Haru 2022 Discussion Thread (SPOILERS!)

[Leo C 52]

I was glad to see Ichinojo and Takakeisho trying hard despite having secured their kachi-koshis. I'm sure Hoshoryu doesn't feel the same way. I'm loving to see Wakatakakage in the yusho race, rooting for him, but Takayasu finally taking a yusho would also be a feel-good moment.

[RabidJohn 1,754]

So Takakeisho took his foot off the gas when he got his 8th, did he? What a laugh!
He may have failed, but no one could have tried harder to spoil Takayasu's day.

I had totally mixed feelings watching Wakatakakage face off against Mitakeumi. On the one hand it's great to see Mitakeumi maintaining his momentum with another DD as shin-ozeki, but it meant seeing Wakatakakage drop to 1 off the pace. Still, no matter what happens from here, he's put in a stellar performance as shin-sekiwake.

The "Huh? Where'd he go?" moment at the end of Meisei vs Ura was hilarious. Made this basho's Battle of Ground Meat quite memorable.

[Eikokurai 3,437]

Just realized Nishikigi got his KK today—his first in Makuuchi since November 2018, 20 tournaments ago.

[AnOzekisFish 16]

As a long term Takayasu fan, today was a joy. I may have been shouting at my TV in happiness.

Would love to see him clinch it, but even if he doesn't it's just great to see him so genki after a long period of decline.

[Rocks 1,808]

2 hours ago, RabidJohn said:

So Takakeisho took his foot off the gas when he got his 8th, did he? What a laugh!
He may have failed, but no one could have tried harder to spoil Takayasu's day.

I never thought Takakeisho would take his foot off the gas, he's not really capable of that, but I did say he'd only be in it as long as the bout was being fought his way which was true. Takayasu almost blew that. He came out cautious and let it turn into an oshi battle, Takakeisho's wheelhouse. He never moved Takakeisho back and Takakeisho kept Takayasu right in front of him  till the end. The moment that stopped and Takaysu got any part of Takakeisho's belt it was over, very quickly. Zero resistance from Takakeisho. I doubt that would have been true if Takakeisho still needed an 8th win or better record. Takayasu got very lucky today. Very poor strategy and far too cautious. 

Shocking win by Kotonowaka. Very big for him career wise. Very good. And not good for Takayasu as Shodai still needs his KK .  Speaking of which it's garbage Takayasu, an M7 , has to face all 3 Ozeki even if he's leading. With him likely to face Abi Day 15 he's fought a Sanyaku schedule which is a lot to ask from an M7 just because he's leading and the Yokozuna dropped out. 

Mitakeumi handled Wakatakakage well as I thought he would. Never a good matchup of styles for Wakatakakage expecially when Mitakeumi is even a little bit motivated.  

[Fashiritētā 179]

This has been a great Basho, Wakatakakage starts an Ozeki run, Mitakeumi continues the DD wins, giving us a nice anchor Ozeki and Takayasu getting over the mental hump and hopefully securing his first yusho.

[SDM 9]

I have to say this has been a thoroughly enjoyable year so far.

[SDM 9]

Regarding the thing about ginboshi,

I was in Kagoshima around the time Showa became Heisei and watching a couple of Basho and I do recall local people talking about ginboshi as well as kinboshi.

However, it was understood to be an informal or colloquial thing.

Keep in mind the shiro and kuro markings used for wins and losses.

gold distinguished a special win.

Besides silver would look too much like white

 

[SDM 9]

4 hours ago, Leo C said:

I was glad to see Ichinojo and Takakeisho trying hard despite having secured their kachi-koshis. I'm sure Hoshoryu doesn't feel the same way. I'm loving to see Wakatakakage in the yusho race, rooting for him, but Takayasu finally taking a yusho would also be a feel-good moment.

Which begs the question why was Ichi so pathetic against Teru early on.

Looked to me more like a dance session. [Slow waltz]

[hakutorizakura 620]

Wow, aggressive Ichinojo is scary Ichinojo!

Mitakeumi shows WKTKKG how to sekiwake, and Takayasu shows Takahamster how to ozeki. Fun bouts.

And Aoiyama and Meisei went into suspended animation. Or it was just video glitch 

[Akinomaki 40,271]

Wakatakakage with 3 ozeki bouts and Abi likely only with 1 - a real tough 2nd week for one new sekiwake, an only slightly tougher one for the other. If Abi still doesn't manage to get kachikoshi, an ozeki run is out of reach this year. Wakatakakage has one third of that task completed.

[ryafuji 814]

I really enjoyed Takayasu v Takakeisho, but it was Exhibit A for Takakeisho's lack of stamina and incompetence on the mawashi. The second Takayasu got hold of it the bout was over. 

[Jakusotsu 5,905]

5 hours ago, Rocks said:

Speaking of which it's garbage Takayasu, an M7 , has to face all 3 Ozeki even if he's leading. With him likely to face Abi Day 15 he's fought a Sanyaku schedule which is a lot to ask from an M7 just because he's leading and the Yokozuna dropped out.

Abi might be Takayasu's opponent for day 15, but I can also see him facing Ichinojo.

[WAKATAKE 2,650]

Early sansho predictions

Shukun-Sho to Takayasu

Kanto-Sho to Kotonowaka

Gino-Sho to Wakatakakage

and something extra for the yusho winner probably

[Amamaniac 2,079]

38 minutes ago, Jakusotsu said:

Abi might be Takayasu's opponent for day 15, but I can also see him facing Ichinojo.

That's exactly what NHK is forecasting!  You are either clairvoyant, watched the NHK broadcast, have an inside contact, or ... just one smart pundit. 

[WAKATAKE 2,650]

Also day 13 broadcast may be the first time I’ve heard Ross Mihara so excited in his commentary

[Jakusotsu 5,905]

1 hour ago, Amamaniac said:

That's exactly what NHK is forecasting!  You are either clairvoyant, watched the NHK broadcast, have an inside contact, or ... just one smart pundit. 

Just an avid Guess-Kisenosato's-Aite player. If you're looking for a real clairvoyant, ask Dai-Yokozuna @Sakura.

[Barutokai 64]

I thought Wakatakakage has almost 2/3 of his Ozeki run kinda like Terunofuji 7 years ago? And the latter started at M2e 8-7.

[Jakusotsu 5,905]

2 minutes ago, Barutokai said:

I thought Wakatakakage has almost 2/3 of his Ozeki run kinda like Terunofuji 7 years ago? And the latter started at M2e 8-7.

...and he has a much better track record among the joi-jin.

[Akinomaki 40,271]

33 minutes ago, Barutokai said:

I thought Wakatakakage has almost 2/3 of his Ozeki run kinda like Terunofuji 7 years ago? And the latter started at M2e 8-7.

Unofficially, officially only double digits at sanyaku count. But he'd surely be promoted if he finishes runner-up and wins next basho, like Terunofuji did.

[Amamaniac 2,079]

14 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

Mitakeumi must pray for Takayasu to slip up to give him a chance

IMHO, Mitakeumi shelved his yusho hopes on day 12.  He had had a wealth of good fortune last tournament, and recorded his third Top Division championship.  He is definitely aware that fellow half-Filipino Takayasu is fighting well this tournament and has a legitimate shot at his first Top Division championship (i.e., probably his "last" shot).  I am convinced that Mitakeumi did not bring his A-game sumo to the ring that day, subconsciously wanting to keep Takayasu's dream alive.  And then today, against Takayasu's main rival, Wakatakakage, Mitakeumi was firing on all pistons to make sure that Wakatakakage would drop one win back, thereby boosting Takayasu's chances.

Against Takakeisho, however, Takayasu had to rely on himself.  The strategy worked like a charm: find a way to stay in the bout for 10+ seconds, and then get a belt grip and let his yotsuzumo speak for itself.

Whatever really happened, Takayasu owes Mitakeumi at least two beers.  And if he ends up winning this thing, he will probably need to name his next child after Mitakeumi! 

Edited March 25, 2022 by Amamaniac

[Yamanashi 3,820]

1 hour ago, Amamaniac said:

And if he ends up winning this thing, he will probably need to name his next child after Mitakeumi! 

Takayasu Hisachi – not bad; it sounds like a future sekitori.

[Reonito 1,408]

12 hours ago, Rocks said:

Speaking of which it's garbage Takayasu, an M7 , has to face all 3 Ozeki even if he's leading. With him likely to face Abi Day 15 he's fought a Sanyaku schedule which is a lot to ask from an M7 just because he's leading and the Yokozuna dropped out. 

I'd argue exactly the opposite—it's garbage when a maegashira takes the yusho with minimal san'yaku opposition, like Tokushoryu did.

[Rocks 1,808]

1 minute ago, Reonito said:

I'd argue exactly the opposite—it's garbage when a maegashira takes the yusho with minimal san'yaku opposition, like Tokushoryu did.

I wouldn't call that good but not really a comparison. if Takayasu faces Abi Day 15 the only Sanyaku he hasn't faced is Takanosho and they may have put Takaysu against him had he not been terrible this basho. Takayasu would have the sanyaku schedule of a Yokozuna. No other sanyaku has that because at the very least they would not meet one member of the sanyaku doing well, themselves.  The only saving grace is he didn't have to face the joi. There isn't really any way to call that fair IMO. It shouldn't be easy for a maegashira to grab the yusho, but it shouldn't be second week Yokozuna level either. Even the joi don't face this when they win a yusho  having faced that schedule in the first week with less pressure. 

[Thorbjarn 214]

15 hours ago, Rocks said:

 Mitakeumi handled Wakatakakage well as I thought he would. Never a good matchup of styles for Wakatakakage expecially when Mitakeumi is even a little bit motivated.  

It's kind of funny how Takayasu, Wakatakakage and Mitakeumi split the head to head to head with one dominant Yoriki win each, all of them looking very well. 

I second those highly entertained by the finish of the Ura vs Meisei bout. Meisei looked totally flummoxed here and it was hilarious.

@Rocks

You are right about Takayasu's schedule, I'm sure the fact that the association considers him under ranked might play a huge part. The only thing good about this is that there is no asterisk next to Takayasu's good performance. Personally, I think every possible winner is a good one. Two fresh faces, one new Ozeki and a great veteran who might have his last shot at Yusho glory... Count me in! Hyped for the two final days! 

Edited March 26, 2022 by Thorbjarn