Hatsu 2014 Discussion - *contains spoilers

[Vikanohara 171]

Still able to watch the big names beat each other's butts for free, but no longer the more obscure ones, I wonder what's the point of that ? But that shouldn't stop me from posting my daily reports whenever I find some time, so here are my day 5 observations :

- Musashikuni, the famous nephew, going strong in Jonidan, he might be facing Kotoninsei soon if both can keep it up.

- Former Watanabe keeps struggling. He might be dropping from top Makushita to lower Jonidan in just 8 basho. Rather strange for a man who was on a 37-12 record at some point, and with already early Jonidan & Sandanme Yushos under his belt.

- Sakae still steady upon his arrival in Sandanme, while Horikiri is showing that 2nd half of last basho was only a small misstep.

- Ikeru on the other hand seems to have lost it again. Is ~Sd30 level some kind of mental issue for him ? More or less like for Aokishin.

- Wakakeisho is an example of a rikishi steadily dropping lower & lower, starting with a Yusho at Ms15TD, but never reaching Juryo.

- First Makushita victories for Masutoo, Onosho & Sagatuskasa this basho, while Kazafuzan was no match for Ichinojo as well.

- Still no wins for Tanzo, Masunoumi, Nishikigi, Kaonishiki, Takageppo, Rendaiyama, Shibahara, Daishoiwa & Baraki : 0-3 all.

- From Juryo, I wonder how Takanoyama's victory looked like. Only Chiyomaru stays undefeated, while Wakanosato won his first.

- And finally some video footages from Makuuchi : impressive Endo, while Kakuryu had an Endo-ish moment.

- It was called a fumidashi (Endo's on day 4 a shitatenage), a relatively new kimarite so it seems.

- Satoyama wants the rare kimarite prize this basho, as now he lost by susoharai.

- Which is clearly a Tokitenku (9-2), & Kyokutaisei (9-0) speciality.

- And there was also a zubuneri today, which was Satonofuji's 6th. Pretty nice !

[Benevolance 2,501]

How has Baraki looked in his makushita matches? I know he dropped his first two decisions, but anybody know if he was at least in the fights? Or is he being blown out of the water?

[Vikanohara 171]

One more thing to point out :

Tochinowaka is turning the tide this basho :

- he was 7-2 against Takayasu, but lost

- 1-6 to Fujiazuma, but won

- and 1-4 to Shotenro became 2-4

After a minor tide turner on day 5, I wonder what he will do with another big wave (2-7 against Sadanofuji) coming ?

[krindel 671]

Kotoshogiku looks like he might actually make it to eight wins (assuming his shoulder remains at least barely functional a little longer), despite the fact that he looks to be seriously struggling with his injury. He has never been my favorite rikishi, but this time I am actually finding myself rooting for him.

Kotooshu doesn't look in a position to defeat Hakuho, Kisenosato or Goeido so if Kakuryu isn't feeling his usual charitable self, I think today's loss puts him in serious trouble... Tomorrow's match is make or break for him.

As for the Yusho race, the overall impression is (Sleeping...) (Sleeping...) (Sleeping...) . Unless Endo suddenly decides to play Toyonoshima from Kyushu 2010, that is :-)

[Akinomaki 40,514]

Day 5, 6516 spectators.

http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20140117/sum14011705010001-n1.html

Edited January 17, 2014 by Akinomaki

[shumitto 418]

How has Baraki looked in his makushita matches? I know he dropped his first two decisions, but anybody know if he was at least in the fights? Or is he being blown out of the water?

Fighting hard in spirited fashion, but with that very short arm and body of his he has had it difficult and has been dominated (speaking about the two first bouts).

Edit: there is a 160 cm tall rikishi in makushita and I can't watch his bouts ¨%#%&&$#@

Edited January 17, 2014 by shumitto

[ALAKTORN 346]

Kisenosato risked losing, nice balance though to stay up and win. I’m surprised Aoiyama didn’t go for his usual oshi attack against Hakuhō, I think he’d have had more of a chance that way than fighting on the belt…

Kyokutenhō with a surprise win over an Okinoumi who looked inspired this basho. Endō keeps doing well, and Ōsunaarashi with a lucky win. Gōeidō sadly lost again…

I wish I could keep watching Musashikuni, Koike and Ichinojō…

Edited January 17, 2014 by ALAKTORN

[botev1921 33]

One must be feeling very optimistic to consider Kotooshu capable of getting back to Ozeki. I watched some of his matches merely a year ago and he looks nothing like that now - and that was a year ago when he was already on a decline. To me he was done some time after July 2009, so good 4 years of Ozekihood is amazing achievement. Now it's time to think of the future. Of course there is always a chance the likes of Kisenosato and Kakuryu underestimate him, but what good would it be to get back to Ozeki when you don't feel good enough for Tochiozan?

[CT3 4]

I know its still a bit too early to say definitively, but Endo is starting to look like the real deal.

[Vikanohara 171]

Late again, but at least two hours sooner than yesterday, here are my day 6 observations :

- in Jonokuchi, returning Dewataikai, new kid (though older than Dewataikai) Yonamine & veteran Azumanami should fight it out

- this guy has a strong 31-7 record in Jonidan, and I'm already looking forward to Rikito-Asakoki

- no reason to party in Sandanme for Kaiho so far, he's 0-3 and lost to 25y older Dewanosato for instance

- Kirinofuji had 15 basho in a row in which he went just above or below the KK/MK line, and now he's at 3-0 for the first time ever

- 3 other names that climbed to 3-0 today : Kaito, favourite Keitenkai & Amatsu, just like last 2 times when he was in Sandanme

- surprise slip-ups in Makushita by Shineiyama, Koba (to Towanoyama !) & Ishiura (to Daieisho), 2 of them by hatakikomi

- and perhaps also a little bit unexpected, the victory from Amuru over Tosayutaka

- the top fight in Juryo was Jokoryu losing to Terunofuji, while Chiyomaru stayed unbeaten and Homarefuji winless

- three videos from Makuuchi to show : Toyonoshima's speciality, Ikioi still has to learn & Toyohibiki not quite there yet either

- Tokushoryu performed a tottari, the first one this year, he also held the last one from last year

- bringing his record to 8-1 (twice against Tenkaiho), one less than Terutsuyoshi who's at 9-0 (well, Hakuho's on 11-0, but...)

- ...the absolute tottari master should be Takanoyama I suppose, at an impressive 18-0 !

- 2nd shitatehineri this basho, again from Satoyama, his 17th of his career !

- Goshi won by utchari, apparently becoming less frequent lately ?

- and we also had a 2nd sotogake since the opening day, something Minatosho seems to favour

- Aragyoshi managed it 2 days in a row, 1 year ago

- Toyonoshima even has a 9-4 sotogake record, while Takanoyama a 2-6 record

- thé sotogake kid might be Goeido though, he's on 10-0 so far

- and Kisenosato & Baruto seem(ed) to be rather vulnerable to it

That's it for a while now. Busy days coming.

[Kintamayama 45,137]

Satoyama. 5-2. The Submarine. To me this is the major surprise of the basho..

[Oshirokita 188]

Satoyama. 5-2. The Submarine. To me this is the major surprise of the basho..

Yes, he seems to have found a technique suitable to his size. I'm not sure how he has been resisting opponents just falling on him and crushing him. For now, it is effective.

[kuroimori 1,634]

Shohozan got gifted a win today. In his match with Kitataiki his foot was turned over at the edge as both were falling out, the top of his foot brushed the tawara and then his little toe dragged in the sand outside the tawara before aite stepped out. Got a mono-ii, torinaoshi was called and won second time round.

Yes, he was lucky, although it took me some time even during the slow motion reply to see that his toe went down the tawara just a bit too low and before Kitatiki's foot touched down outside the dohyo. Torinaoishi was not that brutal in such close call I guess

[Tony 16]

Satoyama. 5-2. The Submarine. To me this is the major surprise of the basho..

Yes, he seems to have found a technique suitable to his size. I'm not sure how he has been resisting opponents just falling on him and crushing him. For now, it is effective

Yes, his sumo is effective and nice to see but I'm worried about his neck, his position is very low and dangerous (it's the same case for Satsumahibiki).

Edited January 18, 2014 by Tony

[kuroimori 1,634]

Satoyama. 5-2. The Submarine. To me this is the major surprise of the basho..

Yes, he seems to have found a technique suitable to his size. I'm not sure how he has been resisting opponents just falling on him and crushing him. For now, it is effective

Yes, his sumo is effective and nice to see but I'm worried about his neck, his position is very low and dangerous (it's the same case for Satsumahibiki).

You mean his neck could dissappear like Takarafuji's? (Laughing...)

[kuroimori 1,634]

Kise needed some time to dispose of the moving collection of bandages and tape also known as Aminishiki.

Not convincing, absolutely not.

Edited January 18, 2014 by kuroimori

[kuroimori 1,634]

Hakuho with ease, making it look bringing out the garbage - in slippers...

[Gernobono 466]

most interesting in day 8 torikumi for me is the question:

will satoyama disappear in gagamaru's belly?

[kuroimori 1,634]

Cheap move by Ikioi today.

Normally I blame the guy who falls for a henka, but resorting to henka against an already heavily banged up Geek who gives it his all to keep his Ozeki rank didn't win Ikioi any sympathy points.

[Morty 1,495]

It won't happen, but in my fantasy world Hakuho loses to Giku (allowing him to maintain his Ozeki rank), leaving Hak and Endo on 14-1 on senshuraku....

Edited January 18, 2014 by Morty

[Vikanohara 171]

Oh well, quick then. Day 7 roundup :

- from the 3 Jk protagonists, Dewataikai lost to Azumanami, while Yonamine keeps winning, now by sotogake

- Kotoninsei still unbeaten, but no 4-0 for Musashikuni in Joniodan, as he lost to Mitani

- even MK already for Kaiho in Sandanme, while injury prone Sotenryu, Tamao, Aokishin & Aratoshi (kubinage !) all went to 3-1

- and Kakehashi is hitting the wall at Sd27

- arriving in Makushita, Hirenryu isn't giving Orora a freeway towards a new career high

- same for Gochozan not allowing Kazafuzan to dream of even better, I might have been too early to make that call

- other interesting names on 3-1 : Tamadaiki, Shineiyama, Goshi, Sasanoyama, Sakaguchi, Ishiura, Tosayutaka & Kitaharima

- Sadanoumi is not only back in Juryo, but he's also looking strong on 6-1, while both J4 guys Homarefuji & Wakanosato keep losing

- best Makuuchi videos of the day : lucky escape ?, surprise or not ? & could be decisive

- as mentioned, there was a kubinage, a Goeido speciality (12-0), no less than 3x against Aminishiki !

- but the kubinage master surely must be Tanno, with an impressive 32-0 record ! (I wonder who knew that ?)

- and yet another Kisenosato vulernability (0-3), how is he ever going to make it to Yokozuna with these weaknesses ?

- another very rare kimarite just moments before, was a tsukite victory handed to Azumasato

- and in Jonokuchi there was a makiotoshi, of which I can't spot a clear master, though Tamao & Hakuba were involved in quite a few

- Aminishiki as well, but already quite some time ago

- thus retired Kaiho appears to have been the makiotoshi master (9-1), mainly thanks to 3x against Harunoyama !

[Akinomaki 40,514]

Day 6, 7702 spectators

http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20140118/sum14011805010001-n1.html

[Pandaazuma 1,310]

Absolutely not a henka by Ikioi. Actually great sumo from him.

[kuroimori 1,634]

Cheap move by Ikioi today.

Normally I blame the guy who falls for a henka, but resorting to henka against an already heavily banged up Geek who gives it his all to keep his Ozeki rank didn't win Ikioi any sympathy points.

That was not a henka. Period. A hit straight on followed by a shift as he sensed aite was too low and extended...perfectly executed. (Nodding yes...)

Quite easy to take a look to confirm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knUlO9s6hWg

Absolutely not a henka by Ikioi. Actually great sumo from him.

You're right, it wasn't a henka and it is easy to confirm.

Maybe I was just surpriesd the fight was over so fast.

[Benevolance 2,501]

I don't think anybody mentioned it, but I loved Kotooshu's win over Toyonoshima a few days back. After having his shoulder separated, what, 3 times in fights with little T? Kotooshu opts for tsuppari and wasn't going to stop until it was well over. :-)

Also, brilliant move by Ikioi on Kotoshogku. Ikioi looked good against Hakuho, too. And against Kise, had Kise not been able to reach down and tap his knee to make Ikioi step, Ikioi might have stolen that win. That just comes down to better rope sense. I have hope my guy might make the sanyaku some day.

Finally, I'm not normally a fan of the Geek's plodding bumpitty bump style, but I love Kotoshogiku's fighting spirit this tournament. If he doesn't make his 8 wins, it'll be a genuine shame.