Basho Talk - Nagoya 2015 +++ Spoiler alert! +++

[luispereira]

hakuho! and very very nice yoko-kakuryu!

[Lizard72]

I think we were treated to some really good matches between Kak, Hakuho and Terunofuji. I can only imagine what it would look like if Harumafuji had to fight him as well!

[Gernobono]

If you compare how careful Terunofuji was against Takekaze yesterday, it is more than strange how he just belly-splashed forward.

Maybe he tried an Kotoshogiku impersonation?

what's strange about it?

it just was as it always was.....i cannot believe anyone watching more than 3 basho could think that terunofuji will win today.....

[Kurikara]

Great effort by Kakuryu. One of these days...

[inhashi]

Kakuryu... he was cool.

[luispereira]

I'm very happy to see this kakuryu in action, hope he maintains this level for long time... very nice

[kuroimori]

If you compare how careful Terunofuji was against Takekaze yesterday, it is more than strange how he just belly-splashed forward.

Maybe he tried an Kotoshogiku impersonation?

what's strange about it?

it just was as it always was.....i cannot believe anyone watching more than 3 basho could think that terunofuji will win today.....

I got the OBSC thing.

But the time comes for every ozeki, I thought time was up for Giku.

OBSC does not help "oldzeki" to keep their ranks forever.

Also, given Terunofuji's dominance over the other current ozeki, I wonder how Giku can return this favor.

[Masumasumasu]

Has anyone ever dropped the Prime Minister's trophy?

[Kintamayama]

If you compare how careful Terunofuji was against Takekaze yesterday, it is more than strange how he just belly-splashed forward.

Maybe he tried an Kotoshogiku impersonation?

I believe Kotoshougiku fooled the world with that henka. A Kotoshougiku not rushing froward blindly into space is a rare sight. I seriously doubt Terunofuji would lose like that. By like that, I mean him lying on his belly like a beached whale. It would have been much more plausible if he was bumpetied out by Kotoshougiku.

But it doesn't matter what I say- everyone likes to fiddle with conspiracy theories..

[Masumasumasu]

If you compare how careful Terunofuji was against Takekaze yesterday, it is more than strange how he just belly-splashed forward.

Maybe he tried an Kotoshogiku impersonation?

I believe Kotoshougiku fooled the world with that henka. A Kotoshougiku not rushing froward blindly into space is a rare sight. I seriously doubt Terunofuji would lose like that. By like that, I mean him lying on his belly like a beached whale. It would have been much more plausible if he was bumpetied out by Kotoshougiku.

But it doesn't matter what I say- everyone likes to fiddle with conspiracy theories..

Wow! I actually said the same thing in post #385!! The great Kintamayama agrees with me!!!

[luispereira]

Yoshikaze beat his record, 12-3 , keep pushing yoshi!!

[Asashosakari]

Fair play to Goeido, after he went kachikoshi I was convinced he wouldn't win another bout this basho.

[Tsubame]

Hmm, Ozeki status maintained. I guess I'm a believer in the OBSC.....

Kadoban Ozeki are motivated to win....and a motivated champion is a formidable force, indeed.

I see your point, but where is the connection to Kotoshogiku? He will be one of there very few Ozeki who never ever won even a single yusho.

[Akinomaki]

The Nagoya basho (while not done at the time of this post) has officially lowered the "maninonrei" banners, and has been able to sell out all 15 days. The last time this happened at the Nagoya basho was in 1998 according to the NHK broadcasters.

As announced before the basho and several times during the basho: 15 days of declared full house, like was guaranteed by the sales.

But again: NOT 15 days sold out, only 8. I posted the numbers in the pic posts and will give a summary in the basho attendance topic.

[Akinomaki]

Would a 12-3 J be enough for a run? I seem to remember Kisenosato having a 13-2 J in 2013 and that being talked about as the start,

If Kakuryu loses and Terunofuji wins, Terunofuji gets a shared jun-yusho. This puts Terunofuji on the start of a zuna run.

No. Only if the jun-yusho is worth a yusho equivalent. That means it must be obtained through a kettei-sen or the like. Teru is out of the race already. So no yusho equivalent, no zuna run.

This is why Kakuryu's jun-yushu was worth a promotion, but other jun-yushos mentioned by ScottyJoyJrBebe were not.

There are different rules for Kisenosato. ScottyJoyJrBebe was right in that case. Edited July 26, 2015 by Akinomaki

[teo_heel]

Kotoshogiku... I'm so sorry to say that, but I hate him so much... I don't hate tachiai henka, but that bout makes me sick... henka by Kotoshogiku shows everything. He's not an ozeki. He's nothing for me from now. I want him intai from now. He shouldn't be in Ozumo since that bout. That was so unprofessional.

[ALAKTORN]

Loved Kakuryū this basho. Sad for Kyokutenhō…

[dingo]

Kotoshogiku did a perfect Harumafuji non-henka imitation. Dunno if Terunofuji helped him a bit or not, but Kotoshogiku's tachiai move was expertly executed. If he could add that move to his regular arsenal, then maybe he wouldn't end up in these 8-7 borderline situations so often.

Edited July 26, 2015 by dingo

[Mongolith]

I really could care less if Giku's win was down to henka, OBSC, or Fuji letting up a bit. Just glad he survived as he is one of my faves and would have been a shame to see him demoted right after his wedding. Also nice to see Ichi finally show some life and Shin getting a deserved Sanyaku spot. Pretty good basho overall. Honestly before the last bout had trouble remembering if this was gonna be Hak's 35 or 36 yusho. Guess once you approach 3 dozen yusho the number does not really matter.

Edited July 26, 2015 by Mongolith

[Kotogouryuu]

I dunno. Giku is owed a henka or two by the universe. It was certainly unexpected of him, thus making it a good strategy.

[Kotononami]

Just read this on Kyodo news : Former Sekiwake Wakanosato set to call time on career

Someone can translate? Intai or not?

Edited July 26, 2015 by Kotononami

[Fukurou]

Japan Times had an article about Day 15 (English) which included the following:

Veteran Mongolian grappler Kyokutenho left the dohyo in tears after losing what looks to be the last bout of his career.

The 40-year-old got lifted over the ring by top-ranked Tochinoshin (8-7) and finished with a 3-12 mark.

If he does go out, it will be in style — if countryman Hakuho has anything to say about it.

“My esteemed colleague who is going to call it quits after this tournament is going to ride with me at my victory parade,” Hakuho said.

[Akinomaki]

The news call the intai of the 2 veterans definite, but both are said to need some time to accept and announce it.

NHK showed Kyokutenho at the Tomozuna-beya party, unable to speak.

[Shikona]

I always think a henka is a smart move in a Kotoshogiku match, so taking the onus on himself shows new versatility. Meanwhile Goeido breaks the nine-win barrier and should challenge for the yusho next time (or maybe 10 wins...).

[Seijakuzan]

Kotoshogiku did a perfect Harumafuji non-henka imitation. Dunno if Terunofuji helped him a bit or not, but Kotoshogiku's tachiai move was expertly executed. If he could add that move to his regular arsenal, then maybe he wouldn't end up in these 8-7 borderline situations so often.

Yeah, I'm not really buying into the whole henka thing. In what universe is this a henka? It was an expertly-executed slightest of lateral movements, putting Terunofuji's face right into his shoulder and allowing Giku to make the quick throw. They collided at the exact midpoint of the starting lines. So unless Terunofuji gave him a heads-up on how he was going to tachi-ai, this was brilliant execution by Giku, and he is more than owed a few rounds of not being expected to charge ahead like a bull.

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