kyusho basho - rikishi first time meetings

[shimodahito]

good day all,

as i followed this basho i noticed that every day's makuuchi matchups included a lot of first time meetings. it seemed to be higher than average. (i think the term is hatsu-kao-awase...) did this basho make it close to the record number of hatsu-kao-awase in a single basho? what is the record? it would seem logical that a basho with a lot of first time meetings would indicate a changing of the guard or a significant new batch of rikishi replacing an old batch.

and as always, a big thanks to the forum members who bring us the basho standards that i read and follow daily. line ups, results, rikishi talk, and my favorite--lower division results.

THANKS!

-shimodahito

[Doitsuyama]

as i followed this basho i noticed that every day's makuuchi matchups included a lot of first time meetings. it seemed to be higher than average. (i think the term is hatsu-kao-awase...) did this basho make it close to the record number of hatsu-kao-awase in a single basho? what is the record? it would seem logical that a basho with a lot of first time meetings would indicate a changing of the guard or a significant new batch of rikishi replacing an old batch.

You can check out that query search from a database (this search is covering 1990 until now).

This basho had 35 first time matchups, which is in the top third, but no record. The most by far since 1990 was in Aki 1990 with 56 first time matchups. Despite much bigger makuuchi size in former times (and thus more bouts) only one had more than 56 in the six-basho-per year era (since 1958) with a whopping 69 in Haru 1959.

Edited November 25, 2007 by Doitsuyama

[shimodahito]

doitsuyama,

YOU ROCK.

i can't imagine a basho with over 50. and 69! it's like mae-zumo all over again.

much thanks.

-shimodahito