Yubinhaad

There was one kyujo ahead of Day 7 that I forgot to post: Jd42e Kotonagahama (fusenpai Day 6) And four more rikishi have withdrawn ahead of Day 9: Sd32e Genkaiho - first kyujo of his career after 690 consecutive bouts Jd19e Kenho (fusenpai Day 7) Jd22w Oshozan Jd95w Akiyama

According to the article linked below, Shikimori Inosuke suffered a cerebral infarction shortly after the death of Shobushi in May last year, and at first had difficulty walking. That explains why he was absent from the July basho, and likely why he wasn't taking part in ceremonials like kaobure gonjo at times as well. The absence of Yokozuna since then is also a good thing as it means he hasn't had to take part in dohyo-iri, which involves lengthy sonkyo for the gyoji. https://www.minpo.jp/news/moredetail/2020123082284

After day 7, January 2021, Makuuchi division scores are: (Rikishi have fought 7 bouts except as otherwise stated) Score Rikishi Shikona 7-0 1 Daieisho After day 7, January 2021, Juryo division scores are: (Rikishi have fought 7 bouts except as otherwise stated) Score Rikishi Shikona 7-0 1 Tsurugisho After a visual survey of a database bout query, I believe the last time Makuuchi and Juryo were led (solely) by a pair of 7-0 stablemates was 1975 Hatsu, Kitanoumi and Banryuyama from Mihogaseki-beya. They went on to win the yusho in their respective divisions.

Certainly the first who fought this many. Wakahanada started the 1991 Aki basho with a 5-0 sweep, but of course did not have to fight three sanyaku who were stablemates.

I think you're mixing him up with Murayama, who won both bouts today against Fujiizumi and then Nagata.

Mochizuki has taken the shikona Fujiizumi (富士泉), the last kanji from Nishikido-oyakata (former Sekiwake Mitoizumi). Incidentally, I'm surprised at how sparingly he has bestowed that kanji on his deshi in the 18 years of the heya's existence. Although his Kyokai profile gives him a Chofu, Tokyo shusshin, the press articles giving the shindeshi kensa results said he was from Yamanashi, same prefecture as Otake-beya's Mochizuki - I wonder if they are related.

Lots of action ahead of Day 5, with three rikishi entering or returning to the basho, and five withdrawing. Entering/Returning: Ms38w Ichiki (entry) Jd52w Ogitora (returning - withdrew after an opening day fusenpai) Jk16w Sawanofuji (entry) Withdrawing: Ms51w Tatsukaze (fusenpai Day 4) Sd18e Nabatame Sd48w Kotonoumi Sd72e Ryuki (fusenpai Day 4) Jd56w Kakutaiki Pleased to see that Narutaki not only showed up for his bout today, but also won it.

Now THAT is an ippon!

One rikishi enters and three withdraw ahead of Day 3. Entering: Sd23e Shishi Withdrawing: Sd4w Masunoyama Jd52w Ogitora (fusenpai Day 1) Jk12e Kaihiryu Isenoumi-beya's Narutaki reportedly twisted his right ankle in his bout today and had to be taken away in the wheelchair, but for now at least he stays in the basho. We'll see if he shows up on Day 4. Shikihide-beya reports that banzuke-gai Sawaisamu is set to take part in maezumo tomorrow. At the age of 43 years, 11 months, 5 days he will surpass Hokutoryu's record as the oldest maezumo participant by just over five months. Toyohibiki is kyujo from the basho because he had knee surgery in mid-December. I was pleased to see Hatooka's name not on the kyujo list this basho - he is back in action now after rupturing the patellar tendon in his right knee a year ago, a day after getting kachi-koshi at his highest rank in Makushita. He was serving as a tsukebito to Tokushoryu, who won his famous Makujiri yusho that basho, but Hatooka had to watch it on a tablet from his hospital bed. Now ranked Jonidan 57, he defeated Kakutaiki today to make the first step towards fulfilling the promise he made to his mother, who sadly died in April last year - to become a sekitori and be able to wear an oichomage.

Ms3w Ichiyamamoto

I'll join this one as well, Jk17e Ryuseiyama.

Five rikishi tested positive in the Kyokai-wide (878 people in total) PCR tests administered this week, among them sekitori Chiyoshoma and Chiyootori. Two lower division rikishi from Kokonoe-beya and one from Tomozuna-beya were also positive, and so those two heya join Miyagino and Arashio on the sidelines for this basho. All oyakata from the affected heya are also kyujo from their duties this basho, including Kokonoe, Tomozuna and Tamagaki (from Tomozuna) who serve as shimpan. It looks like Kumegawa (ex-Kotoinazuma), Fujigane (ex-Daizen) and Wakafuji (ex-Otsukasa) are the replacements, at least for the start of the basho. Because of the numbers involved I decided to list the four enforced kyujo heya separately, and have included the gyoji and tokoyama who are also absent in those lists. Firstly, these are the "regular" (i.e, non-pandemic related) absentees: Yokozuna Kakuryu Ms10w Yuma Ms16e Abi Ms31w Toyohibiki Ms38w Ichiki Sd8e Tsuyukusa Sd9e Sadanoryu Sd23e Shishi Sd31w Joyuriki Sd36w Kamitani Sd73w Kagamio Sd75w Tomisakae Sd76w Mifuneyama Sd84w Kaishinmaru Sd95w Tomokaze Sd98w Inoue Jd5w Oisato Jd20e Kotokantetsu Jd29e Ishizaka Jd30e Onoyama Jd38e Etsunohana Jd39w Yutakanami Jd80w Hisanotora Jd85w Shori Jd91w Kotootomo Jk2e Kokuryunami Jk16w Sawanofuji Jk22w Takano Jk23w Tamanowaka Jk24e Andozakura Jk24w Kirinoryu Jk26w Onofuji Arashio-beya: M2w Wakatakakage J5e Wakamotoharu Ms3e Kotokuzan Ms21w Wakatakamoto Sd40w Hidano Sd44e Kanryu Sd74w Tsunekawa Jd51w Watatani Jd82w Tanji Jd95e Hirose Gyoji: Shikimori Kazuki Tokoyama: Tokojin, Tokomitsu Miyagino-beya: Yokozuna Hakuho J1e Ishiura J3e Enho Ms9e Hokaho Ms15w Hokuseiho Sd14e Onokura Sd60e Tokimaru Sd74e Kenyu Sd99w Chura Jd3w Senho Jd4w Ishii Jd5e Toma Jd16e Kiryu Jd31e Umizaru Jd35e Kurokage Jd102w Takemaru Gyoji: Shikimori Seisuke Tokoyama: Tokoshun Kokonoe-beya: M9e Chiyonokuni M11e Chiyotairyu M13w Chiyoshoma J2e Chiyomaru J2w Chiyonoo J5w Chiyootori J11e Chiyonoumi Ms10e Chiyoarashi Ms16w Chiyosakae Ms44e Chiyonokatsu Ms46e Chiyodaigo Sd10w Chiyoraizan Sd24e Chiyooga Sd55e Chiyotenfu Sd66w Chiyotora Sd85w Chiyotaiho Sd86w Chiyohokkai Jd41w Chiyotaiyo Jd51e Chiyotaiko Jd65w Chiyoresshi Jd74e Chiyotsurugi Jd79w Chiyoyamato Jd81e Chiyosenshi Jd89e Chiyokozan Jd89w Chiyooume Jd93w Chiyotaisei Jk19e Chiyotensho Gyoji: Kimura Ryunosuke Tokoyama: Tokotake, Tokokyu Tomozuna-beya: M16e Kaisei J4w Kyokushuho J7e Kyokutaisei Ms35e Kainoryu Ms42w Asahisho Ms50e Kaiho Sd20e Kasugaryu Sd21e Kainishiki Jd1e Kyokuhozan Jd57e Kyokutenryo Jd71w Kainowaka Jd107e Asahimaru Gyoji: Shikimori Tomokazu, Shikimori Tomotaro Tokoyama: Tokoyuki Separately, Minato-beya Makuuchi gyoji Kimura Motoki had his own encounter with COVID and is also kyujo.

2nd place, 57 points, one short of the winner. FWIW, I haven't had any trouble accessing the site at all and it's definitely up as I write this.

Former Maegashira Hochiyama has today switched from the Kimigahama myoseki (owned by Okinoumi) and is now borrowing the Furiwake myoseki, which in theory should still belong to the estate of the former Azumazeki-oyakata (ex-Ushiomaru).

No less than five changes to the top ten ranks after this difficult edition. Asashosakari and Gurowake drop out after being fixtures in green for 18 consecutive basho - the latter even drops all the way out from the top rank. Chishafuwaku also goes down after a seven-basho stint, along with Gooner who was there for six, and Kobashi after a single basho. Replacing them are three returnees and, for the first time in just over four years, two newcomers. The comebacks are all former holders of the #1 rank - Seki Haruaki returns after a one-basho gap, Chiyonosawa after five basho, and Tenshinhan after six basho. Seki Haruaki is now tied with Flohru for 10th place on the list of most basho in the top ten, having spent a total of 24 basho in green. The two new entrants are Unkonoyama and Asterix, the 109th and 110th players to make their top ten debut and the first duo since Andonishiki and Gurowake in 2016 Kyushu. For the second basho in a row the yusho winner has double-digit hits - Oskanohana's tally of 12 in fact ties the long-standing record for most hits in a winning guess, set by Maguroyama in 2003 Aki and equalled by Kotoseiya in 2004 Nagoya. Also for the second basho in a row we have a new #1, Sakura taking over as the 21st holder of the top rank. Kaiomitsuki's run of 95 consecutive basho comes to an end as he was kyujo this time. He is now tied for most participations with Leonishiki, who reached the same milestone last basho but sat this one out. Merry Christmas everyone