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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 7 Video highlights (replays of all 20 matches--NHK) (27:00)
Chris Sumo Youtube
Shonanzakura's 100th straight loss; Hakuyozan tears ACL
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 Tsurugisho (M15e) (Ura is in the Salmon belt)
Ura entered at 3-3, Tsurugisho at 4-2. Both (but especially Tsurugisho) need Kachi-koshi (winning record) to guarantee retention in Makuuchi (Top Division)
2. Abi (J14e--6-0) v Daishomaru (J11w--2-4) -this is a Juryo (2nd Division) match. Abi begins on the left.
Abi has now won 20 consecutive matches (and one forfeit) since coming back from his 3 1/2 Basho suspension. He has progressed from Makushita 56w (3rd Division--non salary) to Ms7e to Juryo 14e (2nd Division--salaried), the second lowest ranking in the Division. At this rate, and with consecutive Ms Yusho now on his resume, it will still take him at least two more Basho to get back to Makuuchi (Top Division). These are the rules and he must abide by them, but it makes for a lot of one sided matches.
Daishomaru, who began his career in May 2014, advanced to Makuuchi for the first time in March 2016. In 16 Basho he was Kachi-koshi (winning record) 5 times but won enough matches to stay in the Division. He dropped to Juryo in March 2019, and with the exception of one "cup of coffee" in Makuuchi in November of that year, has been in Juryo ever since. He too is possibly two or more likely three Basho away from a return to the Top Division. But he is in a more precarious position because if he has a really bad Basho, he might lose salaried status. So this seemingly innocuous match has a lot of meaning for these Rikishi.
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Notable:
Hakuho (Y1e) and Terunofuji (O1e) finished the Day with 7 consecutive wins and a 2 match lead over the rest of the field. It is, of course, too early to tell, but it is beginning to look like they are destined to fight each other for the Yusho (Championship) on Day 15. They both have been tested, Hakuho almost losing on Day 1, Terunofuji on Day 4. And the most difficult part of each of their schedules comes during Week 2. But watching the body language of their opponents doesn't give this fan the impression that anyone will beat them anytime soon. Hakuho has now won 7 matches with 7 different finishing moves. Terunofuji has won 5 of his 7 matches by Frontal Force Out (Yorikiri), the most often used finishing move in the Sport.
Today Hakuho destroyed Tobizaru (M3w) in about 2 seconds...after Tobizaru had spent more than a minute trying to avoid the Yokozuna. He lined up for the Tachiai (initial charge) about as far away from the white line as he could and still be in the Dohyo (ring). He studiously avoided contact with Hakuho, to the point where it seemed the Grand Champion became a bit exasperated, stood up, and waited...and waited. Finally when Tobizaru engaged, Hakuho immediately grabbed him by the belt and unceremoniously threw him off the premises. It was a match like no other I have seen, but in a strange way entertaining.
Rookie Ichiyamamoto (M17e) got back to his winning ways with his 5th win in 7 matches. He now needs only 3 more to stay in the Top Division. It will be interesting to see if he fades in the second week, as has been known to happen to Rookies, as well as lots of other Rikishi, as the pounding goes on without respite, day after day.
Maegashira were 2-3 against their betters today, making their overall record against the Top Rankers 11-25 (.306).
And one final milestone to report: Shonanzakura (Jk24w--2nd lowest rank in the lowest Division--Jonokuchi), lost his 100th consecutive match. His overall record is now 3-237 (1 absence) since beginning his career in November of 2015. He now holds a most likely unassailable record. If nothing else, he is "durable", missing only one match so far.
Quotable (Source for all quotes: Chris Sumo Youtube)
I just fell into his stance. I wanted to hold out a bit more by not letting his right inside, but was obsessed with slashing inside myself.
Shodai (O2e) on yet another disappointing loss, this time to Ichinojo (M2w)
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That's what I aimed for, not letting him inside.
Ichinojo, on his victorious strategy.
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Which all begs the question: What was he aiming for yesterday?
Chris Sumo, on Ichinojo's terrible performance against Terunofuji (O1e) on Day 6.
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(I got) a nice tight grip, which had me resolved to drive him out.
Terunofuji, on his 7th straight win, this one against Kotoeko (M4e), to stay even with Hakuho.
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Palpitations (how Tobizaru felt about stepping up on the dohyo [ring] with Hakuko). I attacked as prudently as I could because if I'd gone in too hard with the thrusts, he'd just have gripped my belt earlier and thrashed me.
Tobizaru (M3w) on what he tried to do to avoid becoming Hakuho's 52nd "first match against the Yokuzuna" victim. Needless to say, he did not succeed.
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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 7 Condensed results
14.9s M16e Chiyonokuni (5-2) yorikiri J2e Kyokutaisei (3-4)
20.1s M17e Ichiyamamoto (5-2) yorikiri M14e Daiamami (2-5)
06.5s M13w Ura (4-3) yorikiri M15e Tsurugisho (4-3)
05.3s M12w Kagayaki (4-3) yorikiri M15w Tokushoryu (3-4)
02.0s M16w Ishiura (4-3) okuridashi M11e Kaisei (3-4)
09.5s M13e Chiyomaru (3-4) oshidashi M10w Terutsuyoshi (2-5)
05.6s M10e Tamawashi (5-2) oshidashi M14w Chiyonoo (2-5)
34.2s M9w Shimanoumi (4-3) uwatedashinage M12e Tochinoshin (2-5)
04.0s M11w Kotonowaka (6-1) uwatehineri M9e Hidenoumi (3-4)
18.5s M6w Kiribayama (5-2) uwatenage M8w Aoiyama (3-4)
03.0s M7w Chiyoshoma (4-3) uwatenage M6e Onosho (2-5)
14.4s M5w Hoshoryu (5-2) sotogake M8e Takarafuji (4-3)
09.5s M5e Okinoumi (4-3) yorikiri M7e Myogiryu (1-6)
04.7s M3e Hokutofuji (4-3) oshidashi M4w Chiyotairyu (2-5)
08.8s K1e Wakatakakage (3-4) yoritaoshi K1w Meisei (3-4)
11.4s S1w Mitakeumi (5-2) hatakikomi M1w Daieisho (1-6)
05.8s M2e Takanosho (3-4) oshidashi S1e Takayasu (3-2-2)
09.3s O1e Terunofuji (7-0) yorikiri M4e Kotoeko (2-5)
06.2s M2w Ichinojo (4-3) yorikiri O2e Shodai (3-4)
64.9s Y1e Hakuho (7-0) uwatenage M3w Tobizaru (3-4)
Source: Sumo Reference (text results) and Nikkansports.com length of bouts data (see result sources below)
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Finishing Moves (20 matches--141 TOTAL) Note: finishing move links below link to short NHK videos demonstrating the technique.
Frontal Force Out (Yorikiri)............7-42
Frontal Push Out (Oshidashi)............4-29
Over Arm Throw (Uwatenage)..............3--6
Slap Down (Hatakikomi)..................1--9