January 2022 Basho (Hatsu)--DAY 5--January 13, 2022
Links to selected Basho (Tournament) Blog Posts--March 2020--Present
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January 2022 (Hatsu) Basho
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Day 5--January 13, 2022
Recap and statistics
A. Video and Photos:
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 5 video should by available by 12:30 the next day. It might be available before that, so check).
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Japan Sumo Association 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. There is no commentary.
Shodai is on the right.
Meisei is on the left.
Abi is on the left.
Hoshoryu is on the left.
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Chris Sumo Youtube. Chris Gould is a long time free lance Sumo journalist and videographer. His videos are shot at the venue.
Includes footage from selected matches in Divisions 1 (Makuuchi), 2 (Juryo), and 3 (Makushita--non salaried).
2. Why we love Sumo.
The story of a lower division match that was stopped after four minutes, and started again after a rest period. The rematch took 1 second.
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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 Day 3, 4, and 5 matches). Six matches are featured.
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Photos:
Photo of the day: Tochinoshin (M15w), an ex-Ozeki with almost 16 years experience, shows his power with an amazing tsuridashi (Frontal Lift out--the move is linked to a video below) of 134 kg (295 pound) Kotoeko (M17e). (Nikkan Sports)
Nikkan Sports Day 5 Photo Feature: There are photos today's Makuuchi matches, with selected Rikishi (wrestler) quotes.
Sumo Forum's daily Photo Features are appearing on a one day delay at present
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B. Notable and Quotable
Notable:
Terunofuji ended the first 1/3 of the Basho with an easy, under 5 second win. It was his 23rd in a row. He used the same Kimarite (finishing move) for the 2nd time, today. He has now used 4 different Kimarite in 5 matches.Two other Rikishi fell by the wayside today and there are only 3 who remain undefeated at 5-0: the Yokozuna, Mitakeumi (S1e), and Abi. Mitakeumi is chasing an Ozeki promotion as well as a Yusho (Championship), and Abi is anxious to return to the Top Rank level as soon as possible after being banished and dropped to Division 3. Based on the evidence so far, he should be back among the san'yaku by July, perhaps May if he wins the Yusho or comes close.
Shodai, the only Ozeki left in the Basho, continues his baffling performance. Manhandled by Tamawashi today, he is now 3-2, but could easily be 1-4. Promoted to Ozeki on the back of a string of great Basho beginning in November 2019 (1 Yusho [Championship], 3 Jun Yusho [2nd place], and 5 Special Prizes, and with a record of 56-19 in the 5 Basho before promotion), he has a record of 58-42 in the 8 Basho since promotion. He has 1 Jun-Yusho but only 1 Basho with double digit wins. He has been Kadoban (losing record which, followed by another, will cause demotion from Ozeki) twice. Hopefully, he will begin to improve soon.
Today's matches were completed in 3 minutes 38.3 seconds of fighting time, making the total for the first five days (99 matches) 15 minutes 39.1 seconds. At the same juncture in the November Basho (Tournament) the time was 24 minutes 10.5 seconds, also in 99 matches.
There were 9 Kimarite (finishing moves) used today, for a total of 18 winning Kimarite in the first five days. In November the number after five days was 21. Of the first 99 matches 50 have been won by the two dominant Kimarite (Yorikiri--Frontal Force Out, and Oshidashi--Frontal Push Out). 47 of the first 99 matches in November were won by those Kimarite. 13 throws and swings have been used so far in this Basho. 14 were won by throws and scoops in November.
Top Rankers were 4-2 today to slightly raise their overall record to 21-13-1. In November they were 22-13 after five days. The composition of the Top Rank (1 Yokozuna, 1 Ozeki, 2 Sekiwake, and 2 Komusubi) is now 6. In November it was 7.
Rank and Filers (Maegashira) had a difficult day (2-4). Their overall record is now 9-17 against their betters. In November it was 8-17 after five days.
The two Rookies lost their matches today, making them 5-5 overall. After blazing out of the gate with a 5-1 record, they now have come back to the pack.
Today was the first day a Juryo substitute was used. Kagayaki (J1e), a 12 year veteran who was demoted to Juryo after 32 consecutive Top Division Basho, won a hard fought battle with Rookie Oho.
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Quotable (all, except where specifically noted, are from Chris Sumo Youtube).
"I'm not having too much trouble. I'm aware of my age, but I don't think about it too much." (Kyodo News)
Tamawashi, age 37, who today fought in his 1,396th consecutive bout. He is 5th on the all time list, 29 behind Takamiyama for the 4th position. He is also 3rd on the list of Rikishi who have never missed a bout. This was his 1,100th consecutive bout in Makuuchi (Top Division).
Here he gives a succinct analysis of how the aging process is effecting his Sumo. Not very much, based on his demolition of Ozeki Shodai.
"Come what may, I want to stick to my style. My goal is double figures.That's what I'm consciously working towards."
Mitakeumi (S1e), commenting on his 5th consecutive win. He is now 8 wins away from likely Ozeki promotion.
"Coach said to watch for parries. So I was careful to fight at a safe distance, and not over attack, and thereby risk pitching forward. I also tried to stay clear of his arm block."
Abi, analyzing his 17th win in 20 matches since returning to Makuuchi (Top Division) after suspension.
Quotable (English translations from various Japanese sources, courtesy of Sumo Forum). Note: Gambarize means "do my best."
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C. Condensed results (20 matches)
Key: Time of Match--s=seconds; Rank; Winner; Basho Record; Finishing Move; Rank; Loser; Basho Record
Day 5
Partial or complete absences from this Basho
Wins-Losses-Absences
M7e---Takayasu (0-0-15)
M8e---Hidenoumi (0-0-15)
O1e---Takakeisho (1-3-11) (including 1 forfeit loss)
18.2s J1e Kagayaki (3-2) oshidashi M18e Oho (3-2)
12.0s M16w Tsurugisho (1-4) yorikiri M16e Aoiyama (2-3)
14.1s M15w Tochinoshin (2-3) tsuridashi M17e Kotoeko (3-2)
36.0s M17w Kaisei (3-2) yorikiri M14e Kotonowaka (3-2)
13.8s M14w Ichiyamamoto (3-2) oshidashi M13w Yutakayama (3-2)
22.3s M13e Chiyomaru (4-1) shitatenage M15e Wakamotoharu (2-3)
02.7s M11e Sadanoumi (3-2) hikiotoshi M11w Terutsuyoshi (2-3)
02.3s M12w Chiyotairyu (1-4) hikiotoshi M10w Akua (0-5)
05.1s M12e Ishiura (3-2) oshidashi M10e Myogiryu (4-1)
12.5s M9w Shimanoumi (3-2) yorikiri M9e Chiyonokuni (0-5)
20.3s M6e Hoshoryu (3-2) hatakikomi M8w Tobizaru (2-3)
13.6s M7w Takarafuji (4-1) tsukiotoshi M5e Onosho (4-1)
05.8s M6w Abi (5-0) oshidashi M4w Hokutofuji (2-3)
04.2s M5w Chiyoshoma (2-3) uwatedashinage M3w Endo (2-3)
09.5s K1w Daieisho (2-3) oshidashi M4e Okinoumi (0-5)
02.7s K1e Meisei (3-2) oshidashi M2e Ura (1-4)
03.8s M1e Wakatakakage (1-4) tsukiotoshi S1w Takanosho (2-3)
06.3s S1e Mitakeumi (5-0) oshidashi M1w Kiribayama (1-4)
08.7s M3e Tamawashi (4-1) oshidashi O1w Shodai (3-2)
04.4s Y1e Terunofuji (5-0) uwatenage M2w Ichinojo (2-3)
Source: Sumo Reference (text results) and Nikkansports.com length of bouts data (see result sources below)
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D. Finishing Moves (20 matches--99 total) Note: finishing move links below link to short NHK videos demonstrating the technique.
Note: finishing move links below link to short NHK videos demonstrating the technique.
Frontal Push Out (Oshidashi).................8(29)
Frontal Force Out (Yorikiri).................3(21)
Hand Pull Down (Hikiotoshi)..................2(5)
Thrust Down (Tsukiotoshi)....................2(8)
Slap Down (Hatakikomi).......................1(8)
Under Arm Throw (Shitatenage)................1(3)
Frontal Lift out (Tsuridashi)................1(1)
Pulling Over Arm Throw (Uwatedashinage)......1(4)
Over Arm Throw (Uwatenage)...................1(2)
Totals for Basho
Rear Push Out (Okuridashi)...................3
Frontal Thrust Out (Tsukidashi)..............3
Frontal Crush Out (Yoritaoshi)...............3
Arm Lock Throw (Kotenage)....................2
Frontal Push Down (Oshitaoshi)...............2
Under Shoulder Swing Down (Katasukashi)......1
Outside Leg Trip (Sotogake)..................1