Very sad for Wakatakakage. He just wasn't himself this tournament, and had that bad knee taped up. I hope he rests up and comes back fit in November.
Am a little puzzled that Takayasu didn't do better, but happy that Takanosho did so well.
Thrilled to see Shodai to get double-digit wins. This will bump him back up the ranks and he'll probably start to suffer again, but maybe that's his destiny, lose out at the top, win big near the bottom. I heard Tim's comment on the podcast that Shodai just wasn't comfortable with the pressure as an ozeki. Oh well, wherever he finds his level, I enjoy seeing him win no matter how low-ranked the opponent.
Been wondering how Aonishi isn't already an ozeki. He's won 11-4 the last 4 tournaments. Isn't 33 wins over 3 tournaments the qualifier? Or do you have to be out of Maegashira before the counting starts?
One of the JSA members flat out said that this tournament is the first tournament that will count as an ozeki run for Aonishiki. We have seen some ozeki get their rank with win totals that started at M1 or 2. But those guys have usually also won a yusho or been runner-up during that run.
Terunofuji was first promoted to ozeki after going 8-7 at M2, 13-2 and runner-up as sekiwake and then 12-3 as sekiwake with a yusho.
If Aonishiki wins the next tournament, they'll likely make him ozeki. If he scores 11 wins again, without a cup, then he's going to need a good tournament in January to get that rank. What ever the number needed, though, you wouldn't bet against him at this point.
Thanks for the coverage, Tim. I wasn't able to get to all of them, but I love the analysis and insights when I do. The hub and I LOVED watching Onosato and Hoshoryu. The final bout that led to the playoff was so fast! I'd been traveling and watched the previous two nights in a hotel and was so glad that I was at home on the final night because I was shouting! Great basho, and great coverage. Thanks!
Thanks Elizabeth, glad you and Loren enjoyed this one. It was fun seeing the two yokozuna really live up to their billing. Hopefully this is the first of many showdowns between them.
Your insights were great, and helped me focus on watching the videos repeatedly to get in my eye in on the technical details you conveyed.
My personal observations:
Takanosho is a great barometer for how well ‘traditional’ sumo techniques are faring - such a solid rikishi. Not spectacular but more often than not successful.
Always great to see Ura in the mix - still my favourite.
Completely agree with your review of the final bout: I am a Hoshoryu fan, but Onosato’s speed of foot and upper body strength earned him the win after Hoshoryu’s efforts to throw him.
The churn below the top two shows how difficult and competitive sumo is but also what makes it so compelling. To go from an Ozeki run to demotion inside one basho for Waka was frustrating to follow when you want to see rikishi be successful in their endeavours.
Finally, has anyone calculated the average finishing position for rikishi after all their bouts across a basho? My initial estimate for Tobizaru is 2 rows back (but that is even with 9 wins anchoring him on the dohyo)?
I'm with you in that, "I just want everyone to have fun/do well." I think because sumo is such an unforgiving sport it really hits us in the feels when someone fails. It was horrible watching Wakatakakage suffer and lose his ozeki run this time. He looked mortified on the day it happened. That's going to stick with me for a while.
As far as finishing position, a heat map for the dohyo would be incredible. But I won't hold my breath for that kind of technology permeating the JSA anytime soon.
Well done Tim for your spectacular performance reviews, always fair and respectful
So at last we saw two Yokozuna with intent fighting it out !
They both put in and despite every effort on the second attack Hoshoryu came out the looser😞
What does this mean for the 74th Yokozuna, well he’s been saved he needed at least 12 , he got 13 so I don’t see how the JSA can complain, Hoshoryu does need a plan I have to be honest and say I was relieved that he didn’t come up against Hakuoho, he needs to up his game in the style of his moves, this time round that is exactly what Onosato has done, he’s adapted, let’s face it most rikishi hit the dohyo because they went in expecting to beat him or at least off foot him , but Onosato completely changed his style, out with the old in with the new!!
He payed attention to Aonishiki who we saw last July completely turn everything over in all style of his moves and strategy and left everyone on the dohyo confused, sept Aonishiki somehow lost all those unusual moves and he just looked basic in his moves and style? Not sure what went on there despite finishing 11-4 he’s got loads more to offer
I remember two weeks ago run up to September start of Basho, Wakatakakage hurtling towards Ozeki, so he’s obviously very disappointed with his performance 6-9, even his brother came out on a 9-6 let’s hope things improve for him, he deserves the Ozeki promotion
We have to say well done Takanosho he gave a fantastic performance 12-3 let’s hope that motivates him for November!
I end on my own personal heartbreak
Atamifuji ☹️ what happened I have no idea he just didn’t look in the space at all , he showed up but the rest of him didn’t
I really look forward to November I feel like this will be an Aonishiki performance if he can adapt again
Hi Dj, thanks so much for reading alongside your tournament viewing. I'm glad this served as a nice companion piece and I really appreciate reading your thoughts along the way. I'm sorry Atamifuji had such a rough go at it this tournament. He's so young, though, I find it hard to believe he won't crack the san'yaku at some point.
I really love sumo, when I first started watching it was July 23 , I just really needed something, I had worked all through the pandemic, but got covid myself, 10 weeks and it has left me with some issues
But I crack on and really Sumo and Terunofuji got me through
When he announced retirement in January I cried
I love Atamifuji and your right he’s still very young and I am sure he will eventually climb that ladder up
I'm hoping we see him and Onosato go head to head in most of the basho going forwards. Hoshoryu may be at around his ceiling right now, whereas Onosato seems like he can still improve. I think Hoshoryu can compete with him for the next year or two before Onosato really starts to dominate that match-up.
What a great tournament! Would've loved to see a third bout between the Yokozunas. It was so so close! Love both of them and I'm hoping for many more bashos like this one.
This was fun. And it was totally unlike the Nagoya basho. In Kyushu I'd love to see Onosato and Hoshoryu run it back, but it's also really fun when someone from the lower ranks comes out of the blue to challenge or win the cup.
So are we ready for London ?
Very sad for Wakatakakage. He just wasn't himself this tournament, and had that bad knee taped up. I hope he rests up and comes back fit in November.
Am a little puzzled that Takayasu didn't do better, but happy that Takanosho did so well.
Thrilled to see Shodai to get double-digit wins. This will bump him back up the ranks and he'll probably start to suffer again, but maybe that's his destiny, lose out at the top, win big near the bottom. I heard Tim's comment on the podcast that Shodai just wasn't comfortable with the pressure as an ozeki. Oh well, wherever he finds his level, I enjoy seeing him win no matter how low-ranked the opponent.
Been wondering how Aonishi isn't already an ozeki. He's won 11-4 the last 4 tournaments. Isn't 33 wins over 3 tournaments the qualifier? Or do you have to be out of Maegashira before the counting starts?
One of the JSA members flat out said that this tournament is the first tournament that will count as an ozeki run for Aonishiki. We have seen some ozeki get their rank with win totals that started at M1 or 2. But those guys have usually also won a yusho or been runner-up during that run.
Terunofuji was first promoted to ozeki after going 8-7 at M2, 13-2 and runner-up as sekiwake and then 12-3 as sekiwake with a yusho.
If Aonishiki wins the next tournament, they'll likely make him ozeki. If he scores 11 wins again, without a cup, then he's going to need a good tournament in January to get that rank. What ever the number needed, though, you wouldn't bet against him at this point.
Any chance of locating a spare program for me ?
Happy to pay??
Unable to attend mainly cost and I live in Scotland now!!
I'm in Toronto, so I can't be of much help there.
Wow the London tournament is so exciting it’s a shame you’re missing it, I got a programme from the box office awaiting delivery.
Day 3 London
Ura tonight made a move that just blew everyone away !!
Horshoryu used what I would describe as very nearly a pile driver on his combatant Kinbozan only the right way up! He was literally stunned
On Wednesday Day 1
Aonishiki used a move that apparently is extremely rare, I was amazed, so why was he not doing this in September?
Thanks for the coverage, Tim. I wasn't able to get to all of them, but I love the analysis and insights when I do. The hub and I LOVED watching Onosato and Hoshoryu. The final bout that led to the playoff was so fast! I'd been traveling and watched the previous two nights in a hotel and was so glad that I was at home on the final night because I was shouting! Great basho, and great coverage. Thanks!
Thanks Elizabeth, glad you and Loren enjoyed this one. It was fun seeing the two yokozuna really live up to their billing. Hopefully this is the first of many showdowns between them.
Thanks for your coverage of the Basho ,Tim.
Your insights were great, and helped me focus on watching the videos repeatedly to get in my eye in on the technical details you conveyed.
My personal observations:
Takanosho is a great barometer for how well ‘traditional’ sumo techniques are faring - such a solid rikishi. Not spectacular but more often than not successful.
Always great to see Ura in the mix - still my favourite.
Completely agree with your review of the final bout: I am a Hoshoryu fan, but Onosato’s speed of foot and upper body strength earned him the win after Hoshoryu’s efforts to throw him.
The churn below the top two shows how difficult and competitive sumo is but also what makes it so compelling. To go from an Ozeki run to demotion inside one basho for Waka was frustrating to follow when you want to see rikishi be successful in their endeavours.
Finally, has anyone calculated the average finishing position for rikishi after all their bouts across a basho? My initial estimate for Tobizaru is 2 rows back (but that is even with 9 wins anchoring him on the dohyo)?
Hi Danny, thanks for this.
I'm with you in that, "I just want everyone to have fun/do well." I think because sumo is such an unforgiving sport it really hits us in the feels when someone fails. It was horrible watching Wakatakakage suffer and lose his ozeki run this time. He looked mortified on the day it happened. That's going to stick with me for a while.
As far as finishing position, a heat map for the dohyo would be incredible. But I won't hold my breath for that kind of technology permeating the JSA anytime soon.
Hi All
Well done Tim for your spectacular performance reviews, always fair and respectful
So at last we saw two Yokozuna with intent fighting it out !
They both put in and despite every effort on the second attack Hoshoryu came out the looser😞
What does this mean for the 74th Yokozuna, well he’s been saved he needed at least 12 , he got 13 so I don’t see how the JSA can complain, Hoshoryu does need a plan I have to be honest and say I was relieved that he didn’t come up against Hakuoho, he needs to up his game in the style of his moves, this time round that is exactly what Onosato has done, he’s adapted, let’s face it most rikishi hit the dohyo because they went in expecting to beat him or at least off foot him , but Onosato completely changed his style, out with the old in with the new!!
He payed attention to Aonishiki who we saw last July completely turn everything over in all style of his moves and strategy and left everyone on the dohyo confused, sept Aonishiki somehow lost all those unusual moves and he just looked basic in his moves and style? Not sure what went on there despite finishing 11-4 he’s got loads more to offer
I remember two weeks ago run up to September start of Basho, Wakatakakage hurtling towards Ozeki, so he’s obviously very disappointed with his performance 6-9, even his brother came out on a 9-6 let’s hope things improve for him, he deserves the Ozeki promotion
We have to say well done Takanosho he gave a fantastic performance 12-3 let’s hope that motivates him for November!
I end on my own personal heartbreak
Atamifuji ☹️ what happened I have no idea he just didn’t look in the space at all , he showed up but the rest of him didn’t
I really look forward to November I feel like this will be an Aonishiki performance if he can adapt again
Hi Dj, thanks so much for reading alongside your tournament viewing. I'm glad this served as a nice companion piece and I really appreciate reading your thoughts along the way. I'm sorry Atamifuji had such a rough go at it this tournament. He's so young, though, I find it hard to believe he won't crack the san'yaku at some point.
Hi Tim
I really love sumo, when I first started watching it was July 23 , I just really needed something, I had worked all through the pandemic, but got covid myself, 10 weeks and it has left me with some issues
But I crack on and really Sumo and Terunofuji got me through
When he announced retirement in January I cried
I love Atamifuji and your right he’s still very young and I am sure he will eventually climb that ladder up
What do you think will happen with Hoshoryu?
I'm hoping we see him and Onosato go head to head in most of the basho going forwards. Hoshoryu may be at around his ceiling right now, whereas Onosato seems like he can still improve. I think Hoshoryu can compete with him for the next year or two before Onosato really starts to dominate that match-up.
I agree, it’s a shame really, but I feel like Hoshoryu isn’t going to be a great Yokozuna either right now.
I feel they both need a quick run through of what the job means and is expected
They are both still missing the respect issues.
Though Onosato is going in that direction now!
I feel sad for Hoshoryu, maybe part is he’s a bit immature at times in his attitude and behaviour! But I really want him to excel
I still favour him over Onosato but I agree with you
I am now hoping that Hoshoryu doesn’t throw a tantrum and retire !!
So the news that Takarafuji is retiring at 38 came as a surprise but glad he’s getting out relatively unscathed now !
I believe he’s one of three retiring from the Isegahama stable ? Does three at same time feel right?
I watched the retirement ceremony of Takakeisho at first I didn’t recognise him! What a transformation !!
What a great tournament! Would've loved to see a third bout between the Yokozunas. It was so so close! Love both of them and I'm hoping for many more bashos like this one.
This was fun. And it was totally unlike the Nagoya basho. In Kyushu I'd love to see Onosato and Hoshoryu run it back, but it's also really fun when someone from the lower ranks comes out of the blue to challenge or win the cup.