Aki Basho 2021 - Discussion Thread (Spoilers!)

[jsolo 106]

Aki Sumo Basho statistical, video, audio, results, match reports, photos, and more blog. Updated for Day 1. Note that NHK full match videos will be added at around 12:30 am US Central Daylight Time the day after the Day of the post--i.e. Day 1's NHK videos will be uploaded around 12:30 am Day 2. 

Aki Basho Day 1 Blog Post

 

[Joaoiyama 307]

Hoshoryu is 1,87cm tall and looks well around 140kg this basho, the trick is more about maturing his frame and building raw power than just getting bigger. I believe he needs to go beyond regular training and focus a lot on intense upper body muscle/strength training, his core and lower body are already there so he should be focusing on his arms, shoulders and chest.

[Yamanashi 3,774]

One other thing I noticed.  It's only day 1, we're in Tokyo, it's not Summer anymore -- but with all of the Slippiotoshi® action, it looks like the clay has already turned to sand.  However, I'm willing to be convinced that there was some extra salt-tossing by Terutsuyoshi.

[Seiyashi 4,072]

For everyone like me who wonders what Hakkaku normally says in the go-aisatsu, Chris posted a subtitled version from his footage captured yesterday:

 

Edited September 13, 2021 by Seiyashi

[Seiyashi 4,072]

6 hours ago, Kaninoyama said:

7 hours ago, Benihana said:

I can't remember HF being a pusher/thruster. He was a brilliant technician with a strong belt game. That's why i see Hoshoryu being his reincarnation. But maybe i'm wrong. Barring injury, we'll have a few years to watch him develope.

The main difference I see is that Harumafuji relied more on agility and speed and getting opponents off balance at tachiai, whereas Hoshoryu tends to meet his opponents at the belt face on, which is why I think added weight and strength will benefit him.

And though we all see Hoshoryu's potential, before last basho's 10-5 record that vaulted him into M1, his prior performances since reaching Makuuchi have been:

8-7
7-8
9-6
7-8

Solid, but not quite at the level to make a run at Ozeki just yet. That said, I'm as bullish on him as anyone, and indeed I look forward to what's to come. 

Is no one looking at the more obvious comparison, which is Asashoryu rather than Harumafuji?

Asashoryu broke into makuuchi with a 11-4 record at J3w at about 110kg. He went 9-6, 9-6, 8-7, and 7-8 at M12w, M6e, K1w, and K1e before hitting 130kg and becoming a joi mainstay, with one abortive ozeki run ended by an 8-7 at S1w before getting promoted. 

Hoshoryu has had a slightly more leisurely climb up the banzuke at about 130kg and fleeting contact with the joi in the last basho, and looks to be in decent shape even about now, having enough mass to resist a Shodai bull charge and force him back. He would have had been easy pickings for that sort of charge even half a year ago.

If I had to bet, I'd say that this basho is the equivalent of Asashoryu's breakout basho at M1w in Aki 2001 when he first started clocking up double digit wins and special prizes with regularity. Whoo, spooky, almost exactly 20 years ago. If he beats Terunofuji today I'd say it definitely is. Which means we're looking at a couple of double-digit basho in the joi/lower sanyaku, during which he puts on maybe 10kg more tops, and then a serious run for ozeki and the rope, which conveniently is about the time Hakuho should definitely be gone and Terunofuji may be considering retirement himself.

Edited September 13, 2021 by Seiyashi

[Seiyashi 4,072]

Wow, Abi and Oho look and fight so similarly it was almost a mirror matchup. And that was the loudest, sharpest "madamada" I've ever heard come out of a gyoji.

Edited September 13, 2021 by Seiyashi

[rhyen 1,823]

4 hours ago, Yamanashi said:

One other thing I noticed.  It's only day 1, we're in Tokyo, it's not Summer anymore -- but with all of the Slippiotoshi® action, it looks like the clay has already turned to sand.  However, I'm willing to be convinced that there was some extra salt-tossing by Terutsuyoshi.

There is always a layer of sand on the dohyo, especially on the outer ring of the dohyo to help identify imprints of rikishi that step out first.

Every time there is a shimpan change, the yobidashi will sweep the entire dohyo once and sift the sand. They also do it just before the dohyo iri if you can catch it. 

[Seiyashi 4,072]

From this basho's bouts, Mitoryu has plenty of spirit and tenacity, but just seems to be unable to be decisive about actually ending bouts. He's lucky Daiamami was as bad about that as he was today, otherwise he'd be starting 0-2.

[Rocks 1,807]

1 minute ago, Seiyashi said:

From this basho's bouts, Mitoryu has plenty of spirit and tenacity, but just seems to be unable to be decisive about actually ending bouts. He's lucky Daiamami was as bad about that as he was today, otherwise he'd be starting 0-2.

Maybe, but his technique has gotten astoundingly better in the past year. When he got to Juryo he either won right away or lost with little defense. 

[Joaoiyama 307]

I don't know about you guys but i actually like Terunofuji's dohyo-iri, pretty eerie.

[Tigerboy1966 1,414]

8 hours ago, Benihana said:

8 hours ago, Kaninoyama said:

He needs another 10-20 kilos on his body, which he'll get in time, and once he does the sky is the limit. 

Why? He's almost exactly the same size/weigth, Harumafuji was.

And he's bigger than Chiyonofuji. I think that Hoshoryu will put on a few more pounds but I'm not convinced that he needs to.

[Seiyashi 4,072]

7 minutes ago, Joaoiyama said:

I don't know about you guys but i actually like Terunofuji's dohyo-iri, pretty eerie.

I agree he has a certain gravitas to it as he's doing it pretty slowly, but I don't know how much of that is just down to unfamiliarity and/or pain. How'd you think it's eerie?

[Kaninoyama 1,711]

46 minutes ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

And he's bigger than Chiyonofuji. I think that Hoshoryu will put on a few more pounds but I'm not convinced that he needs to.

Hoshoryu right now has nowhere near the strength Chiyonofuji had. 

[Joaoiyama 307]

43 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

I agree he has a certain gravitas to it as he's doing it pretty slowly, but I don't know how much of that is just down to unfamiliarity and/or pain. How'd you think it's eerie?

Not sure if it's pain or the prevention of it but his slow pacing looks methodical, unlike Kakuryu and Kisenosato who just looked bored.

[Joaoiyama 307]

1 minute ago, Kaninoyama said:

Hoshoryu right now has nowhere near the strength Chiyonofuji had. 

Exactly, although he is bigger, he is nowhere near the strength level needed.

[Seiyashi 4,072]

1 minute ago, Joaoiyama said:

5 minutes ago, Kaninoyama said:

Hoshoryu right now has nowhere near the strength Chiyonofuji had. 

Exactly, although he is bigger, he is nowhere near the strength level needed.

Ironically, or aptly, that's exactly what Naruto-oyakata (commenting on NHK) said about Hoshoryu's chances against Terunofuji - he needs more weight and won't stand a chance.

Although I guess we will see.

[Tigerboy1966 1,414]

Pretty brutal stuff from Terutsuyoshi today as he landed a series of hefty smacks to Ura's head. The man in pink looked badly stunned.

[Benihana 1,913]

Ok, Ura vs. Terutsuyoshi didn't go as planned. Terutsuyoshi resorting to harite wasn't on my game plan.

[Joaoiyama 307]

I just hope Hoshoryu won't sweep the legs, that would not be pretty.

[Taliesin 68]

Nicely done, Wakatakakage. Really.

[Joaoiyama 307]

Wakatakakage really has the full package, a pocket rocket.

[Benihana 1,913]

Nooo, Mitakeumi, nooo. *sigh*

[Taliesin 68]

That's nowhere near the truth. Oh, maybe Sanyaku?

[Tigerboy1966 1,414]

1 minute ago, Kaninoyama said:

I may have heard it wrong and someone please correct me if I have, but the NHK broadcast just mentioned that with Mitakeumi’s losing, other than Terunofuji there is already on Day 2 not a single rikishi of those who have wrestled left without a loss. 

They must have meant that there is no other sanyaku wrestler without a loss.

[Kaninoyama 1,711]

Yeah thought I missed something because that would be all but impossible.