Kyushu 2021 discussion

[Kaninoyama 1,713]

Takakeisho and Mitakeumi are off to rock-solid starts. 

[since_94 650]

Quite sporting of the Yokozuna to lend his chest to Wakatakakage like that. Nothing wrong with a bit of butsugari geiko in the musubi no ichiban, I guess. Man looked like a wall.

[since_94 650]

2 hours ago, rhyen said:

Ex-Kotoyuki has shrunk. His suit looks 3 times bigger than him. 

Probably a good thing.

[Amamaniac 2,078]

5 hours ago, Tiger Tanaka said:

Question: I noticed a fan in the upper right of the screen holding a framed portrait picture towards Mitakeumi and Takanosho during their match. Anyone know the story behind this?

Since I am only an observer and don't know the woman personally, I can't give a definitive answer.  

But my best guess is that the woman was holding a black-and-white photo of her late husband, and held it so that he could watch the action on the ring (from up on high).  I personally question whether the people (usually women) who do this actually believe that the spirit of their dead spouses can actually watch, or that they simply want to have a reminder of their spouses with them since the latter are sorely missed...

[Jakusotsu 5,876]

5 minutes ago, since_94 said:

2 hours ago, rhyen said:

Ex-Kotoyuki has shrunk. His suit looks 3 times bigger than him. 

Probably a good thing.

"You're making sense. Stop it!"

[Tigerboy1966 1,417]

Is it just me, or is this basho not generating much enthusiasm. The recent comments on this topic are a bit like the crowd at a football match doing "the wave" or passing a beach ball around because there isn't much happening on the pitch. That's not a criticism of the posts btw.

[Amamaniac 2,078]

How's that for enthusiasm?!

[RabidJohn 1,725]

51 minutes ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

Is it just me, or is this basho not generating much enthusiasm. The recent comments on this topic are a bit like the crowd at a football match doing "the wave" or passing a beach ball around because there isn't much happening on the pitch. That's not a criticism of the posts btw.

I believe it's lack of narrative/hype rather than enthusiasm.

- Hakuho is no more, and Terunofuji is behaving like a proper yokozuna.
- No one's on an ozeki or tsuna run.
- Neither of the ozeki is a 'square number'.
- Shin-sanyaku Kiribayama looks like he's getting the traditional week 1 drubbing.
- Hoshoryu is not Asashoryu.
- No one new up to makuuchi from juryo.
- Hokuseiho went kyujo.

Narratives may develop as the days pass, but so far I'm just enjoying the sumo in this run-of-the-mill November basho.

[since_94 650]

1 hour ago, Jakusotsu said:

"You're making sense. Stop it!"

Kotoyuki always fought like a man born under punches

[since_94 650]

1 hour ago, RabidJohn said:

I believe it's lack of narrative/hype rather than enthusiasm.

- Hakuho is no more, and Terunofuji is behaving like a proper yokozuna.
- No one's on an ozeki or tsuna run.
- Neither of the ozeki is a 'square number'.
- Shin-sanyaku Kiribayama looks like he's getting the traditional week 1 drubbing.
- Hoshoryu is not Asashoryu.
- No one new up to makuuchi from juryo.
- Hokuseiho went kyujo.

Narratives may develop as the days pass, but so far I'm just enjoying the sumo in this run-of-the-mill November basho.

Today was a bit of a hitakikomi/oshidashi convention, which never does much for buzz. Forget I said that. Torikumi knows better than my crappy memory. I stand by the rest of this inconsequential post, however.

 Takayasu is lulling us all to sleep with his marathon snorefests. First two days had some exciting bouts, though.

Edited November 16, 2021 by since_94

[Eikokurai 3,437]

1 hour ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

Is it just me, or is this basho not generating much enthusiasm. The recent comments on this topic are a bit like the crowd at a football match doing "the wave" or passing a beach ball around because there isn't much happening on the pitch. That's not a criticism of the posts btw.

 

23 minutes ago, RabidJohn said:

I believe it's lack of narrative/hype rather than enthusiasm.

- Hakuho is no more, and Terunofuji is behaving like a proper yokozuna.
- No one's on an ozeki or tsuna run.
- Neither of the ozeki is a 'square number'.
- Shin-sanyaku Kiribayama looks like he's getting the traditional week 1 drubbing.
- Hoshoryu is not Asashoryu.
- No one new up to makuuchi from juryo.
- Hokuseiho went kyujo.

Narratives may develop as the days pass, but so far I'm just enjoying the sumo in this run-of-the-mill November basho.

Speaking for myself, I’ve been unable to generate much enthusiasm in between the basho too, partly because of other things going on in life and at work and, yes, partly the lack of stories. We don’t get much news between basho these days and there are only a few built-in narratives to follow (Abi’s return, basically). I’m sure as the yusho race picks up I’ll start paying more attention and having more to say for myself, which I usually do! 

[Morty 1,483]

Abi and Hokotofuji look like a couple of sharks circling in the shallow pool that is the bottom of the Maegeshira ranks.

And to extend the predator metaphor, Hoshoryu vs. Ura, based purely on their faces before the bout, looked like a wolf hunting a slightly bewildered sheep. But the sheep won. Ura is such a weirdo.

[Eikokurai 3,437]

2 minutes ago, Morty said:

Abi and Hokotofuji look like a couple of sharks circling in the shallow pool that is the bottom of the Maegeshira ranks.

And to extend the predator metaphor, Hoshoryu vs. Ura, based purely on their faces before the bout, looked like a wolf hunting a slightly bewildered sheep. But the sheep won. Ura is such a weirdo.

Hopefully those two can keep the yusho race interesting fighting well below their natural ranks. They’ll avoid the Y/O until they start threatening to steal the cup so they’ve a nice opportunity.

[Thorbjarn 214]

Terunofuji looks like end-game-Hakuho, best guy in the whole thing, but still not invicible. Takakeisho and Mitakeumi off to good starts. Maybe they can push Terunofuji a bit. 

[Djihi 33]

Takakeishou looks in form. I have high hopes for him to stay in the yusho.

[dingo 1,212]

6 minutes ago, HappySumo said:

I'd say both Ozekis look fired up.

And also Mitakeumi. Now watch me jinx him. 

[Amamaniac 2,078]

9 hours ago, Eikokurai said:

Speaking for myself, I’ve been unable to generate much enthusiasm in between the basho too, partly because of other things going on in life and at work and, yes, partly the lack of stories. We don’t get much news between basho these days and there are only a few built-in narratives to follow (Abi’s return, basically). I’m sure as the yusho race picks up I’ll start paying more attention and having more to say for myself, which I usually do! 

Life has a way of getting in the way of being able to bask in the joys of oozumo.  Hope you find a way to get back in the swing of things, oozumo-wise.

I can't believe that you mentioned a lack of "between basho" news!  Of all between-bashes, this last one had to have the biggest news ever: Hakuho's sudden retirement.  I know many of us were expecting it, but it is still the biggest news to hit oozumo in a long time.  Oddly enough, it did not get as much attention as say Chiyonofuji's retirement (I've read that the whole nation stopped what it was doing to tune in to his retirement press announcement).  

Over on Abema TV's coverage, they are playing interviews with many of the salaried wrestlers giving their reaction to Hakuho's retirement.  That is definitely one of the narratives here, although admittedly it doesn't spark much interest in the tournament at hand.

[Amamaniac 2,078]

Mitakeumi put a nail in the coffin of Daieisho's (and Waka III's) hope of a yusho championship in Kyushu.  Daieisho's sumo is actually quite good, and he gave Terunofuji a run for his money the day before (not to mention actually upsetting the Yokozuna in September).  So for Mitakeumi to handle Daieisho with relative ease does say something about the Sekiwake's chances going forward.

I know Mitakeumi has a track record of choking at critical moments, but he does have two Top Div championships to his name.  I'd say he is overdue for another!  At the risk of upsetting Takakeisho fans on the forum, if there is a non-Yokozuna champion this month, I would get a bigger kick out of Mitakeumi reminding us that he can get the job done every now and then.

But, I'm definitely not ruling Takakeisho out (especially if he is back in form).  Today he showed why he is so dangerous, sending upstart Kiribayama to the dirt with that strong left swipe of his!  Absolutely deadly, that is!

[Amamaniac 2,078]

Anyone else feel that Bushozan is the Takakeisho of the Juryo Division.  Their body types and fighting styles seem rather similar, and sometimes (without my glasses on), I catch a Bushozan bout at the end of Juryo and panic that I missed most of the Top Division action, and it's down to the last few bouts there!

Bushozan is 1-2 at J3w,  He'll need to do a lot better if he hopes to get promoted into the Top Division in January!

[RabidJohn 1,725]

34 minutes ago, Amamaniac said:

I know Mitakeumi has a track record of choking at critical moments, but he does have two Top Div championships to his name.  

Choking? Mitakeumi? I beg to differ!

No rikishi with 2 yusho to their name without being ozeki is a choker, And one of his yusho was a play-off win, which I imagine must be as high pressure as it gets.

He didn't choke.

Inconsistent is what he is. Good enough to stay in sanyaku for years, but far too inconsistent to be an ozeki.

[Tigerboy1966 1,417]

22 minutes ago, RabidJohn said:

Inconsistent is what he is. Good enough to stay in sanyaku for years, but far too inconsistent to be an ozeki.

Agree... mostly. Becoming an ozeki is about grouping ones shots. Theoretically you could win three yusho a year, but if they were interspersed with 7-8s you ain't going nowhere. BTW Mitakeumi is now in a clear lead in the race for "Most wins in a year by a wrestler who isn't called Terunofuji", two clear of Ichinojo and Shodai.

To hark back to a previous post, if there is to be an upset winner from the "below ozeki" contingent, I think we may have to look way down the banzuke. Abi and Hokutofuji have been doing exactly what we would expect them to do at their rank. I would be surprised if one of them isn't in contention going into the final weekend.

ce

Edited November 16, 2021 by Tigerboy1966

[Kaninoyama 1,713]

 I'm bullish on Abi. He fell down the ranks due to suspension, not injury, and before that he was a Joi mainstay with Sanyaku experience. 

In recent interviews, he's expressed regret over his actions and a new sense of gratitude for being able to mount the dohyo. On top of that, he is a new father and appears ready to take his life and sumo career seriously--something he didn't always do.

In addition, he's clearly a heftier version of himself than before his suspension. 

I expect he'll be soon knocking on Sanyaku's door again within a few basho, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if he one day made Ozeki. 

[Eikokurai 3,437]

2 hours ago, Amamaniac said:

I can't believe that you mentioned a lack of "between basho" news!  Of all between-bashes, this last one had to have the biggest news ever: Hakuho's sudden retirement.

That happened almost as soon as the basho was done. I’m also mainly talking about news relevant to the forthcoming basho.

[Joaoiyama 307]

Mitakeumi is no choker, he is an early starter who sometimes runs out of steam. He looks to be at his heaviest, i want to see how he performs in the second week.

[Amamaniac 2,078]

9 minutes ago, Eikokurai said:

That happened almost as soon as the basho was done. I’m also mainly talking about news relevant to the forthcoming basho.

Figured as much.   Just wanted to point out that the retirement news was "technically" between bashos, not to mention the fact that the news cycle for it lasted for several days, if not a week.  But I agree that the news leading up to Kyushu was a little lacklustre.