Kyushu 2023 discussion (results)

[dingo]

2 hours ago, Yarimotsu said:

I did immediately consider the possibility that the shimpan simply didn't want to award any second chances lest they end up with a yokozuna who made the rank doing that kind of sumo. After all, some oyakata were quoted before the basho suggesting they'd only be happy with him getting promoted if he showed solid forward-moving sumo - this was a perfect chance to deny such inadequacies (or at least not reward mediocrity). I have thought before that both kotonowaka and hoshoryu suffered similar decisions under slightly different circumstances.

It might be a possibility but I think this bout wasn't one of Takakeisho's worst ones. I don't think anyone could've complained that he was favoured, it really looked to me like they landed together. Besides, I think yokozunae often used to get contentious bouts going in their favour. 

[Urmashiyama]

Great Kyushu again! Well, times are not the same as maybe 13 years ago (and sumo doesn't have Hakuho, of course) and the tournament is still young, etc, but could Ichiyamamoto find that motivation and that energy to become Toyonoshima2.0 or even...? 

 

[WAKATAKE]

So continues mid-basho skepticism that is clearly warranted if we can't have at least one or two ozeki that are 8-0 after nakabi. Hopefully we can have yusho line at 13-2 but given the rate this is going I highly doubt it.

[Bunbukuchagama]

43 minutes ago, Urmashiyama said:

could Ichiyamamoto find that motivation and that energy to become Toyonoshima2.0 or even...? 

We all know the answer.

[Kotomiyama]

Fantastic nakabi, every option is open except Takakeisho becoming Yokozuna. That should wait, maybe forever.

I suggest that those that still ride the Hokuseiho wagon transfer to Atamifuji's in the next station. The boy's only argument is height and that's not enough for upper Makuuchi.

[Bunbukuchagama]

16 minutes ago, Kotomiyama said:

Takakeisho becoming Yokozuna. That should wait, maybe forever

Amen.

 

[Katooshu]

Go go Kitaharima!!!! 5-0 and just knocked off top ranked Hakuyozan.

Edited November 20, 2023 by Katooshu

[Tigerboy1966]

1 hour ago, Katooshu said:

Go go Kitaharima!!!! 5-0 and just knocked off top ranked Hakuyozan.

This was a non-upset upset. Hakuyozan had already got what he needed for promotion, while Kitaharima needs to win out.

[Hankegami]

Ichiyamamoto just blasted an otherwise good Tamawashi out. And here I thought that he was to get a good run for his money if not outright tasting the dirt. Perhaps our arasoi leader is not here just by accident.

[Asashosakari]

1 hour ago, Katooshu said:

Go go Kitaharima!!!! 5-0 and just knocked off top ranked Hakuyozan.

Not to jinx him, but if he wins out he'll do something never done before: 7-0 in sandanme followed by 7-0 in the makushita top 15. All back-to-back 7-0's so far either started in makushita, or so low in sandanme that the rikishi wasn't in the Ms top 15 after the first one.

[Kaninoyama]

Hiradoumi quitely putting together a nice basho. Six straight wins, and faces basho leader Ichiyamamoto tomorrow. Should be a pivotal bout. 

[Akinomaki]

1 hour ago, Katooshu said:

Go go Kitaharima!!!! 5-0 and just knocked off top ranked Hakuyozan.

On the 8th death anniversary of his former shisho Kitanoumi https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2023/11/20/kiji/20231120s00005000443000c.html

[rhyen]

Ooooh….a sake barrel in the masu-seki for fukuoka geiko, watching the bouts with their okami-san. 

[rhyen]

Out of curiosity, is Atamifuji trying to learn defensive/evasive/tawara sumo and add it to his repertoire?

He seems to be employing it against oshizumo-specialists.

[Kaninoyama]

Spectacular bellyflop by Nishikigi. 

[Kaninoyama]

34 minutes ago, rhyen said:

Out of curiosity, is Atamifuji trying to learn defensive/evasive/tawara sumo and add it to his repertoire?

He seems to be employing it against oshizumo-specialists.

His shisho Isegahama-oyakata is doing commentary today for NHK. According to him, Atamifuji's sumo today was a total failure, and following the bout, Atamifuji said to the reporter that his stablemaster was going to be pissed at him for today's effort. 

So the answer is most likely no. 

 

[Tigerboy1966]

2 hours ago, Asashosakari said:

Not to jinx him, but if he wins out he'll do something never done before: 7-0 in sandanme followed by 7-0 in the makushita top 15. All back-to-back 7-0's so far either started in makushita, or so low in sandanme that the rikishi wasn't in the Ms top 15 after the first one.

Also this could be a very rare example of consecutive promotions from sandanme to makushita to juryo. The only modern (post 1958) case I can find would be Hokutokuni in May and July 2011, but on that occasion the top two divisions were increased in size leading to four additional juryo slots for Aki.

[RabidJohn]

2 hours ago, Kaninoyama said:

His shisho Isegahama-oyakata is doing commentary today for NHK. According to him, Atamifuji's sumo today was a total failure, and following the bout, Atamifuji said to the reporter that his stablemaster was going to be pissed at him for today's effort. 

So the answer is most likely no. 

 

Oh, that made me laugh. Isegahama-san is such a dry old sod. 
I noted his presence in the booth had already jinxed Nishikifuji and Midorifuji, so maybe it was Atamifuji's 'failure' that dodged it.

---

I was greatly impressed by leader Ichiyamamoto out-Tamawashi-ing the in-form Tamawashi (coincidentally followed up by Tomokaze being out-Tomokaze-d by Oho).

I don't recall ever seeing a winner by utchari standing inside the tawara afterwards. That was a mighty winning move from Kinbozan.

The difference in class between Kirishima and Hoshoryu was stark today. Both faced larger, stronger, technically competent opponents. Kirishima showed how it's done: Hoshoryu didn't.

Konosuke showed today that he's already got everything it takes to be tate-gyoji... 

[Koorifuu]

Sad to see Hitoshi doing the Asashiyu.

Beat serious injuries for a belated juryo debut, get another bad injury early on, plough through extreme limitations to finish 1-14.

[Koorifuu]

Almost all of Onosato's ozumo losses have been against shifting experts i.e. Asakoryu, Kotoshoho, Tamashoho, Tokihayate. He's nigh on unbeatable if faced head on.

Edited November 20, 2023 by Koorifuu

[Rocks]

1 hour ago, RabidJohn said:

The difference in class between Kirishima and Hoshoryu was stark today. Both faced larger, stronger, technically competent opponents. Kirishima showed how it's done: Hoshoryu didn't.

Hoshryu lost to a Sekiwake in the yusho race. Kirishima managed to not lose against a guy who sat out the first 7 days of the basho with an injury retuning in the hope  to minimize his drop down the banzuke. 

[Hakuryuho]

Man I hope Kitaharima secures the zensho in Makushita for re-promotion to the salaried ranks;
if I'm not mistaken he's at 26 basho as a sekitori and thus needs 4 more to be elder stock eligible I think,
he's 37 so I don't know how many chances he'll get in the future to get back to Juryo/makunouchi.
Really hope he can do it!

[dingo]

7 hours ago, Kaninoyama said:

Spectacular bellyflop by Nishikigi. 

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's Nishikigi! 

[dingo]

I thought no way today will compare to the nakabi craziness, but still plenty of excitement in the end. 

Wth is going on with Shodai? Did he belatedly decide he wants to have a crack at a 11-4 yusho?

Gounoyama was outplayed by a more experienced Meisei. He'll learn soon.

It's more and more starting to look like Daieisho will just occupy the sekiwake rank for a while and then vacate it whenever his skills or body deteriorate. The ozeki rank is tantalisingly close yet a bit too far. 

Kirishima got incredibly lucky today landing just a fraction of a second after Asanoyama. Below par sumo I would say. Should've been 3 loses for him. 

A serious claim for ozeki staked today by Kotonowaka. Such a quality win over Hoshoryuu who basically lost once Kotonowaka got his right hand grip. 

[Gurowake]

Where's the Takayasu hype?  6-3 with no sanyaku left but the struggling Komusubi is a good place to be when a 13 win yusho seems like a fairy tale.  Or were we trying to not jinx him?