Hmmm, strange stuff, but I don't think the fix is in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lve17PjhZFw&list=PL556B0EVMUL143xvVdXV5ie9y6smZQF3_&index=69

Last three matches, starting with Kotoshogiku vs. Goiedo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nVMlYAEfOU&list=PL556B0EVMUL143xvVdXV5ie9y6smZQF3_&index=72

gaijinmark wrote:

Hmmm, strange stuff, but I don't think the fix is in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lve17PjhZFw&list=PL556B0EVMUL143xvVdXV5ie9y6smZQF3_&index=69

I think it's pretty blatant that Hakuho threw the match. And he did it in such an obvious way that I think he was basically giving the JSA the finger. Probably not happy that it was decided by the powers-that-be that a native Japanese should finally win a basho after 10 years.

First day of the Osaka basho and two upsets already:

Upset #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Skkn2VXPVKs

Upset #2:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdfW3uE-0OE

Upset #3:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P04OPHktlUk&list=PL556B0EVMUL2_jqxoASxfig9v6B6TWcz5&index=14

After day 8, here's the leaderboard:

O1w Kisenosato 8 - 0

Y1w Hakuho 7 - 1

Y2e Kakuryu 7 - 1

O1e Kotoshogiku 7 - 1

O2e Goeido 7 - 1

M4e Ikioi 7 - 1

Y1e Harumafuji 6 - 2

M6e Myogiryu 6 - 2

M11e Ichinojo 6 - 2

M14w Daieisho 6 - 2

Three way tie for first now:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tQoc2GrMjA&index=50&list=PL556B0EVMUL2_jqxoASxfig9v6B6TWcz5

Quote:

Three way tie for first now

Well, that didn't last long:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C6l-yvkEd8&list=PL556B0EVMUL2_jqxoASxfig9v6B6TWcz5&index=52

Well, it weren't pretty, but, 36 for Hakuho:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SOPh9Uu5cc&list=PL556B0EVMUL2_jqxoASxfig9v6B6TWcz5&index=66

gaijinmark wrote:

Well, it weren't pretty, but, 36 for Hakuho:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SOPh9Uu5cc&list=PL556B0EVMUL2_jqxoASxfig9v6B6TWcz5&index=66

Pulling a henka on the final day with the championship on the line against a fellow Mongolian yokozuna . . . very unworthy.

I guess Hakuho is still teed off from the last basho when it seemed he committed yaocho, presumably from pressure by the JSA, in order for a Japanese to finally win a tournament after 10 years. So by doing a henka, could he be deliberately thumbing his nose at the JSA who expect a yokozuna to offer a more sterling effort?

shin2 wrote:

I guess Hakuho is still teed off from the last basho when it seemed he committed yaocho, presumably from pressure by the JSA, in order for a Japanese to finally win a tournament after 10 years. So by doing a henka, could he be deliberately thumbing his nose at the JSA who expect a yokozuna to offer a more sterling effort?

I think you're probably correct. It must have pleased him no end though that Kotoshogiku went 8-7 and was perfect against the ozekis and yokozunas going 0-6. Don't think we'll be hearing any talk about promotion for Kotoshogiku for quite awhile.

After day 8, Hakuho and Kisenosato alone at the top 8-0. Harumafuji and Goeido both 7-1 (Harumafuji had his obligatory loss to a rank and filer on day 3). But there seems to be another issue. I noticed this a few times last basho, Hakuho giving his opponent an extra shove after the match was over. Looks like I wasn't the only one.
(This article is a couple days old, I noticed Hakuho didn't do it on day 8.)


Sumo elders disapprove of Hakuho's post-victory shoves

Yokozuna Hakuho, who has gone unbeaten thus far in the ongoing Summer Grand Sumo Tournament, has been given a proverbial red card for behavior not merely unbecoming of a yokozuna but also plain dangerous.

In a match between Hakuho and lower-ranking komusubi Kaisei on May 12, the fifth day of the 15-day Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan arena in Tokyo, Hakuho sent his opponent tumbling down the mound on which the ring sits, after the higher-ranking wrestler had already pushed him outside the ring and won.

At the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in March this year, a stablemaster who was sitting below the mound sustained serious injuries after the opponent whom Hakuho had pushed -- also after the latter had already won -- fell on the elder. On May 11, the fourth day of the current tournament, Hakuho again pushed an opponent after he had already scored a victory, to which chief referee Nishonoseki (former ozeki Wakashimazu) expressed his disapproval. The Yokozuna Deliberation Council, which observed the matches on May 12, demanded that Hakuho exercise more self-restraint.

Following the match on May 12, Hakuho did not appear affected by the rebukes, saying, "Whether I push my opponent or I pull back, I'm still wrestling well." However, Hideshige Moriya, head of the Yokozuna Deliberation Council and professor emeritus at Chiba University, said, "Hakuho did slightly push his opponent. We need him to realize that what he's doing could cause injuries to enthusiastic spectators."

Hakuho will enter his 10th year as yokozuna with the Nagoya tournament set to take place in July. "When one reaches the status of yokozuna, everyone fawns over him," Moriya said, suggesting Hakuho was being arrogant. "It is only human to have mistaken thoughts about one's actions when that happens."

In the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament, Hakuho pushed Yoshikaze down the mound after he'd already won, making the latter fall on sumo elder and referee Izutsu (former sekiwake Sakahoko). Izutsu suffered a broken thigh in the incident, and Hakuho was reprimanded for his actions.

One guy still undefeated, one guy with one loss now. But as Yogi would say, "It ain't over 'till its over." Both guys have to fight the other two yokozuna Saturday and Sunday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5ajU7bDmWo&list=PL556B0EVMUL1o8yCBLciBstktQWN6bqII&index=60

Okay, he clinched the basho the day before, but this shows why Hakuho is so good. That's not some rank and file maegashira seven he did that to, that was another yokozuna: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm9RuzqNJVw&list=PL556B0EVMUL1o8yCBLciBstktQWN6bqII&index=70

gaijinmark wrote:

Okay, he clinched the basho the day before, but this shows why Hakuho is so good. That's not some rank and file maegashira seven he did that to, that was another yokozuna: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm9RuzqNJVw&list=PL556B0EVMUL1o8yCBLciBstktQWN6bqII&index=70

A very athletic move by Hakuho. He is clearly head and shoulders and chest and stomach above the rest of the rikishi. Paradoxically he represents both the best and worst of the current state of sumo. On the one hand he is a great yokozuna who breaks records every basho; on the other hand, his dominance shows how lacking his competition is.

NHK devoted an entire half hour to the first day of the Nagoya basho. It aired at 9:30 am and 3:30 pm. I don't know if it was just because it was the weekend or they'll do it everyday.

The announcer, Hiro Morita talking about Harumafuji's match was mentioning his quickness and said, "Blinding speed from the yokozuna." First time I've ever heard the phrase "blinding speed" used to describe a sumo wrestler.

Edit: They are showing highlights for every day. They had day two today.

gaijinmark wrote:

The announcer, Hiro Morita talking about Harumafuji's match was mentioning his quickness and said, "Blinding speed from the yokozuna." First time I've ever heard the phrase "blinding speed" used to describe a sumo wrestler.

When he was known as Ama, current yokozuna Harumafuji was exceeding quick.

Back in the day, the diminutive (for sumo) Mainoumi was a blur on the initial charge. He might have been the quickest rikishi ever.

Terao, who had an exceedingly long career, was another rikishi who was very very quick.

Of course none of these wrestlers could beat a high school sprinter in a race, but for sports specific functional quickness, all three were lightning fast.

Okay, after day 3 only one Yokozuna undefeated, good old whats-his-name. But while watching the NHK coverage they showed this match. A guy called Kitaharima, (red mawashi) making his debut at Maegashira 15. He only weighs 126kg (about 275 lbs.) definitely lightweight for sumo, but he's at 2-1 after 3 days and he's proving what I always have a hard time explaining to people that don't know that much about sumo, there's more to it than just two big fat guys running into each other:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8Lk7NIXNok


Btw, it looks like this YouTube channel has all the bouts on it.

Edit: Kakuryu dropped out after day 4 with a back injury, one less Yokozuna in the mix.

After day 5, only one wrestler undefeated and its not an Ozeki or Yokozuna:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oyzc-ZGV3c&index=22&list=PL556B0EVMUL0dF5Tu0faKz46nybeRuP3Z

gaijinmark wrote:

I always have a hard time explaining to people that don't know that much about sumo, there's more to it than just two big fat guys running into each other

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UitleEy3EzA&index=2&list=PLF566467D0024863B