Haru 2022 Discussion Thread (SPOILERS!)

[Tigerboy1966 1,453]

Cautious but effective anti-trickster sumo from Mitakeumi today.

Shodai looks mentally "gone".

[robnplunder 975]

I thoguht I'd never say this but Ichinojo had a good strategic match against Takakeisho.   It was over when Ichinojo grabbed Takakeisho's mawashi.

Edited March 14, 2022 by robnplunder

[Seiyashi 4,106]

Not a good day for the sanyaku, generally.

[robnplunder 975]

Good job, Daieisho!   He's one of my favorites although I believe he topped out at Sekiwake.

[Yarimotsu 588]

Well it looks like the knee is still as terminal as some thought. Huge tachiai power, but if you can dodge the right way then the yokozuna is done. 

Also I thought it was a sleepy day 2 from hoshoryu.

[Kaninoyama 1,808]

Don't know if the knee is still bothering Ternofuji, but once again a nimble oshi wrestler gives him trouble.

Takaheisho is becoming nearly defenseless once he allows his opponent to grab his belt. 

Good to see Abi back on track on Day 2. 

[Akinomaki 40,677]

Now we have the traditional stormy Haru basho. Day 1 seemed like we get a boring basho, but day 2 kindles the excitement. A 2nd yusho for Daieisho would be the appropriate outcome.

Edited March 14, 2022 by Akinomaki

[Amamaniac 2,079]

18 minutes ago, robnplunder said:

I thoguht I'd never say this but Ichinojo had a good strategic match against Takakeisho.   It was over when Ichinojo grabbed Takakeisho's mawashi.

Everyone knows that Takakeisho has no belt game (despite all efforts to develop one).  Even Takakeisho tacitly admitted he has no belt game, as he all but gave up when he realised Ichi had him tied up...

[Swami 245]

17 minutes ago, Yarimotsu said:

Well it looks like the knee is still as terminal as some thought. Huge tachiai power, but if you can dodge the right way then the yokozuna is done. 

Also I thought it was a sleepy day 2 from hoshoryu.

I'd be surprised if Terunofuji is active this time next year, he still has considerable power, but the knees are not going to get much better the longer he competes.

Swami

[Amamaniac 2,079]

I'm not convinced that Terunofuji loss today was a sign that his knee is acting up (while I won't dismiss the possibility).  What I saw was Daieisho expecting Teru to go for his belt (almost straight out of the tachiai), and skilfully deflecting Teru's right arm.  The trick seems to be keeping the Yokozuna away from one's mawashi.  When there is any separation, Terunofuji is vulnerable.  Daieisho is showing that he belongs in Sanyaku and why he deserved his championship in January 2021.

[Seiyashi 4,106]

4 minutes ago, Swami said:

23 minutes ago, Yarimotsu said:

Well it looks like the knee is still as terminal as some thought. Huge tachiai power, but if you can dodge the right way then the yokozuna is done. 

Also I thought it was a sleepy day 2 from hoshoryu.

I'd be surprised if Terunofuji is active this time next year, he still has considerable power, but the knees are not going to get much better the longer he competes.

Swami

I wonder if, were Terunofuji to take a one-basho break, whether the powers that be would consider that he had earned it. He's completed every basho since he became yokozuna, but I agree and fear he might not be long for the barbershop if his knees go.

[Amamaniac 2,079]

Not sure why many are quick to conclude Terunofuji's days are numbered (as in he won't make it through the current calendar year).  Yesterday, he defeated Hoshoryu quite handily.  Daieisho has consistently given Teru the most trouble, so the loss today was half expected: a combination of skilful tactics by Daieisho and Daieisho being in Terunofuji's head (as a dangerous foe).

The look that Teru gave Isegahama Oyakata (who was sitting ringside as the head judge) right after the loss was priceless, though.  It was as if he were saying, "What am I supposed to do about that?"

Edited March 14, 2022 by Amamaniac

[Eikokurai 3,437]

Working from home right now because of a mix of Covid and new office, but crazy busy today, so I forgot to tune in for the sumo. I see Shodai lost yet again, Takakeisho dropped one and Terunofuji too. Look forward to seeing that one later.

[Taliesin 68]

Second sound win for Takayasu as well. Maybe it's finally his basho. Wakatakakage looks amazing right now.

[RabidJohn 1,829]

I've said it before, but if Chiyoshoma fought like that every day he'd be one of the best-loved rikishi instead of one of the most disliked...

And as much as I appreciate a good belt battle (and think his shitatehineri are sublime), I love it when Ishiura does a full power oshi move like that.

Early days yet, but Takayasu is looking more like his old self this time.

It's something of a level playing field up at the top in terms of all three ozeki having had the 'rona since last time, but Shodai looks the least well recovered - and it's not as if he was looking good previously.
I thought Takakeisho was very sensible in giving up once Ichinojo had a good hold of his mawashi; it's resisting situations like that that's got him injured previously.
Mitakeumi is coming across as trying not to lose, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it leaves me wondering how recovered he is. Still, if he can keep on taking advantage of the situation, he could be wearing a rope in September July...

Daieisho beating Terunofuji isn't something I read too much into; we know he's dangerous. That said, getting beaten by okuridashi is not a good look for a yokozuna.

Edited March 14, 2022 by RabidJohn

[Rocks 1,809]

Yeah, I don't think Terunofuji looks injured. At least any worse than usual. The way to beat him is get him tuned around and Daiesho did that. The problem is getting him turned around and off balance. Issue with Talalleisho is not whether his belt game is bad. It is. It's that he didn't move Ichinojo and inch at the tach-ai. If Takakeisho can't push big guys he's going to struggle for that KK. Abi bounced back well. Mitakeumi but still looks weak to me. We will see how his stamina holds up.

[Yarimotsu 588]

2 hours ago, Amamaniac said:

Not sure why many are quick to conclude Terunofuji's days are numbered (as in he won't make it through the current calendar year)

Speaking for myself, I didn't mean to imply that Terunofuji is unable to compete with his knee so weak to oblique attacks. He should still easily KK unless he becomes more injured. But to say he is as good condition as 2 basho ago would seem an impossible proposition.

[Swami 245]

3 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

I wonder if, were Terunofuji to take a one-basho break, whether the powers that be would consider that he had earned it. He's completed every basho since he became yokozuna, but I agree and fear he might not be long for the barbershop if his knees go.

He has been quite fortunate in that others haven't really copied Daieisho's tactics against him for the most part.  I would be worried thought at some point the knees do start to cry "enough".

 

Swami

[Seiyashi 4,106]

In the meantime, I haven't kept up with Juryo as much, so it was a pleasant surprise to see Enho on the fighting spirit polls for two days in a row. Checking his bouts courtesy of Natto's digests, he seems to have seriously mixed up his style, going for frontal upright attacks with some tsuppari thrown in.

More interestingly, his opponents have all gone matta against him, with Hakuyozan delivering a shove that sent Enho slowly off the dohyo the first time. That earned him a stinkeye from Isegahama.

[dingo 1,272]

Endo's throws are a beauty to behold almost every time. 

[Chiyotasuke 300]

Today in juryo division, Kaisho beat Kaisei after about a minute of good ai-yotsu stall.

The reason I mention them is that they were heyamates for a short time in Tomozuna beya before Kaio branched out and took Kaisho with him. Must be a rare occurence that someone faces his former heyamate (Akinomaki predicted a Tomokaze x Yago match might happen too)

Edit: And oh yeah, it must've happened more regularly in lower divisions, now that I think of it

Edited March 14, 2022 by Chiyotasuke

[Millwood 41]

Any news about Ōnaruto Oyakata (former Dejima) who one of my favorites back then.  Akua fell on him.

[Iwayama 25]

Still early days but I'm really liking Kiribayama's sumo so far. Yutakayama also looks very dialed in. I wonder what it's been like for him watching his Shodai deal with long covid. Perhaps the Ozeki's struggles have inspired him to fight harder, or he feels the pressure of representing Tokitsukaze-beya.

[Yokozuna Hattorizakura 153]

Takayasu v Sadanoumi yesterday was the first time they met in 6 years. Very unsual for 2 guys who have been in the same division all that time. Granted, Taka was ozeki most of that time, but even after he dropped they somehow never met.

 

[Seiyashi 4,106]

28 minutes ago, Yokozuna Hattorizakura said:

Takayasu v Sadanoumi yesterday was the first time they met in 6 years. Very unsual for 2 guys who have been in the same division all that time. Granted, Taka was ozeki most of that time, but even after he dropped they somehow never met.

 

Sadanoumi was always lower makuuchi, so Takayasu took a while to drop there. And when he did, Sadanoumi had dropped to juryo by then.