Haru 2022 Discussion Thread (SPOILERS!)

[Benevolance]

[spoilers] Terunofuji already won the tournament. [/spoilers]

Seen a couple spirited jonokuchi bouts so far, but what's the German word "when two low ranked sumo wrestlers create a spirited bout due more to their mediocrity than their actual fighting spirit"? 

Edited March 13, 2022 by Benevolance

[Chartorenji]

Kototebakari gets his first Ozumo win against fellow rookie Toseiryu. Aoifuji also gets a win, making his pro record 6-2.

[rhyen]

Atamifuji sporting a red shimekomi, Daishomaru switches to silver(?)

 

[Seiyashi]

Yeah, seems like they've cancelled Wakanohana's Death Note for good. It's not on the schedule this time either.

[Yarimotsu]

Ichiyamamoto reaching his quota on the first day, perhaps niyamamoto tomorrow?

On a more serious note, those Makushita matches above Ms15 were amazing and I'd highly recommend going back to watch the highlights

[Tigerboy1966]

6 hours ago, Chartorenji said:

Kototebakari gets his first Ozumo win against fellow rookie Toseiryu.

That might be his toughest opponent overcome already.

[Yarimotsu]

1 minute ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

That might be his toughest opponent overcome already.

Hence why I picked them both for my banzuke surfing attempt 

[Seiyashi]

Did Akua just kachiage himself against Tochinoshin? I hope he's not concussed, he didn't look very in it after the bout.

Yutakayama out Chiyokuni-ing Chiyokuni is a thing to see. He seems to have found his mojo again.

Edited March 13, 2022 by Seiyashi

[Benihana]

7 hours ago, Benevolance said:

what's the German word "when two low ranked sumo wrestlers create a spirited bout due more to their mediocrity than their actual fighting spirit"? 

Tja...

[Chartorenji]

1 hour ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

That might be his toughest opponent overcome already.

still got my hopes for Hanafusa.

[Tigerboy1966]

13 minutes ago, Chartorenji said:

1 hour ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

That might be his toughest opponent overcome already.

still got my hopes for Hanafusa.

As the only man in the basement with makushita experience (Kotorikisen) has pulled out injured it would certainly be disappointing if one of the newcomers didn't win the division.

[Seiyashi]

Takakeisho looking pretty good.

Also, is it just me, or is the dohyo more slippery than the rikishi are used to? I see at least 3 if not 4 cases of slippiotoshi-aided wins straight off the tachiai.

[hakutorizakura]

Hey, sumo is on again! Bit disappointed with Hosh, it was too easy for Big T. I was expecting something more exciting..

[robnplunder]

13 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

Also, is it just me, or is the dohyo more slippery than the rikishi are used to? I see at least 3 if not 4 cases of slippiotoshi-aided wins straight off the tachiai.

I am used to seeing the slips, too often.

Terunofuji showed class against the nephew. 

[Tigerboy1966]

Daieisho just did the Daieisho thing and Shodai had no answer. A worrying start for the kadoban ozeki.

[since_94]

8 minutes ago, hakutorizakura said:

 

Bit disappointed with Hosh, it was too easy for Big T. I was expecting something more exciting.

 

Perhaps ironically, I came here to type “Did we really expect any other outcome?” regarding the manhandling of the nephew.

[Amamaniac]

Mitakeumi deserves some praise.  His first bout as an Ozeki certainly had a degree of nerves attached to it, and that could have interfered.  

Perhaps no one really expected Ichinojo to take this one, but previous encounters show that in 2021, Mitakeumi won 3 and lost 2 against the Mongolian, so there was definitely an outside chance for an embarrassing upset.  Seeing the cupping marks on Ichi's back, however, was a sign that he may not be fighting fit.  

The nice thing about Mitakeumi was that he stayed calm

[hakutorizakura]

3 minutes ago, since_94 said:

Perhaps ironically, I came here to type “Did we really expect any other outcome?” regarding the manhandling of the nephew.

Yeah, the outcome was already clear anyway. Maybe I was just expecting too much 

[Seiyashi]

1 minute ago, Amamaniac said:

Mitakeumi deserves some praise.  His first bout as an Ozeki certainly had a degree of nerves attached to it, and that could have interfered.  

Perhaps no one really expected Ichinojo to take this one, but previous encounters show that in 2021, Mitakeumi won 3 and lost 2 against the Mongolian, so there was definitely an outside chance for an embarrassing upset.  Seeing the cupping marks on Ichi's back, however, was a sign that he may not be fighting fit.  

The nice thing about Mitakeumi was that he stayed calm

Fighting fit or not, Mitakeumi still looked a bit too soft in the opening exchanges than we'd have liked from an ozeki. I'm inclined to agree with you and give him the benefit of the doubt when it comes to nerves, but I hope that he isn't also suffering from long COVID.

Ironically Takakeisho has the least to worry about from long COVID, considering his usual fighting style: he'll certainly be disadvantaged by longer bouts but it's not like he isn't already.

[Amamaniac]

Not that I had any money on Abi taking the yusho in this tournament, but there appeared to be growing hype for Abi.  I guess Onosho "showed" him that winning a championship is more difficult that Abi may have hoped.  There was nothing "no show" about Onosho today.  He was invested in that win, and did not back down!

[since_94]

9 minutes ago, hakutorizakura said:

Yeah, the outcome was already clear anyway. Maybe I was just expecting too much 

Yeah, he’s not there yet. But still great to watch, a work in progress and a definite up’n comer. Happy he’s cracked sanyaku 

[since_94]

11 minutes ago, Amamaniac said:

Not that I had any money on Abi taking the yusho in this tournament, but there appeared to be growing hype for Abi.  I guess Onosho "showed" him that winning a championship is more difficult that Abi may have hoped.  There was nothing "no show" about Onosho today.  He was invested in that win, and did not back down!

No showboating from the winner, either. That’s a good thing. No one likes a show off. 

[Kaninoyama]

1 hour ago, Amamaniac said:

Not that I had any money on Abi taking the yusho in this tournament, but there appeared to be growing hype for Abi.  I guess Onosho "showed" him that winning a championship is more difficult that Abi may have hoped.  There was nothing "no show" about Onosho today.  He was invested in that win, and did not back down!

Disappointing start indeed for Abi, but all credit to Onosho. He was a bulldozer today. 

Shodai is a concern. Mainoumi remarked, and I concur, that he has lost a lot of muscle, and with it his tachiai horsepower, compared to when he achieved Ozeki status.

He'd better find an answer soon or he's destined to to join the former Ozeki club. 

Edited March 13, 2022 by Kaninoyama

[Seiyashi]

To be fair, even when Abi was hot last basho, Onosho still had his number, and their last four meetings went 3-1 in favour of Onosho, so I wouldn't read too much into Abi's loss today. In any case, unless Abi's ready for an ozeki run (and I don't think he's quite at that level just yet), he can drop a fair few bouts and still be safe in sanyaku. I would probably agree with Kintamayama's sentiment last basho that this first week sanyaku schedule will be a much sterner test for Abi, and I think it's fine if he doesn't pass with flying colours the first time out.

Edited March 13, 2022 by Seiyashi

[Leoben]

So happy to have sumo to watch again. 

I think it was mostly because Hos made it easy for him, but after the last two basho it feels good to see Teru charging forward and attacking instead of his recent defensive sumo. I wonder if we're going to see changes to his approach after January's fiasco.

I think this may be Shodai's last tournament at Ozeki. Any bets on whether he holds his rank? I'm saying no.