Haru 2022 Discussion Thread (SPOILERS!)

[Akinomaki 40,674]

3 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

To be fair, even when Abi was hot last basho, Onosho still had his number, and their last four meetings went 3-1 in favour of Onosho, so I wouldn't read too much into Abi's loss today. In any case, unless Abi's ready for an ozeki run (and I don't think he's quite at that level just yet), he can drop a fair few bouts and still be safe in sanyaku. I would probably agree with Kintamayama's sentiment last basho that this first week sanyaku schedule will be a much sterner test for Abi, and I think it's fine if he doesn't pass with flying colours the first time out.

He is sekiwake, so he has a tougher 2nd week, while the komusubi have a tougher first week, he can't afford to drop a few in the first week. Kitanofuji expected a repeat of him, Terunofuji and Mitakeumi as the top performers again, but I don't think we'll see Abi in the yusho race again. And Mitakeumi and Terunofuji after a corona infection will likely lack the stamina to keep winning later on.

Isegahama thinks that 1 day of keiko loss gets a rikishi 3 days behind, Teruf had 10 days off. With a soar throat, but no high fever. The only not infected sekitori in the heya was Terutsuyoshi, the others are all not well prepared. Atamifuji so far looked good in his debut though. We'll see who keeps performing well in the 2nd half of the basho.

[rhyen 1,842]

21 minutes ago, Akinomaki said:

He is sekiwake, so he has a tougher 2nd week, while the komusubi have a tougher first week, he can't afford to drop a few in the first week. Kitanofuji expected a repeat of him, Terunofuji and Mitakeumi as the top performers again, but I don't think we'll see Abi in the yusho race again. And Mitakeumi and Terunofuji after a corona infection will likely lack the stamina to keep winning later on.

Isegahama thinks that 1 day of keiko loss gets a rikishi 3 days behind, Teruf had 10 days off. With a soar throat, but no high fever. The only not infected sekitori in the heya was Terutsuyoshi, the others are all not well prepared. Atamifuji so far looked good in his debut though. We'll see who keeps performing well in the 2nd half of the basho.

Did Atamifuji use gaburi yori in his yorikiri wins before his Juryo debut?

[Taliesin 68]

Well, if you are facing Terunofuji on day 1 of the basho, you are out of luck. In first 8 days of last 5 basho he lost just once. In the second week he gives his opponents some chances now and then. 

[Amamaniac 2,079]

Hold the phone!  There did not appear to be any matta-s (false starts) today in the Top Division.  That's a good sign.

[Rocks 1,809]

I wouldn't read into too much for Day 1 matches. Mitakeumi may have won but he looked weak. I think he will be happy just to KK this basho after being sick.

Abi looked ok. Not many people can beat Onosho when he hits the tachi-ai right. Tochinoshin looked strong. Hopefully he can keep it up the whole basho. 

Takyasu looked good too. Stayed in the match.

[Gospodin 198]

12 hours ago, Benevolance said:

[spoilers] Terunofuji already won the tournament. [/spoilers]

Seen a couple spirited jonokuchi bouts so far, but what's the German word "when two low ranked sumo wrestlers create a spirited bout due more to their mediocrity than their actual fighting spirit"? 

Perhaps the phrase "Not gegen Elend".

[Morty 1,498]

That was a really good first day's sumo. Some really good technical bouts there. Kotonowaka looked great, as did Kotoshoho. Shodai looked like he's be quite happy to not be Ozeki any longer and not have that pressure on him anymore thank you very much. Great to have sumo back!

[Akinomaki 40,674]

I'm looking forward to the first bout ever of Yago vs. former heya mate Tomokaze. Next basho maybe, if Yago drops again to the bottom of juryo and Tomokaze makes it close to the top of makushita.

Both started good this basho.

[code_number3 708]

Will Mitakeumi crack this basho?

[Seiyashi 4,106]

Hmm. Discounting the happiness to have sumo back, Day 1 looked really sloppy to me, though. Ring rust doesn't normally manifest in at least 4 people collapsing out of the tachiai.

[dingo 1,272]

Seems like Ichinojo was a tad more livelier than usual, perhaps trying to capitalise on Mitakeumi's new ozeki jitters. I thought Mitakeumi handled it pretty well though. 

Abi will be lucky to keep his sekiwake position if he goes on like this. Takakeisho on the other hand looks like he's good for at least the minimal 8 wins. 

And poor Shodai looks like he's ready to retire on the spot. Or does he have a hidden injury or other malady that's bothering him? (besides mental stuff). 

[maglor 122]

54 minutes ago, code_number3 said:

Will Mitakeumi crack this basho?

Given that the last time he had a losing record was back in 2020,  I fully expect him to get at least 8 wins, though of course he might do that by starting 6-2 and finishing 2-5.

I don't think today's loss was too bad for Abi - he doesn't have a great record against Onosho iirc, but I do think that the Abi hypetrain will come back to reality. A lot of the joi guys who get 8-10 would probably get close to 12 if they could skip half their sanyaku matches, half their upper maegashira matches, and fight lower rankers instead. I still expect him to get 8 wins, but the idea that he was going to win the yusho vs joi competition when he couldn't do it outside the joi was always pretty shaky to me.

Takakeisho seems healthy. In that case 8 wins shouldn't be a problem. Shodai on the other hand is really not having a fun time. The Takanosho match tomorrow will be crucial I think. If he loses that and is 0-2 going into a match with Ichinojo who dominates him, I think he's doomed.

[Thorbjarn 215]

I really hope this is the Takakeisho we will see all Basho. I also hope that my feelings on Terunofuji are wrong. He was really in a hurry of getting out Hoshoryu and looked to be troubled by his knees.

[rhyen 1,842]

Oooohhh, compared to his post danpantsushiki hairstyle (slicked back and waxed). 
Takekuma’s hair is really curly (probably a side effect of years of being combed for the mage).

[rhyen 1,842]

Chiyotairyu’s knee knocking loose a chunk of the dohyo and doesn’t get a torinaoshi.

[Tigerboy1966 1,453]

Aoiyama off to a flying start and why not? It's March. In the last 3 Haru basho he has gone 12-3, 11-4 and 11-4, winning a prize each time.

[Seiyashi 4,106]

Pretty classy win from Aoiyama, although he denies Tobizaru the chance to live up to his namesake. Haru Aoiyama really is a thing, isn't it.

[Tigerboy1966 1,453]

3 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

Haru Aoiyama really is a thing, isn't it.

Yup. In the 14 other basho that took place in 2019, 2020 and 2021 he managed a grand total of ONE KK!

[Tigerboy1966 1,453]

And, if I might be permitted a completely off-topic comment... I made komusubi! Hooray for me.

[Tigerboy1966 1,453]

Absolute cracker of a belt duel between Chiyoshoma and Okinoumi. That's my bout of the basho so far.

[Seiyashi 4,106]

3 minutes ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

Absolute cracker of a belt duel between Chiyoshoma and Okinoumi. That's my bout of the basho so far.

Agreed. Relatively subtle technically until the end, but great bout nonetheless.

[Seiyashi 4,106]

31 minutes ago, rhyen said:

Chiyotairyu’s knee knocking loose a chunk of the dohyo and doesn’t get a torinaoshi.

NHK showing footage of a crew of yobidashi doing an emergency patch job during the break/shimpan kotai.

[Seiyashi 4,106]

Abi and Wakatakakage looking really good today.

[robnplunder 975]

Hoshoryu looked out of it today.  That's two days in a row that he put up very little fight.

Shodai looks like Ozeki no more.

Edited March 14, 2022 by robnplunder

[Chartorenji 239]

To make things worse for Hoshoryu, a second laughing emoji from uncle