This IS the July 2020 Basho thread!! Spoilers!!

[Ichimawashi]

Somebody at Abema or NHK needs to re-record _The Twilight Zone_ theme music with an ensemble of kotos, the Japanese plucked string instrument.  Then, for the first five matches of Makuuchi we would hear the music and know that we were in the Koto Zone.  Tonight, the interloper match invading the Koto Zone should be announced as Terunokotofuji vs Chiyokotomaru.  Such things happen....in the Koto Zone.

[Kintamayama]

13 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

Jonidan 82 and  43 year old Satonofuji (24 years in sumo) beat his opponent Miyakojima by the fantastic technique Izori. It was his second ever izori, btw..

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was his 16th (!!!) career izori.

[Adil]

And with that, Hakuho just got himself a new record that will stand for a long, long time: The longest run up the hanamichi after jumping off the dohyo before returning.

[Hakuryuho]

I gotta say, Asanoyama and Hakuho look really, really good thus far. No mistakes at all, both looked pretty much unbeatable in each of their three fights. 

[Ichimawashi]

Hakuho with the Bo Jackson in the Kingdome run.

[Eikokurai]

Takayasu must have really missed the dohyo – he doesn’t want to leave it. Three lengthy bouts in three days.

Sad to see two ex-Ozeki meeting so far down the banzuke. It won’t be the last though I suppose, with Terunofuji and Tochinoshin down near the bottom too.

Smart win by Abi in the battle of the 炎. He knew he was vulnerable to Enho’s submarine so put out the forearm and let the little man duck into it.

Asanoyama looking very smooth. He’s shown calm, patient and controlled sumo on all three days so far. Never been on the back foot. Heading steadily towards a very respectable Ozeki debut.

Edited July 21, 2020 by Eikokurai

[Amamaniac]

1 hour ago, Adil said:

And with that, Hakuho just got himself a new record that will stand for a long, long time: The longest run up the hanamichi after jumping off the dohyo before returning.

Aside from the etiquette and the prize money, perhaps the reason he did return to the dohyo (instead of going straight to the shitakubeya) was that his shitakubeya was on the other side!  

Hakuho kept going despite having lost any real momentum.  Just the GOAT strutting his stuff.

[Kishinoyama]

42 minutes ago, Amamaniac said:

....Hakuho kept going despite having lost any real momentum.  Just the GOAT strutting his stuff.

Let's just hope that Hakuho didn't pull a hamstring strutting his stuff....

[hakutorizakura]

Hakuho you silly goof 

Mitakeumi pulled a Goeido there!

[Otokonoyama]

6 hours ago, d_golem said:

Is it just me or the applause on TV (well, Natto’s summary video) sounds...fake? They always come at the correct timing and was at uniform volume. Are they doin what the football leagues are doing and inserting pre-generated crowd sounds?

Sounds like it's been lifted straight from Mr. Han's tournament in Enter the Dragon.

[since_94]

Major showboating from Hakuho. Not only is he firing on all cylinders, but he looks to be in excellent physical condition. Terunofuji, Hoshoryu, Chiyonokuni all looked really good today.

[Kintamayama]

9 hours ago, d_golem said:

Is it just me or the applause on TV (well, Natto’s summary video) sounds...fake? They always come at the correct timing and was at uniform volume. Are they doin what the football leagues are doing and inserting pre-generated crowd sounds?

It's real, said Murray today.

[Yamanashi]

6 hours ago, Ichimawashi said:

Hakuho with the Bo Jackson in the Kingdome run.

Bo Jackson -- ya beat me to it!  Hakuho really hates Endo; took the extra two steps to put him on the floor, then makes him wait while doing the double victory parade.  With the implied threat "guess what's going to happen to you every bout as long as I'm here?"

[code_number3]

Watching Murray’s commentary makes my day more enjoyable with his banters

[Amamaniac]

There was a big kerfuffle when fans in the tamariseki section had to move from their precious ringside seats when President Trump attended Day 15 of the 2019 Summer Tournament.  

Has anyone heard the blow back from the decision to keep the tamariseki section clear in this tournament?  

Can the NSK afford to anger its wealthier supporters?  Were any of the high rollers from that section given masuseki tickets as compensation?  By the looks of it, the answer to that question is "No".  I guess the lottery system is the big social equaliser...

Edited July 21, 2020 by Amamaniac

[Kashunowaka]

I enjoyed watching the action today, especially juryo and lower makuuchi. For some reason I felt that the overall quality of sumo dropped in the upper half of the top division...  Daieisho, Shodai and Takakeisho all lost awkwardly. Okuridashi is seldom a sign of good sumo. 

[RabidJohn]

I'm prepared to accept that Hakuho making damn sure Endo went out was 'in the flow of the match', as they say, but it flowed a remarkably long way up the hanamichi! I too had time to wonder if he'd decided, "Nah, keep the kensho. I'm off."

Terunofuji ain't half toned up since that 'Shiko by everyone' video! I'm still doubtful of his ability to return to the joi and remain there very long, though. Proven glass cannon unfortunately...

Very surprised by the way Takakeisho lost to Okinoumi. Kind of looked like he might not be ozeki much longer.

Asanoyama is also looking like he might not be ozeki much longer, but in a good way.

Still slightly distracted by the this-is-the-way-humans-behave, unexcited, monoculture audience.

Edited July 21, 2020 by RabidJohn

[Gospodin]

41 minutes ago, RabidJohn said:

Very surprised by the way Takakeisho lost to Okinoumi. Kind of looked like he might not be ozeki much longer.

I don´t know. To me he looked kind of overconfident today, and caught completely off-guard. 

[Gospodin]

2 hours ago, Yamanashi said:

Bo Jackson -- ya beat me to it!  Hakuho really hates Endo; took the extra two steps to put him on the floor, then makes him wait while doing the double victory parade.  With the implied threat "guess what's going to happen to you every bout as long as I'm here?"

He seems to pick on certain rikishi - Tochiozan also was a frequent victim of his "I´m the boss" - antics (Nekodamashi, anybody ?).

[Benevolance]

Maybe Hakuho needed to use the bathroom real quick? 

It's been so long, do any of the Ozeki/Sekiwake have anything on the line? Who's kadoban? Anyone at risk of a promotion if they turn in a decent showing? 

[Jakusotsu]

18 minutes ago, Benevolance said:

Anyone at risk of a promotion if they turn in a decent showing? 

Kagayaki is in severe danger of making his Sanyaku debut.

[Akinomaki]

31 minutes ago, Benevolance said:

Who's kadoban?

Takakeisho

[Kintamayama]

Day 3 yammerings:

Terunofuji, ex-Ozeki, back iמ Makuuchi after 14 bashos and winning all three of his first matches: "My body is in good condition.I can only go about it with confidence.."

Kotoshougiku, losing the battle of ex-Ozeki against Takayasu: "He makes you go all out. I did lose, but I'd like to reflect and face what's next.."

Myougiryuu, getting his third straight win, pulling with a left overarm grip: "My body was moving well. I've faced Tochinoshin many times and we train together a lot since we belong to the same ichimon- I was aiming for that left uwate."

Enhou, losing badly to Abi: "My opponent's thrusts were stronger than I had imagined. It was a total defeat. I could do nothing!"

Kiribayama, first win. His heyamate Yokozuna Kakuryuu out since day 2: "The Yokozuna has gone kyujo, so I am thinking that all I can do is gambarize.."

Ounoshou, three straight losses since day 1: "It's not that i'm in bad shape. I just need to get myself in gear.."

Yutakayama, three straight losses after facing his classmate Asanoyama: "I was able to get my first step in. My feet got entangled at the dohyo edge and that is a shame.."

Okinoumi,  beating Takakeishou with a powerful right thrust to the neck: "I got lucky. The Ozeki happened to pull exactly at the right timing so that was good.."

Asanoyama, three straight wins: "I'm able to put pressure on my opponents. I was able to see my opponent and was able to yorikiri him. My rival who beat me last basho? I went up there feeling I will beat him this basho. Nothing has changed much for me since becoming an Ozeki. I have been facing these three days knowing I can face anything too!"

Mitakeumi: "I thought I lost.. I just tried a last-ditch throw. It was too good.. I didn't train enough against sekitori before the basho, but my body is moving better than expected. I'm doing quite well, right?"

Edited July 22, 2020 by Kintamayama

[RabidJohn]

Has Mainoumi-san been talking about what it's like to be the little guy when the big boys have got your number? Poor little Enho - he so kawaii!

[Katooshu]

I usually don't like to say much about form so early on (day 1: so and so is looking good, day 5: so and so just isn't himself this basho, day 8: wow, so and so is the next ozeki, day 13: so and so just isn't ready for this level of sumo, might need to regroup in juryo)..... but Asanoyama is winning like he's facing small children, and that includes beating 2 opponents he didn't have winning records against. Nice progress Ishibashi , let's see how he does next vs another guy leading their head to head (Daieisho).

Edited July 21, 2020 by Katooshu