January 2022 Basho (Hatsu)--DAY 8--Nakabi (Middle Day)--January 16, 2022
Links to selected Basho (Tournament) Blog Posts--March 2020--Present
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January 2022 (Hatsu) Basho (Tournament)
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Day 8--January 16, 2022--Nakabi (Middle Day)
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 8 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.
Terunofuji is on the left.
Shodai is on the right.
3. Mitakeumi (S1e) (7-0--8-0) v Daieisho (K1w) (3-4--3-5) (Match Video)
Mitakeumi is on the left.
4. Takanosho (S1w) (4-3--4-4) v Ura (M2e) (3-4--4-4) (Match Video)
Takanosho is on the right.
5. Akua (M10w) (1-6--1-7) v Chiyomaru (M13e) (4-3--5-3) (Match Video)
Akua is on the right.
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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.
Today Chris changed his usual format and presented match videos from 10 Top Division matches.
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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 4 (consisting of Day 7 and Day 8 matches). Two matches with Yusho (Championship) implications are featured.
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Photos:
Photo of the day: Tamawashi, about to slam into the tawara after having beaten Hokutofuji.
Nikkan Sports Day 8 Photo Feature here 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 easily defeated Okinoumi to remain in 2nd Place at 7-1. He has now won 8 matches with 5 different Kimarite (finishing moves). He is still in a position to control his own destiny. If both he and Mitakeumi win out until Day 15, the final match will be between the two. At that point, if Terunofuji is still one match behind a win will force a playoff.
Mitakeumi retained the lead with a win over Daieisho, and earned the first Kachi-koshi (winning record) of the Basho. The last time he began a Basho at 8-0 was July 2018, when he won his 1st Top Division Yusho (Championship), along with two Special Prizes. Today he won via Yorikiri (Frontal Force Out). All 8 of his wins have been via the two most used Kimarite, Yorikiri and Oshidashi (Frontal Push Out).
Ozeki Shodai broke his three match losing streak with a well fought win over Endo. He is now 4-4, and needs 4 wins from his last 7 to retain his rank.
Tamawashi's (M3e--6-2) win over Hakutofuji (M4w) may have been costly. In trying to save himself at the end, Hakutofuji, already pushed out, attempted to thrust Tamawashi down. The result was the winner landing hard on the tawara (rice bales), possibly injuring his ribs (according to the Chris Sumo Youtube video). The NHK bout video shows Tamawashi gasping for breath as he returns to the dressing room. If he cracked or broke a rib, his amazing 1,399 match without absence (he has never missed a match in his 18 year career) may be in jeopardy. As Nikkan Sports succinctly stated (Google Translate English) "Even an iron man hurts!"
Fight video (Chris Sumo Youtube)
Chiyonokuni (M9e) became the first to suffer Make-koshi (less wins than losses and demotion) (0-8) after scoring 9-6 in his last two Basho. Of course, Takayasu (M7e) and Hidenoumi (M8e) are also Make-koshi with 0-0-15 (absences) due to Pandemic issues and suspension (for suspected illegal gambling) respectively. As is Takakeisho (O1e) who pulled out of the Basho due to an ankle injury. He finished 1-3-11.
Today's matches were completed in 4 minutes 25.7 seconds of fighting time, making the total for the first eight days (159 matches) 26 minutes 11.9 seconds. At the same juncture in the November Basho (Tournament) the time was 36 minutes 23.9 seconds, also in 159 matches.
There were 8 Kimarite (finishing moves) used today, for a total of 22 winning Kimarite in the first eight days. In November the number of Kimarite after eight days was 24. Of the first 159 matches 79 have been won by the two dominant Kimarite (Yorikiri--Frontal Force Out, and Oshidashi--Frontal Push Out). 75 were used in the 1st 159 matches in November. 20 throws, sweeps, and swings have been used so far in this Basho. 20 were also won by throws, sweeps, and swings in November.
Top Rankers were 3-3 today, slightly reducing their overall record to 30-22-4. In November they were 37-19 after eight 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) were 2-2 against san'yaku today Their overall record is now 15-23 against their betters. In November it was 11-29 after eight days.
The two Rookies won today, making them 9-7 overall.
Today's Juryo Substitute, Kotoshoho (J2w) defeated Tsurugisho (M16w). The Juryo men are now 2-2 v the Top Division.
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Quotable (all, except where specifically noted, are from Chris Sumo Youtube).
"You have to fill for Oki, who's totally lost that tachiai (initial charge). I think Teru's being nice to him. No one wants to see an old man bullied."
Kitanofuji (52nd Yokozuna and present day NHK commentator), on Terunofuji's win over Okinoumi.
"Not great I pulled him in. But I reacted well to that. And from now, I want to attack more from the off."
Shodai, after breaking his three match losing streak with a victory over Endo.
"Another good fight. I hung in there well. I'm moving around great. Mentally I feel great. It's just the best place to be."
Mitakeumi, on his win over Daieisho.
"I was able to stay patient. My body is moving well and my mind is very focused," Mitakeumi said. "I just want to do my brand of sumo. That's all I'm thinking about and the wins should come as long as I do that."
Mitakeumi (Kyodo News)
"I aimed to carry the fight, but his power was something else. He's just unshakeable, upper body so strong. You learn tons from fighting him 'Amazing' is all you can say."
Hokutofuji (M4w), on his defeat at the hands of Tamawashi (M3e).
"It hurts. Because I'm a person."
Tamawashi, responding to a reporter's question "Does it hurt even if you're an iron man?" (Nikkan Sports, with--apologies ahead of time--Google Translate English). According to NS, Tamawashi was laughing when he answered. As someone who has suffered cracked ribs in a fall, I wasn't laughing for six weeks :( :).
"My good point was that I watched him carefully when executing moves. He was waiting for me to invite him forwards."
Onosho (M5e) (6-2) on his win over winless Chiyonokuni (M9e)
"At the end I was so feverishly going for it, that I can't remember what happened. Let's just say I don't want to be defending up there."
Takarafuji (M7w also at 6-2, on the ups and downs of his win over Shimanoumi (M9w).
"It was not so much my movement, but the fact I stayed in under the cosh. And I was careful not to touch his top knot in the grapple"
Chiyomaru, on his intense battle with Akua.
"There was nothing good about my display. I need to attack from down low but gave him the jump on me."
Ichiyamamoto (M14w), reflecting on his defeat at the hands of Rookie Oho (M18e).
"It's not about the winning. I just want to fight well."
Oho's take on his victory.
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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 8
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)
12.2s J2w Kotoshoho (7-1) yorikiri M16w Tsurugisho (3-5)
16.6s M14e Kotonowaka (6-2) oshidashi M16e Aoiyama (4-4)
02.3s M18e Oho (5-3) tsukidashi M14w Ichiyamamoto (4-4)
07.8s M13w Yutakayama (4-4) yorikiri M17w Kaisei (4-4)
34.1s M15e Wakamotoharu (4-4) hatakikomi M12e Ishiura (4-4)
01.4s M17e Kotoeko (6-2) tsukiotoshi M11e Sadanoumi (4-4)
15.0s M15w Tochinoshin (4-4) yorikiri M11w Terutsuyoshi (3-5)
20.4s M12w Chiyotairyu (3-5) oshidashi M10e Myogiryu (4-4)
22.5s M13e Chiyomaru (5-3) okuritaoshi M10w Akua (1-7)
18.1s M7w Takarafuji (6-2) hatakikomi M9w Shimanoumi (4-4)
01.6s M6e Hoshoryu (5-3) yorikiri M6w Abi (6-2)
11.0s M5e Onosho (6-2) okuritaoshi M9e Chiyonokuni (0-8)
07.3s M8w Tobizaru (4-4) yorikiri M5w Chiyoshoma (3-5)
16.3s M3e Tamawashi (6-2) oshidashi M4w Hokutofuji (3-5)
46.9s M1e Wakatakakage (3-5) tsukiotoshi M2w Ichinojo (4-4)
04.3s M1w Kiribayama (2-6) oshitaoshi K1e Meisei (3-5)
09.7s S1e Mitakeumi (8-0) oshidashi K1w Daieisho (3-5)
01.4s M2e Ura (4-4) ashitori S1w Takanosho (4-4)
07.3s O1w Shodai (4-4) yorikiri M3w Endo (2-6)
09.5s Y1e Terunofuji (7-1) yorikiri M4e Okinoumi (2-6)
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--159 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 Force Out (Yorikiri).................7(37)
Frontal Push Out (Oshidashi).................4(42)
Slap Down (Hatakikomi).......................2(11)
Rear Push Down (Okuritaoshi).................2(2)
Thrust Down (Tsukiotoshi)....................2(14)
Leg Pick (Ashitori)..........................1(1)
Frontal Push Down (Oshitaoshi)...............1(4)
Frontal Thrust Out (Tsukidashi)..............1(6)
Totals for Basho
Hand Pull Down (Hikiotoshi)..................6
Rear Push Out (Okuridashi)...................5
Over Arm Throw (Uwatenage)...................5
Frontal Crush Out (Yoritaoshi)...............5
Under Arm Throw (Shitatenage)................4
Pulling Over Arm Throw (Uwatedashinage)......4