November 2021 Basho--DAY 2--NOVEMBER 15, 2021
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November (Kyushu) Basho
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Day 2--November 15, 2021
Day 2 Recap and statistics
Latest Developments: (Chris Sumo Youtube)
In this short video, Chris Sumo talks about Hokuseiho's (J12w) withdrawal from the Basho after yesterday's loss (see video from yesterday), the possibility of Tochinoshin's return (see Yesterday's "Notable") and the somewhat strange sight of young Sumo Elder Magaki (retired Yokozuna Hakuho) performing the duties of every new Sumo Stablemaster: "stadium duty" (see another young Sumo Elder--Kakuryu-oyakata, the retired Yokozuna Kakuryu, explain the responsibilities of the job in the NHK Preview [about 10:30 on the video]). See also the article in Mainichi Times.
Video: Note: NHK videos will be available on demand until 2 weeks after the end of the Basho (Tournament). 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 2 video should by available by 12:30 the next day. It might be available before that, so check. Note that "Live" 50 minute final segments from Day 1, 8, and 15 are also made available on demand at this site. These "live" videos give new fans an opportunity to see the pace of the matches, and the Rikishi before match activities, which some Sumo fans maintain are as important as the matches themselves.
JSA Youtube offers selected full matches on its Youtube and Website channel. They are usually Makuuchi (Top Division) bouts, but sometimes there are Juryo (2nd Division) bouts as well.
1. (Makuuchi) Terunofuji (Y1e) (left) v Daieisho (M1e) (right) (Match Video)
Daieisho was the January 2021, Champion (see the Chris Sumo Youtube video for the story of his life and Championship). He is one of the best "pusher-thrusters" in the business. He is a nearly 9 year veteran of Sumo and, for the last 3 years, has always been there or thereabouts for a san'yaku (Top Rank) position. He has 3 Kinboshi's (Gold Star wins by a Maegashira ove a Yokozuna). He was looking for his 4th here. As for Terunofuji, this match as much as any, defines him.
2. Takakeisho (O1e) (Black belt) v Onosho (M2e) (Red belt) (Match Video)
Takakeisho won this Basho last November, when it was held in Tokyo because of Pandemic restrictions. At that time, he beat then Ozeki Terunofuji in a playoff (Chris Sumo Youtube video analysis of that match). If he had then won the January 2021 Basho he would have become a Yokozuna. It didn't happen, and Takakeisho has been up and down since, threatened with losing his Ozeki rank on two occasions. He saved the rank with winning scores in the next Basho each time. He is always only two great Basho away from Yokozuna and 2 poor Basho away from demotion. Onosho, a veteran of nearly 8 years, has reached san'yaku (Top Rank) once, as Komusubi in November 2017. He soon was demoted back to Maegashira (Rank and File), and has bounced up and down there. This Basho he is M2e. At this Rank, an excellent Basho will put him back in san'yaku. But the competition gets much tougher for the higher Maegashira, as they have to fight all the Top Rankers. Last time he was in this position (M1w in March 2021), he was 19-27 in the next three Basho before a 10-5 Basho in September. This is known as "yo-yo-ing" in Sumo, where the biggest advance in Rank is often the most difficult.
In a sport where the average match lasts less than 10 seconds (in September 193 of 265 bouts--73%, lasted less than 10 seconds), these two are the endurance Kings. What happened today was always on the cards. In September, Takarafuji fought one bout for 203.4 seconds (3 minutes 24 seconds--longest of the Basho), and another for 154.1 (2 minutes 34 seconds). Takayasu, before he had to withdraw after being pushed to the cement by Terunofuji, fought one bout for 196.7 seconds (3 minutes 16.7 seconds), another for 86.7 (1 minute 26.7 seconds), and another for a paltry 54.2 seconds. A couple of these battles took longer than an entire day's worth of matches. When these two fight, it can be like going to a baseball game and having a cricket match break out. So it was no surprise that when they fought each other today, an exhausting 187.5 second (3 minutes, 7.5 seconds) match ensued. It's a shame that someone has to lose a match like this. These athletes are built for power, not stamina of this magnitude. It's almost cringe worthy to have to listen to the Gyoji (Referree) crying out something like "let's go", as if the contestants were taking a breather in a match that took as long as 15 to 20 normal matches.
Truly a match of "David and Goliath" as the 168 cm (5'6"), 97 kg (214 pounds) Enho goes up against 192 cm (6'4"), 159 kg (351 pounds) Azumaru. There is a lot riding on this Basho for both men. Enho, a University Rikishi who entered Sumo in May 2017, became a Top Division fan sensation when he reached that level in May 2019. After reaching as high as M4e, the better Rikishi figured out how to neutralize his speed, and all the other Makuuchi Rikishi followed. He was soon demoted back to Juryo, where he as been since July of 2020. He is now ranked at a level where a poor Basho might demote him to Makushita (Division 3--no salary). Azumaru has a longer tale to tell, having been in Sumo since March of 2009. He has not participated in a Makuuchi Basho since March of 2020. He also cannot afford a poor Tournament. Both Rikishi are looking up at where they want to be, but also quite aware of what is below.
Tachiai.org coverage of the Jonokuchi (Division 6--non salaried, lowest division) Basho. Note: The Japan Sumo Association links to all Jonokuchi Rikishi in its daily accounting of the Basho. (Under Banzuke, arrow to Jonokuchi). The Jonokuchi Basho, as with all Division 3-6 Basho, consist of 7 matches over the 15 Day Tournament.
Jonokuchi Match Day 1 (consisting of Day 1 and Day 2 matches). The first video is a a Jonidan (Division 5) match featuring Septembers Jonokuchi Yusho Winner Chiyotaiyo (Jd16e). The rest of the video contains all of the 15 first round matches. To aid in matching up the Rikishi to the match, the rank is listed at the top left of the video.
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Notable:
Terunofuji (Y1e) had another taxing match today, and came much closer to the precipice, literally balancing with his foot on the bales as Daieisho (M1e) attempted to finish him off. But, in the blink of an eye, the Yokozuna not only went on the offensive, but turned the tables with a beautiful Sukuinage (beltless arm throw) to win the 17 second match. It was an exciting comeback win.
Both Ozeki won today, Shodai (O1e) evening his record at 1-1 with a 4 second Yorikiri (frontal force out) of giant Ichinojo (K1e), while Takakeisho (O1w) continued to show that he is completely recovered from the neck injury he suffered in July by using a signature Tsukidashi (Thrust out) of Onosho (M2e) in about the same time. In the recent past, Ozeki (exept for Terunofuji) have not been wrestling like Ozeki, losing more matches in the first week, when they mostly face Maegashira (Rank and Filers), than they should. Hopefully, both of them can get their Sumo going so that the big confrontations coming in the second week will have real meaning.
Meisei (S1w) and Kiribayama (K1w), of whom much was expected, have disappointed early, losing both their matches. But there is still plenty of time to come back.
Maegashira won 2 of their 5 matches against San'yaku today. They are 4-6 for the first two days of the Basho. After the first 2 days in September they were 8-2.
11 Kimarite (finishing moves) were used today, increasing the total of finishing moves to 17. After the first 2 Days in September 10 Kimarite had been used.
Quotable:
"It was the first time for me to not think about anything on a Saturday (before the first day of the tournament). Everything was fresh and it was a good experience. Since I became an ozeki and yokozuna, I had never found (sumo to be) 'fun,' but today, it was over in a flash. It was a fulfilling day."
Magaki (recently retired Yokozuna Hakuho) after his Day 1, his first on "stadium duty."
When someone called Magaki "oyakata," or sumo elder, he sometimes "wondered who they were talking to."
Masaru Kurokawa, Mainichi Times
"I felt that I had become an oyakata. In the sumo world, there are not just the stables, but also various departments that work together for the development of sumo. I will do my best to fulfill my job."
Magaki.
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Condensed results (20 matches)
Key: Time of Match--s=seconds; Rank; Winner; Basho Record; Finishing Move; Rank; Loser; Basho Record
Day 2 Condensed results
Partial or complete absences from this Basho
Wins-Losses-Absences
M10w---Asanoyama (0-0-15)
M13w--Tochinoshin (0-1-1) (including 1 forfeit)
07.8s M17w Shohozan (1-1) oshidashi J1e Tsurugisho (1-1)
17.9s M16w Sadanoumi (2-0) yorikiri M17e Kaisei (1-1)
01.8s M15e Chiyomaru (1-1) tsukiotoshi M16e Akua (0-2)
03.4s M15w Abi (2-0) tsukidashi M14w Chiyonokuni (1-1)
07.3s M14e Kagayaki (1-1) yorikiri M13e Yutakayama (1-1)
07.4s M12w Hokutofuji (2-0) oshidashi M11e Kotonowaka (1-1)
13.6s M11w Terutsuyoshi (1-1) tsuridashi M12e Ishiura (0-2)
07.5s M9e Aoiyama (2-0) okuridashi M9w Hidenoumi (0-2)
07.1s M8w Tobizaru (1-1) kotenage M10e Chiyotairyu (1-1)
07.8s M7e Ura (2-0) oshidashi M8e Kotoeko (0-2)
08.9s M7w Chiyoshoma (2-0) yorikiri M6e Shimanoumi (0-2)
16.4s M6w Tamawashi (1-1) yoritaoshi M5w Hoshoryu (1-1)
187.5s M5e Takayasu (2-0) shitatedashinage M4e Takarafuji (0-2)
03.1s M4w Endo (1-1) tsukiotoshi M3w Myogiryu (1-1)
03.6s M3e Okinoumi (1-1) yorikiri K1w Kiribayama (0-2)
12.4s S1e Mitakeumi (2-0) oshidashi M2w Takanosho (1-1)
08.9s M1w Wakatakakage (1-1) hatakikomi S1w Meisei (0-2)
04.0s O1e Shodai (1-1) yorikiri K1e Ichinojo (1-1)
03.9s O1w Takakeisho (2-0) tsukidashi M2e Onosho (0-2)
16.9s Y1e Terunofuji (2-0) sukuinage M1e Daieisho (1-1)
Source: Sumo Reference (text results) and Nikkansports.com length of bouts data (see result sources below)
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Finishing Moves (20 matches--40 total) Note: finishing move links below link to short NHK videos demonstrating the technique.
Frontal Force Out (Yorikiri).................5(8)
Frontal Push Out (Oshidashi).................4(8)
Frontal Thrust Out (Tsukidashi)..............2(2)
Thrust Down (Tsukiotoshi)....................2(4)
Slap Down (Hatakikomi).......................1(3)
Arm Lock Throw (Kotenage)....................1(1)
Rear Push Out (Okuridashi)...................1(2)