March basho 2021

[Kaninoyama 1,787]

1 hour ago, orandashoho said:

I thought that there were people who liked Endo keeping his own name rather than pretending to be some dragon or mountain.

As others have mentioned, while there are a few like Endo, Ishiura, and Takayasu who fight under their family name, Meisei is rare in wrestling under his given (not family) name. 

[Tigerboy1966 1,448]

I know he won today but I'm still not impressed by Asanoyama, as he didn't seem to do much to win his match. Onosho seemed to be doing pretty well but then flopped over at the first sign of a counter. That's three matches this time around where, to put it tactfully, Asanoyama's opponents lost by dumb mistakes rather that anything executed by the ozeki.

[Morty 1,495]

4 hours ago, since_94 said:

It wasn’t pretty. His defensive portion of the bout was more impressive, perhaps, in comparison. Not pretty either. Just brutal and ultimately effective.

He can't rely on that long term though. His knees are shot, his elbows are shot. Brute strength will only last so long - questionable whether long enough to get to Yokozuna, because he first needs to get to Ozeki, then win two yusho (or equivalent) in a row. Can't see that happening if he just relies on brute strength

[Yamanashi 3,840]

2 minutes ago, Morty said:

He can't rely on that long term though. His knees are shot, his elbows are shot. Brute strength will only last so long - questionable whether long enough to get to Yokozuna, because he first needs to get to Ozeki, then win two yusho (or equivalent) in a row. Can't see that happening if he just relies on brute strength

That's possible, maybe likely, but as of now he's a beast.  If I just use the Eye Test, look at the two rikishi pre-tachiai, and ask "who's gonna win this?", I don't envision anyone beating him.  I don't see that for Taskakeisho, Asanoyama, Shodai, etc.

[Jakusotsu 5,969]

17 minutes ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

I know he won today but I'm still not impressed by Asanoyama, as he didn't seem to do much to win his match. Onosho seemed to be doing pretty well but then flopped over at the first sign of a counter. That's three matches this time around where, to put it tactfully, Asanoyama's opponents lost by dumb mistakes rather that anything executed by the ozeki.

Replace Asanoyama with Goeido, and I'm sure you'll find several comments of the same vibe in the archives.

[Rocks 1,809]

3 minutes ago, Yamanashi said:

That's possible, maybe likely, but as of now he's a beast.  If I just use the Eye Test, look at the two rikishi pre-tachiai, and ask "who's gonna win this?", I don't envision anyone beating him.  I don't see that for Taskakeisho, Asanoyama, Shodai, etc.

He's a beast but each win this basho has been a little tougher and has required more effort although I expect he will be in yusho race till the end.  He's headed for a loss soon though and I wouldn't be surprsied if he loses to Onosho Day 5 who he is 1-2 against in the last 3 basho. If Onosho loses it is because he pulls an Onosho.

As to Terunofuji long term it's just a matter of when that next injury comes.  When he returns to Ozeki I expect him to let up a bit a cruise a while. 

[Morty 1,495]

1 minute ago, Jakusotsu said:

Replace Asanoyama with Goeido, and I'm sure you'll find several comments of the same vibe in the archives.

Except that in Asanoyama's short Ozeki career (4 basho) he has jun-yushoed twice, kyujoed once and got double digits in the other one. I know people are hoping for the second coming of Hakuho but his Ozeki career has been really solid so far. Goeido was kadoban every second basho...

[Rocks 1,809]

23 minutes ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

I know he won today but I'm still not impressed by Asanoyama, as he didn't seem to do much to win his match. Onosho seemed to be doing pretty well but then flopped over at the first sign of a counter. That's three matches this time around where, to put it tactfully, Asanoyama's opponents lost by dumb mistakes rather that anything executed by the ozeki.

Although I would agree he hasn't looked sharp yet some people would call this yokozuma level sumo. He's no Hakuho but it's amazing how many times Hakuho just let guys beat themselves.  

[Seiyashi 4,087]

10 minutes ago, Rocks said:

As to Terunofuji long term it's just a matter of when that next injury comes.  When he returns to Ozeki I expect him to let up a bit a cruise a while. 

Which opens up the interesting, but not impossible scenario, of this. Let's say Terunofuji repromotes this basho, takes the next basho easy with a 9-6 or something, then goes all out and wins 2 yusho afterwards. And unfortunately, busts something irreparably in the process. That kills his yokozuna career before it even begins. Would he accept the promotion then retire on the spot, or reject the promotion entirely?

6 minutes ago, Rocks said:

Although I would agree he hasn't looked sharp yet some people would call this yokozuma level sumo. He's no Hakuho but it's amazing how many times Hakuho just let guys beat themselves.  

My thoughts exactly. He seems to be pulling a Kisenosato face and just getting on with it, which is turning in way better results than when he was actually "trying". It's a much more Kakuryu-esque style - take the opponent's nonsense and then apply one swift motion somewhere and let them self-destruct. We'll see if it works against Terunofuji and the other sanyaku.

[Morty 1,495]

5 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

Which opens up the interesting, but not impossible scenario, of this. Let's say Terunofuji repromotes this basho, takes the next basho easy with a 9-6 or something, then goes all out and wins 2 yusho afterwards. And unfortunately, busts something irreparably in the process. That kills his yokozuna career before it even begins. Would he accept the promotion then retire on the spot, or reject the promotion entirely?

 

Nobody rejects the promotion. A short Yokozuna career (ala Kise) beats a long Ozeki career every day of the week

[Seiyashi 4,087]

1 minute ago, Morty said:

Nobody rejects the promotion. A short Yokozuna career (ala Kise) beats a long Ozeki career every day of the week

Chiyonoyama did (or at least, had it rejected for him initially) on the grounds of inexperience. In the sad scenario that Terunofuji irreparably damages something and both him and his shissho know it prior to his promotion, I don't know if they would want to sully the rank by being unable to win at all. Of course now that I think about it, it's much more likely that they would accept the promotion and be in denial/unaware of the full extent of the injury's impact on Terunofuji's sumo, until the writing goes on the wall.

Kise was by all accounts a fantastic promotee, even winning his first yokozuna tournament, until he busted his arm and refused to have it properly treated, so it's slightly different from the scenario I'm postulating.

[Tigerboy1966 1,448]

31 minutes ago, Morty said:

Nobody rejects the promotion. A short Yokozuna career (ala Kise) beats a long Ozeki career every day of the week

Worth pointing out that since his return Terunofuji has missed fewer bouts through injury than Takakeisho, Asanoyama, Shodai or Takayasu over the same time period. He may be fragile, but he's not exactly falling apart. He's the best in the sport and he should be the next yokozuna.

Edited March 17, 2021 by Tigerboy1966
ce

[Karasukurai 166]

Terunofuji could prolong his career by making ozeki again, being able to take the odd basho off on the basis that he could beat the kadoban status next basho. Of course, a less risky way to prolong his career would be to become yokozuna where he wouldn't have kadoban to deal with at all, just a bunch of moaning, toothless, YDC members. I'm sure he could deal with the moaning if he got a few more years out of those knees!

Seriously though, Terunofuji looks like the man to beat at the moment, fingers crossed his body holds up - I wish him all the luck in the world, he kind of deserves it.

[Gernobono 466]

Hokuseiho looked weak, although he won today.......first tried to henka limping asabenkei and at the end asabenkei lost the bout more than the hyped-one won it

[Kaninoyama 1,787]

Takanosho is looking more and more like a future Ozeki. 

[Eikokurai 3,437]

Why did I choose today to not watch? Terunofuji drops his first bout and Myogiryu takes sole lead!

First win for Daieisho too and Wakatakakage beats another Ozeki.

And then Takakeisho blows the chance to move level with Terunofuji.

Asanoyama at least restores some pride for the 3.5 Ozeki today.

Edited March 18, 2021 by Eikokurai

[robnplunder 975]

23 minutes ago, Kaninoyama said:

Takanosho is looking more and more like a future Ozeki. 

So did Mitakeumi.   I am not yet sold on Takanosho becoming a future Ozeki.  He seems to be consistent enough at Sanyuku level as is Mitakeumi was/is (less his two yusho run).

[yohcun 401]

Wow, that matta(?) wrecked Terunofuji. Even on the second attempt, he seemed to pause because the gyoji was slow to call "hakkeyoi!", and that was all the opening Onosho needed.

[Eikokurai 3,437]

Midorifuji and Tobizaru were delightfully evenly matched today. Some excellent defensive sumo. Hoshoryu–Kotonowaka was another enjoyable yotsu battle.

Some appreciation for Takanosho today. Takarafuji is known as both a defensive master and one of the strongest guys in Makuuchi so to overpower him and maintain the push as Takanosho did was a great effort.

Onosho also showed smart tactics, keeping Terunofuji vertical, and constantly moving his feet so Teru never got the platform to push back. If he could employ that sumo brain more consistently he’d reach greater heights.

[since_94 650]

Hokutofuji vs. Takakeisho had all the makings of a concussion-fest, at the risk of stating the obvious. Gonna be some serious forehead lumps tomorrow. Daieisho finally got the fire going and it was a relief to see it happen at last. Speaking of fire, Enho lighting things up on his own account with dynamic and acrobatic sumo in juryo is a much needed shot in the arm for sumo fans bummed out by the yokozuna absences, small and quiet crowds, eerily empty Kokugikan corridors, general COVID mess, etc.

Edited March 18, 2021 by since_94

[RabidJohn 1,786]

3 hours ago, yohcun said:

Wow, that matta(?) wrecked Terunofuji.

I was also struck by out of the blue that matta call was.
Both hands down and even one hand down seem to have been entirely disregarded by the gyoji so far this basho - then Tamajiro decided to call one.

Edited March 18, 2021 by RabidJohn

[nutzername 16]

I think the matta was well justified. I agree, the gyoji are very inconsistant with calling out these matta, but Terunofuji is a constant repeat offender and in my opinion also the one who does it most blatantly.

[RabidJohn 1,786]

Hey, in my ideal world all rikishi would start like Asanoyama, with both hands clearly down before the off.
But it's not my ideal world. 

There can be no justification for inconsistency to the point of randomness; i.e. has a random gyoji been selected to call a hands-down matta today?
Because that's how it feels to me. Verging on fixing...

So if the gyoji don't want to enforce the rule properly, they shouldn't try to enforce it at all.
They should restrict their matta calling to instances of no mutual consent (that 'tachi-ai by mutual consent' being one of ozumo's USPs, btw).
But if the two rikishi have decided to go for it, then it's a fair match.

We may end up with almost upright tachi-ai such as were seen in the seventies and early eighties. Not necessarily a bad thing; that was the era of Kitanoumi and Chiyonofuji after all.

[Amamaniac 2,079]

On 17/03/2021 at 13:08, Kaninoyama said:

As others have mentioned, while there are a few like Endo, Ishiura, and Takayasu who fight under their family name, Meisei is rare in wrestling under his given (not family) name. 

Technically speaking, most (not all) Japanese sumo wrestlers are wrestling under their given names.  That is to say that Japanese wrestlers tend to keep their legal given names as the given-name part of their ring names.  Take Takanosho for instance.  His full ring name is Takanosho Nobuaki and his legal name is Ishii Nobunaki.

But as you rightly point out, Kawabata Meisei is fighting under the shikona Meisei Chikara.

[Tigerboy1966 1,448]

3 hours ago, yohcun said:

Wow, that matta(?) wrecked Terunofuji. Even on the second attempt, he seemed to pause because the gyoji was slow to call "hakkeyoi!", and that was all the opening Onosho needed.

Terunofuji did some uncalled for bullying after the matta, manhandling Onosho to the bales when it was obviously not going to count. Onosho demonstrated the only way to overcome an on-form Terunofuji, keep attacking, keep moving and never let the big man settle or get balanced. I am a huge Terunofuji fan, but I was very happy to see Onosho win today.