Month: January 2017

Hatsu 2017, Day 15: A New Champion

Andy Hatsubasho 2017

This was the weakest performance by sanyaku wrestlers I’ve seen in a long time. I will try to dig through the stats a bit more for concrete numbers, but wow…what a depleted, underwhelming field. As Bruce noted, there were many double-digit performers this tournament but only 3 were in sanyaku: Kisenosato, Hakuho, and Takayasu. Only five winning records. Three kyujo, who the yusho winner did not have to face. The yokozuna and ozeki ranks should be picking up double-digit wins on a regular basis. They are not and that is why Kotoshogiku will be demoted to sekiwake, Terunofuji will be kadoban, retirement talk swirls around Harumafuji, Kakuryu, and even Hakuho.

Hakuho came out of the gate very aggressive. Kisenosato retreated, bided his time, and deflected Hakuho’s surge at the tawara. Kotoshogiku defeated Terunofuji in the Great Battle of Irrelevant Ozeki. If Kotoshogiku wins 10 bouts next tournament, the rotten egg smell emanating from Osaka may keep me away from sumo for a while. Terunofuji needs to sit and heal. I’ve said it about 10 times now but he shouldn’t have been competing in this tournament. He shouldn’t be in Osaka, either. Since the sanyaku ranks have been so utterly decimated, those were the only two bouts featuring two sanyaku wrestlers.

Unfortunately, many of our sanyaku regulars have not been able to maintain peak performance on a consistent basis over more than a couple of tournaments. I sincerely hope this changes with Takayasu’s performance of late. Myogiryu, Uncle Takara, Kaisei, Aoiyama, Tochinoshin, Tochiozan, Shohozan, Ikioi, Takayasu…and the list adds Shodai this tournament with his make-koshi record and likely fall back into the upper maegashira. Tamawashi and Takayasu will take the first swipe at advancement. Tamawashi’s 9 wins this tournament means any ozeki run will likely begin NEXT tournament but at least he maintained a winning record at Sekiwake…something we really haven’t seen since Goeido. But, is he healthy? He appeared injured in his loss today against Takekaze (who had a great tournament). Takayasu was also solid but let’s see more tournaments against sanyaku opponents. He won an 11th win and the Fighting Spirit prize after his hatakikomi win against Endo.

While sanyaku wrestlers underperformed, many of the maegashira really impressed me during this first tournament of 2017. My sincere hope is that our sanyaku wrestlers will be healthy in March and really put forward worthy tests for these up-and-comers. Sokokurai retreated steadily, finally catching Takanoiwa off-balance for the hikiotoshi win. Sokokurai won 12 matches, his best performance ever, won his first jun-yusho and first special prize – the technique prize. It’s an amazing achievement for someone who spent two years out of sumo during the yaocho scandal. His skill is clearly worthy of the upper reaches of maegashira as he mopped the floor with his opponents in these lower ranks. His best, most impressive bout was against Takayasu. Takanoiwa also out-performed his rank, picking up the award for outstanding performance by virtue of his 11-wins and Gold-Star victory over Hakuho. Both of these wrestlers will find themselves in the top half of the maegashira. We’ll see if they can have the same success in the higher ranks.

Mitakeumi has fought extremely well at this high rank but he will need to build on this experience if he wants to be a sanyaku regular. He also picked up a technique prize as well as an 11th win at the expense of Chiyonokuni. Chiyonokuni has also shown real flourishes of ability as we may be trending away from immovable objects to skilled grapplers. Chiyoshoma also had a great tournament, though a bit inconsistent, as in today’s match with Sadanoumi. Sadanoumi needed the win today to cling onto his makuuchi berth. Both appear healthy and should do well next tournament.

Look for Kotoyuki to do well in March. His 6 wins belies his true abilities. In today’s bout with Chiyotairyu, he focused too much on going for the head with those short, stubby arms of his. Chiyotairyu got him spun around and ushered him out, uncomfortably by the thong of his mawashi. Kotoyuki is aggressive and that might have tripped him up during this two weeks. Count on him to adjust and perform well at the bottom of the rank-and-file.

The injured: Tochiozan and Osunaarashi need a break. Osunaarashi picked up a win but may have hurt his knee even more falling off the dohyo. Tochiozan put up only token resistance against Daishomaru and will tumble down the banzuke along with Tochinoshin. Myogiryu has also not been 100% and will plummet into the lower ranks.

 

Hatsu Basho Re-Analysis

Bruce H Gōeidō (豪栄道), Harumafuji (日馬富士), Hatsubasho 2017, Injuries, injury, Kakuryu (鶴竜), Kisenosato (稀勢の里), Kotoshogiku (琴奨菊), Kyujo (休場), Osunaarashi (大砂嵐), San'yaku (三役), Yokozuna (横綱), Ōzeki (大関)

damage

Why So Many Maegashira Wins?

A hallmark of the Hatsu 2017 basho were the fantastic scores racked up by mid and lower level Maegashira / rank and file rikishi. To followers of sumo, this immediately looks strange, as typically there are 2-3 (at most) stand outs, and the rest is a brutal blood-bath of demotion and make-koshi.

We had 6 rikishi (outside of Yokozuna and Ozeki) who had double digit wins, which is frankly unusual. What happened?

Devastation at the top end of the banzuke. During the second half of the tournament, there was only one functioning Yokozuna and one functioning Ozeki. While two other Ozeki remained in rotation, both were fighting well below Ozeki level, and were not presenting much challenge to anyone.

Not to detract from Kisenosato’s yusho and imminent promotion to Yokozuna, but this basho was perhaps the easiest possible configuration for his victory. The Yokozuna and Ozeki are there to cull the Maegashira and test the San’yaku, and in Hatsu they failed. The result was run-away score inflation by some young, healthy and talented men.

This underscores some important facts about sumo:

  • Sumo is a combat sport. Unlike what most Americans are used to in terms of wrestling on television, these men are really battling to win, each and every time. When you weigh in excess of 300 pounds and someone throws you off of a 4 foot high clay platform, you may get hurt. Over time these injuries, if not healed or treated, will degrade your performance.
  • The upper ranks are past their prime on average. Due to the nature of sumo as a combat sport, it is rare that a rikishi can remain truly competitive past age 30. Takekaze is a wonderful and noted exception. The upper 2 ranks (Ozeki and Yokozuna) have been largely static for several years, as the men in the ranks have been exceptional performers, and have dominated the sport in ways unseen in the modern age. For those of us (such as myself) who dearly love to see them perform, the time is coming to say goodbye as the retire and move to coaching and fostering the sport they love
  • The current sumo year leaves not time for recovery, rest, recuperation or proper medical treatment. With the exception of the Yokozuna, there are no breaks in sumo. You show up and compete every tournament or you face some fairly brutal demotions (for example, Osunaarashi). This means that talented rikishi such as Okinoumi, Terunofuji, Kotoshogiku and possibly many others much continue to compete with injuries that may have been simple to treat at first. But lack of prompt and thorough therapy translated them into performance limiting and eventually career ending problems.

As of the end of Hatsu, we have Yokozuna Kakuryu and Harumafuji, and Ozeki Goeido, Terunofuji and Kotoshogiku injured. The start of the Osaka basho is about 6 weeks away, and the chances that any of the men above will be back to full potential is close to zero.

Sadly, we are looking at what may become a changing of the guard, as high-skill rikishi are forced out by their failing bodies, and a younger, healthier crop of wrestlers step forward to fill the gap.

Kisenosato Defeats Yokozuna Hakuho

Bruce H Hakuho (白鵬), Hatsubasho 2017, Kisenosato (稀勢の里), promotion, Takayasu (高安), Yokozuna (横綱)

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Yokozuna Promotion Likely This Week

In the final match of the Hatsu basho, Kisenosato overcame a vigorous challenge from Yokozuna Hakuho with a masterful sukuinage (belt less arm throw) at the edge of the ring. While Kisenosato had already locked up the tournament victory on day 14, this defeat of Hakuho is a fitting punctuation to a fantastic effort by Kisenosato this January.

Kisenosato entered the world of sumo in 2002 at the age of 16, and has dedicated his life to everything sumo.

There are already strong indications that the Japanese sumo fans will be finally given a native Yokozuna. The Yokozuna Deliberation Committee will meet early this week, and any announcement is expected to take place Wednesday. if this happens, shin-Yokozuna Kisenosato will do his first dohyo-iri a few days later at a local shrine. I would expect the celebrations will be epic. It is also quite likely that the popularity of Sumo will increase dramatically among the Japanese public, as many did not have passion about the sport due to Mongolian dominance.

Hatsu Basho Day 15 Preview

Bruce H Hakuho (白鵬), Hatsubasho 2017, Juryo (十両), Kisenosato (稀勢の里), Takayasu (高安), Yoshikaze (嘉風)

day15

Thus Ends A Great Tournament

It’s been a great two weeks of sumo, and this basho has been an exciting departure from the prior tournaments. After years of effort, Kisenosato has finally won a tournament. There is rampant speculation in the Japanese press that he is also going to undergo serious consideration for promotion to Yokozuna shortly after the tournament concludes on Sunday. This is typically the time that such deliberations take place given the cost and complexity of setting up all of the accessories and materials needed for life as a Yokozuna.

There a several rikishi who have one more chance to secure their winning record and stave off demotion, this includes – Kaisei, Chiyoo, Chiyoshoma, Sadanoumi. Yoshikaze and Endo. Interestingly enough, Chiyoshoma and Sadanoumi will fight each other. There can be only one!

There really is only one bout with gravity on day 15, the match between Hakuho and Kisenosato. As Kisenosato has already won the Yusho for the Hatsubasho, this bout is largely symbolic. But keep in mind Hakuho needs to tally wins in his attempt to break the all time win record this year, and Kisenosato wants his Yusho win record as high as possible for Yokozuna promotion consideration. But men will likely give it full throttle.

Other Notable Matches

Takanoiwa vs Sokokurai – Both Maegashira 10’s turned in incredible 11-3 records up to today, the winner will go an incredible 12-3, which in some past bashes has been enough to win.

Chiyonokuni vs Mitakeumi – Great performance from Chiyonokuni, and a win here will send him into double digit wins. Mitakeumi wants to get o 11 wins to stake his claim to a Sanyaku slot for March.

Takayasu vs Endo – Endo wants his kachi-koshi, and needs one more win. Takayasu wants 11 wins to re-start his Ozeki bid in March. Takayasu was not on his sumo day 14, and Endo is not going to let any mistake go unexploited.

Juryo – It’s down to 11-3 Ura and Daieisho, both of which are likely to be promoted to Makuuchi in March, but both want the Yusho for Hatsu Juryo