2019 Aki Basho Discussion (spoiler alert!)

[Akinomaki 40,098]

Kakuryu on his Abema interview told smiling that he watched a load of films on the net during the many hours in the bus on the jungyo tour - it was not possible to sleep

[Rainoyama 1,157]

17 hours ago, Umizoi said:

Perhaps, or not. In aki 2017, the situation was the same for Harumafuji who finally won in play-off against Goeido.

Since this play-off, Goeido has learned the interest to move forward fast and strong ...

Here, we said that Harumafuji shown a yokozuna spirit because he didn't give up.

If Kakuryu isn't injured, let him fight !

 

Well Kakuryu is kyujo indeed... three consecutive kinboshi given and looking bad he had to pull out.

[Akinomaki 40,098]

53 minutes ago, WAKATAKE said:

Where does sumo not appeal to children?

Ozumo is not appealing enough for children to join - they rather go to high school and college first and some enter with already never to heal old injuries. The sumo way of "healing on the dohyo" only works with (some of) those who enter young enough.

Edited September 15, 2019 by Akinomaki

[Kaninoyama 1,713]

2 hours ago, Eikokurai said:

They introduced the one-foreigner-per-heya rule to benefit Japanese rikishi (among other things) but it’s not led to any great improvement. All it’s really done is deny the sport another generation of Mongolian technicians and European brutes. Unless and until sumo becomes an attractive prospect, it’s unlikely to be of appeal to Japan’s best young athletes, so the pool of genuine talent is limited. We’re left with a lot of guys who can only push and slap a bit. A few, like Asanoyama, give some hope, but the future looks overwhelmingly oshi.

Am I the only one who likes predominantly oshi-zumo? Don't get me wrong, ideally there would be a full palette of contrasting styles making for diverse match-ups. But I also remember the dark days of sumo several years ago around the time of the yaocho scandal, when we had Hakuho dominating a bunch of slow, lumbering yotsu wrestlers and every match was decided by a boring yori-kiri with little movement. I find today's brand of sumo, where smaller, quicker wrestlers like Enho can compete, vastly more entertaining.

Edited September 15, 2019 by Kaninoyama

[rhyen 1,823]

31 minutes ago, Akinomaki said:

Kakuryu on his Abema interview told smiling that he watched a load of films on the net during the many hours in the bus on the jungyo tour - it was not possible to sleep

And you shouldn’t be sleeping on the bus, bends your spine out of shape. 

[Eikokurai 3,437]

9 minutes ago, Kaninoyama said:

Am I the only one who likes predominantly oshi-zumo? Don't get me wrong, ideally there would be a full palette of contrasting styles making for diverse match-ups. But I also remember the dark days of sumo several years ago around the time of the yaocho scandal, when we had Hakuho dominating a bunch of slow, lumbering yotsu wrestlers and every match was decided by a boring yori-kiri with little movement. I find today's brand of sumo, where smaller, quicker wrestlers like Enho can compete, vastly more entertaining.

I don’t have a problem with it per se. Well executed oshizumo is fantastic to watch. Who didn’t enjoy Chiyotaikai pummeling his opponent’s faces? My concern is that even many of the oshi guys coming through aren’t that great, with a few exceptions like Takakeisho and Abi (although even he needs more power).

[robnplunder 975]

I think there is a fair balance of both sumo.  Personally, I like to see a bit more yotsu sumo.   I like the mind game going on when two rikishi are figuring out what to do next.   

[Chankomafuji 51]

16 minutes ago, WAKATAKE said:

It were not appealing to children, why do we see constantly shots of children cheering for the wrestlers? A great example would be the boy who was holding a banner for Enho. If sumo is not appealing to children, then why are there the various wanpaku sumo tournaments that are held annually, plus sumo being a sanctioned sport in the Interhigh? Where does sumo not appeal to children?

It should be clear enough that it is Ozumo that we are talking about, where one has to join a stable, unlike the amateur sumo. Maybe a better answer will you receive by  oyakata who run stables with 2-5 rikishi, shockingly one such has a current Yokozuna in it. How do we as fans explain this, who would not want to grow up as a rikishi watching and training with a Yokozuna? Izutsu in an interview I read some time ago said plain and simple that it is hard to make children join a stable. Mind not the sarcasm in my "WWE post" above (I could not resist the thought of how many people would take it serious). The idea is adapting to modern day requirements. Few years ago one might not take a "violence prevention committee" serious, but it happened. Just like the rikishi adapt to oshi-zumo we too have to as viewers. Like it or not, times change.

[robnplunder 975]

Was that just one kensho for Okinoumi who is in solo lead?     Nonetheless, a great win by Okinoumi.   It his his basho!

[Kaninoyama 1,713]

Meisei continues to impress. Is it just me or has he added some weight this basho? If so, the added size, together with his considerable skills, are paying dividends thus far.

Edited September 15, 2019 by Kaninoyama

[Benihana 1,916]

Yay! Second-week Mitakeumi strikes again...*cursewords*

[Rainoyama 1,157]

Takakeisho is amazing, two straight losses including that horrible henka yesterday and he finds the mental strength to bounce back and performs amazing sumo. Very important win for him.

[robnplunder 975]

33 minutes ago, Kaninoyama said:

Meisei continues to impress. Is it just me or has he added some weight this basho? If so, the added size, together with his considerable skills, are paying dividends thus far.

He has been steadily rising through the ranks but hit a bump in the last basho.    I don't see him adding sudden weight.

Takakeishio is a man on a mission.   Even so, tsk, tsk, that was not a good showing by Mitakeumi.   

[Rainoyama 1,157]

Takakeisho post bout "I wanted to concentrate on doing my sumo and I did just that today"  On having history with Mitakeumi  "it doesn't matter"

[Kaninoyama 1,713]

And Tomokaze hatakikomi's his way to yet another big win.

[Rainoyama 1,157]

44 minutes ago, Kaninoyama said:

Meisei continues to impress. Is it just me or has he added some weight this basho? If so, the added size, together with his considerable skills, are paying dividends thus far.

He actually lost 3 kilos, he was listed at 150 and is now listed at 147

[Kaninoyama 1,713]

6 minutes ago, Rainoyama said:

He actually lost 3 kilos, he was listed at 150 and is now listed at 147

The added weight was just my imagination then, but his steadily improving sumo is not. 

Edited September 15, 2019 by Kaninoyama

[Morty 1,483]

5 hours ago, Eikokurai said:

They introduced the one-foreigner-per-heya rule to benefit Japanese rikishi (among other things) but it’s not led to any great improvement. All it’s really done is deny the sport another generation of Mongolian technicians and European brutes. Unless and until sumo becomes an attractive prospect, it’s unlikely to be of appeal to Japan’s best young athletes, so the pool of genuine talent is limited. We’re left with a lot of guys who can only push and slap a bit. A few, like Asanoyama, give some hope, but the future looks overwhelmingly oshi.

I have wondered if the increased weight carried by rikishi these days is the reason there is more oshi, because it is easier to use that weight offensively by whacking people than it is by going to the belt? And the extra weight makes it harder to do the range of offensive throws required by yotsu sumo? This is purely speculation on my part, I don't know the answer but it seems that guys get above a certain weight and they get slow and clumsy. It also seems to me that the extra weight carried now by all rikishi is a direct result of trying to compete with the very successful eastern European (and Hawaiian before them) super heavy weights. So rikishi put on more weight to be competitive and the natural result is that more of the heavy guys do oshi, because it easier to do that when you are really heavy? Anyone with more inside knowledge think this is legit, or am I just talking pants?

[Tigerboy1966 1,417]

29 minutes ago, robnplunder said:

He has been steadily rising through the ranks but hit a bump in the last basho. 

Meisei's whole career has been "two steps forward, one step back". He fails, he learns, he comes back better.

[Gospodin 187]

47 minutes ago, Kaninoyama said:

And Tomokaze hatakikomi's his way to yet another big win.

He still wants to honor his mentor

[MrGrumpyGills 123]

34 minutes ago, Morty said:

I have wondered if the increased weight carried by rikishi these days is the reason there is more oshi, because it is easier to use that weight offensively by whacking people than it is by going to the belt? And the extra weight makes it harder to do the range of offensive throws required by yotsu sumo? This is purely speculation on my part, I don't know the answer but it seems that guys get above a certain weight and they get slow and clumsy. It also seems to me that the extra weight carried now by all rikishi is a direct result of trying to compete with the very successful eastern European (and Hawaiian before them) super heavy weights. So rikishi put on more weight to be competitive and the natural result is that more of the heavy guys do oshi, because it easier to do that when you are really heavy? Anyone with more inside knowledge think this is legit, or am I just talking pants?

I don't have the required inside knowledge but your reasoning seems plausible to me. At the very least the added weight increases the risk of knee injuries (and of course other long-term ailments).

Maybe if/when Hakuho becomes an oyakata and continues to raise slimmer, more muscular and agile rikishi he could gradually affect some change?

Edited September 15, 2019 by MrGrumpyGills

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

1 hour ago, Benihana said:

Yay! Second-week Mitakeumi strikes again...*cursewords*

Actually he got ripped off. Takakeisho didn't touch down both hands at tachiai, and got the jump on Mitakeumi. Should have been called a matta.

[Gospodin 187]

That indeed looked conspicuous, like he managed to deceive the gyoji -swinging his right hand forward as if he was brushing the ground.

[Godango 973]

2 hours ago, Kaninoyama said:

And Tomokaze hatakikomi's his way to yet another big win.

 

2 hours ago, Gospodin said:

He still wants to honor his mentor

I'm actually really high on Tomokaze, and see him as a future ozeki at least.

But, I'm a newer fan, he's a newer rikisihi, what the hell do I know?

That said I'm keeping this for bragging rights when he makes ozeki in 2020. 

[MrGrumpyGills 123]

Enho didn't put both hands down either :O
(just wanted to mention that for the sake of completeness, not in order to start a flame war or something)