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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 6 Video highlights (replays of all 20 matches--NHK) (27:00)
Chris Sumo Youtube
July 2021, Day 6: Ideals v reality Chris holds back nothing in his criticism of Ichinojo's (M2w) effort against Terunofuji (O1e)
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.
1. Ura (M13w) v Ichiyamamoto (M17e) (Ura is in the Salmon belt) Ichiyamamoto finds that things aren't so easy in the Top Division as the Rookie's 3 match winning streak comes to a quick and ignominious end.
2. Nishikifuji (J11e--2-3) v Kaisho (J13e--4-1)--this is a Juryo (2nd Division) match. Kaisho begins on the right.
Kaisho began his career in 2013. He has reached as high as J11e, and is coming off an 8 Basho sojourn in Makushita (Division 3--non salaried). His Juryo ranking (14 is the lowest) requires that he earn a Kachi-koshi (winning record) to remain in Juryo. The gulf between Juryo and Makushita is in some ways the largest gulf in all of Sumo, as it is the difference between a salary and no salary (only room and board and a small stipend). From May 2013 through July of 2019, Kaisho resided in the Purgatory of the bottom 4 (non salaried) Divisions. Others have been there longer and reached salaried level, but 6 years is a long time. When he finally reached Juryo for the first time, he was 13-17 in two Basho before being demoted back to Makushita, where he resided for another 8 Basho, the last 3 of which yielded a 16-5 record that brought him back to Juryo for this Basho. He wants no more trips back to Makushita and his 4-1 start (including this impressive victory) has him 4 wins away from a promotion toward his ultimate goal, Makuuchi (Top Division), and away from the lower divisions.
Nishikifuji began his Sumo journey in November of 2016 and he reached Juryo for the first time in September 2020 on the back of 2 Basho where he was 12-2 with a Makushita Yusho (Championship) on his resume. However, a disastrous 3-12 in November of 2020 sent him back to Makushita. A 6-1 (lost in a playoff) yo-yo-ed him back to Juryo in March. Since then he is 17-19 in Juryo. But at 2-4 in this Basho, his is a precarious position, as a bad Make-koshi (losing record) could yo-yo him back to Makushita again. How will he respond? These are some of the dramatic threads that run through every Basho. A lot goes on that is not under the bright TV lights.
Tachiai.org Jonokuchi Match Day 3 (includes match video of 5 matches where all Rikishi are 2-0 going into the match)
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Notable:
Today Hakuho (Y1e) and Terunofuji (O1e) made short work of their rank and file opponents, winning their 6th matches in a row. Only one Rikishi (Kotonwaka--M11w) is in within one match of them. 8 Rikishi have 4-2 records and there is a long way to go, but some fans are already thinking ahead to Day 15, when the two highest ranked contestants meet one another with a possible perfect record, as well as a Yusho (championship) at stake. If that happens there will be a new Yokozuna no matter what the outcome. And the other Yokozuna will have thoroughly silenced his critics.
Ichiyamamoto (J17e), this Basho's only rookie, had his 3 match winning streak broken today, but is still 4-2 for the Basho.
Maegashira (rank and filers) were 1-4 v san'yaku (Top Rank) today, For the Basho they are 9-22 (.290).
Quotable (Source: Chris Sumo Youtube)
Part of me wanted to go inside and take his belt. And the pull was just impromptu. Yeah, I was a bit disappointed to win like that. But I was just using his power against him.
Hakuho (Y1e) on his 3 second demolition of Hokutofuji (M3e). Each of his 6 victories have come different kimarites (finishing moves).
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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
Day 6 Condensed results
04.7s M16w Ishiura (3-3) yorikiri J1w Shohozan (0-6)
13.3s M14e Daiamami (2-4) yorikiri M13e Chiyomaru (2-4)
02.2s M13w Ura (3-3) oshidashi M17e Ichiyamamoto (4-2)
04.7s M12e Tochinoshin (2-4) oshidashi M16e Chiyonokuni (4-2)
03.7s M15e Tsurugisho (4-2) uwatenage M12w Kagayaki (3-3)
02.8s M11w Kotonowaka (5-1) tsukiotoshi M15w Tokushoryu (3-3)
01.4s M10w Terutsuyoshi (2-4) hikiotoshi M10e Tamawashi (4-2)
19.0s M11e Kaisei (3-3) yorikiri M9e Hidenoumi (3-3)
08.4s M9w Shimanoumi (3-3) yorikiri M14w Chiyonoo (2-4)
18.5s M8w Aoiyama (3-3) yorikiri M7e Myogiryu (1-5)
11.0s M8e Takarafuji (4-2) hikiotoshi M6e Onosho (2-4)
17.5s M7w Chiyoshoma (3-3) uwatedashinage M5w Hoshoryu (4-2)
02.5s M4w Chiyotairyu (2-4) hikiotoshi M6w Kiribayama (4-2)
13.0s M3w Tobizaru (3-3) shitatenage M5e Okinoumi (3-3)
03.2s M2e Takanosho (2-4) oshidashi K1e Wakatakakage (2-4)
05.8s S1e Takayasu (3-1-2) tsukiotoshi M1w Daieisho (1-5)
07.1s K1w Meisei (3-3) tsukiotoshi S1w Mitakeumi (4-2)
03.9s O2e Shodai (3-3) yorikiri M4e Kotoeko (2-4)
02.3s O1e Terunofuji (6-0) yorikiri M2w Ichinojo (3-3)
03.1s Y1e Hakuho (6-0) hatakikomi M3e Hokutofuji (3-3)
Source: Sumo Reference (text results) and Nikkansports.com length of bouts data (see result sources below)
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Finishing Moves (20 matches--121 TOTAL) Note: finishing move links below link to short NHK videos demonstrating the technique.
Frontal Push Out (Oshidashi)............3-25
Frontal Force Out (Yorikiri)............7-35
Hand Pull Down (Hikiotoshi).............3--7
Thrust Down (Tsukiotoshi)...............3-11
Slap Down (Hatakikomi)..................1--8
Under Arm Throw (Shitatenage)...........1--2