Mastodawn

#Sumo #Akibasho Exactly how it should be: Yokozuna -v- Yokozuna, Onosato lost to Hoshoryu, but then won the tournament in the playoff! Great tournament and the Blue Whirlwind Aonishiki had great form.

Ryu Sep 27, 2023

Hoping Keisho can train well for and stay healthy through November to attain a fifth cup.

Below Chris Sumo reports, as Keisho likely expected, that the YDC only cares that he won on Sunday. To the extent his performance this month is maligned by the judge committee (chaired by Kotonowaka's dad!) It's cause of the four losses.

https://youtu.be/oQ9TNOeSARY?si=AJhorr3KfpPl6-FA

#sumo #akibasho

Takakeisho confirmed as yokozuna contender

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Ryu Sep 26, 2023

All this to say that while i'd of loved to see him pull off a stylish win like his throw of Kotoshoho last Jan...I get it. The YDC was not moved by Keisho introducing arm bars and flair. He got hurt (again) and saw how ephemeral these opps are.

So he learned his lesson. I'd hazard to guess noted during his Day 13 throttling of Atamifuji that the youngster was looking down at the tachiai, and that it offered him an opportunity to settle things fast. I don't blame him. /end

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Ryu Sep 26, 2023

Takakeisho lost a playoff to Abi last Nov. He followed that Yusho Doten with a full Yusho in Jan, but despite satisfying the "2 Yusho Equivalent" criteria was denied the rope as the Doten was thought to require a more decisive full Yusho.

Based on that experience, I can understand him taking Hakuho's "Winning sumo is Yokozuna sumo" mantra to heart in the final. If he saw Atamifuji not paying attention at the tachiai he was going to slap him down. No chances to be taken. 2/

#sumo #akibasho

Ryu Sep 26, 2023

It has been wild reading the polarized reaction to Takakeisho's henka win on Day 15. Here are my thoughts:

Takakeisho hadn't trained since May until a week before the basho, rehabbing his knees. Kadoban, many thought he would lose his Ozeki rank. His lack of fitness showed on Day 1 when he lost a torinaoshi, exhausted. He proceeded to stage an improbable and excellent basho from there including a dominant win over Atamifuji Day 13. 1/

#sumo #akibasho

Ryu Sep 26, 2023

NHK has posted their full highlight episode for Day 15 of the Aki Basho tournament on YT.

Check it out below:

https://youtu.be/Gs39Mdc86hI?si=qzcdr8oWaFeBwdEl

#sumo #akibasho

Recap: The September 2023 GRAND SUMO Tournament—Day 15 (Final Day) - GRAND SUMO Highlights

Watch more GRAND SUMO on NHK WORLD-JAPAN!https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/ondemand/program/video/sumo/?cid=wohk-yt-2309-gsRecapDay15-hpLearn more about GRA...

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