November 2021 Basho--DAY 4--NOVEMBER 17, 2021
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November (Kyushu) Basho
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Day 4--November 17, 2021
Day 5 Schedule (Sumo Reference)
Day 4 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 4 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 (wrestlers) 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 Onosho (M2e) (right) (Match Video)
Kimedashi (Arm Barring Force Out): Of the many Kimarite (finishing moves) I have seen in my short time following this sport, the Kimedashi is one of the most brutal (and by the appearances of its victims, painful). Only the most powerful of Rikishi can impose his will on his opponent this way, literally crushing the opponents arms to his body as the winner walks the victim out of the dohyo (Ring). Since Terunofuji returned to Makuuchi (Top Rank) in July 2020, he has used the technique 7 times in 9 Basho. He used it twice in July 2020. For the entirety of those Basho the technique has been used 15 times. And in July 2021, when he did not use the technique, he did win one match by Kimetaoshi (Arm Barring Force Down). Woe betide the opponent who either tries to get at Terunofuji's mawashi (belt) or keep the Yokozuna from getting at his, if he is not quick enough to avoid the trap closing on his arms and the sometimes long and painful goodbye that follows.
Shodai is somewhat of a mystery. One never knows which Shodai will show up. The one who made Ozeki as result of a string of five Basho with a record of a 56-19 that moved him from M10w to O2e, and included two Jun-Yusho (2nd Place Finish), one Yusho (1st Place Finish) and five Special Prizes? Or the one who has been Kadoban (on the verge of losing Ozeki Rank if he does not have a winning record in the next Basho) twice since becoming Ozeki (the equivalent of 2 losing Basho)? Sometimes, if you read his quotes, he doesn't seem to quite know himself. Since becoming an Ozeki, his scores have been 3-2-10, 11-4, 7-8, 9-6, 8-7, 8-7 (46-34-10). Hardly the numbers that point toward a Yokozuna promotion any time soon. But he is fighting much better in the early part of this Basho, as the video shows. Hopefully, he can keep it up and be fighting meaningful bouts against the top of the table at the end of next week. Sumo needs that in this transitional period. Note: Wakatakage was discussed at length in the Day 3 post.
Much the same can be said about Takakeisho. Last November, he beat Terunofuji in a playoff to leave him in a position to be promoted to Yokozuna if he won in January. Beginning in January his scores were 2-8-5, 10-5, 12-3, 1-2-12, and 8-7 (33-25-17). He too has survived Kadoban twice, but both of those were due to injury. He is a Pusher Thruster extraordinaire, as best demonstrated by his demolition of Terunofuji in the November 2021 Playoff (video linked to in the Day 2 post). He has begun this Basho with a perfect record. It would be great if the 2 Ozeki and Yokozuna sorted things out personally at the end of next week. This match is an interesting example of two excellent Pusher Thrusters smashing up against each other. Daieisho was discussed in the Day 2 post.
Enho, also discussed in the Day 2 Post, once again went up against someone much larger than he, 189 cm (6'3") 177 kg (390 pounds) Yaho. Of course Enho always fights Rikishi that are bigger than he. In this case he was 80 kg (177 pounds) lighter than his opponent, a 27 year old University Sumo product who began his career in Makushita (3rd Division--no salary) in July 2017 and has been making his way through the ranks. He has reached as high as Maegashira, where he fought 4 consecutive Basho with a record of 25-40 before being demoted to first Juryo then back to Makushita. Since the beginning of 2021, with one exception, he has been a low ranked Juryo.
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 2 (consisting of selected Day 3 and Day 4 matches and commentary). This round's spotlight Rikishi is 15 year old Gaia (Jk17w), 174 cm (5'8"), 70 kg (154 pounds), in just his 2nd match. Yesterday he took on grizzled 24 year old Nakaishi, who has been plying his trade since May 2014. He is 183.5 cm (6') , 138.5 kg (305 pounds).
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Latest News: Tochinoshin (M13w) is scheduled to fight on Day 5. He had withdrawn due to back pain before the Basho started. At 0-1-3, he will need to win 8 of 11 to obtain a winning record. At his rank, 7-5-3 or even 6-6-3 might keep him in the Top Division. Otherwise he would be demoted to Juryo, out of the 1st Division for the first time Since September 2014.
Notable:
Terunofuji, as noted above, improved his record to 4-0 with a brutal finishing technique, but that was after a long and difficult battle. Terunofuji's match times have been: 28.9, 16.9, 7.5, and 16.0 seconds, for an average of 17.3 seconds and a median of 12.2 seconds. This appears to be a strategy of caution by the new Yokozuna, but some might say that the longer the match, the larger possibility that bad things might happen. Terunofuji doesn't seem to see it that way. He will wait for his opening, no matter how long it takes. He was never in real peril today, in my opinion, but Onosho (M2e) gave him a good match. The only real trouble he has encountered came on Day 2 when Daieisho (M1e) nearly beat him, only to have the match turn in an eye blink to a dominant win for the Yokozuna (Daieisho, by the way, has not won since). It is fascinating to see the contrast between how this Yokozuna goes about his business, comparing it to how the recently retired Hakuho did. Whatever you might think, the method certainly works for Terunofuji.
And speaking of time, Takayasu (M5e), for the 3rd time in 4 matches, had the longest time of any Rikishi. Today's marathon win over Shimanoumi (M6e, who is now 0-4) lasted 212.6 seconds (3 minutes 32.6 seconds), the longest of any match I can remember watching in the last year and a half. His times for the basho are now 5.8, 187.5 (3 minutes, 7.5 seconds), 103.4 (1 minute 43.4 seconds), and 212.6, for an average of 2 minutes 7.3 seconds (127.3) and a median of 2 minutes, 25.5 seconds (145.5). Interestingly, it was suggested in today's Tachiai.org recap, that this might be a conscious strategy. In the past Takayasu has had, according to this analysis, a tendency to "wildly" go after any advantage he can find, leading to a recklessness that has ended in defeats being snatched from the jaws of victory (see especially the March 2021 Basho and Blog Post when he squandered a two match lead with three to go). It also, according to this analysis, has led to significant injury. The theory is that Takayasu, being extremely strong and having great endurance, is looking to stretch matches to the point where he can win because his opponent "runs out of gas." This is an interesting theory, of which I can only report, as I haven't the experience to offer an opinion. But his match times and his record should be an interesting sub plot to the Basho.
Both Ozeki again won convincingly, leaving Takakeisho (O1w) tied for the lead at 4-0. Shodai (O1e) is one match behind at 3-1. Other undefeated Rikishi at this point are Mitakeumi (S1e), Hokutofuji (M12w), Abi (M15w), and Sadanoumi (M16w).
There were 10 Kimarite (finishing moves) used today, for a total of 19 for the Basho. At this point in September there were 13.
The total time for the Basho so far is 20 minutes, 41.6 seconds. In September, at this juncture it was 16:54.5.
Maegashira (Rank and Filers) again had a long day against san'yaku (Top Rankers). They were 1-4 today, are 3-12 (corrected Nov.18) in the last 3 days, and their overall mark is 5-15. In September after Day 4, they were 10-10.
For more information on the last three paragraphs, see below.
on the video. ++++
Condensed results (20 matches)
Key: Time of Match--s=seconds; Rank; Winner; Basho Record; Finishing Move; Rank; Loser; Basho Record
Day 4 Condensed results
Partial or complete absences from this Basho
Wins-Losses-Absences
M10w---Asanoyama (0-0-15)
M13w--Tochinoshin (0-1-3) (including 1 forfeit)
14.1s M16e Akua (2-2) uwatenage M17w Shohozan (1-3)
08.6s M16w Sadanoumi (4-0) uwatedashinage J2e Daiamami (0-4)
08.0s M15w Abi (4-0) oshidashi M17e Kaisei (1-3)
06.0s M14e Kagayaki (2-2) tsukidashi M15e Chiyomaru (1-3)
01.5s M13e Yutakayama (2-2) hatakikomi M14w Chiyonokuni (1-3)
07.9s M12e Ishiura (2-2) yorikiri M11e Kotonowaka (1-3)
89.2s M12w Hokutofuji (4-0) oshidashi M11w Terutsuyoshi (2-2)
02.3s M10e Chiyotairyu (2-2) hikiotoshi M9e Aoiyama (3-1)
07.9s M9w Hidenoumi (2-2) tsukiotoshi M8e Kotoeko (0-4)
11.8s M8w Tobizaru (2-2) hikiotoshi M7e Ura (3-1)
06.0s M6w Tamawashi (3-1) tsukidashi M7w Chiyoshoma (3-1)
212.6s M5e Takayasu (3-1) uwatenage M6e Shimanoumi (0-4)
09.2s M4w Endo (2-2) shitatenage M5w Hoshoryu (1-3)
12.5s M4e Takarafuji (2-2) yorikiri M3e Okinoumi (1-3)
03.6s M2w Takanosho (2-2) oshidashi K1w Kiribayama (0-4)
10.0s S1e Mitakeumi (4-0) oshidashi K1e Ichinojo (2-2)
03.2s S1w Meisei (2-2) tsukiotoshi M3w Myogiryu (2-2)
03.3s O1e Shodai (3-1) oshidashi M1w Wakatakakage (1-3)
09.2s O1w Takakeisho (4-0) tsukiotoshi M1e Daieisho (1-3)
16.0s Y1e Terunofuji (4-0) kimedashi M2e Onosho (0-4)
Source: Sumo Reference (text results) and Nikkansports.com length of bouts data (see result sources below)
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Finishing Moves (20 matches--80 total) Note: finishing move links below link to short NHK videos demonstrating the technique.
Frontal Push Out (Oshidashi).................5(18)
Thrust Down (Tsukiotoshi)....................3(9)
Hand Pull Down (Hikiotoshi)..................2(4)
Frontal Thrust Out (Tsukidashi)..............2(6)
Over Arm Throw (Uwatenage)...................2(2)
Frontal Force Out (Yorikiri).................2(17)
Slap Down (Hatakikomi).......................1(5)
Arm Barring Force Out (Kimedashi)............1(1)
Under Arm Throw (Shitatenage)................1(2)
Pulling Over Arm Throw (Uwatedashinage)......1(2)
Totals for Basho
Rear Push Out (Okuridashi)...................2
Frontal Push Down (Oshitaoshi)...............2