A Reader Gave Us A Good Idea…
Reader Tom commented:
We should have a section on the blog for pre-basho predictions beyond the banzuke – who will win, who might impress/ struggle etc
Which is, in fact, a damn fine idea. So post your speculation, no matter how wacky, in the comments, and I will pull the really good / fun ones up onto the page.
Associate Editor Bruce Writes:
After a startling first week that sees Yoshikaze in contention, Week 2 sees Kisenosato go kyujo with a re-inury to the pectoral. Goeido struggles to cope with his ankle injury, and in a day 13 in a bout with Terunofuji he re-breaks his ankle, and is forced to retire. Yusho winner is Hakuho, after a win over Junyusho and Shin-Ozeki the mighty Takayasu.
Reader Andrew Michael Daley Writes:
Terunofuji, wearing a devil mask and entering to the strains of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” wins with a zensho-yusho but is denied promotion for a lack of “hinkaku”. Hakuho knocks at least one opponent (probably Yoshikaze or Tochiozan) spark out with a “honest it’s not an elbow” forearm smash.
Reader Rian Writes:
My prediction is that the healthiest Yokozuna/Ozeki wins, assuming that there is a healthy one. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a basho where injuries weren’t a major factor? Hakuho’s toe, Kakaryu’s back, Kisenosato’s chest, Terunofuji’s knee, Goeido’s ankle, and poor Harumafuji is probably held together with duct tape and bailing wire at this point.
Add your predictions – serious or insane, in the comments section.
Terunofuji, wearing a devil mask and entering to the strains of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” wins with a zensho-yusho but is denied promotion for a lack of “hinkaku”. Hakuho knocks at least one opponent (probably Yoshikaze or Tochiozan) spark out with a “honest it’s not an elbow” forearm smash.
Other predictions to follow when we get the banzuke.
Sumo needs music. Especially for those early bouts in the junior divisions.
My prediction is that the healthiest Yokozuna/Ozeki wins, assuming that there is a healthy one. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a basho where injuries weren’t a major factor? Hakuho’s toe, Kakaryu’s back, Kisenosato’s chest, Terunofuji’s knee, Goeido’s ankle, and poor Harumafuji is probably held together with duct tape and bailing wire at this point.
Duct tape and bailing wire indeed. That guy needs some dry dock and overhaul work. Out of all the Yokozuna, Harumafuji’s health worries me the most
I know I also fear for Harumafuji. And yet. While some bouts he looked like he was falling apart, others he looked like old Harumafuji, throwing the other rikishi out the dohyo before they could even blink. Will have to see how the injuries are for all the top rikishi.
Will be waiting for the banzuke to come out before I make my main predictions, just to get a feel for who each rikishi might be facing. Bearing in mind the top Maegashira can often suffer so many heavily losses in the first week as warm up for Yokozuna and ozeki.
I am amazed at how impressive Harumafuji can look, even when injured. He’s such an athlete, and on top of that he definitely has the warrior spirit. I remember in the January tournament, he won his last match before dropping out and in the process did this crazy 360 degree flip, landing off the dohyo. It was obvious by then that he was hurting, but he still pulled that off.
This is the key prediction. My sincere hope is that several will be healthy and we’ll have some great drama going into the final weekend.
I have a feeling Hakuho can get this basho if he can stay fit. I think Kisenosato will go kyujo, as much as he hates missing any fights.
If not Hakuho, Takayasu, provided he can find a response to the speed of Harumafuji (which completely overwhelmed him) and find the right tactics to beat Kakuryu’s brand of sumo. Surprise contender? A continually improving Mitakeumi.
I think Takakeisho will get another good kachi-koshi – he is low enough in the banzuke to avoid fighting too many of the top rikishi while many of the lower Maegashira are declining or heavily injured (Myogiryu, Kaisei, Kotoyuki)