2021 "Kozumo" Hatsu Basho discussion thread

[Tigerboy1966 1,449]

38 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

To be fair, Takayasu wasn't and isn't in as bad shape as Kisenosato was back then, and Onosho really brought it today. If Takayasu gets smoked by, say, Kiribayama, then yes something doesn't quite add up.

It's not just that he lost, but he looked bad in losing. I don't expect him to be hopping around the ring like Enho after ten cans of red bull, but he looked slow, passive and off-balance. Watching the replay Onosho's feet slipped a bit as he drove forward so although he was undoubtedly pumped up, he wasn't exactly flawless. I do wish that Takayasu could get a yusho, it would be emotional, to say the least, but I fear that his window of opportunity may have passed.

[dada78641 884]

I have to say, although Takakeisho lost, I'm not gonna say he's "looking bad" just yet. His first match was against Mitakeumi who looks to be in good shape, and regardless of the situation it shouldn't be a disgrace to lose to him. Got to wait for a few more matches.

Here's the bout just for convenience:

That said, if you're chasing that rope it doesn't matter if it was an even match or not. What matters is the shiroboshi.

[ryafuji 815]

I thought Takakeisho's one-dimensional sumo was rather badly exposed by Mitakeumi there. He had no plan B. 

[hakutorizakura 629]

Terunofuji still looks like the dominant power on the banzuke. Hope he'll be careful to avoid injury. Good job by Midorifuji (welcome to makuuchi!) and Ura. Ichinojo was very active and forward-moving today. Can he keep it up?

And nice slipper recovery move by Inosuke 

[Highway 46]

Terunofuji impressed me the most in day 1, though I think it's just his style that he looks very good when he wins.

[Yamanashi 3,860]

Takanosho might have inadvertently done a hair-pull on Takarafuji, but there wasn't any hair there, so ...

[Yamanashi 3,860]

BREAKING: Name change to Shonanzakura paying off; he's unbeaten as of this moment.

[Amamaniac 2,079]

Can someone tell me why Kotoshoho got the 2020 Rookie of the Year honours?  Fellow 2020 rookie, Kiribayama, had a greater presence in Makuuchi (5 tournaments vs 3 tournaments), had more total wins (38 vs 26), and attained a higher rank (M1e vs M5w/M3e) than Kotoshoho.  Bout for bout, Kiribayama showed just as much if not more real skill than Kotoshoho, especially when he wasn't injured.  The selection seem highly subjective to me.  Am I wrong?  

[rhyen 1,842]

11 minutes ago, Amamaniac said:

Can someone tell me why Kotoshoho got the 2020 Rookie of the Year honours?  Fellow 2020 rookie, Kiribayama, had a greater presence in Makuuchi (5 tournaments vs 3 tournaments), had more total wins (38 vs 26), and attained a higher rank (M1e vs M5w/M3e) than Kotoshoho.  Bout for bout, Kiribayama showed just as much if not more real skill than Kotoshoho, especially when he wasn't injured.  The selection seem highly subjective to me.  Am I wrong?  

Subjective, yes.

It was his win against Takakeisho, according to Shibatayama oyakata.

[Thorbjarn 215]

Kiribayama had two makekoshi with a 3-12 to conclude his 2020, unlike Kotoshoho. I fail to see the compelling argument here. 

[Kotomiyama 172]

So much talk about Takakeisho's promotion and we forget the main point: he has to win (almost) all of his matches.

[nagora 88]

44 minutes ago, Kotomiyama said:

So much talk about Takakeisho's promotion and we forget the main point: he has to win (almost) all of his matches.

Which seems unlikely, especially if Shodai is on form.

[Seiyashi 4,097]

While a zensho is definitely gone and a 14-1 yusho appears difficult for Takakeisho at the moment, a 13-2 or 12-3 doten may yet "hold" his run over till the next basho. Purely speculative here, but it's hard to see the YDC and the NSK denying an ozeki consistently turning in 13-2 yusho and doten over 3 or 4 basho, especially when you're almost certain to lose both existing yokozuna by the end of the year. 

[Amamaniac 2,079]

2 hours ago, rhyen said:

Subjective, yes.

It was his win against Takakeisho, according to Shibatayama oyakata.

Maybe I'm getting old, but when I check the database, Kotoshoho faced Takakeisho only once (day 11 in November) and lost.  Did Shibatayama get that completely wrong and no one challenged him on that claim?  And if beating the Yokozuna-hopeful tipped the scales in the Rookie of the Year Award decision, then by that argument Kiribayama was more qualified.  He defeated Takakeisho on Day 5 of the July Tournament.  Further to my feeling that Kiribayama deserved the award more than Kotoshoho, Kiribayama had total of six Sanyaku scalps in 2020, whereas Kotoshoho only had three!  

 

Edited January 10, 2021 by Amamaniac

[Akinomaki 40,601]

12 minutes ago, Amamaniac said:

Maybe I'm getting old, but when I check the database, Kotoshoho faced Takakeisho only once (day 11 in November) and lost.  Did Shibatayama get that completely wrong and no one challenged him on that claim?  And if beating the Yokozuna-hopeful tipped the scales in the Rookie of the Year Award decision, then by that argument Kiribayama was more qualified.  He defeated Takakeisho on Day 5 of the July Tournament.  Further to my feeling that Kiribayama deserved the award more than Kotoshoho, Kiribayama had total of six Sanyaku scalps in 2020, whereas Kotoshoho only had three!  

 

Sloppy translation on my side - facing Takakeisho with straight sumo and getting kachi-koshi from Shibatayama, but especially the makuuchi kachi-koshi in a row, steady rise to the joi and still kachi-koshi were the reason for the newcomer award for Kotoshoho

Edited January 10, 2021 by Akinomaki

[Kintamayama 45,161]

5 hours ago, Amamaniac said:

Can someone tell me why Kotoshoho got the 2020 Rookie of the Year honours?  Fellow 2020 rookie, Kiribayama, had a greater presence in Makuuchi (5 tournaments vs 3 tournaments), had more total wins (38 vs 26), and attained a higher rank (M1e vs M5w/M3e) than Kotoshoho.  Bout for bout, Kiribayama showed just as much if not more real skill than Kotoshoho, especially when he wasn't injured.  The selection seem highly subjective to me.  Am I wrong?  

As you say, Kiribayama had 5 bashos, so it 's pretty much a given he had more wins than Kotoshouhou who had only three bashos.. If we go for the average, Kiribayama averaged around 7.6 wins per basho, as opposed to almost 8.6 wins by Kotoshouhou. So if we're talking wins, then not so much. As for the rest, it's pretty subjective and in the eyes of the beholder. I think Kotoshouhou deserved this more, not based on anything, just by watching both of them fight this last year.

Edited January 10, 2021 by Kintamayama

[WAKATAKE 2,660]

An opening day loss is pretty much killer on a tsuna run, unless Keisho clears his head and wins the next 14. Teru to me seemed a little rusty against Shoho but regained himself pretty quickly. Shodai looking good, Asanoyama not so much but against a guy who has given him a lot of trouble. If he's able to get on the mawashi game I don't think he will have too much trouble.

Onosho got a big hit on Takayasu and it paid off. Looks like we had THE Ichinojo at the Kokugikan on day 1, easily disposing of Terutsuyoshi. I was surprised by Takanosho, I thought he had a torn ACL??? Tochinoshin kept his cool against Tamawashi, Kotoeko and Midorifuji were also able to do some smooth moves to beat their bigger opponents. Tobizaru goes flying as usual, while veteran Akiseyama picks up his first win in the top division after so many years.

[Seiyashi 4,097]

Takanosho's torn ACL was apparently over a year ago. In any case, he's made it to and stayed at sekiwake on that allegedly torn ACL, so the injury is probably moot at this point. 

[Kintamayama 45,161]

Funny stuff in the commentator's booth on TV today. Outa announcer was telling commentators Kitanofuji and Mainoumi that Shimanoumi has lately heightened his concentration skills by practicing zen meditation and contemplation. "I tried Zen one time when i was active and decided it wasn't for me," quipped Kitanofuji.  "And I went to stand under a waterfall with the water hitting me hard but it did nothing for me. I was told that instead of standing under waterfalls, I should do more keiko," chimed in Mainoumi. "It would have been better if you got whipped, no? " added Kitanofuji sarcastically. Lately their banter has become more and more edgy, says me.

Edited January 10, 2021 by Kintamayama

[sahaven111 176]

8 hours ago, Eikokurai said:

kanban Asanoyama

No, Asanoyama's here to stay... He's no one timer...

[dingo 1,265]

What a difference in mental fortitude between the two kadoban ozeki! Asanoyama seemingly full of self - doubt, afraid to lose and on the defensive from the start. Shodai just cool as a cucumber. 

Mitakeumi finally starting his ozeki run? 

[Zannah 49]

45 minutes ago, dingo said:

Mitakeumi finally starting his ozeki run? 

Noooo, don't jinx him like that!! 

Interesting opning day, surely even more interesting to see how it develops from here (all circumstances considering)....

[Yamanashi 3,860]

42 minutes ago, dingo said:

What a difference in mental fortitude between the two kadoban ozeki! Asanoyama seemingly full of self - doubt, afraid to lose and on the defensive from the start. Shodai just cool as a cucumber. 

Mitakeumi finally starting his ozeki run? 

Mitakeumi, week two: banana on the dohyo!

[Kaninoyama 1,797]

Terrific Makuuchi debut win by Midorifuji. 

My Midorifuji story: 

I happened to see him train in Niigata right when he joined Isegahama beya out of college in 2016 prior to his pro debut. At the time he looked like Enho after a 7-day fast--I think he was still under 90 kilos at the time. His ability was obvious and he trained like a beast, but I figured at that size, his ceiling was mid-Makushita at best. 

Thereafter, I continued to track his results, but didn't actually see him wrestle until last January at the Kokugikan, when he had made it to upper Makushita. He had put on so much size I didn't recognize him. Though at 114 kilos he's still small for Makuuchi, his physical transformation is, to me, unbelievable. He's compared a lot to Enho, but physically, he's transformed from Enho to his sempai Terutsuyoshi, and their skillsets are similar as well. 

Barring injury I expect him to settle in at Makuuchi, with occasional visits to Joi and maybe even a taste of Sanyaku.

If I was Enho, I'd seek out Midorifuji for diet tips. 

Edited January 10, 2021 by Kaninoyama

[Jakusotsu 5,981]

I don't get all that praise for Midorifuji. All I see is a matta-henka and a blundering Akua.