Nagoya 2019 Discussion (here be spoilers)

[Morty]

17 minutes ago, Dwale said:

Let's hope next time we can have a basho with reinvigorated ozeki to keep the yusho race interesting.

During the years of Hakuho's dominance, the only rikishi other than his fellow Yokozunae who could take a Yusho off him, was an occasional Ozeki. But in Hak's declining years the last Ozeki to win a Yusho as an Ozeki, was Kisenosato in January 2017. Since then there have been two Sekiwake, two Maegashira, and one Komusubi who have taken a Yusho, but no Ozeki. The Ozeki have only even taken a Jun-Yusho seven times (Takayasu three times, Goeido twice, Terunofuji twice), ie less than a 50% record. In three of those basho there were no Yokozuna who finished at all. I know they have had a few injuries, but this would surely have to go down as one of the least successful crop of Ozeki ever wouldn't it? 

[Akinomaki]

Some results of basho related Tanabata wishes - for spoilers I post it here - bold: fulfilled, strikeout not, italic unknown

Tochinoshin: no injury

Mitakeumi: succeed with diet  - he thinks he is too fat and wants to get under 170kg till Tanabata

Tamawashi 15wins

Hakuho: "V43"

Kakuryu "V6"

Chiyomaru (back to makuuchi upper ranks)

Enho (get the ginosho)

Daieisho (get strong)

Onosho (I want a healthy body)

Myogiryu (one step back and only forward)

Nishikigi (sansho)

Tokushoryu (calmly aiming for higher)

Kizakiumi (aim for kachikoshi)

Azumaryu (I get the yusho)

Kaisei (don't get injured)

Sadanoumi (don't get injured)

Takarafuji (kachikoshi)

Kiribayama (kachikoshi)

Tomokaze (keep getting kachikoshi)

Arawashi (be able to get the yusho - last year he wrote 15○ )

Takayasu "yusho"

Goeido: "yusho"

Ryuden: "Take care of the body"

Abi "Get a healthy body" - not the yusho - he gained weight with 6 meals a day - healthy?

[Kotomiyama]

Kakuryu is sometimes seen as a lesser Yokozuna. With this yusho he has confirmed that he deserves the rank. Solid performance and a nice win against the GOAT himself.

Endo - Hokutofuji match of the tournament, amazing scape and great stamina.

Terutsuyoshi nice surprise, I hope that he does not climb too much in the banzuke, he might have problems.

Tomokaze keeps on climbing. Where is his limit? 

Abi, the man with only one trick on the bag kachikoshi in his first sanyaku tournament. He never ceases to amaze me. His henka today against the Giku was predictable yet necessary. 

Asanoyama might have suffered the effects of celebrating a yusho. I hope to see him in sanyaku by the end of the year.

Finally, Ryuden. My poor Ryuden. Next time will be better.

[Dwale]

50 minutes ago, Morty said:

During the years of Hakuho's dominance, the only rikishi other than his fellow Yokozunae who could take a Yusho off him, was an occasional Ozeki. But in Hak's declining years the last Ozeki to win a Yusho as an Ozeki, was Kisenosato in January 2017. Since then there have been two Sekiwake, two Maegashira, and one Komusubi who have taken a Yusho, but no Ozeki. The Ozeki have only even taken a Jun-Yusho seven times (Takayasu three times, Goeido twice, Terunofuji twice), ie less than a 50% record. In three of those basho there were no Yokozuna who finished at all. I know they have had a few injuries, but this would surely have to go down as one of the least successful crop of Ozeki ever wouldn't it? 

You would need to ask someone more adept with statistics than I. But our yokozuna aren't getting any younger and I expect the era of Mongolian dominance is winding down. 

In any event, I want competitive ozeki and my comment was only expressing that wish. 

[Amamaniac]

32 minutes ago, Kotomiyama said:

Asanoyama might have suffered the effects of celebrating a yusho. I hope to see him in sanyaku by the end of the year.

Asanoyama IMHO actually had a pretty good tournament.  Walking away from this tournament where he fought at his highest-ever rank (M1e) with a 7-8 record is actually nothing to lament.  He had a great attitude viewing losses to higher-ranked opponents as a learning experience, and he even got two Ozeki scalps.  The positive news is: he has only been in the Top Division for just over two years.  He remains someone to watch, and watch closely.

Better yet, despite only having 7 wins, he took home more kensho prizes (96) than ... money-bags Endo (84) who had ten wins.  

And who says money doesn't heal all wounds? 

[Eikokurai]

2 minutes ago, Amamaniac said:

Asanoyama IMHO actually had a pretty good tournament.  Walking away from this tournament where he fought at his highest-ever rank (M1e) with a 7-8 record is actually nothing to lament.  He had a great attitude viewing losses to higher-ranked opponents as a learning experience, and he even got two Ozeki scalps.  The positive news is: he has only been in the Top Division for just over two years.  He remains someone to watch, and watch closely.

Better yet, despite only having 7 wins, he took home more kensho prizes (96) than ... money-bags Endo (84) who had ten wins.  

And who says money doesn't heal all wounds? 

Agreed. Okay, he didn’t face the toughest joi line-up of all time, but he can only fight the guys in front of him. 7-8 is a respectable record for an M1 debut no matter the circumstances, but especially coming off the back of yusho celebrations.

[shumitto]

1 hour ago, Akinomaki said:

Some results of basho related Tanabata wishes - for spoilers I post it here - bold: fulfilled, strikeout not, italic unknown

On the one hand, even the higher echelons of sumo is filled with some high(?) level of frustration, even though most of these rikishi - if not all of them - has set realistic goals. It's not surprising actually,  it's life.

On the other hand, although he is not on the list, I believe Shimanoumi must have exceed even his highest goals for 2019. Two juryo yusho, kanto-sho back in May and now KK from as high as Maegashira #6. It is life as well. 

That is part of why sumo remains so interesting (to me at least).

Edited July 21, 2019 by shumitto

[Akinomaki]

Hakuho is content with his runner-up result: "Maybe all have forgotten that I had torn a muscle in the right arm, but the physical unease I felt till June led to a strong feeling of anxiety. I want to praise myself for being able to fight this far." http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2019/07/21/kiji/20190721s00005000494000c.html

[yorikiried by fate]

Good show by Kak and Hak. Grip changes! Charges!! Countercharges!!! And the guy who deserved it most won. Which Hakuho already knew yesterday.

All is well under the Four Differently Colored Pompoms of Major Symbolic Significance (TM). 

[Akinomaki]

Due to the elections, Kakuryu has no live appearance on NHK Sunday sports (evening programs on NHK-G are canceled)

[Asapedroryu]

9 hours ago, Rocks said:

Stupid crap. Way to kill the anticipation for a good match. I wish they would demote him anyway.

That was 100% Kotog's fault. He is for sure the most henka prone rikishi in history and he never fixed that.

You or me could pull an henka on him and even tell him before the match that you would go for a henka. He would still fall for it.

[Philioyamfugi]

Not much of a tachia. ..but glad Hak and Kak went chest to chest...best man at the moment won. That is what its all about. Im now a bigger Hokotojuji and Endo fan as that was a barn burner and best match of the basho imo. Both these guys have no quit and i  love Hoktofuji's ferocious sumo. I was starting to like Abi, he did face couple ozeki , but nobody likes a cheap shot the Geek. But still tough to kk at komosubi and obviously a good call on his part. Gonna be crowded at the top of the banzuke. 

 

[Kotogouryuu]

I wonder which percentage of my posts are about Endo's legwork, but that was Endo's legwork at 100% today. Endo can move quick, and once he got his feet planted, he was stationary, not matter what Hokutofuji threw at him. That full power angle and depth of the position requires Endo to be healthy, but when he is, he is punching way above his weight.

[Yubinhaad]

How come Komusubi Abi had the third-to-last bout on senshuraku, with Sekiwake Tamawashi fourth-from-last? Obviously I see that there was more on the line in the Abi-Kotoshogiku 7-7 bout, but I didn't think that could override the rank privilege.

[Akinomaki]

9 minutes ago, Yubinhaad said:

How come Komusubi Abi had the third-to-last bout on senshuraku, with Sekiwake Tamawashi fourth-from-last? Obviously I see that there was more on the line in the Abi-Kotoshogiku 7-7 bout, but I didn't think that could override the rank privilege.

Maybe they didn't want to go as low as m8 (Onosho) for the 2nd mid maegashira in the kore yori sanyaku, with already m6 Shimanoumi - instead m5 Kotoshogiku - anyway an unusually low group

Edited July 21, 2019 by Akinomaki

[Rocks]

1 hour ago, RPedro44 said:

That was 100% Kotog's fault. He is for sure the most henka prone rikishi in history and he never fixed that.

You or me could pull an henka on him and even tell him before the match that you would go for a henka. He would still fall for it.

Yes, he deserves it. Yes, it's a legit move. Whatever. As a fan watching the last day of a basho with 6 guys out, 4 of them Ozeki no less, I don't want to see a henka for a KK. Especially in a match with the sanyaku in it and from a guy who is young and, in relation to the rest of them, healthy. 

[Gospodin]

1 hour ago, RPedro44 said:

That was 100% Kotog's fault. He is for sure the most henka prone rikishi in history and he never fixed that.

You or me could pull an henka on him and even tell him before the match that you would go for a henka. He would still fall for it.

You or me would not be quick enough to step aside before being hit.  Also, there are/were other rikishi with explosive tachiais who were at least as much in danger of falling for a henka as Kotoshogiku is. Remember Dejima, for instance ?

[Faustonowaka]

23 minutes ago, Yubinhaad said:

How come Komusubi Abi had the third-to-last bout on senshuraku, with Sekiwake Tamawashi fourth-from-last? Obviously I see that there was more on the line in the Abi-Kotoshogiku 7-7 bout, but I didn't think that could override the rank privilege.

Because of the arrows. The are never given to a MK rikishi

Edited July 21, 2019 by Faustonowaka

[WAKATAKE]

First off, congrats to Kakuryu, that was an EPIC yokozuna bout, a great sequel to the March tournament. 

While I wish Abi hadn't pulled off that henka, it was telegraphed from miles away. Geek is prone to this so much and knows this himself. Hopefully he will come back strong again next basho. 

Enho getting those wins on days 14 and 15 was so satisfying to watch and you could tell it was such an emotional thing for him. After the collapse of last basho we were starting to see deja vu there, but really glad that he broke that jinx. Well deserving of the gino-sho.

Endo vs Hokutofuji was undoubtedly on par with the yokozuna showdown. This is what makes sumo so great to watch.

Hopefully we will have all the ozeki coming back strong and ozekiwake Takakeisho making that drive to get back to the rank he worked so hard for. Should make for an interesting basho in September!

Aminishiki - hontoni otsukaresamadeshita! Tanoshii omoiwo ARIGATO!!!

[Tsuchinoninjin]

One of the surprising things about Endo this basho is he had several bouts that went longer than 6 seconds. Its usually a pretty quick decision for his matches. Maybe he is finally starting to feel better?

[Benevolance]

So much for my new car. 

[Yubinhaad]

20 minutes ago, Faustonowaka said:

43 minutes ago, Yubinhaad said:

How come Komusubi Abi had the third-to-last bout on senshuraku, with Sekiwake Tamawashi fourth-from-last? Obviously I see that there was more on the line in the Abi-Kotoshogiku 7-7 bout, but I didn't think that could override the rank privilege.

Because of the arrows. The are never given to a MK rikishi

I don't think that has anything to do with it, on the final day of 2018 Kyushu the third-to-last bout was a make-koshi affair between Kagayaki (5-10) and Ichinojo (6-9).

[Amamaniac]

I was watching Enho's senshuraku NHK interview, and I could swear that he gets his eyebrows groomed!  Not that I have anything against the practice, but it does suggest a degree of vanity.  How many other rikishi/sekitori get their eyebrows done?  And does that sort of thing fall under the purview of Tokoyama?  LOL

[Philioyamfugi]

25 minutes ago, Amamaniac said:

I was watching Enho's senshuraku NHK interview, and I could swear that he gets his eyebrows groomed!  Not that I have anything against the practice, but it does suggest a degree of vanity.  How many other rikishi/sekitori get their eyebrows done?  And does that sort of thing fall under the purview of Tokoyama?  LOL

Absolutely agree... plucked thin 

[Asapedroryu]

1 hour ago, Gospodin said:

You or me would not be quick enough to step aside before being hit.  Also, there are/were other rikishi with explosive tachiais who were at least as much in danger of falling for a henka as Kotoshogiku is. Remember Dejima, for instance ?

I remember some Dejima. His yusho was one of the first basho i watched, but I don't remember him going eyes closed facing down at the tachiai hopping the other guy was still there.

Nothing against Giku. He was actually my fav ozeki when he was at the rank with Goeido and Kise, but I always got annoyed by him losing all the time the same way.