November 2021 Basho--DAY 3--NOVEMBER 16, 2021
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November (Kyushu) Basho
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Day 3--November 16, 2021
Day 4 Schedule (Sumo Reference)
Day 3 Recap and statistics
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 3 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 Wakatakakage (M1e) (right) (Match Video)
Wakatakakage is an up and comer, a University Sumo product who began his career (after two Sandanme [Division 4] Basho [Tournaments]) in Makushita (Division 3) in July 2017. He steadily moved up the Banzuke (Rankings), reaching Makuuchi (Top Division) in November 2019. Since then he has progressed to the top of the Maegashira (Rank and File) ladder and even reached san'yaku (Top Rank) once, Komusubi 1e in July 2021. That Basho was a disaster for him (5-10) and he was demoted back to Maegashira, where he was 9-6 in September, enough for a promotion to M1w for this Tournament. He has won 2 Gino-Sho (Technique Prizes), but his record against san'yaku is 15-24. At age 26, he is on the small side 181 cm (5'11"), 130 kg (287 pounds). He is an excellent technician, combining the quickness of the smaller Rikishi with great strength for a man of his size. He has a high "ceiling" but his trajectory so far has shown how difficult it can be for high ranked Maegeshira to "get over the hump." He has no Kinboshi (Gold Star wins by a Maegashira over a Yokozuna), so this was a very big opportunity for him. As for Terunofuji, he gave up his 1st Kinboshi in September and would like to, of course, not only win this Basho, but also not stumble against a Maegashira this time around.
2. Tamawashi (M6w ) (Blue belt) v Shimanoumi (M6w) (Orange belt) (Match Video)
Entering this Bout, Tamawashi had fought 1,378 consecutive bouts in 106 Basho. That is 5th on the all time list. Of those in the top 10, he is one of 6 who has never missed a bout. He began his career in March 2004. He is now 36 and is usually the oldest competitor in each Top Division Basho, although he is the 2nd oldest in this one. It is a remarkable achievement. Shimanoumi, who is a veteran of the Sumo wars, began his career in July 2012. He has been a staple of The Top Division since he first reached it in July 2019.
Ura, the man of many techniques, is one of the most fascinating Rikishi to watch (although you won't see too much out of the ordinary in this match). He has great talent but has had debilitating injuries (notice his knees) that caused him to miss most or all of six consecutive Basho in 2017-18, and then four more in 2019. When he finally came back in November 2019 it was at Jonidan (5th Division--no salary) 106w, and he fought his way back to Makuuchi in July 2021, his first Top Division appearance since September 2017. Hoshoryu is another of a fine crop of up and comers, who began his career at age 18. He is the nephew of 68th Yokozuna Asashoryu. Hoshoryu has great potential for a small Rikishi (187 cm--6'2",132 kg--291 pounds) and is one to watch in the future. He was promoted to Makuuchi in September of 2020 and his best showing was in July of 2021, when his record was 10-5 and he won the Gino-Sho (Technique Prize).
Abi, like Ura has had to come a long way back to Top Division. But for a different reason. Earlier in his career he had some disciplinary issues with the Sumo Association, and then in July of 2020 he was pulled out of the Basho after his 6th match for egregious Pandemic restriction violations. He was suspended for 3 Basho and he landed in Makushita (3rd Division--no salary--Ms56w). Chastened by the experience, he mowed his way back to Makuuchi with a 38-6 record and 3 Yusho (Championships) in two Divisions. He is a pusher thruster with long arms and great power. He reached Komusubi level before his troubles and has 3 Kinboshi and 2 Kanto-Sho (Fighting Spirit Prizes) on his Resume. He is expected to rise further on the Banzuke quickly. Shohozan is the oldest participant in this Basho at age 37, back after 6 Basho in Juryo (2nd Division). He has been in Sumo since May 2006 and reached as high as Komusubi. He was a staple of the Top Division from November 2015 to July of 2020. He has not missed a match since November 2010 and has 5 Kinboshi and 2 Kanto-sho on his Resume.
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Notable:
Terunofuji (Y1e) easily won his bout over an outmatched Wakatakakage (M1w) to remain undefeated at 3-0. He is tied with 8 other Rikishi. Of special interest in the leader group are, in my opinion, Abi (M15w) and Ura (M7e), two Rikishi who have followed a long road back to the Top Division after injury and suspension respectively. Hokutofuji (M12w) is also undefeated, winning 3 matches handily against low level Maegashira opponents and justifying the opinion, in the minds of some Sumo fans, that his demotion from M2e after pulling out of the September Basho with an injury (2-3-10) was far too harsh. It is expected by some that he will completely dominate his competition. If that is true, he will be there or thereabouts at the tail end of the Basho, when he will get his chance against the Top Rankers. His progress will be interesting to watch.
For the second day in a row, both Ozeki (Shodai--O1e and Takakeisho--O1w) won their matches handily. The last time they both won on consecutive days was in September when they both won on Days 9-11. The only other Days they both won on in that Basho were Days 4-5. So already, at 5-1 for the first 3 Days, they are doing far better than in the last Basho. Hopefully they can both keep it up and provide an exciting conclusion, after below par performances in the recent past. Mitakeumi (S1e) is the only other undefeated san'yaku.
There were 8 different Kimarite (finishing moves) used today. All told, 17 finishing moves have been used. As of the end of Day 3 in September, 12 had been used.
Total match time through the first 3 Days is 13 minutes, 8.7 seconds. As of the end of Day 3 in September it was 13 minutes 5 seconds. There have been 4 matches over 30 seconds. In September there were 3 at this stage. Under 10 seconds, 14 in this Basho, 15 in September.
The Maegashira were shut out by by the san'yaku today, losing all 5 of their matches. Their overall record is now 4-11 (.267) against the Top Rankers. In September at this juncture they were 9-6 (.600).
For the last three paragraphs, see below for more detail.
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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 3 Condensed results
Partial or complete absences from this Basho
Wins-Losses-Absences
M10w---Asanoyama (0-0-15)
M13w--Tochinoshin (0-1-2) (including 1 forfeit)
04.9s J1w Wakamotoharu (2-1) yorikiri M17e Kaisei (1-2)
03.0s M15w Abi (3-0) tsukidashi M17w Shohozan (1-2)
07.4s M16w Sadanoumi (3-0) yorikiri M15e Chiyomaru (1-2)
03.1s M16e Akua (1-2) yorikiri M14w Chiyonokuni (1-2)
09.3s M12w Hokutofuji (3-0) yorikiri M14e Kagayaki (1-2)
04.9s M12e Ishiura (1-2) oshidashi M13e Yutakayama (1-2)
04.6s M11w Terutsuyoshi (2-1) oshidashi M10e Chiyotairyu (1-2)
45.1s M9w Hidenoumi (1-2) yorikiri M11e Kotonowaka (1-2)
05.8s M9e Aoiyama (3-0) tsukidashi M8e Kotoeko (0-3)
28.3s M7w Chiyoshoma (3-0) yorikiri M8w Tobizaru (1-2)
02.6s M6w Tamawashi (2-1) oshidashi M6e Shimanoumi (0-3)
02.2s M7e Ura (3-0) hikiotoshi M5w Hoshoryu (1-2)
22.5s M4e Takarafuji (1-2) oshidashi M4w Endo (1-2)
103.4s M3w Myogiryu (2-1) yoritaoshi M5e Takayasu (2-1)
01.5s K1e Ichinojo (2-1) tsukiotoshi M2w Takanosho (1-2)
12.1s S1w Meisei (1-2) yorikiri M3e Okinoumi (1-2)
13.9s S1e Mitakeumi (3-0) sukuinage M1e Daieisho (1-2)
02.2s O1w Takakeisho (3-0) tsukiotoshi K1w Kiribayama (0-3)
03.9s O1e Shodai (2-1) hatakikomi M2e Onosho (0-3)
07.5s Y1e Terunofuji (3-0) oshidashi M1w Wakatakakage (1-2)
Source: Sumo Reference (text results) and Nikkansports.com length of bouts data (see result sources below)
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Finishing Moves (20 matches--60 total) Note: finishing move links below link to short NHK videos demonstrating the technique.
Frontal Force Out (Yorikiri).................7(15)
Frontal Push Out (Oshidashi).................5(13)
Frontal Thrust Out (Tsukidashi)..............2(4)
Thrust Down (Tsukiotoshi)....................2(6)
Slap Down (Hatakikomi).......................1(4)
Hand Pull Down (Hikiotoshi)..................1(2)