March basho 2021

[Kaninoyama]

If it couldn't be Takayasu, I'm happy that Terunofuji was able to win decisively at 12-3 and secure not only the yusho with a respectable record, but his return to Ozeki as well. 

[Katooshu]

1 minute ago, Joaoiyama said:

YOKOZUNA! 

It would be one heck of a story if Terunofuji made yokozuna after all! I am rooting for him 

[SumoLyubo]

That was a scary-looking tachiai; I'm amazed Terunofuji stayed on his feet. An amazing finish for him--3 for 3 ozeki matches.

[Thorbjarn]

Good match for the Yusho, deserved Yusho for Terunofuji. Happy to not have a ketteisen with Aoiyama, whom I never want to see near a cup. Just my least favourite wrestler, no disrespect. 

The final match is still for KK for Shodai, so not really just an empty match. 

[Katooshu]

2 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

Then Hokutofuji would be stuck at M2e with 9-6, which is an even greater injustice than him and Wakatakakage not getting junior sanyaku slots.

Ya, tough break for sure either way it goes, and he's had a lot of it when it comes to missing out on sanyaku positions, though I guess that's the way the banzuke is sometimes. On the bright side, it's led to many more kinboshi chances!

Edited March 28, 2021 by Katooshu

[Katooshu]

1 minute ago, Thorbjarn said:

Good match for the Yusho, deserved Yusho for Terunofuji. Happy to not have a ketteisen with Aoiyama, whom I never want to see near a cup. Just my least favourite wrestler, no disrespect. 

The final match is still for KK for Shodai, so not really just an empty match. 

Aoiyama already has some very large cups 

[Seiyashi]

Just now, Thorbjarn said:

Good match for the Yusho, deserved Yusho for Terunofuji. Happy to not have a ketteisen with Aoiyama, whom I never want to see near a cup. Just my least favourite wrestler, no disrespect. 

The final match is still for KK for Shodai, so not really just an empty match. 

True, although Shodai is not kadoban so there won't be immediate consequences even if he loses here. So it is at least currently immaterial.

1 minute ago, Katooshu said:

Ya, tough break for sure, and he's had a lot of it when it comes to missing out on sanyaku positions, though I guess that's the way the banzuke is sometimes. On the bright side, it's led to many more kinboshi chances!

Tough for Wakatakakage maybe. Hokutofuji has been chronically incapable of holding down komusubi, having been promoted to it on three prior occasions, and being demoted after a single basho every single time.

And what kinboshi chances? We're not seeing a yokozuna on the dohyo till July at the earliest, if the YDC is placated by Kakuryu's sacrifice and declines to go after Hakuho with a hacksaw.

[Katooshu]

The many extra kinboshi chances that have come with non-sanyaku promotions despite strong records at high maegashira ranks...so he's done pretty well in that respect with 7 kinboshi.

[Seiyashi]

And Shikimori Inosuke gets in the way again! Hiro Morita was just commenting on how Shodai was annoyed about Inosuke getting in his way in his prior match with Asanoyama, and then Asanoyama bowls Shodai into Inosuke and the salt basket to conclude their match. Inosuke is slow to rise, necessitating Tamajiro to come on the dohyo and hand Asanoyama the kensho. Inosuke is later pictured limping down the hanamichi with assistance from a yobidashi.

 

[Seiyashi]

1 minute ago, Katooshu said:

The many extra kinboshi chances that have come with non-sanyaku promotions despite strong records at high maegashira ranks...so he's done pretty well in that respect with 7 kinboshi.

Ah, I see, you were speaking of past events. In which case, yes, two kinboshi have come from being stuck at M1 from a very good record the basho before.

[Tigerboy1966]

Fallen gyoji get more prompt attention than unconscious wrestlers it appears.

[Seiyashi]

Aoiyama asked about his third-straight double digit win in March. Unfortunately, both the interviewer and Aoiyama missed a trick here and failed to get into why only in March in particular does he get into double digits.

[pricklypomegranate]

If you love it, let it go, but if it comes back, it is yours. Today, Terunofuji not only secured his Ozeki re-promotion in great style, but also got more yusho than he has the first time around. He was born to be at least an Ozeki. It is often said that Ozekis are strong rikishi but Yokozunas are god-chosen rikishi. We will not know if Teru will be a Yokozuna until the time comes, but the man certainly has the divine wind behind him. 

Edited March 28, 2021 by pricklypomegranate

[Thorbjarn]

To be fair, I think Shodai was already beaten when Inosuke got in the way this time. Another double digit performance by Asanoyama. Quite respectable, 10+ in every Basho he completed since being promoted. 

[Seiyashi]

Terunofuji apparently injured his knee on day 10, but still managed to win - hot goss from Isegahama.

Isegahama has also ad-hoc convened the rijikai, so it is perhaps safe to say that Terunofuji's ozeki promotion is guaranteed.

[Seiyashi]

3 minutes ago, Thorbjarn said:

To be fair, I think Shodai was already beaten when Inosuke got in the way this time. Another double digit performance by Asanoyama. Quite respectable, 10+ in every Basho he completed since being promoted. 

Yes, and in fact on the slow motion, Shodai going down didn't bowl over Inosuke immediately; it appears to be more the cumulative effect of Asanoyama colliding into Shodai that finally knocked Inosuke over. A bit like old cartoons!

Edited March 28, 2021 by Seiyashi

[pricklypomegranate]

Shodai's sumo was not stellar this basho, to put it diplomatically. One hopes he will do better with the kadoban fire lit under his chair next basho. 

[Seiyashi]

2 hours ago, pricklypomegranate said:

It is often said that Ozekis are strong rikishi but Yokozunas are god-chosen rikishi. We will not know if Teru will be a Yokozuna until the time comes, but the man certainly has the divine wind behind him. 

God-chosen or not, if Terunofuji does ascend to be yokozuna, Isegahama will cement his place as the best scout and coach of all time, not to mention being an absolute bastion of inspiration to his own deshi. The only one he is arguably inferior to at this point is Kitanofuji, who presided over a double-yokozuna stable (but contributed very little to Chiyonofuji's ascent to yokozuna in the first place).

Hiro Morita reports that Inosuke is going to a clinic to get checked. Perhaps wise, because he is most certainly at the age where a tumble like that is considered a "fall"!

2 hours ago, pricklypomegranate said:

One hopes he will do better with the kadoban fire lit under his chair next basho. 

You mean zabuton or mawashi...

Edited March 28, 2021 by Seiyashi
thanks @gospodin

[Eikokurai]

I’ve been out today so not yet seen the action to comment on that, but I’ll add my frustration and disappointment with Takayasu to the others. How he went from two ahead of Terunofuji on day 10 to two behind him on day 15 must go down in sumo folklore. He leaves not only without the yusho or kantosho, but not even the jun-yusho. That’s how bad his choke was: he didn’t even finish second.

As for Terunofuji, what an incredible story. I recall the discussion when he fell out of Juryo about how feasible it would be for him to even make it back to sekitori. The consensus was more or less that his days were numbered. Now the talk is of him as the next Yokozuna. What a turnaround in fortunes. To cap it off, I believe he’s the first man ever to get promoted to Ozeki* with a “hat trick” of one yusho, one doten and one jun-yusho. He loves to do things his own way!
 

*Yes, I know I’m getting ahead of myself here, but let’s be honest – it’s a done deal.

Edited March 28, 2021 by Eikokurai

[pricklypomegranate]

It is unfortunate for Enho too. 1 or 2 more wins and he would have secured promotion over Chiyomaru. Unfortunately, I can only see 3 makuuchi spots opening up, Kotoshoho (who had a horrendous fall today, you could see it in his expression), the besieged Yutakayama and Kakuryu's retirement. I do not think that Midorifuji or Chiyotairyu will be demoted to Juryo. So it's Ishiura, Chiyomaru and Akua next basho. He fought well, but not consistently enough. 

[Seiyashi]

Some sense of humour from Terunofuji - when asked how he got back from injury, he says - "I'm sure you don't need to hear me say this every time, but it's the fans who have cheered for me."

He began his interview by bowing to all sides of the Kokugikan, thanking the fans.

4 minutes ago, Eikokurai said:

To cap it off, I believe he’s the first man ever to get promoted to Ozeki with a “hat trick” of one yusho, one doten and one jun-yusho. He loves to do things his own way!

Yes. In the modern period, this is the strongest pre-ozeki promotion record. The closest was Kotooshu with 2 JY and a doten; Terunofuji has now done one better with a full yusho instead of a JY.

[Seiyashi]

2 minutes ago, pricklypomegranate said:

It is unfortunate for Enho too. 1 or 2 more wins and he would have secured promotion over Chiyomaru. Unfortunately, I can only see 3 makuuchi spots opening up, Kotoshoho (who had a horrendous fall today, you could see it in his expression), the besieged Yutakayama and Kakuryu's retirement. I do not think that Midorifuji or Chiyotairyu will be demoted to Juryo. So it's Ishiura, Chiyomaru and Akua next basho. He fought well, but not consistently enough. 

Speaking of chokes, that's another one for the days, although it's a bit less culpable than Takayasu's considering it was in juryo and Enho has several mechanical disadvantages in his sumo.

[pricklypomegranate]

2 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

Speaking of chokes, that's another one for the days, although it's a bit less culpable than Takayasu's considering it was in juryo and Enho has several mechanical disadvantages in his sumo.

Well yeah, it's just a makuuchi promotion, not yusho opportunity, and he is in a serious physical disadvantage. Kisenosato will not be pleased... 

[Seiyashi]

Updates on Inosuke - he returned from the clinic. He didn't hit his head directly; he fell on his back and then his head, so he's generally alright (seeing as how he would have landed is, by happy accident, exactly how martial arts practitioners are trained to land on their back anyway).

Another report says he landed on his backside first. So either way, he's not in any immediate danger.

Edited March 28, 2021 by Seiyashi

[Tigerboy1966]

4 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

Yes. In the modern period, this is the strongest pre-ozeki promotion record. The closest was Kotooshu with 2 JY and a doten; Terunofuji has now done one better with a full yusho instead of a JY.

What about Wakanohana. 37 wins, 1 yusho and a jun-yusho/doten.

Dear diary, today I learned a new word: "doten"