Asashosakari

Can guys with exceptional physical talents be very good at multiple sports in many cases? Sure. Can they be world-class at multiple sports, to the point that they could make a good living off either of them? That's a whole different kettle of fish, in my opinion. I think people tend to underestimate just how specialized your skill set needs to be to truly excel at a given professional sport. Of course, the flipside of that is that there are probably a lot of athletes out there who didn't quite make it at their chosen sport, but they would have had the chance of a world-class career in some other sport and they just never knew it. (Particularly if the alternative sport is something a little bit obscure like...sumo.)

I'm guessing part of the reason Sponichi is using the must-have-graduated baseline is that it's about a longevity record, and turning pro two years early allowed Miyabiyama extra opportunities to amass tournaments.

Some earlier arm-wrestly stuff about ex-Hokutoriki on the forum:

Not the single most, the joint most. Miyabiyama also has 82 makuuchi basho. Pertinent part of Sponichi's stats claims highlighted. Miyabiyama left school early.

...thread merge, please?

The Kyushu Joho sumo club blog posted the detailed results of their team competition (start here and click forward to the other updates): 3-2 vs. Ritsumeikan 3-2 vs. Kinki 4-1 vs. Asahi 4-1 vs. Kanazawa Gakuin 4-1 vs. Doshisha Their results by rikishi: Ohara 5-0 Hashimoto 5-0 Kinoshita 3-2 Umezaki 3-2 Imoto 0-3 / Yamanaka 2-0 Yamanaka substituted for Imoto after the third match.

This already took place in Sakai, Osaka a week before the East Japan counterpart, but apparently there's no publicly available official set of results at all, let alone the comprehensive data that was made available for the other one. So, limited to what Mainichi wrote up: Div. 2 Team competition - final: Kwansei Gakuin 3-2 Aichi Gakuin Div. 1 Team competition - roundrobin tournament of 6 universities 1. Kyushu Joho 5-0 2. Kinki 4-1 3. Doshisha 3-2 4. Ritsumeikan 2-3 5. Kanazawa Gakuin 1-4 6. Asahi 0-5 Third title for Kyushu Joho and their first in 7 years. Last year's surprise champion Kanazawa has come back down to Earth after losing their standout talent Nakamura (now Enho) to the pro ranks. Div. 2 Individual competition - final: Taiji (?, Tokai Gakuen) tsukiotoshi Sakaida (Aichi Gakuin) Div. 1 Individual competition Quarterfinals Nakai (Kinki) oshidashi Turtogtokh (??, Doshisha) Motobayashi (Kinki) oshidashi Yamashita (Kinki) Watanabe (Kinki) tsukidashi Takahashi (Doshisha) Hashimoto (Kyushu Joho) tsukiotoshi Tanioka (Kinki) Semifinals Motobayashi yorikiri Nakai Watanabe tsukiotoshi Hashimoto Final Watanabe uwatenage Motobayashi

Tier 4: Iwasaki didn't (ahem) monkey around this time and secured his juryo debut in his third opportunity, doing it in style with 6 wins, although he did miss out on the makushita yusho against ultra-veteran Oiwato somewhat surprisingly. Long-time prospect Daiseido, who has been in the third division ever since Haru 2012, had another of his periodic strong tournaments and has now gone KK in 6 of his last 7 basho (albeit after dropping way down first), but he has teased breakouts multiple times before and at this point I'm rather wary of declaring that this is the time he's finally going to make it. He's set to get the opportunity though with the second top 5 appearance of his career, following Hatsu 2015. In other news, Kotodaigo and Chiyonoumi had halfway notable 4-3 scores as both continue to work their way back to the heights they had reached a couple of years ago, pre-injuries. The rest of the Natsu results fell into the "the less said, the better" category here. Heisei Hopefuls for Natsu 2017 - Tier 4: Last Chance Saloon - Ms15+ Age 25 and under Rikishi Heya DOB Debut HiRk 2016.07 2016.09 2016.11 2017.01 2017.03 2017.05 Iwasaki Oitekaze 1992/04/24 (60) 2015.01 Ms2 Ms10w 4-3 Ms7w 5-2 Ms3e 2-5 Ms10e 6-1 Ms3e 4-3 Ms2w 6-1 Daiseido Kise 1992/12/30 (56) 2011.05 Ms3 Ms36e 4-3 Ms28e 4-3 Ms22e 5-2 Ms11w 3-4 Ms18e 5-2 Ms11e 6-1 Irodori Shikoroyama 1992/03/10 (62) 2007.03 Ms8 Ms17w 4-3 Ms14w 5-2 Ms8e 3-4 Ms12e 3-4 Ms18w 5-2 Ms12w 2-5 Sasakiyama Kise 1991/06/12 (65) 2010.01 Ms13 Ms42w 4-3 Ms34e 3-4 Ms45w 4-3 Ms36e 4-3 Ms31e 6-1 Ms13e 1-6 Tochimaru Kasugano 1992/08/26 (58) 2011.05 Ms3 Ms18e 5-2 Ms9w 5-2 Ms4w 4-3 Ms3w 3-4 Ms7e 2-5 Ms16e 2-5 Kotodaigo Sadogatake 1993/01/14 (54) 2011.05 Ms8 Ms28e 2-5 Ms48w 2-5 Sd10w 6-1 Ms34e 5-2 Ms21w 4-3 Ms16w 4-3 Chiyonoumi Kokonoe 1993/01/11 (55) 2015.05 Ms13 Sd33w 0-0-7 Sd94e 6-1 Sd36e 5-2 Sd7e 6-1 Ms32e 4-3 Ms26w 4-3 Shiba Kise 1991/12/24 (64) 2014.03 Ms3 Ms28w 6-1 Ms11e 4-3 Ms8w 5-2 Ms5e 3-4 Ms8w 1-6 Ms28e 5-2 Akinohana Takadagawa 1992/11/30 (57) 2008.03 Ms6 Ms11e 3-4 Ms16e 4-3 Ms10w 1-6 Ms31w 3-4 Ms43w 4-3 Ms37e 4-3 Wakatakamoto Arashio 1991/12/29 (63) 2009.11 Ms11 Ms14w 4-3 Ms11w 1-2-4 Ms30w 0-0-7 Sd10w 5-2 Ms48e 4-3 Ms39e 3-4 Ayanoumi Yamahibiki 1992/03/23 (61) 2007.03 Ms14 Ms51w 4-3 Ms44w 3-4 Ms55e 5-2 Ms37e 4-3 Ms33w 1-6 Sd5w 4-3 Wakayama Onomatsu 1992/04/26 (59) 2011.07 Ms15 Jd91w 0-0-7 Jk25e 0-0-7 Mz 3-0 Jk16w 6-1 Y Jd32e 7-0 Y Sd32e 4-3 With his 26th birthday the end of the prospect road has come for Sasakiyama, a former top high schooler who impressed with a quick early rise to makushita, but never quite caught on afterwards and has spent the majority of his time in the lower half of the division. He originally made his debut back in Hatsu 2010 alongside high school circuit rival Masunoumi who was highly touted at the time as well, but didn't make it either and already retired a year and a half ago (still arguably with more upside than Sasakiyama demonstrated before or since). No newcomers for Nagoya here except the pair coming down from Tier 3.

Tier 3: A bit of a three-class society here, with mostly good results by those ranked in the makushita top 15 or way down in sandanme, and a plethora of makekoshi in between. Nobody was ranked in the immediate promotion zone so there wasn't any big excitement about possible promotions, but our two top-ranked Masunosho and Hakuyozan have done enough to get the opportunity next time now. Kizaki and Takemasa extended their KK streaks (from debut) yet again and are getting close as well. Tsurubayashi, who was already ranked at Ms12 three years ago and looked like a major prospect at the time, but has bounced all around makushita since then, is also moving up into the single-digit ranks for the first time following his 5th consecutive KK. Perhaps he's breaking out after all? Meanwhile, Hatooka's debut streak was snapped in mid-makushita, not an overly auspicious sign for his future sekitori chances. A big crop of four rikishi made their makushita debuts, but only one turned in a kachikoshi record. The MKs for the regular newcomers Tsushimanada and Itadaki didn't come unexpected, but tsukedashi Mitoryu's less than stunning career start certainly caught many observers by surprise, even if it's far from easy to just step in against Ms15-level competition. The worst part was arguably that the 3-4 record was completely deserved given the unimpressive nature of his sumo. Still, it was just the first basho and it's conceivable that his old knee issues had flared up again, so more data will be needed to properly assess the two-time amateur major winner. Fellow tsukedashi starter Yago fared better and concluded his basho with 5 wins, although I for one wasn't that impressed either - he looked more like the next Tokushoryu-level rikishi to me, not the next Mitakeumi/Shodai/Hokutofuji. He's got sheer size on his side though, so I'd be very surprised if he doesn't make it to makuuchi within the next few years. I'm less optimistic about what he'll do once he's there. Heisei Hopefuls for Natsu 2017 - Tier 3: Still Worth Watching - Age 23 and under Rikishi Heya DOB Debut HiRk 2016.07 2016.09 2016.11 2017.01 2017.03 2017.05 Masunosho Chiganoura 1994/11/14 (25) 2010.03 Ms6 Ms17e 4-3 Ms13w 5-2 Ms6e 2-5 Ms15e 5-2 Ms8e 4-3 Ms6w 4-3 Hakuyozan Takadagawa 1995/04/13 (21) 2011.05 Ms1 Ms9w 2-5 Ms27e 4-3 Ms20w 4-3 Ms14e 4-3 Ms11w 5-2 Ms7w 5-2 Kizaki Kise 1993/05/06 (53) 2016.03 Ms9 Jd38e 7-0 Y Sd39w 7-0 Y Ms26e 4-3 Ms21e 5-2 Ms13w 5-2 Ms9e 4-3 Wakamotoharu Arashio 1993/10/05 (44) 2011.11 Ms5 Ms22w 4-3 Ms16w 4-3 Ms12w 4-3 Ms8e 4-3 Ms5w 3-4 Ms9w 3-4 Takemasa Onomatsu 1993/10/22 (43) 2016.03 Ms10 Jd59w 6-1 Sd92e 6-1 Sd33w 4-3 Sd16w 7-0 Y Ms13e 4-3 Ms10w 4-3 Tsurubayashi Kise 1993/12/31 (41) 2009.03 Ms12 Ms29w 3-4 Ms39w 5-2 Ms28e 5-2 Ms18e 4-3 Ms14w 4-3 Ms12e 5-2 Mitoryu Nishikido 1994/04/25 (35) 2017.05 Ms15 Ms15TD 3-4 Yago Oguruma 1994/07/08 (31) 2017.05 Ms15 Ms15TD 5-2 Tamaki Takasago 1993/05/29 (52) 2016.01 Ms10 Sd19e 6-1 Ms41e 6-1 Ms17e 4-3 Ms10w 3-4 Ms15e 3-4 Ms20w 3-4 Ichiki Tamanoi 1993/11/13 (42) 2016.01 Ms16 Sd69e 6-1 Sd14e 5-2 Ms53w 6-1 Ms24w 5-2 Ms16w 3-4 Ms23w 2-5 Hatooka Kise 1994/02/23 (39) 2016.03 Ms30 Jd34w 6-1 Sd70w 6-1 Sd15e 5-2 Ms50w 5-2 Ms36e 4-3 Ms30e 3-4 Tochinobori Kasugano 1993/09/01 (46) 2009.03 Ms12 Ms24e 2-5 Ms41w 4-3 Ms31w 4-3 Ms26e 4-3 Ms22e 3-4 Ms31e 0-2-5 Asahiryu Asahiyama 1995/04/22 (20) 2016.05 Ms23 Jk23e 6-1 Jd45e 6-1 Sd79w 7-0 D Ms51e 6-1 Ms23e 3-4 Ms31w 4-3 Kaiseio Asakayama 1995/01/28 (22) 2013.03 Ms18 Ms24w 4-3 Ms18w 2-5 Ms31e 0-7 Sd6w 5-2 Ms46w 5-2 Ms35w 2-5 Kotokuzan Arashio 1994/03/11 (38) 2009.09 Ms28 Sd19w 4-3 Sd9e 6-1 Ms34w 4-3 Ms28w 2-5 Ms50e 5-2 Ms37w 2-5 Tsushimanada Sakaigawa 1993/06/27 (49) 2016.05 Ms42 Mz 3-0 Jk26e 6-1 Jd45w 6-1 Sd78e 6-1 Sd21e 6-1 Ms42w 3-4 Hokutokawa Hakkaku 1994/08/15 (29) 2013.03 Ms39 Sd13w 4-3 Sd5e 3-4 Sd19w 5-2 Ms55e 5-2 Ms39e 3-4 Ms46w 5-2 Kotohayato Sadogatake 1994/04/18 (36) 2010.03 Ms48 Sd24e 4-3 Sd11w 4-3 Ms60w 3-4 Sd12w 3-4 Sd31w 6-1 Ms48w 3-4 Musashikuni Musashigawa 1994/12/17 (23) 2013.07 Ms26 Ms54w 6-1 Ms26e 2-5 Ms43w 2-5 Ms59w 5-2 Ms41w 3-4 Ms53e 2-5 Ikegawa Hakkaku 1993/06/02 (51) 2016.03 Ms41 Jd10e 7-0 D Sd19w 6-1 Ms41w 0-0-7 Sd21e 6-1 Ms42e 3-4 Ms53w 5-2 Itadaki Isenoumi 1994/09/05 (28) 2010.03 Ms56 Sd50w 3-2-2 Sd64w 4-3 Sd46e 4-3 Sd29w 4-3 Sd16w 5-2 Ms56w 2-5 Aomihama Dewanoumi 1994/10/27 (27) 2010.03 Ms49 Sd47e 4-3 Sd31e 3-4 Sd50w 3-4 Sd61e 6-1 Sd7e 4-3 Ms57e 2-5 Nishiyama Onoe 1994/04/27 (34) 2010.03 Ms22 Sd1e 3-4 Sd14w 5-2 Ms54e 3-4 Sd2e 3-4 Sd17w 4-3 Ms60w 4-3 Rikito Tokitsukaze 1993/09/21 (45) 2011.09 Ms19 Ms33e 5-2 Ms19e 2-5 Ms32e 3-4 Ms38w 4-3 Ms34w 2-5 Sd1e 6-1 Aonosho Dewanoumi 1993/06/03 (50) 2009.03 Ms29 Ms32w 2-5 Ms54e 4-3 Ms45e 3-4 Ms52w 5-2 Ms37e 2-5 Sd2w 3-4 Hokutoshu Hakkaku 1994/01/14 (40) 2012.03 Ms50 Sd14e 3-4 Sd31w 5-2 Sd5w 4-3 Ms55w 2-5 Sd16e 4-3 Sd4w 4-3 Chiyonokatsu Kokonoe 1994/04/13 (37) 2013.03 Ms57 Sd2w 2-5 Sd28e 3-4 Sd48e 6-1 Ms57e 2-5 Sd22w 4-3 Sd8w 2-5 Tochiseiryu Kasugano 1995/04/26 (19) 2014.03 Ms33 Ms33w 2-5 Ms54w 4-3 Ms47e 2-5 Sd4w 3-4 Sd24w 4-3 Sd11e 6-1 Fukamiyama Onoe 1994/11/12 (26) 2010.03 Ms47 Ms52w 3-4 Sd4e 5-2 Ms49e 3-4 Ms56w 4-3 Ms47e 2-5 Sd12e 4-3 Kaizen Asakayama 1993/07/29 (48) 2016.01 Ms57 Sd96w 6-1 Sd36w 2-5 Sd62e 6-1 Sd8e 4-3 Ms57e 3-4 Sd12w 4-3 Yutakasho Sakaigawa 1994/11/19 (24) 2013.03 Ms55 Sd4w 3-4 Sd20w 0-0-7 Sd81e 6-1 Sd23w 4-3 Sd12w 3-4 Sd32w 6-1 Shinohara Onomatsu 1993/08/21 (47) 2012.01 Ms28 Ms41e 3-4 Ms53e 2-5 Sd16e 3-4 Sd30e 5-2 Sd6e 2-5 Sd34e 5-2 Kotonoshu Sadogatake 1994/07/01 (32) 2010.03 Ms53 Sd41e 5-2 Sd16w 3-4 Sd31e 4-3 Sd14w 4-3 Sd4e 1-5-1 Sd40w 5-2 Kirinofuji Michinoku 1994/07/28 (30) 2011.01 Ms52 Sd26e 5-2 Sd1w 2-5 Sd24e 5-2 Ms59e 3-4 Sd14w 2-5 Sd44e 5-2 Baraki Shikihide 1994/05/10 (33) 2013.01 Ms58 Sd49w 3-4 Sd63e 4-3 Sd44e 4-3 Sd25e 3-4 Sd45e 3-4 Sd65w 3-4 Time for some big cleanup, largely affecting recent collegiate entrants. Kizaki and Tamaki have done enough to warrant another two years in Tier 4, although the shine has already come off the latter with his recent three MK's. Tsushimanada and Ikegawa will be departing as they've fallen short of the Ms15 qualifying mark so far. I suspect Ikegawa will eventually make it and rejoin in Tier 4 for a bit (and could well become sekitori - he's got the physique), while small-sized Tsushimanada has an uphill battle. Last not least we're also saying goodbye to Aonosho who made his makushita debut all the way back in 2012 at age 18 (!), but hasn't progressed at all in the last three years. Given the trajectory it's hard to assess him with future sekitori potential now. In addition, we've got incoming: Rikishi Heya DOB Debut HiRk 2016.07 2016.09 2016.11 2017.01 2017.03 2017.05 Murata Takasago 1994/08/08 2017.03 Sd39 Sd100Td 6-1 Sd39e 7-0 D Wakatakakage Arashio 1994/12/06 2017.03 Sd63 Sd100Td 5-2 Sd63w 7-0 Y Nothing too surprising so far given that basically all upper-tier university competitors are at least good enough to reach makushita with ease, but their upcoming high-ish entry into the division - around Ms30 for Murata, Ms40 for Wakatakakage - should make sure that Nagoya basho will already provide the first credible test of their abilities. I'll save myself the usual further comments; if you're reading this thread, you've very likely watched their bouts already yourself anyway, and beyond that there really isn't that much to talk about yet.

Tier 2: Big basho for Kiribayama! Everybody was all aflutter about big Mitoryu's professional debut last month, but the lanky youngster had a turn in the makushita yusho race and eventually finished with 6 wins to stake his claim as the current Mongolian top prospect despite the arrival of a university champion. Once again this section wasn't hurting for strong performances altogether, with 11 KK among the 15 members and three more 6-1 records. Perhaps the most impressive of them was posted by Nakazono, who already went 6-1 near his career-best position in March as well. The makushita debutants Ohata and Midorifuji scored 4-3's, though both had to wait until their final bout to secure it. On the flipside, last basho's fluky sandanme yusho winner Tamakongo had an even tougher time than most fluky 7-0 guys do, and went entirely winless. Heisei Hopefuls for Natsu 2017 - Tier 2: Promising Youngsters - Age 21 and under Rikishi Heya DOB Debut HiRk 2016.07 2016.09 2016.11 2017.01 2017.03 2017.05 Kiribayama Michinoku 1996/04/24 (12) 2015.05 Ms12 Ms30e 0-0-7 Sd11e 6-1 Ms35e 5-2 Ms20e 5-2 Ms12w 3-4 Ms18e 6-1 Kotaro Fujishima 1995/12/06 (15) 2014.01 Ms14 Ms19w 3-4 Ms28w 4-3 Ms23e 3-4 Ms29e 4-3 Ms25w 4-3 Ms19w 4-3 Kaito Asakayama 1996/06/19 (8) 2012.05 Ms20 Sd22e 5-2 Ms58e 6-1 Ms27w 4-3 Ms22e 3-4 Ms32w 5-2 Ms20e 2-5 Takayoshitoshi Takanohana 1997/05/13 (4) 2013.03 Ms11 Ms53w 6-1 Ms24w 2-5 Ms39e 4-3 Ms30w 6-1 Ms11e 2-5 Ms25e 4-3 Tamakongo Kataonami 1995/09/19 (18) 2014.03 Ms25 Sd12e 3-4 Sd27e 3-4 Sd46w 5-2 Sd16e 3-4 Sd35w 7-0 Y Ms25w 0-7 Nakazono Nishonoseki 1996/05/18 (11) 2012.03 Ms29 Ms60e 3-4 Sd12e 2-5 Sd40e 5-2 Sd13e 4-3 Sd2w 6-1 Ms29e 6-1 Gokushindo Nishikido 1996/06/06 (10) 2012.03 Ms28 Sd8e 4-3 Ms57w 4-3 Ms51e 3-4 Ms58w 3-4 Sd13w 6-1 Ms38e 6-1 Hamayutaka Tokitsukaze 1995/11/17 (16) 2011.05 Ms40 Sd5w 3-4 Sd22w 5-2 Ms59w 3-4 Sd11w 5-2 Ms48w 4-3 Ms40w 6-1 Ohata Tokitsukaze 1996/10/24 (6) 2014.11 Ms49 Sd34w 3-4 Sd52w 4-3 Sd34w 3-4 Sd48e 4-3 Sd32w 6-1 Ms49w 4-3 Oki Shikoroyama 1996/06/12 (9) 2013.07 Ms42 Ms42e 1-6 Sd7w 2-5 Sd32e 6-1 Ms49e 4-3 Ms42w 3-4 Ms54w 4-3 Midorifuji Isegahama 1996/08/30 (7) 2016.09 Ms57 Mz 3-0 Jk21w 7-0 D Jd10w 7-0 D Sd19w 5-2 Ms57w 4-3 Takakento Takanohana 1996/02/10 (13) 2014.01 Ms26 Ms55e 4-3 Ms46w 4-3 Ms36e 2-5 Ms52e 3-4 Sd8e 4-3 Ms59e 5-2 Honda Nishikido 1997/03/11 (5) 2012.03 Ms52 Sd40w 3-4 Sd57w 5-2 Sd28e 5-2 Sd3e 4-3 Ms52w 2-5 Sd17w 5-2 Shuji Kise 1995/10/24 (17) 2014.03 Ms54 Jk15w 7-0 Y Jd12e 7-0 Y Sd20w 2-5 Sd41w 6-1 Ms54w 1-5-1 Sd23e 3-4 Onojo Takadagawa 1996/01/31 (14) 2011.05 Ms60 Sd12w 3-4 Sd28w 4-3 Sd14w 4-3 Sd3w 0-7 Sd53w 5-2 Sd27e 3-4 Nobody out and nobody in for Nagoya basho.

Natsu results... Tier 1: Things look to be a bit slow-going here as expected and the next youngest sekitori could still be a ways off this time. Kotokamatani started off hot with three wins, but only finished with the minimum KK in the end - which was still a lot better than our other two youngsters did, who will both be regrouping in sandanme in July. Heisei Hopefuls for Natsu 2017 - Tier 1: Top Talents - current yardstick: Takagenji (1997/05/13, debut 2013.03, shin-juryo 2017.05) Rikishi Heya DOB Debut HiRk 2016.07 2016.09 2016.11 2017.01 2017.03 2017.05 Kotokamatani Sadogatake 1997/11/19 (3) 2015.11 Ms43 Sd24w 5-2 Ms59w 5-2 Ms43e 3-4 Ms50e 3-4 Sd3w 5-2 Ms46e 4-3 Shonannoumi Takadagawa 1998/04/08 (2) 2014.03 Ms40 Sd18e 4-3 Sd8w 4-3 Ms59e 4-3 Ms48w 4-3 Ms40e 3-4 Ms48e 1-6 Yokuyusei Shibatayama 1998/09/10 (1) 2014.03 Ms58 Jd4e 5-2 Sd68e 3-4 Sd78w 5-2 Sd44w 5-2 Sd21w 5-2 Ms58e 2-5 This section will slowly be expanding again as more young prospects reach makushita, and starting things off is... Rikishi Heya DOB Debut HiRk 2016.07 2016.09 2016.11 2017.01 2017.03 2017.05 Kirinoryu Michinoku 1997/06/13 2013.03 Sd12 Sd55e 3-4 Sd71w 4-3 Sd51w 4-3 Sd31w 3-4 Sd50e 5-2 Sd24e 5-2 I try to keep half an eye on promising rikishi in sandanme and below, but Kirinoryu has snuck up on me a bit. He did make waves early on, reaching sandanme only a year after his debut and still aged 16, but had a rude 1-6 awakening there and then failed to complete half of his next 6 tournaments. He has had an up and down career in the two years since, but steady results in the most recent handful of basho have pushed him up from the lower sandanme ranks to an upcoming makushita debut, in time for his 20th birthday. There's not much video of his efforts thus far, and from what little that's out there it seems that his preferred style is straight forward-moving sumo, mawashi grip optional, leading to a somewhat odd kimarite profile that's heavy on both oshidashi and yorikiri. In addition there's a smattering of throwing techniques on his tally, but very few pulldowns. I think that could play fairly well in lower makushita, but in the long run he'll need to develop a lot both in technique and physique - IMHO he's not the kind of eye-popping prospect that already has all the tools and just needs to harness them. He does look pretty big in the handful of videos, but according to the Kyokai's updated stats he's basically still the same weight he was on his debut four years ago (129 -> 133 kg).

And closed with 75 entries. I'll go ahead and put up my entry for discussion / ridicule: Hakuho (Y2w 15-0 Y) Y1 Harumafuji (Y2e 11-4) Kisenosato (Y1e 6-5-4) Y2 Kakuryu (Y1w 1-4-10) Terunofuji (Oe 12-3) O1 Goeido (Ow 9-6) Takayasu (S1w 11-4) O2 --- Tamawashi (S1e 10-5) S Mitakeumi (Ke 8-7) Yoshikaze (Kw 8-7) K Kotoshogiku (S2e 7-8) Shodai (M5w 10-5) M1 Takakeisho (M7w 11-4) Tochinoshin (M10e 12-3) M2 Hokutofuji (M7e 10-5) Ikioi (M6w 9-6) M3 Ura (M10w 11-4) Endo (M1w 6-9) M4 Kagayaki (M9w 9-6) Ichinojo (M9e 8-7) M5 Tochiozan (M4e 6-9) Chiyoshoma (M2w 5-10) M6 Onosho (M14e 10-5) Daieisho (M3e 4-11) M7 Aoiyama (M3w 4-11) Okinoumi (M2e 3-12) M8 Chiyonokuni (M1e 2-13) Takanoiwa (M5e 5-7-3) M9 Ishiura (M11w 8-7) Tokushoryu (M12e 8-7) M10 Chiyotairyu (M14w 9-6) Shohozan (M8e 6-9) M11 Daishomaru (M13w 8-7) Arawashi (M11e 7-8) M12 Takekaze (M6e 4-11) Takarafuji (M4w 3-12) M13 Sokokurai (M8w 5-10) Sadanoumi (J1e 9-6) M14 Chiyomaru (J2e 9-6) Nishikigi (J4e 10-5 Y) M15 Kotoyuki (M12w 6-9) Gagamaru (J3e 9-6) M16 --- The "super-lenient to joi makekoshi" approach, basically. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Chiyonokuni goes to M11 or something, though...

Sometimes I hate Seki-Quad's volatile scores...the Natsu results: First 17 players on the banzuke (O - M5e): 7.4 wins average Last 15 players on the banzuke (J8w - end): 6.8 wins average 34 players in between (M5w - J8e): 6.1 wins average Overall average: 6.6 wins, so +1 for everybody would make sense - but it kills the joi and still doesn't help in the middle section (11 KK, 23 MK)...

Haru 1997: Y1e Takanohana 1972/08/12 K1w Kyokushuzan 1973/03/08 M4w Tochiazuma 1976/11/09 Ms24w Dewanofuji 1976/12/04 [career high: J9] Ms27w Otakayama 1977/07/10 [Towanoyama, M13] Ms47w Suginoyama 1978/02/16 [Ms20] Sd4w Minami 1979/05/23 [Toyonokuni, J13] Sd45w Yaezakura 1979/07/29 [Ms10] Sd83w Tamatsurugi 1979/09/26 [Ms43] Jd19w Kyokushoten 1979/11/26 [Ms46] Jd36w Takaminato 1980/06/02 [Sd72] Jd60e Sadanoshima 1980/10/10 [Ms38] Jd72w Hokuhikari 1980/11/01 [Sd43] Jd77e Asaobata 1981/01/16 [Ms39] Jd81e Kubota 1981/02/18 [Ms28] Jd165w Yamaryu 1981/03/15 [Sd35] Oops, that's pretty bad. I accidentally grabbed the Hatsu 1997 data first, and that list also had Wakatoba (future M11) in there in lower makushita, which made the hit rate slightly better. Would be interesting to know if that's just a particularly bad snapshot or if that type of list always looked like that back when nearly all rikishi started as 15-year-olds, because that would imply that early success in jonidan and low sandanme is basically meaningless as a predictor with those young kids. (Though as mentioned earlier, this approach is inherently limited in sumo anyway because the ranking only changes six times a year.)

Couldn't help it...the "younger than above" list from 10 years ago, specifically Haru 2007 to avoid having that year's new crop of recruits in there: Y1e Asashoryu 1980/09/27 O1w Hakuho 1985/03/11 M1e Kisenosato 1986/07/03 M14e Tochiozan 1987/03/09 Ms2e Wakanoho 1988/07/08 Sd38e Sonoda 1989/01/21 [Mugendai] Sd49e Mankajo 1990/02/10 Sd86e Takayasu 1990/02/28 Sd100w Ryuden 1990/11/10 Jd84e Kotowatanabe 1991/01/06 [Kotokensei] Jd102e Tamadaito 1991/01/29 Jk9e Kotookuda 1991/03/31 [Kotokobai] Very much a mixed bag, as any attempt to identify prospects in Ozumo is probably doomed to be. Takayasu is on the list as Andreas mentioned. Ryuden was the top middle schooler from the 2006 class and opened up a big gap there, although it has turned out that 2006 wasn't a strong year for 15-year-old debutants anyway - besides him, just Nishikigi (Haru debut), Chiyonokuni (Natsu) and Masunoyama (Nagoya) ended up reaching the sekitori ranks, none of whom have had that great of a career so far, and Kotokobai is the only other one who can realistically still get to juryo now (though it's getting late for him at age 26). Kotokobai is a bit of a odd duck anyway, due to his birthday - two days younger and he'd have been part of the 2007 class, not 2006. As for the others who were already into their careers: Mugendai just stopped progressing in mid-makushita, and Mankajo is probably the cautionary tale about overrating kids whose talents consist of being very big and not much else. And Wakanoho...well.