Nagoya Basho 2021

[Edwardoho 23]

Disappointing to see Hakuho win with poor sportsmanship in the form of a forearm blast.
 

I think he is going to retire now.

Edited July 18, 2021 by Edwardoho

[Benihana 1,929]

Impressive show of force. Congratulations!

25 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

Quite a bit of screaming and murmuring in the crowd, including an audible kakigoe of Hakuho.

Kakigoe?

[ViscountessNivlac 24]

Well that was disappointing. At least he can’t keep it up. People thinking that he’d be able to stick around for another year are, frankly, deluding themselves.

[Seiyashi 4,097]

2 minutes ago, Benihana said:

28 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

Quite a bit of screaming and murmuring in the crowd, including an audible kakigoe of Hakuho.

Kakigoe?

A tradition more associated with Kabuki, where there are semi-professional associations of spectators who call out an actor's name at particularly dramatic moments. Not sure in a sports setting kakigoe is as formal or codified, but that's what the calls of shikona bring to mind - especially as it happens during dohyo-iri too.

Man, I'm itching for a translation of the yusho interview. It seems more introspective than most. My Japanese listening comprehension is absolute pants though.

Edited July 18, 2021 by Seiyashi

[Benihana 1,929]

I wish someone finally told the NSK of the existence of wireless microphones.

And i hope we'll get a translation of the yusho interview, soon.

[Michishige 66]

15 minutes ago, nagora said:

He won't be going anywhere except the Olympics. After that, you may get your wish.

Has the Japanese Olympic Committee confirmed that he will be a part of the opening ceremony? I find that kind of fascinating…a non-native Japanese person representing their national sport on the global stage seems very unusual for Japan. 
 

He clearly deserves the Olympic honor, but he also deserves the toshiyori kabu and won’t be getting that. 

[Benihana 1,929]

1 minute ago, Seiyashi said:

A tradition more associated with Kabuki, where there are semi-professional associations of spectators who call out an actor's name at particularly dramatic moments. Not sure in a sports setting kakigoe is as formal or codified, but that's what the calls of shikona bring to mind - especially as it happens during dohyo-iri too.

Man, I'm itching for a translation of the yusho interview. It seems more introspective than most. My Japanese listening comprehension is absolute pants though.

Ah, i understand, arigato.

Exactly my thoughts.

[Katooshu 3,246]

Congrats to the GOAT, I am disappointed in the result but not due to any dislike of the Hakster.

Edited July 18, 2021 by Katooshu

[nagora 88]

1 minute ago, Michishige said:

Has the Japanese Olympic Committee confirmed that he will be a part of the opening ceremony? I find that kind of fascinating…a non-native Japanese person representing their national sport on the global stage seems very unusual for Japan. 
 

He clearly deserves the Olympic honor, but he also deserves the toshiyori kabu and won’t be getting that. 

I wonder if he kept the receipt for all those "Hakuho" Olympic Rings kimonos his team are wearing; you can't buy them in the shops. Yet.

[Seiyashi 4,097]

1 minute ago, Michishige said:

I find that kind of fascinating…a non-native Japanese person representing their national sport on the global stage seems very unusual for Japan. 

Not unprecedented. Akebono replaced Takanohana to perform the yokozuna dohyoiri for the Nagano Winter Olympics. Arguably that was a contingency rather than an active choice, but then you could say Akebono's promotion breaking the gaijin glass ceiling wasn't an active choice after 1992 either.

[Joaoiyama 308]

Did he say anything about next basho?

[Edwardoho 23]

Just now, Joaoiyama said:

Did he say anything about next basho?

He intends to be there. Wants his 900th win.

[since_94 650]

People alleging “ugly sumo”…I dunno. Abema just rolled through replays of all his victories and there were some very colorful, dramatic, and technically skilled finishes among them. A couple of instances of brute power prevailing, a couple of lucky ones. He had it all. Today versus Terunofuji, I thought was the perfect bout under the circumstances. No one slipped, no boring yorikiri or hitakikomi, the harite exchange, they got on the belt, it went long, that awesome stare down as a lead up. I mean, what the heck do people want before they’re satisfied?
 

As for alleging poor sportsmanship for the celebration….whatever. Look at those numbers, will ya?

Edited July 18, 2021 by since_94

[Kaninoyama 1,797]

Kitanofuji speculated that a retirement announcement might be forthcoming by Hakuho as the only explanation for his win-at-any-cost attitude the last two days and un-Yokozuna like expression of triumph afterward. 

But nope, it was just Hakuho rejoicing in his latest conquest, and he expressed his intent to continue onward. 

 

Edited July 18, 2021 by Kaninoyama

[Rocks 1,809]

1 minute ago, since_94 said:

I mean, what the heck do people want? 

Hakuho not to lead with a slap AND an elbow to the face. Don't get me wrong. I was happy to see him back and even win but it certainly wasn't beautiful. 

[Benihana 1,929]

1 minute ago, since_94 said:

As for alleging poor sportsmanship for the celebration….whatever. Look at those numbers, will ya?

Full ack! Your body is in poor shape, people doubt you and then you pull off a zensho. Even  the japanesiest Japanese would have show at least some emotion in that situation.

[since_94 650]

Just now, Rocks said:

Hakuho not to lead with a slap AND an elbow to the face. Don't get me wrong. I was happy to see him back and even win but it certainly wasn't beautiful. 

Terunofuji can take it.

The finish was authoritative, to say the least.

[Seiyashi 4,097]

1 hour ago, since_94 said:

People alleging “ugly sumo”…I dunno. Abema just rolled through replays of all his victories and there were some very colorful, dramatic, and technically skilled finishes among them. A couple of instances of brute power prevailing, a couple of lucky ones. He had it all. Today versus Terunofuji, I thought was the perfect bout under the circumstances. No one slipped, no boring yorikiri or hitakikomi, the Harriet exchange, they got on the belt, it went long, that awesome stare down as a lead up. I mean, what the heck do people want? 
 

As for alleging poor sportsmanship for the celebration….whatever. Look at those numbers, will ya?

It's more the past two days than anything: avoiding Shodai at the tachiai and then promptly proceeding to brutalise him with harite, then that "wtf" caress into kachiage from the tachiai against Terunofuji today and then proceeding to kotenage the hell out of an injured elbow. As a yokozuna he's expected to not need these kinds of weird shit to win - straight in, mawashi grip from the tachiai, and beat them with straightforward movement or throws. You can't reasonably say that what he did was particularly graceful or inexorable: it was an overwhelming more than an outclassing. If any of his opponents had done that back to him (and only Terunofuji gave as good as he got re the harite), Hakuho mightn't have gotten through the 15 days undefeated or without injury.

The result (16th zensho, 45th yusho) is impressive. The journey to get there wasn't.

And regarding the finish.... that looked like a lot of strain placed on Terunofuji's right elbow. I'm not going to be as charitable about Hakuho if it later turns out that there was injury caused to that elbow. Winning at all costs is one thing, but in a somewhat contradictory fashion, that cost shouldn't include injury to your opponent (even in a combat sport).

Edited July 18, 2021 by Seiyashi

[Oshirokita 188]

Astonishing result from Hakuho. I wanted him to have a good farewell basho (if this indeed is his last) but did not expect a zensho yusho. Amazing that this is his 100th kachi koshi basho too. He is obviously not as confident as when in his prime but still has the determination and ability to win.  From a 'sports' side of things, this is fantastic. From a 'hinkaku/tradition' point of view, there is some detraction. I probably enjoy the sports side of his performance most and hope he gets the opportunity for an Olympic moment too.

[Eikokurai 3,437]

5 minutes ago, since_94 said:

People alleging “ugly sumo”…I dunno. Abema just rolled through replays of all his victories and there were some very colorful, dramatic, and technically skilled finishes among them. A couple of instances of brute power prevailing, a couple of lucky ones. He had it all. Today versus Terunofuji, I thought was the perfect bout under the circumstances. No one slipped, no boring yorikiri or hitakikomi, the harite exchange, they got on the belt, it went long, that awesome stare down as a lead up. I mean, what the heck do people want before they’re satisfied?
 

As for alleging poor sportsmanship for the celebration….whatever. Look at those numbers, will ya?

Excitement does not preclude ugliness. We got plenty of drama, for sure, but dramatic isn't the same thing as pretty.

[Masunofuji 36]

Not to mention Hakuho should have been 11-3 at best going into the final day, had his hairpulls been called.

[Dapeng 235]

Congratulations to Hakuho the GOAT!

[since_94 650]

***

We can always ask the record keepers to put an asterisk beside #45 (and #16 zen yusho) with the annotation: “ugly sumo (as deemed by some pundits)” but somehow I think they won’t.

***

[Joaoiyama 308]

People talking crazy, Hakuho did no wrong with a relieving celebration.

[Kaninoyama 1,797]

Interesting that on NHK, they always flash a news update announcing the winner of the basho right after it happens, but there was no such news flash today.

Instead, several minutes after the last bout they broadcast a news flash announcing that the promotion committee will meet to approve Terunofuji's Yokozuna promotion. 

Edited July 18, 2021 by Kaninoyama