Yokozuna/Ozeki preperandum - Hatsu 2014

[Akinomaki 40,066]

Harumafuji's situation is worrying . His left ankle injury is still bothering him. He had 9 bouts at home today but could not generate any sharpness at the tachiai

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/news/f-sp-tp3-20140105-1240019.html

6-3

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2014/01/06/kiji/K20140106007330150.html

On the 3rd with the heya visiting the Kanagawa Izumo-taisha, closely connected to the heya.

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/news/p-sp-tp3-20140104-1239397.html

[Mukonoso 273]

He's got mad breakdancing skillz. Go Kise! Go Kise! Go! Go!

[Yubinhaad 11,594]

A few more pictures from the Isegahama-beya visit to Izumo-taisha.

Presenting a tsuna to the shrine.

Isegahama-oyakata (former Yokozuna Asahifuji) and Aminishiki. Nice to see the shisho in good spirits following his health problems late last year.

Terunofuji.

Takarafuji, Harumafuji.

Homarefuji.

Harumafuji.

Takarafuji again.

Mochi-tsuki was done at the shrine, and the rice cakes handed out to the spectators. Terutsuyoshi in the first two pictures here; Mimanishiki in the last one.

[Kintamayama 44,652]

Is this the new guy from Serbia Mochitsky?

[Kintamayama 44,652]

"I don't know yet, " said Harumafuji when asked if he will be entering Hatsu. He has not trained seriously, and today did only "tachiai confirmation" stuff-14 times, but was seen grimacing a lot. Oyakata says they will discuss this and will give a final answer on the 9th, before the torikumi arranging committee meets.

Milking it till the deadline?

[Kintamayama 44,652]

At yesterday's keiko session, Kisenosato oshidashi'd Shouhouzan but was hikiotoshi'd at the same time, falling down. He had difficulties getting up, sending off alarm signals everywhere. He was holding his right ankle. "Bring ice over here!!" shouted some panicky Oyakata. That was the end of the training session for him after 13 bouts. He got up, dragging his foot, but never used the ice.

On the way out of the heya he was smiling. "Not at all, I'm OK, not at all. All is well. I just stretched my foot a bit.. It was a good stretch.." he joked.

So, false alarm, I guess. Still, this is the sumo world, notorious for hiding injuries. We shall see..

[Kintamayama 44,652]

And so it has come to pass that Hakuhou went for degeiko at Matsugane beya today where the, you guessed it, Nishonoseki Rengo Keiko was held today. He took on Kisenosato and was 9-1. He is 1-2 in the last three basho against Kise in real time, so he came to see what's what. The bouts were good. "It was truly a great session. In keiko between a Yokozuna and an Ozeki, the important thing is the substance and not the quantity," said a satisfied Hakuhou. Kisenosato was slipping a lot at the tachiai. "If you do that you destroy your own pace. You've got to watch your opponent well!" said Hakuhou unto Kisenosato. "If he uses this as his foundation and starts anew, that would be good," said Hakuhou of Kisenosato.

Edited January 7, 2014 by Kintamayama

[ALAKTORN 346]

How come Hakuhō is the only guy who seems to be able to stay free of injuries? …Oh, wait, he never trains.

[Benevolance 2,484]

No, wait. There was that one time where he hurt, um, something. Maybe a hand? Elbow? For a while, anyway. Until he had to throw Gaga. Then it got better. But Hakuho lost, like, four times! In a single tournament! That was quite the something.

[Yubinhaad 11,594]

A few pictures from the Nishonoseki rengo-keiko. Hakuho and Kisenosato observed each other across the dohyo before going head-to-head.

Kisenosato offers the chikara-mizu to Hakuho following their session.

======================

And three not-so-interesting pictures from Hakuho's visit to Tokitsukaze-beya on the 6th.

[Torabayama 51]

"I don't know yet, " said Harumafuji when asked if he will be entering Hatsu. He has not trained seriously, and today did only "tachiai confirmation" stuff-14 times, but was seen grimacing a lot. Oyakata says they will discuss this and will give a final answer on the 9th, before the torikumi arranging committee meets.

Milking it till the deadline?

I'm surprised there aren't any conspiracy theorists yet saying this is all to help pave the way for KIsenosato's yusho victory and yokozuna promotion. Wait for it....

[Benevolance 2,484]

Because that would mean we assume Harumafuji is actually a threat to Kise's chances. (In jonokuchi...)

Edited January 9, 2014 by Benevolance

[Torabayama 51]

Because that would mean we assume Harumafuji is actually a threat to Kise's chances. (In jonokuchi...)

Have we already forgotten Kyushu 2013? He is.

[Jakusotsu 5,876]

Because that would mean we assume Harumafuji is actually a threat to Kise's chances. (In jonokuchi...)

Have we already forgotten Kyushu 2013? He is.

No, he isn't. Aminishiki and Goeido are.

[torquato 1,075]

The weight of large pieces of seafood is nowadays measured in units of Hakuho. As a rule of thumb 1 Hakuho serves for 700 Portions of Sashimi. :-D

(the relevant part of the video starts at about 1:50, setting the starttime doesn't seem to work for embedded videos...)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN7fwhxTDiA&feature=youtu.be&t=1m50s

Edited January 9, 2014 by torquato

[Kintamayama 44,652]

Harumafuji's injury is serious. "Harumafuji's injury is serious. If he does unreasonable stuff he may tear a ligament and that can't be undone.." said his Oyakata today, hinting heavily at an increasingly possible kyujo. He did some shiko and practiced with some dumbbells today (the inanimate kind..) and did nothing else.When asked how he was, he grunted and did not respond. "The most important thing is to think of his well being," added the Oyakata. We'll all know in a few hours.

[Akinomaki 40,066]

On the 9^th and the 8^th like on the 7^th Harumafuji did no bouts, light training on the 9th, only tachi-ai checking on the 8th. He wants to cure the injury and enter the basho – waiting with the final decision till the bouts for the first 2 days are decided at the torikumi compilation meeting on Friday 10 a.m.
http://www.daily.co.jp/newsflash/general/2014/01/09/0006625164.shtml

Hakuho came to the heya for degeiko - 10-1 with Takarafuji

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/news/f-sp-tp3-20140109-1241762.html

http://mainichi.jp/sports/news/20140110k0000m050036000c.html




Boxer Kameda came for a visit.on the 8th
http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/news/f-sp-tp3-20140108-1241354.html

http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20140109/sum14010905020001-n1.html

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2014/01/09/kiji/K20140109007349210.html

http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/sports/sumou/222247/
Big Tospo pic: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/sports/sumou/222247/attachment/亀田和毅と握手を交わす日馬富士/

Kyodo

[Akinomaki 40,066]

Kisenosato on the 8th in the heya again with his beloved mirror
http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/news/f-sp-tp3-20140108-1241348.html

And so it has come to pass that Hakuhou went for degeiko at Matsugane beya today where the, you guessed it, Nishonoseki Rengo Keiko was held today. He took on Kisenosato and was 9-1. ... Kisenosato was slipping a lot at the tachiai. "If you do that you destroy your own pace.

cautioned by Hakuho for not in sync at the tachi-ai and getting extra pushed by him continuously
http://www.daily.co.jp/general/2014/01/08/0006622686.shtml

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2014/01/08/kiji/K20140108007340900.html

http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/sumo/news/20140107-OHT1T00263.htm

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/news/f-sp-tp3-20140107-1240921.html

http://mainichi.jp/sports/news/20140108k0000m050023000c.html


butsukari-geiko
http://www.chunichi.co.jp/chuspo/article/sumo/news/CK2014010802000188.html

http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/sports/sumou/221826/
Tospo big pic: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/sports/sumou/221826/attachment/白鵬、稀勢の里/

Kisenosato went for de-geiko again at the Nishonoseki rengo keiko which was held at Sadogatake beya today. He faced Takekaze and Shouhouzan for 13 bouts and won 12.

after 7 with Takekaze, 6 with Shohozan
http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/sports/sumou/221364/
Tospo big pic: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/sports/sumou/221364/attachment/稀勢の里-16/

At yesterday's keiko session, Kisenosato oshidashi'd Shouhouzan but was hikiotoshi'd at the same time, falling down. He had difficulties getting up, sending off alarm signals everywhere. He was holding his right ankle. "Bring ice over here!!" shouted some panicky Oyakata. That was the end of the training session for him after 13 bouts. He got up, dragging his foot, but never used the ice.

twisted the right ankle on the 6^th against Shohozan
http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2014/01/07/kiji/K20140107007334480.html

[Akinomaki 40,066]

Kotoshogiku checking the health recovery after the chest injury
http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/sports/sumou/221359/
Tospo big pic: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/sports/sumou/221359/attachment/琴奨菊-3/

[Masumasumasu 902]

Harumafuji sure is an elegant dresser.

[Akinomaki 40,066]

Hakuho came to the heya for degeiko - 10-1 with Takarafuji

Hakuho finished his basho preparations with this degeiko.

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/news/p-sp-tp3-20140110-1241962.html

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2014/01/10/kiji/K20140110007356460.html

yokozuna talk

http://www.chunichi.co.jp/chuspo/article/sumo/news/CK2014011002000176.html

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2014/01/10/kiji/K20140110007356450.html

http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/sumo/news/20140110-OHT1T00017.htm

[Akinomaki 40,066]

Kisenosato at the heya did today 17, yesterday 18-0 with Takayasu. He did no bouts on the 8^th.
http://mainichi.jp/sports/news/20140111k0000m050039000c.html
http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2014/01/10/kiji/K20140110007356440.html

[Akinomaki 40,066]

Kisenosato was 12-5 against Takayasu yesterday. With Harumafuji kyujo there is same talk that the hurdle for getting to yokozuna may be set a bit higher, other talk that he'll have an easier task.
http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/sumo/news/20140111-OHT1T00007.htm

http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20140111/sum14011105030002-n2.html

Yomiuri

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2014/01/11/kiji/K20140111007363210.html


at the dohyo-matsuri today
http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/news/f-sp-tp3-20140111-1242736.html

http://www.daily.co.jp/newsflash/general/2014/01/11/0006629663.shtml

http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20140111/sum14011115030003-n1.html

http://sankei.jp.msn.com/sports/news/140111/mrt14011116520000-n1.htm

Kotoshogiku and Kotooshu both haven't fully recovered, especially Kotoshogiku: “There is still not enough time.” - both enter that way and try to get the necessary results.
http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20140111/sum14011118050004-n1.html

[Mukonoso 273]

Great pics. Nice to see the detail on the cup and the banner pole.

[Yubinhaad 11,594]

I was rather pressed for time yesterday, catching up with the last few pre-basho pictures.

With Harumafuji kyujo, Isegahama-oyakata stepped in during the unveiling of the last two yusho portraits. I guess the last time that happened was after Asashoryu retired, when Takasago-oyakata attended the unveiling of his final yusho portrait.