of the basho.

I see that the the three men who had sanyaku-worthy records but got stuck at the top of maegashira will (predictably) get a chance to prove how unlucky they were in the first two days:

Wakatakage gets Takakeisho and Shodai

Meisei gets Terunofuji and Asanoyama

Hokutofuji gets Shodai and Terunofuji

Good luck lads!

[Wakaebala 151]

 

26 minutes ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

It's gone awfully quiet round here, considering that we are only a few hours away from the start of the basho.

I think everybody is waiting... It's just calm before the storm! :)

My top 5 most waited bouts from Day 1:
#5 - Tochinoshin vs Ichinojo - looking forward to hear them grunt in the empty Kokugikan!!!
#4 - Takayasu vs Tobizaru - can Takayasu bounce back from the loss in March?
#3 - Shodai vs Hokutofuji - Hokutofuji won in March! Shodai didn't look that good during the preparations... Maybe the Greatest Stamper will get this one?
#2 - Wakatakakage vs Takakeisho - 1-1? Come on... 
#1 - Asanoyama vs Daieisho - 6-9 to Daieisho. Last two had been won by him too. Last time, when Daieisho won against Asanoyama on Day 1, he clinched the yusho. Great musubi no ichiban for the day! :) 

[Eikokurai 3,433]

1 hour ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

It's gone awfully quiet round here, considering that we are only a few hours away from the start of the basho.

Not too much to talk about I guess. There aren’t any meaningful narratives to follow as the basho begins, other than perhaps Shodai’s kadoban situation and how Terunofuji will do in his Ozeki return. No Yokozuna, no Ozeki runs, no Makuuchi debuts. 

[Ichimawashi 573]

6 hours ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

It's gone awfully quiet round here, considering that we are only a few hours away from the start of the basho

We're trying to mirror the conditions of the first three (possibly more) days....

Seriously though, is it possible that behind the scenes someone in the health services has told the Kyokai that they need to get a handle on what 50% capacity actually means?  Last time it looked like 80% in the closest seats and 10% in the rafters.  Until they figure out a way to ensure that everyone is in the seats they bought and they don't oversell any sections, they're not helping control the covid spread at all (except in the far away seats).

Edited May 9, 2021 by Ichimawashi

[Benihana 1,901]

Aaand we have something to talk. Enho's botched ashitori attempt and what followed. I had to chuckle a bit. Maybe he should ask ashitori-master Ura for some advice.