March 2022 Basho (Haru)--DAY 8--(Nakabi--Middle Day)--March 20, 2022
Links to selected Basho (Tournament) Blog Posts--March 2020--Present
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March 2022 (Haru) Basho
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Day 8--March 20, 2022--Nakabi--Middle Day
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 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.
A Judges' mono--ii (conference) ruled the first match too close to call. A rematch was then contested.
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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.
Day 8: Action + backstage footage!. Today's video features action
from three divisions
A. Jonokuchi (Division 6--non-salaried) wunderkind Kototebakari (M10e), the younger brother of Kotoshoho (M14e). Today he was a Jonokuchi substitute in a Jonidan (Division 5--non-salaried) match.
B. Juryo (Division 2--salaried) showdown between Kitanowaka (J10e) and Ryuden (J13e) Both Rikishi were 7-0 going into this match. Ryuden is a long time Top Division man who was suspended and dropped to Makushita (Division 3--non-salaried) due to conduct unbecoming a Rikishi. He is in the process of climbing back to the Top Division, but will probably have to fight at least one more Basho in Juryo due to his rank (J14 is the lowest rank). Kitanowaka is a bright young (21) prospect who began his career in March 2019 and has reached his highest ever ranking in this Basho.
Today's Top Division Match video that was not covered by the JSA site above :
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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).
There are 5 Jonokuchi matches today, all between contenders with 1 or less losses.
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Photos:
Nikkan Sports Day 8 Photo Feature: There are photos today's Makuuchi matches, with selected Rikishi quotes. (Japanese)
Mainichi Shimbun Photography Day 8 Feature (Japanese)
There was no Photo Feature for Day 8
Japanese Sumo Association Twitter Feed provides a steady stream of great photos throughout the Basho. Look for the dates on the tweets for the latest ones.
Sumo Forum's daily Photo Features are appearing on a one day delay at present
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B. Notable and Quotable
Note: Rikishi names that are not linked are those who are linked above in the videos.
Notable:
Takayasu (M7e) remained undefeated, with a one match lead at 8-0 after beating Wakamotoharu (M9w) in an attritional 48 second battle. He thus becomes the first Top Division Rikishi to earn Kachi-koshi (a guaranteed winning record and promotion in Rank). With that landmark out of the way, he is looking for bigger achievements, namely a Yusho (Championshhip), which would be his first in the Top Division.
Three Rikishi are one match back, Mitakeumi (O2w), Wakatakakage (S1e), and Kotonowaka (M6w). Takakeisho (O1w) and Abi (S1w) are two matches behind. The second week is where most of the san'yaku (Top Rank) matchups occur, and in this case, of the six contenders, four are san'yaku. Look for Takayasu and and Kotonowaka to begin pairing off with the leaders, as well as each other, toward the end of the Basho, if these trends continue.
The match makers set these scenarios up for maximum drama at the end. And with the Yokozuna out with injury, there is no outright favorite. But keep an eye out for Shin-Ozeki (first time) Mitakeumi. He has tremendous incentive to win this Basho, because if he does, he is one Yusho (May) away from a "rope", i.e. Yokozuna promotion. Of course, that also goes for Takakeisho, but Mitakeumi is riding a tidal wave of momentum,coming off a Yusho in January that promoted him to Ozeki. He is 40-13 in his last four Basho (including this one). Another to watch is Wakatakakage. At the moment he is wrestling at the best level of his career. If he keeps this up, wins or comes close in this Basho, he will be said to have begun an "Ozeki run" (33 san'yaku wins in three consecutive tournaments). So there is a lot on the line in the 2nd week, and there should be some tremendous match ups coming up.
For the Day: (san'yaku)
Yokozuna Terunofuji (Y1e)--Out of the Basho with right heel and left knee problems
Ozeki: 3-0 Mitakeumi is now 6-1, Takakeisho 6-2, Shodai 3-5
Sekiwake: 2-0 Wakatakakage 7-1, Abi 6-2
Komusubi: 0-2 Hoshoryu (K1w) 4-4, Takanosho (K1e) 1-7
Through 8 Days Top Rankers are 37-25-2 (absences) (including 1 forfeit)
Through 8 Days in January: 30-22-4
The Maegashira had a bad day at the office against san'yaku again today, losing four of their five matches.
Through 8 Days: Maegashira are 15-26 v san'yaku
Through 8 Days in January: 15-23
Rookie Kotokuzan (M16w) was beaten by Juryo substitute Azumaryu (J2w), evening his record at 4-4. He needs to win four of his last seven to earn Kashi-koshi and be promoted, which means he would stay in the Top Division. A losing record will almost certainly drop him back to Juryo (2nd Division). Azumaryu improved his overall Juryo record to 6-2, and he needs 2 more wins for Kachi-koshi and a possible promotion to Top Division for the first time since March 2020.
Azumaryu's win meant that Juryo substitutes kept their record against Top Division men unblemished at 3-0.
There were 8 Kimarite (finishing moves) used today, including 1 throw.
Through 8 Days: 22 Kimarite, 8 throws.
Through 8 Days in January: 22 winning and 2 non-winning (losing); 5 throws one swing.
Average Fighting Time
Through 8 Days: 9.5 seconds (163 matches)
Through 8 Days in January: 9.9 seconds (159 matches)
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Quotable (Source for all, unless otherwise specifically noted, is Chris Sumo Youtube):
"Just keep him in front of me and attack from below."
Wakatakakage (S1e) on his win over Ura (M1w), his best ever Salaried (Juryo and Makuuchi) start at 7-1
"I could stay on the front foot the whole time. Now let's relax and go again tomorrow"
Takayasu (M7e) on his grind-it-out 48 second win over Wakatakakage's brother Wakamotoharu (M9w).
"I'm just moving forward and trying to keep concentrating. "Everything's coming together (but) I'm not doing anything special, just my own sumo. I'm in good physical condition, so I've been able to recover each day."
Takayasu (Kyodo News)
Day 8 Rikishi Talk (compiled and translated by a poster at Sumo Forum Note: Gambarize means "do my best." For more on the etymology of this word in a Sumo context see the entry at Urban Dictionary.
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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
Ishiura (M5w) (1-3-4) (including 1 forfeit loss)
Terunofuji (Y1e) (3-3-2) (including 1 forfeit loss)
Chionokuni (M13w) (4-3-1) (including 1 forfeit loss)
12.4s J2e Azumaryu (6-2) yorikiri M16w Kotokuzan (4-4)
03.8s M15w Tochinoshin (5-3) yorikiri M14w Yutakayama (3-5)
02.4s M13e Chiyomaru (4-4) oshidashi M17e Kagayaki (4-4)
08.6s M12e Kotoeko (5-3) yorikiri M16e Nishikigi (5-3)
09.1s M17w Ichiyamamoto (3-5) tsukidashi M12w Chiyotairyu (3-5)
09.3s M15e Akua (2-6) oshidashi M11e Myogiryu (3-5)
05.5s M14e Kotoshoho (5-3) tsukidashi M11w Terutsuyoshi (4-4)
12.6s M8e Chiyoshoma (3-5) okuridashi M10w Aoiyama (3-5)
05.7s M10e Shimanoumi (4-4) oshidashi M8w Sadanoumi (2-6)
47.9s M7e Takayasu (8-0) uwatenage M9w Wakamotoharu (5-3)
23.8s M6e Hokutofuji (4-4) oshidashi M9e Tobizaru (4-4)
07.4s M5e Takarafuji (2-6) yorikiri M7w Okinoumi (1-7)
03.9s M6w Kotonowaka (7-1) oshidashi M4w Endo (5-3)
03.4s M2w Tamawashi (4-4) tsukitaoshi M3w Meisei (1-7)
43.7s M2e Ichinojo (5-3) yorikiri K1e Takanosho (1-7)
17.2s S1e Wakatakakage (7-1) yorikiri M1w Ura (1-7)
03.0s S1w Abi (6-2) tsukiotoshi M1e Daieisho (4-4)
07.4s O1e Shodai (3-5) yorikiri M4e Kiribayama (5-3)
02.8s O2w Mitakeumi (7-1) oshitaoshi K1w Hoshoryu (4-4)
02.8s O1w Takakeisho (6-2) tsukiotoshi M3e Onosho (3-5)
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--166 Total) Note: finishing move links below link to short NHK videos demonstrating the technique.
Frontal Force Out (Yorikiri).................7(39)
Frontal Push Out (Oshidashi).................5(42)
Frontal Thrust Out (Tsukidashi)..............2 (9)
Thrust Down (Tsukiotoshi)....................2 (9)
Rear Push Out (Okuridashi)...................1 (7)
Frontal Push Down (Oshitaoshi)...............1 (8)
Frontal Thrust Down (Tsukitaoshi)............1 (1)
Over Arm Throw (Uwatenage)...................1(11)
Totals for Basho
Slap Down (Hatakikomi).......................13
Hand Pull Down (Hikiotoshi)..................6