[OT-Sumo] Hatsu Basho 2003

[Ranger REG]

While I do acknowledge and respect the performance of Takanohana and his brother Wakanohana, I tend to think of them as Akebono's and Musashimaru's rivals.

It can't be helped. It's local pride.

 

[Black Omega]

Well, the Moose will have to do without a rival.

Takanohana has formally retired now. He tried a comeback, but it was obvious with the injuries he just wasn't up to it anymore. With his retirement, Musashimaru is the only Yokozuna left and with the way his weight's been growing, his time is probably numbered.

In the meantime, Asashoryu and Dejima now lead the basho with records of 9-1. If Asashoryu wins and gets at least 13 wins, he'll almost certainly be promoted to Yokozuna. The downside of this would be that there was so little competition for him. Chiyotaikai, Kaio, Tochiazuma and Musashimaru are all injured and Musayama is not wrestling well at all.

 

[Dragonblade]

I watched some Sumo when I was living in Tokyo. Pretty fun to watch live!

 

[Ranger REG]

I find the ritual before the match more interesting, where they stare at each other and sizing their opponents.

 

[Black Omega]

I find the ritual before the match more interesting, where they stare at each other and sizing their opponents.

Probably a good real life example of the OA Psychic Duel.

 

[Ranger REG]

For sumotori, yeah.

For samurai and/or ronin, they're like the typical chanbara shows, which is just like the typical western gun draw at high noon.

 

[Gizzard]

Oh, this is so cool, to find discussion of Sumo (and a web-resource!)

Anyway, if you live in the Bay Area, the NHK network is available over the air. NHK which will of course show the bouts during the season. I think the news broadcast starts around 10 or 11.

Asashoryu is in line to become the first Mongolian Yokozuna...

When you said Mongolian, I thought of the guy with the big sideburns who wears orange. Cant remember his name. He was rather mediocre, but he had a contingent of supporters since he had a lot of attitude.

 

[Black Omega]

When you said Mongolian, I thought of the guy with the big sideburns who wears orange. Cant remember his name. He was rather mediocre, but he had a contingent of supporters since he had a lot of attitude.

Toki? He's kinda fun to watch, in a spirited fatboy type of way. He's having a bad tournament though. Not sure if he's injured, the matches I've seen so far he doesn't look like he's all that into it.

 

[Gizzard]

Yes, Toki, thats the guy.

I was in Osaka at the beginning of the year and caught that event. Toki started off strong, but I think he got injured or something and finished pretty poorly. He definitely was a lot more spunky when he was winning. Its worth the price of admission to see Toki strut around the ring with that "Who's your daddy!?" look on his face when he wins. ;-)

 

[Liminal Syzygy]

The amount of injuries of the top wrestlers this basho is sad with only 2 of the top six or something finishing the basho...

Sorry I was wrong, it is Musashimaru. No 'no' there.

He is actually a very cool guy, or was 10 years ago when I met him. Chad Rowan 'Akebono' was already to good to mix with rabble such as myself, but Musashimaru talked with a friend and I for quite a while.

I went to an exibition day, in which they do a whole tournament in a day, but it doesn't really count about 7 years ago, and Akebono's power was awesome. All the Japanese people were shouting for the no-name Japanese wrestler to beat Akebono, so I just shouted at the top of my lungs "Kick his ass, Chad!"

I liked Wakanohana, but never liked Takanohana, not just because he was the rival of the Hawaiians but because of his poor attitude. His smugness always irritated me to no end in interviews. I'm glad to see him go.