Hatsu 2014 Discussion - *contains spoilers

[Masumasumasu 902]

Toyonoshima expected raw eggs being thrown at him - instead the fans yesterday for 30 minutes demanded his sign and to take photos with him.

Seems like Kisenosato isn't quite as popular as some people want him to be.

Some people see what they want to see.

[Asashosakari 19,340]

Hakuho was happy about his 800th career win, fasted with 76 basho (jiji mentioned 77)

It is 77.

[Mukonoso 273]

So did anyone say what exactly happened with that one bloody match on Day 1? A broken nose at the tachiai? That was an awful lot of blood for such a short match, though I guess with rikishi breathing as hard as they do it would be a lot.

[Asojima 2,874]

It looked like a head butt/eyebrow cut about half way thru. Some of those bleed very profusely at first.

[Kintamayama 45,142]

Not a word about Aoiyama's possible kyujo due to possible right ankle sprain? "When I fell I heard a cracking sound," he said. X-ray showed no damage to the bone but still.. he was limping..no? I wouldn't want to be in his mawashi tomorrow-facing his elder from the old country who needs every win he can get at this point to get back to Ozeki.

Edited January 13, 2014 by Kintamayama

[Jakusotsu 5,969]

I wouldn't want to be in his mawashi tomorrow-facing his elder from the old country who needs every win he can get at this point to get back to Ozeki.

Best opponent he could possibly get IMO. He can take it more easy on the ankle than against any other.

[kuroimori 1,634]

Kise won!!!

Let's promote him already (before he screws up again against maegashira fodder)

[kuroimori 1,634]

Kise won!!!

Let's promote him already (before he screws up again against maegashira fodder)

Day 3 preview:

Kise loses getting off balance while throwing salt before the tachi-ai

Edited January 14, 2014 by kuroimori

[Masumasumasu 902]

Toyonoshima expected raw eggs being thrown at him - instead the fans yesterday for 30 minutes demanded his sign and to take photos with him.

Seems like Kisenosato isn't quite as popular as some people want him to be.

Toyonoshima was in a good mood and wanted to stand around signing autographs for half an hour.

How does that make Kisenosato unpopular?

[Usagi 36]

Right. Haters gonna hate.

Nice to see, that Aoiyama wasn't trying to gift this bout to Kotooshu.

[Gernobono 466]

Nice to see, that Aoiyama wasn't trying to gift this bout to Kotooshu.

this comment is ironic?

[Vikanohara 171]

Now this was a way to open the day. :-P

[Vikanohara 171]

The kimarite belonging to the bout in previous post is harimanage, which Wakaryusei managed twice in a row, Baruto even 3x in total (that victory over Aran one to remember).

Some other kimarite-stuff point out :

- it was Yoshikaze's 10th katasukashi (5-5), his 2nd against Sadanofuji (0-10, will he ever learn ?), with a similar hatakikomi in the mix.

- and Toyonoshima's 10th kirikaeshi win, he also lost once this way (so did Kotoshogiku)

- Toyonoshima even has an (!) 28-2 katasukashi record, his recent defeat being against Yoshikaze, first win to Hakuho

- Toyo won twice by katasukashi against Kasuganishiki (3-8), Tamanoshima (4-9), Kotomitsuki (9-5), Bushuyama (2-8), Toyohibiki (1-13) & Tochiozan (15-8) and went 1-1 to Kitazakura (1-2)

- earlier this basho, Tokushinho managed his 9th kimedashi victory (9-0)

- as for his nice sukuinage victory over Sotairyu on day 2, he has been less successful there (2-9)

- and Arawashi pulled a shitatedashinage out of his hat, which Ishiura has already 2 off, still far from Asasekiryu's 8-1

[shumitto 418]

I agree with Kintamayama (tacitly, that is) more often than not but as regards Endo I don't. This Endo has not shown the power of two tournaments ago, maybe the left ankle injury is acting up ?

Kotoshogiku is toast, I can't remember his belly push to be this weak in ages....

[Manekineko 200]

Endo's victory today was certainly helped by The Loose Mawashi^TM.

[ALAKTORN 346]

Gagamaru in a black mawashi looks like a different person.

[Akinomaki 40,523]

Day 2: full house with 10337 spectators.
Two light rikishi with unusual shikona met: Urutora (164cm, 64kg) – Hikarugenji (184cm, 76kg)
Ultra couldn't try his galaxy throw and lost. Last Haru basho Wakagenji changed to Hikarugenji – name of a former J-pop boys group, named after the hero of The Tale of Genji – but in his case his parents have a liquor store “Genji shop” and his little brother has the Name Hikaru, thus the name.

http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/sumo/news/20140113-OHT1T00214.htm

[shumitto 418]

Gagamaru in a black mawashi looks like a different person.

Black makes you look thinner, I've been told. :-P

[Kuroyama 715]

Gagamaru in a black mawashi looks like a different person.

Black makes you look thinner, I've been told. :-P

A miraculous color indeed.

[Morty 1,495]

Kotoshogiku is toast, I can't remember his belly push to be this weak in ages....

After watching Giku on day one I thought he was going to be okay. But that long match on day two seems to have really hurt him. He clearly gassed half way through and from that moment I knew he had it lost. Then yesterday he had a lot more tape on (suggesting he's aggravated the injury). He might have enough skill to get through against some of the lower ranks but he's in trouble when he gets to the high rankers who are fit. The instant that it becomes mathematically impossible for him to get 8 wins he'll be out.

Also, If Kise ends up facing Giku and Osh and goes on to take the yusho, does the YDC take the fact that two of his major opponents were injured and also that HF is out, into consideration when deliberating on Yok status. Or is a yusho a yusho regardless of how he gets it?

[Asojima 2,874]

When is the last time there were 3 rikishi inside the ring in the middle of a match?? Yoshikaze entered to help the gyoji retie Sadanofuji's mawashi.

[Jakusotsu 5,969]

Also, If Kise ends up facing Giku and Osh and goes on to take the yusho, does the YDC take the fact that two of his major opponents were injured and also that HF is out, into consideration when deliberating on Yok status. Or is a yusho a yusho regardless of how he gets it?

As far as I know, things like that have never been a factor.

[krindel 671]

Also, If Kise ends up facing Giku and Osh and goes on to take the yusho, does the YDC take the fact that two of his major opponents were injured and also that HF is out, into consideration when deliberating on Yok status. Or is a yusho a yusho regardless of how he gets it?

As far as I know, things like that have never been a factor.

To be fair, a yusho is a yusho, you beat whoever is there to fight, its not your fault if some people are missing. Besides, a desperate Kotoshogiku and / or Kotooshu might prove dangerous if not too injured.

It might be a different story, however, if we are talking about a jun-yusho. If you fail to take a yusho, it might be a factor who else was around in evaluating it as an achievement.

Edited January 15, 2014 by krindel

[Vikanohara 171]

Some sumo today ! Mainly by Endo, Satoyama, Daikiho & Ishiura.

And as often, also another good effort by Takanoyama in what became Tokushinho's 10th kimedashi victory.

Strange thing is he only discovered it by 2012. So that's 10 in his last 13 basho, versus none in his first 28.

Orora has been using it throughout his entire career, and is on 24-0 so far. Which is rather expected for his size.

What is less expected, our Russian giant might be reaching a new career high point after this basho. Go Orora !

Another one to possibly jump to a long anticipated new career high (since 2008 !), is the Kazakh Kazafuzan.

Still far from his personal high, but it is nice to see Towanoyama having a shot at high Makushita level again.

As for rare kimarite, Satoyama now has the last 3 shitatehineri performed, vs Azumaryu, Seiro & Kagamio. He's on 16.

I'm wondering whether we'll see another zubuneri by Ikeru this basho. It's actually my most favourite kimarite.

There was also a kainahineri today, but no video footage, so here's Satonofuji's 5th from the opening day.

Just prior to that bout and even less usual, we had a harimanage. Though I already showed one yesterday.

And I also wonder, in that loosening mawashi bout, isn't it better to just restart from scratch to have a fair outcome ?

[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