Aki Basho 2021 - Discussion Thread (Spoilers!)

[Kujo 116]

2 hours ago, Katooshu said:

Maybe Kiribayama was just paying Hosh back for this

 

Thank you for that Katooshu. Being Mr Anti-Henka I was yelling at my TV (yeah again), and ready to post something about henkabayama.

But then I figured it was payback, carry on kiribayama 

Edited September 21, 2021 by Kujo
spelling

[RabidJohn 1,665]

Kiribayama has had to work harder than most already this basho. I like to think it's a wise move on the part of Michinoku (who watched Chiyonofuji do it) and Kakuryu (who watched Harumafuji do it) to train their charge in a tactic that cuts him some slack for a couple of days. 

Besides, a well executed HNH is a thing of beauty in its own right.

---

I didn't read Terunofuji easing up to avoid injuring Ura. I saw only slight puzzlement that the kotenage didn't work on the unbelievably bendy little bugger. What an entertaining bout.

[Kaninoyama 1,694]

11 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

Interesting hypothetical: if Hoshoryu had had his "not bowing properly" incident today in response to the henka, do you think the gyoji would have made him come back and do it again? Or would he have gotten a free pass for being huffy? 

I actually thought he didn't bow properly again after the bout, but wasn't called on it. 

[Yamanashi 3,725]

4 hours ago, Amamaniac said:

For anyone curious to know how long Terunofuji's bout against Ura lasted: 1 min 32.3 sec.  

Some bouts are brief encounters.  That was a real battle.  Opponents are starting to realise that they can prolong things against Terunofuji if they keep the Yokozuna off their mawashi (and if they avoid his back up kime arm lock attack).

The first 1:20 of this clip ought to sum things up nicely:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACPaWsdqCjA

 

[Yamanashi 3,725]

On 20/09/2021 at 12:25, Asojima said:

So, which one of them will go for a leg grab/kick out?  

As you might guess, it was Ura.  Twice.  He wasn't very aggressive about it, though, more of a distracting maneuver.

[hakutorizakura 590]

Special edition, in color!

[Akinomaki 39,790]

A new set for Terunofuji, for the five remaining days, from a heya main sponsor. Every rikishi of the heya has a kesho mawashi with that name on it. So 4, 6 for Nagatanien and 5 for the third.

[Seiyashi 4,071]

34 minutes ago, Akinomaki said:

A new set for Terunofuji, for the five remaining days, from a heya main sponsor. Every rikishi of the heya has a kesho mawashi with that name on it. So 4, 6 for Nagatanien and 5 for the third.

I think it's the same set as the first 4 days: Takarafuji's looks identical to what he was wearing on day 1. At least, the sponsor name is also the same, and it seems a bit early for a sponsor to give a shin-yokozuna two sets with the same design.

Edited September 22, 2021 by Seiyashi

[Kaninoyama 1,694]

Aoiyama with an ugly dame-oshi, and not for the first time.

[Taliesin 68]

Rolling monkey?

[Akinomaki 39,790]

13 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

I think it's the same set as the first 4 days: Takarafuji's looks identical to what he was wearing on day 1. At least, the sponsor name is also the same, and it seems a bit early for a sponsor to give a shin-yokozuna two sets with the same design.

So only 2 sets, a pity, 9 vs. 6 for the heya sponsor.

[Seiyashi 4,071]

5 minutes ago, Akinomaki said:

So only 2 sets, a pity, 9 vs. 6 for the heya sponsor.

An interesting thing about that set is that the yokozuna's kesho mawashi appears identical to one of Terunofuji's ozeki-era kesho mawashi (https://isegahama.net/照ノ富士春雄/ specifically the very last one at the bottom of the page). I don't know if the sponsor has commissioned two more to match it, which seems to be relatively rare when creating yokozuna kesho mawashi - my understanding is that a full set of three is commissioned usually.

[Akinomaki 39,790]

29 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

An interesting thing about that set is that the yokozuna's kesho mawashi appears identical to one of Terunofuji's ozeki-era kesho mawashi (https://isegahama.net/照ノ富士春雄/ specifically the very last one at the bottom of the page). I don't know if the sponsor has commissioned two more to match it, which seems to be relatively rare when creating yokozuna kesho mawashi - my understanding is that a full set of three is commissioned usually.

We need a pic of the whole set to check the similarities. The same koenkai with likely the same designer and still the Fuji as the central theme for Terunofuji, in both of the present sets and maybe most of his future sets as well - it might be very similar, but there never will be a reuse of an old kesho mawashi for a set.

[Akinomaki 39,790]

The master of extreme bout length is back - just before the imminent mizu-iri stop Ichinojo could decide that 3:24min. bout

Edited September 22, 2021 by Akinomaki

[Seiyashi 4,071]

28 minutes ago, Akinomaki said:

1 hour ago, Seiyashi said:

An interesting thing about that set is that the yokozuna's kesho mawashi appears identical to one of Terunofuji's ozeki-era kesho mawashi (https://isegahama.net/照ノ富士春雄/ specifically the very last one at the bottom of the page). I don't know if the sponsor has commissioned two more to match it, which seems to be relatively rare when creating yokozuna kesho mawashi - my understanding is that a full set of three is commissioned usually.

We need a pic of the whole set to check the similarities. The same koenkai with likely the same designer and still the Fuji as the central theme for Terunofuji, in both of the present sets and maybe most of his future sets as well - it might be very similar, but there never will be a reuse of an old kesho mawashi for a set.

Can't find a pic of the set on display like with the Nagatanien set, but:

Of course it's obscured by the tsuna so it's difficult to see, but eh.

[Kaninoyama 1,694]

Terunofuji channeled his inner Hakuho today. Hopefully not a trend.

[Seiyashi 4,071]

20 hours ago, since_94 said:

20 hours ago, Eikokurai said:

Interesting idea, but Terunofuji could just as reasonably have said to himself that Ura put himself in that position, so tough luck. Ura turned away to avoid the belt battle which is what led to the awkward angle.

That's partly my point though---that we're witnessing the dawn of the kinder, gentler Terunofuji. He was certainly never one to show mercy on his march up to Makuuchi the first time around, and seemed to relish playing the role of the scowling heel. But I honestly feel his injury, long tumble down through the ranks, rehabilitation, and eventual redemption made him more compassionate. It's classic hero cycle stuff, right out of Joseph Campbell's Power of myth. Anyway, he knows Ura has been through a lot of the same struggle, so there's a camaraderie and some empathy there.  Plus, now as Yokozuna, he's doubtless very aware of the need to do what's good for "the business", even if it might mean not winning at all costs. I'm not suggesting he'd ever throw a match, but he knows Ura is a star that puts punters in seats and gets them tuning in to NHK's broadcasts. He's aware there's already a whole raft of big names sitting out with injuries and COVID-related withdrawals. He has reasons to not want to hurt Ura while defeating him. I think he was confident in his ability to do so and showed some mercy today.

So, what were we saying about a "kinder, gentler" Terunofuji yesterday? 

Although I guess I shouldn't be laughing, considering Papayasu had to be carted off in the wheelchair. With 7 losses already, looks like Kiribayama is primed to take that spot as shin-komusubi at least. Considering the odds are good that one of Meisei and Ichinojo won't KK, that means there's space for both Kiribayama and Takanosho (assuming they KK).

Edited September 22, 2021 by Seiyashi

[since_94 650]

Just now, Kaninoyama said:

Terunofuji channeled his inner Hakuho today. Hopefully not a trend.

I expect him to be pilloried in exactly 5...4...3...2...1...

[pricklypomegranate 730]

On 20/09/2021 at 22:08, Eikokurai said:

Daieisho has won three kinboshi. Today‘s loss was Terunofuji’s first kinboshi given up.

Yeah, I meant it was Terunofuji's first. Today was close for Terunofuji as well, but Takayasu really got the chair this time. 

In other news, happy birthday @Eikokurai!!! 

[Akinomaki 39,790]

That's the best pic I could find

It's the same painting for sure, it's not from a koenkai, but an antique art company, Hokodo Bijutsu http://www.hookodo.co.jp/ - a big sponsor for the heya

If they use their paintings for the design, it surely is the same, but a new version

[Eikokurai 3,433]

12 minutes ago, pricklypomegranate said:

Yeah, I meant it was Terunofuji's first. Today was close for Terunofuji as well, but Takayasu really got the chair this time. 

In other news, happy birthday @Eikokurai!!! 

Thanks! It’s also Yutakayama’s. I’m exactly ten years older than him and have the knees of a rikishi to boot.

[specialweek 2 136]

44 minutes ago, Akinomaki said:

The master of extreme bout length is back - just before the imminent mizu-iri stop Ichinojo could decide that 3:24min. bout

You indirectly raise an interesting point. What if a bout goes 4 mins. Do they bring in two 500ml Suntory mineral waters as no drinking from the bucket these days?

[Amamaniac 2,078]

1 hour ago, Eikokurai said:

Thanks! It’s also Yutakayama’s. I’m exactly ten years older than him and have the knees of a rikishi to boot.

Terunofuji knees or Mitakeumi knees?  It's all relative.

For whatever reason, some rikishi manage to get through their careers with their knees intact ... and then there are folks like us who've never had an oozumo career with knee problems to spare! 

Edited September 22, 2021 by Amamaniac

[Eikokurai 3,433]

2 minutes ago, Amamaniac said:

Terunofuji knees or Mitakeumi knees?  It's all relative.

For whatever reason, some rikishi manage to get through their careers with their knees in tact ... and then there are folks like us who've never had an oozumo career with knee problems to spare! 

One of Ura’s and one of Terunofuji’s.

[bessantj 4]

Just now, Eikokurai said:

One of Ura’s and one of Terunofuji’s.

Better those than Tochinoshin.