Kyushu 2023 discussion (results)

[Yamanashi 3,903]

4 hours ago, dingo said:

Fortunately today was much better from him, but he still needs 4-5 wins more to be sure.

Kitanowaka made the classic mistake: he went for a nodowa on Takarafuji's neck.  Everybody on Sumo Forum knows why that won't work ...

[808morgan 814]

On 15/11/2023 at 09:21, Obana said:

I have a picture of me in Endo's arms too, I like your pic. 

 

 

[Asashosakari 19,648]

Hokutofuji got tripped up by the "corner" formed by the tokudawara and the rest of the straw bales, ouch. Not sure I've seen that before, at least not with such decisive consequences.

[Kintamayama 45,506]

Stop the press!! Aqua has stopped throwing a lot of salt!! Is Kotoekou replacing him? And he won as well.

[Jakusotsu 6,048]

56 minutes ago, Kintamayama said:

Aqua has stopped throwing a lot of salt!

Bucket empty?

[Kaninoyama 1,818]

Sekiwake & Ozeki are dropping like flies on this fine Nakabi. 

[Bunbukuchagama 770]

So much for good sanyaku start.

[Jakusotsu 6,048]

Hokutofuji mumbling to Kirishima: "Ozeki my ass!"

[Barutokai 65]

37 minutes ago, Jakusotsu said:

Hokutofuji mumbling to Kirishima: "Ozeki my ass!"

Kirishima: "Alright I'll try to get you to land on your ass next time!"

[kedevash 43]

What a day ! I didn't expect Asanoyama to come back victorious. He was able to resist Takakeisho's pressure despite his injury. Tsuna inexorably moves away for Takakiesho...
Hoshoryu also falls but this time due to his own fault. Too much aggression without thinking about his feet.
Gonoyama.. What can I say? Fantastic.. His pushing and thrusting and his tachi-ai are devastating and his confidence is growing more and more.
Daieisho is sinking... Too bad... Just like Wakamotoharu who seems lost...
Atamifuji is recovering and it's nice.
Churanoumi continues his superb rookie basho.

Ichiyamamoto continues to ride the wave of his last Juryo basho. Being in the lead after 8 days is no small thing. How far will he be able to keep the same pace. To see, but I don't believe in a yusho.

Edited November 19, 2023 by kedevash

[Hankegami 537]

What a good, fine nakabi. Perhaps it's time to root for Ichiyamamoto in the hope of getting something better of a 12-3Y scoreline just for a change.

Speaking of Ichiyamamoto, he's clearly at ease in the lower Makuuchi. That's his natural environment, where he can jump freely from a Wakatakakage poster to another. I doubt he will falter much before being fed to the joy. Not much, but perhaps a bit yes. Tomorrow he will get a first serious test in the person of Tamawashi. The Old Fox sits in the runner-up pack at 6-2 and would much welcome a chance to get a share of the lead. He dispatched Tohakuryu today without much drama, and has a strong 3-0 record again Itchy (here). Yusho scoreline already set at no better than 13-2 already with tomorrow?

And now that we've dealt with the sole leader already, let's talk about the many runner-ups. I cannot take Churanoumi and Ryuden as serious contenders yet. I will let them simmer in the next few days and see what they come up with. Atamifuji has been on my watch since day one instead. He actually offered an unimpressive performance in his win against Takanosho today, aside from his excellent defense. Atamin turned out to be really good at sidestepping. He saved his bout twice in this tournament (against Ryuden and today) and did the impossible before falling against Hiradoumi. He should bounce back also in the offensive department, though.

Now, the joy-jin in the runner-up pack. Midorifuji hits 6-2 by tricking and dancing on the rope, not for the first time. Given his small frame, it's just how he fights and that's good. Tomorrow he gets an interesting match against Mitakeumi, a behemoth with a known weakness for belt players. Their precedents are 2-2 (here) so we should not rule Mita out. Going up, a resurgent Nishikigi took Hoshoryu's scalp for the fourth time in a row (record 4-3). Truly outstanding from a guy who started 0-2 this basho. Tomorrow he will haunt (and hunt down) poor Takakeisho. I will talk about that again in the next paragraph.

Now, san'yaku. Daieisho got Abi'd and fell on third place and also out of Ozeki promotion definitively (best possible outcome 31/33 now). Kotonowaka also lost again because Shodai (whatever else?) and will have to fight for his dear runner-up position tomorrow against his arch-enemy Hoshoryu. Talking about the Nephew, he also fell of one placement after his Nishikigi treatment, so this match is important for them both. Kotonowaka vs. Hoshoryu, none less than the Day 9 musubi no ichiban, has a dreadful 5-10 record (here) masking the fact that Kotonowaka broke his Hoshoryu spell a while ago and won their last two confrontations. Will the Nephew be able to cast yet another spell (niramiaius, I am told), or is Four Tits going to live and see yet another day still in a full-fledged Ozeki run? Changing Ozeki, Takakeisho lost to Asanoyama today and once again he will chase the white rope next time. Of course, he can still try again next January as long as he gets a jun-yusho (in theory), so he better got to bounce back - unless Nishikigi will release him of his misery tomorrow. Last line, Kirishima played choo-choo with an injured Hokutofuji and got a rather easy win. Tomorrow he will get Asanoyama (3-4 murky precedents) for a real test.

Edited November 19, 2023 by Hankegami

[Kintamayama 45,506]

4 hours ago, Jakusotsu said:

Bucket empty?

No, he just went for the usual amount. The camera closed in in him, but no salt-rain.

[Kintamayama 45,506]

4 hours ago, Jakusotsu said:

Bucket empty?

And here it is - the camera went for a close-up but disappointment..:

 

 

Edited November 19, 2023 by Kintamayama

[RabidJohn 1,855]

Is time-keeper the rookie shimpan job? 
Maybe it's just a bias due to only seeing the 2 on the south side in the usual camera view, but if there's a new guy he's always on the right (as you look).
Today it was Hidenoyama, looking very young, too.

[Seiyashi 4,108]

Am I the only one who doesn't like how the basho blew up today? Just when it looked like the chaos of the past few years was over, too. 

[Hankegami 537]

23 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

Am I the only one who doesn't like how the basho blew up today? Just when it looked like the chaos of the past few years was over, too. 

Speaking for myself, I'm more gotten used to more than liking it. Perhaps it's because I started watching sumo with Aki 2021 where, after a short Terunofuji dominance, everything went awry quickly. It's 1991-92 once again but with many more low scores. And Takakeisho is taking Konishiki's place in the general narrative. Akebono and Takanohana still not found (unless Hokuseiho is meant to be the Wish version of Akebono). I am currently monitoring the upcoming 2000s kids (Atamifuji, Onosato, Hakuoho) hoping for a new incoming wave yet to reach full height. Either that, or we will soon have to change the name of the two main division into Juryo A and Juryo B.

I am extremely puzzled by this all-low period, however. Aside from get used to the present situation, past records clearly show that someone most often gets 14-1 or 13-2, even in a fluke (Tokushoryu, anyone?). It's two years now that losing 3 some matches is the new normal. That's not just having a pool of wrestlers on a more or less equal strength. It's more like lacking the ability to stay focused for 15 days straight. One could wonder whether COVID played a role in that, although Terunofuji appeared to be thoroughly unaffected this Natsu. Yet I am baffled to see people clearly driven by a strong will like the present Ozeki bunch still manage to be slapped down by rank-and-filers.

Edited November 19, 2023 by Hankegami

[Tigerboy1966 1,474]

16 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

Just when it looked like the chaos of the past few years was over, too. 

Yup I'm getting a bit fed up of 11-4 and 12-3 yusho.

If Takakeisho was not on a rope run I don't think he would even be competing and if he gets to 5 losses I think he will go kyujo. Without his cannonball tachi-ai he doesn't have much to offer. Kirishima and Hoshoryu need to eliminate these "lapses of concentration" and start posting big scores as they are the only men who have the ability to make convincing yokozuna in the next year or so.

[Koorifuu 1,020]

Naruto's been calling makushita rikishi for random lectures when there's no apparent reason for it.

[rhyen 1,846]

21 hours ago, sumojoann said:

I definitely agree.  He strikes me as quiet, unassuming, friendly and likeable away from the dohyo, (but of course fearless once he steps onto it).  I'll see if I can find a particular Youtube video that supports my opinion.  It was filmed at the Oct 2022 Sumo Fan Appreciation Festival in Tokyo.  In this video, a large number of Makuuchi rikishi were called to the stage and introduced one-by-one.  The rikishi that were already on the stage generally maintained neutral expressions on their faces as the newly-introduced ones passed by them.  However, it was very interesting to see some warm smiles(or lack thereof) shown by the rikishi that were already on the stage towards some of the rikishi that were being introduced.  EDIT TO ADD VIDEO, make corrections and add comments.  The picture quality is very poor but in watching the video again, I noticed that the following rikishi received warm smiles --- Takanosho, Nishikigi, Midorifuji, Tobizaru and Shodai (although it's possible they were laughing at Shodai!).  The Makuuchi rikishi became quite stone-faced when the following rikishi were introduced --- Endo, Ura, Meisei, Abi and especially Takakeisho.  And to a certain extent Terunofuji.

These are just my impressions.  Your opinions might differ.

 

Actually, it looks more like they are laughing at the emcee’s introduction of the rikishi

[dingo 1,294]

A bit shorter comments today cause I'm suffering from Sunday laziness 

For many bashos now Shodai of all rikishi is playing spoiler to all the various yusho/ozeki/whatever hopeful. He might look lethargic but it belies serious skill that still appears at the most inconvenient time from him opponent's point of view. All the makuuchi top better remember that Shodai was not an ozeki for nothing.

Gounoyama vs Wakamotoharu -- who's the sekiwake and who's the M4 in that bout?

Unfortunate for Takakeisho, I would've gone for a torinaoshi in that bout. Don't think it was clear enough for a straightforward decision. 

OMG Nishi-freaking-kigi! He can beat just about anyone these days. Just needs a bit more consistency to stick in the sanyaku. 

Halfway through the basho we have an immensely exciting basho! At this point I wouldn't dare to predict who's gonna hold the cup in the end... 

[Yarimotsu 588]

43 minutes ago, dingo said:

Unfortunate for Takakeisho, I would've gone for a torinaoshi in that bout. Don't think it was clear enough for a straightforward decision. 

I did immediately consider the possibility that the shimpan simply didn't want to award any second chances lest they end up with a yokozuna who made the rank doing that kind of sumo. After all, some oyakata were quoted before the basho suggesting they'd only be happy with him getting promoted if he showed solid forward-moving sumo - this was a perfect chance to deny such inadequacies (or at least not reward mediocrity). I have thought before that both kotonowaka and hoshoryu suffered similar decisions under slightly different circumstances.

[Yubinhaad 11,761]

Surprised not to see Raiho on the kyujo list after his loss yesterday, either with a neck injury or concussion. After getting into a moguruzumo position, he was folded in half when Yutakasho advanced, and then landed hard on the floor where he remained for a while. Eventually he was able to remount the dohyo to bow, but looked quite shaky all along.

[Fashiritētā 184]

3 hours ago, Koorifuu said:

Naruto's been calling makushita rikishi for random lectures when there's no apparent reason for it.

Trying to show he cares, lifts doyjo and sweeps issues under, la la la

[Koorifuu 1,020]

1 hour ago, Yubinhaad said:

Surprised not to see Raiho on the kyujo list after his loss yesterday, either with a neck injury or concussion. After getting into a moguruzumo position, he was folded in half when Yutakasho advanced, and then landed hard on the floor where he remained for a while. Eventually he was able to remount the dohyo to bow, but looked quite shaky all along.

It looked to me like his lower back was compressed with that bump .Let's see tomorrow if he's steady on his two feet.

[Kishinoyama 596]

I just wanted everyone to know that I tried to have a discussion with Hokuseiho about his match with Midorifuji. He said something about being on a water break and that he would get back to me later. I am still waiting for a response. 
 

Disclaimer: Not a chance that this actually happened.