Hatsu 2020 Basho Discussion (SPOILERS)

[WAKATAKE 2,655]

Ura trying to win, Terunofuji now 11-0, what will we see next???

[robnplunder 975]

If Terunofuji does not go zensho, it is b/c of a freak accident, a slip, an unexpected henka, misses a train/bus to the Kokugikan.  He is rolling over his opponents.  Ditto for Ura albeit very weak opponents at JD.

[robnplunder 975]

5 minutes ago, WAKATAKE said:

Ura trying to win, Terunofuji now 11-0, what will we see next???

Ura 7-0, Terunofuji 15-0 yusho show.  What else?   They both look to be fully recovered from injuries.   Ura still has a long way to go but Terunofuji is back.  He should do well against the current crop of Makuuchi.

[Kaninoyama 1,773]

Kotoshogiku falls to 4-7 for the basho, and at M13 may be teetering on the edge of demotion from Makuuchi. 

Might he retire rather than risk a fall down to Juryo?

We could be seeing his final basho. 

Edited January 22, 2020 by Kaninoyama

[kumoryu 88]

What is the record for the number of former Ozeki in Makuuchi at any one time? We could, just conceivably, have five next basho, if Terunofuji gets promoted, Goeido gets demoted, and Kotoshogiku survives, plus Tochinoshin and Takayasu.

[robnplunder 975]

The current trend is that an old rikishi won't retire until he gets a major injury (e.g, severed leg, decapitated head, ....).   

Tsurugisho with just one leg loses again.   Someone should stop him from stepping into the ring.   

Tokushoryu wins again!   What a shock so far!

[Amamaniac 2,079]

Tokushoryu keeps his yusho hopes alive!  His sumo seems to have gone up a level in this tournament.  Rather than simply give up at the edge, he executed a very skillfull twist and tsukiotoshi sending Aoiyama down, before momentum sent him (Tokushoryu) out of the ring.  Who'd have known?  The interesting thing about Tokushoryu is that he is coming from the lowest Makuuchi rank on the banzuke and yet after 11 days, he is at the top of the leaderboard!  Will he outlast the likes of Shodai and steal the yusho?  Or will he manage to take part in a playoff bout on day 15?  

As robnplunder commented: "What a shock!"

[Eikokurai 3,437]

38 minutes ago, robnplunder said:

The current trend is that an old rikishi won't retire until he gets a major injury (e.g, severed leg, decapitated head, ....).   

Tsurugisho with just one leg loses again.   Someone should stop him from stepping into the ring.   

Tokushoryu wins again!   What a shock so far!

Decapitation wouldn't stop everyone. Tagonoura would still send his rikishi into the ring, telling them it was an advantage. "They can't kubinage you if you don't have a kubi!"

Edited January 22, 2020 by Eikokurai

[Jakusotsu 5,952]

If you ever need a definition for "all over the place" it's Hokutofuji.

[Eikokurai 3,437]

At Hatsu 2015, Tokoshoryu was ranked M16e (second-lowest in Makuuchi) and finished 11-5 to share the jun-yusho. That's the only previous time he's managed double figures in the top division.

Now at Hatsu 2020 he's well on course to at least equal that career best.

Edited January 22, 2020 by Eikokurai

[Kaninoyama 1,773]

10 minutes ago, Jakusotsu said:

If you ever need a definition for "all over the place" it's Hokutofuji.

Add a second entry for Shodai. 

[Rainoyama 1,157]

Wow that is truly a different Shodai, not giving up, not backing down, strong, confident. Usually nodowa works really well against him but it didn't work for Daieisho this time. What a bout. Hokutofuji did really well to fight back too.

[Kaninoyama 1,773]

Enho continuing to prove doubters wrong.

Asanoyama showing he's still not quite ready for Ozeki-dom. 

[Eikokurai 3,437]

Asanoyama seems to have run out of steam, as Endo did. How much of that is stamina and how much is just focus going astray once the yusho was effectively out of reach is hard to say.

Takayasu-Goeido up next. Who anticipates some backscratching? Takayasu has little to fight for other than the Sekiwake rank and Goeido needs to stay perfect.

Edited January 22, 2020 by Eikokurai

[Jakusotsu 5,952]

Steam doesn't work against Enho, you need gas.

[Kaninoyama 1,773]

With Takakeisho taking care of business, all (8?) rikishi in the yusho race at the start of the day won their matches, leaving their relative positions unchanged. 

Edited January 22, 2020 by Kaninoyama

[Amamaniac 2,079]

The Enho v. Asanoyama bout was selected for the Morinaga extra kensho prize today, and boy did they get their money's worth!  Another highlight bout of the tournament/year!  Enho tried an ashitori technique out of the tachiai, and then went to plan B with a tottori arm pull, showing his amazing speed once again!  Asanoyama didn't know what hit him!  OMG, this guy Enho has a bag of tricks, or is that a department store of tricks?

[code_number3 698]

24 minutes ago, Amamaniac said:

The Enho v. Asanoyama bout was selected for the Morinaga extra kensho prize today, and boy did they get their money's worth!  Another highlight bout of the tournament/year!  Enho tried an ashitori technique out of the tachiai, and then went to plan B with a tottori arm pull, showing his amazing speed once again!  Asanoyama didn't know what hit him!  OMG, this guy Enho has a bag of tricks, or is that a department store of tricks?

Enho's ashitori attempt leave Asanoyama's defense open, and that was smart sumo by Enho! But still, can Enho get KK or even double digit wins?

[Amamaniac 2,079]

19 minutes ago, code_number3 said:

Enho's ashitori attempt leave Asanoyama's defense open, and that was smart sumo by Enho! But still, can Enho get KK or even double digit wins?

Enho is now 6-5, and so he'll need 2 more wins over the next four days for his KK.  Of course, as you suggest, it is not a sure thing.  Tomorrow he fights Takayasu, which could end up like his bout against Takakeisho (i.e., a loss), or it could end up like his bout against say Goeido or Asanoyama.  Takayasu is not particularly quick to react, so Enho may be able to run circles around the ex-Ozeki. Bottom line: Enho is showing that he is more than capable of holding his own among the big guys and that he is not going away any time soon.

[robnplunder 975]

1 hour ago, Kaninoyama said:

Enho continuing to prove doubters wrong.

Asanoyama showing he's still not quite ready for Ozeki-dom. 

A basho or two ago, I boldly predicted that Enho would never make a Sanyuku member.  I am now shaking in my boots.

Asanoyama needs to finish strong to get his Ozek run extended to the next basho.

I am encouraged by Mitakeumi's mini win streak.   He also needs to finish strong to reclaim his Sanyuku rank.   

I predicted Takakeisho to take the yusho earlier.  He may need to beat either Shodai or Tokushoryu in a playoff.   

[Catalin B 13]

Quite amazing to see Enho fighting the very best rikishi left in this tournament - and doing more than just hang with them. At the same time, disappointing to see Asanoyama in somewhat of a rut, but I'd bet he will make a serious case for Ozeki soon

And gotta love Hokutofuji's lower body resilience. I hope it helps tomorrow when he faces Endo. Last year in Nagoya, he lost to the same guy on senshuraku, allowing Endo to leapfrog him for the Komusubi spot even though Hokutofuji was at 9 wins from M1w... and a loss this time could again open him up for banzuke misfortune.

[Morty 1,495]

Tokushoryu gets Kagayaki tomorrow. If he gets past that I reckon that he gets Yutakayama the next day, and will be up against Shodai the following (presuming they both keep winning). I don't think they will leave that meeting to the last day in a play off.

Edit: I also don't think he has a hope in hell of beating both Kagayaki and Yutakayama...

Edited January 22, 2020 by Morty

[YoungSumo 93]

New recruits Nihonyanagi and Mudoho are 6-0 and will decide the yusho between themselves. The other new recruit, Dewanoryu, sits at 4-1. 

I'm excited about Terunofuji - Daishoho and Tokushoryu - Kagayaki tomorrow. Should be a good test to see where they all stand during an impressive basho for them.

[Kintamayama 45,081]

Shoudai, winning and remaining tied for the lead: "It was my opponent's pace. It's day by day.  I've got to desperately keep my concentration.."

Kiribayama, beating fellow Mongolian Azumaryuu and getting his 7th win as a Makuuchi newbie: "I did not want to lose. It's still a day by day situation, and I would like to do my own sumo."

Tamawashi, last year's Hatsu basho winner, gets his makekoshi: "I can't be doing this kind of strange sumo till the end.. My spirit will not be dampened and I would like to do sumo that will please the crowd that expects it!"

Endou, ending his losing streak at three and getting his seventh win: "I want to do diligent sumo!"

Myougiryuu, hikiotoshi'd by Endou, makekoshi: "It's regrettable but there is nothing I can do about it.. If I diligently perform the next four days it will connect to the next basho. I would like to continue without giving up!"

Daieishou, makekoshi in his first ever sanyaku basho: "I face every day with the same feeling but if I don't win it's meaningless. All I can do is diligently face the remaining days!" 

Mitakeumi, having a wild tsuki/oshi battle against Abi: "My body is moving, so I could go about it diligently   calmly.."

Takakeishou, oshidashiing Takarafuji and staying at two losses: "Since I'm chasing the leaders I'm not really aware of anything. It's no use if I don't win."

Takarafuji, losing against Takakeishou at the tachiai: "My condition has been good so I thought I wasn't going to lose by being shoved but his strength is something else.. My opponent  took my composure away.."

Kagayaki, remaining one loss behind the leaders after winning today: " My first step is good and my weight is carrying me forward. I went from under from under and forward and forward and that was good. The fact that I got my kachikoshi already doesn't mean I can ease up now.  I am not thinking of the yusho race!"

Hokutofuji still in the race, two wins back, kachikoshi: "I felt at ease. I felt Tamawashi was impatient so I think I was calm."

Terutsuyoshi, two wins back as well, kachikoshi: "I guess I have achieved my first goal. I don't think I can catch up to the leaders with three losses at this point .."

 

 

Edited January 22, 2020 by Kintamayama

[Kaninoyama 1,773]

In upper-Makushita, Midorifuji secured his 4th win at Ms2, which I believe should be sufficient for Juryo promotion next basho.

He'll join the likes of Ishiura, Enho, and his own stablemate Terutsuyoshi as another exciting diminutive wrestler among the sekitori ranks.

With Midorifuji's ascendance, together with Terunofuji dominating Juryo and Terutsuyoshi right in the yusho mix in Makuuchi, it's a resurgence of sorts for Isegahama-beya.