ryafuji

I’m sure it’s the pressure of who he’s facing. Against anyone else Tochiozan would have just marched him straight out. Instead it’s “Oh my god I’m about to beat Hakuho I’d better not screw it up” and that hesitation allowed Hakuho the extra second or two to pull off the last ditch kotenage. (Also of course very few rikishi other than Hakuho would have been able to do the throw.)

Not sure why the gyoji interfered in Goeido's match. When did it become unacceptable to put one hand down first and then bring the other down? It wasn't like his fist was over the line, which I have rikishi called up on. It arguably put Goeido off.

At least he doesn't scandalously use his left hand like Asashoryu did.

OK thanks. I just looked it up and Kinta's 0-0 stat was correct, so either I misheard the commentator or he got it wrong.

"Konousuke (0-1)" I always assumed the "past meetings" stats were career meetings but the commentator said Daimami and Toyonoshima had met in juryo so I guess it's makuuchi meeting only?

I don't think so. It seems few rikishi retire after being demoted from ozeki these days, and even when they do it's usually long-standing ones like Kaio. I'm sure he would carry on until he can no longer compete in makuuchi.

No matter how high up he goes Wakanoguchi can always say he fought Ozeki Terunofuji.

That link doesn't give me the full article? I found it here: http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201902190008.html

1. Tomokaze KK 2. Daishoho MK 3. Toyonoshima KK 4. Hoshoryu KK 5. Takakeisho 11-4 6. Yago KK 7. Terutsuyoshi MK 8. Enho MK 9. Daiseido MK 10. Kotokuzan MK 11. Kainoryu KK 12. Kotoryusei MK 13. Dewanojo KK 14. Yamenosato KK 15. Takayasu 12-3 16. Goeido 11-4 17. Hakuyozan MK 18. Takanofuji MK TB 15

I got some pushback in September for saying Hakuho's performances "weren't really zensho-worthy" but that's what I was trying to say back then.

Well he'd smash the record for oldest promotion to ozeki post-1958 if he made it. This is someone who didn't even make sanyaku until 2015. Talk about a late bloomer.

I'm not so sure we'll see him back. To sit out five consecutive tournaments, to drop from maegashira to sandanme, and have to deal with doing that all over again from maybe off the banzuke.... it will take a huge amount of fighting spirit with no guarantee he will ever be fit enough to return to the paid ranks.

Thanks - I was just about to ask if that had ever happened before!

Not to go too off-topic but do you have a quote? They may well let it be known to their oyakata and heya mates who could arrange for flowers to be around the hanamichi. I'm talking about a public announcement to the press. His intai thread says, "Satoyama has announced his intai after his last bout of Kyūshū basho 2018."

I think if you announce you're intending to retire that's it, they won't let you back on the dohyo, as Konishiki discovered to his cost. No such thing as "I will retire at the end of this basho." I'll miss Takekaze. I think the most interesting thing about him was his total avoidance of that obscure kimarite, yori-kiri, as this post from 2016 makes clear.