Nagoya 2010

So the 2010 Nagoya basho is over, and I was fortunate enough to catch most days on the live stream via the NSK website. Speaking honestly, I found myself enjoying the basho far more than expected, despite the usual mediocre ozeki performances and a number of top division rikishi missing. The final outcome was a resounding zensho-yusho by Hakuho, extending his win streak to 47 (surpassing the great Taiho at 45). This alone is unbeleivably impressive, and it is made even more amazing by the complete dominance exhibited by Hakuho on the dohyo. The best challenge probably came from young Japanese rikishi Kisenosato, who looked to have the yokozuna in a dangerous spot on day 10, but was ultimately felled by a spectacular kakenage throw from Hakuho. While the winning streak is reaching the point where it is holding my interest for all of Hakuho's matches, I still find myself floored by the near perfection which the yokozuna displays atop the dohyo. His size, speed, strength, and technique are all impecible, making him nearly impossible to overcome; plus, his mental composure is always focused and stable, so he does not suffer from breakdowns and hesitancy that we see in rikishi like Kotooshu. One very positive outcome from this winning streak is that it has sparked the will to win in many opponents who would otherwise take a loss to Hakuho for granted (Tokitenku for example), as the other rikishi want their name immortalized as the one who ended the streak (much as former yokozuna Onokuni was remembered for breaking Chiyonofuji's 53 match winning streak). It will be interesting to see who can finally topple this giant and break the chain of wins.

Anyways, my sincere congratulations to Hakuho on his 15th yusho! Other rikishi of note include Aran; the strong but unrefined Russian compiled his second jun-yusho and kanto-sho in a row with an 11-4 record from the M2E slot (winning 10 in a row after day 5), and he will likely make his sanyaku debut at sekiwake in Aki. M13E Homasho shared in the jun-yusho and kanto-sho, posting an 11-4 record of his own but faced far weaker competition than Aran. The third member of the jun-yusho party was M6E Kakuryu (a former sekiwake). For his efforts, he was awarded his 5th gino-sho. Lastly, in juryo, elevator rikishi Masastukasa posted a dominating 13-2 record to win his first juryo yusho and a return to makuuchi next basho.

Finally, former komusubi Kaiho of Hakkaku-beya, one of my all time favorites, had announced his retirement during the basho. It is really a shame to see him go, but he will stay on as a coach at Hakkaku-beya under the Tanigawa name. Let's hope he can pass along his technical skills and fighting spirit to a new generation!