Natsu 2023 discussion (results)

[Benihana]

9 to go for Kiribayama. GANBATTE!

[Benihana]

Little scare for Terunofuji. His face says it all.

[Leoben]

Onosato loses the first match in the imaginary competition with Ochiai.

Disappointed we didn't get to see Hoshoryu. In some of the recent training videos I think he looked even bigger and more muscular than last tournament. Would have been cool to see that tested today.

Edited May 14, 2023 by Leoben
Wording

[Akinomaki]

3 minutes ago, Leoben said:

Onosato loses the first match in the imaginary competition with Ochiai.

Disappointed we didn't get to see Hoshoryu. In some of the recent training videos I think he looked even bigger and more muscular than last tournament. Would have been cool to see that measured today.

Was measured recently, not much more

On 03/05/2023 at 17:49, Kintamayama said:

Houshouryuu - 142, +1

[Hankegami]

Good Day 1 of Natsu 2023 to everyone! That's a bit early in the tournament, but I think we can smell something out already.

As things wrapped out today, I'd say that Asanoyama's chances to win the Yusho are very good. Aside from the mere fact that he's M14e and will likely get some ten easy days to start off, the way he rag-dolled Chiyoshoma makes me think he will 99% capitalize it. I mean, he looked like Ochiai against Makushita wrestlers back in January. That's too early to call for other contenders, although Terunofuji and Takakeisho clearly showed they are not 100% by winning backwards like some old, beaten up wrestler. Sure, they won, but getting the Yusho is a whole another thing.

Other possible candidates are the Ozeki-hopeful Sekiwake. Haru winner Kiribayama did a mediocre performance against Midorifuji IMHO, basically winning only thanks to his weight. I can still see him get 10-5 or better for his Ozeki bid, but by his Day 1 performance he looked like an unlikely candidate for a back-to-back Yusho. Daieisho went out like some crazy Texan instead, making a short work of Nishikifuji. Looked really good for his first day. If he can keep on, he's surely going to reach his 11-4 promotion bar (even including Satogatake's requirements on technical performance). Wakamotoharu was also good against Endo, but his Ozeki bar is 13-2 so it's really too soon - not to say unrealistic - to call it for him. Hoshoryu was understandably a no-show today, so we'll have to see tomorrow. He has a nearly impossible 15-0 bar for Ozeki, but that big nice Cup is somewhat easier to get by. Same for everyone else. IMHO, all will get down on how many wins Asanoyama is going to rack up before being paired against the joy - and how many the other will lose from mutual cannibalization.

Bottom line... How many times did Takayasu injury himself during training in the last months? It's becoming redundant. I really want Papa Bear to get a Yusho before retiring, but I am increasingly getting an impression that his veteran's body is not collaborating that much.

Edited May 14, 2023 by Hankegami

[John Gunning]

 

Edited May 14, 2023 by John Gunning

[rhyen]

10 minutes ago, John Gunning said:

 

Type superfast in phonetics. 

[hakutorizakura]

That's very easy. Every rikishi interview is basically about doing his brand of sumo, one day at a time, never think of the yusho, and of course gambarizing.

[junsan]

10 hours ago, rhyen said:

OooohhhhhhNoooooooo….sato.

Sign of things to come. Oyakata has jinxed vibes (maybe except in golf). Yasu caught it. Sato might too.

[Reonito]

7 hours ago, Hankegami said:

Bottom line... How many times did Takayasu injury himself during training in the last months? It's becoming redundant. I really want Papa Bear to get a Yusho before retiring, but I am increasingly getting an impression that his veteran's body is not collaborating that much.

If I were him, I might take a pass on keiko for a few days before the basho.

[hakutorizakura]

Just watched day 1, thanks Kintasan for keep going!!!

Poor Shodai, everyone at sanyaku and above won except him 

Good effort though.

[hakutorizakura]

Takakeisho changed his (firstname) shikona. Maybe I missed the news/discussion, but what was the reason?

[Yamanashi]

1 hour ago, hakutorizakura said:

Takakeisho changed his (firstname) shikona. Maybe I missed the news/discussion, but what was the reason?

His wife thought Francois sounded more dashing.

[Amamaniac]

Not sure if this has already been mentioned in another thread, but today's Association Greeting by Chairman Hakkaku was the first time that the word "Corona" (korona) was not mentioned.  The crowds are back and hopefully Grand Sumo can finally turn a new page and rebuild what it had lost over the last 3+ years!!!!

[Reonito]

2 hours ago, hakutorizakura said:

Just watched day 1, thanks Kintasan for keep going!!!

Poor Shodai, everyone at sanyaku and above won except him 

Good effort though.

He's the only one who fought a higher-ranked opponent TBF

[RabidJohn]

3 hours ago, Reonito said:

If I were him, I might take a pass on keiko for a few days before the basho.

Takayasu has injured himself days before a basho more times than I can remember (other than it's been fairly often) and usually after posting impressive numbers in degeiko.
Doesn't he realise he's peaking too soon?
I'd bet that if he did nothing but basics for the fortnight before a basho then regarded day 1 as the start of degeiko, he could probably injure himself on senshuraku having secured the yusho on day 13 or 14...

Edited May 14, 2023 by RabidJohn

[Amamaniac]

Any Forum members out there with steel-trap memories care to correct me on this?

This may just be the first official Grand Sumo tournament to start its Top Division bouts with judges overturning the gyoji's call.  I could feel the "crow" going down poor Shikimori Kindayu's throat as he presented the kensho envelopes to Oho...

Edited May 15, 2023 by Amamaniac

[Rocks]

3 hours ago, RabidJohn said:

Takayasu has injured himself days before a basho more times than I can remember (other than it's been fairly often) and usually after posting impressive numbers in degeiko.
Doesn't he realise he's peaking too soon?
I'd bet that if he did nothing but basics for the fortnight before a basho then regarded day 1 as the start of degeiko, he could probably injure himself on senshuraku having secured the yusho on day 13 or 14...

I have wondered this myself. I think this may be a result of Kisenosato's heavy influence in his career. Having lived through his entire career through peak Hakuho, Kisenosato had to think his only shot at a yusho was to be at his absolute peak AND hope to get lucky. It's a bad mindset. While discounting the value of proper preparation isn't a good thing (cough..cough ..Mitakeumi) over thinking and over working is not good either. 

[rhyen]

Taping on both of Takakeisho’s knees. Not good. 
All 4 sekiwakes are hungry. 

Edited May 15, 2023 by rhyen

[Faustonowaka]

There’s no way Takakeisho is getting 8 wins in his current condition

[Kishinoyama]

1 hour ago, Faustonowaka said:

There’s no way Takakeisho is getting 8 wins in his current condition

I agree. He struggled to get off the dohyo yesterday after he won. 

[Fashiritētā]

2 hours ago, Kishinoyama said:

I agree. He struggled to get off the dohyo yesterday after he won. 

At least Kiribiyama and Daieisho are ready to take his place next Basho

[dingo]

1 hour ago, Fashiritētā said:

At least Kiribiyama and Daieisho are ready to take his place next Basho

The question is for how long? At least in Daieisho's case, he's had two streaks of consecutive makekoshi in the last two years, and three 8-7 in the same timeframe. Not exactly a promising record if he wants to stay Ozeki for a bit longer than a few months. 

[Koorifuu]

3 hours ago, dingo said:

The question is for how long? At least in Daieisho's case, he's had two streaks of consecutive makekoshi in the last two years, and three 8-7 in the same timeframe. Not exactly a promising record if he wants to stay Ozeki for a bit longer than a few months. 

Should we really trust pre-ozeki results? Most people expected Mitakeumi to have a lengthy stay, based on his years-long consistency at delivering ozeki results.

For the five years between his komusubi and ozeki debuts, his results would've seen him remain ozeki throughout (with a single ozekiwake basho in Haru 2020), all of them fighting everyone from the top.

And yet, it all unraveled spectacularly for him almost immediately after he finally hammered that nail in. I wouldn't rule out Daieisho being the complete opposite.

Edited May 15, 2023 by Koorifuu

[Koorifuu]

A few impressions from today's bouts.

- VERY strong start for the three ozeki suitors. Six dominant wins! This is interesting.

- Chiyonokuni seems to be done, unfortunately. His body can't seem to keep up with his fierceness anymore.

- The Ukrainian lion is 3 wins away from sekitorihood. Interesting.

- Setonoumi and Fujinoyama's bout felt like it played at 1.5x speed. Good lord.

- Toshunryu should probably look into his cauliflower ear before that thing explodes on him.

- Remember when Tochimusashi and Gonoyama started at sd100td on the same basho and Tochimusashi was rated much higher? How the tables turn. The former is now losing to Hayatefuji in makushita despite being close to ripping his elbow off, and the latter started out with a strong makuuchi claim.

- What the heck's going on with Abi? These two bouts felt a bit suspicious. If anything, they aren't suspicious because "he wouldn't make it THAT obvious". Let's see how he does from here onwards, but if there's a sudden improvement in form, that'll raise some questions.

Edited May 15, 2023 by Koorifuu