How will Futeno fight?

[AOZORA]

;-) I think he will do quite good around 10 wins.

Edited May 9, 2003 by Asashoryu1

[Feginowaka]

Am I really the only one so far to think that Futeno takes the Yusho?

I think he will pass the Juryo division with two bashos and we should see him in Makuuchi at Aki basho.

He looks like another very promosing ex-student.

And as we all know, their real abilities will show up in Makuuchi.

Like many other ex-students before, he should have little problems with most Juryo rikishi and get more than 10 wins.

[Yubiquitoyama]

I think he'll need at least a basho to really adjust to Juryo, since he's actually only been active for two basho. My guess is 10 wins and possibly a Juryuo yusho in July.

[Yoavoshimaru]

I voted 8-9 wins, and I was considering 6-7 wins. It will be difficult for him to adjust to being a sekitori: more pressure, better opponents. I like his sumo and I think he shows much promise for the future. But it takes time... I certainly don't think he will blow away the juryo division, nor win the yusho: Kasuganishiki, Ushiomaru, Tochisakae, Tochinohana all look primed and ready to get back to makuuchi.

Asashoryu1: welcome to the forum! (Laughing...)

[Kotoseiya Yuichi]

Indeed, welcome! (Laughing...)

Being the annoying guy, I voted for a mild makekoshi. If for nothing else, for the chance of getting to say: "I told you so...".

[Zentoryu]

I would be a bit surprised if he came away with the Yusho this basho. Especially with a healthy Tochisakae and Ushiomaru present in the same division. (Not to mention the King of Juryo Kinkaiyama amongst others).

He's very talented though and should handle the lower half of Juryo well enough, I think. Though I've been known to be wrong about these things in the past. (Laughing...)

[Manekineko]

I voted 8-9... I guess the same for Kokkai. I'll pick both of them in juryo game. (Laughing...)

[Takanobaka]

If he gets more than 11 wins, I think we'll have to start a poll seeing how long it is before the Japanese press starts calling him the Great Japanese Hope (Laughing...)

I think he'll get about 10, as an adjustment. He already has the size to compete up there, and there's a really good track record for college competitors who made it to Juryo as quickly as he did (the majority of them ended up at Ozeki or higher, and did well in their first Juryo tournaments). Either way, I'm privately hoping he lives up to the hype....

[Doitsuyama]

(the majority of them ended up at Ozeki or higher)

Hello Takanobaka, a big welcome to this forum, I liked what you have written so far. Just wanted to "correct" the quoted half-sentence with a question: How many college rikishi do you know who have become Yokozuna? .........

[Yubiquitoyama]

(the majority of them ended up at Ozeki or higher)

Hello Takanobaka, a big welcome to this forum, I liked what you have written so far. Just wanted to "correct" the quoted half-sentence with a question: How many college rikishi do you know who have become Yokozuna? .........

Well, exactly 1 actually...

Anyway, it's not entirely easy to compare Uchida's performance.

ALL college rikishi who managed to reach Juryo in two basho reached Ozeki or higher, but they (except for one) all started at the bottom of Makushita, so it took better records for them to do it. I think there have been college rikishi starting with consecutive 6-1 records not becoming Ozeki or higher (but frankly I don't feel like checking right now (Laughing...) ).

[Kaikitsune Makoto]

Futeno has just finished his first ever juryo bout against Kokkai and first impression is that he has excellent defensive skill and power! Kokkai came out fast and had superior grip and stance throughout the bout but couldn't walk Futeno out despite a formidable effort. Little by little Futeno gained some ground and finally executed a no nonsense shitatenage as Kokkai was charning forward. Both newcomers looked very promising. Based on this Futeno is stable rikishi who can definitely get around 10 wins.

[Kashunowaka]

After five bouts Futeno is 2-3, and has to me been somewhat of a disappointment after his first win against Kokkai. It is still early in the basho though.

I have been much more impressed by Kokkai, who is now 3-2.

[QttP]

After five bouts Futeno is 2-3, and has to me been somewhat of a disappointment after his first win against Kokkai. It is still early in the basho though.

I have been much more impressed by Kokkai, who is now 3-2.

And now Kokkai is 4-2 and Futeno is 2-4...

[Kashunowaka]

Awkward hatakikomi loss against Hayateumi on Nakabi. Futeno is 3-5.

And Kokkai is going in the opposite direction - very convincing oshidashi against Tochinohana. 5-3.

[Kashunowaka]

Awkward hatakikomi loss against Hayateumi on Nakabi. Futeno is 3-5.

And Kokkai is going in the opposite direction - very convincing oshidashi against Tochinohana. 5-3.

At day 14, Futeno secured kachi-koshi against Tamakasuga, going 8-6. So now we know the answer to the poll.

The bout against Tamakasuga was rather strange. Futeno looked certain to lose at least twice, but Tamakasuga didn't finish the job properly. Futeno showed good fighting spirit in winning against the juryo leader, but a good bout it was not.

Kokkai on the other hand has been looking strong with his powerful thrusts, but cannot always manage to turn his strength into wins. Today he lost to Senshuyama, and will have to try to get his kachi-koshi on senshuraku. 7-7.