Nagoya 2023 discussion (results)

[RabidJohn 1,665]

1 hour ago, Chartorenji said:

Tf is Nishikigi on? Going legit nuts recently with his best sumo I've ever seen. 

I've called him the invisible man before, but the grey man of ozumo would be closer.
He's always been a solid, dependable, journeyman of a rikishi, capable of good, if unspectacular, results when uninjured, but never attracted the spotlight. 
Now he's coming into his prime and getting really good results, he's suddenly become a lot more noticeable, that's all.

[hakutorizakura 590]

Looks like it's shaping up to be an exciting (or at least entertaining) basho. No yawnfest so far. Fun bouts in the upper and lower banzuke (well, the ones in the middle are not half bad either).

[yorikiried by fate 1,989]

1 hour ago, RabidJohn said:

I've called him the invisible man before, but the grey man of ozumo would be closer.
He's always been a solid, dependable, journeyman of a rikishi, capable of good, if unspectacular, results when uninjured, but never attracted the spotlight. 
Now he's coming into his prime and getting really good results, he's suddenly become a lot more noticeable, that's all.

He looked very solid and more than a little unlucky in his meatgrinder debut XI-18 to I-19. Maybe also a bit starstruck back then.

I also thought he seemed pretty self-conscious in a positive way at that time.

 

[2222 posts? The round's on me!]

Edited July 12, 2023 by yorikiried by fate

[junsan 170]

Now other 'grey men' like Takarafuji, Ryuden, Sadanoumi, and especially Myogiryu need to have whatever Nishikigi is having.

[dada78641 884]

I don't know if there's a better place to put this (let me know if so) but if anyone wanted to see the first Ukrainian juryo wrestler's 新十両 interview, from day 3, I made a copy of it here.

[Seiyashi 4,071]

I find it hilarious that despite my previously asserting that the difference between Hakuōhō and Hakuhō was obvious to the Japanese, today's NHK broadcast of Hakuōhō's bout had everyone pronounce Hakuōhō almost indistinguishably as Hakuhō.

Commanding win by Asanoyama with glimpses of his peak form.

Edited July 12, 2023 by Seiyashi

[Yamanashi 3,728]

In the undercard to the time-traveling Kirishima/Kotonowaka bout, Oho (Takatoriki, Taiho) defeats Sadanoumi (Sadanoumi).

[dingo 1,161]

Seems like Asanoyama wasn't happy with his sumo and being pushed back against the tawara by Onosho, even though he pulled off a pretty nice sukuinage from there.

Nishikigi seems pretty determined to make his first appearance in sanyaku. Perhaps he was motivated by the interview previously mentioned here. 

[Tigerboy1966 1,376]

9 hours ago, RabidJohn said:

the grey man of ozumo

I have often thought that we should take a poll on who is the least recognisable top division wrestler and then plot the results in relation to their actual achievements. The wrestler with the lowest recognisability/achievement (r/a) rating for me is Myogiryu. Been in maku'uchi since the late eighteenth century, umpteen appearances in sanyaku and yet when he mounts the dohyo I still find myself thinking "who's this guy" and checking the schedule.

Edited July 12, 2023 by Tigerboy1966
ce

[Jakusotsu 5,815]

6 minutes ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

I have often thought that we should take a poll on who is the least recognisable top division wrestler and then plot the results in relation to their actual achievements. The wrestler with the lowest recognisability/achievement (r/a) rating for me is Myogiryu. Been in maku'uchi since the late eighteenth century, umpteen appearances in sanyaku and yet when he mounts the dohyo I still find myself thinking "who's this guy" and checking the schedule.

If it wasn't for the initial hype, it would be Endo.

But don't forget about Sadanoumi and Kotoeko. They're like Myogiryu & Okinoumi Mark ½.

[Yamanashi 3,728]

4 hours ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

I have often thought that we should take a poll on who is the least recognisable top division wrestler and then plot the results in relation to their actual achievements. The wrestler with the lowest recognisability/achievement (r/a) rating for me is Myogiryu. Been in maku'uchi since the late eighteenth century, umpteen appearances in sanyaku and yet when he mounts the dohyo I still find myself thinking "who's this guy" and checking the schedule.

I came to Sumo about 2017.  At some point I assumed that there was this three-person group: Okinoumi, Kagayaki, Yutakayama.  Irrespective of ranking, one of them would show up every three bouts or so, and I'd try to guess which one it was before the name was announced.  Then Ryuden showed up, and I thought maybe he was training to be the next member of the trio (like Shemp replacing Curly Joe).

Sadanoumi, Kotoeko, Meisei, Myogiryu and Takarafuji are the steady character actors who keep the basho moving day by day; they remind you that there are 42 members of Makuuchi, and somebody's got to fill those slots.

[Seiyashi 4,071]

And now for something completely different:

Interesting tidbit from Kihō's shin-jūryō interview. Have there been other rikishi who have chosen to homage their parents in similar ways in their shikona?

[Tochinofuji 372]

3 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

And now for something completely different:

Interesting tidbit from Kihō's shin-jūryō interview. Have there been other rikishi who have chosen to homage their parents in similar ways in their shikona?

While I certainly can't answer your question, on the topic of Kiho I have to say I've been quite impressed by his very slick grip work this tournament. His pummeling/makikae/fighting for the underarm grip has been absolutely gorgeous. Even when he doesn't win the pummel it's still nicely done and he manages to turn it into something (see his match day 2 for example). 

[Katooshu 3,135]

Shishi is still raw, but it looks like he's added new moves and improved balance to his repertoire. 

[Athenayama 953]

Did Takakento just get robbed or is it just my eyes?

Edited July 13, 2023 by Athenayama

[Katooshu 3,135]

I only saw one replay and it would've helped if the view were closer, but it sure looked like Azumaryu stepped out.

[Chartorenji 235]

22 hours ago, RabidJohn said:

I've called him the invisible man before, but the grey man of ozumo would be closer.
He's always been a solid, dependable, journeyman of a rikishi, capable of good, if unspectacular, results when uninjured, but never attracted the spotlight. 
Now he's coming into his prime and getting really good results, he's suddenly become a lot more noticeable, that's all.

I mean, dude is bulldozing Sekiwake now. Even when the likes of Sadanoumi or Myogiryu had those mini great tournaments in 2021 and 2022 they weren't as dominating as him. I get age and the prime thing, but it's just come out of nowhere. 

[Kaninoyama 1,694]

Nishikigi is an unstoppable force of nature. 

Edited July 13, 2023 by Kaninoyama

[Faustonowaka 112]

Damn Nishikigi, he beat all current sanyaku in a row… I am pretty sure no maegashira has ever done that before

[Bunbukuchagama 688]

4 minutes ago, Kaninoyama said:

Nishiki is an unstoppable force of nature. 

So, he got casted in the role of Takayasu's heart-breaker?

[Bunbukuchagama 688]

Just now, Faustonowaka said:

Damn Nishikigi, he beat all current sanyaku in a row… I am pretty sure no maegashira has ever done that before

Abi started 5-0 against sanyaku not that long ago, if I am not mistaken.

[Faustonowaka 112]

2 minutes ago, Bunbukuchagama said:

Abi started 5-0 against sanyaku not that long ago, if I am not mistaken.

Yes but over the course of 2 basho Nishikigi beat every man in sanyaku, 8-0

[Bunbukuchagama 688]

So, Kirishima is not O'K...

[Bunbukuchagama 688]

Just now, Faustonowaka said:

Yes but over the course of 2 basho Nishikigi beat every man in sanyaku, 8-0

This is a bit arbitrary. 

[Jakusotsu 5,815]

18 minutes ago, Bunbukuchagama said:

21 minutes ago, Faustonowaka said:

Yes but over the course of 2 basho Nishikigi beat every man in sanyaku, 8-0

This is a bit arbitrary. 

And wrong as well. Nishikigi lost against Terunofuji and Daieisho last basho.