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The YDC praising everyone from yokozuna to kadoban Ozeki? What has the world come to? I demand my old grumpy YDC back! Terunofuji should be given a last warning for failing to get zensho. For disgracing the ozeki rank with kadoban, Takakeisho should be permanently banned from ever even dreaming about becoming yokozuna. And the sekiwake should be flogged with the gyoji's gunbai simply for good measure and to instill proper hinkaku.

The special rijikai today decided unanimously to promote Kiribayama (now Kirishima II) to ozeki - acceptance phrase: I humbly accept. I will gambarize even more at keiko to bring no shame to the name of ozeki. 謹んでお受けいたします。大関の名を汚さぬよう今まで以上に稽古して頑張ります https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2023/05/31/kiji/20230531s00005000147000c.html#:~:text=相撲

New Ozeki Kirishima!! Breaking news- Kiribayama is assuming the Kirishima name!

I hope Shiden makes Hidenoumi his tsukebito.

Some older pics of pre-Kiribayama on the left o nomad life o a try at judo o from the time in Mongol-zumo o

Myōgiryū acquired the Furiwake kabu, for much less than ¥100M, according to this interview with Ushiomaru's widow: https://www.news-postseven.com/archives/20230530_1873621.html?DETAIL

First timers: Kawazoe, now Kihou Shishi the Ukranian Yuuma Returnees: Shiden (last time got promoted but never had a single bout-got a reprimand from the Kyokai for going gambling and did not even gamble, but got suspended by his Oyakata, causing him to drop back to Makushita..) Chiyonoumi

OK, it's not a rikishi, but we need all the recruits we can get for the Nagoya thread. Oshiogawa-beya has a new gyoji who will step onto the dohyo for the first time in July - Shikimori Kazenosuke (式守 風之助). He was officially unveiled at the heya's senshuraku party, but he could also be seen in the background during the Natsu basho, observing the action at the start of several days with gyoji instructor Kimura Yonosuke.

For me the fact that Takakeisho has even managed to get to a point where he has had two Yokozuna runs is staggering given he is only 5'8" tall in an open weight division, fighting some guys nearly a foot taller than him, and he's exclusively an oshi specialist. He's been Terunofuji's main rival during his second phase (ie return to Ozeki and Yok) despite the fact he's giving up 6 inches and 25 kilos to him. He's done it by piling on way more weight than his frame should carry, and as you say, going beyond what he is physically capable of. I reckon that's why he is never far away from getting injured. It must be hell on his knees. Just watching him climb on and off the dohyo this basho made me wince, and after one bout he looked like he was in so much pain he was about to cry. He is the ultimate overachiever given what nature has given him to work with and I have nothing but admiration for him as a result. I have no doubt all that damage he has done to his body in pursuit of something that should have been beyond a man his size, will make his post-sumo life pretty miserable. Imagine what he could have been if he was only four inches taller?

also adds pressure to a Kiribayama who has to be going through a whirlwind of emotions this past week. I think it's not that bad. Kirishima I arguably peaked at ōzeki quite late in his career, and post-promotion, only had a short period where he was kicking ass and took a yūshō. Since his ōzeki rank was more a case of "made it, phew" rather than storming up the ranks, Kiribayama, having already won one yūshō, is not really under any pressure to live up to anything. IMO it's more an added bonus/reward/accolade for his promotion that he very rightfully deserves. For comparison's sake, we were also discussing the case of Ochiai/Hakuōhō earlier this week. Had he been granted Hakuhō II, now that's pressure.

With the fish:

Hi all, below are the kimarite statistics for all divisions in this basho. What might have been an ipponzeoi win for Urutora ended up as an even rarer omata win for Maniwayama, although I'm not sure he knew much about it at the time. I had to slow down the video clip to get an idea of what happened. Anyway, it's the first omata since 2016 Aki and only the fourth in basho with complete kimarite records for all divisions. Urutora wasn't deterred by that disappointment though - in his next bout against Najima, he was as close as can be to what would likely have been an izori win, but the finish was so close the shimpan ordered a torinaoshi. Najima tried a sotogake, but Urutora countered to win by uchigake. Osakate made its first appearance of the year in this basho, although more important for the winner was his eventual kachi-koshi - if Nishiiwa-oyakata sticks to his usual plan, shin-Sandanme Wakatanaka should be getting his first shikona on the next banzuke. Of the two zubuneri here, that from Ura on Day 12 was the most notable. It was the first in the Makuuchi division for just over 25 years, and only the sixth in the six-basho-per-year era. Kimarite from kettei-sen bouts are not included in the statistics. (Temporary note for @Doitsuyama, these are currently not in the database) Kimarite Makuuchi Juryo Makushita Sandanme Jonidan Jonokuchi Total Percentage Abisetaoshi 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0.04% Amiuchi 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0.04% Ashitori 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0.04% Chongake 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Fumidashi 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0.04% Fusen (default) 3 3 1 3 6 0 16 0.68% Gasshohineri 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Hansoku (foul) 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 0.09% Harimanage 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0.04% Hatakikomi 24 23 40 61 61 6 215 9.20% Hikiotoshi 10 5 13 22 19 0 69 2.95% Hikkake 1 0 3 0 1 1 6 0.26% Ipponzeoi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Isamiashi 0 0 0 0 1 2 3 0.13% Izori 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Kainahineri 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0.04% Kakenage 2 0 1 1 0 0 4 0.17% Kakezori 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Katasukashi 6 1 4 5 5 0 21 0.90% Kawazugake 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Kekaeshi 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0.04% Ketaguri 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Kimedashi 5 1 1 3 1 1 12 0.51% Kimetaoshi 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0.04% Kirikaeshi 1 0 1 3 1 2 8 0.34% Komatasukui 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Koshikudake 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Koshinage 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Kotehineri 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Kotenage 5 1 9 14 4 3 36 1.54% Kozumatori 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Kubihineri 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Kubinage 0 0 1 1 2 0 4 0.17% Makiotoshi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Mitokorozeme 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Nichonage 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Nimaigeri 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Okuridashi 7 8 11 20 21 2 69 2.95% Okurigake 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Okurihikiotoshi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Okurinage 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0.04% Okuritaoshi 1 1 1 1 1 0 5 0.21% Okuritsuridashi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Okuritsuriotoshi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Omata 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0.04% Osakate 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0.04% Oshidashi 72 60 93 169 208 29 631 27.00% Oshitaoshi 12 8 8 14 23 8 73 3.12% Sabaori 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Sakatottari 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Shitatedashinage 0 3 3 1 1 0 8 0.34% Shitatehineri 0 0 2 0 1 0 3 0.13% Shitatenage 5 3 4 8 15 0 35 1.50% Shumokuzori 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Sokubiotoshi 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0.04% Sotogake 5 0 2 3 2 0 12 0.51% Sotokomata 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Sotomuso 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Sototasukizori 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Sukuinage 5 1 4 14 14 3 41 1.75% Susoharai 0 0 1 1 1 0 3 0.13% Susotori 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Tasukizori 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Tokkurinage 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Tottari 1 0 1 0 1 0 3 0.13% Tsukaminage 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Tsukidashi 7 5 13 10 12 2 49 2.10% Tsukihiza 0 0 0 2 1 0 3 0.13% Tsukiotoshi 29 15 32 37 35 8 156 6.68% Tsukitaoshi 3 1 5 2 0 0 11 0.47% Tsukite 0 1 0 0 1 1 3 0.13% Tsumatori 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Tsuridashi 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0.04% Tsuriotoshi 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0.04% Tsutaezori 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Uchigake 0 0 2 0 2 0 4 0.17% Uchimuso 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Ushiromotare 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Utchari 1 0 1 1 0 0 3 0.13% Uwatedashinage 2 1 7 7 10 4 31 1.33% Uwatehineri 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 0.09% Uwatenage 11 12 22 29 29 8 111 4.75% Waridashi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Watashikomi 1 1 1 0 0 0 3 0.13% Yaguranage 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Yobimodoshi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Yorikiri 65 40 104 136 190 28 563 24.09% Yoritaoshi 8 8 22 21 29 15 103 4.41% Zubuneri 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 0.09%

I was hoping a heya had got a new cat.

With the family and the familia. Kakuryuu peeks from the back..

Probably a very good outcome for current holder ex-Hochiyama, being in the same heya as Myogiryu and the latter not looking anywhere near finished yet even at age 36. Or if not for Hochiyama, then at least for more accomplished stablemate ex-Sadanofuji who's also borrowing. Another kabu going across ichimon lines, in any case. The article claims that Kokonoe (ex-Chiyotaikai) was also trying unsuccessfully to secure the share for Chiyotairyu (who supposedly wasn't all that interested himself, though), which would have kept it in Takasago-ichimon. And apropos the previous discussions, the article somewhat mysteriously confirms the existence of the 5-year rule to find a successor but claims that bereaved families only get a deadline of "two or three years". Considering we're already at three and a half years since Ushiomaru's untimely death, and that I don't recall any transfer of a family-held kabu that happened this late back when the official rule was still 3 years, I'm not quite inclined to believe that any such shorter deadline is being meaningfully enforced if it exists at all. Of course, "lack of meaningful enforcement" is arguably the name of the game concerning kabu. At any rate, this Shukan Post article hits pretty much all the same notes we played here in recent days: Kyokai articles of incorporation say "no money to obtain a kabu or secure a successor recommendation", the tacitly allowed 指導料 consultancy / guidance fees are really just backdoor payments to facilitate exactly that, Kyokai offers no comment when asked about the apparent discrepancy between rule and practice. The article also still casually refers to Onosho's supposed ownership of the Otowayama share, which runs counter to the previously mentioned fresh rumours by other tabloids that attached efforts to purchase it to Kakuryu and even now-gone Ichinojo. Just as casually it mentions Hokutofuji as the active owner of the Oyama kabu - did I miss something or is that news to us? At least that one does make sense, as the previous owner spent his last few sanyo years attached to Hakkaku-beya. Oyama is currently loaned out to ex-Chiyootori, which again makes me wonder who the heck is owning the Sanoyama share which we'd spent years believing was Chiyootori's, until he retired from the dohyo and it wasn't. It seems unlikely that the owner is anyone attached to Kokonoe-beya considering the apparent interest in obtaining Furiwake...

Of course ranks aren't the be-all-end-all in scheduling, but just putting a sorted list of Bushozan's and Atamifuji's opponents next to each other should make the difference quite apparent: Bushozan: M15e J1e J1w J2e J2w J3w J4e J4w J6e J6w J7e J7w J8w J11e J11w Atamifuji: J1e J1w J4e J6e J6w J7e J7w J8w J9e J9w J10e J11w J12e J12w J13w RankDiff: 5 1 5 8 8 7 7 8 6 6 6 8 7 3 4 Avg: 5.93 It's particularly noticeable in the matches scheduled before records became relevant. Through Day 9 Atamifuji's highest-ranked opponent was Shimazuumi at J6w. He was also Bushozan's lowest-ranked opponent through Day 9. So that's 60% of the basho through which their schedules basically had nothing in common.

Hiya and ho. With all games having their final standings published, it's about time to present to you the results of the Natsu 2023 Masters Series. Here is the direct permalink to the results, and this is the report: For a long time throughout this basho, it looked like a triple-digit performance. In the end, however, Susanoo won the Green Mawashi (his 8th overall) with "only" 73.20 points. The reigning World Champion won the yusho in Ozumo Bingo and in Sekitori Oracle. He also finished near the top in Tippspiel, Paper Oyakata, Sekitori-Toto, Sumo Game, and UDH.Gonzaburow won his second career shukun-sho for getting two yusho (RotoSumo and UDH).The gino-sho goes to TochiYESshin (first sansho ever). The American had excellent performances in pre-basho game (a shared yusho in Salarycap Sumo) as well as daily games (yusho in Sekitori-Toto).The kanto-sho goes to overall runner-up and gaming veteran, the legendary Kintamayama. With five scores among the Top 10 it's his second Fighting Spirit Prize (the first one came in 2010).Congratulations to all the winners! Also updated: the current standings of the World Championship. With half the gaming year already in the bag, three players are in triple-digits. Five-time World Champion Pandaazuma has a relatively small lead over current World Champion Susanoo and four-time World Champion Norizo. Former World Champion Joaoiyama is in 4th place, and almost-reigning almost-World Champion Oskanohana features in 5th place.

So, the 2023 Natsu Basho is in history. I can formally announce the TUG Wnners: Ziggyama won his 2nd Yusho with 215 points. Congratulations! Joaoiyama won the Jun-Yusho with 206 points. Congratulations! Flohru made the podium with 205 points. Congratulations! I want to thank all supporters and fans of TUG, who participated during 2023 Natsu Basho. Hope to see you all during 2023 Nagoya Basho! Newcomers will be very welcome as always! Keep recruiting NEW TUG Gamer!!! Achiyama, TUG Rijicho

Extra:

Tochinoshin Ichinojou Sandanme: Aozora Kirinofuji Jonidan: Suounada Yamana Noguchi Zuikou Jonokuchi: Sogou Banzuke gai: Teraoshou Kotoootomo

Isenoumi was the messenger, with vid o o o ooo oo o o o oooo ooo o o oo

Perhaps the yusho winner should have sounded a teru-ah-nofuji...

These 16th day of basho always suck

Shofar, 賞 good.

Terunofuji said more in his yusho interview than I'm used to hearing from any rikishi; he was quite talkative! How he faced his enforced lay-off after surgery; how he wouldn't have entered if he didn't believe he could win; how he prepared for his bout against Kiribayama as he would against an ozeki; that it's fun facing young rikishi who are getting stronger; and that winning a yusho is very hard! --- @Kotomiyama I'm not a Takakeisho fan, but he's a very successful ozeki with 3 titles. He's done that by pushing his body beyond what it's physically capable of. He's the ultimate ozumo tryhard IMO. And I'll just point it out again: Wakamotoharu led with an elbow to Takakeisho's chin at the tachi-ai (the move Hakuho KO'd Myogiryu with in 2012). A few roundhouse harite in response was ok by me - and I am a Wakamotoharu fan.