Haru 2023 discussion (results)

[Masunofuji 36]

8 hours 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...

I wouldn't say it was harassment, but all the simping was truly detestable. 

[Akinomaki 39,489]

Midorifuji now can only get the ginosho, they might even discuss if they make it conditional on a win tomorrow - or if one of the yusho contenders should get it.

Daieisho gets at least one sansho, Kiribayama one if he wins, maybe even unconditionally - could be for both a kanto-sho and the winner gets the shukunsho. I don't think the yusho will be a condition this time.

Hokuseiho failed, but Kinbozan is almost sure to get the newcomer kantosho for his 10 wins.

[Akinomaki 39,489]

22 hours ago, Akinomaki said:

Apparently the winning beard is allowed again - on the dohyo

in the yusho interview Ryuo appeared with a proper shave

Also the yusho photo after the bout with beard - so the ban is lifted

o

[RabidJohn 1,628]

@Yubinhaad Thank you very much for digging that up. What I'm seeing kind of makes sense now, but the very idea still does my gaijin head in a bit.

I wondered about Wakatakakage yesterday as he walked back up the hanamichi - which was another example of a stone-faced Japanese not showing his feelings now I know he'd sustained a knee injury that needs 3 months of treatment!

Bit of luck for Kiribayama, who is definitely on an ozeki run and could now force a play-off.

[Akinomaki 39,489]

On 22/03/2023 at 19:42, Akinomaki said:

Inosuke did the kaobure gonjo, announcement of next day's torikumi on the dohyo after the makuuchi dohyo-iri on days 2-13 only on day 2, 3, 4 and 8. He doesn't have to accompany a yokozuna dohyo-iri for 3 basho now and always runs out of steam for the kaobure and takes days off, but this time it is extreme

Inosuke did the kaobure a last time on day 13, looking very tired, getting slower and slower in the end and at his last breath for the final bout

[Gurowake 3,872]

4 hours ago, Yarimotsu said:

If Daieisho goes double digits next time he probably won't be promoted but he will join a select group.

What makes you think that?  The 10 wins at M1 should be considered nearly the same as a sanyaku basho with 10 wins.

[Gurowake 3,872]

8 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

This is hilarious for the GKA players who recently elected Kiribayama for the reason he was unlikely to make ōzeki. 

I think the general rules that I'd been relying on to determine who might make Ozeki might be a little too strict in this era where there's basically no dominant rikishi at all.  When you don't have any low-percentage matches at all on your schedule, it's a lot easier to put together the necessary wins.  It also means that it's possible to get those wins without being strong enough to maintain the rank like you normally would, as we've seen with some recent Ozeki, since the fact that more of the matches are closer to even means that there's higher variance in the results.

I think everyone knew it was possible for Kiribayama to make Ozeki, but that would have been true of literally any reasonable candidate we had landed on.    

[Yamanashi 3,669]

In Juryo, Day 14, Tochinoshin vs Tokushoryu looked like OB Sumo.  Well, maybe it was ...

[Seiyashi 4,068]

45 minutes ago, Gurowake said:

I think everyone knew it was possible for Kiribayama to make Ozeki, but that would have been true of literally any reasonable candidate we had landed on.    

And I think nothing brings out this point more than the fact that we came pretty damn close to having 6 sekiwake, half of which were on double-digit tears, and two of the other three being frequently cited as ōzeki potentiates.

[Sumo Spiffy 521]

1 hour ago, Gurowake said:

I think the general rules that I'd been relying on to determine who might make Ozeki might be a little too strict in this era where there's basically no dominant rikishi at all.  When you don't have any low-percentage matches at all on your schedule, it's a lot easier to put together the necessary wins.  It also means that it's possible to get those wins without being strong enough to maintain the rank like you normally would, as we've seen with some recent Ozeki, since the fact that more of the matches are closer to even means that there's higher variance in the results.

I think everyone knew it was possible for Kiribayama to make Ozeki, but that would have been true of literally any reasonable candidate we had landed on.    

For at least some of us (aka me), there's also the general idea of what an ozeki looks like in terms of performance/results. There's the old Mandela quote about things seeming impossible until they're done; that was basically every single person we considered for the game, because nobody looked like they were on the verge of turning in Terunofuji/Takakeisho-style performances basho after basho. It feels a little weird making the non-math argument, but it's hard to debate that nobody came close to passing the eyeball test re: realistic future ozeki, compared to the type of solid ozeki we'd seen in the past and present.

In retrospect, maybe we should have included Shodai. 

[Gospodin 185]

Tamawashi looks quite sluggish, and the timing of his tsuppari is off. It might be just one weak basho, but is Tamawashi finally getting a little long in the tooth ?

[Seiyashi 4,068]

4 minutes ago, Gospodin said:

Tamawashi looks quite sluggish, and the timing of his tsuppari is off. It might be just one weak basho, but is Tamawashi finally getting a little long in the tooth ?

He's always blown hot and cold. The year of his first yūshō, he had mirror KK and MK records for four basho in a row, if not 6.

[Rocks 1,801]

4 hours ago, Gurowake said:

I think the general rules that I'd been relying on to determine who might make Ozeki might be a little too strict in this era where there's basically no dominant rikishi at all.  When you don't have any low-percentage matches at all on your schedule, it's a lot easier to put together the necessary wins.  It also means that it's possible to get those wins without being strong enough to maintain the rank like you normally would, as we've seen with some recent Ozeki, since the fact that more of the matches are closer to even means that there's higher variance in the results.

I think everyone knew it was possible for Kiribayama to make Ozeki, but that would have been true of literally any reasonable candidate we had landed on.    

Yes, it's a different era. As far as who makes Ozeki I think Kirbayama will be Ozeki in July as long as he gets 10 wins in May, win or lose tomorrow. Daiesho is likely too unless he loses here and only gets 10 wins in May.  In any case Sanyaku will be interesting next basho as it's looks like we are keeping a loaded slate of Sekiwake and Komusubi. 

Wakamotoharu outranking his brother? I didn't see that coming a year ago.

Edited March 25, 2023 by Rocks

[Rocks 1,801]

52 minutes ago, Gospodin said:

Tamawashi looks quite sluggish, and the timing of his tsuppari is off. It might be just one weak basho, but is Tamawashi finally getting a little long in the tooth ?

I expected him to be bad this basho and he has been.  But he got robbed last night IMHO.

[Sumo Spiffy 521]

43 minutes ago, Rocks said:

I expected him to be bad this basho and he has been.  But he got robbed last night IMHO.

I understand the call, but at the same time, when your opponent has to come back from orbit for the rematch, it does seem like you should get the nod.

[Benevolance 2,453]

By my math, if Takayasu can win his match tonight, he will safely not take the yusho. That should make him feel pretty confident. 

[Yarimotsu 513]

6 hours ago, Gurowake said:

What makes you think that?  The 10 wins at M1 should be considered nearly the same as a sanyaku basho with 10 wins.

Well the precedent I quoted above, but that was considering all M. If there's something to M1 in particular then we have this query to look at: Kitao agrees but Takanohana was made to wait.

https://sumodb.sumogames.de/Query.aspx?show_form=0&n_basho=3&form1_rank=m1&form1_wins=>9&form3_rank=s&form3_wins=>9&columns=5

[Tigerboy1966 1,370]

My prediction: Kiribayama beats Daieisho in regulation. Daieisho wins the play-off. I think the world of both these guys so I will be very happy however it turns out, and I would just love it if they were given O targets for May.

[WAKATAKE 2,610]

3 hours ago, Gospodin said:

Tamawashi looks quite sluggish, and the timing of his tsuppari is off. It might be just one weak basho, but is Tamawashi finally getting a little long in the tooth ?

Tamawashi typically doesn't perform well when he's hurt, he will limit himself so as not to overexert or aggravate his injuries. He certainly hasn't kept his competitive bout streak by reaching ozeki or yokozuna

[Gurowake 3,872]

1 hour ago, Yarimotsu said:

Well the precedent I quoted above, but that was considering all M. If there's something to M1 in particular then we have this query to look at: Kitao agrees but Takanohana was made to wait.

https://sumodb.sumogames.de/Query.aspx?show_form=0&n_basho=3&form1_rank=m1&form1_wins=>9&form3_rank=s&form3_wins=>9&columns=5

Banzuke making is a fluid thing.  There are very few hard-and-fast rules, and you can only take hints from what happened in the past, and the further back in time you go, the less relevant the hints are.  I assume they will gladly promote anyone who comes even close to promotion given the current state of affairs.  When they're fully stocked with Ozeki, which is the usual state of affairs, they can be a bit more strict.  There certainly have been promotions starting from the top maegashira ranks this millennium, so it can't be said to be absolutely impossible.

Edited March 25, 2023 by Gurowake

[WAKATAKE 2,610]

NSK's twitter has announced the sansho

Shukun-sho: no winners

Kanto-sho: Midorifuji (conditional), Kinbozan

Gino-sho: Kiribayama, Daieisho

https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202303260000458.html

Added Nikkan article

Edited March 26, 2023 by WAKATAKE

[Rocks 1,801]

Great match between Asanoyama and Ochiai. 

[mt fuji 976]

Wow Asanoyama really made something out of nothing there with Ochiai. I wish Ichinojo had a more formidable opponent and we could have seen another Ichinojo v. Asanoyama.... but great action in Juryo today!

[I am the Yokozuna 169]

Great effort by Ochiai - a very promising debut

 

Chongake (A cool hooking technique)

[code_number3 694]

On 24/03/2023 at 17:41, Akinomaki said:

Apparently the winning beard is allowed again - on the dohyo

in the yusho interview Ryuo appeared with a proper shave

 

When I looked at his name, I suddenly got this thought