Haru 2023 discussion (results)

[Akinomaki 40,463]

9 hours ago, maglor said:

Endo, Mitakeumi, and Ichinojo all made it to Juryo in their 3rd bashos, so it's not so crazy

I thought the others already qualified as zanbara hairstyle, while Ochiai is still just normal, Endo's wasn't much longer though

Ichinojo as foreigner was one basho late and definitely zanbara (last basho we had mullet named as equivalent). At least Ochiai with the shortest hair ever in a dohyo-iri

Edited March 12, 2023 by Akinomaki

[WAKATAKE 2,656]

I am actually surprised by the number of people who say day 1 was not great, I thought it was fantastic in terms of the action. The newcomers down at the bottom certainly their determination, it will be interesting how Hokuseiho and Kinbozan bring in the new blood to the top division ranks. If you want to say it was a bad day in terms of people losing, then it most certainly was. Let's see if the hamster turns this around starting day 2, but this could be another 12-3 yusho tournament.

[Amamaniac 2,079]

Enho lost to Gonoyama today, as he is trying to bounce back after breaking an optical bone back in January.  Given that he missed a fare bit of training after surgery, I am not surprised to see his weight listed as 102kg (with NSK), whereas in January it was listed as 105kg.  

What I don't understand is that normally weigh-ins are done before Tokyo-based tournaments (Jan, May, Sept).  Why then has Enho's weight been updated in Osaka (Mar)?  Either there has been a change in practice, or I am completely wrong about when wrestlers get weighed officially...

[Tigerboy1966 1,446]

39 minutes ago, WAKATAKE said:

I am actually surprised by the number of people who say day 1 was not great, I thought it was fantastic in terms of the action.

The "Next Big Things" and the "Former Big Things" were great, but the "Current Big Things" sucked. That's why the first day was a bit of a let-down. Kiribayama, your time has come..

[since_94 650]

On 12/03/2023 at 20:56, Kaioshoryu said:

Pretty terrible day of sumo this was.

We’ve seen much, much worse, IMO. Some sublime ring generalship on display (Takarafuji, Tamawashi, Ura) giving rise to last second excitement on the bales. This combined with noticeable improvements in strength (Hokuseiho, Kotonowaka) compensated for technical prowess that may have sometimes been lacking. I enjoyed day 1 thoroughly.

Edited March 13, 2023 by since_94

[since_94 650]

Amininishiki looking good at ringside as a judge. Love the guy, but with all due respect have to ask: has Uncle Sumo been patronizing Hair Club for Men or is that a piece? (Mods please remove if commenting about appearance is verboten)

 

in other news, Ochiai appeared rather overeager against Tamashoho. Patience, lad.

[Akinomaki 40,463]

16 hours ago, Amamaniac said:

What I don't understand is that normally weigh-ins are done before Tokyo-based tournaments (Jan, May, Sept).  Why then has Enho's weight been updated in Osaka (Mar)?  Either there has been a change in practice, or I am completely wrong about when wrestlers get weighed officially...

There was a weight/height check for all at the rikishi-health-check-february-2023/

There was a check for the sekitori at the rikishi-kai http://www.sumoforum.net/forums/topic/42375-rikishi-weight-check-for-hatsu-2023/

[Akinomaki 40,463]

There should have been a mono-ii for Enho vs. Oshoma, the hand of Oshoma touched down before Enho's hair touched the ground - tsukite or kabaite should be discussed and best a torinaoshi.

New deputy department head Asakayama was flawless as head shimpan in his first makuuchi shift (2nd half), earlier one head shimpan mixed east and west in his explanation, and I think the NHK announcer mixed something as well.

[Morty 1,495]

5 hours ago, since_94 said:

Amininishiki looking good at ringside as a judge. Love the guy, but with all due respect have to ask: has Uncle Sumo been patronizing Hair Club for Men or is that a piece? (Mods please remove if commenting about appearance is verboten)

 

 

Pics? As someone who got my Wig Spotters Badge as a boy scout I can pick a piece at 20 paces.

[Akinomaki 40,463]

Suyama has his graduation guaranteed, the professor had several things to claim with his master thesis but he passed with "acceptable", he won't take part in the graduation ceremony of course, it is during the basho. http://hochi.news/articles/20230313-OHT1T51076.html?page=1

[Morty 1,495]

Now, Day Two was a quality day of sumo. Some really great matches, quality belt bouts, drama at the bales. Thoroughly enjoyed it

[Akinomaki 40,463]

7 minutes ago, Morty said:

Pics? As someone who got my Wig Spotters Badge as a boy scout I can pick a piece at 20 paces.

A bit too small to spot it I guess - today he was in juryo, with even less pics

[Koorifuu 994]

Lots of genkiness today, that was interesting. I guess they're feeling the energy (?) from all the maskless people.

39 minutes ago, Akinomaki said:

There should have been a mono-ii for Enho vs. Oshoma, the hand of Oshoma touched down before Enho's hair touched the ground - tsukite or kabaite should be discussed and best a torinaoshi.

I'm 100% for calling it a kabaite. It looked to me like Oshoma completely had it and just wanted to avoid turning Enho's neck into mush.

[Akinomaki 40,463]

1 hour ago, Akinomaki said:

1 hour ago, Morty said:

Pics? As someone who got my Wig Spotters Badge as a boy scout I can pick a piece at 20 paces.

A bit too small to spot it I guess - today he was in juryo, with even less pics

Enough celeb bouts for Ajigawa to appear today - first with Suyama a bit blurred

o

Best with Ochiai o

and both blurred and cut off with Asanoyama

o

Edited March 13, 2023 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki 40,463]

People with mask are still the majority, but it's getting better, those who want to do loud cheers don't wear them

o o

 

- I guess I can go to watch the Natsu basho again this year, a day at sumo is fun again at last

[rhyen 1,837]

1 hour ago, Akinomaki said:

Enough celeb bouts for Ajigawa to appear today - first with Suyama a bit blurred

o

Best with Ochiai o

and both blurred and cut off with Asanoyama

o

https://soranews24.com/2019/10/09/final-results-heres-what-seijis-balding-head-looks-like-one-year-after-hair-transplant-surgery/

[since_94 650]

3 hours ago, Morty said:

Now, Day Two was a quality day of sumo. Some really great matches, quality belt bouts, drama at the bales. Thoroughly enjoyed it

Likewise, but would actually give day one the edge. In any case, Day two standouts excitement-wise were  Ichiyamamoto/ Hiradoumi and Enho / Oshoma. Shodai in absolute beast mode  for 2 straight days is a refreshing sight to see. Hokuseiho looks physically stronger and while still basically standing straight up at the tachiai, seems able to put up formidable resistance when assailed frontally by leaning in and bearing down. With his build, he is reminding me more of Akebono all the time. Long, long legs and now filling out somewhat around the waist. The resemblance ought to become more striking over time, hopefully the results will follow a similar trajectory.

Edited March 13, 2023 by since_94

[nagora 88]

I guess Shodai has decided that he needs to take a run-up at the rope. A long run-up.

[dingo 1,263]

On the first day the NHK English commentator (think it was Raja) called Shodai ozeki during the bout with Hoshoryuu. It was purely accidental but I found it funny that in this particular bout he really did fight like an ozeki. 

[orandashoho 720]

14 minutes ago, dingo said:

On the first day the NHK English commentator (think it was Raja) called Shodai ozeki during the bout with Hoshoryuu. It was purely accidental but I found it funny that in this particular bout he really did fight like an ozeki. 

Perhaps, having sunk down to M1, he had needed a wake-up call. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's bout with Takakeisho.

[Koorifuu 994]

1 hour ago, dingo said:

On the first day the NHK English commentator (think it was Raja) called Shodai ozeki during the bout with Hoshoryuu. It was purely accidental but I found it funny that in this particular bout he really did fight like an ozeki. 

That's two days in a row now. Made Kiribayama look ordinary. Pressure's still off, but watch him crumble when his ozeki run gets to 30ish wins by mid Nagoya.

[Yamanashi 3,840]

6 hours ago, Morty said:

Pics? As someone who got my Wig Spotters Badge as a boy scout I can pick a piece at 20 paces.

Wow!  Not too subtle; not only jet black, but covering the dome.  (For you USA fans) more "Hair Club for Men" than "Grecian Formula"

[Rocks 1,809]

4 minutes ago, Yamanashi said:

Wow!  Not too subtle; not only jet black, but covering the dome.  (For you USA fans) more "Hair Club for Men" than "Grecian Formula"

Maybe he's combing it forward?

[Yamanashi 3,840]

2 hours ago, Rocks said:

Maybe he's combing it forward?

Combing what? When the Oyakata displayed his mage at the danpatsu-shiki, someone in the crowd yelled "eeek, a mouse!"

[lackmaker 437]

Must be a Reggae fan.