September 2021 Basho--DAY 1--SEPTEMBER 12

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September 2021 (Aki) Basho


Day 1Day 2Day 3Day 4Day 5




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DAY 1--September 12, 2021

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 1 Video highlights (replays of all 20 matches--NHK) (27:00) 

Grand Sumo Live (Opening Day) (NHK--49:59): Live coverage of the last 8 matches of the day. 

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.

1. Terunofuji (Y1e) v Ichinojo (K1w) (Terunofuji is on the right)

2. Shodai (O1e) v Hoshoryu (M1e) (Shodai is in the blue belt)

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Notable: 

The Aki Basho began with the ring entering ceremony by shin (new) 73rd Yokozuna Terunofuji. It began without 69th Yokozuna Hakuho due to Covid issues at his stable that knocked him out of the competition before it began. It began with serious Ozeki issues, as have the last few. Yet another Ozeki is "Kadoban", meaning that Takakeisho (O1w) must earn a winning record this Basho or he will be demoted from Ozeki. The major issue here is that new Yokozuna can only be promoted from Ozeki. And with Hakuho certainly in the twilight of his career (14 years as a Yokozuna, longer than anyone else in the modern era), that will leave only one Yokozuna, with no real Ozeki challenger for the rank on the horizon. 

It did not bode well that both Ozeki were beaten in their first matches. Shodai, as he has done on more than one occasion, snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Takakeisho, though he denied it (see quotes below), looked quite tentative and perhaps still suffering from the effects of the neck injury that knocked him out of the July Tournament. 

The sport has a brutal "play" or get out ethos that does not support proper rest and recuperation for its athletes after injury, which can lead to more long term injuries. There is no better example of that than the new Yokozuna, who, after serious surgery demanding knee injuries compounded by illness, missed so many matches that he was dropped all the way to Jonidan (5th Division--non salaried) and had to fight his way back. He proved that it can be done, but it might be argued that fighting one's way through clearly inferior talent does not help the one who is doing it or his opponents. 

Maegashira (Rank and Filers) got off to a good start against san'yaku (Top Rankers) by winning 4 of their 5 matches, including the 2 against Ozeki. 

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Quotable: 
(sources: Chris Sumo Youtube and Sumoforum.net)

1. I just kept believing in what I practice each day, and went for it. There were no nerves really. I just have to act responsibly on that dohyo (ring).

Terunofuji (Y1w) on his first victory as a Yokozuna, over Ichinojo (K1w).

2. My hips just shot up at the ring's edge. I've got to attack from lower down.

Shodai (O1e) on his loss to Hoshoryu (M1e), who he outweighs by 35 kilograms (77 pounds). This after he gained a winable advantage at the tachiai (initial charge). 

3. Neither my neck or the demotion threat was a factor.

Takakeisho (O1w) on his opening day loss to Hakutofuji (M2e). Takakeisho suffered a neck injury early in the July Basho and had to drop out. The Make-koshi (losing record) left him "Kadoban", meaning he must earn a kachi-koshi (winning record) this Basho or lose his Ozeki rank.

Other quotes (source: Sumoforum.net  Aki Talk Thread)
Note: "Gambarize" means "do my best".

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Partial or complete absences from this Basho

Wins-Losses-Absences

Y1e---Hakuho     (0-0-15)
S2e---Asanoyama  (0-0-15) 
M12e--Ishiura    (0-0-15)

Condensed results (20 matches)

Key: Time of Match--s=seconds; Rank; Winner; Basho Record; Finishing Move;  Rank; Loser; Basho Record

Day 1 Condensed results

13.6s M17e Chiyonokuni (1-0)  oshidashi      J1e  Mitoryu (0-1)
04.8s M16e Chiyomaru (1-0)    hikiotoshi     M16w Tokushoryu (0-1)
11.4s M15e Ichiyamamoto (1-0) oshidashi      M15w Chiyonoo (0-1)
05.9s M14w Yutakayama (1-0)   oshitaoshi     M14e Kaisei (0-1)
03.0s M13e Kagayaki (1-0)     hikiotoshi     M13w Tsurugisho (0-1)
20.9s M12w Tochinoshin (1-0)  uwatedashinage M11w Kotoeko (0-1)
10.3s M10w Myogiryu (1-0)     hatakikomi     M11e Endo (0-1)
02.7s M10e Chiyotairyu (1-0)  tsukidashi     M9w  Hidenoumi (0-1)
24.8s M8w  Tobizaru (1-0)     yorikiri       M9e  Aoiyama (0-1)
07.7s M8e  Okinoumi (1-0)     yorikiri       M7w  Terutsuyoshi (0-1)

04.0s M6w  Onosho (1-0)       oshidashi      M7e  Shimanoumi (0-1)
29.9s M5w  Takarafuji (1-0)   oshidashi      M6e  Ura (0-1)
10.3s M4w  Daieisho (1-0)     oshidashi      M5e  Chiyoshoma (0-1)
09.3s M4e  Tamawashi (1-0)    yorikiri       M3w  Kotonowaka (0-1)
04.1s M3e  Wakatakakage (1-0) yoritaoshi     K1e  Takayasu (0-1)
06.7s M2w  Kiribayama (1-0)   hatakikomi     S1w  Meisei (0-1)
04.7s S1e  Mitakeumi (1-0)    oshidashi      M1w  Takanosho (0-1)
04.8s M2e  Hokutofuji (1-0)   oshidashi      O1w  Takakeisho (0-1)
05.4s M1e  Hoshoryu (1-0)     yorikiri       O1e  Shodai (0-1)
04.1s Y1w  Terunofuji (1-0)   yorikiri       K1w  Ichinojo (0-1)

Source: Sumo Reference (text results) and Nikkansports.com length of bouts data (see result sources below)

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Finishing Moves (20 matches) Note: finishing move links below link to short NHK videos demonstrating the technique.  


Frontal Push Out (Oshidashi)..............7
Frontal Force Out (Yorikiri)..............5
Slap Down (Hatakikomi)....................2
Hand Pull Down (Hikiotoshi)...............2
Frontal Push Down (Oshitaoshi)............1
Frontal Thrust Out (Tsukidashi)...........1
Pulling Over Arm Throw (Uwatedashinage)...1
Frontal Crush Out (Yoritaoshi)............1

Out 14, Down 6  
Frontal 15, Pulling 1

Push 8, Force 5, Pull 2, Slap 2, Crush 1, Throw 1, Thrust 1  

Under 0, Over 1  
Hand 2, Arm 1 

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Match Time

Day 1

Total Time: 3 minutes, 8.4 seconds (188.4)         
Longest Match: 29.9 s (Takarafuji v Ura)
Shortest Match: 2.7 s (Chiyotairyu v Hidenoumi)      
Average (20 matches): 9.4 s

Time/Matches (Day 1)

0-4.9 seconds:   8  
5-9.9 seconds:   5    
10-19.9 seconds: 4
20-29.9 seconds: 3

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Top Rank Wins
Maegashira v san'yaku Standings
Rookie--there are no Rookies in this Basho
Juryo Substitute Standings

Top Rank Wins

1-0: Terunofuji (Y1w); Mitakeumi (S1e) 

0-1: Shodai (O1e); Takakeisho (O1w); Meisei (S1w); Takayasu (K1e); Ichinojo (K1w) 

0-0-15: Hakuko (Y1e); Asanoyama (S2e)

Total: 2-5-30 (.286)

Maegashira v san'yaku

Day 1

Hoshoryu (M1e)      1-0
Hokutofuji (M2e)    1-0
Kiribayama (M2w)    1-0
Wakatakakage (M3e)  1-0
Takanosho (M1w)     0-1 

Total 4-1 (.800)

Juryo substitutes

Day 1: Chiyonokuni (1-0) (M17e) defeated Mitoryu (J1e) (0-1); (0-1)

Total 0-1 (.000)

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Results

Day 1: September 12: (Sumo Reference)--includes Standings--see left side of the page


Day 1: (Japanese Sumo Association) (click on rikishi name for relevant data including percentage of each Kimarite (finishing) move used, rank and full results of last 5 tournaments, all on one page)

Day 1 Time of Each Match: (nikkansports.com) (in Japanese,use Google Translate) Matches are in order from lowest rank to highest. 

Day 1 Heya Watch (wins by Stable) Cumulative daily; all Divisions added together (source: sumoforum.net Aki Heya Watch thread)

Day 1 Kensho (Cumulative bonus envelopes by Rikishi) (source: sumoforum.net Aki Kensho thread)

Absent rikishi information (Japanese Sumo Association)

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Nikkansports.com carries the most exhaustive coverage of Sumo that I have seen. It publishes multiple daily articles about the Basho.

All coverage is in Japanese and can be accessed from the Nikkansports Sumo Wrestling News Page. It can be easily (if not well) translated by Google Translate, which can be easily attached to your browser for seamless "translation." It is the next best thing to being able to read Japanese.
Google Translate (directly or in a separate window/tab)

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Photos:

Nikkan Sports Day 1 Photo Feature: There are photos today's Makuuchi matches, with selected Rikishi quotes.

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