Hatsu Basho 2019 Discussion [SPOILERS]

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

33 minutes ago, since_94 said:

The crowd energy in the Kokugikan was noticeably lacking today. The basho seems deflated somehow, for want of a better word, like a balloon after the air has been let out of it, with so many crowd favorites and heavy hitters out. Kisenosato's retirement has really cast a pall over the whole thing. Enho's juryo bout was really something to see, though. The guy really brings it.

Yes, and with three other crowds favourites in Kakuryu, Tochinoshin and Mitakeumi kyujo, guys like Goeido, Kotoshogiku, and Endo better pump up the jam.

[BroadMeadow 34]

Like a few others have already mentioned today (can you quote multiple posts at once?), I am enjoying Yago's performance. He wrestles so far forward, though,  that I am amazed he is not pulled down more often.

I wonder if Aoiyama did so poorly today because of his opponent tomorrow.

2019 looks to be an interesting year- very unpredictable.

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

 

⬇️ That button right there. MultiQuote.

Edited January 19, 2019 by Otokonoyama

[BroadMeadow 34]

9 minutes ago, Otokonoyama said:

 

⬇️ That button right there. MultiQuote.

Awesome. Thanks! I thought that was just for doing math!

[Akinomaki 40,070]

45 minutes ago, Otokonoyama said:

 

⬇️ That button right there. MultiQuote.

Does it work in your environment? I haven't got a multiquote with the thing since the new forum software version.

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

49 minutes ago, Otokonoyama said:

 

⬇️ That button right there. MultiQuote.

 

3 minutes ago, Akinomaki said:

Does it work in your environment? I haven't got a multiquote with the thing since the new forum software version.

Not the way it used to. No nested quotes. This stacked deal.

[Akinomaki 40,070]

18 minutes ago, Otokonoyama said:

Not the way it used to. No nested quotes. This stacked deal.

It doesn't work at all with my old Firefox, only with the new, the count stays at "quote 1 post" and it doesn't even quote that.

[Philioyamfugi 378]

Go Kaise ...go Aoiyama !! Chiyonukuni showing he's a lot better then his current rank. Our favorite belly Chiyomaru is 6-1 in Juryo. Yes...I'm trying to get myself cheered up after the last 2 days of drama....poo 

[Yangnomazuma 77]

12 hours ago, Treblemaker said:

Rewatching the videos, and noticed something I had never seen before: Just as Hakuho is getting ready for his match, on his first visit to his corner, he has the yobidashi spill a small amount of water in the corner near the salt bucket, and then he dipped his toes (both feet) in it. Didn't do it again in subsequent trips. Have never noticed anyone else doing this. Is it for better traction, or superstition, or what? Anyone else noticed this?

You will see, more often, when the rikishi are offered the water before their match they will take a small sip and 'spill' some by themselves.  I remember it being quite common.  That said, I'm relegated to highlights on this side of the world.

[Treblemaker 254]

3 hours ago, since_94 said:

The crowd energy in the Kokugikan was noticeably lacking today. The basho seems deflated somehow, for want of a better word, like a balloon after the air has been let out of it, with so many crowd favorites and heavy hitters out. Kisenosato's retirement has really cast a pall over the whole thing. Enho's juryo bout was really something to see, though. The guy really brings it.

There's not a great deal of charisma around these days, even with everyone healthy. Maybe that's the nature of the sport, but it makes me think of the absolute tension around bouts that featured Asashoryu or HF. There are no "characters" like Takamisakari anymore. No stare-downs, not a lot of excitement. Just two guys going up there - any two guys - going through the pre-fight motions, and then 4 seconds of grunting. (If that.) One of the reasons I took a couple of years off from watching the tournaments. 

I recently discovered the live English feed, and started watching again, mostly because I missed it, (and the fractured English of Hiro Morita that makes your ears bleed). But, to be honest, there's no individual that immediately grabs your imagination. Finding a favourite becomes mostly a shrug, because they're all pretty much on par, and the parity is more spread out than it was years ago, with really good young guys, really bad Ozekis, and now with Kise out of the picture, two steady and competent Yokozunas. 

What we need is a loose cannon. A guy who takes things to a different level. Someone to generate interest other than just "going after their KK". 

We need another Asashoryu.

IMHO. YMMV.

[Treblemaker 254]

5 minutes ago, Yangnomazuma said:

You will see, more often, when the rikishi are offered the water before their match they will take a small sip and 'spill' some by themselves.  I remember it being quite common.  That said, I'm relegated to highlights on this side of the world.

This was different. The yobidashi deliberately spilled a few drops of water right on the clay using the ladle, in front of Hak's feet, and he dipped his toes into the water. Never noticed that before. 

And I'm on your side of the world. Hence the 2-4 am, coffee-induced sumo watching.

[Amamaniac 2,078]

26 minutes ago, Treblemaker said:

This was different. The yobidashi deliberately spilled a few drops of water right on the clay using the ladle, in front of Hak's feet, and he dipped his toes into the water. Never noticed that before. 

Interesting observation.  I decided to check today's NHK broadcast (mbovo) and could not spot the toe cleansing rite that you describe.  What I saw was the ladle being passed to Hakuho by Goeido, and then Hakuho passing the ladle to the yobidashi.  The yobidashi held the ladle until Goeido left to resume his place seated alongside the ring.  Then the yobidashi poured the excess water into the metal bucket that is embedded into the side of the ring.  (n.b., don't ever look inside the bucket – totally gross)

At no point did the yobidashi this day pour "power" water on the surface of the corner for Hakuho to dip his toes in.  The closest thing that I saw was Goeido spilling a little water from the full ladle as he handed it over to the Yokozuna.  But it occurs to me that if Hakuho really wanted water on the surface of the ring he could spill water from the ladle himself; we wouldn't need the yobidashi to do it.  

Pouring or sprinkling water on the clay & sand ring is a routine thing.  As a non-expert, I would say that a little water helps maintain the integrity of the clay dohyo, and dissolves the salt that gets dropped/thrown on the surface.  Each wrestler has his own routine in the corner, and those routines often involve placement of feet on or alongside the tawara - water or no water.

Now that you've mentioned "Haku-toe" dippings, I will definitely keep my eyes open.

[Treblemaker 254]

26 minutes ago, Amamaniac said:

Interesting observation.  I decided to check today's NHK broadcast (mbovo) and could not spot the toe cleansing rite that you describe.  What I saw was the ladle being passed to Hakuho by Goeido, and then Hakuho passing the ladle to the yobidashi.  The yobidashi held the ladle until Goeido left to resume his place seated alongside the ring.  Then the yobidashi poured the excess water into the metal bucket that is embedded into the side of the ring.  (n.b., don't ever look inside the bucket – totally gross)

At no point did the yobidashi this day pour "power" water on the surface of the corner for Hakuho to dip his toes in.  The closest thing that I saw was Goeido spilling a little water from the full ladle as he handed it over to the Yokozuna.  But it occurs to me that if Hakuho really wanted water on the surface of the ring he could spill water from the ladle himself; we wouldn't need the yobidashi to do it.  

Pouring or sprinkling water on the clay & sand ring is a routine thing.  As a non-expert, I would say that a little water helps maintain the integrity of the clay dohyo, and dissolves the salt that gets dropped/thrown on the surface.  Each wrestler has his own routine in the corner, and those routines often involve placement of feet on or alongside the tawara - water or no water.

Now that you've mentioned "Haku-toe" dippings, I will definitely keep my eyes open.

If you have the video of the whole thing, it was Day 5, right as Hakuho approaches his corner before he does the water/paper thing. IIRC, the camera was focussed on the gyoji, and I caught the action in a corner of the screen. If that helps. The only way to see this is to watch the live stream, which includes the whole 4-minute run-up with the corner visits. Anyway, I found it really interesting.

[Fukurou 534]

14 hours ago, Treblemaker said:

Rewatching the videos, and noticed something I had never seen before: Just as Hakuho is getting ready for his match, on his first visit to his corner, he has the yobidashi spill a small amount of water in the corner near the salt bucket, and then he dipped his toes (both feet) in it. Didn't do it again in subsequent trips. Have never noticed anyone else doing this. Is it for better traction, or superstition, or what? Anyone else noticed this?

Haven't noticed this, but wasn't there a toe(s) injury among Hakuho's recent issues? If so, maybe he's trying to get blessing on them?

[Akinomaki 40,070]

No pics yet in the papers (only on Abematimes) of Endo checking if Kagayaki had split his head open as well, after that had happened to Ikioi and Sadanoumi. But no blood this time.

[Kintamayama 44,652]

Dead man walking Ikioi injured his left eye from that extreme slap by Chiyoshowman today. Backstage he iced it for a while, moaned and groaned, and said to his tsukebito that he thinks he "broke the inside of his eye." "I can see, but when I got hit, I stopped breathing. The whole of the inside of my eye hurts. My head hurts. I may have a concussion." he lamented. Ikioi has never missed a day of sumo since joining in March 2005, 918 consecutive bouts. "It's the first time that I injured this part of my body so I'm off to the hospital.  I'll be on the dohyo tomorrow, even if they remove my eyeball!" he summed. 

Edited January 19, 2019 by Kintamayama

[Asapedroryu 228]

7 hours ago, Amamaniac said:

 Everyone is wondering: what the [insert favourite expletive here] has happened to days 1-5 Ichinojo?!!!!!!

He is out of Y / O to fight this basho, so no motivation any more. The only way he is ever going to win a yusho is if they put 15 people as Y / O on the banzuke.

[Amamaniac 2,078]

2 hours ago, Treblemaker said:

If you have the video of the whole thing (Hakuho v. Nishikigi)

Sadly, the Abema broadcast on MISLET cuts away during the first corner...

Edited January 19, 2019 by Amamaniac

[Bumpkin 438]

52 minutes ago, Kintamayama said:

I'll be on the dohyo tomorrow, even if they remove my eyeball!" he summed. 

I love Ikioi.

[robnplunder 975]

8 hours ago, Amamaniac said:

Everyone is wondering: what the [insert favourite expletive here] has happened to days 1-5 Ichinojo?!!!!!!

 

I saw a hint of "bad" Ichinojo showing up on 6th day against Tamawashi.  Ichinojo wasn't the same after the hard onslaught by Tama and appears to give up by his patented "walking back out of dohyo" kimarite.  I felt then he lost whatever fighting spirit he had through day 5.  Walking back out of dohyo tactic was in full swing against the guy half his size the next day.    If it's his back that's bothering him, I wouldn't know.   On the surface, his last two day losses look like something in his head/heart.

[neonbelly 226]

Bad Ichinojo.

[Rocks 1,807]

5 hours ago, Yangnomazuma said:

You will see, more often, when the rikishi are offered the water before their match they will take a small sip and 'spill' some by themselves.  I remember it being quite common.  That said, I'm relegated to highlights on this side of the world.

I'd be willing to bet this is a hygiene thing. When drinking they never take all the water in the ladle. Some is left and spilled over where their mouth touched the ladle to wash the place their mouth touched it so their salvia, etc. is not transferred back to the bucket. Rikishi after their match who have won who are thirsty will ask for some water to drink prior to giving the power water to the next rikishi. They will never finish it no matter how thirsty. They will spill some over the ladle to clean it and then get some for the next rikishi. 

[Gospodin 187]

7 hours ago, BroadMeadow said:

I wonder if Aoiyama did so poorly today because of his opponent tomorrow.

In my opinion he just fell, of all things, for what Chiyotairyu does the most: going backwards.

[since_94 650]

3 hours ago, Fukurou said:

Haven't noticed this, but wasn't there a toe(s) injury among Hakuho's recent issues? If so, maybe he's trying to get blessing on them?

I've been in attendance at the basho for the last 2 days and have watched Hakuho very carefully. Both days he has instructed the attendant to pour some water onto the dohyo and dipped both toes in the small puddle. It appears very ritualistic (or it may be more correct to say superstitious), and is clearly not even remotely connected with hygiene

[since_94 650]

5 hours ago, Treblemaker said:

There's not a great deal of charisma around these days, even with everyone healthy. Maybe that's the nature of the sport, but it makes me think of the absolute tension around bouts that featured Asashoryu or HF. There are no "characters" like Takamisakari anymore. No stare-downs, not a lot of excitement. Just two guys going up there - any two guys - going through the pre-fight motions, and then 4 seconds of grunting. (If that.) One of the reasons I took a couple of years off from watching the tournaments. 

I recently discovered the live English feed, and started watching again, mostly because I missed it, (and the fractured English of Hiro Morita that makes your ears bleed). But, to be honest, there's no individual that immediately grabs your imagination. Finding a favourite becomes mostly a shrug, because they're all pretty much on par, and the parity is more spread out than it was years ago, with really good young guys, really bad Ozekis, and now with Kise out of the picture, two steady and competent Yokozunas. 

What we need is a loose cannon. A guy who takes things to a different level. Someone to generate interest other than just "going after their KK". 

We need another Asashoryu.

IMHO. YMMV.

Yes, Harumafuji is sorely missed. As is Ura. Even Terunofuji, in his role as the towering, scowling villain. Now, remove Mitakeumi, Tochinoshin, Kakuryu, and Kisenosato from the picture, and you can see how watching this tournament pales in comparison to watching all those guys compete on the same day. If Ikioi is really hurt as someone mentioned, I'll be gutted.