Hatsu 2024 discussion (results)

[Akinomaki 39,790]

First dohyo-matsuri for the new Shonosuke, open to the public but still not for the sanyaku: apparently the NSK wants to have as few from the public as possible, there would be twice as much when they could see the top rikishi

o o o

improved video quality for the dohyo matsuri this time

another angle from the sumo channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng4QtKBcePE

part 2 with the yobidashi parade around the dohyo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K31IWL8HDYc

the 2 groups announcing the torikumi in town - the first led by Kunio

the other with Rikinojo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlIqERFc8ew

the yusho portrait presentation - with Hakkaku and the 3 deputy chief shimpan - Sadogatake kyujo

o

for Takakeisho and Kirishima

from the sumo channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SN7uVjIpd7M

o o

o o  o o o

o

[Rocks 1,807]

Has anyone been announced as officially out?

[Bunbukuchagama 688]

28 minutes ago, Rocks said:

Has anyone been announced as officially out?

No sekitori. 

[dingo 1,160]

Good solid win for Kotonowaka, but there was a minor canyon between his fists and the dohyo. I'm rooting for him but would also like to see some respect for the rules.

Nice to see some mouthwatering bouts from the first day on. Hoshoryuu vs Atamifuji was a great matchup, though all the ozeki managed to win fairly comfortably in the end.

Good that the yokozuna steps finally back on the dohyo. Was a bit afraid he'd pull off Ura's arm right away. Fortunately Ura seems fine. I mean he already has bad knees and made it to komusubi so maybe he'd make ozeki with just one hand? Quite dangerous sumo though. 

[junsan 170]

Akua's kakenage NEVER works!

[Hankegami 412]

Happy Day 1 of Hatsu 2024, everybody! This topic seems yet to take off properly, so I guess I should make a hefty post to fire things up.

As usual, Day 1 is extremely soon for casting dies, but it still gives a scent to be smelled. So, let's start out with the Makushita joi, aka sekitori hopefuls.  The two most followed guys here are, of course, Hakuoho and Wakatakakage, both on their way to bounce back where they truly belong (hopefully). Hakuoho looked a bit rusty, and took his sweet time to find a way to beat Yago. Wakatakakage, on the other hand, played catch with a mostly retreating Kayo. This felt double important to me, not only because I am a WTH fan (although nowhere as zealous as Ichiyamamoto), but also because we all know that WTK has a recurring bad habit to sleep on the first days of your average basho. The Juryo guys didn't tell me much today, so let's skip the division entirely and talk about Makuuchi straightforwardly.

First of all, let's give a check on the Grand Old Guys of Makuuchi, that is Tamawashi (39), Mitoryu (37), Aoiyama (37), Sadanoumi (36), and Takarafuji (36). Neither impressed me much today, although a couple of them felt better than the others. Those are the two winners of today, Sadanoumi and Takarafuji, perhaps not casually also the youngest ones in this particular list. Sadanoumi won an oldie bout against Tamawashi, who was reared with relative ease. Takarafuji similarly won what looked to me as an unimpressive bout against a technically disabled Tomokaze. For the others, Aoiyama went on fiercely against Shimazuumi but felt like gassed out by the end, while Myogiryu didn't put up much against Takanosho. In short, it wasn't a great first day for their perspective their fitness to hang on in Makuuchi on the long run.

Passing on to the Middle Maegashira bunch, let's focus on the main highlight alone. The grand upset maker of Day 1 is undeniably Hiradoumi, who got his first win against Hokuseiho. I'd put the Hirado boy on my personal watch for this basho, also considering that he did good numbers during the preparations in December and early January. The rest o the group pretty much did just as expected, and I'd wait a few more days before guessing their likely outcome for this basho.

Finally, the Mid-Upper San'yaku, from Sekiwake to Yokozuna. Total sweep from Daieisho to Terunofuji today. Much-hyped Ozeki hopeful Kotonowaka (9-6 in Aki and 11-4 in Kyushu, needs a 13-2 or a good 12-3 to get the nod) looked like a truck while dispatching an Abi out of cards to play out. I am personally not a great fun of Four Tits, but I admit that his sumo today looked just as good as your next Ozeki. Hoshoryu played a great reversal against Atamifuji, who I liked despite his loss. Atamin got a left outside grip and looked for a yorikiri, but Hoshoryu reversed sides with a very elegant throw. Moral: never give your belt to Hoshoryu, it's really dangerous. That said, I think Atamifuji can survive the rough wooing at M1w. He's surely going to get a bunch of losses from the upper San'yaku, but a KK is well within his reach. On the O1e side, Yokozuna hopeful Kirishima (great fan, I guess I just don't like pancakes) didn't take chances and sent a totally baited Wakamotoharu flying with a masterful nodo-wa x pulldown. Talking about Wakamotoharu, that wasn't a grand start at all. I like the guy, but the upper San'yaku looks increasingly out of his reach now that everyone from Daieisho upwards is taking no prisoners. Last two guys to talk about are the St. James Infirmary Blues duo, Takakeisho and Terunofuji. Takaeisho totally read a tricky Midorifuji and side-jumped against the latter's henka, pushing him out with ease. This was too easy of a win for the Hamster to judge how much his neck is limiting him this basho. Aaand the Yokozuna. Terunofuji simply rag-dolled poor Ura. So that's it: Teru still got the clamps. Now the question is whether he's going to keep this pace for 15 full days.

Final summary for a totally too early arasoi guess. The main contenders from the day before (Terunofuji, Kirishima, Kotonowaka) are all out on the hunt. Teru in particular looks like the usual Teru and could represent a major problem for all contenders if he remains healthy. Kirishima in particular cannot allow himself any error to keep up if he wants that much-coveted rope. But in general everyone from Daieisho upwards appears to be in for the rap. Hard to say whether any Maegashira can fill in.

[Kujo 116]

It's a good thing Ura is so mobile, otherwise his elbow would have been Kaio'd (his own fault for sticking it in there). 

[Benihana 1,901]

18 minutes ago, Kujo said:

It's a good thing Ura is so mobile, otherwise his elbow would have been Kaio'd (his own fault for sticking it in there). 

Still, my elbow hurts just from watching it.

Nice day of sumo in makuuchi.

[Leoben 121]

Was that the longest match in Hakuoho's career? 

[Seiyashi 4,071]

Great bout from Shimazuumi - very impressive perseverance. Same arguably goes for Hakuōhō, although ring rust is probably more to blame there.

Takerufuji looks like an absolute beast, but jūryō is still early days.

Hokuseihō really needs a step change in his sumo.

Why is it Tobizaru and Shōdai's bouts always turn out interesting?

Kirishima and Wakamotoharu's bouts have lost a bit of shine nowadays. Those used to be the best joi matchup a year back.

And yes, Jirō is really bad. Terunofuji - Ura, on the other hand, whew. The elbow looked bad but the shoulder looked worse.

[Bunbukuchagama 688]

[Koorifuu 886]

Wakaikari never ceases to amaze. What a beautiful sukuinage on someone almost twice his size.

[dingo 1,160]

I'm surprised Hakuoho's hair is still not long enough for a topknot. Maybe he needs more nutritious food or something?

[Tochinofuji 372]

4 hours ago, Hankegami said:

... Wakatakakage, on the other hand, played catch with a mostly retreating Kayo. This felt double important to me, not only because I am a WTH fan (although nowhere as zealous as Ichiyamamoto), but also because we all know that WTK has a recurring bad habit to sleep on the first days of your average basho. 

For me, this one was also particularly important, not only because WTK has that habit of sleeping on the first few days, but because Kayo handed WTK his day 1 loss last basho. Was very glad to see him even things out solidly, even if he had his posture broken a bit for a few moments. 

[Octofuji 327]

6 hours ago, junsan said:

Akua's kakenage NEVER works!

It worked once

https://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi_basho.aspx?r=11918&b=202109

I remember getting excited about him this basho. But sadly he got exposed in Makuuchi.

[Octofuji 327]

3 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

Takerufuji looks like an absolute beast, but jūryō is still early days.

I guess a tadpole is a beast. It's astonishing he can get so much explosive power with those thin legs!

[Reonito 1,335]

8 hours ago, junsan said:

Akua's kakenage NEVER works!

The fact that he keeps trying it is the most hilarious thing in sumo.

[Reonito 1,335]

2 hours ago, Octofuji said:

It worked once

https://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi_basho.aspx?r=11918&b=202109

I remember getting excited about him this basho. But sadly he got exposed in Makuuchi.

He's won by it 20 times in his career, which is roughly 3 times as many as anyone else in that time span; he seems to successfully pull it off roughly once a basho, but there have to be several comically awry attempts for every success.

[Kotomiyama 165]

I screamed when I saw Ura's elbow trapped in that kotenage. Fortunately, his agility prevented any damage (I hope)

[Octofuji 327]

1 hour ago, Reonito said:

He's won by it 20 times in his career, which is roughly 3 times as many as anyone else in that time span; he seems to successfully pull it off roughly once a basho, but there have to be several comically awry attempts for every success. 

Here's a lot of those attempts 

https://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi_kim.aspx?r=11918#1yoritaoshi

[Tsuchinoninjin 1,247]

Well let’s just get this over with now… Takayasu yusho?

[Godango 956]

14 minutes ago, Tsuchinoninjin said:

Well let’s just get this over with now… Takayasu yusho?

I am too dead inside to even consider it at this point.

I'm sure one day he'll be holding the cup and giving his winners speech, and I'll still be all "let's not get ahead of ourselves..."

[Kaninoyama 1,694]

To make matters worse, on yesterday's NHK broadcast Mainoumi was absolutely gushing over Takayasu's performance and condition leading into Hatsu. "He was so solid the Ozeki couldn't even budge him!" 

I threw in the towel right there and then. 

 

[hakutorizakura 590]

When I saw Ryuden in gold mawashi I thought he was Kagayaki. But wait, he can't be this far up... and where are his moobs. And he lost.

[Bunbukuchagama 688]

Strike one. Terunofuji will retire after 3 losses, this is my prediction.