After last night’s marathon live-blogging session, most of the Tachiai team is rightfully tired and looking for an early bed. But first, let’s discuss the matches that will happen day 9 in Tokyo while the US portion of the crew is tucked into their beds.
With two days remaining in act 2, the one remaining goal for the scheduling team is to get Tochinoshin to pick up at least one loss. They also would like to get (as lksumo points out) a loss or two onto Chiyonokuni and Daishomaru. The ideal situation would be a three-way tie between Hakuho, Kakuryu and Tochinoshin going into or shortly after the start of act 3. This would drive some excitement, and some ratings. The difficulty being that for the moment, Tochinoshin is the most genki of the whole Makuuchi division.
Normally one could place their trust in Hakuho as the ultimate governor of who wins and loses, but his sumo is off at the moment. Many fans are speculating like mad as to why, but you need to look no further than the recent death of his father, and the disruption to his family life and emotional state.
Natsu Leaderboard
Leader – Tochinoshin
Chasers – Kakuryu, Hakuho, Daishomaru, Chiyonokuni
Hunt Group – Shodai, Kotoshogiku, Ikioi, Daishomaru, Kyokutaisei, Myogiryu
7 Matches Remain.
What We Are Watching Day 9
Onosho vs Aminishiki – As we expected, Onosho is making a visit to Makuuchi to fill a gap left by Endo’s kyujo. It’s also likely the case that he is going to be back in the top division for July. Poor Uncle Sumo is in terrible shape right now, and likely to pick up his make-koshi against Onosho.
Ishiura vs Nishikigi – As the lowest ranked man in the top division, Nishikigi needs nothing less than a kachi-koshi to remain a Maegashira. Today’s match is tough luck for him, as he has a 7-4 deficit when facing off against Ishiura. Nishikigi needs 3 more wins out of the remaining 7 to hold on.
Takekaze vs Chiyonokuni – Takekaze seems to be fading fairly rapidly, and has not really had much sumo this tournament. He is still at 4-4, so it’s possible he could pick up enough wins to keep out of Juryo. Takekaze is highly evasive, where Chiyonokuni is direct and violent. The veteran holds a 5-3 career advantage over Chyonokuni.
Aoiyama vs Kagayaki – Kagayaki has never won against Aoiyama, but for this basho, Aoiyama is clearly hurt, and Kagayaki is fighting in possibly his best form ever. If there was a chance to start correcting that 0-5 losing streak against Aoiyama, day 9 looks like it could be the day.
Takakeisho vs Chiyomaru – I think this one will be a blast. We have the near constant motion of Takakeisho against the bulbous Chiyomaru, who showed on day 8 that he actually has some decent sumo chops against Okinoumi. Takakeisho has won 3 of their 4 prior meetings.
Hokutofuji vs Takarafuji – Notable to me in that Hokutofuji seems to be getting some sense of his sumo back together, and may actually offer some kind of challenge to Takarafuji who has been struggling this tournament with rikishi who tend to stay low. Hokutofuji has a long way to go to recover to the kind of genki he was last year, but his fans believe he has it in him.
Chiyotairyu vs Ikioi – This match is more even than it may seem. Ikioi has been fighting above his recent average during Osaka and Natsu. Ikioi delivered a winning hatakikomi, and I think he will find a way to overcome Chiyotairyu’s cannon ball tachiai and win again.
Abi vs Kaisei – This one seems just for fun, as I am going to guess that unless Abi applies some force behind his long-arm tsuppari, it’s going to come down to Kaisei’s mighty bulk as the deciding factor. They have split their two other matches, so it’s anyone’s guess. I know Abi is having a fun time regardless.
Tochinoshin vs Daieisho – Tochinoshin needs just three more, and I am guessing that his 3-1 career advantage over Daieisho means he’s going to likely get one of them today. Daieisho did surprise Goeido, but I doubt he will be able to overcome Tochinoshin.
Ichinojo vs Goeido – If my guess that Goeido is having ankle problems again is correct, he won’t have much resistance to whatever Ichinojo brings to the early portion of the match. Goeido’s only hope is to use his favorite and best tuned offense – speed. Rapid movement is not an Ichinojo aspect.
Kotoshogiku vs Hakuho – Hakuho leads the series 53-6. I am going to say 54-6 shortly. Kotoshogiku is looking better this basho than he has in some time, and Hakuho looking rough and chaotic. But I still think “The Boss” will dispatch the Kyushu Bulldozer. Maybe not cleanly, but effectively.
Kakuryu vs Shodai – The career record favors Kakuryu 7-0, so he is clearly likely to win this one. But Shodai has been getting his opponents to more or less defeat themselves somehow this tournament. Perhaps some kind of Jedi mind trick. So there’s a small chance he my find a way to get Kakuryu to do himself in, and I will be eagerly watching the final match of the day.
“Aoiyama is clearly hut”
Yeah, like Jabba.
Dammit, that shouldn’t have made me laugh out loud. And yet…
snerk We use that for he of no neck, Chiyomaru.
If Goeido goes make-koshi he will be kadoban for the 7th in 24 basho as ōzerki time next basho. That’s a worse percentage than Chiyotaikai had in his career (14 times in 65 basho as ōzeki).
Writing not my strength is… It seems
“Chiyonokuni is direct and violet.” I can see Chiyonokuni as “direct”, but he’s definitely not purple. ;)
Clearly, I am damn tired after sumo blogging over night.
Hakuho’s match was interesting. Yutakayama acquitted himself well in the tsuki battle; Hakuho flubbed a slapdown badly but immediately stifled Yutakayama’s follow-up by dropping his center of mass and grabbing Yutakayama into a beltless moro-zashi. From there it was a simple matter for Hakuho to drive forward; what was less simple was how he positioned himself perfectly to block Yutakayama’s inevitable attempt at a throw at the edge.
Tochinoshin’s schedule after Day 9 should be fairly set. He’s likely to face Shodai, Kotoshogiku, and Ikioi before taking on Goeido and the two Yokozuna. There’s not much extra for the schedulers to do to try to get dirt on him, and really no reason to, as an undefeated Tochinoshin going up against one or both Yokozuna when they have one loss would be spectacle aplenty.
On the subject of sumo, is it worrying that Terunofuji’s Wikipedia page already has 2018 listed as “Later Career”?
How depressing, but likely accurate.
Onosho vs Aminishiki – I’m hiding my eyes on this match. –g- I want to see Onosho back, but I do not want to see Uncle lose.
Ishiura vs Nishikigi – want very much to see Mr. Biceps flexing his arms and tossing Nishikigi out.
Aoiyama vs Kagayaki – Kagayaki is indeed in his best form this basho, looking to see him take this.
Ichinojo vs Goeido – I think I saw that Goeido is Kuyjo, so that will give Nojo a bit of rest. He seems like his confidence his been bent. Hopefully a day off will help.
Kotoshogiku vs Hakuho – Noooo, our poor Sad-Rikishi * going to go down here. I hope not too hard.
((* my sister says he always looks so sad, like someone stole his puppy.))