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Hoshoryu isn't the only new yokozuna for Haru

In a few years sumo might have its own version of NFL Network, with live streaming of basho, documentaries, historical footage AOD, studio debate shows etc all in English. Some major players in global media are eyeing Japan's national sport with a view to making all that a reality

I take the point that young men doing dumb things while drunk is unsurprising. But I take issue with the idea that "this will remain very normal as long as there are young men and alcohol." That’s just another way of saying "boys will be boys"—and, respectfully, to hell with that. The only way this kind of behaviour remains normal is if people excuse it as such instead of calling it out for what it is: at best, ridiculously stupid and inappropriate; at worst, morally bankrupt and outright evil. A young person drinking and being too loud? Sure. Getting a bit emotional? Fine. Even roughhousing a little while mucking about? Maybe. But there’s a line—and I can say without hesitation that the sake bottle crossed it.

Asanoyama has lodged a formal complaint to the authorities regarding the two birthdays on the calendar of a forum. "The fact that he doesn't see it doesn't mean it doesn't exist, and it has caused a lot of bother to me and people at the club, to which I apologize.." he said, as his lawyer handed me a summons.

I recently obtained a copy of the 1939 Baseball World Supplement, 相撲四十八手 Sumo's Forty Eight Techniques with illustrations by ukiyo-e artist 鮨崎英朋 Hirazaki Eihō. I have included the illustrations in a web page: http://tommycrouch.com/sumo/48te/_48 te.htm just one illustration

Just because something is "normal" doesn't mean it should be tolerated. Slavery was "normal" throughout most of human history. Now it's not.

This particular dumb shit is (potentially) rape.

https://www.sumo.or.jp/EnHonbashoBanzuke/index/ Makuuchi Hoshoryu (O1w 12-3 Y) Y - Onosato (O2w 10-5) O Kotozakura (O1e 5-10) Daieisho (S1w 11-4) S Oho (M3w 12-3 D) Kirishima (M1w 11-4) K Abi (K1e 7-8) Wakatakakage (K1w 7-8) M1 Wakamotoharu (S1e 6-9) Gonoyama (M3e 8-7) M2 Chiyoshoma (M5w 9-6) Tobizaru (M2e 7-8) M3 Takanosho (M1e 6-9) Takayasu (M6e 8-7) M4 Ichiyamamoto (M6w 8-7) Ura (M4w 7-8) M5 Kinbozan (M14w 12-3 D) Hiradoumi (M5e 7-8) M6 Takerufuji (M11w 10-5) Shodai (M4e 6-9) M7 Tamawashi (M10e 9-6) Atamifuji (M2w 5-10) M8 Oshoma (M9w 8-7) Hakuoho (M15e 10-5) M9 Endo (M7e 6-9) Nishikigi (M12e 8-7) M10 Shonannoumi (M13e 8-7) Midorifuji (M11e 7-8) M11 Meisei (M10w 6-9) Takarafuji (M8w 5-10) M12 Onokatsu (M12w 7-8) Nishikifuji (M17e 9-6) M13 Shishi (J4w 13-2 Y) Ryuden (J3e 11-4) M14 Churanoumi (M9e 4-11) Aonishiki (J5w 12-3) M15 Sadanoumi (J1e 9-6) Asakoryu (J2w 9-6) M16 Kotoshoho (M13w 5-10) Mitakeumi (M7w 2-13) M17 Shirokuma (J4e 9-6) Tokihayate (M17w 7-8) M18 - Simple style full banzuke:

Takayasu appeared on the YouTube channel "Toyonoshima's Sumo-chan SUMO" hosted by ex-Toyonoshima (41). When asked about his memories of his senior, former Yokozuna Kisenosato (current Nishonoseki Oyakata), Takayasu expressed his gratitude, saying, "There are so many memories. Kisenosato really took care of me. We were both from Ibaraki, so he really loved me. He took me out to eat almost every day, and I ate a lot. I was able to gain weight thanks to Kisenosato." Takayasu also shared a memorable episode with Kisenosato. "When I won the makushita yusho and was then promoted to Juryo, he took me out that evening to dinner again. As we were leaving after the meal, there happened to be a passport photo machine. I don't know what he was thinking, but Kisenosato said, 'Yasu (Takayasu), let's take a commemorative photo!' and I was like, 'What, with this?!'...It's not a "fun picture taking" booth, it's a passport photo machine booth.. It's small, isn't it? So Kise sat on the chair in the middle. I popped my head in from the side like Hyokkorihan (a Japanese comic who sometimes pops into pictures..) and we took a photo together," he revealed. The video

Hello everyone! Some of you guys might know me already from other sumo spaces online, but I wanted to do a proper introduction here. I'm Russ, and I first remember discovering sumo partway through 2022. I had seen the VICE video featuring the late Byamba, and it piqued my interest. I would spend my bus rides to school browsing posts about sumo, and I caught a few matches here and there. Finally, in 2023 I watched my first full basho, and the rest is history! I'm also an artist, and sumo instantly became one of the main subjects of my art. It's one of my favourite things to draw now! I've been lurking on here for some time and only just figured out how to make an account(lol) but I'm excited to start participating here. I'll see you all on the forum!

Five rikishi change their shikona on this banzuke. A run of four consecutive kachi-koshi has taken Kotosato into mid-Makushita, and now he gets his first shikona along with a given name change, Kototaiko Kazuaki. Hanaregoma-beya's Wakakinsho changes his shikona to Dogo, the second kanji there can be translated as a roar or booming sound. Way of Boom? Not bad for a shikona. Over in Otowayama-beya, Takeuchi's first shikona is Sanukiryu, derived from the old Sanuki province which is now Kagawa, his home prefecture. Oshima-beya's Kyokushozan is now Kyokuhayate, he also changes the given name. Finally, Asahiyama-beya's Okuniyama changes the middle kanji of his shikona to the more complex version. He did the same thing a few years ago when he was Okuniasahi. Ms37e Kotosato Nobuyuki > Kototaiko Kazuaki (琴泰広　一顯, ことたいこう　かずあき) Sd39w Wakakinsho > Dogo (道轟, どうごう) Jd65e Takeuchi > Sanukiryu (讃岐竜, さぬきりゅう) Jd83e Kyokushozan Tsukasa > Kyokuhayate Rinto (旭疾風　凜仁, きょくはやて　りんと) Jd97e Okuniyama (大国山 > 大國山) Three other rikishi alter their shikona first names only. The Yoshida brothers from Takasago-beya are now gods of wind and thunder. Less dramatically, Tokunomusashi merely changes the middle kanji of his name. Sd2e Tokunomusashi Ryutaro (龍大郎 > 龍太郎) Sd31w Asakiryu Ryu > Fujin (風神, ふうじん) Jd16e Asasorai Raiki > Raijin (雷神, らいじん)

Haru 2025 starting lineup: O1e Onosato: 11 KK, 109-40, 2x M yusho M15e Aonishiki: 8 KK, 60-12, Jd, Jk yusho J14w Kusano: 5 KK, 24-11 Ms1w Ishizaki: 4 KK, 22-6 Ms4w Mita: 3 KK, 17-4 Ms11w Okaryu: 5 KK, 26-9 Ms13w Inami: 6 KK, 31-11 Ms32w Noda: 5 KK, 27-8 Ms52e Shimizuumi: 4 KK, 22-6, Jk, Jd yusho Sd6e Goseizan: 3 KK, 18-1-2 Sd29e Furuta: 3 KK, 16-5

Complete list of sign-ups, entrants in red without any information in the thread yet (happy googling!): Hashimoto Yamato (15) 橋本 大和 Dewanoumi Yamanobe Chikara (15) 山野邊 力 Dewanoumi Fukuzaki Maaru (18) 福崎 真逢輝 Fujishima MsTd Goshima Masaharu (22) 五島 雅治 Fujishima MsTd Soma Shunta (15) 相馬 駿太 Futagoyama Umeyama Sotaro (18) 梅山 颯大郎 Futagoyama Osanai Kaimu (18) 小山内 快夢 Hanaregoma Fukada Shinpei (15) 深田 新平 Ikazuchi Hashimoto Tatsuyuki (16) 橋本 辰幸 Ikazuchi Kadomura Issa (19) 門村 一茶 Isegahama Sato Ryoun (15) 佐藤 凌雲 Isegahama Yasuda Shoma (15) 安田 翔馬 Isegahama Terui Ryusei (18) 照井 隆世 Minato Hasegawa Keiji (20) 長谷川 恵司 Nishiiwa Jin Teppei (18) 神 哲平 Nishiiwa Matsunaga Sera (15) 松永 愛羅 Nishiiwa Futagawa Kosen (15) 二川 孔宣 Nishikido Sumiyoshi Yuma (15) 住吉 侑真 Nishonoseki Uchima Haruma (15) 内間 悠天 Nishonoseki Sawazaki Ko (14*) 澤﨑 鴻 Onoe Ginya Koki (15) 銀谷 皇輝 Oshiogawa Ishii Oshi (18) 石井 凰獅 Oshiogawa Kumai Ao (18) 熊井 碧 Oshiogawa Yokose Haruto (17*) 横瀬 陽翔 Oshiogawa Imada Kosei (24) 今田 光星 Otowayama Yamagishi Aoi (18) 山岸 蒼生 Otowayama Terao Shota (15) 寺尾 翔太 Sadogatake Matsuda Ten (19) 松田 天 Sakaigawa Takasu Aoi (15) 髙巢 葵 Tagonoura Yamauchi Toshihiro (15) 山内 敏博 Tagonoura Hirai Seiya (15) 平井 成耶 Takasago Kyoda Rikimaru (22*) 京田 力丸 Takasago Kido Taiga (18) 城戸 大河 Tamanoi Teranishi Ren (15) 寺西 蓮 Tamanoi (* = next birthday upcoming in March)

34 applied for the shindeshi-kensa on Saturday, 7 more than last year, which had the worst number so far. http://www.daily.co.jp/general/2025/02/27/0018696228.shtml

The point is that foreign fans don't have many good options to watch sumo and only sumo, and the rightsholders seem very keen on not giving them any options. If there's an option to pay for that includes only sumo and it's in English, that will make people not want to try to get around the rightsholders. The best way to prevent most piracy is to simply make an accessible and affordable option.

Banzuke trivia: The total number of rikishi for Haru Basho is 588, up one from Hatsu Basho. There are 45 heyas. So who is the number one by stable and place of origin? Isegahama, whose number of rikishi doubled with the transfer of rikishi from Miyagino before the last May tournament, maintains the top position with 35 rikishi, just like in the Hatsu Basho. In second place is Takasago stable with 24. In third place are Oitekaze and Kokonoe, both with 21 . In fifth place is Kise with 20 and like in the previous tournament, these five stables have more than 20 rikishi. In sixth place is Takadagawa with 19, and tied for seventh place are Sakaigawa, Tamanoi , and Nishonoseki stables with 18 rikishi. Tied for 10th place are Dewanoumi and Tokitsukaze with 17 rikishi rounding out the top 10. Isegahama also has the most sekitori with seven. Even though Yokozuna Terunofuji has retired, there are still six makuuchi rikishi from Isegahama, the largest number among heyas. Former student Yokozuna Kusano has been promoted to Juryo, so the number of Isegahama sekitori remains unchanged from the previous basho. In second place is Kise beya with six. In third place are Oitekaze and Takadagawa with five each. There are 11 heya without a sekitori. Nishikido and Kataonami have the fewest wrestlers with four each. Nishikido has added one rikishi since the previous tournament. Nishikido beya has Mitoryuu in Juryo , and Kataonami has Tamawashi in makuuchi and Tamashouhou, who dropped to Juryo, so they have a high "sekitori occupancy rate." There are 15 heyas with single-digit rikishi, the same as in the previous tournament. In recent years, there have been no significant changes in the rankings based on the population ratio of each prefecture. Tokyo is the only prefecture of the 47 with more than 50 rikishi, and leads the way with 51. This is one less wrestler since last Basho, but Tokyo still dominates. Saitama, which has Sekiwake Daieishou and Komusubi Abi, and Osaka, where the Haru Basho is held, are tied for second place with 29 rikishi. The number of rikishi in both these prefectures has not changed since the last tournament. In fourth place is Aichi, which hosts the Nagoya Basho, with 28 rikishi. In fifth place is Kanagawa with 27 rikishi. Chiba and Hyogo are tied for sixth place with 25 rikishi each. In eighth place is Kumamoto with 21 rikishi, and in ninth place are Fukuoka and Shizuoka, which host the Kyushu Basho, as well as Mongolia, the home of new Yokozuna Houshouryuu and others, with 20 rikishi. In terms of countries of origin, Mongolia leads the way with 20 rikishi, followed by Ukraine with two. The United States, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, and the Philippines each have one wrestler. Of these, Ukraine (Shishi and Aonishiki), Kazakhstan (Kinbouzan), Russia (Rouga), and China (Daiseizan) are all sekitori. With Hawaii-born Hikarumusashi debuting in Jonokuchi, we have an American rikishi on the banzuke after many years.. The 19-year-old belongs to Musashigawa beya, and is the nephew of former Yokozuna Musashimaru (current Musashigawa Oyakata).

I don’t intend to kink shame, but my perception of those who eagerly rushed to endorse these kinds of activities may have changed.

The coach on the right is the famous (in amasumo) Yoshiki Fuse - who reached high levels in high school and college sumo with just one arm. Terunofuji named him as one of his inspirations.

In this case, it is pretty damned clear that there is an assault and a coerced victim. We have a situation where the higher rankers are committing "power harassment" on a junior colleague. The relative power differential is very high - and the ability to "just say no" is very reduced - likely to zero. Couple this with drinking being involved - which impairs judgement of the victim ("she was drunk" will not get anyone off of a rape charge!). In fact, I would think that there is enough evidence just in those photos and storyline to pursue criminal charges (at least civilly in the US) for sexual violence. The math above clearly points to abuse - abuse that has been covered up for two years (which is another scandal on its own). We will likely see the powers that be - the same ones who have been claiming "health and safety" are paramount for the past few years - sweep this under the rug as fast as possible. The victim is likely gone, paid off with some small sum to stay quiet. The perpetrators should be finished. The boss may get a relatively small slap on the wrist (IMO) and the scandal clock reset for a few more weeks. Unfortunately, we shall all see each other again soon - under a different forum topic - with a new scandal.

For 2025 only as yet: I have added Japanese to the headline rikishi/urakata names. The Romanised version of the rikishi name links to the rikishi's English-language page at Sumo DB as before. The Japanese version links to the rikishi's Japanese-language page. This is also true for former rikishi names of oyakata/wakaimonogashira/sewanin. Other years, debut, intai and special category pages to follow.

The article also mentioned drinking by an underage tokoyama, so that's another big red flag. Isegahama's going to have like 100 rikishi and three in-training oyakata at this rate.

The first basho related task for the new yokozuna, the dohyo-iri at the Sumiyoshi-taisha before the Haru basho (Kyushu also has a Sumiyoshi one, but just simple jinja shrine, not the grand taisha, Nagoya the Atsuta shrine) - with the now proper attendants, Hiradoumi and Meisei with shrine visit and tsuna-shime for the sacred tree ooo o oo o oo o o o o

Would you say the same thing if Takaseido were replaced with a drunk woman? This is sexual violence and I hope you do not consider sexual violence to be "normal behaviour".

The same sort of "extend and pretend" for stables with violence scandals. They all try the "cover it up and pretend nothing happened" method - until the evidence comes out. We know there was an investigation into Ōnosato and drinking with not-yet-of age disciples - let's see if during this investigation they lied about other drinking events at the stable. Takaseidō would have been 20 by Kyushu 2022 - so above the legal limit in Japan at the time of the incident. The Kyokai has come down hard on those that lied about incidents - harder than those that merely covered them up. Nishonoseki could be in big, big trouble if they denied other incidents during the Ōnosato discussions with the Kyokai. Now we can add sexually violent hazing to the underage drinking at the heya. Will there be voices saying that Nishonoseki Oyakata needs additional training on how to be a good stable master? Will his stable be taken away for an indeterminant time? He is on the shinpan duties - will he be demoted in the hierarchy and lose those responsibilities? Where was Nakamura Oyakata during this - It is his current man - Tomokaze - that was the senior person present during these events. Will he get punished too? Tomokaze? Kirinryū? Gone? There is almost a natural experiment here - two recently retired Yokozuna who have their own "new" stables and now have violence within. Will punishments be similar? Or will we see some clear favoritism emerge? While there was theft and violence at Miyagino, it was not sexual violence. Let's see... will the judges/juries be fair. The cover up at Miyagino did not last as long. This is over 2-years of a cover-up at Nishonoseki...