Berserker

Goeido and Okinoumi Still Undefeated

Bruce H Aki Basho 2016, Kakuryu (鶴竜), Kisenosato (稀勢の里), Takarafuji (宝富士), Takayasu (高安), Tochiozan (栃煌山), Yoshikaze (嘉風) , , ,

day-4

Some Hot Streaks Quenched

The Sumo in Tokyo overnight supplied great equalizing force in the September basho, with quite a few rikishi going to 2 wins 2 losses. For most men in sumo, the great drive each tournament is to end with a winning record, even by 1 bout, in order to not be demoted.

Goeido, Kotoyuki and Okinoumi remain undefeated.

Some notable results:

Kakuryu defeats Shodai – Glad that Kakuryu has a recovered from his rocky start, but really Shodai is not worthy of an 0-4 record.

Kotoshogiku defeats Myogiryu – Mr Back-stretch is now 5 wins away from clearing his kadoban status. In spite of some tough falls he is still looking good.

Kisenosato defeats Yoshikaze – I am now worried that the Berserker is going to struggle to make kachi-koshi. It was a close one against Kisenosato, but Yoshikaze is facing a harder set of opponents this tournament. Everyone in Japan (and many parts of the world) wonder if Kisenosato can still make a strong run after a 2-2 start. Something is not right in the pumpkin patch.

Okinoumi defeats Terunofuji – Called this last night in the predictions post. What sort of magic force is driving Okinoumi? He is strong, confident and is dominating every opponent. It would be really neat to see a rank and file Maegashira finish near the top. Maybe he can keep this rolling.

Goeido defeats Takanoiwa – Goeido is somehow on fire. He is now 4 wins away from clearing kadoban, and is really doing well.

Takayasu defeats Tochiozan – Good to see Takayasu winning. I still think he is a strong contender for the next Ozeki. Tochiozan reminds us once again how Komusubi is the toughest rank in sumo.

Sadanofuji defeats Ura – Can’t wait to see the video for this one. Ura now drops to 2-2

Osunaarashi defeats Chiyomaru – Sandstorm back on track, he is now also 2-2.

September Day 4 Preview

Bruce H Aki Basho 2016, Kakuryu (鶴竜), Kisenosato (稀勢の里), Takayasu (高安), Yoshikaze (嘉風) , , , , ,

dohyori

Of Course You Know This Means War…

More chaos in the matches as we go skidding into day 4. It’s still early, and it’s really up for grabs. Even the research staff here at Tachiai are confused (and possibly drunk) given all of the twists and turns thus far. Day four now approaches, with calamitous intent!

Endo v Chiyoshoma – Really now, Chiyoshoma is still undefeated? Can we have the good Endo please, to bring maximum parity to the dohyo? Prediction / wish-casting: Endo

Sokokurai v Kotoyuki – The next undefeated Rikishi will go against Sokokurai. I predict that Sokokurai will not be kachi-nokori

Takekaze v Mitakeumi – That guy Mitakeumi is actually good enough to win this thing. I wonder if the veteran Takekaze can furnish a speed bump on his road to victory.

Ikioi v Chiyootori – Much as I love watching Ikioi win, he was hurt on day 3. I really don’t want to see Chiyootori go 0-4. Ikioi was limping bad enough on that bad ankle I worry about him going kuyjo. So far no word in the sumo press on that.

Takayasu v Tochiozan – I think the Takayasu sumo machine finally has his boiler up to temp, so this will be a good match. I hope to see Tochiozan make kachi-koshi when all is done in 11 days.

Goeido v Takanoiwa – Great sumo cat of the Kokugikan! If either of the Kadoban Twins win this basho, i am honor bound to eat both my own buttocks. Not an easy task. Takanoiwa has been on a hot streak, my backside prays he can slow down Goeido, it’s not like we can count on Kakuryu to do it

Okinoumi v Terunofuji – Wow, you know Terunofuji is worried, right? What happened to regular Okinoumi? I expect that he will one day peel his lifelike skin away to reveal Hakuho inside there operating him like a robot.

Kisenosato v Yoshikaze – The Great Pumpkin is off his game. He is at his best when he is straight ahead hug-and-chug mawashi sumo. I don’t even see him getting a grip on these bouts. Good luck trying to touch Yoshikaze’s belt. I predict (as i always do) the Berserker. He’s kind of the Mike Ditka of sumo. Yeah, that slipi-toshi loss to Kakuryu? We still love you Berserker!

Juryo

Ura v Sadanofuji – Sorry Sadanofuji, it’s time for more Ura goodness

Chiyomaru v Osunaarashi – I worry the Sandstorm is not healed up yet. Anyone’s guess on this one as Osunaarashi is hit or miss

 

Okinoumi Kinboshi, Kisenosato Loses Again

Bruce H Aki Basho 2016, Harumafuji (日馬富士), Kakuryu (鶴竜), Kisenosato (稀勢の里), Yoshikaze (嘉風) , ,

day3-harumafuji

Purple cushions rain down in Tokyo

A quick recap of day 3 action at the Kokugikan, there was some amazing sumo taking place in Tokyo while the US was asleep.  Some of the favorites faced defeat, and underdogs took some wins.

Undefeated after day 3: Goeido, Okinoumi, Mitakeumi, Kotoyuki, Chiyoshoma

Okinoumi defeats Harumafuji – his second kinboshi this tournament! Okinoumi remains undefeated. The Maegashira 1e wrestler is having a great basho 3 days in.

Tochinoshin defeats Kisenosato – The big Georgian takes down the Great Pumpkin, whose dreams of Yokozuna in Tokyo are well and truly in tatters

Kakuryu defeats Yoshikaze – The winless Yokozuna picks up one against the Berserker.  Yoshikaze fights like a man possessed, but keep in mind he was hospitalized for injuries in August.

Kaisei defeats Takanoiwa – Takanoiwa had been on a strong winning streak, and the burly Brazilian has been struggling, but today it was Takanoiwa’s turn to go down.

Mitakeumi defeats Tamawashi – Mitakeumi remains with Okinoumi at 3 wins / 0 losses at the end of day 3.  This basho is wide open with the Boss recovering from foot surgery.

Chiyotairyu defeats Ura – It was bound to happen some time, but Ura had his first loss today. I am not going to say “Henka”, but others may.

Hidenoumi defeats Osunaarashi – The Egyptian is struggling after taking the July tournament off to recover from injuries

 

Aki Basho Day 3 Preview

Bruce H Aki Basho 2016, Harumafuji (日馬富士), Kisenosato (稀勢の里), San'yaku (三役), Sekiwake (関脇), Yoshikaze (嘉風) , , , , ,

kise-salt

Cloudy With A Chance of Kinboshi

Day 3 of the September tournament looks to be even more interesting / exciting than day 2 has been. Through the line up and ranking in the Banzuke, it was assured that some of the best men in Sumo would be head to head on any given day. Here are some of the things we can look forward to for Tuesday

Kyokushuho v Amakaze – Amakaze looks to have gotten back into his sumo on day two, but Kyokushuho at Maegashira 15 is unbeaten. Can size overcome a rikishi on a winning streak?

Gagamaru v Arawashi – Planet Gagamaru will try to improve his 1-1 record against the higher ranking Arawashi, who looked very strong in Nagoya.

Shohozan v Kotoyuki – Both unbeaten, it’s time for one of them to taste the dohyo

Kaisei v Takanoiwa – The winless Komusubi takes on the unbeaten Takanoiwa who has already beaten both Sekiwake

Kisenosato v Tochinoshin – The Great Pumpkin is not out of the hunt for Yokozuna yet, he faces a struggling Tochinoshin next.

Yoshikaze v Kakuryu – It’s a shame when a Yokozuna starts 0-2, can Yoshikaze make it 3 with a Kinboshi?

Harumafuji v Okinoumi – Harumafuji looked strong today against the berserker (Yoshikaze), but at the moment it seems Okinoumi is collecting san’yaku scalps. Magic in the air (and purple cushions) if Okinoumi gets his second Kinboshi.