Hatsu 2025 discussion (results)

[Shikona 148]

4 hours ago, Jakusotsu said:

Doing Takerufuji-Kirishima before Kinbozan-Oho is a bit pointless, isn't it?

Hmm, I guess it does build the suspense just a bit more. What I don't understand is why, having made that choice, they didn't also push it behind Takanosho-Kagayagi, since they'd only be upstaging another M1.

[Yarimotsu 578]

21 minutes ago, Shikona said:

Even if Hoshoryu doesn't take the yusho, a win tomorrow does open the possibility of a promotion. Onokuni made it in 1987 with 13+12 both jun yusho. Yes, the promotions may have been easier then, but that's certainly reflected in his having gotten the nod despite two Y already on the banzuke, and Hokutoumi having just been promoted two basho earlier. Now we are empty, and you can imagine they have been hoping for the past year that someone would step up to let the battered Terunofuji retire.  Will be interesting to see. Except that having suggested this, I have probably put a massive jinx on his chances for a win.

I don't think we see this post-Futahaguro. However, I do think Y=promotion in this case for Hoshoryu, and some will be surprised if that comes to pass.

[hakutorizakura 629]

Ooof Kinbo really wanted to win. When they locked on the belt fight I thought he's done for. But no!

Regardless of what will happen tomorrow, here's hoping for always good health for Mr. Golden Peak Mountain (and Mr. Golden Ball Mountain).

[Sakura 1,489]

On 24/01/2025 at 06:50, Jakusotsu said:

There's still Daieisho or Oho on the menu.

They've done this once before in the last few years with two maegashira facing off with both having yusho aspirations. They also put that pairing as the prime maegashira bout. 

[just_some_guy 278]

I'm shocked at how well Nabatame is doing this basho. After MK-ing his first two Juryo attempts and starting this one off 1-3 I was beginning to think he had hit his peak in the Juryo/Makushita border zone. Granted, this one could be a fluke but he's looking more aggressive, which has benefited him.

[Benihana 1,929]

As of today, Takarafuji officially is LEET.

Hoshoryu must have read i called him a Lappen and is back to uncle energy. I call that a reverse jinx. I like that kind of Hoshoryu. If everything falls into place tomorrow and he can claim the yusho, a promotion wouldn't be undeserved.

 

[WAKATAKE 2,656]

The facepalm I had to make when Konosuke made that call

[Asashosakari 19,334]

2 hours ago, Shikona said:

Even if Hoshoryu doesn't take the yusho, a win tomorrow does open the possibility of a promotion. Onokuni made it in 1987 with 13+12 both jun yusho. Yes, the promotions may have been easier then, but that's certainly reflected in his having gotten the nod despite two Y already on the banzuke, and Hokutoumi having just been promoted two basho earlier. Now we are empty, and you can imagine they have been hoping for the past year that someone would step up to let the battered Terunofuji retire.  Will be interesting to see. Except that having suggested this, I have probably put a massive jinx on his chances for a win.

Please. Onokuni went 15-0 / 12-3 / 13-2 there.

[Gurowake 4,053]

2 hours ago, Sakura said:

They've done this once before in the last few years with two maegashira facing off with both having yusho aspirations. They also put that pairing as the prime maegashira bout. 

But then why is Takanosho- Kagayaki after it?  Why change the order from the standard by many places only to not push it all the way to right before matches with sanyaku?

[Sakura 1,489]

2 minutes ago, Gurowake said:

But then why is Takanosho- Kagayaki after it?  Why change the order from the standard by many places only to not push it all the way to right before matches with sanyaku?

Good point. I didn't notice that it wasn't the last one. Because they didn't want to go past M1e?

[Jakusotsu 5,969]

Wild speculation: perhaps the prime minister is supposed to enter the building at the time Kinbozan's bout is scheduled?

[Benevolance 2,501]

I think Hoshoryu did well to stay in the yusho competition after his mid tournament blip. But I don't see them giving him a promotion even if he wins the yusho. At best, he extends his yusho run, and they might look favorably upon the results of next tournament. 

[dingo 1,263]

Maybe I'm strange, but the tail-shaking before tachiai that both Aonishiki and Shishi do is really annoying. Especially Shishi who can't stop bouncing his behind up and down up until both rikishi start moving. Now that I'm done complaining about my pet peeve for this basho, let's look at today's bouts.

Hakuoho beat Endo by pure power only. You could sense how Endo was trying to get a better position to execute one of his smooth throws but Hakuoho did really well on the belt and in the end was simply stronger and more stable.

Shonannoumi again more nimble than one would expect of a rikishi of his size. This time Ichiyamamoto was the target of his deft moves and somewhat surprisingly Shonannoumi is kachikoshi with a day left. Ichiyamamoto has to get his tomorrow, but at least he won't have to face his doppelganger, who incidentally has the same score as him. 

Shodai's mid-basho surge that started with his win over Hoshoryu was in the end too short as he ends up makekoshi at the hands of Midorifuji. Midorifuji himself is about to complete a wondrous turnaround similar to Shonannoumi, with a chance to grab his 8th win tomorrow. 

Gonoyama easily read Tobizaru's lame henka attempt and sent the monkey flying (pardon the pun, couldn't help it). Somehow Tobizaru hasn't been able to figure out a way to win against Gonoyama and he'll have to try again next basho. 

Mitakeumi keeps the record of the worst makuuchi performance so far as he loses to Atamifuji. Although Atamifuji has also a bad record with 10 losses, today his sumo looked miles better than Mitakeumi's. Even a fusensho would've been better looking than what Mitakeumi offered. 

Oho again with an excellent plan B, keeping himself in the yusho and sanyaku race. Actually, if either Abi or Wakatakakage loses tomorrow he won't even have to push too hard for the latter. I'm praying to sumo gods that his performance this basho is not a blip and he can finally step up. Takanosho on the other hand is not yet quite at the level that Demon Kakka predicted.

Kinbozan! He went face to face with Kirishima and bested him fair and square, no ifs or buts here. Like hakutorizakura, I too thought he would be at a disadvantage going yotsu with Kirishima but he was excellent. As Kintamayama said, a performance definitely worthy of the yusho. 

Takerufuji gave up an inside grip disappointingly easily and from then on it was all Hoshoryu. The yusho result might be out of his hands tomorrow but I'm sure he's mentally ready for a playoff. 

Tomorrow -- I'm an Oho fan but I'm rooting for Kinbozan to get his well deserved yusho with an excellent 13-2 score. Also because I sincerely believe Oho's time will come soon. 

[Sue 508]

Oh, no! Shodai has a makekoshi! Does that mean that he won't be the next Ozeki?

[Asashosakari 19,334]

As for the schedule shenanigans, it really just looks to me like the rationale in placing the Kinbozan-Oho bout where it ended up was "not before Takerufuji-Kirishima". And honestly, kudos to them for even considering that a crowd-pleasing deviation from the normal order might make sense here.

[Jakusotsu 5,969]

35 minutes ago, dingo said:

Maybe I'm strange, but the tail-shaking before tachiai that both Aonishiki and Shishi do is really annoying. Especially Shishi who can't stop bouncing his behind up and down up until both rikishi start moving.

Ever watched Chiyootori? I called him Bob for a reason...

[MrGrumpyGills 133]

58 minutes ago, dingo said:

Maybe I'm strange, but the tail-shaking before tachiai that both Aonishiki and Shishi do is really annoying. Especially Shishi who can't stop bouncing his behind up and down up until both rikishi start moving.

I was contemplating if I should mention that but decided against it
Yes, I agree, it's irritating to watch. Is it supposed to distract the opponent? Is it nerves? Superstition? Shishi also makes these silly grabbing motions with his hands
Just put them down and let's go already.

[lackmaker 437]

55 minutes ago, Sue said:

Oh, no! Shodai has a makekoshi! Does that mean that he won't be the next Ozeki?

He's playing the long game..."next but one ozeki"

[Kishinoyama 595]

3 hours ago, Benevolance said:

I think Hoshoryu did well to stay in the yusho competition after his mid tournament blip. But I don't see them giving him a promotion even if he wins the yusho. At best, he extends his yusho run, and they might look favorably upon the results of next tournament. 

It could be even worse if Oho beats Kinbozan and Hoshoryu loses. Hoshoryu is then in third place behind two playoff rikishi. If that happens then I believe he would be back at square one. 

[Akinomaki 40,518]

On 11/01/2025 at 09:01, Akinomaki said:

On 08/01/2025 at 09:19, Akinomaki said:

Onosato got a new one from Go-Go Curry gogocurry.com, an Ishikawa pref. based restaurant chain serving Kanazawa curry

wearing this, he wants to aim for higher 

Today Onosato at last started to wear the new Go-Go Curry kesho mawashi, with added gorilla power - maybe he should have tried it earlier

o 

[Sumo Spiffy 560]

13 minutes ago, Kishinoyama said:

It could be even worse if Oho beats Kinbozan and Hoshoryu loses. Hoshoryu is then in third place behind two playoff rikishi. If that happens then I believe he would be back at square one. 

Obviously the current status of rikishi and their opponents doesn't factor into these decisions, but in a justice sense, if Hoshoryu can't beat this version of Kotozakura to secure at least a JY, he should be back at square one.

TBH, though, if he loses, I don't think the playoff matters. It's just an 11-win JY. Maybe it helps combined with the 13-2 JY in November, but normally it wouldn't count for much.

Edited January 25 by Sumo Spiffy

[Kaninoyama 1,787]

2 hours ago, Jakusotsu said:

Ever watched Chiyootori? I called him Bob for a reason...

And does no one remember when Ryuden suddenly became a blatant twerker a few years back?

[Bunbukuchagama 724]

3 hours ago, dingo said:

Maybe I'm strange, but the tail-shaking before tachiai that both Aonishiki and Shishi do is really annoying. Especially Shishi who can't stop bouncing his behind up and down up until both rikishi start moving. Now that I'm done complaining about my pet peeve for this basho, let's look at today's bouts.

You must love Oshoma then.

[Asashosakari 19,334]

2 hours ago, Kishinoyama said:

It could be even worse if Oho beats Kinbozan and Hoshoryu loses. Hoshoryu is then in third place behind two playoff rikishi. If that happens then I believe he would be back at square one. 

I agree with Spiffy. A Hoshoryu loss will do that regardless of what happens in the Kinbozan-Oho bout(s). 11-4 shared jun-yusho behind Kinbozan 13-2 will be just as worthless as 11-4 third place behind two 12-3's.

Edited January 25 by Asashosakari

[Asashosakari 19,334]

Any sansho hopes/predictions?

My wild guess:

Kinbozan kanto-sho, plus shukun-sho if yusho
Oho gino-sho, plus shukun-sho if yusho
Chiyoshoma kanto-sho if 9-6 (but no idea if they'll actually recognize that he had the second-most unexpected positive performance after Kinbozan)

Does Kirishima get anything? (Sure didn't in September...) Takerufuji? I'm skeptical.