The new Kokkai

[Azumashida]

Rarely have I seen a rikishi change (and vary) his style as much as Kokkai has done this basho, and very successfully so. He beat several yotsu specialists at their own game (Kyokutenho, Aminishiki, Tochiozan and Takamisakari all suffering yorikiri losses) while showing versatility from one bout to the next seemingly with a keen sense of tactics... If he continues to improve technically and make the good choices as he has in this basho, he may well be able to do well among the joijin, or what do you think?

[Doyobi]

I've been watching Kokkai for some bashos now with his change of style. Always wondered why no one notices this. I think that this is not just a one basho wonder, and he deserves praise for his effort in improving his sumo. Ganbare and good luck!

[Harry]

I think he's the real deal but I still wonder if he needs to do fewer pull-downs as he tries to advance to Ozeki? Just trying to think (will try a database query) if Chiyotaikai does more pull downs now than he did 10 years ago? Anyways, Kokkai looks very strong and I look forward to seeing him higher up in the banzuke (Baruto too).

BTW, congrats to Taikai, 9 years as Ozeki!

[Asashosakari]

I think he's the real deal but I still wonder if he needs to do fewer pull-downs as he tries to advance to Ozeki?

Whoah, let's not go overboard now. (Clapping wildly...) I'd be quite happy (and so would he, I suspect) if Kokkai manages to turn into Kyokutenho ca. 2004, results-wise.

At any rate, his success this basho certainly was a revelation...as Doyobi said, he seemed to be trying out some new stuff the last few basho too (not all that successfully), but he seems to really have got the hang of it now. Almost a shame that he didn't get a gino-sho for it. (Clapping wildly...) There was probably some good luck involved in getting as high as 12 wins, but I sure wouldn't be surprised if he's back as a regular joijin presence now after a year in the wilderness.

[higginbotham]

Always wondered why no one notices this.

Some people have noticed that, and it has occasionally appeared in one topic or another sans much attention though.

To avoid being repetitive, I remember this topic where Kokkai's form was briefly discussed in.

Edited March 23, 2008 by higginbotham

[kame]

well, in the sansho interview he was asked (twice) about his new sumo. he basically replied he had to adapt because of an injury. still, a new Kokkai and a great tourney.

[Jakusotsu]

he basically replied he had to adapt because of an injury.

I suspected as much, and if he even says so himself, that injury is probably the best thing that ever happened to him in sumo. Won't miss the old brawling style.

[sildan]

I think I first noticed the change in Nagoya last year. It took a while for Kokkai to learn to new style, but it's nice to see the hard work paying off. I hope he can keep it up.

[Chisaiyama]

I am already beginning the throes of the Natsu banzuke.

IIRC in general the difference betyween wins & losses

determines the advance or decline of a rikishi. So with

a 12-3 record would it not be acceptable, if not almost

required that BOTH Kokkai & Baruto be promoted to

Sekiwake.

I know that in general the shinpans do not like to have

"extra" Sekiwake or Komosubi but it appears justified in

this case. I foresee the upper ranks going like this:

Asashoryu Y Hakuho

Kotomitsuki O Kaio

Chiyotaikai O Kotooshu

Ama S Kotoshogiku

Kokkai S Baruto

Kisenosato K Asasekiryu

I realize that this would eliminate the 16th Maegashira

rank for Natsu but fortuneatly there are very few real

candidates for promotion from Juryo and MANY

Maegashira who are ripe for demotion to Juryo. It

may bottle neck the Makushita a bit but that is

often their fate in life.

Any thoughts people?

[Kintamayama]

So with a 12-3 record would it not be acceptable, if not almost

required that BOTH Kokkai & Baruto be promoted to

Sekiwake.

I realize that this would eliminate the 16th Maegashira

rank for Natsu but fortuneatly there are very few real

candidates for promotion from Juryo and MANY

Maegashira who are ripe for demotion to Juryo. It

may bottle neck the Makushita a bit but that is

often their fate in life.

Any thoughts people?

Simply put- no way. Maybe an extra Komusubi slot, but two more Sekiwake? No way. As for eliminating the 16th Maegashira rank, that has nothing to do with anything. The same guys will go up or down, even if your Science Fiction reality happens.

I am willing to bet my reputation (In a state of confusion...) (Holiday feeling...) on this.

[sildan]

I know that in general the shinpans do not like to have

"extra" Sekiwake or Komosubi but it appears justified in

this case.

There's precedent for denying a sanyaku slot to a 12-3 record at m7: Tamanoshima in Osaka 2005. In that case there were three open sanyaku slots, and three candidates ahead of him. There's only one precedent for promoting a 12-3 record at m5 to sekiwake, and that was in 1957. I think that if they open up any new sanyaku slots, it will be a komusubi slot for Kokkai only.

[mokele]

I never felt that Kokkai was dull or a simpleton, and there is a long history of foreign-born rikishi taking longer to learn the fine art of yotsu-zumo compared to those born in Japan. Akebono and Musashimaru were both rather poor at yotsu-zumo at 1st, and only after they had been in Makunouchi for a few years did they begin to master belt fighting. Akebono's tsuppari was very powerful but he also became an excellent belt man, and used to beat Kotonishiki (and Musashimaru sometimes too) that way over and over. Expect Kokkai to gradually improve at it. He's been primarily on oshi-zumo rikishi until now though, so there will be some falling back into old habits. Kokkai doesn't use tsuppari or the nodo-wa much. Guys who specialize in tsuppari and the nodo-wa are often rikishi that never develop their yotsu-zumo skills to its proper potential. Anyway, Kokkai should eventually become a good belt man, although probably not as good as the Mongolians (Kyokutenho, Kakuryu, Ama, Asasekiryu, etc.). Hakuho and Asashoryu are great belt men of course, but they're strong at other stuff too.

Of course things have changed a lot the past few years. Now you have big, foreign-born rikishi like Kotooshu and Baruto that are mainly yotsu-zumo specialists. I think it's great to see, and sumo will benefit from it in the long run. Roho is also basically a belt man, but he's really not so good at it yet, and relies on hatakikomi and henka too much. Kasugao (born in Korea) is an excellent belt man specializing in nage techniques. Back in the "old days" of Takamiyama and later Konishiki, there simply were no foreign born rikishi that were worth a darn at belt fighting.

Edited March 25, 2008 by mokele