Harubasho 2017 (Osaka)

The Osaka basho that takes place in March

Haru 2017: Day 5 Preview

Andy Harubasho 2017 (Osaka)

We are now approaching Day 5 of this pivotal tournament. I’m thrilled so far…but also saddened. There’s just this feeling that “the times, they are a changin.'” Hakuho and Harumafuji are already out of yusho contention with two losses a piece and their schedules don’t ease tomorrow. Hakuho will take on Mitakeumi in the final match of the day – and my highlight match. Mitakeumi is 2-2 in this tournament and also 2-2 in his most recent four bouts against Yokozuna. With Hakuho coming off a shock loss to Ikioi, he may be prime for another upset. Harumafuji’s taking on Shohozan, who grabbed a gold star from the Yokozuna just last tournament.

Kakuryu has been shaky on one loss but has Sokokurai who should be the easiest of his matchups this tournament. Kisenosato is the lone stalwart among our yokozuna. He will face a chuffed Ikioi. Ikioi just blasted Hakuho, really surprising the heck out of me, so I’m not going to write Ikioi off…but he’s facing prime, confident Kisenosato looking at another yusho run.

Takekaze may get his first win of the tournament against Goeido while Takanoiwa may want to call in sick. Terunofuji’s kicking ass and taking names. Kotoshogiku is fighting hard for his Ozeki rank but Tamawashi wants that Ozeki rank, too. Giku’s path is easiest but I really do fear a continuing kadoban cycle if he regains it. He’s battling on one leg. One very powerful leg…but one leg.

Two more ozeki hopefuls, Takayasu and Shodai, will be a thrilling match but I’m giving the edge to Takayasu. He’s been on such amazing form lately while Shodai dropped a close one today against Tamawashi. These ozeki hopefuls are going to cannibalize eachother and it will be thrilling to see who wins. By the looks of it, the winner will be Terunofuji’s lunch.

Further down the banzuke, Tochiozan is proving he is way too low for his skill. He should be looking at a special prize after this tournament. Ichinojo will be eager to take a few envelopes off Endo while Ura will take on a Kagayaki who just looked lost or listless or injured today. The futility bowl is the Okinoumi/Tochinoshin bout. I might turn the channel in that one and just pray no one hurts themselves more.

Dinner time! More to talk about tomorrow! In other random news, I’m getting a new fence tomorrow.

 

Imbalance In San’yaku By The Numbers

Bruce H Harubasho 2017 (Osaka), promotion, Sekiwake (関脇), Yokozuna (横綱), Ōzeki (大関)

San'yaku

The Yokozuna and Ozeki Are Hurting

It’s clear that the Ozeki / Yokozuna problems from January have not abated, and we are seeing a strong effort from the lower San’yaku. As most sumo fans will tell you, the Sekiwake and Komusubi ranks are horrific assignments that see rikishi get handed brutal losing records that typically launch them down the banzuke for several tournaments. Let’s take a look at Nagoya 2016

Nagoya – Yokozuna / Ozeki (day 4)

Win Loss Shikona
4 0 Hakuho
3 1 Harumafuji
3 1 Kakuryu
4 0 Kisenosato
2 2 Goeido
0 4 Kotoshogiku
4 0 Terunofuji

Total of 20 wins, 8 losses after 5 days, or a 0.71 wins / day from this crew. Very powerful. They Yokozuna crew produced 0.83 wins / day, which is even more dominant.

Meanwhile, lower San’yaku was a blood bath

Nagoya – Sekiwake / Komusubi (day 4)

Win Loss Shikona
3 1 Kaiesei
0 4 Tochinoshin
0 4 Kotoyuki
3 1 Takayasu

6 wins, 10 losses by day 4. Kaisei and Takayasu were pulling hard, but Kotoyuki and Tochinoshin were being beaten bloody. In fact, now almost a year later and neither one has actually recovered from that basho’s pounding. This crew turned in 0.3 wins / day. Very ugly, right? And this is how it typically is for these ranks.

Now lets see what is happening during the first 4 days of Haru

Osaka – Yokozuna / Ozeki (day 4)

Win Loss Shikona
2 2 Hakuho
3 1 Kakuryu
2 2 Harumafuji
4 0 Kisenosato
1 3 Goeido
4 0 Terunofuji

Not as strong, they are producing an average of 0.66 wins / day, with Kisenosato and Terunofuji really hauling most of that themselves. Meanwhile, in lower San’yaku land

Osaka – Sekiwake / Komusubi (day 4)

Win Loss Shikona
2 2 Tamawashi
4 0 Takayasu
3 1 Kotoshogiku
2 2 Mitakeumi
2 2 Shodai

Also averaging a respectable 0.66 wins / day. Instead of the normal beating, the Sekiwake and Komusubi are keeping pace with the Ozeki and Yokozuna. While the basho is still young, this would seem to indicate that there is a real challenge to the top men of sumo from the lieutenant ranks now. Also keep in mind, the first week is “Hell Week” for the Sekiwake and Komusubi, where they are typically pounded to a bloody mess by the Ozeki and Yokozuna. Week 2 has them returning the favor to the Makuuchi troops.

As with Hatsu, this is going to be a departure from the typical basho, and is a further signal that we will likely see a change soon.

Wakaichiro’s (若一郎) Day 5 Match Preview

Bruce H Harubasho 2017 (Osaka) ,

image

Faces Jonokuchi 6 Ichifuji

American sumotori Wakaichiro has his 3rd match on day 5 in Osaka. In his third match, he faces Isegahama heya’s veteran Ichifuji. Ichifuji has been in sumo for over a decade, and has been weaving his way through the bottom two ranks for 63 tournaments. While he has never come up with the wins to advance to higher divisions, he has a great deal of experience, and will likely present a challenge for Wakaichiro.

Going into this match, Wakaichiro is 1-1, with a goal of achieving a majority of wins over the 7 matches during the Osaka tournament.

Kisenosato’s Mie Pose

Bruce H Harubasho 2017 (Osaka), Kisenosato (稀勢の里)

Kisenosato-Mie-1

When You See It, He Wins

It’s probably no secret I have been a student of Japanese culture, and one of the things that I like in addition to sumo is Kabuki. Much like sumo, it can be really moving, and completely WTF crazy at times. Like sumo, the actors assume stage names, in the case of Kabuki, some of them many generations old.

One element from Kabuki that even westerners can recognizes has the name “Mie” (pronounced mee-ah). You can read a nice write up on Wikipedia, but I will except here:

The mie pose (見え　or 見得, mie, pronounced ‘mee-eh’), a powerful and emotional pose struck by an actor, who then freezes for a moment, is a distinctive element of aragoto Kabuki performance. Mie means ‘appearance’ or ‘visible’ in Japanese, and one of the primary purposes of this convention is to draw attention to a particularly important or powerful portion of the performance. It is meant to show a character’s emotions at their peak, and can often be a very powerful pose.

Kisenosato seems to have such a pose, and it’s becoming quite iconic. I first noticed him starting to do it a couple of years ago. When he pulls this thing out, his opponent is more or less finished. In that way I can relate it almost directly to when the great Michael Jordon would start sticking is tongue out as he drove for the goal. He was, at that moment, in his element. He was alone with his immense skill and no man and no force on the basketball court could stop him.

Kisenosato-Mie-2

It would seem that this pose is analogous with Kisenosato. He is in his element, and the size and power of his opponent no longer matter.  He is focused and connected to his goal. The rikishi he is defeating is simply an object the universe has given him to enhance his victory.  This, to me, ties into my observations last basho that during the first week of the basho, Kisenosato seemed lost in his own thoughts, and the moment of tachiai sometimes did not even rouse his interest. It may have been that he finally overcame his mental obstacles and achieved focus.

If you go back and watch his winning matches, more often than not you see him assume this stance as he applies his winning move.