Attention: Please take a moment to consider our terms and conditions before posting.

Great news for Japanophiles - Grand Sumo is back (brief intro to sumo included for those interested)

1…6791112

Comments

  • McBobbin
    McBobbin Posts: 12,051
    Up to day 12 now, and it's very open! Good to see the two Ukrainians with winning records, kotozakura hasn't found his mojo, and takayasu are been impressive. Hopefully I can watch the last couple of days highlights soon
  • PeanutsMolloy
    PeanutsMolloy Posts: 6,704
    No spoilers from me.
    Enjoy.
  • Friend Or Defoe
    Friend Or Defoe Posts: 18,067
    I've seen day 15, superb stuff, but my heart goes out to the runner up.
  • PeanutsMolloy
    PeanutsMolloy Posts: 6,704
    Gutted to hear that my favourite rikishi - head butt first, ask questions later - the inimitable Hokutofuji, is to retire.
    It was just in July 2023 that he so nearly won a Yusho, losing in a play off.
    Never to see again his meditative pre-fight ritual, foot-stamping and all guns blazing Tachiai.
    A sad day indeed.
    Thanks for the memories Hokuto.




  • McBobbin
    McBobbin Posts: 12,051
    edited March 26
    Friend Or Defoe said:
    I've seen day 15, superb stuff, but my heart goes out to the runner up.
    Caught up now and second tournament in a row where the underdog just missed out, but goes to show the fine margins and levels of skill. Seen three tournaments now and already recognising the rikishi and some of the terminology... The commentary on the highlights is great, and also love the interviews when they somehow managed to say less than the average footballer 
  • Friend Or Defoe
    Friend Or Defoe Posts: 18,067
    Aonishiki performance was remarkable, arriving as a refugee less than 3 years ago. Although he had been training before arriving in Japan and comes from a country with an incredible wrestling pedigree, but to achieve that result in the makuuchi division, wow! The third Rikishi since 1958 to ascend 6 divisions in 9 Bashous and probably performed the best in makuuchi than the other 2? Will be interesting how he does in May as a lot of people will be gunning for him and i expect he'll be facing Sanyakus.
  • Friend Or Defoe
    Friend Or Defoe Posts: 18,067
    Decent bashou so far. As is tradition I'm predicting an Onosato victory. Early days but he is looking unstoppable and a victory should seal his position as they fastest Yokozuna, something that I believe has come to early for Hoshoryu.

    Daieishou is also looking good for an Ozeki promotion.
  • McBobbin
    McBobbin Posts: 12,051
    Ono looks like he's in with a shout after beating hoshoryu
  • PeanutsMolloy
    PeanutsMolloy Posts: 6,704
    edited May 17
    I'm really glad to see 2 Rikishi who had bad injuries going really well this Basho.
    Wakatakakage is fighting brilliantly and is at his best once again, after his knee surgery. I really hope he makes it to Ozeki in due course. He could go close this tournament, having had tough early bouts and Onosato still to fight.
    And Hakuoho is showing real promise again, after his shoulder injury. Probably won't last unbeaten too far into the second week as he fights the better Rikishi but he's on the comeback and is still young.
    Aonishiki is the best of the 4 European Gaijin IMHO (incredibly quick for his decent size) and has the talent to make it to at least Ozeki eventually if he can stay injury free.
    Onosato is indeed looking invincible and will make a great Yokozuna.
    I think Hoshoryu will benefit from Onosato taking the spotlight when he makes Yokozuna. I think the pressure gets to him.
    I hope the Basho doesn't turn into a procession with Onosato winning it at a canter. Daeisho looks determined to get his Ozeki promotion and is likely Onosato's biggest threat, along with Wakatakakage. 
  • McBobbin
    McBobbin Posts: 12,051
    I love watching Wakatakakage because he uses his speed and technique to make up for a lack of size
  • Sponsored links:



  • PeanutsMolloy
    PeanutsMolloy Posts: 6,704
    Twice this Basho we’ve seen bouts won by The Fisherman’s Throw, which is brill to see. Today by Sadanoumi.
    Great stuff.
  • Friend Or Defoe
    Friend Or Defoe Posts: 18,067
    Wakatakakage and Hakuoho are looking like threats, but personally i would like to see Onosato win by a distance to properly secure the Yokozuna rank.

    McBobbin said:
    I love watching Wakatakakage because he uses his speed and technique to make up for a lack of size
    Midorifuji is similar, strange for someone who is 115kg to look so small! It is a very solid 115kg in fairness. If he was 50kg heavier he would be challenging for the Bashou.
  • Alwaysneil
    Alwaysneil Posts: 13,804
    If his legs could carry his weight
  • Friend Or Defoe
    Friend Or Defoe Posts: 18,067
    Big contrast with the Ukuraina hito, Aonishiki looks like a real prospect.
  • McBobbin
    McBobbin Posts: 12,051
    Shishi was decent last bashou, had a winning record, so maybe it's just inexperience as to why he hasn't got going yet. Aonishiki looks like the real deal
  • PeanutsMolloy
    PeanutsMolloy Posts: 6,704
    edited May 18
    McBobbin said:
    Shishi was decent last bashou, had a winning record, so maybe it's just inexperience as to why he hasn't got going yet. Aonishiki looks like the real deal
    Just seen today’s highlights and commentator said Shishi got injured on Day 1. His thigh is now strapped.
    They all carry knocks to some extent but there’s no relief for injury no-shows (used to be but not now) - they're losses when it comes to Kachi-koshi or Makekoshi and potentially losing rank. 
  • Friend Or Defoe
    Friend Or Defoe Posts: 18,067
    Kayo is on a streak now. When i first saw him i thought he was just a fat mess the step up to Makuuchi was too much for him.

    Tobizaru demonstrated the meaning of his name today (day 8). 😳
  • PeanutsMolloy
    PeanutsMolloy Posts: 6,704
    edited May 18
    Friend Or Defoe said:
    Kayo is on a streak now. When i first saw him i thought he was just a fat mess the step up to Makuuchi was too much for him.

    Tobizaru demonstrated the meaning of his name today (day 8). 😳
    Kayo seems to win by skipping around avoiding a Mawashi battle. And he’s clearly not using thrusting tactics either. He’s made a couple of good throws but, if that’s how he has to fight to compete at Makuuchi level, he’d be better off losing some girth.
    Still not looking convincing even on his streak.
  • Friend Or Defoe
    Friend Or Defoe Posts: 18,067
    Did you see Kirishima's throw on day 9? A hail mary that paid off but cost him some of his face, incredible! Was against Takerufuji as well!
  • PeanutsMolloy
    PeanutsMolloy Posts: 6,704
    edited May 22
    Friend Or Defoe said:
    Did you see Kirishima's throw on day 9? A hail mary that paid off but cost him some of his face, incredible! Was against Takerufuji as well!
    Brilliant stuff.
    And take a look at Ura v Takayasu on day 11.
    Incredible.
    If you want to see it, here it is:

    https://x.com/picturesfoider/status/1925231117298270647?s=43

    The top bouts on Day 11 are great viewing..
  • Sponsored links:



  • Friend Or Defoe
    Friend Or Defoe Posts: 18,067
    That's the best match i have seen for a very long time! Ura's ducking to avoid Takayasu's attacks followed by an insanely technically throw that requires slow motion to fully appreciate! Something to show people who don't follow Sumo.  Unfortunately Ura's style is very high risk and it's unlikely he will ever threaten the leaderboard, but when it comes together it's astonishing.

    Onosato may seal the Bashou this morning and on Sunday we may have a fastest ever Yokozuna (all but officially) and Charlton promotion 🤞🏻

    I believe if Aonishiki avoids injuries he will one day be the first European to win the Emperor's cup.
  • PeanutsMolloy
    PeanutsMolloy Posts: 6,704
    Friend Or Defoe said:
    That's the best match i have seen for a very long time! Ura's ducking to avoid Takayasu's attacks followed by an insanely technically throw that requires slow motion to fully appreciate! Something to show people who don't follow Sumo.  Unfortunately Ura's style is very high risk and it's unlikely he will ever threaten the leaderboard, but when it comes together it's astonishing.

    Onosato may seal the Bashou this morning and on Sunday we may have a fastest ever Yokozuna (all but officially) and Charlton promotion 🤞🏻

    I believe if Aonishiki avoids injuries he will one day be the first European to win the Emperor's cup.
    Actually he'd be the first to make Yokozuna, if he makes it, but not the first European to win the Cup.
    Estonian Baruto won it in Jan 2012 and Georgian Tochinoshin won it in Jan 2018. Both made it to Ozeki.
    But I agree that Aonishiki looks the real deal - if he can avoid injury he could well make it to Yokozuna in time with several Cups in prospect, if Onosato doesn't get in the way!! 
  • Friend Or Defoe
    Friend Or Defoe Posts: 18,067
    Tochinoshin is usually sitting in the front row as a Shimpan, I should have known that!
  • PeanutsMolloy
    PeanutsMolloy Posts: 6,704
    edited May 23
    Friend Or Defoe said:
    Tochinoshin is usually sitting in the front row as a Shimpan, I should have known that!
    Actually that Shimpan isn't Tochinoshin, though he very much looks like him.
    It's the former Kotooshu, a Bulgarian and now Oyakata of the Naruto stable.
    I got it wrong myself because he too won the Cup (May 2008) - the first European to win it, the first to make Ozeki (which he held for almost 8 years without making it to the top - pretty difficult to win back-to-back titles to make it to Y when he had Hakuho and Asashoryu for competition) and the first European to start his own stable. 
    Tochinoshin left sumo when he retired and runs a burgeoning business in Japan importing Georgian wines.
  • PeanutsMolloy
    PeanutsMolloy Posts: 6,704
    edited May 23
    Great battle between Shishi and Churanoumi on Day 13.
    Terrific day’s bouts all round.
  • Friend Or Defoe
    Friend Or Defoe Posts: 18,067
    PeanutsMolloy said:
    Great battle between Shishi and Churanoumi on Day 13.
    Terrific day’s bouts all round.
    That was a superb back and forth. Great to see Shishi get a win. The thigh injury has ruined his bashou. 

    Wow, 13-0!  He's smashed everyone so far and becomes the fastest to become Yokozuna! 
  • PeanutsMolloy
    PeanutsMolloy Posts: 6,704
    Friend Or Defoe said:
    PeanutsMolloy said:
    Great battle between Shishi and Churanoumi on Day 13.
    Terrific day’s bouts all round.
    That was a superb back and forth. Great to see Shishi get a win. The thigh injury has ruined his bashou. 

    Wow, 13-0!  He's smashed everyone so far and becomes the fastest to become Yokozuna! 
    Onosato looks invincible.
    Will be a belter vs Hoshoryu on Sunday.
    Massive pride at stake for H.
    Kirishima’s looking back to his best as well, which is great.
    I’d love to see him back at Ozeki and for Wakatakakage (who will certainly now be promoted to Sekiwake) eventually join him.
  • Friend Or Defoe
    Friend Or Defoe Posts: 18,067
    Wakatakakage does seem to be on course to becoming a future ozeki in the future.
  • Friend Or Defoe
    Friend Or Defoe Posts: 18,067
    With Aonishiki's second double digit victories i assume he will move to the top of the Maegashira and will have to face the Sanyakus at the start of the next Bashou. Should produce some superb matches! 

    Onosato v Hoshoryu in about an hour's time for the last time as a non Yokozuna battle. Can the Yokozuna prevent a perfect Bashou?
  • Friend Or Defoe
    Friend Or Defoe Posts: 18,067
    Damn it! Hoshoryu makes a statement to the Shin yokozuna. 

Categories

“Marketplace”