March 2022 Basho (Haru)--DAY 1--March 13, 2022
Links to selected Basho (Tournament) Blog Posts--March 2020--Present
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March 2022 (Haru) Basho
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Day 1--March 13, 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 1 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.
1. Terunofuji (Y1e) (0-0--1-0) v Hoshoryu (K1w) (0-0---0-1) (Match Video) Terunofuji is on the left.
3. Takakeisho (O1w) (0-0--1-0) v Ura (M1w) (0-0--0-1) (Match Video) Takakeisho is on the right.
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Photos:
Nikkan Sports Day 1 Photo Feature: There are photos today's Makuuchi matches, with selected Rikishi quotes. (Japanese)
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B. Notable and Quotable
Notable
For the first time since July 2020, all 42 Rikishi on the Makuuchi (Top Division) Banzuke (Rankings Chart), were present and accounted for when the action began today (In July 2020, Kakuryu (Y1w) was injured in his first match, forfeited his next match, and missed the rest of the Basho). The other absences by various Rikishi were due to a combination of injury, retirement, or suspension.
There are eight san'yaku (Top Rankers--Yokozuna, Ozeki, Sekiwake, and Komusubi) in this Basho and today they split their matches, in three cases (see below) losing to Maegashira (Rank and Filers). The Megashira split their 6 matches against the san'yaku today. On Day 1 of the January Basho they were 2-3 against the Top Rankers.
Terunofuji (Y1e), Takakeisho (O1w), and Shin (newly promoted)-Ozeki Mitakeumi (O2w) all won. Shodai (O1e) was defeated by Daieisho (M1e). Both Shodai and Takakeisho are Kadoban (they must win at least 8 matches or will be demoted from Ozeki).
For the Sekiwake, Wakatakakage (S1e) won his first match as a Shin-Sekiwake, but Abi (S1w), also Shin-Sekiwake, was defeated by Rank and Filer Onosho (M3e). Both Komusubi lost today. 22 year old Hoshoryu (K1e) a Shin-Komusubi, lost his first match at the rank to the Yokuzuna, while Takanosho (K1w--but, interestingly, also fighting in his first match at the rank after being promoted past it to Sekiwake from Maegashira on two occasions), also lost his first match to Meisei (M3w).
Today's 21 matches took a snappy 2 minutes 21.9 seconds of fighting time. Interestingly, there were three matches today that finished in less than one second. January's Day 1 matches took 2 minutes 56.9 seconds of fighting time. There were 10 Kimarite (finishing moves) used today. In January Day 1 saw nine used.
Finally Tochinoshin's (M15w) 0.9 second victory over Akua (M15e) was adjudged an Oshitaoshi Kimarite (Frontal Push Down). But that hardly told the story, as the Push was actually a brutal forearm smash to the face. Tochinoshin has long been known for his legendary strength and one of his favorite Kimarite is the Tsuridashi (Frontal Lift Out), an incredible power move where he basically lifts his opponent off his feet and walks him off the dohyo (ring). Tochinoshin is an ex-Ozeki who has been battling a serious knee problem for several years. All the more amazing that he still uses the Tsuridashi (of the 27 times he has used it--4.2% of his wins, as opposed to 0.23% overall rate) five have come since he was demoted from Ozeki.
But I digress. Tochinoshin has not had a Kachi-Koshi (winning Basho record) since July 2020 (nine Basho), and only one since July of 2019). He has been slipping in the rankings and his present rank means that another losing Basho will almost certainly see him dropped to Juryo (2nd Division). He has not been in Juryo since July 2014. Today he decided that he did not want to test the knee at all, as well as to clearly state his intentions regarding demotion to Juryo. He blasted out of the Tachiai (initial charge) with an "Oshitaoshi" that dropped his opponent literally instantly. Watch for the move if you see the video. It happens very quickly, and only on viewing the replay was I able to understand what a decisive and destructive move it was.
Quotable
"I think the fans in Osaka here are making the tournament exciting. There are a lot of new faces at the top of the rankings, and that's motivating me as well."
Daieisho (M1e) on his win over Ozeki (O1e) Shodai. (Kyodo News)
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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 1
Partial or complete absences from this Basho
Wins-Losses-Absences
None
08.1s M17w Ichiyamamoto (1-0) yorikiri M17e Kagayaki (0-1)
06.5s M16e Nishikigi (1-0) oshidashi M16w Kotokuzan (0-1)
00.9s M15w Tochinoshin (1-0) oshitaoshi M15e Akua (0-1)
06.4s M14w Yutakayama (1-0) oshidashi M13w Chiyonokuni (0-1)
04.8s M14e Kotoshoho (1-0) oshidashi M13e Chiyomaru (0-1)
06.3s M12w Chiyotairyu (1-0) tsuridashi M12e Kotoeko (0-1)
00.8s M11w Terutsuyoshi (1-0) hikiotoshi M11e Myogiryu (0-1)
08.2s M10w Aoiyama (1-0) yorikiri M10e Shimanoumi (0-1)
05.5s M9e Tobizaru (1-0) oshitaoshi M9w Wakamotoharu (0-1)
03.2s M8e Chiyoshoma (1-0) kubinage M8w Sadanoumi (0-1)
16.0s M7e Takayasu (1-0) uwatenage M7w Okinoumi (0-1)
22.6s M6w Kotonowaka (1-0) yorikiri M6e Hokutofuji (0-1)
16.8s M5e Takarafuji (1-0) hatakikomi M5w Ishiura (0-1)
08.8s M4e Kiribayama (1-0) yorikiri M4w Endo (0-1)
00.7s M3w Meisei (1-0) uwatedashinage K1e Takanosho (0-1)
03.8s M3e Onosho (1-0) oshidashi S1w Abi (0-1)
01.3s S1e Wakatakakage (1-0) tsukiotoshi M2w Tamawashi (0-1)
07.2s O2w Mitakeumi (1-0) oshidashi M2e Ichinojo (0-1)
05.9s O1w Takakeisho (1-0) oshidashi M1w Ura (0-1)
04.3s M1e Daieisho (1-0) oshidashi O1e Shodai (0-1)
03.8s Y1e Terunofuji (1-0) yorikiri K1w Hoshoryu (0-1)
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) Note: finishing move links below link to short NHK videos demonstrating the technique.
Source: Sumo Ref. BoutQuery..D1 (divide # by 2)
Frontal Push Out (Oshidashi).................7
Frontal Force Out (Yorikiri).................5
Frontal Push Down (Oshitaoshi)...............2
Slap Down (Hatakikomi).......................1
Hand Pull Down (Hikiotoshi)..................1
Head Lock Throw (Kubinage)...................1
Thrust Down (Tsukiotoshi)....................1
Frontal Lift Out (Tsuridashi)................1
Pulling Over Arm Throw (Uwatedashinage)......1
Over Arm Throw (Uwatenage)...................1
Out 13, Down 8
Frontal 15, Lock 1, Pulling 1
Push 9, Force 5, Throw 3, Lift 1, Pull 1, Slap 1, Thrust 1
Under 0, Over 1
Arm 2, Hand 1, Head 1
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E. Match Time
Day 1 (21 matches)
Total Time: 2 minutes 21.9 seconds (141.9)
Longest Match: 22.6 s (Kotonowaka v Hokutofuji )
Shortest Match: 0.7 s (Meisei v Takanosho )
Average (21 matches): 6.8 s
Time/Matches Day 1
0-4.9 seconds: 9
5-9.9 seconds: 9
10-19.9 seconds: 2
20-29.9 seconds: 1
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F. Kachi-koshi/Make-koshi (8 or more wins--promotion in rank/8 or more losses--demotion)
Key: Basho Day on which the minimum record was achieved; Rikishi; Rank; Current Record
None until Day 8 at the earliest.
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G1. Top Rank Wins (san'yaku--Yokozuna, Ozeki, Sekiwake, Komusubi)
G2. Maegashira v san'yaku Standings (Rank and File [M1-18] v san'yaku [Yokozuna, Ozeki, Sekiwake, Komusubi])
G3. Rookies
G4. Juryo Substitute Standings
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G1. Top Rank Wins
1-0: Terunofuji (Y1e); Takakeisho (O11); Mitakeumi (O2w); Wakatakakage (S1e)
0-1: Shodai (O1e); Abi (S1w); Takanosho (K1e); Hoshoryu (K1w)
Day 1 Total: 4--4 (.500)
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G2. Maegashira v san'yaku (defined as Komusubi, Sekiwake, Ozeki, and Yokozuna for these purposes)
Day 1
*=Kinboshi--Gold Star Win over Yokozuna
Daieisho (M1e) 1-0(1-0)
Onosho (M3e) 1-0(1-0)
Meisei (M3w) 1-0(1-0)
Ura (M1w) 0-1(0-1)
Ichinojo (M2e) 0-1(0-1)
Tamawashi (M2w) 0-1(0-1)
Win and Loss by Days
Maegashira 0-0-1, san'yaku 0-0-1
Day 1 Total 3--3 (.500)
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G3. Rookies
Kotokuzan (M16w) (0-1)
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G4. Juryo (2nd Division) Substitutes
Day 1: None
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H. Results
Makuuchi (Top Division) Basho Cumulative Win-Loss Martrix (Sumo Reference)
Juryo (Second Division) Basho Cumulative Win-Loss Matrix (Sumo Reference)
Sekitori Basho Cumulative Win-Loss Matrix (Makuuchi and Juryo--all salaried rikishi)
Day 1: (Japanese Sumo Association) (click on rikishi name for relevant data including percentage of each Kimarite (finishing) move used, rank and full results of last 5 tournaments, all on one page)
Day 1 Time of Each Match: (nikkansports.com) (in Japanese,use Google Translate) Matches are in order from lowest rank to highest.
Day 1 Heya Watch (wins by Stable) Cumulative daily; all Divisions added together (source: sumoforum.net Hatsu Heya Watch thread)
Day 1 Kensho (Cumulative bonus envelopes by Rikishi) (source: sumoforum.net Hatsu Kensho thread). Terunofuji (Y1e) leads with 35 envelopes. Daieisho (M1e) is 2nd with 16. Mitakeumi (O2w) and Kiribayama (M4e) are tied for 3rd with 13. Each envelope represents about $632 US, although it actually contains half that amount (See introduction for explanation).
Absent rikishi information (Japanese Sumo Association)
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I. Articles:
Kyodo News
Nikkansports.com carries the most exhaustive coverage of Sumo that I have seen. It publishes multiple daily articles about the Basho.
All coverage is in Japanese and can be accessed from the Nikkan Sports News Page. It can be easily (if not well) translated by Google Translate, which can be easily attached to your browser for seamless "translation."
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March 2022 (Haru) Basho
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