Sumo returns to the screens again for the Nagoya Basho. This is the
first time a sumo tournament/basho has been held outside of Tokyo
since Covid sprang up. It is promising to be a real nail biting basho
with lots at stake. The greatest wrestler of all time based on
statistics alone, Hakuho returns to fight after a knee operation. He
is currently under a warning to perform from the Yokuzuna Council (a
collection of old men who judge atheletes for 'honour' purposes) and
this might prove to be his last basho. The body is getting old and he
has met his target of being fit for the Olympics so that he can take
part in the ceremonial side. Alongside this, there are 2 wrestlers
with the opportunity to gain the highest rank - Terunofuji and
Takakeisho. Terunofuji has stormed through the past 6 basho and has
replaced the void left by the highest rankers/Yokozuna, Hakuho and the
now retired Kakuryu. He has won 2 basho in a row which lead to his
being re-promoted to the second highest rank, Ozeki and then proving
it was no fluke. His rise after falling so low on the banzuke
(rankings) has been amazing. Will he reach the top? I certainly hope
so. Takakeisho has been improving since he first became an Ozeki. He
is apparently in with a chance for becoming Yokozuna but I am not
entirely sure why other than effort. Typically a wrestler has to win 2
basho in a row to gain Yokozuna but that has not always been the case.
There are certainly exceptions with at least one never having won a
basho at all. There are also some suspicions that the Yokozuna council
are keen to see a Japanese Yokozuna again after Kisenosato. The most
recent have been Mongolians although they have all gained the Japanese
citizenship necessary to remain working for the Japanese Sumo
Association as a stable master. Alongside that, there are plenty of
other reasons to keep watching and supporting each wrestler to
gambarize and do their best forwards thinking sumo!
Well it was certainly an exciting end to today's bouts. All 3 Ozeki
and the Yokozuna won their respective bouts. All were exciting and not
easy wins.
Takakeisho faced a cheeky Daieisho who decided to use the
slapping push and thrust technique favoured by Takakeisho to get
Takakeisho to the edge of the ring/Dohyo. A sudden side step from
Takakeisho sent Daieisho out of the Dohyo.
Terunofuji faced Endo. Both kept low while trying to grab something.
Bit of spinning around like a rugby scrum with an overly strong prop
on one side. Eventually Terunofuji rose up and got an arm lock on
Endo's right arm. It was a case of shoving then until Endo was out of
the Dohyo.
Meisei gave Hakuho a good run for his money today. Straight into belt
grabs from the tachiai (initial launch towards one another at the
start of the bout) and Meisei had a few good goes at making Hakuho
sweat. Both swing each other around towards the straw bales at the
edge of the Dohyo. Then Hakuho uses his left leg to raise Meisei's
right leg and pulls him down. At the same time, Hakuho rotates so
Meisei hits the clay first. A nice technical move which gave a clear
outcome instead of usual mono-ii. The crowd errupted for this one. It
certainly did not feel like Hakuho having control for the whole match.
We shall see what happens with the remaining 14 bouts. Hakuho did not
have a good face on the win but is keen to remain I think. Endo may
prove troublesome tomorrow for him.
A nice starting day to the basho with some good bouts. It is great
having a crowd thirsty for some sumo too. The atmosphere feels really
different to Tokyo.
