ryafuji

Yes I remember the discussions both here and on Wikipedia about it. Japanese Wikipedia still has him deceased as of 16th January 2013 though I don't know how reliable their source is.

Swami only mentioned makuuchi, so it's 9 out of 38. (Actually 10 out of 38 because Hoo is deceased as well, though the database does not show it.) Expanded to juryo, it's 16 out of 66.

Wouldn't be this one, would it? Ah, the much missed Mark Buckton.

Ozeki aren't held to the same standard as Yokozuna. An ex-ozeki is allowed to continue in makuuchi (or even lower these days) for as long as he wants.

I think he would be, yes. Kitanofuji moved from Dewanoumi to Kokonoe when he was ozeki but that was three years before his promotion to yokozuna.

If I had another perfectly good job lined up until 65 that didn't involve me wrecking my body every day I wouldn't mind much, no.

Giku reminds me of Takanonami who stuck around for a few years as an ex-ozeki doing his one trick (kimedashi in his case, gabburi in Giku's) to ever diminishing returns. I don't think he has long left on the evidence of this basho.

Not surprised that would be Aminishiki's opinion - he did that himself a fair few times in his career.

I forgot about the Takanohana-related defection to Nihonoseki. But as yohcun points out, it is a break-off of Izutsu so could quite easily absorb its parent. See also Hanaregoma/Shibatayama.

He would need to get Japanese citizenship first. My guess is Shikoroyama will absorb the heya, perhaps switching to the Izutsu name to keep the history.

This is very sad news. Watching sumo coverage on Channel 4 as a kid in the late 80s, Sakahoko was probably my favourite wrestler. He was at his peak then, the "perennial sekiwake" they used to call him as he emulated his father Tsurugamine's sekiwake rank but could never mount an ozeki challenge. He was always exciting to watch with his trademark moro-zashi grip very effective.

And zero fusenpai...

A comedy of errors from Tamajiro. First he trips up Takakeisho and then in the next bout he's trying so hard to keep away from the rikishi he trips over the straw bales. Not a good day at the office for him.

For the record, Yoshikaze is now Nakamura Oyakata. I wonder if he or Takekaze are in line to take over Oguruma as he only has three years until retirement.

How did Tamajiro know who had won? Did Inosuke tell him? Not looking good for Tochinoshin. Can't really call him unlucky today as it was a clear error from the gyoji. And what happened to Kakuryu - he seemed to be in complete control in the early stages. Lapse of concentration?