Aki 2023 discussion (results)

[Hankegami 412]

3 hours ago, Benihana said:

Hello? Anyone here? Do we really need the 'muricans to wake up, to get this going here? I can't remember ANY basho day being so quiet. 

Perhaps because it's a warm September still? Some could have gone on vacation, other just out to get a last bit of sun. I was planning to go to the beach myself this afternoon, just saying. But I'm going to do my duty as a faithful inhabitant of the Old Continent 

That said, good Day 1 of Aki basho to everyone  As usual, the first day being the first day it's too early to understand how things are going to shape out, but I will try nonetheless.

The spotlight of the day - data-wise - goes to Kotoeko and Nishikigi IMHO. Not because of flashy bouts, but because of their terrible precedents against their opponents. Kotoeko was literally 0-5 against Hidenoumi Hiradoumi, yet he was able to win against him cleanly. Breaking your duck against an old nemesis is most often a good compass for understanding how good a rikishi is going in the basho. Who knows if it will be the same for Kotoeko. The last time he went beyond his usual 8-7 (or 7-8) was is 9-6 in Haru 2022, and his last 10-5 was in Nagoya 2020. Well, time will tell. Nisihikigi was 2-7 against Tamawashi, who appeared to move well aside from losing his tachi-ai, so it does not seem just luck. Our shin-Komusubi appears to be the same of his last two basho. Perhaps he will manage to hang on among the san'yaku for a while.

Going up, Asanoyama surprised me positively by winning convincingly against Wakamotoharu despite his injured arm. I know, he's an ex-Ozeki, but Wakamotoharu is a strong Sekiwake so nothing was off the table. Perhaps Asanoyama is going to put a good score despite his arm this time around.

Last note the three little pigs Ozeki. Kirishima and Hoshoryu did a very good first day, perhaps surprisingly. Hoshoryu is coming from a Yusho-Ozeki promotion conundrum and I though he could have been a bit out of pace, but he appeared as focused as always. Kirishima did some good oshi-zumo against "Loose Mawashi" Tobizaru, against whom he had a unremarkable 7-10 record. Who did not live up to expectations was Takakeisho, who literally did Daieisho sumo by falling forward - twice. Reminiscent of the Kiribayama vs. Daieisho playoff last Haru. He was against Hokutofuji, who got a 12-3D at Nagoya and is possibly in a good shape much like Nishikigi, but it looks a bit bad nonetheless.

As for tomorrow... Well, that's Day 2, very early still. However, there will be a couple of good matches. Kotonowaka vs. Asanoyama (0-1) is one. Their last encounter was back in Sandanme, it's going to be fun. Another is the musubi no ichiban, Nishikigi vs. Takaeisho (3-6). Nishikigi is heavy and in a good shape apparently, while Takakeisho is on a bad spot and should not be losing that much this early on.

Edited September 10, 2023 by Hankegami

[Tigerboy1966 1,376]

Slightly disturbing image as Takakeisho appeared to be sporting a "sand-bra" after his rematch.

I think Kirishima is going to win this one; great "grace under pressure" sumo today against Tobizaru. He has that calmness about him that says "next yokozuna right here".

[Gooner 39]

Very enjoyable day 1. 

I do think Tobizaru hurt his shoulder because of Kiri's morizashi. He did not move it all after the bout. A dislocation maybe?

[ryafuji 807]

51 minutes ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

Slightly disturbing image as Takakeisho appeared to be sporting a "sand-bra" after his rematch.

Yep couldn't help noticing that too... doesn't seem to take much to get Takakeisho perspiring.

Thought Nishikigi looked good considering the pre-basho injury reports. 

[Yarimotsu 522]

2 hours ago, Hankegami said:

Kotoeko was literally 0-5 against Hidenoumi, yet he was able to win against him cleanly. Breaking your duck against an old nemesis is most often a good compass for understanding how good a rikishi is going in the basho.

Hiradoumi, not Hidenoumi, but your point stands.

 

 

[Hankegami 412]

2 minutes ago, Yarimotsu said:

Hiradoumi, not Hidenoumi, but your point stands.

Damn, I fell for the Hi-something-umi trap again 

[Fashiritētā 169]

Hoshoryu and Kirishima starting out correct.

Kotonowaka starting his Ozeki run.

[Akinomaki 39,755]

3 hours ago, Hankegami said:

3 hours ago, Benihana said:

Hello? Anyone here? Do we really need the 'muricans to wake up, to get this going here? I can't remember ANY basho day being so quiet. 

Perhaps because it's a warm September still? Some could have gone on vacation, other just out to get a last bit of sun.

I rather think the forum is quietly dying down - it's not that sumo has lost followers, they go elsewhere or only consume and don't contribute

[Octofuji 327]

Takarafuji certainly seems to have Hokuseiho's number. I don't know what that ineffectual flailing around with Takarafuji's head was about. I've seen Aoiyama do that move (with a lot more energy) but it just looked ludicrous when Hokuseiho tried it.

Asanoyama definitely looked in the mood against Wakamotoharu.

[Shikona 139]

40 minutes ago, Octofuji said:

Takarafuji certainly seems to have Hokuseiho's number. I don't know what that ineffectual flailing around with Takarafuji's head was about. I've seen Aoiyama do that move (with a lot more energy) but it just looked ludicrous when Hokuseiho tried it.

Asanoyama definitely looked in the mood against Wakamotoharu.

Yes, but clearly wincing as he tugged at the arm sleeve afterwards. A quality win for sure, but is each match going to be making the injury worse?

[dingo 1,159]

Maybe I missed a post somewhere but what's up with Asanoyama's arm/elbow? I know about his toe injury but the arm is news to me. 

[Bunbukuchagama 688]

2 hours ago, Octofuji said:

Takarafuji certainly seems to have Hokuseiho's number. I don't know what that ineffectual flailing around with Takarafuji's head was about. I've seen Aoiyama do that move (with a lot more energy) but it just looked ludicrous when Hokuseiho tried it.

He was probably advised to be aggressive in order to avoid a prolonged yotsu fight, but the whole idea is so foreign to him that he didn't really know what to do.

[Golynohana 316]

50 minutes ago, dingo said:

Maybe I missed a post somewhere but what's up with Asanoyama's arm/elbow? I know about his toe injury but the arm is news to me. 

Biceps injury he suffered last basho.

[Tochinofuji 372]

3 hours ago, Akinomaki said:

I rather think the forum is quietly dying down - it's not that sumo has lost followers, they go elsewhere or only consume and don't contribute

I have to imagine many are moving to Reddit or Discord, or just the YouTube comments. I can't see either replacing this forum for me, so I hope SF continues to plod along, as the atmosphere and knowledge base here really is irreplaceable. 

[dingo 1,159]

37 minutes ago, Golynohana said:

Biceps injury he suffered last basho.

Oh yeah, I thought that had healed already. Guess not. 

[One time for your mind 10]

1 hour ago, Tochinofuji said:

I have to imagine many are moving to Reddit or Discord, or just the YouTube comments. I can't see either replacing this forum for me, so I hope SF continues to plod along, as the atmosphere and knowledge base here really is irreplaceable. 

As a 5 year lurker who just signed up to say this: I agree this is about as good as it gets for sumo information in English. 

But the discourse often gets pretty heated over what I would consider minutiae. And I’ve witnessed quite a few of these human sumo encyclopedias on here tear down people who show even the slightest ignorance.

I’ve learned a ton here, but as an argumentative person myself, I decided to just stay away rather than get all upset about sumo, which is one of the ways I relax.

Cheers all!

[Seiyashi 4,071]

2 hours ago, Tochinofuji said:

I have to imagine many are moving to Reddit or Discord, or just the YouTube comments. I can't see either replacing this forum for me, so I hope SF continues to plod along, as the atmosphere and knowledge base here really is irreplaceable. 

Hear hear. I personally don't like the quicker one shot nature of Reddit or Discord, so I'll be around for a long while, but work got in the way this basho. 

[Bunny 6]

Love you all for your depth of knowledge and the civility of the forum. Truly an indispensable resource.

I was greatly amused by a comment on one of Jason's vids this morning where someone, who at least knows Jason is an Okinoumi fan, wanted to know if he had seen the vid where Okinoumi played "side man" in the ring entering ceremony for "some old yokozuna"? 

 

 

[MrGrumpyGills 119]

Reddit by and large can be quite toxic and in the Sumo subreddit there are too many casual fans and obnoxious know-it-alls for my liking. I don't care for Discord at all and don't use it for anything.
The start of a new basho can be slow comment-wise sometimes but it usually picks up with storylines unfolding etc., so I'm pretty sure this time will be no different.

[Koorifuu 886]

My early input: Hakuyozan is still a twat. 

[Yamanashi 3,723]

8 hours ago, Octofuji said:

I don't know what that ineffectual flailing around with Takarafuji's head was about.

I almost busted a gut when Raja said Hokuseiho was trying to grab Takarafuji's neck!

[Adil 232]

Yeah, seems like poor Hokuseiho didn't get the memo about Takarafuji's neck. 

(Thanks, @sumojoann!)

Edited September 11, 2023 by Adil

[Bunbukuchagama 688]

Wow, a water break!

[hakutorizakura 590]

19 minutes ago, Bunbukuchagama said:

Wow, a water break!

Oh no! I hope the medic team are allowed to mount the dohyo asap and help deliver the baby!

[Bunbukuchagama 688]

Terutsuyoshi folded. Literally.