Haru 2022 Discussion Thread (SPOILERS!)

[Katooshu]

7-0 Kitanowaka 

[jsolo]

2022 MARCH (HARU) SUMO BASHO LINKS AND STATISTICS BLOG--DAY 6, MARCH 18, COMPLETE

Links to NHK videos of Yokozuna and all Ozeki matches (with a bit more of the pre-match stuff than before), photos from nikkansports, results, match articles from Kyodo News, Tachiai.org, and nikkan sports, Kimarite and time statistics, Top rank performance, maegashira v san-yaku, and more.

I have added a link to daily Mainichi Shimbun Photo Essays to my photos section. 

[Jakusotsu]

Shame on Tsurugisho for destroying the perfect East Side in Juryo!

Edited March 19, 2022 by Jakusotsu

[Kotononami]

14 consecutive wins from the East side , Kanno > Azumaryu

Rare occurence I suppose 

[Yarimotsu]

48 minutes ago, Kotononami said:

14 consecutive wins from the East side , Kanno > Azumaryu

Rare occurence I suppose 

It looks surreal

[WAKATAKE]

That's bound to mess up some Seki-Toto picks

[Benihana]

2 minutes ago, WAKATAKE said:

That's bound to mess up some Seki-Toto picks

Just checked, hit 9, so at least i got that going for me. I would have been ok with 8, if Tsurugisho had made that a clean sweep for the east. But nooo, c-c-c-combobreaker.

[Kaninoyama]

Kotonowaka again right in the thick of things with his 6th win. 

[Eikokurai]

Great win by Hoshoryu.

Abi keep fighting in retreat. He pulls wins out of the bag doing it but it’s living on the edge a bit!

[Eikokurai]

Looked like Wakatakakage used a rare okuritsuridashi there, no?

Edit: Okuritsuriotoshi. Just as rare! Only the fourth ever in Makuuchi and first since 2007.

Edited March 19, 2022 by Eikokurai

[Katooshu]

Brings this to mind

 

[Tigerboy1966]

2 minutes ago, Eikokurai said:

Looked like Wakatakakage used a rare okuritsuridashi there, no?

They've called it okuritsuriotoshi. The slam makes the difference I think. Looked a bit unnecessary to me but it's a hard game.

[Eikokurai]

1 minute ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

They've called it okuritsuriotoshi. The slam makes the difference I think. Looked a bit unnecessary to me but it's a hard game.

Yeah, already edited. :)

[Eikokurai]

7 minutes ago, Eikokurai said:

Looked like Wakatakakage used a rare okuritsuridashi there, no?

Edit: Okuritsuriotoshi. Just as rare! Only the fourth ever in Makuuchi and first since 2007.

Incidentally, Wakatakakage moves to 6-1 in his Sekiwake debut. Having got 9-6 from M1 last time, he’s in danger of going on an accidental Ozeki run if he’s not careful.

[Tigerboy1966]

While we're on kimarite I didn't see Mitakeumi employing a pull for his hikiotoshi against Onosho. Looked more like what Kintamayama would call "slippiotoshi".

[Eikokurai]

Takakeisho has recovered well from his slow start and looks good for retaining his Ozeki rank at a minimum.

[Benihana]

6 minutes ago, Eikokurai said:

Incidentally, Wakatakakage moves to 6-1 in his Sekiwake debut. Having got 9-6 from M1 last time, he’s in danger of going on an accidental Ozeki run if he’s not careful.

Could be worse. Imagine Shodai going on an accidental....well, bummer.

[Benihana]

Must've jinxed Shodai with that. Finally some at least OK sumo from Shodai. There's always hope.

[Eikokurai]

3 minutes ago, Benihana said:

Could be worse. Imagine Shodai going on an accidental....well, bummer.

He’s on one now. Second win. Made hard work of it though!

[Katooshu]

With how freely people throw around ozeki hype, I'm surprised Wakatakagake hasn't gotten more of it till now.

Edited March 19, 2022 by Katooshu

[Jakusotsu]

17 minutes ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

They've called it okuritsuriotoshi.

That didn't look really okuri to me, not even by half.

[Eikokurai]

Just now, Katooshu said:

With how freely people throw around ozeki hype, I'm surprised Wakatakagake hasn't gotten more of it.

He’s been under the radar I think because other plot lines were unfolding that got more attention. He’s also risen steadily with 8-7s and 9-6s most of the last year, with his closest thing to a breakout basho being his 10-5 at M2 at last Haru.

[Kaninoyama]

1 minute ago, Katooshu said:

With how freely people throw around ozeki hype, I'm surprised Wakatakagake hasn't gotten more of it.

Well it's only his second stint at sanyaku, first as Sekiwake, though outside of his first two basho in Makuuchi he hasn't been ranked lower than M3, which is quite impressive.

It's probably his lack of size more than anything that causes him to be passed over, but if he continues to perform as he has, he'll have to be moved up to the shot list of potentials for sure. 

[Eikokurai]

10 minutes ago, Jakusotsu said:

That didn't look really okuri to me, not even by half.

He was behind him when he picked him up, with arm reaching around.

https://mobile.twitter.com/jsasumo/status/1505101062528995332

[Hakuryuho]

Mightily impressed by Kitanowaka down in Juryo.

Today was a perfect example of what he brings to the table:
He is perfectly suited for yotsu-sumo thanks to his large frame and most importantly his long limbs.

What makes him stand apart from other people his size imo is his ability to keep his balance.
He is also a smart wrestler with a wide range of techniques who is also not lacking in strength.
This lad looks like the complete package, very interested to see what his peak will be.