Aki Basho 2021 - Discussion Thread (Spoilers!)

[Eikokurai 3,437]

2 minutes ago, bessantj said:

Better those than Tochinoshin. 

I’ve got Tochinoshin’s fading career.

[Amamaniac 2,079]

1 hour ago, Taliesin said:

Rolling monkey?

Rolypolyzaru? 

[Seiyashi 4,108]

20 minutes ago, specialweek 2 said:

You indirectly raise an interesting point. What if a bout goes 4 mins. Do they bring in two 500ml Suntory mineral waters as no drinking from the bucket these days?

Probably the rikishi's own bottles that they're occasionally seen drinking out of in the hanamichi.

[dada78641 884]

2 hours ago, Kaninoyama said:

Terunofuji channeled his inner Hakuho today. Hopefully not a trend.

I don't think so. He was unable to push Takayasu out while being in a great position for most of the bout, and he had one great chance right before the end that Takayasu somehow miraculously managed to defend against, so I can't really blame him too much for being solely focused on making absolutely sure of the win at the end there.

[Kotogouryuu 131]

9 minutes ago, dada78641 said:

I don't think so. He was unable to push Takayasu out while being in a great position for most of the bout, and he had one great chance right before the end that Takayasu somehow miraculously managed to defend against, so I can't really blame him too much for being solely focused on making absolutely sure of the win at the end there. 

Agreed. Terunofuji only pushed Takayasu when the match was still very much on. Like he's supposed to do.

[Seiyashi 4,108]

24 minutes ago, dada78641 said:

2 hours ago, Kaninoyama said:

Terunofuji channeled his inner Hakuho today. Hopefully not a trend.

I don't think so. He was unable to push Takayasu out while being in a great position for most of the bout, and he had one great chance right before the end that Takayasu somehow miraculously managed to defend against, so I can't really blame him too much for being solely focused on making absolutely sure of the win at the end there.

Which might beg the question whether or not Takayasu actually injured something on the dohyo just prior to that shove, because Terunofuji probably calibrated the strength based on the resistance Takayasu was putting up. He definitely put a lot into the shove, but he might not have been expecting Takayasu to offer as little resistance as he actually did.

Looks like the right leg, if anything. Does anyone remember if that was the same leg that Kakuryu accidentally injured during the May 2020 basho?

Edited September 22, 2021 by Seiyashi

[Seiyashi 4,108]

Has anyone noticed that Takakeisho seems to have mixed up his tachiai, or is it just me? I remember he used to start bouts with both hands down, but now he has only his left down and his right quite frankly didn't touch down before the bout began. Seems like he's using that freer hand to absorb some of the impact from an opponent before the heads actually clash - not sure if this is a deliberate move or an accident of today's bout.

[Kintamayama 45,506]

1 hour ago, dada78641 said:

I don't think so. He was unable to push Takayasu out while being in a great position for most of the bout, and he had one great chance right before the end that Takayasu somehow miraculously managed to defend against, so I can't really blame him too much for being solely focused on making absolutely sure of the win at the end there.

Oh definitely. After Ura's hanging on to him and refusing to lose yesterday, he had to make darn sure this one was over.

[Rocks 1,809]

It will be interesting when Abi gets back to makuuchi. He managed to miss Hoshoryu and Kiribayama with his suspension. I think Abi  will give those 2 fits. 

[rhyen 1,846]

9 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

Can't find a pic of the set on display like with the Nagatanien set, but:

Of course it's obscured by the tsuna so it's difficult to see, but eh.

Yes, I remember Harumafuji having a pink kabuki actor mawashi as an ozeki and when he was promoted to yokozuna, the sponsor added on the 2 attendant KM.

[ViscountessNivlac 30]

7 hours ago, dada78641 said:

I don't think so. He was unable to push Takayasu out while being in a great position for most of the bout, and he had one great chance right before the end that Takayasu somehow miraculously managed to defend against, so I can't really blame him too much for being solely focused on making absolutely sure of the win at the end there.

At that segment of edge of the dohyo there's not really any way to avoid sending your opponent down unless you're walking them out and they stop trying (assuming Takayasu was balanced enough to have regained his footing if the drop wasn't there). I can't fault Terunofuji for not being ginger about it.

[Kotomiyama 174]

Tomokaze won today and has promotion to Makushita within range. I would love to see him back in Makuuchi...

[Thorbjarn 215]

Tomokaze getting back would be awesome. I'd also like to get Kotoshoho back. 

Terunofuji and Takayasu always seem to push each other to good matches. Good sumo from both for me. Feel bad for Hoshoryu and his make koshi. 

[Kaninoyama 1,818]

11 hours ago, Kotogouryuu said:

Agreed. Terunofuji only pushed Takayasu when the match was still very much on. Like he's supposed to do.

Fair enough. I realize it's in the heat of battle and this one was certainly questionable at best. More a reaction of seeing Takayasu go down like a ton of bricks. Hope he's OK. 

[Kyokufuji 64]

8 hours ago, Kotomiyama said:

Tomokaze won today and has promotion to Makushita within range. I would love to see him back in Makuuchi...

Agreed. He looks so rough right now, but I keep telling myself that Terunofuji also looked quite rough at the beginning of his comeback, and it certainly worked out well for him.

Can’t tell if Tomokaze has some kind of drop foot syndrome, or if he’s just really taped up. Hope it’s the latter.

[Kyokufuji 64]

Noticing that I’m not following anything that’s happening below Makushita now that Shonanzakura has retired.

[WAKATAKE 2,671]

Fujiseiun is 6-0 today per Kinta's lower division report. His record is now 20-0 career wise and is in a 3 way tie with Akiseyama and Tsurugisho for 20 straight wins from debut. If he wins match seven he will be in a four way tie with Kototenzan aka Earthquake, Enho and Hokuseiho at join sixth place

[code_number3 708]

No ozeki matchup this basho? As we seen on day 13 torikumi, Shodai vs Onosho and Takakeisho vs Myogiryu. 
Terunofuji may play Takakeisho on day 14 and Shodai on Senshuraku.

[Eikokurai 3,437]

24 minutes ago, code_number3 said:

No ozeki matchup this basho? As we seen on day 13 torikumi, Shodai vs Onosho and Takakeisho vs Myogiryu. 
Terunofuji may play Takakeisho on day 14 and Shodai on Senshuraku.

Huh. I can't see why they'd skip a bout between the only two Ozeki on the banzuke.

[Eikokurai 3,437]

If Takakeisho misses his chance to clear kadoban today, tomorrow he faces Myogiryu against whom he has a perfect 13-0 record! It's rigged!

He's 8-3 against today's aite, Takarafuji. Not really sure why he's facing him with his record/rank combination when it appears he won't meet Shodai.

Edited September 23, 2021 by Eikokurai

[Eikokurai 3,437]

Great tsuppari scrap between Chiyonokuni and Tochinoshin, like two knackered blokes outside a pub.

[rhyen 1,846]

23 minutes ago, Eikokurai said:

If Takakeisho misses his chance to clear kadoban today, tomorrow he faces Myogiryu against whom he has a perfect 13-0 record! It's rigged!

He's 8-3 against today's aite, Takarafuji. Not really sure why he's facing him with his record/rank combination when it appears he won't meet Shodai.

4 kyujo, so Takarafuji is the highest opponent left who hasn’t gone MK (Otherwise, it would be Chiyoshoma instead). His original opponent slate would have Hakuho.

the Ozeki are basically the gatekeepers tomorrow, to see which of the 2 loss chasers are still in the hunt. 
Let’s assume that both ozeki lose today and fight each other tomorrow instead of Onosho & Myogiryu, what is to stop Shodai (KK) from doing Takakeisho (7-5) a favour in that bout? Then you run into the problem of who will gatekeep against Onosho & Myogiryu to prevent another freak Makuuchi Yusho?

so they decide to delay/skip a ozeki matchup and pit TKK against Myogiryu and test Onosho against Shodai. This way, all 4 will be fired up for day 13 and fight their best and give the shimpans more data to gauge the promotion of Onosho & Myogiryu. 
 

Edited September 23, 2021 by rhyen

[Eikokurai 3,437]

12 minutes ago, rhyen said:

4 kyujo, so Takarafuji is the highest opponent left who hasn’t gone MK (Otherwise, it would be Chiyoshoma instead). His original opponent slate would have Hakuho.

the Ozeki are basically the gatekeepers tomorrow, to see which of the 2 loss chasers are still in the hunt. 
Let’s assume that both ozeki lose today and fight each other tomorrow instead of Onosho & Myogiryu, what is to stop Shodai (KK) from doing Takakeisho (7-5) a favour in that bout? Then you run into the problem of who will gatekeep against Onosho & Myogiryu to prevent another freak Makuuchi Yusho?

so they decide to delay/skip a ozeki matchup and pit TKK against Myogiryu and test Onosho against Shodai. This way, all 4 will be fired up for day 13 and fight their best and give the shimpans more data to gauge the promotion of Onosho & Myogiryu. 
 

Myogiryu has already lost, so now it just looks like a bad decision.

RE: The kyujo guys. Takakeisho had already fought Hokutofuji, Takayasu and Kotonowaka anyway, so their absence doesn't really affect his schedule. But you're otherwise right that Takarafuji is the best available. Still would have preferred to see him face Shodai though.

Edited September 23, 2021 by Eikokurai

[Seiyashi 4,108]

51 minutes ago, Eikokurai said:

54 minutes ago, rhyen said:

4 kyujo, so Takarafuji is the highest opponent left who hasn’t gone MK (Otherwise, it would be Chiyoshoma instead). His original opponent slate would have Hakuho.

the Ozeki are basically the gatekeepers tomorrow, to see which of the 2 loss chasers are still in the hunt. 
Let’s assume that both ozeki lose today and fight each other tomorrow instead of Onosho & Myogiryu, what is to stop Shodai (KK) from doing Takakeisho (7-5) a favour in that bout? Then you run into the problem of who will gatekeep against Onosho & Myogiryu to prevent another freak Makuuchi Yusho?

so they decide to delay/skip a ozeki matchup and pit TKK against Myogiryu and test Onosho against Shodai. This way, all 4 will be fired up for day 13 and fight their best and give the shimpans more data to gauge the promotion of Onosho & Myogiryu. 
 

Myogiryu has already lost, so now it just looks like a bad decision.

RE: The kyujo guys. Takakeisho had already fought Hokutofuji, Takayasu and Kotonowaka anyway, so their absence doesn't really affect his schedule. But you're otherwise right that Takarafuji is the best available. Still would have preferred to see him face Shodai though.

Seems like the torikumi committee is getting less and less chary about voiding "planned" meetups for ones of actual substance. In the relatively short time I've been following sumo, it still seems like a surprise every time it happens, although I could swear it's been the case for at least half of the basho over the past two years. Not sure if this is an effect of the sengoku period and multiple title challenges from down the banzuke, since normally the gatekeepers would also be the contenders.

[Djihi 33]

Awesome Meisei! 

Edited September 23, 2021 by Djihi