November 2021 Basho--DAY 7--NOVEMBER 20, 2021
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November (Kyushu) Basho
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Day 7--November 20, 2021
Day 8 Schedule (Sumo Reference)
Day 7 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).
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.
Watch 73rd Yokozuna Terunofuji win with the same technique that recently retired 69th Yokozuna Hakuho used to beat him for the Yusho (Championship) in July 2021 (Chris Sumo Video).
Both Rikishi (wrestlers) are ex-University Sumo stars who progressed rapidly to Makushita (3rd Division--no salary). Mitoryu started there, while Enho took 3 Basho (1 in each of Jonukuchi, [Division 6], Jonidan [5], and Sandanme [4]--each a 7-0 Yusho to get there). They both then rapidly progressed to Juryo (2--salaried), although Enho had a slight hiccup back to Makushita before advancing to Juryo again. Mitoryu has been toiling in Juryo since January 2018, and reached his highest rank (J1e) in September 2021 after winning the July Basho. However he was injured in September and missed the last 7 bouts, dropping to J9e for this Basho. He has been promoted 12 times, demoted 9, and stayed the same for 1 in his Juryo years. Enho moved higher more quickly, getting to Juryo (after the hiccup) in September 2018, and reaching Makuuchi (Top Division) in May 2019. He progressed there through 9 Basho, reaching his apex so far in March 2020 when he was promoted to M4e. His small stature (168 cm--5'6", 97 kg--214 pounds), speed, and propensity to use exciting Kimarite (finishing moves) like Shitatenage--under arm throw and Ashitori--Leg Pick) against much bigger Rikishi, made him a crowd favorite. But at M4e, he had to run the gamut of all the san'yaku (Top Rankers), who were not only much bigger than he, but far better than his earlier competition. He also kept getting smaller, approaching 91 kg (200 pounds). At that point he fell to 20-40 in his next 4 Basho, and so back to Juryo where he was 18-27 in his next 3, the Juryo men figuring him out just as the Makuuchi men had. Thus he was J11e going into the September 2021 Basho, which his entire stable missed because of Pandemic issues. At that rank, a poor Basho this time might send him spiraling out of the salaried ranks altogether. He is always fun to watch but his career begs the question of how small a Rikishi can be and still be successful in this sport. Today, against a man 21 cm (8 1/4 inches) taller and 92 kg (202 pounds) heavier, Enho answered that question, for one day anyway. He is now half way to the kachi-koshi (winning score) he so desperately needs to stay in the salaried ranks.
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Notable:
After today's action there are only 2 undefeated Rikishi, Terunofuji (Y1e) and Takakeisho (O1w). Takakeisho has looked as good as he has since last May when he lost to Terunofuji in a playoff (last November he beat Terunofuji in a playoff). He seems completely recovered from the neck injury he suffered in July, which appeared to hamper him in September. He started that Basho with 3 losses, followed by 8 wins in the next 9 matches. As soon as he reached a Kachi-koshi (winning score), he took his foot off the gas, losing his final 3 matches. Questions have been asked about his weight (183 kg--403 pounds) as of last May (he is 175 cm--5'9" and has lost 20 kg--a little less than 45 pounds) since then, according to Sumo Association statistics), his stamina, and his fighting repertoire. He is almost exclusively a pusher thruster and very powerful. When he is right, as he has been in this Basho, he is dominant. Here is what his "scorecard" for the Basho looks like so far:
D1: 3.9 seconds--Tsukiotoshi (Thrust Down)
D2: 3.9 seconds--Tsukidashi (Frontal Thrust Out)
D3: 2.2 seconds--Tsukiotoshi
D4: 9.2 seconds--Tsukiotoshi
D5: 4.7 seconds--Oshidashi (Frontal Push Out)
D6: 3.6 seconds--Oshidashi
D7: 2.3 seconds--Oshidashi
Each Kimarite has the word Push or Thrust in it. He is a no nonsense guy who attacks at the tachiai (initial charge) and blasts his opponents out quickly. Granted he has only fought one san-yaku (Top Ranker) so far, but that is par for the course for Ozeki. His most difficult bouts are in the 2nd week. But he has put himself in a position to be a major factor in this Basho, and some fans can already envision a Day 15 confrontation with the Yokozuna.
Abi (M15w) fell from the ranks of the unbeaten today, so the leader board looks like this going into Nabaki (middle day).
Terunofuji (Y1e) 7-0
Takakeisho (O1w) 7-0
Mitakeumi (S1e) 6-1
Tamawashi (M6w) 6-1
Abi (M15w) 6-1
Four Rikishi have 5-2 records.
With three of the 7 san'yaku in serious contention, it looks like the 2nd week of the Basho will be very exciting.
There were 8 Kimarite used today. Total for the Basho is 23. At this juncture in September there were 17.
Total match time so far is 31 minutes 27.8 seconds (139 matches, an average of 13.6 seconds). In September after 7 Days, the total time was 27 minutes 20.3 seconds (135 matches, an average of 12.3 seconds).
Maegashira had another long day at the office against san'yaku today, losing 4 of their 5 matches. They have now lost more matches than won on 6 of the 7 Days. Their combined record is 11-24 (.314). In September they were 3 and 4 with a cumulative record of 13-22 (.371). M v s' matches tend to tail off precipitously in the 2nd half of a Basho, with some at the very end when one or more Maegashira are in serious Yusho contention. Then they are thrown in with the other contenders.
JSA points out,in an interesting graphic, that this year only 2 Rookies were promoted it to Makuuchi (Top Division), meaning their first time in Makuuchi. It is the smallest number in any year since 1958.
Also Terunofuji has become the 10th Yokozuna since 1909 to appear as the only Yokozuna in a Basho. And Shohozan (M17w) has become the 9th oldest Rikishi since 1926 to earn a return promotion to the Top Division. His debut in the Top Division was in this Basho in 2011.
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Quotable:
Various Quotes from various sources compiled in English by a member of Sumo Forum (added November 20)
Note: "Gambarize" means "do my best."
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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 7 Condensed results
Partial or complete absences from this Basho
Wins-Losses-Absences
M10w---Asanoyama (0-0-15)
M13w--Tochinoshin (2-2-3) (including 1 forfeit)
07.9s M16e Akua (3-4) yorikiri M17e Kaisei (3-4)
19.6s M14w Chiyonokuni (4-3) oshidashi M17w Shohozan (1-6)
23.7s M16w Sadanoumi (5-2) yorikiri M14e Kagayaki (3-4)
02.6s M15e Chiyomaru (3-4) hikiotoshi M13e Yutakayama (2-5)
05.1s M12w Hokutofuji (5-2) hatakikomi M15w Abi (6-1)
28.4s M13w Tochinoshin (2-2-3) yorikiri M12e Ishiura (3-4)
22.8s M10e Chiyotairyu (5-2) yorikiri M11e Kotonowaka (2-5)
11.7s M9w Hidenoumi (5-2) uwatedashinage M11w Terutsuyoshi (3-4)
01.3s M7w Chiyoshoma (4-3) uwatenage M9e Aoiyama (3-4)
10.9s M6e Shimanoumi (2-5) yorikiri M8w Tobizaru (4-3)
05.9s M5w Hoshoryu (3-4) yorikiri M8e Kotoeko (0-7)
04.9s M6w Tamawashi (6-1) oshidashi M5e Takayasu (4-3)
25.7s M4w Endo (4-3) hikiotoshi M7e Ura (5-2)
00.8s M2w Takanosho (4-3) hikiotoshi M1e Daieisho (3-4)
02.0s K1e Ichinojo (3-4) oshidashi M1w Wakatakakage (2-5)
02.1s M2e Onosho (2-5) hatakikomi S1w Meisei (3-4)
01.8s S1e Mitakeumi (6-1) tsukiotoshi K1w Kiribayama (1-6)
02.3s O1w Takakeisho (7-0) oshidashi M3e Okinoumi (2-5)
04.5s O1e Shodai (4-3) yorikiri M4e Takarafuji (3-4)
05.6s Y1e Terunofuji (7-0) kotenage M3w Myogiryu (2-5)
Source: Sumo Reference (text results) and Nikkansports.com length of bouts data (see result sources below)
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Finishing Moves (20 matches--140 total) Note: finishing move links below link to short NHK videos demonstrating the technique.
Frontal Force Out (Yorikiri).................7(32)
Frontal Push Out (Oshidashi).................4(34)
Hand Pull Down (Hikiotoshi)..................3(8)
Slap Down (Hatakikomi).......................2(12)
Arm Lock Throw (Kotenage)....................1(2)
Thrust Down (Tsukiotoshi)....................1(12)
Pulling Over Arm Throw (Uwatedashinage)......1(4)
Over Arm Throw (Uwatenage)...................1(4)
Totals for Basho
Frontal Thrust Out (Tsukidashi)..............7
Rear Push Out (Okuridashi)...................4
Frontal Push Down (Oshitaoshi)...............4
Under Arm Throw (Shitatenage)................3
Leg Pick (Ashitori)..........................2