Nagoya Basho 2013 discussion thread

[Kintamayama 44,652]

He went all out without looking forward and that is what happens when you do this.

Oh, shut up. Doing a henka is despicable, Kotoshōgiku has one of the best tachi-ai in all sumō.

It is not despicable. It's another route and it's legal. Maybe makes us spectators feel cheated out of a longer match, but other than that- nada. Kotoshougiku himself admitted that he's to blame. You can hate henka- you are in good company. But no one was robbed. And what does having a good tachiai have to do with his losing like a four year old? He should keep his eyes open and not rush forward like a blind bull. Twice. Day after day. Geez.

[Asashosakari 18,996]

A tachiai can't be described as very good anyway if it's predicated on the assumption that the opponent won't try anything tricky.

[Ajisen 15]

Finally got to watch a day of sumo today. Happy!

The final bout between Hakuho and Chiyotairyu was the most impressive in terms to full on taichiai.

The young lad knees buckled quite spectacularly in slow-mo glory.

This is shaping up to be an very enjoyable basho. :)

Thanks kintamayama and all for the vids! You guys are life savers.

Edited July 13, 2013 by Ajisen

[Randomitsuki 2,812]

Has someone recorded that wonderful tasukizori by Ikeru? I'd love to see it again. And again.

[dingo 1,212]

Gyoji Kimura Tamajiro looked very distressed in the stream close-up (0:57, time code doesn't work) after the mono-ii was called in the Ikioi-Kitataiki bout – was he fearing a sashi-chigai decision ?

That's a very good catch, and very amusing to see. Thanks for pointing it out for someone like me who doesn't follow the stream.

On another note, I am getting the feeling that Aran may have an injury hampering him -- his tachiai has basically amounted to standing up (even if it never was that good, this is sort of pathetic) and in the last few bouts he's been taking quite some time getting back up.

[Fay 1,677]

Has someone recorded that wonderful tasukizori by Ikeru? I'd love to see it again. And again.

Here it is. I would upload some missing bouts, don't know if anyone is already working on it ..

Edited July 13, 2013 by Fay

[kuroimori 1,634]

Thanks for uploading this rare showing of tasukizori!

I hope that Ikeru finally can string together a long series of kyujo-free basho and aim at sekitorihood!

[ALAKTORN 346]

He went all out without looking forward and that is what happens when you do this.

Oh, shut up. Doing a henka is despicable, Kotoshōgiku has one of the best tachi-ai in all sumō.

It is not despicable. It's another route and it's legal. Maybe makes us spectators feel cheated out of a longer match, but other than that- nada. Kotoshougiku himself admitted that he's to blame. You can hate henka- you are in good company. But no one was robbed. And what does having a good tachiai have to do with his losing like a four year old? He should keep his eyes open and not rush forward like a blind bull. Twice. Day after day. Geez.

You’re talking nonsense. Bringing up technicalities doesn’t change the fact that it’s an incredibly stupid move everybody hates, it is disrespectful for the aite, and the sport itself. His tachi-ai is fantastic because in a fair match, it gives him the upper hand, it’s part of why he’s an ōzeki. If I were a rikishi, I wouldn’t bother having to try to counter something as stupid as a henka, if I can work on a tachi-ai that works in most other situations. The blind tachi-ai is Kotoshōgiku’s way of sumō, he can’t do it any way else and it’s brought him up to ōzeki.

[ronnie 221]

He went all out without looking forward and that is what happens when you do this.

Oh, shut up. Doing a henka is despicable, Kotoshōgiku has one of the best tachi-ai in all sumō.

It is not despicable. It's another route and it's legal. Maybe makes us spectators feel cheated out of a longer match, but other than that- nada. Kotoshougiku himself admitted that he's to blame. You can hate henka- you are in good company. But no one was robbed. And what does having a good tachiai have to do with his losing like a four year old? He should keep his eyes open and not rush forward like a blind bull. Twice. Day after day. Geez.

You’re talking nonsense. Bringing up technicalities doesn’t change the fact that it’s an incredibly stupid move everybody hates, it is disrespectful for the aite, and the sport itself. His tachi-ai is fantastic because in a fair match, it gives him the upper hand, it’s part of why he’s an ōzeki. If I were a rikishi, I wouldn’t bother having to try to counter something as stupid as a henka, if I can work on a tachi-ai that works in most other situations. The blind tachi-ai is Kotoshōgiku’s way of sumō, he can’t do it any way else and it’s brought him up to ōzeki.

You just cannot do anything other than love this post!

Blind tachi-ai................that's how I drive!

[Benevolance 2,484]

Blind tachi-ai is the name of my Stevie Wonder cover band.

I think Takarafuji and Aran win my vote for most boring match ever. It looked like they were both hung over and were waiting for the other guy to win the fight.

[yorikiried by fate 2,001]

Oh man, revisionism already riding? The tachi-ai was mosdef not the reason for the Geek's rise to Ozdom. Merely a handsome ornament.

Edited July 13, 2013 by yorikiried by fate

[araibira 682]

Blind tachi-ai is the name of my Stevie Wonder cover band.

[Asashosakari 18,996]

Oh man, revisionism already riding? The tachi-ai was mosdef not the reason for the Geek's rise to Ozdom. Merely a handsome ornament.

Agreed. I don't recall Giku's tachiai as anything that special until maybe a year ago, the Kotomitsuki-ish impact is a fairly new thing.

[Masumasumasu 902]

Kotooshu and Shogiku should just beat Kisenosato and put him in a kadoban position for next basho (i predict losses to the Yoks and possibly Kakuryu from what i have seen this far).

This could cool all the tsunatori talks for ages and we can return to normality.

Kise has all of Japan on his back. Hakuo does not. The Yokozuna has never felt the kind of extreme pressure that Kisenosato has faced recently.

NEVER.

Japan is--without a doubt--the most demanding country on the face of planet Earth. The amount of pressure hoisted upon native son Kisenosato can only be described as 'unimaginable'.

[sekitori 492]

David Shapiro on the English NHK broadcast had an interesting comment on Kotoshogiku losing because of henkas on consecutive days. He said that those good enough to reach ozeki should be talented and experienced enough to always expect one. He went on to say that if someone at such a high rank loses a match because his opponent pulled a henka, he has only himself to blame. To me, his words made a lot of sense.

[Masumasumasu 902]

David Shapiro on the English NHK broadcast had an interesting comment on Kotoshogiku losing because of henkas on consecutive days. He said that those good enough to reach ozeki should be talented and experienced enough to always expect one. He went on to say that if someone at such a high rank loses a match because his opponent pulled a henka, he has only himself to blame. To me, his words made a lot of sense.

The Japanese rikishi face a kind of pressure that gaijin could never fathom.

Edited July 14, 2013 by Masumasumasu

[Morty 1,483]

Daffy Duck may have made the term seem quite soft and fluffy, but I always found the use of the term despicable a bit over the top to describe the use of the henka by an individual. The Oxford Dictionary defines despicable as:

"morally contemptible, vile, worthy of being despised"

That's the kind of description normally reserved for rapists and criminals and is probably a bit harsh really to describe a dude pulling a move on another dude that is allowed within the rules. It's not even cheating. Maybe "unsportsmanlike" might be a better description?

[Masumasumasu 902]

Daffy Duck may have made the term seem quite soft and fluffy, but I always found the use of the term despicable a bit over the top to describe the use of the henka by an individual. The Oxford Dictionary defines despicable as:

"morally contemptible, vile, worthy of being despised"

That's the kind of description normally reserved for rapists and criminals and is probably a bit harsh really to describe a dude pulling a move on another dude that is allowed within the rules. It's not even cheating. Maybe "unsportsmanlike" might be a better description?

Henka is a desperate act.

[Asojima 2,873]

Azumaryu and Takanoiwa on Day 8 - One of the best fought matches of the basho, so far.

Edited July 14, 2013 by Asojima

[Akinomaki 40,068]

Agreed. I was excited till the end - would Takanoiwa turn it around again like yesterday ? Even without a win, his power this basho is one rank up, the real rank should follow.

Chiyotairyu got a close-up for his first appearance with the new keshou-mawashi – hopefully the kuso-jikara will boost him through the second half – sanyaku for him would be great – and a sansho.

Edited July 14, 2013 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki 40,068]

Sokokurai looks better every day – but Jokoryu is maybe no yardstick for that.

[Gernobono 463]

Sokokurai looks better every day – but Jokoryu is maybe no yardstick for that.

jokoryu lost it at the tachiai......took sokokurai quite some time to end it with his good grip

[Akinomaki 40,068]

Why all those whistles after the Chiyotairyu win ? The front row people covering their heads with their hands was looking funny. That was the kuso-jikara for sure.

Edited July 14, 2013 by Akinomaki

[Asashosakari 18,996]

New basho promo on the feed today, now devoid of any mention of Kisenosato's tsunatori (and with much less Kise in general).

[Masumasumasu 902]

New basho promo on the feed today, now devoid of any mention of Kisenosato's tsunatori (and with much less Kise in general).

So what?