bad puns

Hatsubasho 2015: Day 7

Andy Hakuho (白鵬), Harumafuji (日馬富士), Hatsubasho 2015, Ichinojo (逸ノ城) , , , , , , , ,
Harumafuji slips up
Harumafuji slips up

Harumafuji’s slip-up gives up a surprising gold star to a visibly injured Jokoryu. There’s a lot of speculation about why the yokozuna fell so easily but my take on it is he was trying for a rare kimarite and underestimated Jokoryu’s ability to stand his ground. I’ve never seen anyone reach all the way round the opponent to grab the thong part of the mawashi. Until I know the real name, I’m going to call it an attempted nuclear-wedgie. I will not fault Harumafuji for trying because I enjoy his creative style of sumo. He seems to always find new ways to win that I haven’t seen, like the komatasukui from yesterday. The timing today is questionable, when tied for the lead with Hakuho to close out week one.
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Shingles to Sideline Ichinojo in Kyushu?

Andy Ichinojo (逸ノ城), November Tournament 2014 , , , , ,

Ichinojo may miss the Kyushu tournament due to shingles. It’s kind of funny this would happen now because on TV here in the States there’s been a rash of shingles medication commercials. Pun obviously intended.

They’ve been saying it’s due to stress. I do wish NHK and everyone would lay off. If he’s good, cool. But he’s not a yokozuna until he’s a yokozuna. And he’s not going to be able to henka his way there. Where’s Endo been since his first great tournament? Yes, he’s raking in the cash – but lately his opponents have been walking away with more of it than he has. Even Osunaarashi has two kinboshi from the July tournament, but he has difficulty getting kachi-koshi if his opponents are prepared for his aggressiveness.

Ichinojo is a bit of an unknown quantity so until he’s consistently grabbing 10 victories per tournament, let’s hold off the coronation ceremony.