Hatsu Basho 2003

[QttP 0]

Well, Mickey didn't stop him.

13-1 for Asashoryu secures the yusho, and most likely, the Yokozuna title (Kitanoumi said, I think, that 13 wins will be enough). Musoyama has gotten his kachikoshi today (here's one Ozeki that won't be Kadoban) and so the last battle on the Senshuraku is once again (like it has been 4 times in the 6 tournaments last year) a meaningless formality. Well, not totally meaningless, it could be a demonstration of strength.

Stupid, stupid Wakanosato.

[Manekineko 200]

so the last battle on the Senshuraku is once again (like it has been 4 times in the 6 tournaments last year) a meaningless formality.

Perhaps not so meaningless. I think Asashoryu should win it, just to prove to doubters that he can do it: win when nothing more is at stake, win against an ozeki, win after what must have been very exhausting two weeks for such small and energetic rikishi. If he wins it, and gets the tsuna, he will have to prove himself worhy of it in Haru. Think about it: three consecutive basho of giving it his all, never faltering, with all the ceremonies surrounding promotion in between... If he comes through it all right, he deserves the tsuna, every inch of it.

[Hoshifransu 0]

Here come Hoshifransu's basic feelings for day 14 :

All started with very exciting Makushita bouts, unfortunately, I couldn't recognize any of them and my japanese was too bad to understand their shikona, I should have had a list like Moti's makushita page under my eyes, but I couldn't load anything else with that streaming ! Shame on me !

After, we had the Juryo dohyo-iri, it was about 6:47 AM CET and we had other Makushita bouts : I was delighted ! That time, I had one list under my eyes and I could recognize almost all.

First fight : would you believe it ? It was Nakao (heavy wrestler) Vs. Sentoryu

[Doitsuyama 1,185]

All started with very exciting Makushita bouts, unfortunately, I couldn't recognize any of them and my japanese was too bad to understand their shikona, I should have had a list like Moti's makushita page under my eyes, but I couldn't load anything else with that streaming ! Shame on me !

...

After, this was Hamanoshima Vs. ... Fukkohyama ? Hamanoshima winning by uwatedashinage, I noticed Hamanoshima had given up his famous pink mawashi to a dark green one (or was it black, it was difficult to see in fact) we had very distant images in Makushita !

...

Kitazakura remains a strong opponent and he will secure his place as a salaried rikishi in Juryo, tomorrow, no doubt.

...

After these very exciting bouts, there was the Makunouchi ring entering ceremony and at that moment, well, would U believe it, I had a black screen and when I tried to catch back, I watched this "The server session limit was exceeded." I was over for the Makuuchi program !

May I give some helpful remarks to you:

1) The Makushita bouts for tomorrow will be all clear for you with the help of my day 15 pairings which I posted. These pairings include the last five, and there are some interesting rikishi involved, like Nadatsukasa.

2) The streaming should be on half an hour earlier tomorrow, so try to log in at 6:15am.

3) Hamanoshima had to give up his old mawashi since his demotion to Makushita because only sekitori are allowed to wear silk mawashi. Toriteki must wear dark cotton mawashi.

4) Kitazakura must beat Buyuzan tomorrow, no easy feat.

5) Don't panic if the stream stops or becomes black or slows down to a not acceptable quality! Don't stop it and try to reconnect! Just wait patiently because most probably everyone is experiencing this and the problem is not on your side. Only exception is when the Media Player clearly tells you the connection is over. Then of course you have to try to reconnect.

Hope I could help you. (Getting checked by the doctor...)

[Hoshifransu 0]

Don't panic if the stream stops or becomes black or slows down to a not acceptable quality! Don't stop it and try to reconnect! Just wait patiently because most probably everyone is experiencing this and the problem is not on your side. Only exception is when the Media Player clearly tells you the connection is over. Then of course you have to try to reconnect.

Thanks a lot for that big info. I made the error to disconnect and

[Hoshifransu 0]

Towanoyama Vs. Toyozakura : I never watched such an incredible fight ! Towanoyama is much more impressive than Gokenzan, physically, he's not human, he's a mountain ! Well, as I said, incredible fight : Towanoyama didn't move from the start to the end and he just gave an enormous blow to the face to Toyozakura who rolled all alone on the dohyo ! Towanoyama is terrific !

Of course, I don't think an mpeg video of that makushita bout could exist somewhere on the internet ...

Unfortunately ...

I can't stop thinking about that one !

It was like a giant driving out a midge with the reverse of the hand ... Towanoyama didn't almost move to beat him ...

He's terrific ! Something like this (a bit exagerated perhaps)

From that bout, he's my second favourite wrestler after Toki ! Come on, Towanoyama !

3) Hamanoshima had to give up his old mawashi since his demotion to Makushita because only sekitori are allowed to wear silk mawashi. Toriteki must wear dark cotton mawashi

I didn't really imagine that ! It's really hard to them to remain 100% motivated after such a "2nd class" treatment ...

BTW, I found Hamanoshima heavier than in the past. In my memory, he was so so light ... He looked like a normal middle weight rikishi ! Though, difficult to recognize him with those dark mawashi ...

[Kotoseiya Yuichi 3]

3) Hamanoshima had to give up his old mawashi since his demotion to Makushita because only sekitori are allowed to wear silk mawashi. Toriteki must wear dark cotton mawashi.

Indeed. Once when I happened to watch those makushita bouts last year, I could have sworn Hamanoshima still had taken his old, red sagari with him! They looked very out-of-place with dark mawashi. :-0

[Kaikitsune Makoto 209]

Was Kaikitsune kicked out of the cult for being too fundamentalistic?  

I am above all Nada Cults.

Tochinonada has dominated Tenho today and has now a whopping 10 bout winning streak! Will he beat Kototenta? Tokitenku? Roho? ITAI? Intai? Will he finish Haru basho  with 13-2 after beating all yokozuna and ozeki only to lose to Wakanoyama and Akinoshima at last two days? No he won't but Nada the left arm powerhouse with powerful grin is now present so we shall all appreciate his balanced and cheerful sumo by watching the fear in his foes' eyes as Nada's 4-wheel drive is on. Tomorrow Kotonowaka (7-7) up against Nada. Hai, doo itashimashita!

Kono nichi wa ii desu yo. Tochinonada no kanreki sugoi datta!

[Hoshifransu 0]

Well, it's certainly a very exagerated caricature, but Gokenzan and mainly Towanoyama make me think to .. Gozilla !

When Towanoyama got rid of Toyozakura so strongly, so easily, so effectively, it was like Gozilla quietly destroying a japanese army helicopter ...

Strangely, the "Gokenzan" shikona is very near to "Gozilla" !

Well, it's a bad caricature, I know, but it's not so malicious than the japanese fans comparing Takamisakari to Robocop !  :~-(

[Hoshifransu 0]

Seriously, now.

Takanowaka is currently 9-5 up and who knows ?

He could make it ten tomorrow Vs. Kotomitsuki.

That would make a total of 21 on 2 basho and when you think about the Musoyama Vs. Takanowaka bout which was so ... tight !

Well, well, well, do you believe in his Ozeki possibilities ? He's got to beat Mickey before and to make it 12 on March, well, difficult but a reasonable ambition to him (with an optimistic vision) ...

Let's wait and see tomorrow Vs. Kotomitsuki.

Because, with 13 on March, this will be very very hard ! (Unhappy...)

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

Seems like some very heavy rikishi coming up through makushita/juryo: Gokenzan, Towanoyama, Hidenokuni.  It'll be nice to see some mountains work their way up ;)  I want to see Asashoryu, Kaio fight these guys.

Too bad Dewanofuji lost  :-@ I picked him to win...

[Yubiquitoyama 4]

Seriously, now.

Takanowaka is currently 9-5 up and who knows ?

He could make it ten tomorrow Vs. Kotomitsuki.

That would make a total of 21 on 2 basho and when you think about the Musoyama Vs. Takanowaka bout which was so ... tight !

Well, well, well, do you believe in his Ozeki possibilities ? He's got to beat Mickey before and to make it 12 on March, well, difficult but a reasonable ambition to him (with an optimistic vision) ...

Let's wait and see tomorrow Vs. Kotomitsuki.

Because, with 13 on March, this will be very very hard ! (Unhappy...)

His Ozeki chances are quite slim, I'd say. If he loses tomorrow they should be pretty much inexistant, even if he does go 13-2 in March. I strongly doubt the Kyokai would promote Taka so closely after NOT having promoted Kotomitsuki, who really had a better record than Taka's 11-4, 9-6, 13-2, and that at a time with at least slightly tougher opposition than right now.

With a win tomorrow and 13-2 in March though, he might get it. I don't think 12 will be enough unless it's a yusho or possibly a playoff loss.

I don't think it's going to happen though...

And I really can't see anything malicious in calling Takamisakari Robocop... It's a nickname like so many others and, based on the appearance of Takamisakari, it's as natural as calling Musoyama the Bear. Nothing malicious in such a nickname. Actually, calling someone Gozilla seems much worse to me, but hardly malicious that either...

[Hoshifransu 0]

after NOT having promoted Kotomitsuki

Well, I had forgotten this important parameter ...

About Takamisakari's caricaturated to Robocop, what I find malicious is he's called like this because of his strange moves (like a robot) because of his past injuries. Well, to caricaturate an handicap is something I find malicious.

My comparison to Gozilla is bint to the power, the giant size,

the fact Gozilla is typical of Japan : a myth, a legend ...

Well, what's Robocop for Japan ?

My caricature is malicious too if we take only into consideration the "Monster" side !

(Devilish thought)

[Yubiquitoyama 4]

after NOT having promoted Kotomitsuki

Well, I had forgotten this important parameter ...

About Takamisakari's caricaturated to Robocop, what I find malicious is he's called like this because of his strange moves (like a robot) because of his past injuries. Well, to caricaturate an handicap is something I find malicious.

My comparison to Gozilla is bint to the power, the giant size,

the fact Gozilla is typical of Japan : a myth, a legend ...

Well, what's Robocop for Japan ?

My caricature is malicious too if we take only into consideration the "Monster" side !

(Devilish thought)

Well, I simply don't agree. Malicious has everything to do with intent. Something might be cruel without being malicious, if it's not intended to be interpreted in a way negative for the receiver, but the receiver actually do interpret it negatively. In the case of "Robocop" (Takamisakari's way to move probably has more to do with him being nearly blind than with past injuries), it strikes me as a nickname used by both friend and foe of Takamisakari, and in most cases rather show affection than dislike.

Therefore the intent is not malicious, and I don't think a neutral interpretation of the nickname in question would call it a negative one either, partly because "Robocop" is nothing negative in itself, less so than for example Gozilla.

Not that it matters...

[Zentoryu 154]

About Takamisakari's caricaturated to Robocop, what I find malicious is he's called like this because of his strange moves (like a robot) because of his past injuries. Well, to caricaturate an handicap is something I find malicious.

My comparison to Gozilla is bint to the power, the giant size,

You guys make too much out of simple nicknames.

There is nothing malicious about Takamisakari's nickname.

It also has nothing to do with his past injuries. It's more because he's as blind as a bat and can't see anything except blurry images in front of him without his glasses.

Akebono-Oyakata first called him Robo-cop in training when he saw Taka's odd movements for the first time.

It is a term of affection, and Takamisakari is aware of it and certainly doesn't appear to mind being called this.

To me it would only be malicious if Takamisakari were a hated rikishi. This is clearly not the case, in fact he is probably the most popular rikishi out there at the moment.

Conversely, there is nothing wrong with the "Godzilla" comparison either. Just ask Japanese Baseball star, and future New York Yankee, Hideki Matsui whose nickname is "Godzilla". (Or "Gojira" in Japanese)

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

It's more because he's as blind as a bat and can't see anything except blurry images in front of him without his glasses.

He's nearly blind??? Does he fight with contacts on?  I didn't know this.  Yet another interesting tidbit I picked up on this board, next to many others  (Thumbs up...)

[Kotoseiya Yuichi 3]

He's nearly blind??? Does he fight with contacts on?

[Zentoryu 154]

He's nearly blind??? Does he fight with contacts on?

No, I think he said he had a fear of them falling out and getting crushed while on the dohyo. Plus I think he's just more comfortable without them on as he's been doing it for so long.

Once during a sanyaku soroibumi Asashoryu had to point him the place where to go and do some shiko.

I remember this as well. It was one of the funniest things I've ever seen in Sumo.

Taka was standing behind Musashimaru and Asashoryu. Asa gestured to the open space next to him on the dohyo and turned around, looking back at Taka as if to say "What are you doing back there? You're supposed to be over here."

Great stuff.

[Hoshifransu 0]

For people who couldn't be connected, here come Hoshifransu's basic comments and feelings for this last day !

Well, I connected myself at 6:18 AM and after a bout where I couldn't recognize any of the contenders, I watched after this, a bout involving former Juryo rikishi Daishodai, winning after a series of strong pushes against a weaker opponent.

Kotohikari Vs. Shishio : both 5-1 down before the fight, Shishio made him collapse very quickly and made it two.

Kakizoe Vs. Toyozakura : Kakizoe winning easily after a few seconds and some tsuppari exchanges and Toyozakura was quickly unbalanced and lost.

Oginishiki Vs. Juzan : Juzan dominating thanks to his power, his big weight, but Oginishiki with his experience, managed to make him lose.

Gokenzan Vs. Daizen : It went too fast to me, I hardly understood what happened, I just watched Gokenzan, the giant collapsing from the very start because of Daizen and all his experience.

Yotsukasa (green mawashi) Vs. Hayateumi (black mawashi) : it seemed it was Daizen giving the magic water to Hayateumi, strange, they do this in Juryo division too ? Well, that didn't give him no power, he was caught at the throat by Yotsukasa and collapsed with Yotsukasa on him.

Wakakosho (green mawashi) Vs. Chiyotenzan (blue mawashi) : What a surprise : Chiyotenzan won it, after makin' Wakakosho roll on the dohyo ...

Senshuyama Vs. Hamanishiki : very convincing fight for Haminishiki. After a lot of moves from the center to the left and from the left to the right, Hamanishiki won with a fantastic grasp at the edge of the dohyo.

Asanowaka Vs. Harunoyama : Big disappointment for those (like me) who believed Harunoyama was strong and powerful, Asanowaka, less heavy, did what he wanted to do with him and he moved and pushed him (oshidashi) as if he was heavier and much more powerful than Harunoyama.

Komahikari Vs. Tochisakae : Same as previously, the less powerful wasn't the lightest of the two, easy win by oshidashi to Komahikari and very worrying defeat to out-of-power Tochisakae.

After this, we had the presence on the ring of (it seemed to be) the 6 last fighters of the 15 day of the tournament with a man of the Kyokai in the center of the dohyo to read a text.

It went on with other Juryo bouts :

Oikari Vs. Wakatenro : Oikari managed to move to the right at the start and Wakatenro went forward, all alone, when Oikari had only to get rid of him.

Buyuzan Vs. Kitazakura : No doubt, this is Kitazakura's revival ! After some moments of uncertainty, because we had very balanced strengths, and sometimes Buyuzan seemed to be able to twist Kitazakura a little bit to win, and that was pretty what happened to him, Zakura obtained that, and twisting him a little bit on the side, he had the possibility to push him out of the dohyo. Kachikoshi !

Wakatoba Vs. Asasekiryu : Well, that Mongolian is not only quick and intelligent, but against Wakatoba, he proved he could be powerful too and he won by a strong and powerful uwatenage ! Very promising !

After, that very good one, we had the Sandamne play-off match to win the Sandamne Yusho, it was something like :

Toyonoshima (?) Vs. Tokitenku. Very tough bout, great win by Tokitenku : both wrestlers falling together at the center of the dohyo on Toyonoshima's left side with Tokitenkou staying on his opponent.

After, we had the Makushita play-offs :

Hochiyama Vs. Bushuyama : Very impressive Hochiyama, after good pushes by Bushuyama, this one couldn't find the necessary strength to put his opponent out of the dohyo and finally, Hochiyama won.

Sumanofuji Vs. Dewanofuji : Sumanofuji heavier and who took advantage but after what could have been a very last push, Dewanofuji had the quickness to go behind Sumanofuji and to drive him easily out of the limits.

Uchida Vs. Ryuho : Uchida heavier, stronger and who knew keeping control, containing the opponent and moving him out of the limits. Terrific n' promising young wrestler !

2nd round

Uchida Vs. Hochiyama : Terrific head banging start and after that hard shock, they were body to body, moving together, dancing together and they fell together outside the dohyo ! at the same time ? The five judges had to take a decision they gave it to Hochiyama.

Dewanofuji Vs. Kokkai : Strong start from Kokkai who managed to push Dewanofuji forward thanks to his strong arms and Kokkai was on the point to win it, when Dewanofuji managed to unbalance him and to get rid of him ... when he had a foot outside ! The judges decided to give it to Kokkai.

Final

Hochiyama Vs. Kokkai : Elementary one ! Kokkai jumped and simply avoided Hochiyama who crushed by himself. Disappointing final but Kokkai Makushita champion !

After that one, we had the play-off for the Juryo Yusho !

Asasekiryu Vs. Buyuzan : Buyuzan pushing forward like a bull and Asasekiryu trying to push on his back with his hands to make him collapse and that was pretty what the Mongolian managed to make ! Buyuzan knew it, and his tactic was good, Asasekiryu failed to do it one time during the fight and Buyuzan was near to win it, except the second one, the real one ! So, first Yusho to Asasekiryu ?

After this, Kokonoe himself congratulated the Yusho winners of every division : Asasekiryu in Juryo, Kokkai in Makushita, Tokitenku in Sandamne, Koho (?) in Jonidan, Kotohoshyu (?) in Jonokuchi. I noticed both Koho (?) and Kotohoshyu (?) were very light fighters. Each time, the wrestlers were awarded by a sort of "parchment" while curving themselves twice as a sign of respect to Kokonoe. History repeating when a gyoji honoured them too ! Same scenario.

It was the Makuuchi ring entering ceremony after this and we had our first fight in Makuuchi :

Aogiyama Vs. Kasuganishiki : A lot of tsuppari and intensive pushes during some 15-20 seconds but Aogiyama seemed to have given up at the end because too tired, he was turned on his back to Kasuganishiki who had to win easily by oshidashi at the very end.

Jumonji Vs. Takekaze : Easy win to Takekaze after only some pushes. Jumonji is bulkier but not stronger. Or was it because it was the end of the tournament ?

Kinkaiyama Vs. Gojoro : Classic start by Gojoro : strong tsuppari but unforunately to him, Kinkaiyama was holding on and he managed to catch him at his waist and to put him out of the dohyo with a classic win by yorikiri.

Tamarikido Vs. Akinoshima : First false start made by Tamarikido. Real start which was bad to Tamarikido who was quickly pushed at the edge of the dohyo but who resisted well during a certain moment and Akinoshima couldn't find the necessary strength to put him out, that's why he used a strong grasp to make it at the end.

Tamanoshima Vs. Shimotori : Quick uwatenage with his left arm from Shimotori right after the start. No problem to him.

Kotoryu Vs. Kyokushuzan : I will remember of that one for a long time. Endless time bout ! About 4-5 minutes. It began by one Shuzan's hard catch to the throat and some hard exchanges but after this, the fight was stabilized in the center of the dohyo, and we had a yotsuzumo bout with Kotoryu having one hand on the belt but Shuzan having a good hold too, many attempts from both of them and mainly from Shuzan but each time, any of them could find strength enough to win it. After a certain time, we had a real typical Yotsuzumo bout with two hands on the belt from eachother, but despite a good lift from Kotoryu, nothing changed. That's why the gyoji decided to stop the "hostilities" and both wrestlers could have a magic water drink and the fight could begin again, like it was before :

The gyoji setting them up like it was before ...

... and that time, after that break, different scenario, the Mongolian pushed Kotoryu out after only few seconds ! What a fight. The public was delighted !

Hokutoriki Vs. Tochinohana : Typical tsuppari match won by Tochinohana. Hokutoriki very disappointing during that tournament.

Takanotsuru Vs. Iwakiyama : A fight of giants. Iwakiyama took the advantage from the very start, managing to catch Tsuru's mawashi and Tsuru just couldn't catch Yama's mawashi certainly because of Yama's very bulky size ! After this, we had a Yotsu-zumo bout, easily won by Iwakiyama with a violent uwatenage at the end (Takanotsuru crushing violently outside the dohyo)

Kaiho Vs. Tokitsuumi : Amazing win for Kaiho, after a whirling start, Kaiho, pushing forward, profiting he was a little bit on the opponent's side during a short moment, suddenly managed to push him backwards. Very impressive technique.

Aminishiki Vs. Kobo : Typical yotsuzumo with Aminishiki one left hand on the belt but Aminishiki was bent, I would say, too low, and that was why Kobo managed to put pressure on him and Aminishiki was crushed !

Kotonowaka Vs. Tochinonada : Kotonowaka battled very well, helped by his strong left leg put in opposition, but unfortunately to him, Nada was unstoppable and won by uwatenage, finally.

Otsukasa Vs. Toki

Toki very concentrated

Well, no problem for Toki. Classic Toki win, variation of tsuppari and pressure on the neck like this :

Still very effective (sometimes)

Kyokutenho Vs. Kasugao : Very powerful push by Kasugao with Kyokutenho holding on at the edge of the dohyo but the South-Korean kept strength enough to win by yoritaoshi !

Tosanoumi Vs. Wakanoyama : Rough fight from both wrestlers, Tosanoumi putting a big pressure on Wakanoyama's head and neck and Yama collapsed.

Dejima Vs. Wakanosato : Amazingly, Dejima more powerful than "powerhouse Wakanosato" and won easily by oshidashi. (easily to him, because it shouldn't have been easy for anybody to make this) ! Wakanosato highly disappointing (and who makes me lose 3 points at the Oddsumo game) ! BTW, impressive 11-4 "Ozeki-like" score made by Dejima ! Dejima on the road again ?

After that one, we had a sort of, how could I say, sanyaku little ceremony, even if Wakanosato fought before that ... Strange ... But my knowledges are too weak ... I can't understand why ...

Takanonami Vs. Takamisakari : Sakari was lifted up and moved up by Nami. It was very impressive, but Nami was moving him around of the dohyo and couldn't put him out of it, and when Sakari had 2 feet on the ground, it was another story and he got rid of "out-of-breath" Nami after this !

Takanowaka Vs. Kotomitsuki : Strange one, Mickey jumped a little bit to his left and Takanowaka crushed down by himself and couldn't get up, as if he was injured after this "non-fight" !

Yokozuna Asashoryu Vs. Musoyama : Would ya believe it, I counted 18 banners for that one !!! Well, it began very well to Muso dominating with his strength, his strong pushes, and we had the feeling he could get rid of the Mongolian by this, unfortunately (to him and for his fans) the Mongolian was in control of the situation and he waited for the right moment to circumvent him and to push him out ! That's what he often does against heavy wrestlers like him.

After this terrific performance, we had the ceremony to give to Asashoryu the awards :

and classic interview :

BTW, sumo sites webmasters, d'ya think I could use such captured pictures like this for my future web site dedicated to Toki, if I let the "copyright" and for a "non-business-like" web site of course ? Or do I really risk something ?

Pictures involving Toki are so rare to be found over the net ...

(Getting kicked by ones own computer...)

[Kotoseiya Yuichi 3]

Gokenzan Vs. Daizen : It went too fast to me, I hardly understood what happened, I just watched Gokenzan, the giant collapsing from the very start because of Daizen and all his experience.

(...)

Yotsukasa (green mawashi) Vs. Hayateumi (black mawashi) : it seemed it was Daizen giving the magic water to Hayateumi, strange, they do this in Juryo division too ?

(...)

After this, we had the presence on the ring of (it seemed to be) the 6 last fighters of the 15 day of the tournament with a man of the Kyokai in the center of the dohyo to read a text.

(...)

Kotohoshyu (?)

(...)

Kotoryu Vs. Kyokushuzan : I will remember of that one for a long time. Endless time bout ! About 4-5 minutes.

(...)

After that one, we had a sort of, how could I say, sanyaku little ceremony, even if Wakanosato fought before that ... Strange ... But my knowledges are too weak ... I can't understand why ...

(...)

Takanowaka Vs. Kotomitsuki : Strange one, Mickey jumped a little bit to his left and Takanowaka crushed down by himself and couldn't get up, as if he was injured after this "non-fight" !

Yokozuna Asashoryu Vs. Musoyama : Would ya believe it, I counted 18 banners for that one !!!

That might have been Daizen's last bout. :~-(

Yes, chikara-mizu is also to be seen in juryo.

Those were the sanyaku and rijicho. Only six left as Tochiazuma and Takanohana were missing. The same ceremony is held in shonichi when rijicho gives his welcome speech to the audience.

Kotooshu, the rookie Bulgarian.

Mizu-iri (water break) is relatively rare. I think it was in Natsu 2001 when Kotomitsuki and Musoyama had that 17 (?) minute bout with two (?) water breaks.

Sanyaku soroibumi is held between the two groups of three rikishi on each tozai side before the last three bouts of the tournament. They can basically be of any rank, although a maegashira is a relative rarity.

Does anyone know more of Takanowaka's situation? It looked really bad. :-(

20. First 18, then two more when the yobidashi came again. Yokozuna? Yes. I can't see how they could deny him promotion now.

[Hoshifransu 0]

Thanx a lot for all these precious things.

That might have been Daizen's last bout

He had an encouraging good end of basho ! He was 10-1 down and he won 3 on 4 (beating both Zakura brothers) to finish at 4-11. I wish he could try to fight in a last Makushita basho at least !

Very encouraging good end of Basho to Kitazakura too : he was 4-0 down, 5-1 down and he won 7 on 9 to finish k-koshi, just great !

Come on, Kitazakura !  :-(

[Manekineko 200]

Thanks for these impressions, Hoshifransu! I can only watch the feed properly at work (bad modem connection at home), and then I mostly have to work, obviously. :)  

Kintamayama-zeki covered the more important foreigner news in his Foreigner roundup (5 yusho! wow), so I'll stick to my favourites.

My semi-adoptee Kotokaneko is makekoshi again! I swear, if he does it again in Haru and keeps wrestling, I'll officialy adopt him. Rikishi who dosen't give up after one year of straight makekoshi should be respected! ;)  Plus, he's ugly as a horse, I'll put up his picture one of these days.

Takanoyama the pretty-faced Czech finished 3-4 in sandanme. My banzuke knowledge is pitful, Could this throw him back to jonidan? He's Sd83w currently. Russians were 50-50. Brothers Roho and Hakurozan were 5-2 and 6-1 respectively, continuing their climb. Amuru and Orora were 3-4.

Hayateumi's kachi-koshi! Just barely, but still! :D

Hamanoshima, too! 4-3, after 2-3 start! Ganbare, Gregory Peck! (he always looked like Peck to me...)

Kinki's back in Makuuchi! (Kinkaiyama, I mean) He has the sweetest smile... someone remind me to post a picture to prove it.

Shin-nyumaku Takanotsuru and Kasugao both had good basho, now we'll see how they'll fare in upper regions. I wish them both long stay in makuuchi.

Iwakiyama suffered from usual 2nd makuuchi basho blues...

Can you believe that 'Nada? 11 straight... :D

Aminishiki really struggled this basho. I hope his injury isn't too serious... :~-(

Tenho kachikoshi! He really blossomed this last few basho. Ganbare! Takanonami make-koshied in the end, pity. How the mighty have fallen, upper maegashira Takanonami is now Futagoyama-beya head rikishi!

And finaly, Takamisakari doing san'yaku soroi-bumi, as mentioned by Zentoryu, can be found on Dale's movie page, natsu basho 2002, senshuraku of course. Enjoy! ;)

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

Hi,

Thank you for the summary, as always, Hoshifransu.  Well-written.

Takanonami Vs. Takamisakari : Sakari was lifted up and moved up by Nami. It was very impressive, but Nami was moving him around of the dohyo and couldn't put him out of it, and when Sakari had 2 feet on the ground, it was another story and he got rid of "out-of-breath" Nami after this !

I enjoyed this fight very much.  I like 'nami better than Takamisakari but he is looking old.  He has momentary bursts of energy, but not enough.  And unfortunately now a MK  :-(

The footwork by Takamisakari at the beginning was very impressive  (Exclamation) Almost too quick to see his feet.  If he can remain constantly at that level he has a bright future.  But that's a big "if"...

[Zentoryu 154]

Takanowaka Vs. Kotomitsuki : Strange one, Mickey jumped a little bit to his left and Takanowaka crushed down by himself and couldn't get up, as if he was injured after this "non-fight" !

This was HARDLY a "non-fight".

Takanowaka was absolutely knocked silly by a vicious round house right from Kotomitsuki.

He suffered a cut around his eye and was bleeding badly. He was so woozy that he had to be helped off the dohyo and up the hanamichi.

Just a brutal shot from Kotomitsuki. (Oh my god...)

[Hoshifransu 0]

This was HARDLY a "non-fight".

That was just my feeling. With the angle proposed by the streaming, it was difficult to watch what really happened.

And to watch Takanowaka after the fight too.

Mickey deviating very quickly ... and Takanowaka crushing ... that was what I saw with that angle. I'm looking forward to watching many other angles on Eurosport to understand at last.

Takanowaka was absolutely knocked silly by a vicious round house right from Kotomitsuki

So he was ? I had the feeling he had been hurt all alone, but that's of course certainly, as you said, a knock to have left him a so long time "with the carpet" !

Well, very vicious Kotomitsuki, sometimes ! Don't you think Takanowaka is "the" big rival to him ? Stylishly and for the Ozeki race too ? So, any gift to him ?

(Getting involved in a boxing match...)