September 2021 Basho--DAY 14--SEPTEMBER 25, 2021
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September 2021 (Aki) Basho
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DAY 14--September 25, 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.
NHK match highlights (condensed, all matches in their entirety, the highlights are 27 minutes long).
All NHK Video Highlights from one link (latest day should be uploaded by about 12:30 am Central Daylight Time the next day (i.e. Day 12 video should by available by 12:30 am Day 13. It might be available before that, so check.
Chris Sumo Youtube
Note: Today's video is an interesting discussion of the pitfalls of running a ranking system and a points system for Basho titles together. And how often the match ups for bouts late in the Basho is set to protect the former while making sure there is drama to the last possible moment in the latter.
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 (Y1w) v Takakeisho (O1w) (Terunofuji is on the right)
2. Myogiryu (M10w) v Shodai (O1e) (Myogiryu is on the left)
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Notable:
Tomorrow is Sensuraku, the final day of the Basho. There are many questions to be answered.
After beating Takakeisho (O1w), Terunofuji (Y1e) improved his record to 12-2. He needs only a Myogiryu (M10w) loss or a victory over Shodai (O1e) tomorrow to win the Basho, which would be his 5th Yusho and first as a Yokozuna in his first as a Yokozuna, a feat that has been attained only 8 times before.
Myogiryu took care of business by defeating Shodai in 3 seconds. Neither of the two Ozeki have won since achieving Kachi-koshi (winning record and promotion or continuance of Rank). Tomorrow Myogiryu (11-3) is pitted against Meisei (S1w) who, at 7-7, desperately needs to win to protect his Sekiwake rank. Takakeisho (8-6) goes up against Mitakeumi (S1e--8-6) in a match that has no more than pride at stake, as each already has their Kachi-koshi.
There are 9 Rikishi who go into tomorrow with 7-7 records. They all look relatively safe from demotion to 2nd Division (Juryo), as none of them are presently below M13e). The farther away from the bottom of the Makuuchi Banzuke (Ranking Table) one is, the better.
And so the following matches are set for tomorrow. Note that two 7-7 Rikishi going up against each other is known as a "Darwin" match, for obvious reasons. While the Yusho is almost wrapped up, these matches, along with Special Prizes (Gino-Sho--Technique Prize, Kanto-Sho--Fighting Spirit Prize, and Shukun-Sho--Outstanding Performance), will be determined. The Special Prizes reward outstanding performance among the rank and filers (Maegashira), and carry significant monetary rewards.
In addition, there will be 19 matches tomorrow, as two Juryo (2nd Division) substitutes have been called up for matches that could lead them to promotion to Makuuchi (Top Division), at the possible expense of their opponents).
Juryo Substitute matches:
Daiamami (J2e--7-7) v Kaisei (M14e--6-8)
Shohozan (J4e--9-5) v Tsurugisho (M13w--5-9)
Kachi-koshi--Make koshi matches *=Darwin matches
Chiyotairyu (M10e) v Yutakayama (M14w)*
Aioyama (M9e) v Kotoeko (M11w)*
Takarafuji (M5w) v Tochinoshin (M12w)*
Takanosho (M1w) v Shimanoumi (M7e)*
Meisei (S1w--7-7) v Myogiryu (M10w--11-3)
Almost half of tomorrow's matches are important.
Today was interesting in that it featured the most finishing moves (12) of any day in the Basho so far. It also included the first non-finishing (losing) technique (Hand Touch Down--Tsukite), by Aioyama as he slipped trying to finish a match. The Basho to this point has had a both a mean and average of 9 finishing moves per day. However, of the 27 finishing moves that have been executed, 12 have been used only once, and 2 twice. The most popular finishing moves, Frontal Force Out (Yorikiri) and Frontal Push Out (Oshidashi) have been used 133 times in the 263 winning decisions (.506).
Maegashira (Rank and Filers) were 2-2 against san'yaku (Top Rankers) today. They have more than held their own in the last 3 days at 6-5. Their overall record against their betters is now 25-40 (.385). San'yaku overall record, 3-3 today, dropped slightly to 55-41-33 (.573)
Today's Kachi-koshi
8-6: Ichinojo (K1w); Kiribayama (M2w); Wakatakakage (M3e); Chiyomaru (M16e).
Ichinojo cleared a major hurdle and will participate as san'yaku in November. A loss would most likely have dropped him back to Maegashira. Kiribayama and Wakatakakage are looking for a possible promotion to san'yaku. Chiyomaru is celebrating the fact that he will participate in November's Top Division Basho.
Today's Make-koshi
6-8: Hidenoumi (M9w); Kagayaki (M13e).
Kagayaki is probably safe, but a win tomorrow will seal his Top Division rank for November.
Quotable:
Sumo Forum Quote Compilation (various sources)
Note: "Gambarize" means "do my best," or "work very hard."
Note 2: According to the Sumo Forum translator, "the three words used most by Rikishi in interviews are "properly" (shikkari), "concentrate" (shūchū) and "do my best", or "work very hard" (gambarimasu). For more on "gambarize," see the Tachiai.org explanation.
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Condensed results (18 matches)
Key: Time of Match--s=seconds; Rank; Winner; Basho Record; Finishing Move; Rank; Loser; Basho Record
Day 14 Condensed results
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)
M2e---Hokutofuji (2-3-10) (including 1 forfeit loss)
M1e---Hoshoryu (5-7--2) (including 1 forfeit loss)
M3w---Kotonowaka (3-7--5) (including 1 forfeit loss)
K1e---Takayasu (4-8--3) (including 2 forfeit wins and 1 forfeit loss)
03.3s M16w Tokushoryu (4-10) hatakikomi M11w Kotoeko (7-7)
02.3s M17e Chiyonokuni (9-5) tsukite M9e Aoiyama (7-7)
14.6s M8w Tobizaru (6-8) oshitaoshi M15e Ichiyamamoto (4-10)
05.3s M7e Shimanoumi (7-7) yorikiri M13w Tsurugisho (5-9)
17.7s M7w Terutsuyoshi (5-9) kakenage M15w Chiyonoo (4-10)
16.3s M6e Ura (6-8) ashitori M14e Kaisei (5-9)
32.3s M5e Chiyoshoma (4-10) uwatenage M9w Hidenoumi (6-8)
06.3s M5w Takarafuji (7-7) tsukiotoshi M13e Kagayaki (6-8)
06.8s M16e Chiyomaru (8-6) hikiotoshi M4e Tamawashi (5-9)
06.4s M4w Daieisho (9-5) oshidashi M14w Yutakayama (7-7)
56.5s M2w Kiribayama (8-6) sotogake M12w Tochinoshin (7-7)
08.6s M1e Hoshoryu (5-7-2) tottari M10e Chiyotairyu (7-7)
06.4s M3e Wakatakakage (8-6) hatakikomi M1w Takanosho (7-7)
02.5s K1w Ichinojo (8-6) tsukiotoshi M11e Endo (10-4)
16.9s M8e Okinoumi (10-4) shitatenage S1e Mitakeumi (8-6)
00.2s S1w Meisei (7-7) hatakikomi M6w Onosho (10-4)
03.0s M10w Myogiryu (11-3) yorikiri O1e Shodai (8-6)
16.9s Y1w Terunofuji (12-2) uwatenage O1w Takakeisho (8-6)
Source: Sumo Reference (text results) and Nikkansports.com length of bouts data (see result sources below)
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Finishing Moves (18 matches--264 total) Note: finishing move links below link to short NHK videos demonstrating the technique.
Slap Down (Hatakikomi)....................3(28)
Thrust Down (Tsukiotoshi).................2(16)
Frontal Force Out (Yorikiri)..............2(60)
Leg Pick (Ashitori).......................1(1)
Hand Pull Down (Hikiotoshi)...............1(17)
Hooking Inner Thigh Throw (Kakenage)......1(1)
Frontal Push Out (Oshidashi)..............1(73)
Frontal Push Down (Oshitaoshi)............1(10)
Under Arm Throw (Shitatenage).............1(5)
Outside Leg Trip (Sotogake)...............1(1)
Non-Techniques (losing moves)
Hand Touch Down(Tsukite)..................1(1)
Totals for Basho
Frontal Thrust Out (Tsukidashi)...........8
Pulling Over Arm Throw (Uwatedashinage)...6
Frontal Crush Out (Yoritaoshi)............5
Arm Barring Force Out (Kimedashi).........2