Basho Talk - Hatsu Basho 2016 +++ Spoiler Alert! +++

[Atenzan 1,084]

I, for one, welcome our new bumpety bump overlord.

[Morty 1,505]

It seems to me like its up to Harumafuji to choose who to give the yusho to, again.

The Geek has beaten Harumafuji on no fewer than 24 occasions. Until recently he had the complete wood on him whenever they met. It's not up to Harumafuji to choose, it's whether he has even the slightest chance against the Geek in his current form. My money's on the Geek frankly

[Morty 1,505]

Okay, I totally marked out when Giku beat Hak there. I was jumping around the room. I usually follow sumo by watching Kinta's digests, so I just see the bouts and I had somehow forgotten all the rigmarole that goes beforehand. Especially with big time Yokozuna bouts and the kensho banners and the chance for rikishi to give each other the death stare beforehand. The Geek was totally focused there, he actively sought the stare-down with Hak, and Hak tried to avoid it before the bout. I thought at that moment he had a chance and then he won it fair and square. Are we actually going to see a Japanese yusho winner after 10 years? I'm going to be on tenterhooks for the next four days now...

[Arashifuji 10]

Giku's win was amazing! It made me shiver! The only time I shivered more was when I had my first date with a lady!

The atmosphere couldn't be more electric!

It will be mayhem in Japan in the next days! Even being a Harumafuji fan, I'll be rooting for Giku to keep getting that belly going tomorrow.

[luispereira 383]

just keep pushing kotoshogiku!

[d_golem 213]

When did Geeku got married and when did his form takes a turn for the better? I think there's a perfectly plausible reason he's doing as well as he is right now.

[Kotogouryuu 131]

There isn't a human on the planet who can take the full bumpetybump! Giku was totally in the zone, the yusho is his to lose now.

As noted, if you give Hakuho time to plan during the match, he will win. Same applies to Harumafuji. Goeido handily gave us a demonstration of this by letting Harumafuji calculate his tactics and ended up driven out very quickly.

Really good editing work by Kintamayama to show us the pre-match setup, I got really worked up for the match and jumped off my seat when it went the way I wanted it to. I love sumo.

[Monnodo 60]

Today I yelled louder than I have in the whole year of 2015 :D He one it at the Tachi-ai. I really wonder what Hakuhos plan was, it seems mostly like he kinda panicked when kotoshogiku got right the position he wanted, and during Kotoshogikus charge he could not get an outside grip and then it was all over.

Now I hope he is prepared for tomorrow, I feel like there is a Harumafuji Henka incoming. The way he rolls over his opponents suggest that at least, this tournament going chest to chest with Kotoshogiku seems deadly.

[ScottyJoyJrBebe 97]

I must join the many here who cheered for Kotoshogiku's victory. It was 5am here and I just started clapping and saying "Humpety Bumpety TRUMPETY" I'm not gonna jump on the Kotoshogiku bandwagon, but I'm thoroughly impressed with him. The pop he got during the "Kotoshogiku Stretch" was the loudest I have heard....it definitely sent the tone for the match to follow.

Yoshikaze was just as impressive against Kisenosato, I jumped on his bandwagon last year during the Aki basho ;)

Kotoyuki was great even in defeat, I'm hoping to see him at M1 next basho, so he can give Hakuho a well deserved bark (Laughing...)

Ichinojo :'-( lets hope being at M6-M9 next basho will give him the jolt he needs. Much like Kintamayama, it is getting harder to see him just walk backwards everyday.

[Katooshu 3,334]

KOTO

SHO

GIKU

!!!!!!!!!

[Dwale 419]

Now we've got ourselves a basho!

Does Kotoshogiku have what it takes to get a zensho yusho? I'm expecting him to get at least one loss, but we'll see. We shall see. *squee* I'd love to see him take the cup for Japan, so I'll be cheering him even though he's not my favorite. Ganbatte, Kotoshogiku!

[kumoryu 95]

When was the last time a Japanese rikishi was the sole leader this deep into a basho?

[wuli 67]

It seems to me like its up to Harumafuji to choose who to give the yusho to, again.

who do you suppose harumafuji will choose?

[Coupled_Oscillation 1]

Guess who's my favourite rikishi :-D

[Atenzan 1,084]

Ama has a losing record to Kotoshougiku. I'd say a zensho is very much on the cards.

[Asashosakari 19,663]

When was the last time a Japanese rikishi was the sole leader this deep into a basho?

After the last Japanese yusho, Day 10 or later:

2012.05 O2e Kisenosato Day 12 10-2, Day 11 10-1, Day 10 9-1

2007.09 M14w Goeido Day 11 10-1

2007.07 Se Kotomitsuki Day 10 10-0

[Atenzan 1,084]

When was the last time a Japanese rikishi was the sole leader this deep into a basho?

After the last Japanese yusho, Day 10 or later:

2012.05 O2e Kisenosato Day 12 10-2, Day 11 10-1, Day 10 9-1

2007.09 M14w Goeido Day 11 10-1

2007.07 Se Kotomitsuki Day 10 10-0

What search query do you submit to get these results?

[Asashosakari 19,663]

What search query do you submit to get these results?

I worked backwards through queries for rikishi who were 14-0 after Day 14, 13-1 after Day 14, 12-2 after Day 14, 11-3 after Day 14, 13-0 after Day 13, etc., and built a list of the daily leaders for each basho.

[Katooshu 3,334]

Beneath makuuchi Ura scored a good win over Ms1e Shotenro, and Ishiura sure took a flip against Asabenkei (a tottari for the Tottori man):

Edited January 20, 2016 by Kotooshu's Revenge

[Wakaebala 151]

Well, this was a splendid day!

Shodai had a great match against Chiyootori, I was rooting for him, he does a very strong makuuchi debut, and I'm looking forward to see him more. He has a certain vibe that I like. He beat Chiyotairyu, Amuru, Kagayaki, Mitakeumi, Myogiryu (who was sekiwake for a long time, wow!), vetaran Kitataiki, and today Chiyootori. Not the hardest opponents, but I totally agree with Kintamayama, who mentioned, that Shodai is more exciting than Kagayaki or Mitakeumi...

I was surprised that Okinoumi had lost against Sokokurai, so I checked Sokokurai's history, and it is pretty interesting. First Chinese in Makuuchi, skipping 2 years, then reenter... I'll watch him more closely after this.

I was rooting for Tochinoshin against Kotoyuki, because I like his fighting spirit. It's hard to see him lose every time, but he managed to evade makekoshi this time. Hope he will get beatable opponents throughout the rest of the basho. Shohozan tomorrow.

I was very happy to watch Yoshikaze win against Kisenosato. Yoshikaze beat him last time, this was his 4th win against Kise (next to 11 lost bouts), maybe the key is believing that he can win! I really am enjoying his performance lately!

Goeido probably makekochi (couldn't care less for this guy, he is very disappointing for being an Ozeki)

And the big one: Hakuho vs. Kotoshogiku. I was sceptic before the bout. Kotoshogiku hasn't been too exciting for me in 2015, when I rejoined the world of Sumo, I've never seen him playing this good. Until this basho.... He's amazing. Of course the audience was there for him, he must have felt it, but still. 4 wins, 46 losses... Who would've thought.... Great moment. This is why I enjoy watching sumo, moments like this.

And still 4 more days to come, so who knows? Today I would give the yusho to Kotoshogiku, but everything can change in the last few days.

Still many rikishi to root for! Go Hatsu! Bring me the amazing!

[Kurikara 28]

I still can't believe that Kotoshogiku has a real chance to pull this off. I just don't see it happening. My imaginary money is on Harumafuji.

[luispereira 383]

we are all too excited...let's not hyper it more...let's watch it till the end..

[Katooshu 3,334]

I still can't believe that Kotoshogiku has a real chance to pull this off. I just don't see it happening. My imaginary money is on Harumafuji.

Believe!!

[Pandaazuma 1,310]

Goeido must be injured...no other explanation for his dramatic loss of form since his pre-promotion days.

As for the yusho race, it is exciting because there's a novelty element to it: a Japanese rikishi with a great chance to win it for the first time in ages. I think a lot of fans who tuned in since Asashoryu started probably don't know how exciting sumo can be - back in the 1990s such yusho races were fairly common with several rikishi in with a chance. They've got used to one dominant force walking to the title almost every time. It's certainly a nice change for me.

[WAKATAKE 2,671]

Goeido must be injured...no other explanation for his dramatic loss of form since his pre-promotion days.

I for one have not been intrigued by Goeido in his ozeki tenure. So far he has not managed 10 wins in a basho as an ozeki yet. His lackluster performance runs very similar right now to another former ozeki who's promotion was not without it's controversy.

http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi.aspx?shikona=miyabiyama&heya=-1&shusshin=-1&b=-1&high=-1&hd=-1&entry=-1&intai=-1&sort=1