Preparations of the Y/O Haru 2018

[sekitori 492]

1 hour ago, Asashosakari said:

It was a 12-3 playoff.

You are correct. I wanted Kyokutenho to win the yusho so badly that I mistakenly gave him that extra win. In addition, 13-2 followed by a mirror 2-13 seems more dramatic than a 12-3 followed by a 2-13. 

[Dapeng 236]

3 hours ago, Bumpkin said:

If Sekiwake Tochinoshin wins the yusho in March, he is almost certain to be promoted to Ozeki for May. However, even a 3rd consecutive yusho in May would not get him promoted to Yokozuna for July. There is a minimum 2 basho as an Ozeki rule before Yokozuna promotion. Tochinoshin, best case scenario, is Yokozuna promotion for September. 

What the kyokai urgently needs is not a ozeki but a Japan-born yokozuna to replace Kisenosato. They are in no hurry to promote Tochinoshin. 

[Asojima 2,874]

Any chance that we can get back on topic???

[Dapeng 236]

1 hour ago, Asojima said:

Any chance that we can get back on topic???

Well, all the three yokozuna may go kyujo and the two ozeki have nothing interesting to be talked about. 

[Benevolance 2,511]

As the official score keeper of the Go-Go-Goeidou Fanclub, I'm sad to report that Goeidou is three basho away from turning in an adequate performance. I've deduced that his erratic technique requires him to power up with a double-kadoban before he can unleash his unblockable attack. But don't tell anyone. This is a secret to everybody. 

[Jakusotsu 6,049]

17 hours ago, Dapeng said:

"3 in a row" from the first yusho had be accomplished by at least one rikishi (Futabayama). 

Right, but Futabayama was 24 at that point. Tochinoshin is already 30, just saying...

[Churaumi 745]

Moderators, could we get this rather lively discussion moved to its own thread?

[Andonishiki 170]

call it ‘three in a row with an healthy toe’ thread ?

[wolsonjr 1]

Glad to hear Takekaze is intending to keep going.  I've always had a soft spot for him.

[Bumpkin 438]

1 hour ago, wolsonjr said:

Glad to hear Takekaze is intending to keep going.  I've always had a soft spot for him.

Especially since Takakaze has just been promoted to Y/O.

[Andonishiki 170]

Ozeki of the elderly...

Oguruma Ozeki !

[Benihana 1,937]

4 minutes ago, Andonishiki said:

Oguruma Ozeki

?

[Yukiarashi 195]

My predictions for what will transpire in this thread the next two-three weeks in newsstories:

Spoiler

Hakuho:

February 20th-Yokozuna Hakuho is 99% unsure if he'll enter. He continued light training today doing small weights and using the teppo pole for seven hours. He split a fingernail on the pole and will go to the hospital for evalutions in the morning. "It felt good and my confidence is growing, I can hardly stand up but I'm gambarizing well, unfortunately I suffered a setback at the end of the day and split my nail on the teppo pole, we shall see."

February 21st-Hakuho emerged distraught from the hospital this morning. Not only did he split his nail badly, but he also aggravated a fingertip injury from when he was seven. 

February 26th-Hakuho continues to be unsure if he'll enter. He started actual bouts today, going 11-2 against the teppo pole. "We shall see," said the Yokozuna afterwards. 

March 1st-Hakuho continues his light training facing Makushita and Sandanme rikishi, Byakko, Asakoki, and Aonosho today going 16-7. "I felt I gambarized well, we shall see." He is now 100% unsure if he'll enter.

March 5th-Hakuho started Sekitori training today. He faced Shodai 23 times and Yamaguchi once going 23-1. The lone loss being to Yamaguchi who won by quick Yobimodoshi. "I shall continue to gambarize it is the duty of a Yokozuna to show up and fight the full fifteen days!!!"

March 6th-Yokozuna Hakuho will be Kyujo from Haru basho.

Spoiler

Kakuryu-

February 24th-Yokozuna Kakuryu continues to heal from finger and ankle injuries suffered at the end of Hatsu basho. He has started light training lifting heavy rice bags up and down repetitively. "I dunno," said the Yokozuna when asked about Haru entrance, "We shall see."

February 27th-Kakuryu was seen today lightly practicing wearing a bright green tape around his ankle and fingers. "It is a herbal concoction made into tape with various herbs and fungus designed to give zenful relief to professional athletes." When asked where he got it Izutsu responded with "Amazon prime."

March 2nd-Kakuryu began training against sekitori today going 10-0 against Takayasu, 16-0 against Goeido and 8-0 against Takakeisho. "I need improvement, said a disappointed Kakuryu. "The injuries have taken a toll."  "We shall see.."

March 6th-Kakuryu is now 43-0 in training matches against Sanyaku rikishi. "I still don't know.. we shall see." "This is the best I've ever felt though."

March 7th-Kakuryu is kyujo from Haru basho.

Spoiler

Kisenosato and Takayasu-

February 28th-Kisenosato and Ozeki stablemate Takayasu have done serious training in the last week. Kisenosato holds a 42-18 advantage in their practice fights since yesterday morning. 

March 3rd-Takayasu in unsure if he'll fight Haru he has suffered numerous injuries since the end of Hatsu, though he doesn't quite know what they are. 

March 4th-Kisenosato and Takayasu did 30 more bouts before noon today, Kisenosato holds a 22-8 advantage. Kisenosato doesn't know if he'll fight as he has declared himself intai with the next injury." "I feel good, but at the same time I don't." Takayasu meanwhile has struggled in practice and is unsure of Haru entrance. "I feel good when I fight, but with fighting comes not feeling good after.."

March 5th-Kisenosato is out, Takayasu is a full go.

Spoiler

Goeido-

February 25th-Goeido has looked sharp so far. He went 15-0 against Mitakeumi today and is looking forward to his home basho Haru. "I shall gambarize even more for my home basho!"

February 26th-Other than yesterday, Goeido has stuggled in practice. He went 10-4 against Takayasu, but 6-8 against Terutsuyoshi today, and 3-11 against Homarefuji. "I feel lame but I must gambarize for my hometown!"

March 3rd-Goiedo went 9-27 against Kakuryu, Yoshikaze, and Mitakeumi in today's sessions. "My hometown crowd must not be disappointed I shall gambarize!"

March 10th-Goeido is now full go for Haru. "This is the best I've ever felt, I want to start a tsuna-run!"

Haru Day 6-W Ozeki Goeido is Kyujo after a 1-4 start, Kotoshogiku gets the freebie.

 

Edited February 20, 2018 by Yukiarashi

[Munjeezy 60]

I was pathetically far into those when I realized they weren’t actual news, could’ve just read the initial comment but where’s the fun in that?

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Yokozuna Kisenosato started training at the heya's Osaka lodgings today. "It's been 3-4 days since I last trained," he said. Light training, shiko and suriashi. "The keiko-ba is very good, good soil.. I felt good doing shiko. I was able to undergo excellent treatment and train well during February. When will I start training with Takayasu? I'm ready at any time.I can do it tomorrow, but I have to take into consideration his condition as well," he added, smiling. He is coming off 5 straight kyujos and a yusho last March.

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Yokozuna Hakuhou sweated well in training today. Both injured toes were taped up.He did shiko and hit the teppole for an hour and a half and was looking dead serious and grunting and going all out. "I'm OK," he said. 

Hakuhou with Takanohana's new designer bag:

Edited February 27, 2018 by Kintamayama

[Churaumi 745]

If that’s Takanohana’s bag, I can’t wait for the jokes if Takanohana ever wears a plain white scarf. 

“Whose mawashi is that?” “At least that’s a sekitori’s mawashi around his neck.” “The smell explains that look on his face,” etc.

[Akinomaki 40,790]

Kakuryu today for the rikishi-kai told that the recovery is going well for the left ankle, on which he had surgery, but that he still has no power in the right ring finger: "I'll do bouts and check if it works out." Actually also about the ankle: "I don't know what will happen when I do keiko." http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20180227/sum18022718070011-n1.html

[Rocks 1,809]

19 hours ago, Akinomaki said:

he still has no power in the right ring finger

Thankfully he still has the left ring finger. 

[maorencze 144]

30kilos, thats a lot of scarves

 

[Naganoyama 5,948]

30 kg. I guess not all of the scarves are in there.

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Kisenosato faced Takayasu in training today (for the first time since before Hatsu, says Takayasu) and overwhelmed him 8-2. "My first step ain't bad," said Kisenosato. Asked if everything was going according to plan, he nodded in agreement. Asked how his greatest weapon, his left, is, he answered "Yeah, well.." "I was checking to see how much sumo I can do in every bout. I'll have to add more bouts from here and I'm sure the Yokozuna will be upping his pace as well. I will do my best not to lose in keiko" added Takayasu. After the training session they both took part in the heya fire drill.

Now, how cool is this photo..

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Yesterday, Hakuhou faced new Juryo Enhou and some Makushita lads from his heya. 11 bouts, 9-2, after not doing any sumo for a month and a half.. He first did the fundamentals for an hour, and then had some bouts, and then some butsugari. "I was just checking to see what's what, but I think my feet were moving better than I had expected.." he said later.

Today, he had 14 bouts, showing a tsuridashi against Enhou, among other things. "I feel I did better than yesterday. I am gradually building up my confidence. I think I will be going for degeiko next week, while consulting my body.." he said. Entering Haru? "Well, that.. I won't know till I train with the sekitori," he answered.

I repeat-he will not be entering.

 

Edited March 1, 2018 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Hakuhou also did a harimanage against the height-challenged but extremely talented Enhou. Later, he took some photos with a falcon and a horned owl perched on his left arm. These birds have very sharp fingernails and a 1.5 meter wingspan, but this did not deter the yokozuna. "I did it last year (eagle) so I'm used to it," he mused. No photos yet, but I trust Akinomaki to come up with a plethora of them. In the  meantime, the harimanage:

 

Edited March 1, 2018 by Kintamayama

[Akinomaki 40,790]

Kisenosato arrived in Osaka on the 25th, did no keiko on the 26th and the basics on the 27th and 28th, to strengthen the lower body: "The condition of my lower body feels fine now" (but that isn't where his problem is located). "In February, I had extremely good medical treatment and training" - last month he spent mainly with treatment.

He plans to take part in the Nishonoseki-rengo-geiko on the 5th and 6th and will decide if he enters the basho around the  middle of next week.

http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20180228/sum18022818170007-n1.html

http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/201802270000525.html

http://www.daily.co.jp/general/2018/02/28/0011024695.shtml

 

Takayasu on his 28th birthday yesterday from the press got a cake with the message "Aim for the yusho!" - he: "Now is the time of my most strength", but also: "28 is not the peak, the next 1, 2 years I want to train and increase power", and: "I want to do ozeki-like sumo and for once get the yusho." Maybe he then forgot that he is ozeki now and there is only 1 left, because his comment afterwards was: "I want to aim for any 1 rank higher on the banzuke." (standard phrase of those below ozeki)

o 

Edited March 1, 2018 by Akinomaki