Hatsu 2026 discussion (results)

[Reonito]

14 hours ago, Heather82Cs said:

(This is fanta-sumo really, but I got curious whether there's any chance JSA would make the yokozuna fight next Sunday bc of the emperor attending?)

It did happen once, in 1979, no idea what the circumstances were, though there were 4 yokozuna.

[Reonito]

Very cool reversal at the end of Fukuzaki vs. Takakento in makushita.

[Oskanohana]

What a day today: Asashoryu losing by hansoku and a Kaio-nage on the last bout before juryo. Early 2000's vibes.

A mistake by former Ochiai, should've renamed himself Hakuhofuji for maximum hilarity on mono-iis

[hypnoowl]

I wonder why Kaishin, who's been in sumo for almost 9 years now, would suddenly have short hair this basho. Seeing that he missed last basho completely, it's reasonable to conclude he ran away and cut the hair himself, but was persuaded to return. Would cutting the hair be a reason for forced retirement? Surely this can't happen very often.

[Akinomaki]

Jk Yobidashi Kumajiro mixed up the Okuni- twins, he called out Okuniyama (left) from Asahiyama-beya as his brother Okuniiwa (right), from Oitekaze-beya - luring gyoji Kimura Yunosuke to the same miss - the gyoji hall announcer then correctly announced Okuniyama for the bout. He lost, so Yunosuke had no chance to repeat it at the kachi-nanori. Okuniyama said he was startled and thought he might have misheard, but that it had no effect on the bout

o o

[Leoben]

Beautiful work by Aonishiki today. 

[I am the Yokozuna]

Any idea who was that gentlemen draped in yellow clothes and hat sitting in the masuseki facing the camera? Tried to search for an answer online but could not find any info in Japanese. My search skills could be not well developed. 

Massive sonsecutive bouts by both Hakunofuji and Aonishiki. 

Disappointing Ichiyamamoto - who deployed twice the same approach and Oho today - who repeated Ichiyamamoto's gameplan today 

Edited yesterday at 10:37 by I am the Yokozuna

[Morty]

Methinks Abi is going to win a lot in the first week being this far down the banzuke and dealing with the lower rankers.

And me also thinks that if Hoshoryu has a damaged knee as reported and suggested by the bandage, doing the kind of sumo he has done on the first two days is a recipe to really stuff it up properly (well, doing any kind of sumo is a recipe for that... he should sit it out and heal).

Finally, the jockying for position and little wrestling moves in Takayasu vs Wakatakage was a joy to watch.

[Hankegami]

Good Day 2, everyone! A fine second day of the Hatsu tournament, at least in my opinion.

As a fan of a certain former Ozeki duo, I am happy that both Mitakeumi and Shodai won today. The former had a comeback after a really bad showing yesterday - I am glad he's not completely out of gas yet. The latter looks absolutely good with a 2-0 start while doing convincing sumo. Also, Shodai has a history of positive tournaments after starting 2-0 (see here), so it looks really good for him.

Abi also looks very fine - dismantled Tobizaru with ease. Abi does not have the same stat support available for Shodai - he also started out 2-0 last tournament, only to start losing and finish 5-10 -, but his spirit looks rejuvenated. In short, I agree with @Morty: he looks like he'll have a most satisfactory first week.

Now, I'd like to point out we just had a few meaningful upsets today. Hakunofuji won magnificently against Wakamotoharu despite their 0-3 (!!) H2H. Ditto Kirishima, who won against his nemesis Takanosho (5-17 H2H). Finally, newly promoted Ozeki Aonishiki upset Yoshinofuji despite their 0-3 (!! - again) H2H. Although never a guarantee, upsets can represent positive weather bells for a wrestler's shape and likely performance. So, let's keep our radar on them.

Now, the upper trio. Kotozakura really looks at his best since a good while. Every other time he has started 2-0 he finished good (see here). He's using really well his substantial weight and wasting no movements anyway. Ditto Onosato, doing his usual truck thing although Oho gave him some scare today. Hoshoryu is up there as well, but he's working the hardest. I don't know for how long he will be able to keep up this way, if his knee is really offended as reports suggest.

Edited yesterday at 11:55 by Hankegami

[Seseragi]

2 hours ago, Morty said:

Methinks Abi is going to win a lot in the first week being this far down the banzuke and dealing with the lower rankers.

And me also thinks that if Hoshoryu has a damaged knee as reported and suggested by the bandage, doing the kind of sumo he has done on the first two days is a recipe to really stuff it up properly (well, doing any kind of sumo is a recipe for that... he should sit it out and heal).

Finally, the jockying for position and little wrestling moves in Takayasu vs Wakatakage was a joy to watch.

When Hoshoryu was spinning about holding Wakamotoharu and putting all the force on his bandaged leg I was thinking that. Here's hoping he can get out of this basho mostly unscathed.

[Oshirokita]

5 hours ago, Hankegami said:

upsets can represent positive weather bells for a wrestler's shape and likely performance

If I can put on my pedantic hat, whether you want me to or not:

There is a difference between a weather bell and a wether bell. I think you mean "bellwether", which is the lead sheep of a flock of sheep with a bell around its neck that other sheep follow and by extension means an indicator for a trend. "Wether" is an older term meaning a castrated ram. (I am not trying to revive the old myth about sumo wrestlers retracting their testicles.) 😇

[Kotogouryuu]

Well, if anybody has been looking for a good example of the dead body rule, you might want to save a clip of Aonishiki's match today. 

[I am the Yokozuna]

9 hours ago, I am the Yokozuna said:

Any idea who was that gentlemen draped in yellow clothes and hat sitting in the masuseki facing the camera? Tried to search for an answer online but could not find any info in Japanese. My search skills could be not well developed. 

Massive sonsecutive bouts by both Hakunofuji and Aonishiki. 

Disappointing Ichiyamamoto - who deployed twice the same approach and Oho today - who repeated Ichiyamamoto's gameplan today 

So it seems that I was not the only one curious who the gentleman is. It turns out he is Kenji Katsuragi, the owner of a Japanese restaurant “Kappo Takeshi”, a place specializing in crab dishes, in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture. He is a longtime supporter of Kise stable and a fan of Churanoumi.

Based on the article in Nikkan Sports when asked why he dresses entirely in yellow, he states that was so that “spectators could feel energized. Yellow brings explosive good fortune.”

Anyhow, if anyone needs an example of what guerilla marketing, here is one. Still a long way to catch up with the Olympic dude (has he passed away?) but he did a great promotion of his restaurant. 

[Akinomaki]

9 hours ago, I am the Yokozuna said:

Any idea who was that gentlemen draped in yellow clothes and hat sitting in the masuseki facing the camera? Tried to search for an answer online but could not find any info in Japanese. My search skills could be not well developed

No problems with the search, Nikkan regularly blocks these attempts from outside

o o o o o o o

One Kenji Katsuragi 桂木健至, Kise-beya koenkai member. For about 10 years now he's once each at any Tokyo basho.

Edited yesterday at 19:59 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki]

I remove the mass of celebrities-watching pics from my overview, except some with the red guy, not far from the yellow guy

Nishikigi had a pack from him as well, when he was in makuuchi, Takasu&Saibara Rie were there for juryo

o o

Aonishiki with his kesho mawashi and with his kensho

o o

all 3 with 5 Takasu clinic packs got them

o oo

[Kintamayama]

Maegashira 1E Ichiyamamoto has further improved on the "fastest record in history" he set on the first day of this basho on the 11th. He faced a Yokozuna before the musubi no ichiban for the second day in a row. On the first day, he lost to Oonosato, and today, he lost to Houshouryuu. He made a mad dash to the shitakubeya every day. He stayed there for just 10 seconds, emerged from the bathroom, and in the blink of an eye, he had taken off his mawashi and was getting changed while being interviewed. He said, "If I don't hurry, the musubi no ichiban will start!" but he left the dressing room in just 4 minutes. On the first day, he was on his way home about 5 minutes after the end of his match. While it was unofficial, it was already the "fastest in history," and this time, it looks like he has further improved the record. After the musubi no ichiban, the spectators all head home, causing a crowd on the way out. To avoid this, he said, "I only washed my feet in the bath. I can just take a shower when I get home," in an attempt to shorten the escape time. On the first day, he was completely defeated by Oonosato, but "I was on the offensive today, so I'm glad. I want to do my best again tomorrow," and, frustrated by the start with a losing streak, he plans to quickly recover. The "speedster," whose signature style is his fast-moving thrusts, left his tsukebito behind, greeted the press with "Thank you for your hard work!" and ran out of the dressing room.

[Akinomaki]

Government officials made public today that Takaichi will skip also this opportunity to tell the NSK that she'd like to hand over the Prime Minister's cup on the dohyo herself for the Hatsu basho. https://www.47news.jp/13712756.html

[Kintamayama]

The guy in yellow featured in my video today? He's a 55 year old Kise beya koenkai member, specifically follows new Juryo Kazuma. When asked  directly,  he is Katsuragi Kenji (55), the head chef of "Kappo Takeshi" in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture. He is a sumo fan who has been watching every single Tokyo tournament for about 10 years. He is also a supporter of Kise beya, graduated from Kanazawa Gakuin University High School (later Nihon University), and is a big fan of Kazuma. "I've seen him train since he was young. He dropped in the ranks once due to an injury. It was the same for Ura, so I saw him suffer setbacks." It is said that rikishi, including Ura, sometimes drop into Kappo Takeshi. The reason he dresses all in yellow is "so that the viewers will feel energized. Yellow brings good luck." The restaurant, which has been in business for 25 years, is filled with yellow, as are his cars and bicycles. On this day, he was returning to Kanazawa dressed all in yellow. "Kappo Takeshi" was introduced on the TBS program "Bananaman's Sekakuna Gourmet!!." He has been promoting crab dishes, saying, "We recommend our crab dishes."

Edited yesterday at 21:05 by Kintamayama

[dingo]

Based on the first two days, all seems normal in makuuchi so far. Yokozuna and ozeki winning, Kirishima doing well, other results more or less as expected too. It strikes me that Mitakeumi is slowly morphing into Takekaze/Toyohibiki -- big round body but despite that mostly ineffective going forward, mostly relying on backpedalling. It seemed a small miracle that he got a win on day 2 eve though he was in an advantageous position. 

Edited 15 hours ago by dingo

[Yamanashi]

10 hours ago, I am the Yokozuna said:

“spectators could feel energized. Yellow brings explosive good fortune.”

Perhaps it's the translation, but I get a little queasy when a guy who runs a crab restaurant uses the word "explosive".  Maybe it's just personal experience.

[hakutorizakura]

Turned out he's not a delivery guy (or a shiny pokemon), but the restaurant owner! 🦀

[Jakusotsu]

Takarafuji guest on abema . . . with a necktie? 

[Akinomaki]

I think they have to pay NHK for each minute they exceed the limit of 18h for the end of the day - 7 minutes over will be quite expensive

[Heather82Cs]

As a relatively new spectator, Shiden's match (Makushita) is the first time I see a gyoji freeze the rikishi not for a mawashi issue but to stop and wipe face bleeding which made seeing difficult. I didn't get whether he was looking at the head shimpan to kinda request that he stopped the match or he only looked his way because he noticed a raised hand.

[higashiyama]

Today the second half of makuuchi had some of the worst calls I have ever seen by a shimpan crew. And that's as nice as I can put it (I had to delete my original opinion before posting) ;-}

Edited 10 hours ago by higashiyama