Day 6 results and day 7 pairings

[Doitsuyama]

Only one of the leaders lost with Kokkai as Asashoryu, Hokutoriki, Tochiozan and Homasho advanced to 6-0. Hakuho and Chiyotaikai stayed one win behind the lead while Kaio lost to Kakuryu. The two Sadogatake-beya ozeki also lost as Kisenosato and Takekaze edged them. In the sekiwake match-up Kotoshogiku still dominates Ama, clearly beating him even when not fully healthy. Four rikishi are still without a win, understable with Toyonoshima, but worrying for Kaiho, Tochinonada and Toyohibiki.

Tosanoumi is the sole juryo leader now as Tochinoshin lost to Tamanoshima. At 6-0 juryo lead Tosanoumi is very likely to get repromoted to makuuchi if he manages to avoid his first career make-koshi below makuuchi. Tosanoumi also has the chance to shatter an obscure record, longest time between two juryo yusho - currently Daiyu leads with 9 years and 4 months while Tosanoumi's last juryo yusho was in Natsu 1995.

Day 6

Juryo

Ms2w   Wakatenro (2-2)	 tsukitaoshi	J13e   Katayama (2-4)
J12w   Tosayutaka (2-4)	hatakikomi	 J14w   Sagatsukasa (3-3)
J14e   Kimurayama (5-1)	oshidashi	  J11e   Kyokunankai (4-2)
J10e   Kitataiki (5-1)	 oshidashi	  J11w   Shunketsu (1-5)
J13w   Kirinowaka (2-4)	yorikiri	   J10w   Ushiomaru (3-3)
J12e   Hokutokuni (3-3)	oshidashi	  J9w	Shimotori (3-3)
J8e	Shirononami (3-3)   yorikiri	   J9e	Masatsukasa (3-3)
J7e	Tamawashi (3-3)	 okuridashi	 J6e	Chiyohakuho (3-3)
J7w	Toyozakura (2-4)	hikiotoshi	 J6w	Hochiyama (1-5)
J8w	Kasuganishiki (4-2) kirikaeshi	 J5w	Mokonami (2-4)
J5e	Tamanoshima (4-2)   yorikiri	   J4e	Tochinoshin (5-1)
J3e	Kotokasuga (3-3)	okuridashi	 J4w	Kitazakura (3-3)
J1e	Tosanoumi (6-0)	 yorikiri	   J2w	Koryu (1-5)
J3w	Hakuba (2-4)		yorikiri	   J1w	Hoshihikari (2-4)

Makuuchi

M15e   Wakakirin (3-3)	 oshidashi	  J2e	Hakurozan (3-3)
M16w   Ryuo (1-5)		  oshidashi	  M14e   Kaiho (0-6)
M13e   Homasho (6-0)	   yorikiri	   M15w   Sakaizawa (3-3)
M12e   Tochiozan (6-0)	 oshidashi	  M14w   Kakizoe (4-2)
M12w   Yoshikaze (2-4)	 kirikaeshi	 M16e   Otsukasa (4-2)
M11w   Takamisakari (5-1)  yorikiri	   M10w   Tamakasuga (2-4)
M9w	Kasugao (4-2)	   tsukiotoshi	M11e   Toyohibiki (0-6)
M10e   Futeno (4-2)		yorikiri	   M8w	Tochinonada (0-6)
M7e	Baruto (5-1)		hikiotoshi	 M8e	Goeido (3-3)
M7w	Hokutoriki (6-0)	tsukidashi	 M9e	Iwakiyama (2-4)
M5e	Wakanosato (2-4)	yorikiri	   M6e	Roho (3-3)

M4e	Wakanoho (3-3)	  hikiotoshi	 M5w	Kokkai (5-1)
M4w	Kyokutenho (4-2)	sukuinage	  M6w	Dejima (1-5)
M2w	Miyabiyama (1-5)	oshidashi	  M2e	Aminishiki (3-3)
S1w	Kotoshogiku (2-4)   yorikiri	   S1e	Ama (3-3)
K1e	Kisenosato (3-3)	sukuinage	  O1e	Kotooshu (2-4)
O2w	Chiyotaikai (5-1)   hikiotoshi	 M1e	Asasekiryu (4-2)
M1w	Kakuryu (3-3)	   yorikiri	   O2e	Kaio (4-2)
K1w	Takekaze (1-5)	  tsukiotoshi	O1w	Kotomitsuki (2-4)
Y1e	Hakuho (5-1)		oshidashi	  M3w	Toyonoshima (0-6)
Y1w	Asashoryu (6-0)	 uwatehineri	M3e	Tokitenku (2-4)

Day 7

Juryo

Ms3e   Asofuji (2-1)					  J13w   Kirinowaka (2-4)
J12e   Hokutokuni (3-3)				   J14e   Kimurayama (5-1)
J11e   Kyokunankai (4-2)				  J14w   Sagatsukasa (3-3)
J11w   Shunketsu (1-5)					J10w   Ushiomaru (3-3)
J10e   Kitataiki (5-1)					J12w   Tosayutaka (2-4)
J9e	Masatsukasa (3-3)				  J13e   Katayama (2-4)
J7e	Tamawashi (3-3)					J9w	Shimotori (3-3)
J8w	Kasuganishiki (4-2)				J6w	Hochiyama (1-5)
J6e	Chiyohakuho (3-3)				  J7w	Toyozakura (2-4)
J8e	Shirononami (3-3)				  J5w	Mokonami (2-4)
J5e	Tamanoshima (4-2)				  J3w	Hakuba (2-4)
J2e	Hakurozan (3-3)					J3e	Kotokasuga (3-3)
J4e	Tochinoshin (5-1)				  J1w	Hoshihikari (2-4)
J1e	Tosanoumi (6-0)					J4w	Kitazakura (3-3)

Makuuchi

J2w	Koryu (1-5)						M16w   Ryuo (1-5)
M15w   Sakaizawa (3-3)					M14w   Kakizoe (4-2)
M13e   Homasho (6-0)					  M15e   Wakakirin (3-3)
M14e   Kaiho (0-6)						M12w   Yoshikaze (2-4)
M12e   Tochiozan (6-0)					M16e   Otsukasa (4-2)
M11w   Takamisakari (5-1)				 M9w	Kasugao (4-2)
M9e	Iwakiyama (2-4)					M10e   Futeno (4-2)
M11e   Toyohibiki (0-6)				   M8w	Tochinonada (0-6)
M8e	Goeido (3-3)					   M10w   Tamakasuga (2-4)
M6e	Roho (3-3)						 M5w	Kokkai (5-1)
M5e	Wakanosato (2-4)				   M6w	Dejima (1-5)

M7e	Baruto (5-1)					   M4w	Kyokutenho (4-2)
M4e	Wakanoho (3-3)					 M7w	Hokutoriki (6-0)
M3w	Toyonoshima (0-6)				  M2w	Miyabiyama (1-5)
M1e	Asasekiryu (4-2)				   S1w	Kotoshogiku (2-4)
M2e	Aminishiki (3-3)				   O1w	Kotomitsuki (2-4)
O1e	Kotooshu (2-4)					 M3e	Tokitenku (2-4)
M1w	Kakuryu (3-3)					  O2w	Chiyotaikai (5-1)
O2e	Kaio (4-2)						 S1e	Ama (3-3)
K1w	Takekaze (1-5)					 Y1w	Asashoryu (6-0)
Y1e	Hakuho (5-1)					   K1e	Kisenosato (3-3)

Edited March 14, 2008 by Doitsuyama

[Bealzbob]

J12w   Tosayutaka (2-4)	hatakikomi	 J14w   Sagatsukasa (3-3)

Hallelujah, even if it was a hatakikomi.

[Harry]

The battle of the 0-5s lost sadly again to my poor pick Kaiho who is not 0-6 while Ryuo is finally on the scoreboard with a win via oshidashi. At this rate Kaiho will be falling back to juryo almost for sure. Is he injured? Just mentally out of it?

Homasho and Hokutoriki continue with unblemished records. Homasho continues a fairly easy schedule tomorrow meeting Wakakirin while Hokutoriki will meed Wakanoho who is somehow at 3-3 even though he looks better than that, especially today in beating Kokkai for his first loss. Kokkai meets Roho tomorrow who lost today to Wakanosato who could make a streak out of it against Dejima tomorrow, who lost again today to Kyokutenho.

Futeno got a win over the winless Tochinonada and we'll see how he does against 2-4 Iwakeyama tomorrow. Can he make it 4 in a row? Go for it, Futeno!

Baruto continues to win, now at 5-1 over Goeido so KK is looking like a sure thing. Baruto will face a tough competitor in Kyokutenho tomorrow.

Takamisakari bounced back from his first loss for another win to 5-1 as well and faces Kasugao tomorrow. Gambatte Robo!

After doing so well against some good opponents Aminishiki managed to lose to Miyabiyama, giving him his first win via oshidashi. Facing the winless Toyonoshima he could get a second win tomorrow.

Kotoshogiku won the meeting of the sekiwake's for his 2nd win while Ama is at 3-3. Shogiku will face Asasekiryu tomorrow who lost to Chiyotaika today who beat him with his patented harite until they lean forward, then hikiotoshi attack and is now at 5-1 and looking very good for KK to stay at Ozeki and out of intai. Go Taikai!

Kisenosato beat Kotooshu by sukuinage who is really looking out of sorts this basho. Kisenosato visits the 'white' Yokozuna tomorrow while Kotooshu meets Tokitenku who was easily pushed to the clay by Asashoryu today via uwatehineri (upper arm twist) as his left knee seemed to buckle under Asa's unrelenting twist down attack.

Takekaze finally got a win against Kotomitsuki, another ozeki who seems quite out of order in Haru basho 2008. Unfortunately he will meet Asashouryuu tomorrow so it seems unlikely he will create a win streak but stranger things have happened...

Kaio's win streak was ended by Kakuryu who showed good defense against the arm breaker which Kaio tried again. If other rikishis watch this match carefully and can follow suit the rest of the basho could be tough for Kaio who is looking like a one or two trick Ozeki after today's match. He meets Ama tomorrow though so it could be an interesting one.

Hakuhou pushed Toyonoshima out of the dohyo and into a 0-6 record. Hakuhou remains one behind Asashouryuu and the other 3 at 6-0.

[Bealzbob]

Baruto's 2nd week is going to be a lot more difficult if he keeps winning. My question is, would he consider getting KK then getting the frick out of town asap?

Reason being he does his duty for this basho by protecting his rank. But in the long term his knee would like the extra rest, coupled with the reduced activity of a 9 or 10 day basho AND he avoids the more skilled rikishi who could exacerbate his knee problems. I think that if he thinks long term he should get out for his own good. That is assuming that his knee is hanging on for dear life.

[higginbotham]

At this rate Kaiho will be falling back to juryo almost for sure. Is he injured? Just mentally out of it?

Maybe it is just the age. Last year in his first show up in makuuchi since a long abscence his sumo was quite fast and agile with good side attacks. Then it vanished away into air and he has simply stayed in makuuchi. The 8-7 last basho was a sort of a miracle and now he is likely to return to Juryo for a brief stint before retirement.

Wakanoho who is somehow at 3-3 even though he looks better than that, especially today in beating Kokkai for his first loss. Kokkai meets Roho tomorrow who lost today to Wakanosato who could make a streak out of it against Dejima tomorrow, who lost again today to Kyokutenho.

Wakanoho looks better than that 3-3 ? he is simply irritating, and to make matters worse he entered sumo at 16, not 22 like Roho or 23 like hatakikomi Aran so there are many, many years to come with this name on the banzuke.

[Doitsuyama]

I have added a few comments with obscure stats.

[Bilu]

The sadogatake ozeki duo seems in trouble (both at 2-4).

Assuming they will both be beaten by the Yokozunas, they can afford only one more loss to avoid kadoban.

[HenryK]

Very nice win by Yoshikaze, almost losing by yorikiri to his bigger opponent after a poor tachiai, recovering smartly thanks to quick feet and a quick brain, then spinning Otsukasa round like a wheel and finally putting him on his back with a kiriaeshi.

I like this guy. Physically he is clearly at a disadvatage to most of his opponents, but he has tons of heart and fighting spirit, and more often than one would think he finds a way to win. I doubt he'll ever make it to sanyaku, but never count Yoshikaze out.

Baruto's sumo looks better by the day. Maybe he is regaining some confidence in his body.

Edited March 14, 2008 by HenryK

[messi19]

At this rate Kaiho will be falling back to juryo almost for sure. Is he injured? Just mentally out of it?

Wakanoho looks better than that 3-3 ? he is simply irritating, and to make matters worse he entered sumo at 16, not 22 like Roho or 23 like hatakikomi Aran so there are many, many years to come with this name on the banzuke.

Yes, he got blown away by Dejima, Kyokutenho and Roho so I don't think he looks better than 3-3 at all at this point. 3-3 is a pretty good record anyway - he has already shown an ability to bounce back rather quickly following a disappointing bout.

I'll be impressed if he takes Hokutoriki straight on tomorrow, absorbs the tsuppari attack and forces the bout into yotsu where he would obviously win out rather easily.

Edited March 14, 2008 by messi19

[Bealzbob]

Even the gyoji was surprised Kotoshogiku survived Ama's initial assault as he landed on his backside :-O

And I'm not convinced either of Asashoryu's hands touched the clay before tachi-ai against 'tenku. But I'm sure they must have .....

[Kaikitsune Makoto]

Kisenosato beat Kotooshu by sukuinage who is really looking out of sorts this basho. Kisenosato visits the 'white' Yokozuna tomorrow while Kotooshu meets Tokitenku who was easily pushed to the clay by Asashoryu today via uwatehineri (upper arm twist) as his left knee seemed to buckle under Asa's unrelenting twist down attack.

I don't think Kotooshu looks out of sorts and he actually looks quite fine and genki. He has 3 losses in a row but he was simply outskilled by Ami as he has been many times and he is now 10-9 against Kise and Kise is stronger than ever so even though Osh had very good tachi-ai and took initiatives well, Kisenosato's power was immense and he flipped Osh nicely with sukuinage in hidari-yotsu. Today Osh just lost to a very strong foe and nothing he really did wrong. Kotomitsuki looks more and more like "I need to not lose"-kind of rikishi who loses because he fears losing. There was strange haste in his sumo today as if he doesn't trust his sumo at all anymore. Weird basho for him.

[Kaikitsune Makoto]

Baruto's 2nd week is going to be a lot more difficult if he keeps winning. My question is, would he consider getting KK then getting the frick out of town asap?

Reason being he does his duty for this basho by protecting his rank. But in the long term his knee would like the extra rest, coupled with the reduced activity of a 9 or 10 day basho AND he avoids the more skilled rikishi who could exacerbate his knee problems. I think that if he thinks long term he should get out for his own good. That is assuming that his knee is hanging on for dear life.

His knee is said to be quite fine and he has done plenty of good keiko for a while now. The knee won't get better with rest anymore and it would be totally against all human athlete's nature to even imagine a scenario of "I got kk, I will now rest" especially since he wants to face the best. His knee is not enjoying sumo world I am sure but it seems to co-operate quite well nowadays. He has had some good long yotsu bouts this basho. Especially nice was the one against Iwakiyama. A real classic hnghhhh-bout

[Bealzbob]

A real classic hnghhhh-bout

:lol: Well put.

[Harry]

A real classic hnghhhh-bout

:lol: Well put.

Two 174 kilo rikishi going at it, gotta be hnghhh. There's a stat we need, highest total weight between aite in a match.

[Harry]

Kisenosato beat Kotooshu by sukuinage who is really looking out of sorts this basho....

I don't think Kotooshu looks out of sorts and he actually looks quite fine and genki. He has 3 losses in a row but he was simply outskilled by Ami as he has been many times and he is now 10-9 against Kise and Kise is stronger than ever so even though Osh had very good tachi-ai and took initiatives well, Kisenosato's power was immense and he flipped Osh nicely with sukuinage in hidari-yotsu. Today Osh just lost to a very strong foe and nothing he really did wrong. ...

From the day 6 quotes thread:

Kisenosato: (Unhappy with the way he won over Kotooshu) That was not good sumo. I wasn't in good position till the very end.

...

Kotooshu: (Looking about ready to cry after his third straight loss) [. . .]

Edited March 14, 2008 by Harry

[Asashosakari]

Two 174 kilo rikishi going at it, gotta be hnghhh. There's a stat we need, highest total weight between aite in a match.

Konishiki-Akebono from Aki 1997 would be my guess. Going by their most recent SumoDB-listed weights, that was a combined 501 kg at the time. For currently active guys, there have been a couple of iterations of this matchup (Orora-Ryutei, for those too lazy to click through to the video), which is in the ~450 kg range.

No Orora-Mankajo matchup has happened yet, but with both likely to stick around Sandanme for the next while it very well might sometime...that would even have a good shot of being the all-time heaviest bout if they both pack on a bit more weight. Right now they'd total around 480 kg.

[Asashosakari]

I think during the past week Wakanoho has become the first-ever rikishi that I'm already sick and tired of reading about before he has even reached sanyaku...

Oh well.

[aderechelsea]

I think during the past week Wakanoho has become the first-ever rikishi that I'm already sick and tired of reading about before he has even reached sanyaku...

Oh well.

i've reached this point much much earlier ...

and wait untill Kyokushuho gets closer to Juryo (Neener, neener...) (btw ... i watched his latest bouts on youtube and the "boy" is getting bigger and bigger but in the right way. Amazing body structure.)

[Asashosakari]

i've reached this point much much earlier ...

Heh. I'm usually a "live and let live" guy, but the last few days are what the word "overkill" was invented for. But hey, whatever works for people.

and wait untill Kyokushuho gets closer to Juryo (Shaking head...)

Who? (Neener, neener...)

[messi19]

Wakanoho ......................is simply irritating.

I was going to ask you to elaborate but actually don't bother.

I'll be impressed if he takes Hokutoriki straight on tomorrow, absorbs the tsuppari attack and forces the bout into yotsu where he would obviously win out rather easily.

Are you surprised? LOL. Exactly what happened.

Surprised no, but obviously impressed, because he did exactly what I hoped he would (rather than win by a pull-down as others predicted). If anyone was going to end Hokutoriki's "magical run" I wanted it to be straight-on sumo. (Neener, neener...) It is now possible that unlike all the other newcomers Wakanoho may actually achieve a third straight KK in makuuchi. Goeido got two in a row while Tochiozan, Ryuo, Toyohibiki ended up MK in their second makuuchi basho.

[Jakusotsu]

I'll be impressed if he takes Hokutoriki straight on tomorrow, absorbs the tsuppari attack and forces the bout into yotsu where he would obviously win out rather easily.

Are you surprised? LOL. Exactly what happened.

It was just Hokutoriki's failure to do sumo.