Tochiazuma

[sekihiryu]

I am surprised noone has mentioned him so far especially after his "win" yesterday, the tachiai from Kokkai was the most vicious I have ever seen the thrusts from Kokkai were devastating, its amazing the Zuma won, it really is.

:-(

guess someone is looking out for him, disappoints me immensely though.

:-(

[Ryukaze]

guess someone is looking out for him, disappoints me immensely though.

:-(

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What do you mean? He appears to be moving well, not sure how healthy he is but hey at least hes made it to day 3! lol

Edited January 11, 2005 by Ryukaze

[AsaMoe]

yeah, our good old friend Ryukaze...

(i am sorry about your shikona takeover. But i definitely use my own one.)

unfortunately i have no possibility to see the bouts of day two and three. How was the loss today ?

[Ryukaze]

yeah, our good old friend Ryukaze...

(i am sorry about your shikona takeover. But i definitely use my own one.)

unfortunately i have no possibility to see the bouts of day two and three. How was the loss today ?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

"Ohhhhh ha ha ha!" (very funny) To the contrary my dear friend I am still alive (if you are indeed inferring to my participation in "chain game") lol I originall signed up under MY SHIKONA however upon receiving a message that said it was "taken" already, I immediately signed in wondering who it was that was "biting" my shikona also under the name "ryukaze. Anyways I guess the site made a mistake or something as no one had so I have just been playing under my regular name (if you'll pay attention to the somewhat "longer" version of my name a pick was never made) as I didnt want to play two names (that would be cheating now...) lol anyways for your info I did pick Wakanosato on the first two days, but for some reason felt more comfortable going with my default pick of "Kotooshu" on day 3, guess it payed off lol! Cheers! -

[kotooshu_bulgaria]

Seems this is not the thread for such a game-related discussion.

As regarding Tochiazuma and despite only having seen his day 1 game, I hope he can stay as long as possible and evades an injury. He is definitely one of the rikishi who were missed last basho (after he went kyujo) and attracts more interest (at least for the domestic fans, since he is a Kanto syushin). So "Ganbare Tochiazuma!" (Applauding...)

[Kintamayama]

Tochiazuma's match against Kotomitsuki today was incredible. He looks totally genki. He got in a losing okuridashi position momentarily, but turned around so quickly it would have made Asashouryuu's head turn. What a win. Mickey wasn't bad either..

[Kashunowaka]

Tochiazuma's match against Kotomitsuki today was incredible. He looks totally genki. He got in a losing okuridashi position momentarily, but turned around so quickly it would have made Asashouryuu's head turn. What a win. Mickey wasn't bad either..

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I can't wait to see Tochiazuma tomorrow against Chiyotaikai, who also looks great now. (Shaking head...)

[QttP]

Should be a strong forward win for Taikai, but who knows. Azuma has had his number to an extent, and can often survive in the bout long enough, wait for Taikai to slip to the side and push him out. Taikai should concentrate on keeping Azuma in front of him at all times, and then his win should be secured. I just hope Azuma doesn't pull a henka. Lately he seems to have gotten rid of that habit.

[AsaMoe]

Should be a strong forward win for Taikai, but who knows

I am a bit surprised, that the majority does not believe in Tochiazuma. In the today Sekitori Toto 58% of the guessers believed, that Tochiazuma looses against Kotomitsuki. Keep it real. If he is not injured, 58% is the number for Asashoryu but for noone else.

[QttP]

Should be a strong forward win for Taikai, but who knows

I am a bit surprised, that the majority does not believe in Tochiazuma. In the today Sekitori Toto 58% of the guessers believed, that Tochiazuma looses against Kotomitsuki. Keep it real. If he is not injured, 58% is the number for Asashoryu but for noone else.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How about you keeping it real? In the past couple of years Tochiazuma has always been injured, sick or just underperforming, showing only glimpses of brilliance. Prior to this basho there were serious doubts of him entering it, and he himself and his father/oyakata kept saying that the injury still bothers him. Prior to today's bout, Kotomitsuki held an 8-5 advantage over Tochiazuma. Why does 58% seem such a high number? From your words it sounds that Tochiazuma, when not injured, is the second best guy after Asashoryu. I beg to differ.

[AsaMoe]

From your words it sounds that Tochiazuma, when not injured, is the second best guy after Asashoryu.

This is exactly my opinion.

More: i believe, that if he keeps healthy for the next two years he is also a Yokuzuna candidate.

[Yubiquitoyama]

From your words it sounds that Tochiazuma, when not injured, is the second best guy after Asashoryu.

This is exactly my opinion.

More: i believe, that if he keeps healthy for the next two years he is also a Yokuzuna candidate.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, as contrary to Qttp, I do think Tochiazuma is second or maybe third behind Asashoryu when not injured, but the fact is still that he has been injured a lot of late and this basho promised more of the same. 58 per cent seems about right, and would have been more lopsided if Tochiazuma hadn't started this basho so surprisingly (going by the injury info prior to basho) well as he had.

It's funny though that he starts performing again during the first basho I (as a proclaimed Tochiazuma-believer) had lost hope he could ever get back to something resembling form...

Edited January 13, 2005 by Yubiquitoyama

[kotooshu_bulgaria]

Tochiazuma roll on! ;-) (Bouncing group) Tears in the eyes of Chiyotaikai's supporters--tsuparis not enough! (Depressed...)

[Kaikitsune Makoto]

Azuma looked good again. He still has his magical sumo feel and just looks so incredibly good when his package holds up. Taikai is in great form and his tsuki looks better than in ages but today he missed one push totally as Azuma ducked and it was all over then. Azuma may be weaker than before in power-department due to those constant injuries but he does look like his sumo sense is as good as ever.

[Otokonoyama]

Azuma looked good again. He still has his magical sumo feel and just looks so incredibly good when his package holds up. Taikai is in great form and his tsuki looks better than in ages but today he missed one push totally as Azuma ducked and it was all over then. Azuma may be weaker than before in power-department due to those constant injuries but he does look like his sumo sense is as good as ever.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You will refrain from discussing any rikishi's 'package'... ;-)

[sekihiryu]

;-) well he is proving me wrong isnt he? good luck to him, I wonder the long term consequences of the painkiller injections and cortisone shots he is surely getting. For man who was a dubious starter with a very serious shoulder injury he is moving remarkably well, what price will he pay this basho?

Time will tell.

[Asashosakari]

;-) well he is proving me wrong isnt he? good luck to him, I wonder the long term consequences of the painkiller injections and cortisone shots he is surely getting. For man who was a dubious starter with a very serious shoulder injury he is moving remarkably well, what price will he pay this basho?

Time will tell.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, if his recent history is anything to go by, the price will probably be an early kyujo in Osaka. :-S

[Kintamayama]

Nobody has ever returned twice to the rank of Ozeki.

Just so we're clear on that.

[Zuikakuyama]

wow, great match. Almost like boxing and bobbing and weaving.

[Xris]

Nobody has ever returned twice to the rank of Ozeki.

Just so we're clear on that.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, if I remember correctly, before 2004, sekiwake (ex-ozeki) needed 12 wins to come back to ozeki rank, so it's bound to be easier now than before (which does not mean that Tochiazuma is not doing a great performance).

By the way, I have a question: has anybody ever returned to the rank of ozeki by the hard way (33+ wins in 3 bashos) ?

[Kintamayama]

Nobody has ever returned twice to the rank of Ozeki.

Just so we're clear on that.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, if I remember correctly, before 2004, sekiwake (ex-ozeki) needed 12 wins to come back to ozeki rank, so it's bound to be easier now than before (which does not mean that Tochiazuma is not doing a great performance).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You are mistaken. The 10 win rule has been in place for many years. I think from the early Seventies, but someone with a clearer mind will be more accurate. 12 wins-no way.

[Doitsuyama]

Nobody has ever returned twice to the rank of Ozeki.

Just so we're clear on that.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, if I remember correctly, before 2004, sekiwake (ex-ozeki) needed 12 wins to come back to ozeki rank, so it's bound to be easier now than before (which does not mean that Tochiazuma is not doing a great performance).

Completely wrong.

By the way, I have a question: has anybody ever returned to the rank of ozeki by the hard way (33+ wins in 3 bashos) ?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, Kaiketsu.

[Xris]

Thanks for the answers. I don't where I got this idea about 12 wins :-O probably a bad dream somenight (I was stupid...)

[Doitsuyama]

After thinking a bit about that, I agree that it IS easier now to regain the Ozeki rank than before 2004.

With the kosho rule in play, demotion from Ozeki was really more difficult; just take Tochiazuma himself. With kosho he likely would have sit out Kyushu, come back in Hatsu still as kadoban Ozeki and voil

[Xris]

But without kosho we'll also see competent Ozeki get demoted once in a while, so why shouldn't they get back more regularly with 10 wins as Sekiwake?

Well this would prove that Chiyotaikai is a competent Ozeki as four times already he has been makekoshi, following by an absence (which would mean Sekiwake with the present rules) and went back with 10 or more wins:

July 1999 : 10 wins

May 2001 : 12 wins

January 2002: 13 wins

March 2003: 12 wins

By the way, the only time when Chiyotakai went back from makekoshi without an absence, he had 11 wins (may 2002).

I just hope I didn't get confused with my statistics :-O , otherwise some fans of Chiyotaikai's will react shortly and quickly, I'm sure (I was stupid...)