Nagoya Basho 2021

[Thorbjarn 214]

Takayasu vs Mitakeumi was a fine bout I'd say. Not too much hectic movement, but good stuff. Too bad Takayasu is not at 100% and sat out two days, he looked really decent for a guy with back troubles. 

[Tigerboy1966 1,376]

3 minutes ago, Thorbjarn said:

Takayasu vs Mitakeumi was a fine bout I'd say.

You must have spotted something I didn't! Takayasu just adopted the awkard and painful looking "Takayasu posture" and Mitakeumi was pretty passive.

[Benihana 1,901]

Tobizaru vs Terunofuji was nice. Tobi at least tried today.

[Benihana 1,901]

*Ouch* That Hakuho shoulder block looked painful.

[Thorbjarn 214]

25 minutes ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

You must have spotted something I didn't! Takayasu just adopted the awkard and painful looking "Takayasu posture" and Mitakeumi was pretty passive.

It's the little things for me, they worked to get into and out of positions respectively in my perception. To each their own though. 

[Jakusotsu 5,815]

2 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

Will Enhou ever return to Makuuchi? Not in the near future, the way he is fighting lately. He tried to mount the dohyo after his loss, saw it was too high after not being able to scale it, and went around to the steps. It was kind of sad.

Really? Wasn't it more like to do it properly? Don't all rikishi re-enter the dohyo from their side?

[Benihana 1,901]

2 minutes ago, Jakusotsu said:

Don't all rikishi re-enter the dohyo from their side?

No. Really? Come on. You didn't ask that question, did you?

[Kintamayama 44,354]

13 minutes ago, Jakusotsu said:

Really? Wasn't it more like to do it properly? Don't all rikishi re-enter the dohyo from their side?

He tried to climb, and for some reason, couldn't, so he wented to his side. Maybe he wanted to be correct, then why attempt the Everest in the first place. Many questions, not much time left.

[Amamaniac 2,078]

13 hours ago, ViscountessNivlac said:

I'm still thinking the Terunofuji-Hakuho showdown will either not happen or very handily go to Terunofuji because Hakuho gets broken in the next week.

Just before this tournament started, I too was convinced that Hakuho's injuries would catch up with him again, and he would end up withdrawing by Day 10. But seeing him "perform" the last few days, his sumo actually seems to be getting better.  There are still seven days of sumo left in this tournament, so anything could happen.  But Hakuho looks like he is definitely "in it to win it".  

Let's assume we get treated to a big showdown on Senshuraku.  My money is on Hakuho.  If anyone knows how to beat Terunofuji, it's Hakuho.

Amazingly, they haven't met in over four years (May 2017)!  They were actually pretty evenly matched back then.  

If Terunofuji can make a comeback from injury, so too can Hakuho.  Hakuho is probably thinking: "Anything he can do, I can do better!"  That's what will make the hopefully-inevitable showdown absolutely epic!

Edited July 11, 2021 by Amamaniac

[Hakuryuho 334]

Today the shimpan had to die for Hakuho's knee to survive. 

For the greater good 

[ryafuji 807]

6 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

Yutakayama cruising back to Makuuchi after being totally shafted by the Banzuke makers this basho.

Agree he was unlucky but the banzuke makers would point to Ichiyamamoto's 6-2 record as evidence they got it right. 

[Eikokurai 3,433]

1 hour ago, Amamaniac said:

If Terunofuji can make a comeback from injury, so too can Hakuho.

But only one of those had the privilege of waltzing back in after almost a year out and resuming where he left off. I’d cut the Hakuho subplot from the screenplay. Audience’s won’t buy into it.

[Koorifuu 886]

Kaisho, of all people, stopped Abi's undefeated streak upon his return at 21.

Fun. Happy for him.

[Rocks 1,807]

8 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

He went for a henka and was favoring his bandaged leg. He looked injured to me. He even hopped for a second after losing.

He's basically been doing that all basho. HNH and pull from the back. He had to run into someone who could resist it sooner or later. He looks a bit tired and lame. I wonder if he's fine with a few basho in Juryo and pulls out after he gets his KK.

[Amamaniac 2,078]

1 hour ago, Eikokurai said:

But only one of those had the privilege of waltzing back in after almost a year out and resuming where he left off. I’d cut the Hakuho subplot from the screenplay. Audience’s won’t buy into it.

Perhaps I should phrase it differently?  "White Phoenix" Rises From the Ashes!

[Amamaniac 2,078]

6 hours ago, Benihana said:

Tobizaru vs Terunofuji was nice. Tobi at least tried today.

I was actually impressed with Tobizaru's efforts in this bout.  He showed remarkable skill in keeping Terunofuji off his mawashi.  This was a great test for the Mongolian.

Tobizaru is definitely using his head, but he knows that he is out of his depth against Hakuho and/or Terunofuji.  

This is in sharp contrast to his "breakthrough"(?) tournament in the Top Division in November 2020.  He took some impressive Sanyaku scalps, including that of Takakeisho.  At that point, he seemed to be relishing the opportunity to fight oozumo's best.  Now, the reality of life in the Top Division has sunk in a little more, and Tobi seems to be more in his head than in his heart.  

Whatever the case, he is always dangerous and fun to watch.

[Kintamayama 44,354]

2 hours ago, ryafuji said:

Agree he was unlucky but the banzuke makers would point to Ichiyamamoto's 6-2 record as evidence they got it right. 

Hindsight. In real time, they screwed him royally.

[Seiyashi 4,071]

On the subject of "surprising topics with no airtime", what about the apparently completely unnecessary dive Hakuho took into the shimpan today that seemed to result in a pretty sore shoulder? I feared the shimpan might be injured a la Izutsu or Asakayama by the looks of it. 

[Amamaniac 2,078]

5 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

On the subject of "surprising topics with no airtime", what about the apparently completely unnecessary dive Hakuho took into the shimpan today that seemed to result in a pretty sore shoulder? I feared the shimpan might be injured a la Izutsu or Asakayama by the looks of it. 

On that same subject, what were some of the most famous historical cases of shimpan injury back when shimpan sat up on the dohyo in the corners?  Has moving them down off the ring actually prevented serious injuries?  Asking for a friend...

[RabidJohn 1,665]

6 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

On the subject of "surprising topics with no airtime", what about the apparently completely unnecessary dive Hakuho took into the shimpan today ...? 

Did you miss this?

2 hours ago, Hakuryuho said:

Today the shimpan had to die for Hakuho's knee to survive. 

For the greater good 

I don't know about "apparently completely unnecessary" because I don't know how much control he had over the fall. I'd be fairly impressed if he deliberately opted for the softer landing, because that's some quick thinking!

[Eskbibs 72]

Before the basho began, there was the possibility of a double promotion to yokozuna. Takakeisho's out now, but would it be possible for Hakuho to get the yusho, Terunofuji to come as JY or lose in a playoff and still get promoted? I'm not a database wizard so I don't know how to check these things, but it's something I've been wondering about. Hakuho could possibly retire then in a true passing of the torch. Sorry if it's a silly question or if it's been mentioned elsewhere in the thread.

[Dapeng 232]

45 minutes ago, Eskbibs said:

Before the basho began, there was the possibility of a double promotion to yokozuna. Takakeisho's out now, but would it be possible for Hakuho to get the yusho, Terunofuji to come as JY or lose in a playoff and still get promoted? I'm not a database wizard so I don't know how to check these things, but it's something I've been wondering about. Hakuho could possibly retire then in a true passing of the torch. Sorry if it's a silly question or if it's been mentioned elsewhere in the thread.

I think if Teru JY at 14 wins,  he can be promoted. JY at 13 wins probably not.

[Dapeng 232]

Also, I don't think Hakuho will retire if he loses the playoff. There's the Olympic waiting. 

[Jakusotsu 5,815]

13 minutes ago, Dapeng said:

There's the Olympic waiting.

Still waiting for an official announcement that there will even be something like an opening ceremony, let alone involving Hakuho.

[Pitinosato 117]

2 hours ago, Rocks said:

He's basically been doing that all basho. HNH and pull from the back. He had to run into someone who could resist it sooner or later. He looks a bit tired and lame. I wonder if he's fine with a few basho in Juryo and pulls out after he gets his KK.

Abi is obviously injured (pulled muscle at left calf ?), he couldn't use his left leg at all

Yesterday (and the days before) there was noting to see of this injury

He was doing this kind of sumo voluntarily for the first 7 days, but also moving forward from time to time

but today he had no other options with this leg