Haru 2023 discussion (results)

[Kaninoyama 1,660]

Game effort by Midorifuji, but not quite enough left in the tank. Daieisho looks unstoppable now. 

Edited March 24, 2023 by Kaninoyama

[Akinomaki 39,562]

Apparently the winning beard is allowed again - on the dohyo

in the yusho interview Ryuo appeared with a proper shave

[RabidJohn 1,638]

Is the Osaka brown jacket gang under orders not to applaud?
Seriously, watch them; they seem incredibly hard to please.

Well, it was always mission impossible for Midorifuji, so I don't think he can be accused of choking. Daieisho's yusho to lose now.

[Seiyashi 4,068]

19 minutes ago, RabidJohn said:

Daieisho's yusho to lose now.

Not entirely, he must still survive his fellow sanyaku. Kiribayama could still bring one of Wakamotoharu and Kotonowaka into it by beating Daieishō on senshūraku. 

Of course, if Midorifuji beats him tomorrow, it's open season for the yūshō and almost certainly a playoff between the winners of Daieishō - Kiribayama and Wakamotoharu - Kotonowaka (if everyone else wins), not to mention Midorifuji himself. 

Edited March 24, 2023 by Seiyashi

[Hankegami 412]

23 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

Not entirely, he must still survive his fellow sanyaku. Kiribayama could still bring one of Wakamotoharu and Kotonowaka into it by beating Daieishō on senshūraku. 

Of course, if Midorifuji beats him tomorrow, it's open season for the yūshō and almost certainly a playoff between the winners of Daieishō - Kiribayama and Wakamotoharu - Kotonowaka. 

Why Kotonowaka? He dropped a fourth loss today (never mess with Wakatakakage and his chase for a KK), and he's back in the run only in case of a 11-4 Yusho. I'd say that the chances of a 12-3Y are still high, with a possibility of a 13-2Y if Daieisho manages to win out. For an 11-4, of course Daieisho should lose to Midorifuji tomorrow and (likely) Kiribayama on senshuraku, but also Kiribayama has to become another victim of Wakatakakage "KK" Atsushi. Furthermore, I'm not sure if Wakamotoharu is capable to beat Hoshoryu tomorrow (2-5 precedents), so the probable Day 15 Wakamotoharu - Kotonowaka bout is more likely to be a fight for the Sekiwake rank (the magic 11-4), with the loser likely to remain stuck at Komusubi despite a 10-5 or so, than for the Yusho.

Edited March 24, 2023 by Hankegami

[Akinomaki 39,562]

On 21/03/2023 at 12:13, Akinomaki said:

next goal: 9 wins like the shisho as new juryo

Ochiai has reached another goal: he, the designated  Reiwa monster, has surpassed the Heisei monster Miyabiyama, who was the fastest among the other 3 who reached juryo without a loss (+Wajima&Musoyama): kachikoshi as new juryo on day 9, Miyabiyama got it on day 10.

But Miyabiyama got the juryo yusho with 12 wins then, Ochiai has reached his "next" goal today, but can only get to 11 wins

[hakutorizakura 582]

Looks like sanyaku bouts are the new Y/O bouts now. Some of them really are valid ozeki candidates.

WMH is really good at the bales. He survived today, and got some utchari-like moves some days ago (3x last year).

[Seiyashi 4,068]

57 minutes ago, Hankegami said:

Why Kotonowaka? He dropped a fourth loss today (never mess with Wakatakakage and his chase for a KK), and he's back in the run only in case of a 11-4 Yusho. I'd say that the chances of a 12-3Y are still high, with a possibility of a 13-2Y if Daieisho manages to win out. For an 11-4, of course Daieisho should lose to Midorifuji tomorrow and (likely) Kiribayama on senshuraku, but also Kiribayama has to become another victim of Wakatakakage "KK" Atsushi. Furthermore, I'm not sure if Wakamotoharu is capable to beat Hoshoryu tomorrow (2-5 precedents), so the probable Day 15 Wakamotoharu - Kotonowaka bout is more likely to be a fight for the Sekiwake rank (the magic 11-4), with the loser likely to remain stuck at Komusubi despite a 10-5 or so, than for the Yusho.

Yeah I mixed up Midorifuji and Kotonowaka when I glanced at the arasoi. I'll look into the combinations later when I do up the PDY post.

[Rocks 1,805]

Abi-Kinbozan? Ichinojo-Enho? Some fun matchups tomorrow. 

[dingo 1,128]

See how Sadanoumi handled Mitakeumi without resorting to henka like a certain three-letter rikishi starting with A? 

(yes I'm still grumpy about that) 

[Seiyashi 4,068]

5 hours ago, Kaninoyama said:

Game effort by Midorifuji, but not quite enough left in the tank. Daieisho looks unstoppable now. 

Unfortunately for him Hōshōryū is just a class too good for him.

[Yubinhaad 11,506]

5 hours ago, RabidJohn said:

Is the Osaka brown jacket gang under orders not to applaud?
Seriously, watch them; they seem incredibly hard to please.

Almost 15 years to the day later, this remains an excellent answer about the Tozai-kai from Jonosuke:
 

On 20/03/2008 at 17:30, Jonosuke said:

These people are actually rich and they are members of a very exclusive group called Tou-Zai-Kai (Association of the East and West). There are equivalent groups in Tokyo, Nagoya and Fukuoka and their group is called Tamari-Kai.

In Osaka, tne member wear those brown jacket but not in other locations. These people not only pay a great deal of annual membership fee (something like 1 million Yen) but in addition they hold events to encourage and motivate young rikishi and hold other social functions throughout the year. I believe they also contribute to the money given to lower ranked yusho rikishi and hold a special party for them as well.

Actually they are recognized in the Kyokai by-law and the membership number is limited and invitation-only. Most likely the membership is handed down from a parent to their offspring. For all they do, they get one Tamari-seat in a basho and have their room with TV and locker , but not much of bargain when you consider all they contribute.

They must follow certain conduct while they are at the basho. As they are the supporters of Ozumo rather than individual rikishi, they are not supposed to cheer for individual rikishi. They are supposed to observe the manner accorded to their "position", for instance by staying till the whole Yumitori ceremony is over before they leave etc.

You really need to know the member to join their club and it's more or less an old boys club.

 

[Octofuji 318]

Great to see Takarafuji stave off makekoshi for the fourth day in a row. I was convinced we were seeing the last of him in Makuuchi.

[Katooshu 3,086]

1 hour ago, Yubinhaad said:

Almost 15 years to the day later, this remains an excellent answer about the Tozai-kai from Jonosuke:
 

 

Thanks for the info - I have new appreciation for the brown jacket crew.

[dingo 1,128]

5 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

Unfortunately for him Hōshōryū is just a class too good for him.

Their past record doesn't say that though. I think based on their previous meetings Midorifuji could reasonably expect a good result. 

[Sumo Spiffy 523]

7 minutes ago, dingo said:

Their past record doesn't say that though. I think based on their previous meetings Midorifuji could reasonably expect a good result. 

And that's what you saw in how many chances Midori gave himself to win. But there comes a point where you can only skill up so much; if the other guy is as good as you and more physical, it's not that you'll never win, but any previous head-to-head (from before the other guy learned what you do) becomes irrelevant.

[Yamanashi 3,689]

Since we're talking about the crowd at Osaka, there is an old fellow who sits on the East side -- I see him in the background whenever the cameras are focused on the winner.  He is the grayest person I've ever seen!  His hair is uniformly light gray, he seems to wear gray clothing, even his skin is an ashy gray color.  Is this actually the ghost of some spectator who was run over by a charging sekitori?

[lackmaker 428]

He is Greystoke, Lord of the Apes and was hit by a flying monkey.

[Oshirokita 173]

1 hour ago, Yamanashi said:

Since we're talking about the crowd at Osaka, there is an old fellow who sits on the East side -- I see him in the background whenever the cameras are focused on the winner.  He is the grayest person I've ever seen!  His hair is uniformly light gray, he seems to wear gray clothing, even his skin is an ashy gray color.  

Harold W. Smith perhaps?

[Tsuchinoninjin 1,244]

6 hours ago, Yubinhaad said:

Almost 15 years to the day later, this remains an excellent answer about the Tozai-kai from Jonosuke:
 

 

This is the bylaws for this on the NSK website if any are interested: https://www.sumo.or.jp/IrohaKyokaiDonationSponsor/wrap/

It should really be stressed that the 1M Yen fee is the absolute minimum to be paid other contributions are expected. Just to explain to the Americans as this kind of fee is not really rich people money when it comes to American sports (Yankees season tickets, $10k doesn't even get you into the infield, and you're sure as hell not hanging out with the players).

[bettega 422]

I must say that the last three days were very very nice!

I'm thriled for the next two days! Kiribayama's Yusho and Oseki's run

[Kaninoyama 1,660]

2 hours ago, Yamanashi said:

Since we're talking about the crowd at Osaka, there is an old fellow who sits on the East side -- I see him in the background whenever the cameras are focused on the winner.  He is the grayest person I've ever seen!  His hair is uniformly light gray, he seems to wear gray clothing, even his skin is an ashy gray color.  Is this actually the ghost of some spectator who was run over by a charging sekitori?

Shhh, we are forbidden from talking about members of the crowd on this forum. It's harassment!

Edited March 24, 2023 by Kaninoyama

[Asapedroryu 227]

1 hour ago, Kaninoyama said:

Shhh, we are forbidden from talking about members of the crowd on this forum. It's harassment!

It's harrassment what you and a few others were doing to that woman for several months. This comment on a post that obvious is not even comparable to the others just shows you are still convinced that it was correct to harrass that woman and somehow belive you are a victim...

[Kaninoyama 1,660]

42 minutes ago, Asapedroryu said:

It's harrassment what you and a few others were doing to that woman for several months. This comment on a post that obvious is not even comparable to the others just shows you are still convinced that it was correct to harrass that woman and somehow belive you are a victim...

If appreciating, complimenting, and admiring a person in the sumo crowd for their grace, elegance, posture, and presence is what you consider "harassment," then no, we do not share a common understanding of the meaning of that term. 

In any case, we all respected the request to stop mentioning that person. But if we're not to talk, even admiringly, about one person in the crowd, then we shouldn't, in principle, talk about any other person. It's what you asked for and your request was respected, so not sure why you're appearing here again to complain about it. 

Edited March 25, 2023 by Kaninoyama

[Yamanashi 3,689]

3 hours ago, Oshirokita said:

Harold W. Smith perhaps?

Here are some vignettes from Kintamayama:

Day 11 - 2:06, 3:02, 4:06, replay (8:50 - 9:15)

Day 13 - 2:32, 4:28, 9:12 - 9:16.