Day 11 results and day 12 pairings

[Doitsuyama 1,157]

Asashoryu, Chiyotaikai and Kaio won, so the main yusho actors stay in their places. The role players mainly suffered losses with the notable exception of Buyuzan who was paired with Akinoshima. Tomorrow Buyuzan faces Tochinonada.

Tochisakae had to pull out of the basho, so the Juryo yusho has one contender less. Tamakasuga won and it looks like he'll be in Makuuchi next basho where he belongs anyway. Ushiomaru and Kasuganishiki stay one win behind while Nakao and Kakizoe fell back with losses.

--

Doitsuyama

Makuuchi yusho arasoi

One loss Two losses Three losses Four losses Five losses

------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------

Asashoryu Chiyotaikai Kaio Wakanosato Tochiazuma

Buyuzan Toki Dejima Tochinonada

Kyokutenho Tamanoshima

Miyabiyama Kotonowaka

Aminishiki Jumonji

Kotoryu Otsukasa

Asanowaka

Day 11

Juryo

J13w Kaito (6-5) yorikiri Ms1w Masutsuyoshi (3-3)

J11e Futeno (5-6) shitatenage J12w Gokenzan (4-7)

J9w Oikari (5-6) oshitaoshi J9e Senshuyama (6-5)

J8w Wakakosho (4-7) oshidashi J10w Kokkai (6-5)

J7w Tamakasuga (9-2) hikiotoshi J11w Nakao (7-4)

J5w Wakatoba (4-7) oshitaoshi J12e Toyozakura (5-6)

J10e Dewanofuji (6-5) hatakikomi J4w Tochinohana (7-4)

J4e Hamanishiki (3-8) tsukiotoshi J13e Sumanofuji (1-10)

J5e Hayateumi (7-4) fusen J3e Tochisakae (7-4)

J2w Ushiomaru (8-3) hatakikomi J6e Kakizoe (7-4)

J7e Harunoyama (6-5) yorikiri J2e Kinkaiyama (6-5)

J1w Oginishiki (2-3-6) yoritaoshi J6w Komahikari (1-10)

J1e Kasuganishiki (8-3) yorikiri J3w Kobo (5-6)

Makuuchi

M12w Aogiyama (5-6) hatakikomi M14w Otsukasa (6-5)

M12e Buyuzan (9-2) oshidashi M15w Akinoshima (5-6)

M10w Wakanoyama (5-6) oshidashi M11w Shimotori (2-9)

M10e Kotoryu (7-4) oshidashi M11e Toki (8-3)

M9w Iwakiyama (5-6) oshidashi M15e Asanowaka (6-5)

M8w Gojoro (4-7) katasukashi M13w Asasekiryu (5-6)

M6e Kasugao (3-8) fusen M14e Takanotsuru (0-11)

M5w Hokutoriki (4-7) hikiotoshi M13e Yotsukasa (5-6)

M5e Miyabiyama (7-4) oshidashi M9e Jumonji (6-5)

M4e Kaiho (4-7) oshidashi M8e Tamarikido (5-6)

M3w Tamanoshima (6-5) oshitaoshi M7w Aminishiki (7-4)

M2w Takanonami (4-7) yorikiri M1w Takamisakari (4-7)

K1w Kyokutenho (7-4) oshidashi K1e Tosanoumi (3-8)

S1w Dejima (7-4) oshidashi M1e Tochinonada (6-5)

O1w Kaio (8-3) hatakikomi M3e Kyokushuzan (5-6)

O1e Chiyotaikai (9-2) oshidashi O2w Tochiazuma (6-5)

O2e Musoyama (5-6) oshitaoshi M4w Kotonowaka (6-5)

Y1e Asashoryu (10-1) yoritaoshi S1e Wakanosato (7-4)

Day 12

Makushita

Ms10e Asofuji (4-1) Ms24w Kotokikutsugi (4-1)

Ms14e Tochifudo (4-1) Ms9w Juzan (4-1)

Ms13w Oga (1-4) Ms8w Daimanazuru (1-4)

Ms7e Ryuho (3-2) Ms14w Raiko (3-2)

Ms6e Kotokanyu (3-2) Ms12e Towanoyama (3-2)

Juryo

J12e Toyozakura (5-6) J13w Kaito (6-5)

Ms5e Asahibenten (3-3) J12w Gokenzan (4-7)

J11w Nakao (7-4) J10w Kokkai (6-5)

J13e Sumanofuji (1-10) J9w Oikari (5-6)

J10e Dewanofuji (6-5) J8w Wakakosho (4-7)

J7e Harunoyama (6-5) J9e Senshuyama (6-5)

J11e Futeno (5-6) J6w Komahikari (1-10)

J5e Hayateumi (7-4) J4w Tochinohana (7-4)

J4e Hamanishiki (3-8) J3w Kobo (5-6)

J7w Tamakasuga (9-2) J2w Ushiomaru (8-3)

J1e Kasuganishiki (8-3) J6e Kakizoe (7-4)

J5w Wakatoba (4-7) J1w Oginishiki (2-3-6)

Makuuchi

M15w Akinoshima (5-6) M12w Aogiyama (5-6)

J2e Kinkaiyama (6-5) M11w Shimotori (2-9)

M13w Asasekiryu (5-6) M10w Wakanoyama (5-6)

M10e Kotoryu (7-4) M9w Iwakiyama (5-6)

M8e Tamarikido (5-6) M15e Asanowaka (6-5)

M13e Yotsukasa (5-6) M8w Gojoro (4-7)

M14w Otsukasa (6-5) M7w Aminishiki (7-4)

M5e Miyabiyama (7-4) M11e Toki (8-3)

M9e Jumonji (6-5) M5w Hokutoriki (4-7)

M6e Kasugao (3-8) M2w Takanonami (4-7)

M1e Tochinonada (6-5) M12e Buyuzan (9-2)

M4e Kaiho (4-7) M1w Takamisakari (4-7)

K1e Tosanoumi (3-8) M3e Kyokushuzan (5-6)

M3w Tamanoshima (6-5) K1w Kyokutenho (7-4)

O2e Musoyama (5-6) S1e Wakanosato (7-4)

M4w Kotonowaka (6-5) O1w Kaio (8-3)

O1e Chiyotaikai (9-2) S1w Dejima (7-4)

Y1e Asashoryu (10-1) O2w Tochiazuma (6-5)

[Dejimasama 0]

(Sign of disapproval) I hope Gogoro gets dropped to Juryo. I am so upset at him for that little stunt he pulled. Arghh and when is the Kyokai going to put an end to Nami's nonsense. That was just a really cheap thing to do to some one like Sakari. (Whistling...)

Ok I could rant all day long about some of the stuff I saw today but on the bright side I am so proud of Dejima. If he can somehow pull of 9 or 10 wins with his bum knee and the pain he is in, he should get a fighting spirit prize. (In a state of confusion...) And just how did Asashoryu pull of that win. I thought for sure he was a goner when sato had him against the edge. Man he is truely amazing.

[Naifuzan 1]

I, for one, love gojoro's stunts (In a state of confusion...)

And for the nami-sakari bout. Wasnt it almost exactly like their bout on day 15 of hatsu basho this year? With the exeption that this time nami didnt let sakke back in the ring!

Edited May 21, 2003 by Naifuzan

[Cavewoman 0]

(In a state of confusion...) I am so happy for Buyuzan. He is my favourite Rikishi.

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

For those of us who have yet to see the video, like me, what stunt did Gojoro pull?

Buyuzan has been doing extremely well! Good for him. KK secured, promotion secured. Ten wins will get a sansho as well. However, dramatic increase in opponent difficulty for day 12 in Tochinonada. We'll see... (In a state of confusion...)

[QttP 0]

For those of us who have yet to see the video, like me, what stunt did Gojoro pull?

Well, Gojoro henka'd Asasekiryu, as usual. But Sekiryu didn't fall down on his own, and Gojoro didn't finish him immediately. Then, there was a couple of seconds of fight, ending with Sekiryu trying to yorikiri Gojoro out and Gojoro pulling him down. The referee gave it to Asasekiryu (although it was pretty clear Gojoro had won), and after the mono-ii, they reversed his decision. I haven't noticed anything particularly strange in that bout. But that's from the stream, maybe I missed something.

Edited May 21, 2003 by QttP

[Kaikitsune Makoto 202]

Asashoryu's cat-agility morozashi pursuing is causing problems to his foes. Wakanosato had the bout all his way muscling the yokozuna back but then Shoryu did his speedy wriggling getting enough space to get that morozashi in a tough situation. Gotta give the brat credit for having such a technical and speedy key move in this basho.

Dejima went aeroplane and survived this:

Odds look very much against him based on that picture but amazingly he survived and beat Nada again.

KaioU dealt Shuzan with disdain.

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

Great picture! Thanks Kaikitsune Makoto! (In a state of confusion...)

KaioU dealt Shuzan with disdain.

His confidence has increased at the right time. Watch out Kotonowaka tomorrow (Whistling...) But then Chiyotaikai and Asashoryu (and Musoyama I think) remain, and he'll need more than confidence against them.

[Dejimasama 0]

For those of us who have yet to see the video, like me, what stunt did Gojoro pull?

Well, Gojoro henka'd Asasekiryu, as usual. But Sekiryu didn't fall down on his own, and Gojoro didn't finish him immediately. Then, there was a couple of seconds of fight, ending with Sekiryu trying to yorikiri Gojoro out and Gojoro pulling him down. The referee gave it to Asasekiryu (although it was pretty clear Gojoro had won), and after the mono-ii, they reversed his decision. I haven't noticed anything particularly strange in that bout. But that's from the stream, maybe I missed something.

Its just the henka that he did. I just really have a huge hatred of that move.

[QttP 0]

Its just the henka that he did. I just really have a huge hatred of that move.

That huge, eh? Well, I don't have anything against henka as a whole, but then after this I lost all my affection and/or respect for Tochiazuma. It's especially interesting, considering his opponent.

[Manekineko 200]

Hmm, did we have "henka bad" discussion on this Forum so far? No? Well, that will soon be mended. :-/

I personally don't mind henkas that much, but Tochiazuma's tendency to henka is really undeserving of an Ozeki. On the other hand, he might not be an Ozeki for long. (Whistling...) Henka is the last resort of weak and mentally unprepared, that's how I see it. Feel free to (In a state of confusion...) .

[Kotoseiya Yuichi 3]

I think there hasn't been yet The Great Henka Debate on the forum. Another popular dispute would be the heya-betsu so-atari (no bouts between heyamates) rule. That discussion was rampant at the time of the Futagoyama domination but tragicomically few had something to complain about it when the domination turned to Musashigawa... What was the third origin of holy war in ozumo? I can't remember it now, I just woke up. Yaocho?

When I was young and fool, I thought henka was cool. (Hey, that rhymes!) Then I began to feel uncomfortable seeing it used, especially by someone who should have been able to finish his aite by other means. Nowadays when I'm old and fool, a henka either annoys or infuriates me. Henka is for sissies! (Sign of disapproval)

[Naifuzan 1]

Since I'm still young and fool I can enjoy the occasional henka.

However in the cases a henka leads to an immediate win I cant help but feeling robbed of a bout!

Especially if it's a good match-up.

So I'm not sure what my official opinion should be I guess. In most cases it's acceptable.

As usual, in my book, it's not what you do that counts, it's how you do it! (Holiday feeling...)

[Fujisan 511]

Some wrestlers just ask to be henka'd,Chiyotaikai comes to mind......The kyushu basho last year when Takanohana did it was a classic-Taikai's face was price less.

[QttP 0]

Some wrestlers just ask to be henka'd,Chiyotaikai comes to mind......The kyushu basho last year when Takanohana did it was a classic-Taikai's face was price less.

And you know what was funny about that bout? Chiyotaikai did not lose because Takanohana henka'd him, he recovered from it 100% and found another way to lose... Then again, it's possible that if not that henka, he would have won immediately...

Actually, there's always the fear that somebody is gonna henka him and he's gonna fall on his face. But it doesn't quite happen as much lately.

[Dejimasama 0]

To say a win is a win is to go against the foundations of sumo. Whether you like it or not, sumo has been shaped by bushido. One of the main tenanets of Bushido is keeping face, always bieng honorable. So therefore a win with out honor is worse that a loss. To deny your opponent his chance to do his very best is unforgivable according to those teachings. Now of course this is idealy speaking but sumo is much more than a sport. These guys see themselves as warriors first and athletes second. A henka is considered dishonorable by the rikishi so it usually comes as a big shock to them. Often they may recover physically but thier mind continues to reel from bieng dishonored like that and rarely recover from that to win. This is why I hate henkas. I want to see a rikishi beat another one based on his fighting spirit and ability not by dirty tricks. It robs all of seeing the two rikishi fighting at thier best. And yes I was appauled at Takanohana for performing a henka on Chiyotaikai. That doesnt mean I dislike him, it just means the image of the great Yokozuna was tarnished a bit for me. Now of course this is just my opinon and fully expect some to disagree. In fact I invite it so that I amy hear some other opinons on this matter.

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

To say a win is a win is to go against the foundations of sumo [...]

I expected someone to voice this opinion, and I find this matter very interesting. While I agree with you regarding the origins of sumo and its principles, I think there has been a bit of an erosion.

If a win without honor is worse than a loss, why does the winner still get money? Why does it count on the winner's record, helping the winner get promoted? Should the kyokai modify this so that a henka is automatic mono-ii?

I'm not the biggest fan of henkas, but I don't hate them either. I think they should be kept to a minimum, but at the same type provide for an alternative, often entertaining, nearly always surprising, technique. It forces bull-charging rikishi to be more guarded, which is both good (awareness, readiness), and bad (hesitate to go all out at tachi-ai).

So I have mixed emotions on this...