Month: September 2016

Aki Basho Day 12 Highlights

Bruce H Aki Basho 2016, Harumafuji (日馬富士), Kakuryu (鶴竜), Kisenosato (稀勢の里), Tochiozan (栃煌山) , , , , ,

day12

Goeido Defeats Yokozuna Kakuryu, Contenders All Stay 2 Behind

Very few surprises, but some great sumo today on day 12 from the Kokugikan in Tokyo. At this point, the math behind Goeido’s tournament win (Yusho) is almost insurmountable. The final chance may be a match on day 13 against Harumafuji. With he closest contender 2 wins behind, it would take 2 losses by Goeido (12-0) over the next 3 days ( a tall order) to make contenders Harumafuji, Takayasu and Endo (all 10-2) viable.

The standing questions in the upper ranks:

  • Will Goeido go undefeated? A Goeido yusho would leave eternal Yokozuna bridesmaid Kisenosato the only Ozeki never to have won a championship
  • How hurt is Terunofuji? He is clearly under-performing and is in danger of returning to kadoban
  • Can Kotoshogiku win one more and remove kadoban? He fights the hapless Terunofuji on day 13, so probably yes
  • How far into double-digits can Takayasu’s run go? He fights Mitakeumi day 13, so maybe 11.
  • What happened to Okinoumi? A strong and bold start, now he struggles to find his kachi-koshi win.
  • Kakuryu ?

There are three days left to watch this unfold, with most rikishi still below the kachi-koshi threshold, but a growing number now confirmed to have losing records (make-kochi), the struggle for the high performers is the real contest.

  • Leader (12-0): Goeido
  • Hunt Group (10-2): Harumafuji, Takayasu, Endo
  • 3 Days Remain

Notable highlights

Endo defeats Mitakeumi – The good Endo returns to give risking star Mitakeumi a lesson in yorikiri. Endo was confident, strong and wasted no time escorting Mitakeumi out of the ring. End remains tied with the chase group at 10-2.

Shodai defeats Takanoiwa – Teetering at the edge of make-kochi, Shodai has regained his sumo skill. Really an excellent match that started out as a chest to chest grapple, and devolved into a rather brutal slapping festival. This seemed to really motivate Shodai, who masterfully took hold of Takanoiwa and sent him on the sukuinage express into the seats.

Tochiozan defeats Okinoumi – Okinoumi seems to be struggling now, after a powerful start to the basho. One more win Oki, that’s all your fans need to see. I have to wonder if he re-injured himself.

Kisenosato defeats Kaisei – Textbook yotsu-zumō here. Two large and powerful men locked chest to chest in a contest of strength, endurance and guile. Kaisei put up a huge fight, and looked more like the Kaisei of old rather than the lackluster performance we have seen this tournament. Kisenosato had to earn this win.

Harumafuji defeats Kotoshogiku – It was fast, direct and brutal. What you expect from Harumafuji. Is it possible that Kotoshogiku won’t clear kadoban?

Goeido defeats Kakuryu – Maybe someone can stop Goeido, but it Kakuryu is not capable. A push / thrust match, it was really all Goeido

Day 12 Preview: Home Stretch

Bruce H Aki Basho 2016, Harumafuji (日馬富士), Kakuryu (鶴竜), Takayasu (高安), Tochiozan (栃煌山), Yoshikaze (嘉風) , , , , , ,

mitakeumi

“You can only fight the way you practice” – Book of Five Rings

With 4 days of sumo left, we are down to a handful or rikishi who are viable to win the tournament. Most of the wrestlers are now focusing on surviving with a winning record (kachi-koshi), and even that is quite a struggle for some. As noted earlier, some of them already know they will be demoted, and that list will grow on day 11.

Andy and I went sumo-nerd in the comments on the day 11 results post, so if you want to see some detailed discussion of who did what in key matches, go have a look.

  • Leader (11-0): Goeido
  • Hunt Group (9-2): Harumafuji, Takayasu, Endo
  • 4 Days Remain

Matches of Note

Goeido v Kakuryu – The match to watch where the undefeated, and likely yusho bound Goeido takes on injured and struggling Yokozuna Kakuryu. Given what he did to Kisenosato, do not assume that Goeido will lose to the higher ranked Sekitori. Very few chances are left to put a loss on Goeido’s record. If it’s going to happen, it may be a Yokozuna who does it.

Advantage Goeido

Harumafuji v Kotoshogiku – Kotoshogiku, after a hugely strong start, is now struggling to get his kachi-koshi and remove the lingering funk of kadoban. Even though Takayasu was able to out fox the Horse, the same is not likely true for Kotoshogiku, whose sumo is frequently face to face tests of muscle and force. Harumafuji excels in these conditions.

Advantage Harumafuji

Takayasu v Yoshikaze – This is a sad match, and the condition and record that Yoshikaze brings to day 12 are a story of painful struggle. Takayasu, in contrast, is on an upward arc that started in Nagoya, and shows no sign of slowing down. As with all of the matches this week, my biggest hope is that Yoshikaze does not compound his injuries before he can step back and heal after Sunday.

Advantage Takayasu

Okinoumi v Tochiozan – Like Kotoshogiku, Okinoumi came on strong early and is now hovering 1 win away from promotion. Okinoumi’s sumo is good enough, and Tochiozan is struggling. One more loss, and Tochiozan secures a losing record, and a demotion from the Sanyaku ranks.

Advantage Okinoumi

Endo v Mitakeumi – Someone decided it would be fun to take the Maegashira 14 with a join spot in the leading group, and face him off with a strong, up and coming Maegashira 5 who is looking very good this tournament. This one is a toss up, because on some days this basho, Mitakeumi has looked a bit shaky. Likewise Endo has been higher ranked in the past, so he certainly has the speed, skill and patience to win this.

Advantage Mitakeumi

 

For Whom The Bell Tolls: Make-Koshi List

Bruce H Aki Basho 2016, Takarafuji (宝富士), Tochiozan (栃煌山), Yoshikaze (嘉風) , ,

defeat

One of the great attractions sumo holds for me is that it is a meritocracy, the winners advance and the loser decline. Now that we reach the finally quarter of the Aki basho, we can see which sumo men are facing demotion for the next tournament, starting November. The term used is “make-koshi (負け越し)”, or more losses than wins.

Doomed Already (8 losses or more)
Chiyootori, Tochinoshin, Daishomaru, Arawashi, Amakaze, Toyohibiki, Daieisho

In Grave Peril
Terunofuji, Takarafuji, Kaisei, Tochiozan, Yoshikaze, Shodai, Takanoiwa, Myogiryu, Sokokurai

Comments

Chiyootori is out with damage to at least one knee. Tochinoshin has been hurt since July or earlier. Amakaze needs a bit more seasoning in Juryo, we will see him again and he has a lot of potential.

Terunofuji is also hurt, his skill is un-degraded but he lacks the power he should (and did) have to put the impact to his moves, he will likely make-koshi soon. Yoshikaze is too banged up to really be a serious threat, and I am worried he was not completely ready for the Aki basho.

While this list holds several rikishi that I support, the mechanism of the sumo ranking is fair and brutal. But I keep in mind that for every wrestler who has a bad record at the end of the tournament, there is a story of redemption waiting to be told in 2 months time.

Kisenosato Defeated – Day 11

Bruce H Aki Basho 2016, Harumafuji (日馬富士), Kisenosato (稀勢の里), Takayasu (高安), Yokozuna (横綱)

kise-a12

Yokozuna Campaign Fails, Takayasu Wins Over Harumafuji

During the overnight hours in the US, big events were taking place at the Kokugikan in Tokyo. Some of what I had mused about in last night’s preview thread actually came to pass, but not quite the way it was expected. As a result the landscape of who may or may not win the cup this time had changed dramatically, and Goeido is all but unstoppable.

Goeido defeats Kisenosato , Remains Unbeaten – This match started dangerous for Kisenosato, as a pushing match straight from the tachiai. Goeido repeatedly gave ground, and Kisenosato chased. At least until Goeido had him off balance, grabbed a hold and ran him out of the ring. The dream of a Kisenosato yusho for September is now gone. This was the one chance to stop Goeido and put Kisenosato back in contention. Kisenosato let Goeido decide the form of the match and played into his strength. Kisenosato’s stable mate, however, held up his end of the bargain…

Takayasu defeats Harumafuji – I am overwhelmingly impressed with Takayasu this tournament. This bout was all Harumafuji, he opened hard and pressed the attack using many of his most effective moves. Harumafuji pushed Takayasu to the straw bales, and it looked like he was about to go out. But Takayasu found enough of a hold on Harumafuji to force him off balance and throw him out before Takayasu himself fell. Amazing performance from a rikishi who may be the next Ozeki.

Tamawashi defeats Endo – The last Sekitori in the hunt was Endo, and he went into the clay thanks to Tamawashi pulling him down.

Goeido is our likely tournament winner at this point. He would need 2 losses to make him compete for the win on the final day.

  • Leader (11-0): Goeido
  • Hunt Group (9-2): Harumafuji, Takayasu, Endo
  • 4 Matches Remain