Kotooshu

[Harry 67]

Sadly my cable cut out so I couldn't watch the final three matches on NHK! I had to settle for grainy vision on the feed. I'd say it was also henkaish but I'll have to watch a clear video to say for sure. It wasn't a simple henka and pulldown however, it was a win by yorikiri.

With Taikai unbelievably winning as well it is, as you say, his to lose. He meets Aminishiki tomorrow, 4th match from the end of the day which is a little odd but...

[maxim 0]

Here's my two cents before the AVALANCHE (!!!)

Aside from the henka (I still have to review it in info-sumo), Kotooshu looked as convincing moving forward as he did yesterday against Asashoryu.

Now I'll just go hide somewhere until the storm passes.

[Oimeru 0]

That's like Norwegian names, which end in -sen or -dottir, depending on gender. I think it's safe to call it a surname when there's nothing but a patronymic. (Americans of Norwegian descent often have either the patronymic of the immigrant as a permanent surname, or use the name of the farm where their family originated.)

Norwegians have true surnames now (some of them originated as patronymics, but they aren't any more). In Iceland it's still like that, but this is the only European country, I think. Icelanders don't have family names, just like (most?) Mongolians.

Sorry for going (Jumping in ecstasy...)

Edited May 22, 2008 by Oimeru

[Sokkenaiyama 81]

No storm coming from me. I never said Kotooshu didn't look good in his forward moving sumo. When he gets into yotsu, he's not dominating, he's smothering. But the henka... that's just UGLY, and it shows he's still lacking a lot of self-confidence. For god's sakes, Hakuho is injured!

[sekihiryu 51]

he henka... that's just UGLY

no check out Chiyotaikai for an ugly henka, hakuho walked right into that one, he should have anticipated it. It wasnt that ugly, it allowed for bit of sumo to eventuate rather than someone going for a belly flop.

Hope that brings the head swollen Hakuho back to earth, takes the edge of his swagger

[Harry 67]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htLRD9HqQeg if you want to see it.

And Asa/Taikai: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3p5P5aiEclA

Edited May 22, 2008 by Harry

[Kintamayama 45,530]

The dogs bark and the convoy passes. I hope he doesn't choke like the last time when he was 12-0, but he deserves the yusho, henka notwithstanding. Beating both Yokozunas on two consecutive days? I couldn't care less if he jumped off the moon and ran around in circles to do it. The only ones that care deeply if it was a henka of the third degree or the sixth degree or a demi-henka or a blatant henka are foreign sumo fans who can never romanticize sumo enough. Henka is good for your health.

BTW, do I detect a hint of jealousy from people from European countries who don't have a rikishi, but are jealous that Bulgaria does, so they can't bring themselves to say a good word or two?? Huh? (Jumping in ecstasy...)

Edited May 22, 2008 by Kintamayama

[Asashosakari 19,667]

He meets Aminishiki tomorrow, 4th match from the end of the day which is a little odd but...

Why odd?

(And told ya they wouldn't skip Aminishiki...)

[hidenohana 0]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htLRD9HqQeg if you want to see it.

And Asa/Taikai: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3p5P5aiEclA

I can understand kotooshu's henka,but what of Chiyotaikai's?

Make koshi is a foregone conclusion and does he really dislike Asashoryu so much to stop him from challenging for the yusho?

Really this concept of honour in sumo is a very ELASTIC one.... (Jumping in ecstasy...)

(Sign of approval...)

Edited May 22, 2008 by hidenohana

[Mariomaru 0]

smothering. But the henka... that's just UGLY, and it shows he's still l

What henka? TV commentators did not mention it, not once, contrary to Chiotaikai's.

BTW, this Toyasuko deserves beer from every SF member every time, whoever he (or she) is. 20 minutes after the bout it was available on youtube.

[Jakusotsu 6,049]

I can understand kotooshu's henka,but what of Chiyitaikai's?

Make koshi is a forgone conclusion and does he really dislike Asashoryu so much to stop him from challenging for the yusho?

He's setting Asashoryu free from the yusho hunt to enable KK for his fellas Kaio and Kotomitsuki.

[hidenohana 0]

I couldn't care less if he jumped off the moon and ran around in circles to do it. The only ones that care deeply if it was a henka of the third degree or the sixth degree or a demi-henka or a blatant henka are foreign sumo fans who can never romanticize sumo enough. Henka is good for your health.

Personally I couldn't care one way or the other.But since a man like Asashoryu seemingly gets vilified by the Japanese for efficiently disposing of Kisenosato by ketaguri off a henka,I would have assumed,even accounting for hypocrisy,that this was a big deal.

Anyway here are two of my favourite henkas.

One for the wonderful technique and timing and one for the names of the rikishi:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSMpDzKBXv4

(Clapping wildly...) (Sign of approval...)

BTW, do I detect a hint of jealousy from people from European countries who don't have a rikishi, but are jealous that Bulgaria does, so they can't bring themselves to say a good word or two?? Huh? (Sign of approval...)

Really?(Jumping in ecstasy...)

Edited May 22, 2008 by hidenohana

[hidenohana 0]

I can understand kotooshu's henka,but what of Chiyotaikai's?

Make koshi is a foregone conclusion and does he really dislike Asashoryu so much to stop him from challenging for the yusho?

He's setting Asashoryu free from the yusho hunt to enable KK for his fellas Kaio and Kotomitsuki.

(Jumping in ecstasy...)

Edited May 22, 2008 by hidenohana

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Personally I couldn't care one way or the other.But since a man like Asashoryu seemingly gets vilified by the Japanese for efficiently disposing of Kisenosato by ketaguri off a henka,I would have assumed,even accounting for hypocrisy,that this was a big deal.

Usually, a henka is looked down upon by Japanese fans when done by a Yokozuna. Ketaguri is not classified as henka per se, but is not considered honorable when done by a Yokozuna.

BTW, do I detect a hint of jealousy from people from European countries who don't have a rikishi, but are jealous that Bulgaria does, so they can't bring themselves to say a good word or two?? Huh? (Sign of approval...)

Really?(Jumping in ecstasy...)

No..

Edited May 22, 2008 by Kintamayama

[Sokkenaiyama 81]

Heh, nice comment, Mr. D, but I'm just as big a Kotooshu fan as any Bulgarian. Sure it would be nice to have a Romanian rikishi, but I can tell you that's not gonna happen anytime soon, and I don't have any regrets. The one thing that bugs me is that Kotooshu HAS IT IN HIM to win without resorting to henkas.

[hidenohana 0]

Usually, a henka is looked down by Japanese fans upon when done by a Yokozuna. Ketaguri is not classified as henka per se, but is not considered honorable when done by a Yokozuna.

But not when committed by a lower ranked wrestler especially on a foreign Yokozuna! (Jumping in ecstasy...)

Edited May 22, 2008 by hidenohana

[Peterao 3]

But I guess the Yusho is now Kotooshu's to lose - the first Yusho to be possibly won by a European.

Actually, the first basho to feature a European in Makunouchi was the first Yusho to be possibly won by a European. (Jumping in ecstasy...)

[Bealzbob 0]

He meets Aminishiki tomorrow, 4th match from the end of the day which is a little odd but...

Why odd?

(And told ya they wouldn't skip Aminishiki...)

I agree, and considering Asasekiryu's potentially imminent MK, Aminishiki's wins will have potential sanyaku implications as he's almost neck & neck with Toyonoshima for promotion.

[Jejima 1,415]

But I guess the Yusho is now Kotooshu's to lose - the first Yusho to be possibly won by a European.

Actually, the first basho to feature a European in Makunouchi was the first Yusho to be possibly won by a European. (Jumping in ecstasy...)

Well of course we are both wrong if we are going by semantics alone, as yushos have been won by Europeans - just not in Makunouchi.

[Indrid 0]

Personally I couldn't care one way or the other.But since a man like Asashoryu seemingly gets vilified by the Japanese for efficiently disposing of Kisenosato by ketaguri off a henka,I would have assumed,even accounting for hypocrisy,that this was a big deal.

Usually, a henka is looked down by Japanese fans upon when done by a Yokozuna. Ketaguri is not classified as henka per se, but is not considered honorable when done by a Yokozuna.

BTW, do I detect a hint of jealousy from people from European countries who don't have a rikishi, but are jealous that Bulgaria does, so they can't bring themselves to say a good word or two?? Huh? (Sign of approval...)

Really?(Jumping in ecstasy...)

No..

i can confirm that. the day that we will see a romanian Yokozuna is faaaaar faaaaar away...

anyway, good going Kotooshu, win one for the ex-communist block

[Hidariashiyama 0]

SO when was the last time one rikishi beat both yokozuna back-to-back?

[Harry 67]

Regarding Kotooshu vs. Aminishiki in the 4th last match: I know Kotooshu's match would not ordinarily be at the end of the day unless he's up against a yokozuna but since it is obviously going to be one of the most anticipated matches I thought they'd put it later.

Regarding Chiyotaikai's henka win: at some point, a win is a win. If Chiyotaikai somehow wins the next three and finishes 7-8 then that isn't quite as bad a kadoban as 4-11 or even 3-12 if he'd lost today and for the next three days. Watching it a few times it was in fact an odd one; I'm surprised that Asa didn't survive it as it was really telegraphed (obvious). It would be funny if Taikai henka's Kotooshu on senshuraku to ruin his zensho! Or to force a tie with Hak if he also loses to Ama and/or Ami. It ain't over 'til the...

[Asashosakari 19,667]

Regarding Kotooshu vs. Aminishiki in the 4th last match: I know Kotooshu's match would not ordinarily be at the end of the day unless he's up against a yokozuna but since it is obviously going to be one of the most anticipated matches I thought they'd put it later.

As with every other rank, there's a strict rotation among the ozeki to decide who gets which bout "slot" each day; they don't deviate from that just because one of them is doing better than the others.

Late edit: I should add that there's likely going to be one exception, namely senshuraku...sticking to the strict rotation, O2e Chiyotaikai - O2w Kotooshu would take place later than O1e Kotomitsuki - O1w Kaio, and I don't think that's gonna happen. They're probably going to sort the bouts into proper ranking order; that's what they did the last time we actually had six active yokozuna and ozeki on senshuraku.

Edited May 22, 2008 by Asashosakari

[Hashira 0]

I find henkas considerably less annoying when there is some sumo afterwards. This seems to most often happen when the henkaer jumps to the side and grabs the belt, like Osh did, rather than jumping to the side and slapping down. I do think sumo would be more exciting without any henkas at all, however...

how's this for a theory on Taikai: he knows he's MK already this basho, realizes another MK next basho is likely and might mean he would announce his retirement on the day of his eighth loss, wanted so badly to beat Asa in the last time they'll face each other.

and i don't think foreign fans are the only ones to not like henka. TV announcers, japanese fans, oyakata, many people seem to dislike it

[Anjoboshi 2]

After seeing the Asashoryu vs. Chiyotaikai bout I somehow knew that Kotooshu would pull that move. So after all, Kotooshu is Kotooshu.

No, it is not the henka as movement itself. It is just obvious that it is not a new Kotooshu, rather more a Kotooshu on a temporary momentum. Sorry, as much as I would like to believe the positive comments of the others in the thread, I don't see him going anywhere next basho. No uptick at all in the long term. Of course - my opinion.