Nagoya 2015

Nagoya 2015, Day 15: Hakuho Yusho! (35th)

Andy Nagoya 2015 , , ,

Kakuryu gave an amazing effort. It was certainly worth the top billing. After a straight forward tachiai, both wrestlers secured double-barrel grips. Hakuho had the first chance at a yorikiri but Kakuryu countered and slid the superzuna out to the straw bales. However, Hakuho was just biding his time and got the yorikiri force-out victory for his 35th Yusho.

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In other news, Kotoshogiku henka’d his way to a sketchy kachi-koshi (after the last few days of lackluster, creampuff effort from his opponents). He can’t hang with the big boys so on this website, next tournament I will refer to him as sekiwake. It was Terunofuji’s first show at the rank and he picked up 11 wins! If Kotoshogiku needs to pick up 8 wins in this way, he’s not worthy of the rank. Goeido at least picked up a ninth win against Kisenosato, who finishes on 10-5.

Tochinoshin picked up his 8th win and will likely be komusubi next basho – but he needs to prove that he can win against higher ranked opponents, other than Harumafuji. His first week in the Fall tournament will be rough. He beat Kyokutenho who is likely going to retire. I’m still hoping he’ll compete next tournament because I think he turns 41 in September.

Tochiozan was awarded the Outstanding Performance special prize and Yoshikaze got the Fighting Spirit special prize. He finished with 12 wins, tied with Kakuryu for jun-yusho. The bout with Tochiozan left something to be desired, however. It didn’t seem like a straight up match and should have been redone because Yoshikaze clearly had a false start and Tochiozan just kinda had to go with it.

Osunaarashi (11-4) and Endo (10-5) had very strong tournaments and I’m very happy to see Amuru with 8 wins. Toyohibiki, Seiro, and Satoyama will fall back into Juryo and Hidenoumi may join them.

My battery is running low so I’ll publish now but update later.

Nagoya 2015, Day 14: Ichinojo Rolls Over, Will Terunofuji?

Andy Nagoya 2015

The Leaders:

Something’s gotten into Hakuho. Kisenosato had no hope today as the Superzuna rocketed him off the dohyo. Kakuryu had more of a match against Goeido. Goeido had the early edge. He really wanted to pick up that 10th win. In a quick, early surge he pushed Kakuryu to the edge but the Yokozuna was able to use the leverage from the straw bales to counter. Goeido stayed on the attack, though, but Kakuryu seemed to be riding it out. Goeido eventually tried an ill-timed throw because Kakuryu pushed him off the cliff.

The Rest:

I’ve seen Ichinojo toy with Kotoshogiku before. Today was not one of those days. Ichinojo appeared to put no effort into this match, as it’s seemed for a few matches this basho. I had high hopes that seeing Terunofuji’s quick rise would light a spark in him but today he just rolled over for the non-ozeki. I hope Terunofuji is better than that. Kotoshogiku is not a champion. He has no hope of being champion, much less a grand champion. He should be demoted.

If Tochiozan wants to be an ozeki, he needs to win these matches against guys like Kaisei more than matches against yokozuna. He has lost to 2 of 3 maegashira so far. He needs consistency against low-ranked guys but if he wins tomorrow, he’s one step toward an ozeki promotion.

Nagoya 2015, Day 13: Hakuho Leads Alone (updated)

Andy Nagoya 2015 , ,

The Leaders:

Goeido was obliterated by Hakuho. Hakuho basically drove through him at the tachiai, leaving Goeido flailing around, trying to get a hold of anything. Three seconds later, he’d been dropped off the cliff. Kakuryu was not quite so aggressive with Kisenosato. In fact, Kisenosato used his size to gently walk the yokozuna back off the dohyo. It was so quick that when Kakuryu made a slight hobble, it made me wonder if he’s got an ankle issue from yesterday’s hard-fought win over Terunofuji. I tried to find a sign from the earlier match but didn’t see anything. Kisenosato does have a distinct edge in their rivalry, winning the last three straight and four of six since the Mongolian became yokozuna. If there’s any reason why Kisenosato should be upset that he’s not Yokozuna, it should be that he’s so dominant against Kakuryu. He is just far too inconsistent early in tournaments. The last time he started 5-0 was May of 2013. That tournament, his first loss was Day 14 – to Hakuho.

The Rest:

Kagamio picked up his first win since Monday. Unfortunately for Satoyama, that means make koshi and he’s going back to Juryo – where he’ll be joined by Takanoiwa. Interesting fact, Kagamio won the Juryo yusho last tournament. Other than the past three days, he’s been doing pretty well in makuuchi, too. Needless to say, Satoyama’s opponent today was formidable as you could tell by the way he was whipped around by his neck.

In the amusing bout of the day, Sadanofuji and Kotoyuki had quite the slapfest. Kotoyuki had Sadanofuji on the ropes but Sadanofuji was able to dodge to the side and push Kotoyuki off the dohyo. That meant Kotoyuki ended up in the lap of the poor sod in the second row. Oosunaarashi had a great back-and-forth with Tokitenku but eventually prevailed to improve to 9-4. Endo is the first person I’ve seen to lose by hatakikomi and land flat on his back – rather than a belly flop. He falls to 9-4 but is still having a great tournament while Yoshikaze improves to 10-3. Special prize? With newbie Seiro tomorrow, he could finish with a great record.

Kyokutenho has gone off a cliff this tournament, and he gets shoved off one today by Gagamaru. Three straight losses for the 40 year old, his three wins coming from guys ranked M10 and below. It’s a given he’ll be in Juryo next basho but I’m hopeful he can sustain a winning record in there. He had 10 wins as recently as November. His foot is taped so maybe he needs it to heal. If his foot is injured, then I think it’s more likely he’ll retire. Okinoumi secured great ring position against Amuru and never yielded. As Amuru tried to maneuver, he fell victim to an Okinoumi throw.

Aminishiki went for the hatakikomi but Kitataiki maintained his balance and bulled straight through it – and straight through Aminishiki. Ikioi needs a shrink. When he gets this highly ranked, he’s just out of it. He loses again to Toyohibiki. Tochinoshin spun Takayasu and sent him into makekoshi-land. Tochinoshin improves to 6-7 with Gagamaru tomorrow. Tochiozan seems pissed he’s not in “The Leaders” anymore. He sent Sadanoumi three rows deep.

Ichinojo has had very little skill to demonstrate this basho. He’s got the size to beat the smaller guys but when he faces someone his size, he’s done. Terunofuji threw him hand stayed 2 off pace. Kaisei is still incapable of beating Kotoshogiku, he rolled over and Giku lives to fight another day. He faces Ichinojo who’ll undoubtedly roll over tomorrow.

Nagoya 2015, Day 12: Yokozuna Separate From Field (updated)

Andy Nagoya 2015 ,

The Leaders:

It’s all now down to Hakuho and Kakuryu. Kakuryu forced Terunofuji to the edge and try as he might just was not able to push him over for the yorikiri win. But he still managed a throw to stay in the lead and push the shin-ozeki two losses back. Terunofuji looked to have the early edge, with position in the ring and both arms wrapped around Kakuryu’s arms. But Kakuryu was able to use his lower position to maneuver Terunofuji to the edge. Terunofuji sure dug in his heels against the yorikiri, but Kakuryu finally managed a throw.

Hakuho quickly dispatched the hapless Kotoshogiku. Hakuho faces Goeido, who has given him problems lately with four losses over the last seven tournaments, including one in May. Has Goeido found an edge? Giku faces Kaisei with Terunofuji and Ichinojo waiting in the wings, and any loss moving forward sends him down to sekiwake. It’s been a year since he’s managed 10 wins, so if he goes down, it is highly unlikely that he’ll bounce back up. He’s still getting kachi koshi in sanyaku so it’s possible he can hang around Sekiwake for a while.

Tochiozan fell earlier to Okinoumi. This may be the moment his yusho hopes were dashed. All the hard work beating two yokozuna and two ozeki may be for naught as he falls to a lowly maegashira. The Goeido loss may have put it out of reach but surely today’s match put a dagger in those hopes. He should still finish strongly these last three days if he hopes to follow Terunofuji for ozeki promotion with 33 wins over 3 tournaments. Putting up 12 here is a strong move.

The Rest:

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