Basho Talk - Hatsu Basho 2016 +++ Spoiler Alert! +++

[inhashi]

like a boss (Applauding...)

[Atenzan]

Kotoshogiku is looking seriously good this time around. Tickets for the hype train are selling like hot cakes all over Japan.

[Pandaazuma]

The match I've been waiting for since the beginning of time is Kotoyuki-Hakuho! Can't wait to see him bark in his face at tachiai after Hakuho told him to stop it because 'we aren't dogs' and got completely ignored! Tsuridashi ahoy! Maybe even okuritsuridashi ahoy! The question is: what would Asashoryu do?? ;)

[Pandaazuma]

I already smell an impeccable henka from Aminishiki, sort of "out of the flu"... ;-)

And it was one of the funniest, daftest henkas I've seen in thirty years of watching sumo!

[ScreechingOwl]

The match I've been waiting for since the beginning of time is Kotoyuki-Hakuho! Can't wait to see him bark in his face at tachiai after Hakuho told him to stop it because 'we aren't dogs' and got completely ignored! Tsuridashi ahoy! Maybe even okuritsuridashi ahoy! The question is: what would Asashoryu do?? ;)

Asashoryu would have thrown Kotoyuki three rows into the crowd. Considering how Hakuho treated Yoshikaze today, I wouldn't be surprised if Hakuho does the same thing. Or if Kotoyuki behaves.

[Morty]

The match I've been waiting for since the beginning of time is Kotoyuki-Hakuho! Can't wait to see him bark in his face at tachiai after Hakuho told him to stop it because 'we aren't dogs' and got completely ignored! Tsuridashi ahoy! Maybe even okuritsuridashi ahoy! The question is: what would Asashoryu do?? ;)

Asashoryu would have thrown Kotoyuki three rows into the crowd. Considering how Hakuho treated Yoshikaze today, I wouldn't be surprised if Hakuho does the same thing. Or if Kotoyuki behaves.

I think Kotoyuki will be looking forward to facing Hakuho and will do exactly what he normally does. And will probably get clobbered for it...

[hamcornheinz]

Did Hakuho tell Kotoyuki to stop before? In any case its been too long since there has been a high ranked pure pusher-thruster.

+not that I think Kotoyuki will be the one to stop the trend+

Edited January 17, 2016 by hamcornheinz

[WAKATAKE]

I say let Kotoyuki have a little fun. He's not going to be a Hakuho, and Kotoyuki will be around after Hakuho is gone.

[orandashoho]

With Aminishiki back in East position I wonder how many of the remaining in the East division today will catch flu from contaminated chikaramizu... which would be terrible.

The flue is most contagious just before you fall ill fom it, not after you are ill.

[Asashosakari]

... and Kotoyuki will be around after Hakuho is gone.

That depends on what happens when they first meet, I suppose. ;-)

[Pandaazuma]

... and Kotoyuki will be around after Hakuho is gone.

That depends on what happens when they first meet, I suppose. ;-)

LOL

[Senkoho]

Day 8. Hakuho is a jerk.

[WAKATAKE]

Day 8. Hakuho is a jerk.

Hakuho is allergic to blood and didn't like Yoshikaze giving him a big hug, he's a little sensitive in those ways ;-)

[Masumasumasu]

Day 8. Hakuho is a jerk.

Amen!

[Kotogouryuu]

Kotoshogiku is looking seriously good this time around. Tickets for the hype train are selling like hot cakes all over Japan.

He looked quite proud of his victory over Kisenosato. And why not, it was a good one.

[rhyen]

The match I've been waiting for since the beginning of time is Kotoyuki-Hakuho! Can't wait to see him bark in his face at tachiai after Hakuho told him to stop it because 'we aren't dogs' and got completely ignored! Tsuridashi ahoy! Maybe even okuritsuridashi ahoy! The question is: what would Asashoryu do?? ;)

Just saw the Torikumi, are we expecting Hakuho-Kotoyuki matchup to happen in this basho or the next?

[Gurowake]

The match I've been waiting for since the beginning of time is Kotoyuki-Hakuho! Can't wait to see him bark in his face at tachiai after Hakuho told him to stop it because 'we aren't dogs' and got completely ignored! Tsuridashi ahoy! Maybe even okuritsuridashi ahoy! The question is: what would Asashoryu do?? ;)

Just saw the Torikumi, are we expecting Hakuho-Kotoyuki matchup to happen in this basho or the next?

Yeah, I don't know why anyone is anticipating Kotoyuki-Hakuho this basho. Kotoyuki is facing Harumafuji because of all the Isegahama-beya rikishi near the top of the banzuke, but is unlikely to face Hakuho. Sure, maybe they'll skip over Kaisei and Kyokushuho for Hakuho's last maegashira match (necessitated due to Terunofuji's withdrawal), but given that both of them aren't MK yet and Kotoyuki isn't in the Yusho race, it seems unlikely.

However, a KK for Kotoyuki does look quite likely, and would almost certainly put him in range of Hakuho next basho.

[Pandaazuma]

Yeah I know it's unlikely that he'll meet Hakuho for the reasons Gurowake mentioned. It just seemed a good time to remind everyone of Hakuho's comments a while back. At that time, especially with the injury, it seemed possible they'd never meet. Now...well, a KK would make it certain in Osaka.

[Dwale]

With Aminishiki back in East position I wonder how many of the remaining in the East division today will catch flu from contaminated chikaramizu... which would be terrible.

Oh, wow, I never even thought of that, but you're absolutely right, they need to be careful!

[kuroimori]

The match I've been waiting for since the beginning of time is Kotoyuki-Hakuho! Can't wait to see him bark in his face at tachiai after Hakuho told him to stop it because 'we aren't dogs' and got completely ignored! Tsuridashi ahoy! Maybe even okuritsuridashi ahoy! The question is: what would Asashoryu do?? ;)

He better not bark at Mike Tyson... ;-)

Edited January 17, 2016 by kuroimori

[kuroimori]

I already smell an impeccable henka from Aminishiki, sort of "out of the flu"... ;-)

And it was one of the funniest, daftest henkas I've seen in thirty years of watching sumo!

Yes, indeed.

It seems that the flu left him too weak to even pull a henka...

[Dwale]

Don't feel too bad for Kagayaki since you know that if he's got the heart of a fighter, this experience won't be wasted on him and he'll come out stronger for it.

Mitakeumi? Aww. He's really got his work cut out for him when he gets back. An unfortunate turn of fate.

I loved that little nod Takayasu gave Kotoyuki just before the tachiai. Did he see some hesitancy or uncertainty there?

Aminishiki seems to have been "pwned" pretty thoroughly, there. lol Aoiyama: "Not today, old-timer."

Kotoshogiku. I don't like him, not because I think he's bad, but because I don't like the aesthetics of his sumo. That said, for the sake of the Japanese fans (and hence, for sumo as a whole), I would /love/ to see him win this basho. Do I think it'll happen? Nuuuuupe!

[808morgan]

Anyone seen Olympic Ojisan? I met him in May but he is pretty old...

Edited January 18, 2016 by 808morgan

[Katooshu]

-Takarafuji is impressing me this basho despite the 4-4 record and has always fought hard in defeat. Considering how the komusubi are doing he seems like a good candidate to grab a sanyaku spot next basho.

-Kotoshogiku is looking good, but I have a feeling that the losses will start coming soon. He may not have the prettiest style, but he's one of the most explosive rikishi around and I usually enjoy watching him.

-Japanese hopes Shodai and Mitakuemi find themselves on 3 and 5 bout losing streaks respectively after strong starts. Things can change quickly in sumo.

-Gaga's managed wins against opponents who have terrorized him, beating Sadanoumi (previously 0-6 against him) and Tamawashi (previously 1-12). Despite this he's only 4-4 this basho.

-As the great one Kintamayama stated in his day 8 video, Kagayaki not ready for the big league yet.

Juryo and below

-After getting out to a 5-0 lead in the juryo yusho race Seiro has dropped three straight. Asahisho had a chance to take the lead today but Onosho prevented that by scoring his 5th win in his last 6 bouts. He is fighting off demotion to makushita and seems to have gotten in the zone.

-Daishomaru is tied for the juryo yusho lead after being yusho co-leader entering the final day of Kyushu. He's taken his sumo to a new level over the last two basho.

-Sadanofuji's precipitous fall continues. He was unfortunate to lose as he was in a dominant position but stepped out first in the process of driving Akiseyama back. After being at M2 as recently as September he could find himself on the lower half of the juryo banzuke come March.

-That was some faceplant Ura took! Considering how low he gets I imagine that more losses like that are to come. That said, overall he's performing well this basho and I always enjoy watching him.

-Daiki looking strong on his way to his fourth win in as many bouts this tournament. I think he'll be a sekitori sometime this year.

Edited January 17, 2016 by Kotooshu's Revenge

[dingo]

Damn, Okinoumi really should be sharing the lead with Hakuho and Kotoshogiku at this point. The more he's continuing his streak the more unfair the stupid shimpan-caused loss feels.

One word, shoganai (it cannot be helped)

Let's hope he converts that anger and fury into some bad-ass aggression which helps him stay in the lead over the next couple of days.

I'm as prone to say shoganai as any other, but in this case there really should be some ginger ;-) (sorry for the oyaji-gyagu, but I like them too much for my own good)