Kyushu 2014 - General Talk

[Treblemaker]

with a contemporary Yokozuna of equal quality... Hak would not be sitting with all those yushos.

To the opposite, Hakuho's career in his early 20s was complicated by the activity of a premier dai-yokozuna, arguably one the most skillful ever. At that time, of better quality, only hampered by injury and inconsistency. EIGHT times Hakuho had the Jun-Yusho when Asashoryu won the Yusho. Without this tough opposition he might stand at 39 Yusho already.

That is entirely correct, but I think what Treblemaker wants to say is that after Asashoryu retired, there was no-one left to provide challenge or competition to Hakuho's reign.

Yeah, what he said....

[Treblemaker]

Boy, today's bouts were fast, quick and cheap.

And was mildly disappointed with Ichinojo-Hakuho.. even though I knew it was coming, it just seemed like it could have been a better dance.

And except for a couple of mis-steps and slips, HF could be right up there 9-0 or at least 8-1. The Wilde Man was back today.

And, yes, Kakuryu is looking more and more like a Yokozuna.

[Asashosakari]

Not sure if it's been mentioned yet, with today's win Kyokutenho is now the oldest modern era rikishi to achieve a kachikoshi in the top division, surpassing the previous record holder (ex-)ozeki Noshirogata from the 1930s.

Edited November 17, 2014 by Asashosakari

[Gurowake]

Does anyone know the longest gap between two rikishi meetings is, or at least the longest gap between first and second meetings? Today we have Shohozan vs. Amuru, whose only previous meeting was Aki 2008.

[evilwaldo]

I think questioning Hakuho's record is silly. The requirements for Ozeki and Yokozuna have not changed and if one looks at the number of 80 win years there is one competitor that stands out.

You see this whenever someone gets near a record in today's culture. There is no respect, only attempts to tear down a person and make their accomplishments seem less important.

[Asameshimae]

Does anyone know the longest gap between two rikishi meetings is, or at least the longest gap between first and second meetings? Today we have Shohozan vs. Amuru, whose only previous meeting was Aki 2008.

Good question. I find it a bit annoying that at least NHK says that when two wrestlers meet for the first time in a division, that it is the "first time", called hatsukao, even when they have met previously in lower divisions. It's as if they don't count or something.

[Jakusotsu]

It's as if they don't count or something.

...or as if they just don't have a clue.

[yorikiried by fate]

Does anyone know the longest gap between two rikishi meetings is, or at least the longest gap between first and second meetings? Today we have Shohozan vs. Amuru, whose only previous meeting was Aki 2008.

I just found Kotooshu vs. Kitataiki, who also had 6 years and two months between meeting 1 and 2. Without the option for placeholders in the bout query it's a wild guess and manual search. Candidates for such things are guys with long careers (though Terao for instance reveiled nothing longer than five years), or quick risers (that's why I looked into Kotooshu's by-opponent page).

UPDATE: Kotooshu vs. Wakakoyu: 7 years and 6 months.

UPDATE #2: Kaio vs. Kotoryu and Kaio vs. Shikishiyama: 7 years and 8 months.

UPDATE #3 Honorary mention: Kyokutenho vs. Kitazakura: first bout -> 3 years -> second bout -> six years -> third and final bout.

Edited November 18, 2014 by yorikiried by fate

[krindel]

Another weird one...

Wakanosato vs Shunkentsu: First meeting 1994, second meeting 2006 for 11 years and 10 months...

Wakanosato vs Kasuganishiki: First meeting 1993, second meeting 1994 but third meeting in 2006 for 11 years and 10 months...

Edited November 18, 2014 by krindel

[yorikiried by fate]

Another weird one...

Wakanosato vs Shunkentsu: First meeting 1994, second meeting 2006 for 11 years and 10 months...

Wakanosato vs Kasuganisiki: First meeting 1993, second meeting 1994 but third meeting in 2006 for 11 years and 10 months...

Good finds. I just wanted to post something involving Wakanosato, but I missed both longer ones that you mentioned. Which tells me I should stop doing this now.

11and10 will be hard to beat.

[yorikiried by fate]

Good question. I find it a bit annoying that at least NHK says that when two wrestlers meet for the first time in a division, that it is the "first time", called hatsukao, even when they have met previously in lower divisions. It's as if they don't count or something.

Do you also find NBC/ABC/CBS not counting Triple-A home runs in career totals annoying? ;-)

What sport is that? Some household competition for small breasted women? I didn't know such things were televised...

[Asameshimae]

Not sure if it's been mentioned yet, with today's win Kyokutenho is now the oldest modern era rikishi to achieve a kachikoshi in the top division, surpassing the previous record holder (ex-)ozeki Noshirogata from the 1930s.

I noticed this Noshirogata went out with a bang, got an 8-3 (in the 11 bouts a basho era) and was promoted to komusubi, but never appeared in the following basho or the following one, and retired afterward. Wish more wrestlers could go out on such a note.

The guy also lived a long life after retiring.

Edited November 18, 2014 by Asameshimae

[Jakusotsu]

Wish more wrestlers could go out on such a note.

Quite true, albeit not for Kyokutenho. B-)

[Gernobono]

Wish more wrestlers could go out on such a note.

Akebono's last basho was a yusho in makuuchi

THAT is a bang

[Pandaazuma]

Great sumo from Kakuryu, whatever the final result. He deserved the promotion and is showing yokozuna sumo.

Just hope Takayasu keeps showing his potential...he could be great if he wasn't so inconsistent. Plenty of time yet though.

Otherwise not much to report. Exciting basho though now that Hakuho has to fight for it.

[Naganoyama]

Asashoryu went out with a yusho in makuuchi and a fist fight in a car park.

That is two bangs.

[Shitamachi]

Great sumo from Kakuryu, whatever the final result. He deserved the promotion and is showing yokozuna sumo.

I agree, though I was somewhat of a doubter at first. Is it just me, or have a couple of his last wins looked an awful lot like a (top of his game) Kotoshogiku?

Asashoryu went out with a yusho in makuuchi and a fist fight in a car park.

That is two bangs.

Did he get a yusho in the fist fight? Hopefully at least a KK...

[Harry]

...

Asashoryu went out with a yusho in makuuchi and a fist fight in a car park.

That is two bangs.

Did he get a yusho in the fist fight? Hopefully at least a KK...

It was a KO...

On a personal note when I asked him about it, meeting him after the 2009 Nagoyabasho he was pretty nonchalant about not beating Hakuho on the final day which would have meant a Hakuho tie breaker with Kotooshu. He said very calmly and casually that he'd win the next yusho, and he did. He won the one in January as well but my personal impression on meeting, speaking, sharing beer and meat on a stick with him is that his heart wasn't really in it, even then months earlier. He was already thinking and talking about the next things and they weren't sumo related.

Photo courtesy of Viki who was so kind as to bring me along on one of her amazing sumo adventures...

Edited November 18, 2014 by Harry

[CT3*]

Goeido and Giku facing off against each other with identical 4-5 records. With the exception of Kisenosato, this ozeki crew is having one sorry basho. And they weren't too impressive in the last basho either.

The talent gap between the ozeki and the Yokozuna triumvirate is starting to look pretty vast.

[Akinomaki]

As usual, as soon as I mention it, all goes the other way: Kawabata starts winning (2-3), Daikiho losing (3-2).

Daikiho is at last doing well (3-0), but in sandanme.

Endo's heya mate Kawabata may join Daikiho there in one or two basho (0-3).

Even Endo is looking (slightly) better.

[ronnie]

As usual, as soon as I mention it, all goes the other way: Kawabata starts winning (2-3), Daikiho losing (3-2).

Daikiho is at last doing well (3-0), but in sandanme.

Endo's heya mate Kawabata may join Daikiho there in one or two basho (0-3).

Even Endo is looking (slightly) better.

In his bout with Endo, if Amuru had been playing another sport, he'd have been called for intentional grounding!

[Andreas21]

The talent gap between the ozeki and the Yokozuna triumvirate is starting to look pretty vast.

It's very likely that Kotoshogiku is still suffering from his latest knee injury. He avoids putting much weight on his knees and that keeps him from using his signature technique.

I can't say so for Goeido - it may be psychological. Understandibly, reaching Ozeki level is probably all he could have hoped for in his career.

[Naganoyama]

I'm sure that Kotoshogiku is still injured. As for Goeido, he admitted to being a bundle of nerves before his ozeki debut and nothing happened during that basho to dispel his nerves, so he could well be struggling with them still. Making ozeki is a really big deal and some people take longer to get used to it than others.

[kuroimori]

Great sumo from Kakuryu, whatever the final result. He deserved the promotion and is showing yokozuna sumo.

I agree, though I was somewhat of a doubter at first. Is it just me, or have a couple of his last wins looked an awful lot like a (top of his game) Kotoshogiku?

Asashoryu went out with a yusho in makuuchi and a fist fight in a car park.

That is two bangs.

Did he get a yusho in the fist fight? Hopefully at least a KK...

Yeah, Asa got another KK while his opponent got a KO

[Shitamachi]

Yeah, Asa got another KK while his opponent got a KO

So I guess Asa did get the yusho in that fight :-P

Getting the junyusho in a two person fistfight is not much of an accomplishment it seems.