March 2022 Basho (Haru)--DAY 2--March 14, 2022
Links to selected Basho (Tournament) Blog Posts--March 2020--Present
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March 2022 (Haru) Basho
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Day 2--March 14, 2022
Recap and statistics
A. Video and Photo
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 2 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.
3. Takakeisho (O1w) (1-0--1-1) v Ichinojo (M2e) (0-1--1-1) (Match Video) Takakeisho is on the right.
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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 1 (consisting of Day 1 and Day 2 matches). One match from each day is featured. The first match features two Rikishi making their Pro debut. The one on the left is the younger brother of Kotoshoho (M14e). The second match also features two debutants. The video opens with a long shot of the inside of the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium before the start of the Day. Note also the error that the young Yobidashi (Ring Announcer) makes in the first match. He corrected it the next day.
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Photos:
Nikkan Sports Day 2 Photo Feature: There are photos today's Makuuchi matches, with selected Rikishi quotes. (Japanese)
Sumo Forum's daily Photo Features are appearing on a one day delay at present
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B. Notable and Quotable
Notable
Three of the top four Rikishi in the Basho lost today:
1. Terunofuji (Y1e) was defeated by Daieisho (M1e). This was Daieisho's second Kinboshi (Rank and Filer Gold Star Win) over Yokozuna Terunofuji in the last four Basho. He broke Terunofuji's 23 match winning streak in September, to score the first Kinboshi over the new Yokozuna. Today there was some speculation that the heel injury that Terunofuji suffered toward the end of the January Basho might still be bothering him. It will be interesting to see how this story develops.
2. Shodai (O1e) continued to look completely at sea and was dominated by Takanosho (K1e). There is speculation that Shodai is still suffering from the effects of a recent bout with Covid. However, if he drops out of the Basho, he will automatically lose his Ozeki Rank because he is "kadoban" this Basho (must win eight of his 15 matches or will face demotion from Ozeki rank). So he is in a very difficult position. The fact that he must keep fighting in spite of illness is one of the more stark features with respect the Sumo ranking. Injury or illness absences are counted, for all practical purposes, as losses.
3. Takakeisho (O1w), who is also "kadoban" this Basho, lost to giant 206 kg (454 pounds) Ichinojo (M2e). The big man blasted out of the Tachiai (Initial Charge) and stopped the Ozeki's fearsome push and thrust attack cold before it could start. From there it was just a matter of time before he escorted Takakeisho off the premesis.
The only Ozeki who found success today was Shin-Ozeki (newly promoted) Mitakeumi (O2w--winner of the January 2022 Basho), who defeated Ura (M1w) for his second consecutive win at his new rank.
(Links to videos of all these matches and the Rikishi [wrestlers] who participated can be found above).
Other Top Rank Rikishi .
Sekiwake: Wakatakakage (S1e), a Shin-Sekiwake, defeated Onosho (M3e) in the shortest match of the Day--3 seconds, to remain undefeated, while Abi (S1w) got his first win at the rank by defeating Tamawashi (M2w). This was Tamawashi's 1408th consecutive match. He has never missed a match since he began his career in March 2004. He is 5th on the all time list, 17 behind Takamiyama (Wikipedia), and, barring inury or illness, should move into 4th place in May.
Komusubi: The two Komusubi split their matches today. Takanosho (K1e) defeated Shodai (see above) for his first win at the Rank, although he has been promoted directly from Maegashira to Sekiwake twice before. 22 year old Hoshoryu (K1w) (nephew of 68th Yokozuna Asashoryu is still looking for his first win after losing to undefeated Kiribayama (M4e).
When the Day ended the Top Rankers had another 4-4 Day, while the Maegashira, for the second straight day, fought the Top Rankers to a stand-off at 3-3.
There were 11 Kimarite (finishing moves) used today, including three throws. For the Basho there have now been 15 Kimarite used, including five throws. Through the first two Days in January, there were 13 Kimarite, including three throws and one swing.
Average match fighting time through two days is 8.6 seconds (42 matches). In January it was 7.7 seconds (40 matches).
Rookie Kotokuzan (M16w), who celebrated his 28th birthday on March 11, won his first Top Division match today, a 3 second demolition of Ichiamamoto (M17w). The new man is a Sumo lifer, joining the Profession in 2009 at age 15. He has finally made Makuuchi (Top Division) in his 74th Basho. Today marked his 518th Sumo match. He has had 12 absences (in two Basho) in that time.
Quotable (from Kyodo News)
"My opening charge wasn't great, but I was able to keep going, I'll try to keep it up tomorrow."
Daieisho (M1e) on his Kinboshi (Gold Star Win by a Maegashira [Rank and Filer] over a Yokozuna) v Terunofuji (Y1e).
"I just want to keep moving forward and good things will happen."
Ichinojo (M2e), who moved forward at the Tachiai (Initial Charge) fast enough to completely deny Takakeisho (O1w) his favored push and thrust attack. Without that he was helpless against Ichinojo.
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C. Condensed results (21 matches)
Key: Time of Match--s=seconds; Rank; Winner; Basho Record; Finishing Move; Rank; Loser; Basho Record
Day 2
Partial or complete absences from this Basho
None
03.0s M16w Kotokuzan (1-1) hatakikomi M17w Ichiyamamoto (1-1)
11.1s M17e Kagayaki (1-1) oshitaoshi M15e Akua (0-2)
09.7s M16e Nishikigi (2-0) yorikiri M15w Tochinoshin (1-1)
04.0s M14w Yutakayama (2-0) oshidashi M13e Chiyomaru (0-2)
08.2s M13w Chiyonokuni (1-1) tsukiotoshi M14e Kotoshoho (1-1)
08.1s M11e Myogiryu (1-1) oshidashi M12w Chiyotairyu (1-1)
08.7s M12e Kotoeko (1-1) yoritaoshi M11w Terutsuyoshi (1-1)
11.5s M10w Aoiyama (2-0) oshidashi M9e Tobizaru (1-1)
33.7s M9w Wakamotoharu (1-1) yorikiri M10e Shimanoumi (0-2)
19.6s M7e Takayasu (2-0) sukuinage M8w Sadanoumi (0-2)
28.4s M8e Chiyoshoma (2-0) shitatenage M7w Okinoumi (0-2)
10.5s M6w Kotonowaka (2-0) oshidashi M5e Takarafuji (1-1)
08.3s M5w Ishiura (1-1) oshidashi M6e Hokutofuji (0-2)
09.7s M4w Endo (1-1) uwatenage M3w Meisei (1-1)
06.9s M4e Kiribayama (2-0) uwatenage K1w Hoshoryu (0-2)
03.0s S1e Wakatakakage (2-0) yoritaoshi M3e Onosho (1-1)
03.2s S1w Abi (1-1) tsukidashi M2w Tamawashi (0-2)
05.8s K1e Takanosho (1-1) oshidashi O1e Shodai (0-2)
09.2s O2w Mitakeumi (2-0) oshidashi M1w Ura (0-2)
10.8s M2e Ichinojo (1-1) yorikiri O1w Takakeisho (1-1)
07.1s M1e Daieisho (2-0) okuridashi Y1e Terunofuji (1-1)
Source: Sumo Reference (text results) and Nikkansports.com length of bouts data (see result sources below)
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D. Finishing Moves (21 matches--42 Total) Note: finishing move links below link to short NHK videos demonstrating the technique.
Frontal Push Out (Oshidashi).................7(14)
Frontal Force Out (Yorikiri).................3 (8)
Over Arm Throw (Uwatenage)...................2 (3)
Frontal Crush Out (Yoritaoshi)...............2 (2)
Slap Down (Hatakikomi).......................1 (2)
Rear Push Out (Okuridashi)...................1 (1)
Frontal Push Down (Oshitaoshi)...............1 (3)
Under Arm Throw (Shitatenage)................1 (1)