Kyushu Observations

[Washuyama]

- I know it's early (Makuuchi dohyo-iri) but the arena looks empty

- Kaio received a huge ovation during the dohyo-iri. Hope it helps him to do well.

- Ichihara is still mage-less.

- Ama has a really cool kesho-mawashi... Black with the sillohette of a wolf howling in front of a full moon.

- It's nice to see an actual rikishi return the yusho flag... :-)

[Washuyama]

Wow, that was one helluva bout between Wakanoho and Hakurozan!! ...and no henka!!

[ilovesumo]

Wow, that was one helluva bout between Wakanoho and Hakurozan!! ...and no henka!!

The "I help you up, fellow" was nicest.

Kokkai won by Yorikiri....wow

[yamaneko]

yes the hakurozan wakanoho bout was very good.

surprising how easily wakakirin beat tochiozan

[yamaneko]

takamisakari. Incredible how he always gets victory from the jaws of defeat

[Asojima]

Futeno has become a butterball. Don't think that is good for him.

O3 may be Juryo-bound.

Hokey Rick is overdue for a bust out basho.

Wakanosato showed increased aggression. May be worth watching.

Edited November 11, 2007 by Asojima

[yamaneko]

Not sure about kaio. Didnt seem great, but didnt seem totally helpless either

[Hananotaka]

Not sure about kaio. Didnt seem great, but didnt seem totally helpless either

He looked like toast to me. No ability to move forward, no ability to hold his ground, and he's too big and slow to be dodging to the side.

[Jakusotsu]

He looked like toast to me. No ability to move forward, no ability to hold his ground, and he's too big and slow to be dodging to the side.

Agreed. The long hailed last hoorah has finally come. Sad. :-(

[ilovesumo]

I bet my 3 kilos of overwight that Kaio retires. (and I am on a diet, so it might take one more week) :-(

Wasn't the speaker scary, shouting "Don't throw the zabuton"...... :-O

[Kintamayama]

Wasn't the speaker scary, shouting "Don't throw the zabuton"...... :-(

I thought he was shouting "Don't eat the yellow snow!!"..

He really went overboard with the hysterics this time.

[ilovesumo]

He really went overboard with the hysterics this time.

Jep...like trying to hold hooligans back :-(

[Kaikitsune Makoto]

Tomorrow if Hakuho loses to Homasho, I expect the announcement to be something like "BAKAYAROUOU! ZABUTON WO ZETTAI NAGERU NA!!! KUSO! NAGENAIDE! BAKAYAROU!!!!!"

It is important to understand that Shogun was all over Hakuho and nnnnghed his way to beautiful victory. I am hoping for continued good relationships within sumoforum.

[Hananotaka]

I'm not sure about the Kyushu set-up, but in the Kokugikan the gyoji doing the announcements is at a table not far from the dohyo. If there was a similar set-up in this case, he might have been reacting to being knocked in the head from multiple zabuton.

Another factor is that the Kyushu crowd have long been a little too eager to throw their zabutons...

[Shimpu]

surprising how easily wakakirin beat tochiozan

Yeah. :-( I'm surprised too... Chaingang - I'm already out. It's even bitter for me because firstly I've planned to pick Sakaizawa or Yoshikaze up but my second thought was "Nah... it's a first day I need a certainty." They both won. Tochiozan lost.

Edited November 11, 2007 by Shimpu

[higginbotham]

Kokkai won by Yorikiri....wow

(Bow...)

[Shomishuu]

Heard on TV Japan's English language coverage: Ken Swenson said Kotooshu looked good winning today doing "his own sumo." Actually he tried hatakikomi and then backed away to let Miyabiyama fall down. So I asked myself, "What is he talking about - this is an ozeki's 'own sumo?'

Then I realized that of course he was right. This is what it has come to for Kotooshu, and the hope we had for him. Ugh!

[Clamu]

All hail to king Ama (Bow...)

(In the absence of the REAL king).

[Washuyama]

Duke Ama maybe.... If he makes Ozeki, maybe Prince Ama. (Bow...)

[ilovesumo]

Kokkai won by Yorikiri....wow

(Bow...)

Kokkai=Oshisumo guy, not so often gripping the Mawashi

[higginbotham]

Kokkai won by Yorikiri....wow

(Bow...)

Kokkai=Oshisumo guy, not so often gripping the Mawashi

but in September he finished 4 of his 7 wins by the way of yorikiri (2x) or yoritaoshi (2x)

Adicionally,

his recent stats

He doesn't win every day, but when he does "yori" techniques are a common part of his repertoire.

Edited November 12, 2007 by higginbotham

[sildan]

Kokkai won by Yorikiri....wow

(Bow...)

Kokkai=Oshisumo guy, not so often gripping the Mawashi

but in September he finished 4 of his 7 wins by the way of yorikiri (2x) or yoritaoshi (2x)

Adicionally,

his recent stats

He doesn't win every day, but when he does "yori" techniques are a common part of his repertoire.

Kokkai really seems to be trying to reinvent himself. He was starting to have trouble winning with his tsuppari, so he started going for the belt. I've been enjoying his transformation the last couple basho, even though he hasn't been winning too frequently. I hope he can find his metaphorical and physical balance and move back up the banzuke.

[Bishonohana]

Who knows.... Kokkai should have kept that "elvis thing" going for another win? I wasn't impressed by the new shaped sideburns, but I'm happy that he has started to have some mawashi techniques instead of flayling his arms around like a wild man!

[kaiguma]

- Ama has a really cool kesho-mawashi... Black with the sillohette of a wolf howling in front of a full moon.

Dying to see this one (Sign of approval...)

anyone out there in Fukuoka with a camera? (I am not worthy...)

[ilovesumo]

How empty again...

(I am not worthy...) Wakanoho's Hatakikomi against Kaiho......... (Sign of approval...)

How much taller is he? (Pulling hair...) MUCH taller........hatakikomiing Kaiho..........(Protesting...)

(Showing respect...) :'-( :-P

Edited November 13, 2007 by ilovesumo