Hankegami 412 Posted January 28 (edited) Congratulations to Terunofuji, the Tyrannosaurus Rex atop of the sumo food chain. I was totally taken aback by the show of strength and obstinacy that he gave this basho, and in the few days in particular. So, Yusho number 9. If I ever understood anything about Terunofuji, I believe he will now gun for Yusho number 10. After that.... Nah, he's not going to retire unless a) his body gives up, or b) someone else step up to Yokozuna. Kirishima failed to do that just now, and the Ozeki trio (soon quartet) are soon back to square one. Terunofuji is going to gun for Yusho 11, 12, 13 and so on, as long as he manages to dominate like he did today. Terunofuji's protracted dominance is troublesome, however. He just showed that no one is anywhere close to his level despite his bum knees and his hurting lower back. He often loses to some rank-and-file on his way to the Yusho, but never gives an inch to the top dogs. Now, we're going to have four Ozeki in a few days. Kirishima is 0-11, Hoshoryu is 0-10, the upcoming Kotozakura is 0-7. The only one with a few wins under his mawashi is 'ole reliable Takakeisho, who is himself 4-6 but just 1-5 in their last six encounters (but that win in itself gives some credit to the Hamster). Kotonowaka resisted well in the playoff, but he was also constantly on the defense. From the looks of it, we could not see a new Yokozuna for a while yet. Edited January 28 by Hankegami 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kishinoyama 582 Posted January 28 6 hours ago, Benihana said: Ura saved his best for day 15. I hope this is indicative of what is to come now. I always watch the match, the replays and then I will watch it again to look at some of the reactions of the spectators. Two older guys that may have been following sumo for fifty years, had the shock and awe look on their faces after the Ura and Ryuden match. And one lady, head down and hands covering her face, must have thought that Ura had seriously injured himself. She is also a big Tobizaru fan judging by her reactions to the loses he had on the last two days. I don't think she was there on day thirteen when he also lost. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kamitsuumi 384 Posted January 28 Apparently Kotonowaka wants to keep being Kotonowaka 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Koorifuu 886 Posted January 28 Right, I'd forgotten he was supposed to morph into Kotozakura II when promoted to ozeki. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rocks 1,807 Posted January 28 1 hour ago, Hankegami said: Congratulations to Terunofuji, the Tyrannosaurus Rex atop of the sumo food chain. I was totally taken aback by the show of strength and obstinacy that he gave this basho, and in the few days in particular. So, Yusho number 9. If I ever understood anything about Terunofuji, I believe he will now gun for Yusho number 10. After that.... Nah, he's not going to retire unless a) his body gives up, or b) someone else step up to Yokozuna. Kirishima failed to do that just now, and the Ozeki trio (soon quartet) are soon back to square one. Terunofuji is going to gun for Yusho 11, 12, 13 and so on, as long as he manages to dominate like he did today. Terunofuji's protracted dominance is troublesome, however. He just showed that no one is anywhere close to his level despite his bum knees and his hurting lower back. He often loses to some rank-and-file on his way to the Yusho, but never gives an inch to the top dogs. Now, we're going to have four Ozeki in a few days. Kirishima is 0-11, Hoshoryu is 0-10, the upcoming Kotozakura is 0-7. The only one with a few wins under his mawashi is 'ole reliable Takakeisho, who is himself 4-6 but just 1-5 in their last six encounters (but that win in itself gives some credit to the Hamster). Kotonowaka resisted well in the playoff, but he was also constantly on the defense. From the looks of it, we could not see a new Yokozuna for a while yet. I don't know. Considering Terunofuji hasn't finished 2 basho in a row in a year and a half you have to think it's not likely he wins in March. I have to wonder how easily he would have beat Kirishima and in the playoff if he didn't have a full days rest the day before. I think he still would have won but much more marginally. I think any of the Ozeki with a convincing win in March and a close second in May will probably get promoted. If that doesn't happen it will be more due to their beating each other than losing to Terunofuji. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rocks 1,807 Posted January 28 I will add I think it's probably close to 100% we have at least one new Yokozuna by January 2025. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Octofuji 327 Posted January 28 What a great final day of sumo. It's incredible that Ura could even support his own body weight in that position, let alone throw Ryuden! Nice to see Takarafuji finishing with a win.If that's his last bout in Makuuchi it will take the edge off of losing to Oho. Looks like he might swap divisions with his "third wave" stablemate Takerufuji, which will at least avoid a lot of confusion. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gurowake 3,923 Posted January 28 2 hours ago, Kamitsuumi said: Apparently Kotonowaka wants to keep being Kotonowaka I have to wonder how seriously they actually considered him to have the potential for Ozeki when stating the plan for him to adopt his grandfather's shikona if he made it there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reonito 1,335 Posted January 28 9 hours ago, Bunbukuchagama said: That grip change...It usually leads to a loss, but Kotonowaka just failed to react. It's different when a yokozuna does it. You have to do it fast and without raising yourself up. Hakuho/Harumafuji/Kakuryu had some epic bouts with repeated grip changes. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bunbukuchagama 688 Posted January 28 40 minutes ago, Reonito said: It's different when a yokozuna does it. You have to do it fast and without raising yourself up. Hakuho/Harumafuji/Kakuryu had some epic bouts with repeated grip changes. We don't get to see it too often these days. Typically, it is attempted as a desperation move that fails and results in a quick loss. Terunofuji's was so precise and decisive, Kotonowaka didn't even flinch. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 18,786 Posted January 28 3 hours ago, Kamitsuumi said: Apparently Kotonowaka wants to keep being Kotonowaka 3 hours ago, Koorifuu said: Right, I'd forgotten he was supposed to morph into Kotozakura II when promoted to ozeki. I don't believe it was ever mentioned on here at the time, but before the basho Nikkan had an article quoting him to the effect that if promoted he'd like to compete at ozeki as Kotonowaka at least for a few tournaments as an expression of gratitude to shisho-dad. Based on the Asahi tweet, however, I'm not so sure if Senior actually sees it like that... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dingo 1,160 Posted January 28 (edited) Some final day thoughts : Takarafuji will drop to Juryo, but with some luck he can bounce back to makuuchi with a good result. I'm glad he's not ready to give up yet. We'll see if he'll find juryo easier. I'm quite amazed that Tsurugishou managed to climb to 9 wins basically on one leg. Granted, Bushozan probably didn't put too much effort into the final bout but a good result for Tsurugishou nonetheless. It's remarkable that ara-40 Tamawashi resisted Onosato's pushing so much that Onosato had to resort to a pulldown. I guess it speaks more about Tamawashi's physical shape than Onosato's power. Ura... I'm simply speechless. It takes some special kind of reaction, speed and cleverness to come up with these kind of moves in the middle of a bout. Hat off to Ura, this was the most entertaining bout by far this basho. Perfect excitement for the final bouts! Kotonowaka very careful again in his match against wily Tobizaru, but once his ring skills take over he can beat almost anyone. He came closer than ever to beating Terunofuji in the playoff, but a little bit is still missing. In any case he did much better than Kirishima whose yokozuna ambitions got literally thrown out! Terunofuji leaving no space at all for Kirishima to stake his claim. I'm sure Terunofuji benefitted from Hoshoryuu's kyujo which left him with a much needed rest day to recover and prepare for the final bouts. He looked rested and determined to protect his rank. I was totally wrong earlier about Terunofuji being done -- we'll see him sticking around this year for sure. As for Kotonowaka, a doten yusho and ozeki rank, what a start to his year. I'm sure watching him as ozeki whether named Kotonowaka or Kotozakura will be very exciting. Edited January 28 by dingo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dingo 1,160 Posted January 28 12 hours ago, Bunbukuchagama said: He was always spectacular. Just not very good. I find it funny to call someone who reached Komusubi not very good. What does that say about all the hundreds of professional rikishi below him? 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kotomiyama 165 Posted January 28 Fantastic day of Sumo! Ura served a top appetiser to prepare our palate for the main course: a sheer dominance display from Terunofuji. Some said that he was waiting for Kirishima to get the rope to retire... well I guess Terunofuji made a statement today. Not only he handled the Yokozuna prospect like a baby, he also dominated the new Ozeki. His intai will have to wait. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Godango 956 Posted January 28 GIF's aside I'm pretty darn happy for Terunofuji. My ideal outcome would have been the 12-3 3-way play-off outcome, as then you'd have Terunofuji doing his job, Kirishima getting at least yusho equivalent and justifiable promotion, and Kotonowaka with a justifiable 32-win promotion. BUT -- this outcome is obviously the right one, no Yokozuna should be dispatched in the manner than Kirishima was, and Kotonowaka got the job done for an undeniable promotion. Great basho all round. Kirishima is now 33-12 in his last 3 basho so he's keeping his sumo where is needs to be; considering those are his only full basho at Ozeki it feels safe to say that barring injury he'll get another chance to earn his way up. It's good to see the multiple-sanyaku madness even out to where it should be with our soon-to-be four ozeki; and Daieisho is still technically on a run if he can Zensho in Osaka . All jokes aside, yeah there was a year or so of instability but it's a great time to be a sumo fan, on the cusp of a new era. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kaninoyama 1,694 Posted January 28 Am I the only one who is glad that Kirishima failed in his initial grab for the rope? Nothing against him, but it shouldn't come that easy, and he just doesn't have the commanding presence of a yokozuna yet (and he's won't be, at least for the time being). 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RabidJohn 1,665 Posted January 28 21 minutes ago, Kaninoyama said: Am I the only one who is glad that Kirishima failed in his initial grab for the rope? Nothing against him, but it shouldn't come that easy, and he just doesn't have the commanding presence of a yokozuna yet (and he's won't be, at least for the time being). I wouldn't say I'm glad he failed, but I agree he simply isn't dominant enough yet. He needs to avoid those 1st week losses to start really looking the part. None of the 3 newest ozeki can currently beat Terunofuji, so if any of them manage to take advantage of his kyujo to string 2 yusho together, it's gonna be said that they had it easy. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrGrumpyGills 119 Posted January 29 37 minutes ago, Kaninoyama said: Am I the only one who is glad that Kirishima failed in his initial grab for the rope? Nothing against him, but it shouldn't come that easy, and he just doesn't have the commanding presence of a yokozuna yet (and he's won't be, at least for the time being). No, I think so too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sumo Spiffy 535 Posted January 29 3 hours ago, Kotomiyama said: Fantastic day of Sumo! Ura served a top appetiser to prepare our palate for the main course: a sheer dominance display from Terunofuji. Some said that he was waiting for Kirishima to get the rope to retire... well I guess Terunofuji made a statement today. Not only he handled the Yokozuna prospect like a baby, he also dominated the new Ozeki. His intai will have to wait. 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
just_some_guy 257 Posted January 29 Just a few little thoughts: -Ura is so freaking fun. -I had written Terunofuji off after the two early losses; figured one more and then kyujo. Somehow, he got stronger as the basho went on. Hashtag just Yokozuna things. -As others have said, Kirishima isn't quite Yokozuna level yet, as evidence by being chucked halfway to the concession stand by Terunofuji. -Though I did think Kotonowaka (or "weird-boobs" as my daughter calls him) had a good shot at making Ozeki some day, I thought he'd take a little longer to get there. Good for him, and though he missed this yusho I wouldn't be surprised to see some in his future. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jabbamaru 166 Posted January 29 Cool bashô! What can i say? You have to love the Kaiju 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Morty 1,480 Posted January 29 3 hours ago, RabidJohn said: I wouldn't say I'm glad he failed, but I agree he simply isn't dominant enough yet. He needs to avoid those 1st week losses to start really looking the part. None of the 3 newest ozeki can currently beat Terunofuji, so if any of them manage to take advantage of his kyujo to string 2 yusho together, it's gonna be said that they had it easy. Likewise, I wasn't glad, but I didn't think he was ready yet and that was proven by the outcome. Getting to Yokozuna is literally one of the hardest things to achieve in world sport, and it's pretty rare that rikishi make it on their first attempt - even Hakuho didn't get the rope on his first try. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dingo 1,160 Posted January 29 It's the old argument again, but a rikishi really can't be faulted if the opponent is kyujo. Yeah Terunofuji's health issues made it easier to go on a tsuna run but you can't hold it against any of the ozeki that the yokozuna is not physically able to fight. They can only fight the opposition is there on the dohyo. As we saw this basho, when Terunofuji is there he can still do his job well but last year we had more of a commanding yokozuna absence than presence. Let's see how it goes this year. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tiger Tanaka 222 Posted January 29 (edited) Great start to the 2024 Year in Sumo. Was wonderful to see most of the top rankers performing at a high level, while up and comers like Onosato, Takerufuji, and a returning from injury Hakuoho continue to usher in a new era. Terunofuji had a heck of a tournament and a big congratulations to him on his efforts. Fantastic to see him show his strength in tossing Kirishima out, dispatching of the rising star Onosato, and taking it to Kotonowaka twice, showing that despite all the injuries he has faced, no one is quite on his level yet. A performance that impressed the entire Kokugikan. Well maybe not every single spectator... Edited January 29 by Tiger Tanaka 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hakutorizakura 590 Posted January 29 Ok, everyone is praising Kaiju but no thanks to Shodai who woke him up?? 1 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
