Aki 2022 discussion (results)

[hakutorizakura 581]

4 hours ago, Yamanashi said:

Everyone n - Hakuho N

For the record, Hak has zero wins vs a guy named... Midorifuji!

Also vs Orora 

[yohcun 393]

Tokihayate and Shonannoumi just had the bout of the tournament.

[Kaninoyama 1,649]

Mitoryu defeats Shimanoumi in the Battle of the Orange Mawashis. 

[Godango 956]

Hokuseiho vs. Tochimusashi was a fun watch. Take note, Ichinojo, that's how giants are meant to resist at the edge.

[Yamanashi 3,669]

5 hours ago, Eikokurai said:

Well, you expect everyone to lose to Hakuho

Yeah, but I couldn't resist using different font sizes .

There are some more of these head-scratchers that have been discussed over the last few years.

Speaking of which, our recent intai Kaisei A/Kaisei B/Tomozuna was always Kryptonite for Mitakeumi (7-1), while Mitakeumi is 27-4 against Tamawashi.

[Akinomaki 39,479]

23 hours ago, Akinomaki said:

On 15/09/2022 at 16:50, Akinomaki said:

At least we still have 2 sanyaku one win behind the leaders, but that may be over soon

Now we have 2 two wins behind, but I guess that won't be over anytime this basho. Nobody thinks Hokutofuji will go on like that, IIRC the discussion here.

That was dangerously close, Takakeisho is the last sanyaku hope

[Godango 956]

As a Takayasu fan, one of the most frustrating things about his loss of rank is how he's at least as good, if not better, than the current ozeki crop. Today's defeat non-withstanding. 

Anyway. Good to see an Ozeki in the hunt, I guess.

[Seiyashi 4,068]

2 hours ago, Godango said:

Hokuseiho vs. Tochimusashi was a fun watch. Take note, Ichinojo, that's how giants are meant to resist at the edge.

Yep. Looked like a dance in the early moments and could have gone either way.

What was with the gyōji smacking the rikishi halfway - fear of a mawashi matta?

[Jakusotsu 5,721]

Well, Midorifuji has shown again that he's the better Terutsuyoshi.

And Hoshoryu totally botched it. Way too cautious against the juggler.

[Hankegami 412]

44 minutes ago, Godango said:

As a Takayasu fan, one of the most frustrating things about his loss of rank is how he's at least as good, if not better, than the current ozeki crop. Today's defeat non-withstanding. 

Strength-wise, I agree plenty. His problem is that he has become relatively injury-prone in recent years. He injured himself during training in July 2021, basically busting his almost completed comeback to Ozeki. He got injured again in September and started to fall down the ranks. Of course he's been also unlucky (out for COVID twice this year) but, at 32 years old, he displays all the typical symptoms of a rikishi on his descending curve. Just notice that, were Takayasu an Ozeki right now, he would play the Shodai and be kadoban every two basho (although of course Shodai is far, far more scandalous under so many aspects).

The main point is that is normal for older rikishi to slumber down and eventually retire. Our problem is there is not much of a generational change at the moment. Shodai and Mitakeumi are just a couple of years younger than Takayasu himself, and especially Mitakeumi is already showing that (Shodai is just fooling around). Who is going to pair Takakeisho in the coming years (not to mention that 'Keisho could get the rope if his good stars align themselves right)? Kotonowaka comes first to mind, but see his performance this basho. Ichinojo clearly wanted to build up an Ozeki run, but see him now - again. Wakatakakage needs to fix his trademark cold start first. Hoshoryu, his lack of ring patience. Kiribayama? Perhaps. Worst case scenario, we'll have to wait for the likes of Hokuseiho, Kinbozan, and Tochimusashi to climb up the ranks (hoping they are that good). And of course Asanoyama is on his way back.

[rhyen 1,798]

Looking at typhoon#14 this year, will the shimpan reschedule the torikumi to frontload or postpone some matches in anticipation of the massive disruption to public transportation? The typhoon will affect the Kanto region starting on Tuesday.

In 2019, the typhoon passed through Tokyo overnight and still wrecked havoc on the JR lines and metro services that Sadotagake and outstation heya rikishi could only reach the kokugikan after 10am.

Edited September 18, 2022 by rhyen

[Hankegami 412]

General fan commentary on Day 8.

Hokutofuji is living the time of his life. He is board leader, kachi-koshi, and also just improved his best starting record from his 7-0 start in Aki 2018. Bad news, he ended up 9-6 back then. Tomorrow he will face Wakamotoharu (1-1 in previous matches). Considering that Wakamotoharu has apparently improved his ringside arsenal (two utchari and now this tsukiotoshi) and Hokutofuji is much an oshi wrestler, I wouldn't be surprised if tomorrow's match will be decided on the rope again.

Tamawashi remains runner-up and appears damning determined to catch Hokutofuji up. The way he pushed out his nemesis-on-paper (4-10 on record) Sadanoumi tell volumes. Takayasu was less inspired, but he is plenty excused given he had to deal with the Hungry Hamster on a mission to clutch a yusho and start yet another rope run. Speaking about Takakeisho, he's definitively improved. He is now capable to win relatively lengthy matches but also to sidestep very quick. If he really manages to win this basho he would be perhaps in his best position ever to make a successful run for the rope. Next basho is Kyushu, where the Hamster almost always performed the best (yusho in 2018 and 2020, more a jun-yusho in 2021). He needs for Hokutofuji and Tamawashi to lose first, however. In the meanwhile, he will face Kiribayama tomorrow (7-4+1 for 'Keisho, including four of their last five bouts).

Other 6-2 guys include Wakamotoharu (tomorrow vs. Hokutofuji) and some improbable yusho contenders such as Chiyoshoma, Nishikifuji and Oho. The latter two will face each other tomorrow, so we can expect the arasoi to get thinner. One loss further down, Terunofuji somehow saved his performance at 5-3 but he keeps limping visibly. He will host Takayasu tomorrow - how on earth is he going to fight?

[Jakusotsu 5,721]

1 hour ago, Hankegami said:

And of course Asanoyama is on his way back.

But will he ever get the necessary numbers again? I doubt it very much since he also shares this habit of running hot and cold.

[Eikokurai 3,433]

33 minutes ago, Jakusotsu said:

But will he ever get the necessary numbers again? I doubt it very much since he also shares this habit of running hot and cold.

He was one of the most consistent rikishi in the division from his yusho onwards: 12Y-7-10-11-10-11-12J-1K-11J-10-7K-suspended.

[Morty 1,469]

Takakeisho is going noticeably longer in bouts this basho. Previously if he didn't win in the first three to four seconds you knew he was toast. This basho he's pushing bouts out to seven-eight seconds and winning without being as gassed as he previously would have been. Seven to eight seconds doesn't sound like much but if it is double what you normally do then it's a 100% improvement. Is his style evolving a bit?

[Yarimotsu 513]

8 hours ago, yohcun said:

Tokihayate and Shonannoumi just had the bout of the tournament.

Thanks for the recommendation to go and watch that bout, it was worth a laugh

[dingo 1,100]

I think Takakeisho has changed because of necessity. He doesn't have the straight up bulldozing power anymore so he has to rely much more on sidestepping and slapping. He also seems a bit more agile as we saw in today's bout. I'm not sure all that is an improvement though, cause it also makes him more susceptible to attack. I don't think this style will ever get him a zensho for example. Even a yusho seems quite difficult. 

[Eikokurai 3,433]

Takakeisho seems to be showing a little more thinking during the bout, setting his balance before going for the charge, sensing the timing better. Maturing rather than developing his style per se. Making smarter decisions.

[Jakusotsu 5,721]

5 hours ago, Eikokurai said:

6 hours ago, Jakusotsu said:

But will he ever get the necessary numbers again? I doubt it very much since he also shares this habit of running hot and cold.

He was one of the most consistent rikishi in the division from his yusho onwards: 12Y-7-10-11-10-11-12J-1K-11J-10-7K-suspended.

Yeah, I know, these numbers look kind of convincing. But then again, one of these 10-5 basho he started 0-3 and had two fusen wins.

I don't say Asanoyama would be a worse Ozeki than the current crop, far from it, I just doubt he'll ever get there again.

Edited September 18, 2022 by Jakusotsu

[Reonito 1,295]

10 minutes ago, Jakusotsu said:

Yeah, I know, these numbers look kind of convincing. But then again, one of these 10-5 basho he started 0-3 and had two fusen wins.

I don't say Asanoyama would be a worse Ozeki than the current crop, far from it, I just doubt he'll ever get there again.

I bet he gets there by the end of 2023.

[Hakuryuho 334]

1 hour ago, Reonito said:

I bet he gets there by the end of 2023.

Flaming hot (?) take: I think he'll be the 74th Yokozuna.

[WAKATAKE 2,610]

Hokutofuji remains strong, while that break in his match streak seems to have lit a fire in Tamawashi (it is still active according to the NSK). Terunofuji is definitely injured, but he is trying to perform his duties as yokozuna. Takakeisho is getting by, but Shodai and Mitakeumi proving they are not ozeki material anymore. The surprises in the joi? Tobizaru, Midorifuji and Ura. One of these guys is going to be in sanyaku next basho

[Godango 956]

1 hour ago, WAKATAKE said:

Tobizaru, Midorifuji and Ura. One of these guys is going to be in sanyaku next basho

Story of the tournament for me. Ura is less surprising, but I had Tobizaru and Midorifuji down to get very low numbers. They've each been impressive and shown excellent sumo IQ.

[Katooshu 3,079]

Can't stand Otani. Like in the amateurs, he is a terrible sportsman. Why give a blatant late shove to a hopelessly overmatched 17-year-old jonokuchi rikishi?

Edited September 19, 2022 by Katooshu

[Yamanashi 3,669]

6 hours ago, Hakuryuho said:

Flaming hot (?) take: I think he'll be the 74th Yokozuna.

Well, that would let the Ozeki crop have a fresh excuse for sucking ("how can you get 12 wins when there's a dominant Yokozuna??"  blah, blah).