shimodahito

Good Nakabi Day, I'm interested in opinions on the psychological/mental aspects of this fan-less basho: Which rikishi seem to be missing the crowd the most? Some rikishi (Asashoryu was the master) feed off the crowd and without it this basho, their performance/gusto may be down a notch. Enho? Endo? Which rikishi seem to be doing better without the crowd? I would tend to lean towards the most introverted of the group. Kakuryu? Aoiyama? Has the lack of crowd in the front rows taken away the element of precaution that might creep into to the rikishi's psyche/brain during a match? Note the Yutakayama-Daieisho match as an example. I've noticed, there is no worry about crashing into fans. Does the lack of front row fans prevent injuries? Does it allow rikishi to go all out more since the worry of collision or bracing a fall is eliminated? Day-to-day, are the rikishi preparing for bouts differently? Do they take this basho as serious as other bashos? Or might it seem more like a practice or exhibition event? Any other differences in performance in a fan vs non-fan environment?

From the bottom of the banzuke, the TORCH started here: Start of 2020 Rikishi: TAIGA Start-of-2020 Rank: JONOKUCHI 28 EAST I didn’t have much faith with Taiga being the first TORCHBEARER of the year. Although he was once ranked as “high” as Sandanme 86, he 1) had been banzuke-gai TWICE; 2) had not won since Nagoya 2018; 3) since Aki 2018 had a record of 0 wins, 6 losses, and 30 absences. Then Hatsu 2020 started and when day 12 rolled around and Taiga was 0-0-6 and I suspected he may go banzuke-gai again OR intai….coronavirus was not involved. But there he was on Day 13 for our first TORCH match facing last year’s first TORCHBEARER: RIKISHI TAIGA vs HATTORIZAKURA RANK JONOKUCHI 28 EAST vs JONOKUCHI 27 WEST Player(s) up for points: Mutsu’ohideki’s rikishi pick is HATTORIZAKURA a loss = 1 point, but a win = 3 points and an opportunity for more points in the next torch match And Taiga won. So we ended where we started. End-of-Hatsu Rikishi: TAIGA End-of-Hatsu Rank: JONOKUCHI 28 EAST standings: 1 point Mutsu’odeki no points for the 99 others. === === === === === And now the new banzuke is out: Start-of-Haru Rikishi: TAIGA Start-of-Haru Rank: JONOKUCHI 18 WEST === === === === === Some commentary: We have been here before ~ starting Haru still in Jonokuchi…no panic. If a basho is cancelled or suspended midway through, the TORCHBEARER simply keeps the TORCH until their next match when wrestling resumes. In this game, the TORCH does not always reach the paid ranks. The lowest final TORCH position was Makushita 58 East [the tally is 6 Makushita finishes, with 2 years never touching Juryo]. As long as the TORCH is still around in November, there will be a winner. Results change, but the game rules don’t change. IF IF IF and only IF for some reason the TORCHBEARER goes intai before November with the TORCH, there is a backup plan. I’ll post IF IF IF an only IF that ever happens. Good Luck

Good day all, I'm way late on this post, distracted by life stuff and travel. Thanks to everyone who entered. We are up to 100 players: 45 returnee updates, 41 carry-overs, and a big welcome to 14 new players. ...The rikishi picks for TORCHBEARER 2020: For the second straight year, Ura had the most picks. Abi (Ayagawa) Akiseyama (Nantonoyama) Akua (Munjeezy) Asahisho (Fatakiyama) Asagyokusei (Pitinosato) Azumaryu (itchyknee) Chiyonoo (Cydrome) Daiamami (Aled-ap-Tomos & Ganzohnesushi & Jesinofuji) Daiseido (shimodahito) Dewanoryu (kuroimori & Oshirokita & Wamahada) Enho (kedevash & Takanorappa) Fujiazuma (ryafuji) Fukamiyama (Johnofuji) Fukuyama (Yubinaad) Gagamaru (Daughter of Sukubidubidu) Hakuyozan (Pandaazuma) Hattorizakura (Mutsu’ohideki) Hokutenkai (Kintamayama & Saruyama & Unkonoyama) Hokutoryu (teo_heel) Hoshoryu (Akōgyokuseki) Irodori (Domichi) Jokoryu (dingo) Kaisho (Kitanoedo) Kirinofuji (Kintaro) Kirinoryu (Andreas21) Kitanowaka (charliki/Gibuten & Hakuhonofan & Naganoyama) Kotokuzan (Itachi) Kyokutaisei (Sukubidubidu) Masunoyama (Terarno) Midorifuji (Toratorii) Mitozakura (Nekonishiki) Miyakojima (Athenayama) Motobayashi (Achiyama & Amamaniac & Benihana) Murata (Haidouzo & Kaito & Profomisakari & Sakura) Nakazono (ronnie/Gawasukotto) Narutaki (Jason & Shokikogi) Naya (MumboJumbo & Suwihuto) Nishikigi (Jejima) Obayama (Tsukiko) Oisato (Tsubame) Oki (Tsuchinoninjin) Onosho (Hoshihitomi) Roga (Chisaiyama & Houmanumi) Ryuden (Kofuji-ICAN & Umigame) Sadanohikari (Screeching Owl) Sagatsukasa (Bugman) Shiraishi (Rocks/Gansekiiwa) Shonannoumi (Gurowake & Senkoho & Yukiarashi) Taiga (wildcard) Takakeisho (Derek) Tanahashi (Wakatake) Tanakayama (Sagi) Terao (Ajisen & Getayukata) Terunofuji (Fujisan & umbriel2) Tobizaru (Obana) Tochiseiryu (hitotsubushi) Tokisakae (Shatsume) Tokushoryu (Shio-kago) Tomokaze (Akinomaki & Chankomafuji & code_number3 & Mmikasazuma) Tsukahara (chishafuwaku & furanohana) Tsurugisho (Shitamachi) Ura (Andonishiki & ChickyStarr & Churaumi & Kaioshoryu & kotoshikona & orandashoho & Tenshinhan) Wakaichiro (inhashi & Kosimazaki(PhorCillic)) Wakahiroto (Konrad/Konizan) Wakamotoharu (Ryoshishokunin) Wakatakakage (Uinseann) Yago (Taikoubana) Yoshoyama (McBugger) Yutakanami (Yoohoo(Torideyama)) …The rank picks for TORCHBEARER 2019: And for the second straight year, Juryo 11 East had the most picks. Y1E (Mutsu’ohideki) J1E (rhyen & Terarno) J2E (Profomisakari) J2W (Aled ap Tomos & Nekonishiki) J3E (Suwihuto) J3W (inhashi) J4E (Umigame & Kosimazaki(PhorCillic)) J4W (ChickyStarr) J5E (Chankomafuji & Jesinofuji & MumboJumbo) J6W (Chisaiyama & Domichi & Oshirokita & Pitinosato & Shitamachi & Yubinhaad) J7E (Haidouzo & Jejima) J7W (chishafuwaku & Cydrome) J8E (Akōgyokuseki & Kitanoedo & Naganoyama & Obana & Takanorappa) J8W (itchyknee) J9E (Fatakiyama) J9W (Kintamayama & Senkoho & Taikoubana & Yoohoo) J10E (Athenayama & dingo & Houmanumi & Sukubidubidu) J10W (hitotsubushi & Shio-kago) J11E (Amamaniac & Fujisan & furanohana & Ganzohnesushi & Hakuhonofan & Jason & kotoshikona & orandashoho & Munjeezy & Sakura & yorikiried by fate) J11W (Unkonoyama) J12E (code_number3 & Shokikogi) J12W (Churaumi & Holleshoryu & McBugger & Mmikasazuma & Rocks/Gansekiiwa & Saruyama & Tsuchinoninjin & Toratorii) J13E (Achiyama & Andreas21 & Getayukata & Shatsume) J13W (Gurowake & umbriel2) J14E (Benihana & charliki/Gibuten & Yukiarashi) J14W (Kintaro) Ms1E (Kaioshoryu & kuroimori) Ms1W (Wamahada) Ms3E (Daughter of Sukubidubidu) Ms3W (Ronnie/Gawasukotto & Ryoshishokunin & Tenshinhan) Ms4E (Konrad/Konizan) Ms4W (Bugman & ryafuji) Ms5E (Akinomaki) Ms6E (kedevash & Sagi) Ms7E (Ayagawa) Ms7W (Pandaazuma & Taiga) Ms8E (Itachi & Uinseann) Ms9W (Hoshihitomi) Ms10E (Bumpkin) Ms10W (Nantonoyama) Ms11W (Andonishiki) Ms14W (Kaito) Ms16E (Kiritsubaki) Ms20W (Screeching Owl) Ms21E (Tsubame) Ms26E (Tsukiko) Ms28E (Derek) Ms36E (Ajisen) Ms53W (Johnofuji) Ms56E (shimodahito) Ms56W (Wakatake) Sd44E (Kofuji-ICAN) Sd48E (teo_heel) Jk28E (wildcard) If there are any corrections/misspellings or I forgot someone, let me know. Good Luck. Hatsu results coming tomorrow. Thank you! -shimodahito

1.B 2.B 3.B 4.B 5.B 6.B 7.A 8.A 9.A 10.A 11.B 12.A 13.A 14.A 15.B 16.B 17.X 18.B 19.B 20.B 21.A

15. this is a tough one... tokushoryu

14. tokushoryu

14. mitakeumi

13.endo

11. endo

Thanks!!! this is one of the MANY benefits of this forum! Smart fans, curious fans, a great neighborhood to be a part of....

10.daieisho

mitoryu gets an upper division match from J4w... made me wonder who the lowest ranked juryo rikishi to get put into the top torikumi match was?

9. mitakeumi

i want to be stubborn and stick with myogiryu.... but am opting to get on the train... 8. takayasu

7.myogiryu