Hatsu 2023 discussion (results)

[Akinomaki 40,703]

This basho has the man-in onrei banners down 12 times, a better than expected attendance, with tomorrow a sellout of the about 9700 available tickets this time.

o

[Akinomaki 40,703]

On 06/01/2023 at 12:04, Akinomaki said:

Wakatakakage and Wakamotoharu go for the first ever same time kachikoshi of brothers in lower/plain sanyaku in the 4th try: Waka-Taka 1 were not sanyaku at the same time, Waka-Taka II had only Haru 92 together like this, Sakahoko and Terao failed 2 times, Haru 89 and Kyushu 90

o

At least these two have reached this one goal, most other objectives pointed out before the basho vanished out of reach rather quickly for those who were aiming for it - Asanoyama is something special. Shodai can at least still keep a sanyaku rank, Kotonowaka might keep his new rank as well.

[Iwayama 25]

I'm curious to know at what point Kinbozan injured his arm, he seemed to be fine after his match with Asanoyama. Perhaps during training?

[Amamaniac 2,079]

Three years ago, Takakeisho was in a similar position as he will be on senshuraku.  Back then, he ended up losing a complete stunner to Tokushoryu.  Are we going to see a repeat upset, and the crowning of yet another first-time Top Division champion?  Hopefully Takakeisho can pull it together and be the Ozeki that ozumo needs.

Edited January 22, 2023 by Amamaniac

[specialweek 2 136]

6 hours ago, Octofuji said:

I seem to be in a minority but I thought it was a fantastic round of matches today, probably the best day of the basho.

I was surprised by how easily Tsurugisho dealt with Kinbozan. You could argue Tsurugisho had more to fight for but it didn't look like that from the expression on  Kinbozan's face afterwards.

Kinbozan has injured bicep so cannot use his right arm.

[maglor 122]

8 hours ago, Amamaniac said:

Three years ago, Takakeisho was in a similar position as he will be on senshuraku.  Back then, he ended up losing a complete stunner to Tokushoryu.  Are we going to see a repeat upset, and the crowning of yet another first-time Top Division champion?  Hopefully Takakeisho can pull it together and be the Ozeki that ozumo needs.

Takakeisho was already out of yusho contention when he lost wasn't he?

[WAKATAKE 2,671]

8 minutes ago, maglor said:

Takakeisho was already out of yusho contention when he lost wasn't he?

He was. But up until that point Tokushoryu hadn't gone against anyone high up on the banzuke aside from others that had been in contention. They figured give him the ultimate challenge of Takakeisho to make him earn that yusho. Otherwise he would have ended up in a playoff

[Thorbjarn 215]

Since Tobizaru hit Maegashira 5, I expect him to hit a wall and get destroyed with a 3-12 or something... That guy continues to amaze me with his results, and his sumo is fun to watch. 

Takakeisho winning the Yusho with a throw... is this a ridiculous prediction thread come alive? Congratulations, so we do have a Yokozuna run in March. 

Edited January 22, 2023 by Thorbjarn

[Godango 1,014]

Happy with this result. You'd have to imagine any yusho would get Takakeisho the rope next time out; and if nothing else hopefully he continues these double-digit, staying in the mix performances up so he can capitalise on a strong yusho if and when he gets one.

[Kashunowaka 300]

I am pleased that Takakeisho won rather than Kotoshoho. Neither of them is among my favourites but Takakeisho is the more worthy winner from his top rank.

Regarding the talk of promotion: if Takakeisho wasn't promoted after his last yusho in 2020 (12-3J / 13-2Y) , it would be a shame to promote him now (12-3D / 12-3Y). Just one more win this time would have looked much better, but I hope they wait.

Edit: just read further back in the thread that they will indeed wait.

Edited January 22, 2023 by Kashunowaka

[Akinomaki 40,703]

After Natsu 2021 at last a yusho again by an ozeki. o

Takakeisho in the yusho interview said he's happy to get his first yusho since he married and glad that with 3 yusho now has surpassed his late father in law Hokutenyu. http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2023/01/22/kiji/20230122s00005000553000c.html

3rd yusho 13 basho after his 2nd, it was the first time in the present 15 days per basho era since 1949 that a hiramaku (plain maegashira) challenged for the yusho in a same score decider bout on day 15 o

Edited January 22, 2023 by Akinomaki

[RabidJohn 1,849]

That was very nice of Onosho to gift Hoshoryu his KK like that.

Kiribayama's 11-4 ought to force a sekiwake slot for March. I really like his all-round ability.

Congratulations to Takakeisho on yusho #3. Shame about those 3 losses, though.

[Godango 1,014]

Takakeisho, while sadly dropping a couple of important matches, did himself a lot of favours in this basho I feel.

1. He got the yusho in regulation.
2. Two of his three losses were against members of sanyaku.
   1. All of the rikishi he lost to went on to KK
      1. Meaning they're quite likely all going to be sanyaku next tournament
      2. One was a sansho winner
3. This is his fourth double-digit tournament in a row
4. 2 Kotenage and 1 Sukuinage! This shows he's working to add more strings to his bow -- AND that work is paying off. 
   1. Think about it, without this work; he'd likely be 8-7 (like the Takakeisho of 5/6 basho ago).

He didn't earn promotion this tournament, but he did himself A LOT of good, IMO.

Edited January 22, 2023 by Godango
Sukuinage count correction provided by Morty

[RabidJohn 1,849]

55 minutes ago, Godango said:

He didn't earn promotion this tournament, but he did himself A LOT of good, IMO.

Even I was rooting for him today, and I generally like Kotoshoho more.

Takakeisho is a way better ozeki than I ever thought he could be, and this is one of his longer stretches without an injury-related MK. If he can score a Y or D next time, he ought to be given a rope IMO. His track record points to 5 of 6 basho attended per year, which is actually better than Terunofuji right now.

While I'm glad he didn't get the yusho, I'm very pleased by Kotoshoho's performance this time. I hope he can keep it up; he looked like he was set to be a joi regular when he first got promoted to makuuchi. 

[Morty 1,505]

1 hour ago, Godango said:

 

1. 2 Kotenage and 2 Sukuinage! This shows he's working to add more strings to his bow -- AND that work is paying off. 
   1. Think about it, without this work; he'd likely be 8-7 (like the Takakeisho of 5/6 basho ago).

 

I thought he had 2 sukuinage as well but one of those was a loss to Kiribiyama. But three throws, or 25% of his wins, is a pretty fabulous improvement.

[dingo 1,281]

Congratulations to Takakeisho for a well deserved yusho! However he must be feeling a bit bittersweet about it -- if he had done just a little bit better in one or two bouts and eked out another win or two, he would be trying on the tsuna already. Nevertheless hope he can challenge the next yusho as well. 

[ryafuji 815]

Sadogatake has to start the promotion process, right? And if he's already said he's not going to, then there's no chance right now. 

[Akinomaki 40,703]

2 minutes ago, ryafuji said:

Sadogatake has to start the promotion process, right? And if he's already said he's not going to, then there's no chance right now. 

Right. Sadogatake comment: "Because a high level yusho was demanded" - nothing else happened today, no start of the process, the papers all knew that nothing would be coming and there was no mention of a promotion this time. As reported before, next basho the yokozuna run goes on, and no mention of a high level yusho for that. Both Sadogatake and Hakkaku said "We can't say anything about that" - both in respect to required wins and the quality of sumo.

http://hochi.news/articles/20230122-OHT1T51220.html?page=1

[since_94 650]

14 hours ago, specialweek 2 said:

Kinbozan has injured bicep so cannot use his right arm.

Seeing him fight that way was a testament to his courage, if nothing else. He actually gave a good account of himself.

[Kotomiyama 174]

I always thought that Takakeisho was a 10 seconds one-dimensional rikishi: powerful blast, a couple of blows and a left slap of doom. This tournament he has improved: he lasted longer in a couple of bouts and he added some variety to his techniques. Wile I agree with others that this is not enough for promotion, he has paved the way for an undisputed promotion in March if he manages to perform.

[Seiyashi 4,107]

Courtesy of Jiji via Herouth:

Supporters in the shitaku-beya, check.
Family members in the shitaku-beya, check.
Wife hoisting toddler.... wife hoisting toddler?!

[Seiyashi 4,107]

In other news, I just managed to watch today's bouts, and wow. If you didn't know him you'd have sworn Takakeishō's been pulling sukuinage like this his whole career. That was a very commanding way to finish the tournament and I agree - he might not be considered for promotion this time, but he's sure setting himself up in more than just a numbers way for one in the near future if he carries on like this.

[hakutorizakura 643]

And so The Hamster won! Happy for that, but also a bit disappointed though that he doesn't get the tsuna (yet). Dude completed the two consecutive yusho or equivalent, upheld the ozeki rank (plus being the sole reliable ozeki in quite a few basho), and finished the deciding bout with authority. He is a yokozuna, in theory.

But of course NSK doesn't work that way... The old guys up there never witnessed a 12D-12Y promotion during their days, no way. Another factor is probably a yokozuna is expected to dominate, to strike fear in his opponent's heart. It's not his fault that he looks like a hamster, but that definitely didn't help... Well, we can perhaps hope he grows more eyebrow or something to help on that front (since beard is forbidden in sumo and he's not going to grow any taller). Elvis sideburns, anyone?

Hope he keeps his performance up for next basho!

[Akinomaki 40,703]

7 hours ago, Akinomaki said:

Takakeisho in the yusho interview said he's happy to get his first yusho since he married and glad that with 3 yusho now has surpassed his late father in law Hokutenyu. http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2023/01/22/kiji/20230122s00005000553000c.html

3rd yusho 13 basho after his 2nd,

Something is wrong here.

He announced his engagement August 2020, the last yusho was Kyushu 2020 and the marriage was registered before the basho

On 23/11/2020 at 11:12, Akinomaki said:

Takakeisho has married his girl. The 2 registered the marriage before the basho, he revealed it at the morning after interview http://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2020112300276&g=spo

1 hour ago, Seiyashi said:

Supporters in the shitaku-beya, check.

Family members in the shitaku-beya, check.
Wife hoisting toddler.... wife hoisting toddler?!

this one is better

o

[Gurowake 4,096]

7 minutes ago, Akinomaki said:

Something is wrong here.

He announced his engagement August 2020, the last yusho was Kyushu 2020 and the marriage was registered before the basho

When was the ceremony though?