CT3* 331 Posted March 8, 2015 Well at least Kisenosato's yusho chances just improved! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mongolith 51 Posted March 8, 2015 I was hoping Ichi would have a strong start but not like this. Hope Kak recovers fast. - I would not hold my breath expecting Kise to to yusho even with all the Yoks out. He has always been a bottler despite his talent. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kuroimori 1,634 Posted March 8, 2015 Well at least Kisenosato's yusho chances just improved! I was hoping Ichi would have a strong start but not like this. Hope Kak recovers fast. - I would not hold my breath expecting Kise to to yusho even with all the Yoks out. He has always been a bottler despite his talent. that Day 1 Double-Jinx was just too much to handle for Kisenosato 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CT3* 331 Posted March 9, 2015 - I would not hold my breath expecting Kise to to yusho even with all the Yoks out. He has always been a bottler despite his talent. I don't consider myself a Kisenosato fan. His sumo doesn't really excite me, but he's clearly the best the current Ozeki rank has to offer. And I predict that he gets a yusho this year. Long suffering Japanese sumo fans have dealt with the long drought of homegrown winners and three Mongolians occupying the Yokozuna ranks. Even with Kisenosato's habit of choking while under pressure, I just have a feeling that he wins one this year. It'll be good for the sport. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gurowake 4,107 Posted March 9, 2015 The thing with the Yokozuna rank though is that no one "occupies" it. Every single rikishi can earn promotion to Yokozuna regard of however many others are promoted. It becomes increasingly less likely the more that remain on the banzuke, but it's always theoretically possible. As has been mentioned before, overall statistically, Kisenosato is the equal to Harumafuji and Kakuryu, but he hasn't yet closed out a tournament or even finished with 13 wins twice in a row. His best chance to win a Yusho was when Kyokutenho won, and he lost to an Ozeki with 8 wins on Day 15 to miss out on a playoff berth. If you can't do it then - overcome an opponent with no motivation to win - you're never going to do it. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mongolith 51 Posted March 9, 2015 (edited) The thing with the Yokozuna rank though is that no one "occupies" it. Every single rikishi can earn promotion to Yokozuna regard of however many others are promoted. It becomes increasingly less likely the more that remain on the banzuke, but it's always theoretically possible. As has been mentioned before, overall statistically, Kisenosato is the equal to Harumafuji and Kakuryu, but he hasn't yet closed out a tournament or even finished with 13 wins twice in a row. His best chance to win a Yusho was when Kyokutenho won, and he lost to an Ozeki with 8 wins on Day 15 to miss out on a playoff berth. If you can't do it then - overcome an opponent with no motivation to win - you're never going to do it.That was when my belief in Kise died. After breaking Haks streak like a badass I expected him to nab one yusho and maybe make yok. Those were pretty high hopes as it is rough with a dominant Hak around.Had Bart right at the edge several times and could not seal the deal. Also was handled pretty easily by Tochiozan (and another-Can't remember) at the tachiai in a similar bout to yesterday if i remember right (Happens way to often). Edited March 9, 2015 by Mongolith Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jakusotsu 6,049 Posted March 9, 2015 You all jinxed the poor lad for good. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
krindel 675 Posted March 9, 2015 On another note, Tochinoshin really seems to have Ichinojo's number... I get a feeling Ichinojo might have preferred to fight Kakuryu and get a fusen against Tochinoshin :-) 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
inhashi 2,363 Posted March 9, 2015 You all jinxed the poor lad for good. LOL I was thinking the same thing **shakes head in disappointment** and I am included as a culprit :( Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CT3* 331 Posted March 9, 2015 The thing with the Yokozuna rank though is that no one "occupies" it. Every single rikishi can earn promotion to Yokozuna regard of however many others are promoted. It becomes increasingly less likely the more that remain on the banzuke, but it's always theoretically possible. As has been mentioned before, overall statistically, Kisenosato is the equal to Harumafuji and Kakuryu, but he hasn't yet closed out a tournament or even finished with 13 wins twice in a row. His best chance to win a Yusho was when Kyokutenho won, and he lost to an Ozeki with 8 wins on Day 15 to miss out on a playoff berth. If you can't do it then - overcome an opponent with no motivation to win - you're never going to do it. I used "occupying" as a figure of speech. I'm well aware of how the Yokozuna rank works. My point was that the Japanese fans are clamoring for a Japanese yusho winner. Now that Hakuho has created a new record, he may have a letdown; and that, coupled with Kakuryu's absence gives Kisensosato a better chance. But as usual, he's already stumbled. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andreas21 188 Posted March 9, 2015 ... Tochinoshin really seems to have Ichinojo's number... I thought the same, right after the tachi-ai. Don't know what it means. Tochinoshin has more basho bouts against him - he might have figured him out. Ichinojo is used to fight when he has a huge power, size and weight advantage, he doesn't have the first two over Tochinoshin. But I guess it's mainly psychological. On a different note, are we seeing the start of Ozeki runs for Terunofuji and Tochiozan? They both look very determined in their first two bouts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jakusotsu 6,049 Posted March 9, 2015 On a different note, are we seeing the start of Ozeki runs for Terunofuji and Tochiozan? They both look very determined in their first two bouts.Terunofuji is on an Ozeki run ever since he joined Ozumo, and Tochiozan is just in his usual on/off mode. My two yen. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mongolith 51 Posted March 9, 2015 (edited) Now i remember it was Yogi alongside Tochiozan that also helped spoil Kise's May 2012 basho after seeing today's bout. Have not reseen the old bouts but they can't be worse than this basho. Has looked terrible and what happened to his supposed tachiai work. -The chug chug seems full steam hope Geeku gets DD. -Good to see those mummy bandages removed from Osu (did not notice 1st day) -Glad Ikoi finally shows some life - Was looking like an abandoned pup before -Don't know if Hak winning all these close matches is more disheartening to the competition than just getting trucked over. He just has the winning touch. Edited March 9, 2015 by Mongolith Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shikona 168 Posted March 9, 2015 Surprises from the Ozeki rank. Kotoshogiku looked healthy... for a moment. Kisenosato looks helpless, and Goeido is a monster! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mongolith 51 Posted March 9, 2015 (edited) Surprises from the Ozeki rank. Kotoshogiku looked healthy... for a moment. Kisenosato looks helpless, and Goeido is a monster! Hoping Geeku stays healthy. Saw the match once in Jason's channel and exited before seeing him squat and grimace (as Kinta pointed out in his recap). Edited March 9, 2015 by Mongolith Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kuroimori 1,634 Posted March 9, 2015 You all jinxed the poor lad for good.LOL I was thinking the same thing **shakes head in disappointment** and I am included as a culprit :( Oh my, he took the double-jinx literally... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yubinhaad 11,761 Posted March 9, 2015 Considering Kisenosato leads their head-to-head 27-13, I doubt Kakuryu's absence makes a blind bit of difference. In fact, Kisenosato would likely prefer to face him than a potential stumbling block against a lower-ranker filling in. 900th career win for Wakanosato today, the sixth rikishi to reach that milestone. Hakuho is three wins short of becoming the seventh. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dingo 1,294 Posted March 9, 2015 Is it me or was Gagamaru-Arawashi a matta? Likewise with Harumafuji-Tochiozan. I was a bit surprised there wasn't a monoii in Takarafuji vs Okinoumi. Seemed like Takarafuji stepped out at the same time as Okinoumi fell... And poor Kisenosato, he should visit a voodoo priest or something against all this jinxing here :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kasutera 258 Posted March 9, 2015 Ichinojo and Osunaarashi disappoint me so much lately. Last year they both had bashos where they looked really impressive and were grabbing kinboshis, and now they just both look... bleh. Maybe it's injuries and lack of training time, maybe it's luck, but I'd like to see them both do better! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tenshinhan 1,612 Posted March 9, 2015 Ichinojo always surprises me, either in a positive way or in a negative one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Adil 232 Posted March 9, 2015 I wonder why Harumafuji charged at Tochiozan before Tochi touched down. Tochiozan has one of the most predictable pre tachi-ai routines, which is timed almost to the second, with no "look at your opponent for a few seconds after touching down one hand" delays. It's very easy to tell the exact second he touches down in each and every one of his matches. Even the second time, Tochiozan hadn't finished his proper pre-bout routine when Harumafuji charged, but I guess he didn't want a second matta and touched down quickly. I've had this question in my mind ever since the basho started: Do you think Harumafuji will do his side-stepping "It was a henka/It wasn't a henka" tachi-ai this basho? If yes, will he do it more than once? I might develop this idea into a game from next basho! X points for getting a guess right, X bonus points for predicting the opponent he does it against etc. Talk about a hearty uwatenage! That was one throw by Hakuho today. Chiyomaru is starting to get on my nerves with his "put your hands on the other guy’s chest or shoulders from the tachi-ai and pull them back for the quick hatakikomi" approach. It's like I'm watching Chiyotairyu. His brother Chiyotoori, on the other hand, is an absolute delight to watch. Good old fashioned belt fighter. So fun to watch. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tenshinhan 1,612 Posted March 9, 2015 I've had this question in my mind ever since the basho started: Do you think Harumafuji will do his side-stepping "It was a henka/It wasn't a henka" tachi-ai this basho? If yes, will he do it more than once? I might develop this idea into a game from next basho! X points for getting a guess right, X bonus points for predicting the opponent he does it against etc. I am pretty sure we will get to see it again but my guess is that he will do it only once. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Benevolance 2,511 Posted March 9, 2015 I suspect that Ama's opponents prefer the not-a-henka to his harite... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kotogouryuu 131 Posted March 9, 2015 Is it me or was Gagamaru-Arawashi a matta? Likewise with Harumafuji-Tochiozan. To me it seemed just Gagamaru being Gagamaru. It's not like he missed the start, he was just slow. Harumafuji, on the other hand, looked really dodgy today. With Karuryu absent and Hakuho looking much more vulnerable than before, this could be a surprise yusho for someone, but it sure isn't going to be Kisenosato. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kasutera 258 Posted March 9, 2015 At the risk of alienating some people who might be fans: I really, really, really dislike Gagamaru. He always seems clumsy in the ring, like he doesn't know how to handle the size of his own body, often slipping and falling. I used to hate Aoiyama for this same reason but I have to admit Aoiyama is slightly growing on me and has been showing some skill recently. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
