Natsu 2022 Discussion Thread - here be spoilers

[Asojima 2,873]

18 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

More like Takarafuji begged off being an attendant for the umpteenth time, seeing as how he's also been an attendant for Hakuho in the past (and probably Harumafuji too?). Might as well spread around the "honour" a little. I don't think having a nice matched pair of mini attendants was a primary motivation for picking Midorifuji, although it's certainly a nice touch to the dohyo iri. 

Takarafuji's 0-3 (now 0-4) record may have been a contributing factor.  (Speculation ).  He may not be at 100% physically.

Edited May 11, 2022 by Asojima

[Benihana 1,913]

9 hours ago, since_94 said:

Maybe Hakuho started the trend choosing Ishiura and Enho. Makes the Yokozuna appear that much more imposing 

Aaah, the good old trimming the bush to make the tree look taller.

 

23 hours ago, Katooshu said:

I don't mean to body shame any rikishi, but I am fascinated by his body. It's like he doesn't have typical moobs, but actually has 2 distinct sets of breasts, one above the other. It's trippy. 

Now take that picture an paint some extra nipples on.

 

On a serious note:

It's pathetic we almost celebrate a day on which all the Y/Os win. At least some lower rankers try to entertain us.

Edited May 11, 2022 by Benihana

[Benevolance 2,483]

On the bright side, the lack of upper talent means that when I inevitably fall asleep halfway through makuchi (after midnight local time), I don't miss anything important. 

[Sumo Spiffy 544]

I don't know the history of these things very well, but is this the kind of thing Midorifuji might be asked to do as a congratulations for making it back to makuuchi, but just this one time?

[Asojima 2,873]

42 minutes ago, Sumo Spiffy said:

I don't know the history of these things very well, but is this the kind of thing Midorifuji might be asked to do as a congratulations for making it back to makuuchi, but just this one time?

Attendants shift when one of the regulars is scheduled to fight the yokozuna or the other attendant.  There are other reasons that are often unknown to the public.  One may be simply to have an experienced backup.  The attendants are normally maegashira of the yokozuna's ichimon, often, but not necessarily, his heya mates.

 

[Seiyashi 4,072]

1 hour ago, Sumo Spiffy said:

I don't know the history of these things very well, but is this the kind of thing Midorifuji might be asked to do as a congratulations for making it back to makuuchi, but just this one time?

It's not impossible, but if it were, I'd see Midorifuji as the one asking to be allowed to do it as a privilege, rather than he being asked to do it as a "reward". Because he is so low-ranked, he is put to a considerable amount of trouble to rush from his own dohyō-iri to the yokozuna dohyō-iri, and then to change to his shimekomi for his bout. It would be a very weird kind of congratulations, hazing almost, to force him to potentially speed up or disrupt his own preparations for his bout (and indirectly increase the chances of his dropping to jūryō), so I doubt it's the correct explanation for the choice of Midorifuji over Takarafuji.

Either Midorifuji asked to do it despite the inconvenience to himself, or he was prevailed upon to do it, whether or not to spare Takarafuji (the only other option for the dohyō-iri, as the four of them are the only Tatsunami-Isegahama ichimon rikishi active in makuuchi and not kyūjo (Ishiura is the fifth, and Kaisei would have been an option had he not been in juryō for a while now, and likely to retire soon going by his record this basho)). Or it could also be a combination of reasons. If it's for the backup reason as Asojima suggests, that and Takarafuji's slowly but steadily worsening sumō may hint that Takarafuji's fighting days are numbered.

7 minutes ago, Asojima said:

Attendants shift when one of the regulars is scheduled to fight the yokozuna or the other attendant.  There are other reasons that are often unknown to the public.  One may be simply to have an experienced backup.  The attendants are normally maegashira of the yokozuna's ichimon, often, but not necessarily, his heya mates.

The last time this happened was when Kakuryū was still active; Shōdai and Nishikigi were his regular attendants but one of the two was usually ranked high enough that there would be days the attendants had to be switched. Hakuhō was usually attended by some combination of Terutsuyoshi, Ishiura, Enhō, Kaisei, and Takarafuji, and the non-Miyagino men were usually ranked low enough to not wind up fighting Hakuho (Takarafuji being a probable exception). 

Edited May 12, 2022 by Seiyashi

[sumojoann 1,262]

On 10/05/2022 at 18:05, Katooshu said:

I don't mean to body shame any rikishi, but I am fascinated by his body. It's like he doesn't have typical moobs, but actually has 2 distinct sets of breasts, one above the other. It's trippy. 

Around our house, Kotonowaka is known as "Quad-tits."

[WAKATAKE 2,644]

Terunofuji seems to be holding his own after that rocky start, an early prediction says he's the front runner to take the yusho even after trailing 3-1 to the 4-0

[Jakusotsu 5,874]

Exciting matchup ahead with Hokuseiho vs. Kinbozan.

My money is on Kinbozan whom I expect to rise much faster than the former.

(...crows for dinner? why not )

[jsolo 106]

 

 

MAY 2022 (NATSU) BASHO LINKS AND STATISTICS BLOG--DAY 4

Links to 8 archived Makuuchi Day 4 videos , Jonokuchi, and several maezumo matches,  over 180 photos, match articles, selected Rikishi quotes, match results, Kimarite and time statistics with comparisons to the March Basho. I have added match results and Kimarite statistics for Juryo. Also Top Rank performance, Maegashira v san'yaku, and Top Ten performance in Juryo. 

Have added Time of Match statistics for Juryo (no official source, so I used a stop watch app). Probably not exact, but close. Anyway, if anyone knows of an "official" source available in English please let me know. Hope it increases your enjoyment of the Basho. 

 

Enjoy

[dingo 1,212]

The thing is Terunofuji's physical condition is simply unpredictable at this point. He might go 14-1 and get the yusho, or he might lose the next 3 bouts and go kyujo. There's no way of knowing. 

[Eikokurai 3,437]

Exciting utchari attempt by Ura on Wakamotoharu. Came to nothing though! Torinaoshi.

Edited May 12, 2022 by Eikokurai

[Eikokurai 3,437]

Difficult second album for Wakatakakage. No Ozeki promotion unless he wins out. Cheap win by Hoshoryu with the henka. Why's he doing that on day 5 against a rikishi his own size? Lame.

Brother Wakamotoharu for the yusho this time though? That'd be fun.

Edited May 12, 2022 by Eikokurai

[Eikokurai 3,437]

Shodai goes back to being Shodai after a one-day blip. 1-4. Same as last time. Kadoban in July?

[Amamaniac 2,078]

3 hours ago, Jakusotsu said:

Exciting matchup ahead with Hokuseiho vs. Kinbozan.

My money is on Kinbozan whom I expect to rise much faster than the former.

(...crows for dinner? why not )

Great hedging there!  

Kazakhstani man Kinbozan looks like he's got a bright future, but today Hokuseiho managed to out muscle him, with inferior sumo, I might add.

[Amamaniac 2,078]

We're five days into the tournament (a third of the way through) and the two top men in the championship race are M15w Ichiyamamoto and M11e Aoiyama!  What the ...?  Guess who is fighting whom tomorrow?  By design, the two-leader showdown will eliminate one of the front runners, but one of the two will still be leading after day 6!

[Hankegami 439]

Wonderful, unpredictable day today. Managed to follow only the san'yaku bouts atm unfortunately.

Hoshoryu was not amusing. He's a Komusubi and henka'd a Sekiwake of his same frame and weight. It's an implicit recognition he was going to lose otherwise. I understand he has yet to face Shodai and Terunofuji, but it's also true he is far from being in danger of MK. I can only guess he is aiming for a Sekiwake spot and wants to win against both the titleholders so to make up a case for being promoted. But tomorrow he will face a hell-bent Daiesho. Good luck, Nephew.

Still in the same bout, Wakatakakage does not look good score-wise. Three losses and Terunofuji yet to be faced. He must win the winnable and point to a 10-5 or higher only to keep its Ozeki bid alive. Tomorrow he has Takayasu, another guy desperately looking for a win. So far from the good 'ole time of the Haru basho ().

The Three Ozeki (something like the Three Little Pigs) almost in synchrony today. Mitakeumi got Tamawashi'd and Shodai got Endo'd. Shodai had a tachi'ai so high one might believe he's a freakin' basketball player. I don't know why he insists going so high, but he really should stay lower. Could be back issues? Takakeisho plays the Wise Little Pig this time around, winning his slap-fest against Onosho. The Hamster is clearly lacking his trademark, explosive tachi'ai but it's a good thing he has a Plan B.

Terunofuji basically ran over poor Hokutofuji and might even receive a fine for dangerous driving here  I'd say that the Yokozuna is overall ok at this point, clearly running for the yusho. Tomorrow Terunofuji vs. Tamawashi will tell us who will play catch up with the REAL favorites of this basho: the winner of the death-match Aoiyama vs. Ichiyamamoto, both openly pointing to a zensho-yusho 

Edited May 12, 2022 by Hankegami

[RabidJohn 1,722]

Yeah, Tamawashi overcame his awful h2h with Mitakeumi. Called it...

Something else I also called a couple of years ago was Kotonowaka's strange double moobs, which some are only just picking up on it seems.
Kinda reminds me of Yarna from Jabba's Palace:
 

Edited May 12, 2022 by RabidJohn

[Jakusotsu 5,874]

2 hours ago, Hankegami said:

Mitakeumi got Tamawashi'd

In a very weird kind of way. Immediate standstill at the tachiai with neither oshi by Tamawashi nor any yotsu by Mitakeumi. Weird.

[Hankegami 439]

10 minutes ago, Jakusotsu said:

In a very weird kind of way. Immediate standstill at the tachiai with neither oshi by Tamawashi nor any yotsu by Mitakeumi. Weird.

I just re-watched their match and I believe Mitakeumi tried to take the mawashi up front, Terunofuji style. I don't know why Tamawashi was on the defensive at the tachi-ai, but the standstill was probably due to Tamawashi keeping Mitakeumi's right hand away from his front mawashi. He eventually managed to slap Mitakeumi's arm away and started to push and thrust. Mitakeumi then switched to oshi-zumo himself, retreated and tried a hatakikomi to counter Tamawashi's advancing oshidashi. Very bad timing.

Edited May 12, 2022 by Hankegami

[Yubinhaad 11,594]

A rare tasukizori in Jonokuchi today, courtesy of Yamato who is now 3-0 in his first basho. He is a graduate of Gifu Norin (Agricultural and Forestry) High School and was runner-up in the 80kg class at a national high school sumo tournament last year. He has won with sori-waza several times in team and openweight competitions during his school years.

 

[Sumo Spiffy 544]

I've been watching sumo for maybe a year and a half at this point, but I know lots of others have been watching for quite a bit longer, so I have another question:

Are the fights this basho as wildly unpredictable as they seem to be? The nature of the sport is such that it seems pretty common to have moments of, "Oh, I didn't expect him to win," but not as many as I've been having of, "Seriously? He won/lost that fight?"

...

Mitakeumi was 27-3 against Tamawashi! 27-3!

[Gospodin 187]

He is still quite early in his career, but I am beginning to wonder whether Roga will ever become sekitori. Any thoughts ?

[Akinomaki 40,053]

Another step for sumo getting back to normal: this basho spectators are noisy again and don't just all diligently clap their hands as ordered.

Sanspo still won't post the numbers of those attending though. And I haven't heard any reports of the man-in onrei banners being down again since last Kyushu, when a limited full house was declared. Maybe on day 15.

Edited May 12, 2022 by Akinomaki

[Sumo Spiffy 544]

Was gonna edit my previous post, but some replies came in after, so I'll make a new one:

Wakatakakage's lost three times now, and unless I've dramatically missed something, all of them were from some level of having his aggression used against him. How long does it take for him to fix that?