Keep Your Eye On Yoshikaze
Good morning Tachiai readers, almost time to stumble the 2 blocks to the Kokugikan, but first some thoughts on today’s matches. Firstly, looking forward to Wakaichiro’s second match. This will be against a rikishi with about the same experience level as his, and should be a more even fight. While I am sure I can capture video from the bout, it may need to be uploaded much later in the day, due to my wifi hotspot being dead.
On the Makuuchi side, it’s becoming clear that this may be the basho that flushes some of the injured and chronically wounded aside. From watching them fight, I would say
Kisenosato – in huge pain, impacted and should go kyujo. But The Great Pumpkin does not go kyujo, so look for him to hobble on.
Hakuho – all lights are green, he is healthy, fired up and looking to take back the spotlight.
Harumafuji – also seems to be at least 80% of himself or higher. Genki enough to trash all of his opponents thus far. Yes, fans, it’s even more awesome to watch first person when he blasts someone into the zabuton.
Kakuryu – He is all over the place, possibly not in the best of health, so this may be a tough basho for him.
Goeido – ankle rebuild is probably not enough to bring him back to fighting shape. It may be his only choice to retire.
Terunofuji – the Kaijū is having knee problems again, and it shows. This is a very sad state as I was looking forward to having him stomping around again.
Highlight Matches
Ishiura vs Ura – Ura is looking very good this tournament. Ishiura still seems to be looking for his groove. I hope we get a good match out of these two today.
Tamawashi vs Mitakeumi – Mitakeumi is really continuing his winning streak from the past two basho, and I would say that we are likely to avoid the “no-zeki” situation if Mitakeumi and Takayasu can keep their sumo going. Tamawashi is right behind them, but just a step down from what he needs.
Kotoshogiku vs Takayasu – Nothing will stop Takayasu. As was clear from his day 2 bout, Kotoshogiku is too banged up to even consistently make his one trick work anymore.
Yoshikaze vs Goeido – Yoshikaze is doing very well, even in his loss day 2 to Hakuho, he brought a full berserker style pounding to The Boss. Now a greatly reduced Goeido faces the same attack.
Endo vs Kakuryu – Can Endo hand Kakuryu his third straight loss? Endo is not looking that good this tournament, but the crowd loves him.
Kisenosato vs Chiyonokuni – Interesting because Chiyonokuni pulled a good win out on day 2, and Kisenosato is looking iffy.
Chiyoshoma vs Hakuho – Hakuho all the way, just question is what kind of kimarite.
Harumafuji vs Okinoumi – Probably Jason’s least favorite match up. Sadly Okinoumi is looking out of gas again, and Harumafuji seems to once again be enjoying himself.
A few thoughts…
On the highlights yesterday there was a highlight that Hakuho adjusted his sumo to match that of his competitor. It’ll be interesting throughout the tournament to see if he is more thoughtfully deploying styles starting from the tachiai and then throughout to counter his opponents. It seems he’s not only one of few rikishi capable of this, but certainly the only Yokozuna.
Terunofuji – not sure if I saw this here or mentioned elsewhere but someone said his emotional disposition has an impact on his sumo and neither of the first two days has seem him looking as pissed off as he was last time around.
Kotoshogiku had some slip n slide problems last time and that seemed to get him again yesterday.
I think it says much about Kakuryu that a one-armed Kisenosato is likely to give Chiyonokuni a better fight.