We don’t get the entire feed here, but NHK broadcasts all the upper level matches daily. We miss the ceremony, but at least get to watch the matches.
I go back and forth pretty much each basho with whether I watch through his channel, to see that info, or the nhk site, to hear the commentary.
We get a satellite channel that brings in TV Japan, so I can watch the full day every day. After the live feed there is a shortened version with English dubbing, but I prefer the whole thing.
I am now, too. Glad I didn't read your earlier post till now so I got to enjoy the surprise ending.
It was a very exciting final day. Some random thoughts in no particular order:
I'm almost always rooting for the "little guy", although in Sumo that usually means someone in the 250-290 pound range. Sub-250 pound guys like Enho and Takanoyama can only survive in the makuuchi ranks for so long. I think Wakatakakage is at that sweet spot where he can maintain agility but also has enough mass and power to go toe to toe with the big boys.I enjoy watching the smaller rikishi like Ura, Ishiura and Enho. However, they don’t tend to do very well in basho, proving that size does matter!Wakatakakage was really enjoyable to watch in action!
Though I wonder how much higher Wakatakakage will be able to go. I think to move to ozeki, you need to be a little bigger than him.
There were a surprising number of matches in this tournament where the "little guy" won. Their superior agility is evident, but there were a few times when the much smaller wrestler stood up against the other guy's charge and out powered him, winning with a front push out, driving him out of the ring. Maybe their shorter legs helped them be better rooted to the ground or allowed them to attack on a lower line against the opponent's center of gravity. In any event, it was quite impressive.
I've noticed for the last couple of tournaments that Kotoeko has been consistently outpowering a lot of guys who outweigh him by 100 pounds. I think he's just solid muscle, as opposed to some of the heavier rikishi who have a higher body fat percentage. I think Wakatakakage is also exceptionally strong for his size.
Kotoeko is who I had in mind... he's strong as an ox, but has trouble winning more than 8 or 9 matches per tournament. Well enough to stay in the upper division, but does he ever advance out of the middle of the pack? Wakatakakage is a little bigger, and has had more success. Is he sekiwake or komosubi? Either way, as a smaller person no matter how skilled, does he make it to ozeki? I'm curious. I mean, he's about 280lbs, but on a 5'9" frame, how much bigger can he get?
Yes…big deltoids. But Ishiura has really muscular arms and yet loses most of his bouts, unfortunately.
Anyone remember Mainoumi?I enjoy watching the smaller rikishi like Ura, Ishiura and Enho. However, they don’t tend to do very well in basho, proving that size does matter!
