Nagoya 2022

[Seiyashi 4,108]

1 minute ago, Jakusotsu said:

43 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

A relatively rare sight: Kaisei vs Kaishō, both sharing the same first kanji.

Not only that, they were heya-mates once.

This would have been presumably before the Asakayama-beya branch off.

[Athenayama 1,081]

That was epic by Kotoeko ! !

[Hankegami 537]

15 minutes ago, Athenayama said:

That was epic by Kotoeko ! !

I'd say an epic battle from them both. I was totally sure that Tochi's knee would have given up halfway, yet he almost managed to reverse the situation up until the last throw. I however concur that the greatest praise - and the win - goes to Kotoeko. He really pulled out some insane ballet of a bout.

[Athenayama 1,081]

2 minutes ago, Hankegami said:

I'd say an epic battle from them both. I was totally sure that Tochi's knee would have given up halfway, yet he almost managed to reverse the situation up until the last throw. I however concur that the greatest praise - and the win - goes to Kotoeko. He really pulled out some insane ballet of a bout.

Sure, you're right. I just put more emphasis on Kotoeko because Tochinoshin was leading 6-2 in their H2H until today.

[Akinomaki 40,817]

Izutsu thinks that Ichinojo is now able to make good use of his 210kg - looks like his back can endure that weight. He was up to 227kg once and in the past said that a human is only below 200kg, above that cattle.

Edited July 15, 2022 by Akinomaki

[Kaninoyama 1,818]

Ichinojo is dominating this basho like the "kaibutsu" we thought he would be when he first burst on to the scene and terrorized the Makuuchi ranks. 

[Akinomaki 40,817]

And he made good use of his monster weight

Edited July 15, 2022 by Akinomaki

[Shinobi Steve 146]

Where did this version of Shodai that actually moves forward suddenly come from? Finally something positive.

[Akinomaki 40,817]

Looks like Shodai has better chances to escape kadoban than Mitakeumi, who showed the problems in his right shoulder after the bout.

[Kaninoyama 1,818]

11 minutes ago, Akinomaki said:

Looks like Shodai has better chances to escape kadoban than Mitakeumi, who showed the problems in his right shoulder after the bout.

Was coming to type the exact same thing. 

[Hankegami 537]

56 minutes ago, Akinomaki said:

Looks like Shodai has better chances to escape kadoban than Mitakeumi, who showed the problems in his right shoulder after the bout.

He always had. Mitakeumi is fighting this way because he fundamentally has one only working arm. Shodai is just on perennial vacation from his duties. Call it depression or lack of self-confidence, but to my knowledge he has always been mostly ok physically (he caught COVID several months ago).

Anyway, Day 6 over! There has been a couple pleasant surprises among the lower ranks, especially Daiamami and Onosho having won despite being clearly not in top form. The next big thing was Tochinoshin vs. Kotoeko, but we already spoke about that live. Kotonowaka in my opinion pulled something similar against Takanosho, he seemed almost on his way to be out by uwatenage and instead managed to execute an uwatenage on Takanosho himself. Very good sense of balance and technique from the popular Four Tits.

The big boys did the big boys at least today. Sure, Mitakeumi lost against Ichinojo but everyone pretty much expected that. Tomorrow he's vs. Hoshoryu (3-1) who has shown quite some recklessness this basho. He won a good win against Abi, but I can see Mitakeumi capitalise on the Nephew despite his bad arm. 

Ozeki hopeful Wakatakakage appeared painfully aware he cannot bust any more bouts and turned the tables on difficult customer Kiribayama (3-6 record against him before today). Tomorrow Wakatakakage will face an underwhelming Takanosho (6-7 but 3-0 for our boy in the last three encounters).

Ozeki-not-so-hopeful Shodai won one against poor Daieisho. I actually had a hunch that Shodai could have won against him because of his characteristically high tachi-ai which allowed him to intercept Daieisho's trademark nodo-wa on time. Never say never with this Shodai anyway, so it's still somewhat surprising. Tomorrow he will likely be rammed through by Ichinojo, though. It happens.

About Takakeisho, he's doing well. He didn't fall for Ura's tricks this time and pushed him out. Takakeisho is doing far better than I prevented. Tomorrow he will face Abi (2-4). Difficult match on paper, we'll see how much of this record was because of his neck injury.

Last, the man is back. Terunofuji denied Tamawashi yet another kinboshi and made it clear he wants to go on winning and possibly wait for Ichinojo to drop two bouts on the way. For being a T-Rex, Teru is behaving more like a shark during most bashos, playing catch-up until he can smell blood. Tomorrow he will get Ura for dinner (3-0).

To resume, it still appears much like Ichinojo's basho. His only 5-1 runner-up is Tobizaru, while all the others have at least two bouts to gap. However, with nine days to go everything is still possible. Shodai (12-4) and Abi (4-2) are likely win for this Ichinojo. Trouble might come from the upper maegashira instead. Kotonowaka (1-3), Kiribayama (3-3), Tamawashi (10-9-1), Ura (4-3-1) and possibly even Wakamotoharu (0-1) are all close calls on paper. Takanosho (5-2) and Endo (11-5-1) much less. Nevertheless, they are far more than two, and the likes of Terunofuji, Takakeisho, and Kotonowaka are just waiting for an opening.

Edited July 15, 2022 by Hankegami

[Eikokurai 3,437]

If Ichinojo beats Shodai tomorrow, and he should, he’ll better Daieisho’s championship tournament week one when he opened 7-0 against three Ozeki, two Sekiwake and two Komusubi. Ichinojo replaced a Komusubi with a Yokozuna.

Edited July 15, 2022 by Eikokurai

[Leoben 146]

1 hour ago, Kaninoyama said:

Was coming to type the exact same thing. 

Same here haha. It was the first thing on my mind after watching today's matches.

I've seen a few comments about Mitakeumi being injured and not being able to use one of his arms, and it's apparent watching him fight that this is true, but I don't know if it's only because of his recent injury or if there's a longer-term problem and he's always had issues like this. 

[Gospodin 219]

Why am I not surprised that Kotonowaka can resort to a very good left uwatenage if needed ? 

[RabidJohn 1,858]

I'm getting some sad Kisenosato vibes from Mitakeumi: all that time getting there, then suddenly an injury leaves them with 1 working arm. 
Won't be terminal for Mitakeumi like it was for Kisenosato, as the former can drop down the ranks, but still...
Sumo can be so bloody cruel.

I'm not going to tar the whole of makuuchi with the same mediocrity brush currently afflicting the upper sanyaku.
Further down there was some epic sumo from the likes of Kotoeko (who is always fun to watch), Tobizaru, Kotonowaka and Wakatakakage, to name just a few.

I don't know if it's the lighting in Nagoya, but I'm really noticing the mizu patches by the salt baskets more than usual. They really want their feet wet!

[Amamaniac 2,079]

40 minutes ago, Leoben said:

I've seen a few comments about Mitakeumi being injured and not being able to use one of his arms, and it's apparent watching him fight that this is true, but I don't know if it's only because of his recent injury or if there's a longer-term problem and he's always had issues like this. 

Three Top Division championships suggest that his current "issue" has not always been an issue.  

Mitakeumi has traditionally blown hot and cold.  But that seemed to be more of a mental issue rather than a physical one.  

It is worth noting that he has only pulled out of a tournament once (i.e., back in January of 2019), and on that occasion he returned to action after only four days, coming back to upset ... Yokozuna Hakuho!  All that to say, he doesn't give up easily, he's willing to fight injured, and even when injured he is dangerous.  

Given the situation he is in now (i.e., kadoban), there is huge pressure on him to try and get his status saving KK.  Sadly, the likelihood of him getting 8 wins and then being able to withdraw are looking slimmer than Shonanzakura!

Honestly speaking, I really feel for Mitakeumi.

Edited July 15, 2022 by Amamaniac

[Seiyashi 4,108]

11 minutes ago, Amamaniac said:

It is worth noting that he has only pulled out of a tournament once (i.e., back in January of 2019), and on that occasion he returned to action after only four days, coming back to upset ... Yokozuna Hakuho!  All that to say, he doesn't give up easily, he's willing to fight injured, and even when injured he is dangerous.  

Also worth pointing out he got a controversial Kantō-shō on that occasion, with his proponents pointing to the fact that he came back after injury to snag a KK. Clearly he learnt all the wrong lessons from that incident, although sadly I'm not sure his detractors had in mind discouraging that kind of reckless behaviour (as opposed to giving it to someone who had the "luck" to remain uninjured or the stoicism to not show it).

Edited July 15, 2022 by Seiyashi

[Koorifuu 1,020]

A couple of quick observations from today.

- The swift way Enho evaded Akua's leg hook was impressive. I can't imagine many rikishi have tried kakenage'ing the little guy, not even in keiko... So my guess is that old muscle memory from judo times kicked in.

- The carousel Kotoeko put Tochinoshin made ME dizzy, can't imagine the brawlers themselves. 

- Say what you will about Shodai but he's finally 100% adapted his style to compensate for his depleted endurance. When was he ever this aggressive on tachi-ais?

- I can't rate Shimanoumi as a person and mentor, but I can definitely hope he's much better at it than he is on the dohyo. He's forgettable and frankly mediocre at the level he's been, even when he wins... his 'banzuke luck' is getting to Kimurayama levels, where it seems they're actively softening his falls so he builds up his basho numbers and that helps validate him as the shisho he will become.

Edited July 15, 2022 by Koorifuu
Typo

[Amamaniac 2,079]

54 minutes ago, Koorifuu said:

- I can't rate Shimanoumi as a person and mentor, but I can definitely hope he's much better at it than he is on the dohyo. He's forgettable and frankly mediocre at the level he's been, even when he wins... his 'banzuke luck' is getting to Kimurayama levels, where it seems they're actively softening his falls so he builds up his basho numbers and that helps validate him as the shisho he will become.

Not that I am fan of his, but we need to keep in mind that he got married very recently, which can sometimes be a big distraction (I'm talking about you, Takakeisho) or at times a big support (think Okinoumi/Nishikigi, although I am sure someone will choose to debate that).  

Furthermore, is it just me, or does Shimanoumi appear to have lost weight?  We'll have to "wait" until September for the "weight" update!

[lackmaker 438]

1 hour ago, Amamaniac said:

Mitakeumi has traditionally blown hot and cold.  But that seemed to be more of a mental issue rather than a physical one

My, admittedly poor, memory was that he was a rather consistent performer.

[Seiyashi 4,108]

8 minutes ago, lackmaker said:

1 hour ago, Amamaniac said:

Mitakeumi has traditionally blown hot and cold.  But that seemed to be more of a mental issue rather than a physical one

My, admittedly poor, memory was that he was a rather consistent performer.

Hot and cold only by the standards of someone looking like the next ōzeki and whiffing it; consistent by the standard that even if he goes MK now, it'll only be his second consecutive MK in the joi or something. Had he been promoted anytime after his last back to back MK he'd still be an ōzeki up till now.

[Seiyashi 4,108]

32 minutes ago, Amamaniac said:

1 hour ago, Koorifuu said:

- I can't rate Shimanoumi as a person and mentor, but I can definitely hope he's much better at it than he is on the dohyo. He's forgettable and frankly mediocre at the level he's been, even when he wins... his 'banzuke luck' is getting to Kimurayama levels, where it seems they're actively softening his falls so he builds up his basho numbers and that helps validate him as the shisho he will become.

Not that I am fan of his, but we need to keep in mind that he got married very recently, which can sometimes be a big distraction (I'm talking about you, Takakeisho) or at times a big support (think Okinoumi/Nishikigi, although I am sure someone will choose to debate that).  

Furthermore, is it just me, or does Shimanoumi appear to have lost weight?  We'll have to "wait" until September for the "weight" update!

Depends on whether the rikishi in question chooses to announce it? I don't know the formalities and traditions surrounding Japanese marriage in detail, but I remember Asashōryū's page saying that the had a relatively poor basho after his marriage as "the hectic social rounds that follow a Japanese wedding prevented him from doing any training" or words to that effect.

Certainly sounds like that happened in this case. And it might also have happened in Endō's case for one of his poor basho although we won't know which one since he got married on the QT.

[Yarimotsu 595]

Akua... does he have a coach? Does he listen to any advice given? Are people too scared to give him advice lest he attempt yet another kakenage, right then and there in the spur of the moment?

Having just now looked up how Tatsunami oyakata got to the position he is in now, I can somewhat understand a lack of proper guidance in that stable. But seriously, Akua: You're skilled and strong enough to stay in the sekitori ranks. Just have some sumo sense at all, will you? Please!

[Akinomaki 40,817]

8 hours ago, Amamaniac said:

Looks like Nishikifuji got the nod to serve as Terunofuji's dew sweeper.  With Terutsuyoshi's terrible 1-4 record, little wonder why the Yokozuna didn't want him around ... 

Apparently it was decided on day 1 that Nishikifuji would replace Terutsuyoshi - he did it after the jobansen 序盤戦, the first 5 days. The shisho said he had always been keen to do it. http://www.sanspo.com/article/20220715-7T6DUCFWCVP67AD7G5HXFVFFZM/

The question remains if he'll do it only for the 5 days of the chuubansen 中盤戦 and then again a change for the shuubansen 終盤戦.

 

[nelimw 80]

18 hours ago, Kaninoyama said:

There's always an announcement against the practice, even while dozens are flying into the dohyo. 

Like an announcement on the intercoms? I haven't noticed in the broadcasts.