Natsu 2024 discussion (results)

[Tigerboy1966 1,376]

Congratulations on a most unlikely yusho for Asaazuma in jonidan. He's been in the division for five years and never looked remotely in danger of promotion: every time he has drifted to the upper reaches he has taken a whupping. He had a remarkably lucky schedule, never facing anyone higher than jd65, but hey, you can only beat what's in front of you.

Edited May 24 by Tigerboy1966
grammar

[Akinomaki 39,763]

Rare event: juryo torikumi are already announced (on NHK), but makuuchi have to wait, as usual now for day 14.

[incognito 2]

Bushozan stepped out first in his match vs. Chiyosakae? Regardless it was neat seeing both of them thinking they lost it.

[rhyen 1,808]

Kotozakura sprung that henka like an amateur.

[Akinomaki 39,763]

And all of a sudden, all ozeki at the basho are in the yusho hunt, plus one sekiwake and one komusubi.

[Bunbukuchagama 688]

Just now, Akinomaki said:

all ozeki at the basho

Which is half of them.

[Jakusotsu 5,806]

8 minutes ago, Bunbukuchagama said:

Which is half of them.

40% to be exact.

[Bunbukuchagama 688]

1 minute ago, Jakusotsu said:

40% to be exact.

Oh yes, a Yokozuna is just a fancier Ozeki.

[junsan 170]

ONOSATO! Ura had NO CHANCE to even initiate any manner of his pesky little tricks.

[Jakusotsu 5,806]

So, who's the favourite for the yusho now? My money is on Onosato.

[Bunbukuchagama 688]

10 minutes ago, Jakusotsu said:

So, who's the favourite for the yusho now? My money is on Onosato.

Obviously. Kotozakura still has Hoshoryu to beat. 

[RabidJohn 1,663]

Hokutofuji going in so low he couldn't see what was happening reminded me of Kotoshogiku.

I was quite impressed with Kotozakura's unashamed henka, not for its execution but its Spanish Inquisition quality.

Of the nice array of last-minute reversals on show today I liked Hiradoumi's the most. Kid can dance.

[dingo 1,159]

Sadanoumi's speed at the young age of 37 is amazing! No sign of losing much quality and a solid kachikoshi with 2 days to spare.

Tobizaru made it clear to Nishikifuji what is the skill and power gap between top and bottom of makuuchi. Quick and efficient work by the monkey.

When Mitakeumi vs Daieisho came up my first thought was what is Mitakeumi still doing on the dohyo? He lost decisively but didn't seem to limp or even favour his leg much. It's really a mystery, he can't be completely healthy can he?

Shonannoumi seemed already a bit nervous sitting next to the dohyo and waiting for his bout. And it showed in the match as well, he went in the tachiai without paying much attention to what Kotozakura is doing. Clever move from Kotozakura, but it was not the convincing sumo that would show he's still a force in the yusho hunt. Sure, by scoreline he's there at the top but he'll need to win out and at this moment, with this kind of sumo I'm not sure he can.

Kotozakura will have Abi tomorrow and I guess Hoshoryu on senshuraku. Tough opposition to overcome if he wants his first yusho. Onosato meanwhile has Shonannoumi tomorrow who I'm pretty sure he will defeat, and I'm guessing Abi for senshuraku? That'll be the final test which he has to pass if he wants the yusho. 

 

Edit: I just checked and in the past year neither Abi nor Hoshoryu has gotten a single win against Kotozakura. So Kotozakura has at least that going for him tomorrow and the day after. 

Edited May 24 by dingo

[Yubinhaad 11,545]

7 hours ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

Congratulations on a most unlikely yusho for Asaazuma in jonidan. He's been in the division for five years and never looked remotely in danger of promotion: every time he has drifted to the upper reaches he has taken a whupping. He had a remarkably lucky schedule, never facing anyone higher than jd65, but hey, you can only beat what's in front of you.

Whatever luck he had with the opposition in his first five bouts, his last two wins were great and make him a worthy yusho winner. Ienoshima was in Makushita this time last year, and Yurikisho would likely have been there too if it weren't for his own litany of injuries.

With a very happy shisho:

[Yamanashi 3,724]

Roga super-henkas veteran Hokutofuji (who lands in the third row), then goes across the dohyo to see if his opponent needs a hand up.

Kotozakura vs. Shonannoumi: looked like "Dance of the Hours" at Tokyo Disney.

[Bunbukuchagama 688]

1 hour ago, Yamanashi said:

Roga super-henkas veteran Hokutofuji (who lands in the third row), then goes across the dohyo to see if his opponent needs a hand up.

Roga is actually good at henka.

We may have found Chiyoshoma's heir.

[BroadMeadow 33]

There could be 6 rikishi at 10-4 headed into day 15! 

[Jakusotsu 5,806]

15 minutes ago, BroadMeadow said:

There could be 6 rikishi at 10-4 headed into day 15! 

That would be a first. The only other basho with nobody having more than 10 on Senshuraku had three at 10-4.

Fun fact: Kotozakura being one of them seems to be a habit.

Edited May 24 by Jakusotsu

[Asashosakari 18,784]

This basho will finish with - at best - the second-fewest intra-sanyaku matches in the 15-day era. If there's reason to scrap Onosato-Abi for Day 15 (or, less likely, Hoshoryu-Kotozakura), it may still tie for the least. So far, Hoshoryu-Wakamotoharu is the only one not realized despite the availability of both rikishi, the rest of the potential 36-match slate succumbed to all the kyujo.

[Oskanohana 227]

11 hours ago, incognito said:

Bushozan stepped out first in his match vs. Chiyosakae? Regardless it was neat seeing both of them thinking they lost it.

My guess is that after the Bushozan-Bushoyama fiasco by Kokonoe, there's no way they're calling a mono-ii involving this rikishi. His name is impossible to read properly, so whatever the gyoji says, it will stand.

As for the yusho, Abi of all people is the wild card. He ought to face both leaders (especially if he wins against Kotozakura), and can ensure a play-off spot for himself with both wins. My body is ready for the havoc.

[Tigerboy1966 1,376]

Is it possible to be both excited and depressed at the same time?

Having umpteen guys in contention for the yusho going in to last weekend is lots of fun... and yet... I can't help being deeply disappointed by the standards of sumo on show. I mean Kotozakura, really? The numbers say he's a worthy ozeki but he doesn't pass the eye test. I mean, what is actually good about his sumo? What are his strengths? What does he do to win his bouts? Maybe I'm just missing the subtleties.

On the positive side I have just loved watching Hiradoumi and I would would be really chuffed if he got KK. He's got that intensity and fire about him, and he does good sumo.

[Bunbukuchagama 688]

2 minutes ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

I mean Kotozakura, really? The numbers say he's a worthy ozeki but he doesn't pass the eye test. I mean, what is actually good about his sumo? What are his strengths? What does he do to win his bouts? Maybe I'm just missing the subtleties.

He has a big and strong body, he is solid in both oshi and yotsu, he doesn't make too many obvious mistakes.

Do you want every top rikishi to be an unstoppable narrow specialist like Takakeisho?

[Tigerboy1966 1,376]

2 minutes ago, Bunbukuchagama said:

He has a big and strong body, he is solid in both oshi and yotsu, he doesn't make too many obvious mistakes.

That's Nishikigi you're describing.

[Godango 956]

6 minutes ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

On the positive side I have just loved watching Hiradoumi and I would would be really chuffed if he got KK. He's got that intensity and fire about him, and he does good sumo.

I've felt like Hiradoumi has been a dark horse for a while now. Quietly achieving, slowly rising, he's still only 24 after all. It's good to see him making some small waves here. 

I'm not necessarily saying he's going to be O/Y one day, but he's got a good body and he's capable of sticking around the joi/sanyaki for many years at the very least. 

[Bunbukuchagama 688]

Just now, Tigerboy1966 said:

That's Nishikigi you're describing.

Except Nishikigi never was as consistent.

If you wish to be reductive, Takakeisho is just Ichiyamamoto with shorter arms.