Nagoya 2023 discussion (results)

[Faustonowaka 90]

14 minutes ago, Jakusotsu said:

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

My point is he beat 8 different sanyaku opponents in a row, as maegashira, which has never been done before

Edited July 13 by Faustonowaka

[maglor 102]

Daieisho went 7-0 as a Maegashira against sanyaku in his yusho

[Leoben 77]

I enjoyed the Hokuseiho - Asanoyama match. Hokuseiho was much more spirited than usual, I imagine because Asanoyama actually tried to go head to head against him in a battle of strength instead of the positional fights most of his opponents go for.

[Kaito 233]

3 hours ago, Athenayama said:

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

Yeah, I'm not sure if Azumaryu stepped out or not, but his feet left the dohyo before Takakento touched down, so it wouldn't have stood up to a review. He would've been lucky to get a rematch.

[Morty 1,442]

Nishikigi has clearly been possessed by the ghost of Futabayama. 

[RabidJohn 1,425]

I just saw Tamawashi go for the belt and win by yori-kiri - again!
The exception that proves the old dog/new tricks rule, I suppose.

Wakamotoharu looked mystified after Nishikigi made short work of him. I'll be flabbergasted if he can get 12 wins from here, but he may still be able to keep his run going.

Daieisho, on the other hand, looks a lock for the necessary numbers, having put his Nishikigi blip well behind him. 

I don't know what Kirishima was thinking of, but Tobizaru has proven that he's a danger to anyone who tries pulling... Reminds me of Kakuryu's bad habits.

Of the three rookies, I expected Hakuoho to be the one to watch, but Gonoyama is doing Takekuma-san and Sakai very proud. It's like the return of Goeido.

---

Re: other grey men. 
It's subjective. Sadanoumi yes, but I've never had Myogiryu in that category, nor Takarafuji, whose lack of neck is very noticeable and has been much commented upon.

[Hakuryuho 307]

Nishikigi is an enigma.

Only 8 kachikoshi out of 28 tournaments from late 2016 until late 2021 and now he's cutting through his (san'yaku) opponents like butter.
Does the Nishikigi-train have brakes?
 

[Fashiritētā 132]

Nishikigi is dialed in and focused, dare i say blue collar Sumo.

Clock in , beat a Sanyaku opponent, awkward interview, rinse and repeat.

[dingo 888]

After day 5, it kinda smells like another hiramaku yusho unless Daieisho can stay in the running. 

Gounoyama was very very sharp and aggressive today. I suppose it's easy to do that against Kotoekou but if he can keep that up he'll be in sanyaku in no time.

Tamawashi turning into a yori rikishi at the young age of 37? And he's doing it quite well too. Takakeisho can learn something from him.

Midorifuji had impressive timing on the tawara. But that's more or less bread and butter for him. He was in a fairly good shape too after the long bout, unlike Mitakeumi.

Of the three ozeki contenders, I'd say Daieisho has shown the most ozeki like sumo so far. Hoshoryuu and Wakamotoharu are more or less equal in that respect.

 

 

 

 

[Yamanashi 3,360]

1 minute ago, dingo said:

Tamawashi turning into a yori rikishi at the young age of 37? And he's doing it quite well too. Takakeisho can learn something from him.

Unless he learns to grow his arms another three inches, it won't help much.

2 minutes ago, dingo said:

He was in a fairly good shape too after the long bout, unlike Mitakeumi.

I was surprised at how long Mitakeumi lasted.  Granted, when you're locked up in the middle of the dohyo you can't just concede, but he had fight in him for longer than he has had lately.

[RabidJohn 1,425]

1 hour ago, Yamanashi said:

Unless he learns to grow his arms another three inches, it won't help much.

I was surprised at how long Mitakeumi lasted.  Granted, when you're locked up in the middle of the dohyo you can't just concede, but he had fight in him for longer than he has had lately.

I was surprised at how knackered he was afterwards - he could not get up for a long moment. He's way less fit than I'd realised.

[dingo 888]

1 hour ago, Yamanashi said:

Unless he learns to grow his arms another three inches, it won't help much. 

He could also lose 80kg or so. 

[Katooshu 2,774]

Splitting hairs about wins over sanyaku aside, Nishikigi is on a tear and seems possessed by something lately. It's fascinating really - what changed to make him go from 1-6 to winning 13 straight vs top tier opposition? 

[Jakusotsu 5,294]

Perhaps he simply forgot how to lose?

[dingo 888]

I think Nishikigi had it in him before. He's had occasional flashes of strong sumo and good wins, and quite many "good losses" against strong opponents. He just might be in the zone lately, we'll see how long that zone lasts. 

[Kashunowaka 296]

3 hours ago, dingo said:

Tamawashi turning into a yori rikishi at the young age of 37?

Two straight yorikiri wins in makuuchi by Tamawashi has only happened once before 13 years ago, also in Nagoya: http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi_basho.aspx?r=5944&b=201007
Also http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi_basho.aspx?r=5944&b=200701, but in makushita so not on consecutive days.

[Octofuji 244]

2 hours ago, RabidJohn said:

I was surprised at how knackered he was afterwards - he could not get up for a long moment. He's way less fit than I'd realised.

He always seems to struggle in the joint Keiko sessions. Watching Kakuryu giving him butsukari last year(?) was painful (and I think led to an injury).

He's the polar opposite of someone like Takayasu but three yushos suggest stamina doesn't count for that much when you (usually) only have to fight for ten seconds a day.

[Octofuji 244]

56 minutes ago, Jakusotsu said:

Perhaps he simply forgot how to lose?

Or maybe he got contact lenses?

Edited July 13 by Octofuji

[Tigerboy1966 1,220]

Nishikigi's favourite movie quote: "That's how you're gonna beat 'em, Butch. They keep underestimating you."

[Shikona 139]

5 hours ago, dingo said:

After day 5, it kinda smells like another hiramaku yusho unless Daieisho can stay in the running. 

Your sense of smell more sensitive than mine. I see the hiramaku only one win ahead of two sekewake pursuers despite much weaker opposition. Let's see how the next five days go.  If they don't have more of a lead than currently, the last five days are sure to bring the toughest bouts, and we've seen a pretty consistent return to reality (just recently Meisei, Midorifuji and another great start by Takayasu) for the lower-ranking contenders.

 

 

 

 

 

[Kaninoyama 1,466]

2 hours ago, Kashunowaka said:

Two straight yorikiri wins in makuuchi by Tamawashi has only happened once before 13 years ago, also in Nagoya: http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi_basho.aspx?r=5944&b=201007
Also http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi_basho.aspx?r=5944&b=200701, but in makushita so not on consecutive days.

A bit of context is in order. Tamawashi has won his last two by yorikiri but he's not at all happy about it. According to the NHK reporter, after his match yesterday he came back to the dressing room shaking his head and exclaiming "Dame da (no good). I need to get back to doing my own sumo."

[Bunbukuchagama 422]

1 hour ago, Kaninoyama said:

A bit of context is in order. Tamawashi has won his last two by yorikiri but he's not at all happy about it. According to the NHK reporter, after his match yesterday he came back to the dressing room shaking his head and exclaiming "Dame da (no good). I need to get back to doing my own sumo."

Better lose right than win wrong! 

[Seregost 105]

5 hours ago, Octofuji said:

Or maybe he got contact lenses?

I thought exactly the same yesterday

[Kaninoyama 1,466]

1 minute ago, Seregost said:

I thought exactly the same yesterday

He puts his glasses back on right after every bout, so no, he's still fighting blind, and yet winning.

[Bunbukuchagama 422]

9 minutes ago, Kaninoyama said:

He puts his glasses back on right after every bout, so no, he's still fighting blind, and yet winning.

I don't think his opponents are easy to miss.