Author: Liam R

Five Interesting Matches on Day 9

Liam R Ichinojo (逸ノ城), Kyushu Basho 2017, Takakeishō (貴景勝) , , , , , , , , ,

 

The midway point has come and gone, and we are now beginning to get a better sense of where the chips will fall in Fukuoka. As the journey to Senshuraku begins, here are five matches to keep an eye on for day 9.

Homarefuji vs. Daiamami

Juryo mainstay Homarefuji will be making his second appearance on the NHK broadcast tomorrow when he takes on old rival Daiamami. His first bit of screen time came on day 1 in a loss to Myogiryu, and he will be looking for a better result when he takes to the Dohyo tomorrow. With only two wins, Daiamami is at serious risk of rejoining Homarefuji in Juryo by the New Year Tournament, which may not be a bad thing as he is not yet ready for the top division. Their series sits at 2-1 in favour of Homarefuji.

Okinoumi vs. Kotoyuki

Okinoumi has been one of this basho’s biggest surprises, and currently shares second place in the yusho race with Ichinojo and Arawashi. As Bruce has mentioned before, Okinoumi suffers from a chronic injury that affects his sumo when it flares up. Based on his recent success, it appears he is pain-free and fighting at full capacity and shouldn’t have much trouble dealing with Kotoyuki on day 9. Okinoumi leads thier personal series 8-1.  Although I’d like to see Okinoumi put these helth issues behind him, as he has a lot of potential for greatness, I’m not getting my hopes up anytime soon.

Asanoyama vs. Nishikigi

Day 8 marked the return of the Asanoyama whose big smile stole our hearts in September. Will this same Asanoyama show up tomorrow, is another question. Mr. Happy got a commanding victory over Takekaze today, but he will have to give it his all on day 9 when he faces the far more desperate Nishikigi, who still needs three more wins to stay in Makuuchi. While many are wondering what has happened to Asanoyama, I don’t exactly view this string of losses as a bad thing. After all, to learn how to win you have to learn how to lose.

Ichinojo vs. Daishomaru

Wait, that’s no boulder! That’s a Kaiju egg, and it’s starting to hatch!! Ichinojo continues to decimate his competition this basho, and picked up his fourth career kinboshi in an impressive victory over Yokozuna Kisenosato today. Tomorrow the competition level drops significantly for the big man when he takes on the struggling Daishomaru. Like Asanoyama, Daishomaru has not lived up to his Aki performance and has managed to scrape together just two wins. One has to wonder if Daishomaru has what it takes to move the massive Ichinojo over the tawara when they meet on day 9. These two have met three times before, with Ichinojo taking their last two bouts. Ichinojo is really growing on me this basho, and I’m eagerly awaiting his matches with the rest of the joi.

Onosho vs. Takakaisho

This is one matchup many of us have been looking forward to this basho. Onosho versus Takakaisho: best friend versus best friend! Despite this anticipation, both men could not be trending in more opposite directions since their joint interview on the NHK preview. While Takakeisho has conquered two yokozuna and has a 6-2 record, Onosho is just two losses away from his first top division make-koshi. Will Takakaisho push his brother-in-arms one step closer to a losing record, or will facing his best friend re-ignite Onosho’s fighting spirit? Either way, this has potential to be the match of the day.

Five Interesting Matches on Day 7

Liam R Kyushu Basho 2017, Mitakeumi(御嶽海), Shōdai (正代直也), Tamawashi (玉鷲) , , , , , , , , ,

 

Things are beginning to get more and more exciting as the midway point of the 2017 Kyushu basho draws closer. With another day of action ahead of us, here are five matches of interest for day 7.

Nishikiki vs. Kagayaki

Sitting right on the line between Makuuchi and Juryo, Maegashira 15 Nishikigi is desperately trying to prolong his time in the top division. He is set to face Kagayaki on day 7, who is also at risk of a return trip to Juryo should he not get his sumo in gear. While Nishikigi may be battling one opponent this Saturday, Kagayaki is facing two, as the young rikishi from Kanazawa is constantly fighting his own poor balance. Kagayaki leads their series 4 to 3.

Asanoyama vs. Myogiryu

The Asanoyama we all remembered from Aki finally showed up today and delivered a commanding performance against Aminishiki. While it was disappointing to watch everyone’s favorite uncle take his first loss, I’m sure many were relieved to see the promising young rikishi halt his four-day losing skid. Asanoyama’s day 7 opponent will be Myogiryu, who has also been struggling to collect wins in Fukuoka this basho.

Kaisei vs. Chiyomaru

Those of you averse to ample fields of sweaty back hair may want to give this match a pass. The only thing Chiyomaru has been consistent with this basho is his inconsistency. The rotund rikishi has flip-flopped between winning and losing every day and can expect his fourth loss tomorrow if he continues to follow this pattern. His rival for Saturday, Kaisei, is having a somewhat better basho and comes into day 7 with four wins.

Takarafuji vs. Shodai

Early in the basho, it was looking like we would finally see a bit of the Shodai who took the sumo world by storm in 2016. He’s since fallen back into his old habits and suffered a third consecutive loss yesterday in a one-sided bout against Daieisho. Tomorrow he meets Takarafuji, who managed to bring his win-loss ratio back to 50% with a day 6 victory over Chiyonokuni. Shodai needs to figure out his sumo, and soon, or he risks another make-koshi, while Takarafuji is probably just glad Ishiura is down in Juryo untying other mens’ mawashi.

Tamawashi vs. Mitakeumi

Tamawashi really wants back in the San’yaku, and I mean really! The former Sekiwake brought his A-game to his day 6 match with Yoshikaze and must have peeled a few layers of skin off the veteran brawler’s face with his blistering tsuppari attacks. Tamawashi takes on Mitakeumi tomorrow, who may be the worse for wear despite winning his bout with Onosho on Friday. Mitakeumi appears to have hurt his leg after landing on the stadium floor and was limping as he made his way back on to the dohyo. Tomorrow’s match will be a good indicator of just how serious this leg injury is. Mitakeumi leads their series 8-1.

Everything You Need to Know After Act One

Liam R Arawashi (荒鷲), Gōeidō (豪栄道), Hakuho (白鵬), Harumafuji (日馬富士), Hokutōfuji (北勝富士), Ichinojo (逸ノ城), Kakuryu (鶴竜), Kisenosato (稀勢の里), Kyujo (休場), Kyushu Basho 2017, Mitakeumi(御嶽海), Takakeishō (貴景勝), Takanoiwa (貴ノ岩), Takayasu (高安), Tamawashi (玉鷲), Terunofuji (照ノ富士), Ura (宇良), Yūshō (優勝) , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

With the first act of the Kyushu basho coming to an end, here is a quick rundown of everything you need to know to get all caught up.

Yusho Race

Five days in and the leaderboard has already dwindled down to three men, all with perfect records. Maegashira 13 Aminishiki, Ozeki Goeido, and a very genki Yokozuna Hakuho have five wins each and are neck and neck in the yusho race. Behind them with four wins are Takayasu, Mitakeumi, Hokutofuji, Ichinojo, Arawashi, and surprisingly, Okinoumi. I expect this group to be much smaller by the end of act two.

Kinboshi

So far, there have been three kinboshi surrendered this basho. Tamawashi earned the first of these gold star victories on day 1 when he defeated Yokozuna Kisenosato. Up and comer Takakeisho claimed the other two when he beat Harumafuji on day 2 and Kisenosato on day 4.

Kyujo and Absences

There are currently six men on the banzuke who have pulled out of the competition. Ura, Takanoiwa and Yokozuna Kakuryu withdrew citing health issues before the start of the basho. Aoiyama joined them on day 3 after sustaining an ankle injury in his match with Okinoumi. Day 3 would also see Yokozuna Harumafuji pull out of the competition following accusations of an assault on Takanoiwa during the October jungyo tour. After four straight losses, former Ozeki Terunofuji withdrew on day 5 to address the multiple health issues that have been plaguing him as of late.

Tozai-Sei

On day 1, I mentioned that I would be keeping track of the unofficial Tozai-sei Championship going on between the East and West sides of the banzuke. The Tozai-sei was an award used in the early 20th century and was given to the side of the banzuke with the most wins, and I’ve decided to resurrect it for a bit of added fun this basho. The rules are simple: for every win a rikishi gets, his side receives a point. After five days, the West leads the East with a record of 53 to 46. This lead is no doubt thanks to Aminishiki, Ichinojo, Takayasu, and Hakuho, who have a combined 18 points thus far. The top point earners on the East side are Okinoumi, Mitakeumi, and Goeido, who have 14 points between them.

With day 6 set to start in just a few short hours, there are still so many great sumo highlights to look forward to as the Kyushu basho rolls on.

Harumafuji Scandal Development

Liam R Harumafuji (日馬富士), Kyushu Basho 2017 ,

Hakuho

There has been another development in the Harumafuji scandal today. While speaking to the press, key witness Yokozuna Hakuho stated that there was a bottle involved in the incident, but it was not used in the assault on Takanoiwa.

横綱・白鵬が取材に応じ、「やってはいけないことで、手を出したのは事実です。私もその場にいたわけだし、相撲界として世間に本当に申し訳ない気持ちでいっぱいだ。報道されているようにビール瓶で殴っていたわけではありません。ビール瓶は持ちましたが、手から滑り落ちそのあとに私が間に入って部屋から連れ出しました」

Hakuho noted that Harumafuji had been holding a beer bottle before the altercation, but it slipped from his hand before Hakuho separated him from Takanoiwa. The Dai-Yokozuna also expressed his sorrow for not stepping in and breaking up the fight sooner, and apologized to sumo fans for the entire incident.

Former Yokozuna Asashoryu has also remarked on the incident and stated via his Twitter account that there was no bottle involved in the conflict.

モンゴル出身の元横綱朝青龍もツイッターで「ビール瓶で殴ってないらしいよ」

Despite this claim, there has yet to be any proof that Asashoryu was present at the scene of the event on October 26th, and could be basing his opinion on second-hand knowledge.

This development raises the question of how Takanoiwa could have been seriously injured without the use of a weapon. Hakuho’s word is highly respected in the sumo world, but should evidence come forward that the night’s events were drastically different than how he described them he could find himself in hot water as well. Tachiai will continue to cover this story as it develops.

Link to the NHK article: