Nagoya 2022

[Kaninoyama 1,711]

Shodai the Unstoppable!

[Seiyashi 4,072]

If we ever get #74 Shōdai we know who to blame (hint hint #69).

The slo-mo even has Shōdai flick his mage back in a "bitch, I'm fabulous" sort of manner.

Edited July 19, 2022 by Seiyashi

[Taliesin 68]

Is he just playing with us all... this is not Shoudai...

[Hankegami 439]

Just now, Seiyashi said:

If we ever get #74 Shōdai we know who to blame (hint hint #69).

Just think about it. The Japs getting a Japanese Yokozuna thanks to one of the Mongolians. Something worthy a front seat with pop-corns.

[Seiyashi 4,072]

1 minute ago, Hankegami said:

5 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

If we ever get #74 Shōdai we know who to blame (hint hint #69).

Just think about it. The Japs getting a Japanese Yokozuna thanks to one of the Mongolians. Something worthy a front seat with pop-corns.

I don't think the fun in that scenario runs that deep (or along racial lines) - it's just the juxtaposition of the absolutely hapless nature of most of Shōdai's ōzeki tenure versus the possibility of him suddenly going on a rampage thanks to a simple hint.

Also, Sadanoumi clearly out of his depth this high up the banzuke. MK for him and KK for Terunofuji. With Nishikifuji and Kotonowaka falling out of the lead, the arasoi is shaping up, although there's a whole motley crew at day 6 that might still be able to capitalise. Shōdai might even be able to force playoffs by eliminating Terunofuji and Takakeishō, if he carries on at this rate.

[Akinomaki 40,038]

Miyagino in the end confirmed that he'll stay in the NSK

[Seiyashi 4,072]

3 minutes ago, Akinomaki said:

Miyagino in the end confirmed that he'll stay in the NSK

So going for sanyō and a kabu swap with Magaki?

[Akinomaki 40,038]

Just now, Seiyashi said:

So going for sanyō and a kabu swap with Magaki?

Sanyo of course, the swap likely - there was no hint about that, but I guess the heya will stay the same, same name, same oyakata instructing, just under different names and positions.

[Hankegami 439]

28 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

I don't think the fun in that scenario runs that deep (or along racial lines) - it's just the juxtaposition of the absolutely hapless nature of most of Shōdai's ōzeki tenure versus the possibility of him suddenly going on a rampage thanks to a simple hint.

Also, Sadanoumi clearly out of his depth this high up the banzuke. MK for him and KK for Terunofuji. With Nishikifuji and Kotonowaka falling out of the lead, the arasoi is shaping up, although there's a whole motley crew at day 6 that might still be able to capitalise. Shōdai might even be able to force playoffs by eliminating Terunofuji and Takakeishō, if he carries on at this rate.

Shodai winning a yusho with 11-4 would be the ultimate trolling. You are right I was a bit overly nasty with the Japanese there. That's probably a combination of what the NSK pretended from Magaki (no ichidai, and contract) and my recent reading of the "Hinomaru Sumo" manga where the era of the three Mongolian Yokozuna (put in an alternative reality but the reference was totally clear) was defined as "boring". The reason why it was called boring was rather evident within the context. It was awkward to find a similar affirmation in a popular publication.

Anyway, let's put my antics aside. Kotonowaka dropped one against Hoshoryu as expected, so the front runners now include a curious lineup made up of Terunofuji, Ichinojo, Tobizaru, and Nishikigi. Yesterday I forgot about Nishikifuji who however lost yesterday to join the runner-up group alongside Takakeisho and Kotonowaka.

Tomorrow our heroes, tailed by Chaos Lord Shodai and his horde of third places, are expected to face a new though day (what else?). Ichinojo will face Abi (4-2), while Tobizaru will have to defend his front-runner position aganst Takakeisho (1-2). The absences of Mitakeumi and Takayasu are clearly forcing the Committee to put M6 as joy, and in fact Aoiyama will face Wakatakakage tomorrow. Last, Terunofuji got Hoshoryu for dinner (7-0).

I do not expect strong changes tomorrow, aside from Tobizaru losing to a quite fit Takakeisho and joining the runner-up fray. Nishikigi is vs. Myogiryu (7-5) and could either win or lose.

Edited July 19, 2022 by Hankegami

[Seiyashi 4,072]

24 minutes ago, Hankegami said:

Shodai winning a yusho with 11-4 would be the ultimate trolling

Now that you've mentioned it, I recall a thread a while back about the sufficiency of various yūshō honours for promotion, and one thing was that back to back Y was supposed to be an autopromote. How's the forum feel about back to back 11-4Y? Honestly, quite a terrible result, and the NSK/YDC would probably find a way to push back against it, but let's say you had 11-4Y and 14-1Y - is that more or less clear cut?

Edited July 19, 2022 by Seiyashi

[Hankegami 439]

Just now, Seiyashi said:

Now that you've mentioned it, I recall a thread a while back about the sufficiency of various yūshō honours for promotion, and one thing was that back to back Y was supposed to be an autopromote. How's the forum feel about back to back 11-4Y? Honestly, quite a terrible result, and the NSK/YDC would probably find a way to push back against it, but let's say you had 11-4Y and 14-1Y - is that more or less clear cut?

11-4Y is very weak. I think that such a scenario would trigger a "Konishiki treatment" (one more basho), and deservedly so. IMHO that only a zensho as second yusho (11-4 & 15-0) would force the YDC's hand. There are also additional boxes to check. Did this 11-4Y involve wins against Ozeki and Yokozuna, or was done in a Yokozuna-less basho? In the former case perhaps they would give it a pass, in the latter likely not.

The main point is that the back-to-back yusho is a rule made to prove that the candidate is a regular champion. If the first yusho was a total fluke there are good reasons for demanding better results. Let's say, a 11-4Y, 14-1Y, 12-3J would work for me.

[Koorifuu 922]

That was proper ozeki sumo, wasn't it.

 

Chiyotairyu wildly tugging Tobizaru's knot for a good two seconds, and still got pushed out.

[RabidJohn 1,721]

14 minutes ago, Koorifuu said:

Chiyotairyu wildly tugging Tobizaru's knot for a good two seconds, and still got pushed out.

I got the impression he decided to walk backwards rather than get a hansoku.

I know we've noticed Nishikigi doing rather well, but his KK being the first in the division still took me by surprise.

And yeah, the yobidashi saying something like "Dude, you want that envelope, don't you?" to Tsurugisho was very amusing.

I was struck by the notion that I was watching the early days of a long rivalry between Hoshoryu and Kotonowaka; the Akebono-Takanohana type.

Talk of yokozuna Shodai seems wildly premature for a 6-4 kadoban ozeki...

[Jakusotsu 5,873]

2 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

Now that you've mentioned it, I recall a thread a while back about the sufficiency of various yūshō honours for promotion, and one thing was that back to back Y was supposed to be an autopromote. How's the forum feel about back to back 11-4Y? Honestly, quite a terrible result, and the NSK/YDC would probably find a way to push back against it, but let's say you had 11-4Y and 14-1Y - is that more or less clear cut?

I'd say even 11-4Y and 11-4Y will be enough for promotion. You'd proven that you're the best of the crop, and that's all what being Yokozuna is about.

[Seiyashi 4,072]

2 hours ago, RabidJohn said:

I was struck by the notion that I was watching the early days of a long rivalry between Hoshoryu and Kotonowaka; the Akebono-Takanohana type.

Talk of yokozuna Shodai seems wildly premature for a 6-4 kadoban ozeki...

I definitely got that impression as well.

I agree it's premature, but it speaks volumes as to how night and day Shōdai's sumo has looked in the first half of the basho vs now.

[Hankegami 439]

2 hours ago, RabidJohn said:

Talk of yokozuna Shodai seems wildly premature for a 6-4 kadoban ozeki...

11 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

I agree it's premature, but it speaks volumes as to how night and day Shōdai's sumo has looked in the first half of the basho vs now.

I'm pretty sure we were all joking about it. However, Haru & Nagoya week 2 Shodai is basically a winning machine. I told that much in Haru as well. Were Shodai able to put the same game for both weeks... seriously, who could stop him? The problem is that he shows up only when he's in serious danger of demotion. I don't know if he's just hanging there or what else, but he's surely not gambarizing at all.

[Churaumi 728]

3 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

 11-4Y and 14-1Y - is that more or less clear cut?

If that's the state of competition at the time, I'd promote. If it were two highly contested 11-4 records, that is. If it's a period where there is just so much talent that is so well matched, then 11-4 might be a great record. But we don't have that now. We have a declining yokozuna, two ozeki worth of wins split among three ozeki, and a rotation of good but mostly uninspiring rikishi through komusubi and sekiwake spots. 14-1 or 13-2, at least for one of the basho, should be doable for someone with yokozuna potential.

[Yamanashi 3,774]

7 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

The crowd had a collective laugh when Tsurugishō forgot to collect his kenshō. He did the tegatana, then immediately got up and stepped off the dohyō; he had to be called back to receive... a single envelope.

Two basho in Juryo and his brain turns to mush!

[Yamanashi 3,774]

6 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

If we ever get #74 Shōdai we know who to blame (hint hint #69).

What if the advice was "why don't you try winning?"

[lackmaker 434]

5 hours ago, RabidJohn said:

Talk of yokozuna Shodai seems wildly premature for a 6-4 kadoban ozeki...

It's the kind of speculation you get during a lacklustre tournament that lacks compelling storylines.

[Fukuyamada 42]

I just hope the covid withdrawals don't continue.

[robnplunder 975]

3 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

I agree it's premature, but it speaks volumes as to how night and day Shōdai's sumo has looked in the first half of the basho vs now.

IMO, Shodai is a solid Ozeki if he can fix or overcome his poor Tachihai.  Yeah, I am talking about his head-high-walk-in starts.  Too many of his opponents exploit that.   Until Shodai does something about it, a talk of his having a Yokozuna potential is just that.  

[Koorifuu 922]

48 minutes ago, robnplunder said:

IMO, Shodai is a solid Ozeki if he can fix or overcome his poor Tachihai.  Yeah, I am talking about his head-high-walk-in starts.  Too many of his opponents exploit that.   Until Shodai does something about it, a talk of his having a Yokozuna potential is just that.  

I feel like it's been fiercer than ever - wrote that comment on day 4ish and that impression has only strengthened since then.

[maglor 122]

9 hours ago, Hankegami said:

Yes, I know. That's why I added I hope he will stick around for some more time. About the general trend on debuts, I suspect that's because new rikishi are, in fact, new. Few know them already and they can A) Have a great basho because no one have figured them out yet B) Take slaps left and right because THEY do not know their new adversaries yet.

About Chiyosakae himself, I suspect A. He started out disastrously against fellow newcomers who know him well from Makushita, and then he went on a 5-0 rampage from day 5 onward.

The other interpretation is that he started off 1-3 against the 4 best guys around him, and then found that the middle of Juryo is a much more fun place to be fighting in than vs Hokuseiho, Kinbozan, and Gonoyama

[Thorbjarn 214]

At this point, I am just convinced Shodai is actually Sumo's best practical joker. That's it.