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July 2021 Basho
Introduction and Previews (including 2 new Fred Pinkerton height x weight scatter plots)--links to all player information (ranking, prefecture or country of origin, date of birth, stable, height, weight)
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Video: Note: NHK videos will be available on demand until 2 weeks after the end of the Basho. After that, they will be removed from the site. They are usually available for on demand viewing about 1 day after the matches. Note that "highlights" means complete full match video of all daily Makuuchi matches.
Day 12 Video highlights (replays of all 20 matches--NHK) (27:00)
Chris Sumo Youtube
Japanese Sumo Association Youtube
JSA Youtube has offered 2 full matches on its Youtube channel. Hopefully they will do this every day. It is a live feed, no commentary, but it gives another perspective on these matches.
After winning his first 7 matches with different kimarite (winning moves), Hakuho has now won 4 of his last 5 via Yorikiri (Frontal Force Out), the most commonly used kimarite. The other was by Yoritaoshi (Frontal Crush Out), the first time he has employed that move.
2. Takagengi (J6e)(5-6) v Shohozan (J1w) (3-8)--this is a Juryo (2nd Division) match. Takagengi begins on the left.
Both Rikishi have been disappointing in this Basho.
Shohozan was expected to contend for the Yusho (Championship), or at least have a strong Kachi-koshi (winning record), which would propel him back into Makuuchi (Top Division, where he last fought in September of 2020). He is a veteran of 16 years in Sumo and has reached as high as Komusubi. But that was in 2013 and only for one Basho. He yo-yo-ed between Komusubi and Maegashira for the most of 2013 before falling to rank and file until he reached Komusubi once more in 2018. Again he immediately fell back to Maegashira until November of 2020, when he dropped to Juryo (Second Division). He has gone up and down the Juryo Banzuke (rankings) since then, reaching J1w for this Basho. But he began with 6 consecutive losses. With this loss, is headed for a deep Make-Koshi that may make it another multiple Tournament struggle to get back to Makuuchi. At age 37, his chance may be slipping away.
For more on Takagengi see Day 9 blog post.
Tachiai.org is following the Jonokuchi Division Basho of this Tournament. Jonokuchi is Division 6, the lowest division, non salaried.
Today there is video for the following matches:
Shunrai (Jk23w) (5-0) v Takashoki (Jk7w) (4-1) (Shunrai is on the left)
Mogamizakura (Jk4w) (5-0) v Tanimoto (Jd [Jonidan--Division 5] 93w) (Mogamizakura is on the left)
Myagi (J21e) (4-1) v Kiryuko (J24e) (4-1) (Myagi is on the left)
Chiyofuku (J16e) (2-3) v Byakunen (Jk25e) (2-3) (Note: for more on Byakunen see Blog posts for Day 1 and 3).
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Notable:
Hakuho (Y1e) and Terunofuji (O1e) eliminated the field by winning their 12th consecutive matches. The best trailers Tamawashi (M10e) and Kotonowaka (M11w) can finish is 12-3. In the unlikely event that both the leaders lose their next two, they would still meet for the Championship on Day 15 with 12-2 records. A much more likely scenario, at this point, is that they will meet with 14-0 records, and that Terunofuji will be promoted to 73rd Yokozuna even if he does not win the Championship (provided he doesn't lose his last 3 matches).
Interestingly, Hakuho again won by Yorikiri (Frontal Force Out), after spirited resistance by Mitaeumi (S1w). It was the 4th victory in the last 5 matches he has won by the most commonly employed kimarite (finishing move), after winning his first 7 matches with different kimarite. Terunofuji employed the first Kimetaoashi (Arm Barring Force Down) of the Tournament, a brutal and powerful way to win. It was his 4th non-Yorikiri win.
Kiribayama (M6w) put a large dent in Takayasu's (S1e) Kachi-koshi (winning record, meaning he would retain his rank) hopes. In an epic 3 minute battle, the Maegashira finally forced the Sekiwake out, leaving him at 7-3-2 and with Hokuho (Y1e), Terunofuiji (O1e), and Shodai (O2w) on his schedule. He must win at least one of those matches, a tall order. Kiribayma's win was one of two rank and file wins against only one loss v san 'yaku (Top Rankers) today. Overall the rank and filers improved to 16-39 (.291) against their betters.
Ichiyamamoto (M17w) is still looking for his Kachi-koshi after losing his 3rd consecutive match. His high water mark was 7-2. If he doesn't win 8, he will be demoted back to Juryo (2nd Division).
Quotable (Source: Chris Sumo Youtube)
Once I got the belt I was, like,"I'm going forward here," but my stupid leg just slipped.
Kaisei (M11e) (5-7) explaining his loss to Kotonowaka (M11w) (9-3)
I felt I did a thorough job today. You don't want him to halt your movement and take an outside left, and I was proactive in insuring that didn't happen.
Kotonowaka's view of the match. He is in a tie for second place, 3 matches behind the leaders.
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I know him well because we joined Sumo at the same time and have trained together a lot. It's good to see him on the rise and think that our sessions might have played a part.
Terunofuji (O1e) on his difficult nearly 11 second struggle with Meisei (K1w), who has troubled both leaders in his matches with them.
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It was good I hung in there. I've never beaten him until now, and my aim was not to let him get his outside grip.
Kiribayama (M6w) on his epic 3 minute battle with Takayasu (S1e). It was a deflating defeat for the loser, who now surely must admit his present Ozeki run has come to an end. It was by far the longest match of the Basho so far, slightly more than twice the length of of the previous longest match, Ichiyamamoto (M17e) v Chiyomaru (M13e) on Day 9.
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Twelve wins was my aim this time, as that's what a Yokozuna calls a winning score, I guess you could say I'm relieved. I'm building up a nice flow and don't want to stumble now.
Hakuho (Y1e) on his 12th consecutive win, over Mitakeumi (S1w). after a 26 second battle.
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Partial or complete absences from this Basho
Wins-Losses-Absences
O1w---Takakeisho (1-2-12) (including 1 forfeit loss)
O2w---Asanoyama (0-0-15)
S1e---Takayasu (2-1-2)
M1e---Endo (1-4-10) (including 1 foreit loss)
Condensed results (20 matches)
Key: Time of Match--s=seconds; Rank; Winner; Basho Record; Finishing Move; Rank; Loser; Basho Record
02.0s M16e Chiyonokuni (7-5) hatakikomi J2w Akua (6-6)
07.5s M15w Tokushoryu (4-8) yorikiri M13e Chiyomaru (4-8)
08.0s M13w Ura (8-4) tsukiotoshi M12e Tochinoshin (4-8)
75.1s M12w Kagayaki (5-7) kotenage M14e Daiamami (3-9)
10.0s M11w Kotonowaka (9-3) uwatenage M11e Kaisei (5-7)
04.4s M10e Tamawashi (9-3) oshidashi M16w Ishiura (7-5)
11.1s M9w Shimanoumi (7-5) yorikiri M15e Tsurugisho (7-5)
11.0s M8e Takarafuji (8-4) hikiotoshi M17e Ichiyamamoto (7-5)
05.2s M14w Chiyonoo (6-6) oshidashi M8w Aoiyama (4-8)
14.9s M10w Terutsuyoshi (7-5) komatasukui M7w Chiyoshoma (7-5)
06.2s M9e Hidenoumi (6-6) uwatenage M5w Hoshoryu (8-4)
25.1s M7e Myogiryu (3-9) hatakikomi M4w Chiyotairyu (2-10)
04.2s M2e Takanosho (6-6) oshidashi M3w Tobizaru (3-9)
12.1s M3e Hokutofuji (7-5) yorikiri M2w Ichinojo (8-4)
06.2s M1w Daieisho (3-9) hatakikomi M4e Kotoeko (2-10)
03.1s M6e Onosho (5-7) hatakikomi K1e Wakatakakage (3-9)
179.3sM6w Kiribayama (8-4) yorikiri S1e Takayasu (7-3-2)
05.4s O2e Shodai (7-5) yorikiri M5e Okinoumi (5-7)
10.9s O1e Terunofuji (12-0) kimetaoshi K1w Meisei (6-6)
26.6s Y1e Hakuho (12-0) yorikiri S1w Mitakeumi (6-6)
Source: Sumo Reference (text results) and Nikkansports.com length of bouts data (see result sources below)
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Finishing Moves (20 matches--241 TOTAL) Note: finishing move links below link to short NHK videos demonstrating the technique.
Frontal Force Out (Yorikiri)............6-73
Slap Down (Hatakikomi)..................4-25
Frontal Push Out (Oshidashi)............3-48
Over Arm Throw (Uwatenage)..............2-11