Yubinhaad

As mentioned elsewhere, J2w Kitanowaka is the only sekitori absent from the start of this basho. The lower division absentees are as follows: Ms3e Shimazuumi Ms5e Bushozan Ms8e Kotokenryu Ms14e Tsushimanada Ms29e Nihonyanagi Sd16w Tatsuosho Sd26w Takanoryu Sd40w Mineyaiba Sd47e Gonowaka Sd51w Taiga Sd79w Shinhakuho Jd3e Kawabuchi Jd17e Tappa Jd23w Inaba Jd28e Nakashima Jd37e Kyoda Jd45w Sonoshun Jd51e Tamatensho Jd57w Satsumasho Jd70e Kikuchi Jd76e Fujihara Jd80e Kazuma Jd85e Jokoki Jd91e Kumanohana Jk1e Kaizen Jk1w Daibasho Jk8w Goseiryu Jk11w Nishikimaru Jk19e Sadanojo Jk19w Higohikari

Oops, I saw his last bout on 9-9 and somehow superimposed that on the 7-9 acquisition date. Same, but I'm not holding my breath. Three years ago they reported movements "Based on articles 1,2,3 (etc) of the rules", but I don't think that's been done since. I wonder if it's changes to the rules and regulations laid down by the government or particular ministry that affects the way the reports have to be written? I haven't seen anything about Myogiryu and Furiwake. There are some nameless entries in the reports that don't tally with anything in Tamanaogijima's change log as far as I can tell, but that just leaves us with guesses and assumptions.

Our 37 survivors collected a total of 118 wins and 158 losses in this basho, with 11 kachi-koshi and 26 make-koshi (inclusive of Higohikari's one-bout late entry). There were two particularly outstanding performances. Tamawashi recorded double-digit wins for the first time since 2022 Aki (his second yusho), and is the first 40+ rikishi to do so since Kyokutenho in 2014 Kyushu. It was also his third consecutive kachi-koshi. Meanwhile in Jonidan, Hienriki made a 6-0 start for the second time in his career, sadly this time he couldn't win the last bout to match his Sandanme yusho from 2014 Nagoya, but it's still a great result. It looks like Takarafuji is in that stage of his career where a double-digit Maegashira rank is the best he can hope for, although after this 3-12 disaster it might take a while for him to even return there. Day 5 saw a bout between the youngest active Showa-born rikishi (Hirose) and the oldest active Heisei-born rikishi (Tsubakifuji). Not their first meeting overall, but Hirose didn't become the youngest Showa-born until the retirement of Chiyotairyu a couple of years back. On the same day, 195.4cm Yoshiazuma took on 166cm Fujinonami, not quite the shortest rikishi of all but still quite a difference. Day 6 saw a bout between fellow survivors Azumanami and Amamidake, who happen to share the same date of birth, November 29th 1984. Kaorufuji - 900th career bout, Day 11. Hirose - 300th career win, Day 3. Full results for 2025 Haru in banzuke order:

FWIW @Tamanaogijima, per the Kyokai's latest business report, July 9th 2024 is listed as the change of ownership date for Takakeisho-Minatogawa, and Shimanoumi-Izutsu. 令和６年７月９日 貴景勝（本名：佐藤貴信）による年寄名跡湊川の継承承認の件 志摩ノ海（本名：福薗航洋）による年寄名跡井筒の継承承認の件 Makes sense for Takakeisho anyway, that was the day of his final bout (fusen the next day, actual intai ten days later). Maybe, he is still attached to the crisis management department as a sanyo. But is a 67-year-old really going to move into a heya for that? Anyway, it occurs to me that apart for Hitoshi, all of Oitekaze's current or former sekitori are kabu eligible, aren't they? Endo already has one, but Daieisho, Tsurugisho, Tobizaru, Daiamami, Daishomaru, Daishoho if he obtains citizenship... that's a lot of seats needed if even some of them want to be around the Kyokai table in the future, so maybe the collection of sanyo is preparing for that.

All names, ranks and heya correct as of the 2016 Hatsu banzuke. Tate and Sanyaku yobidashi. Makuuchi yobidashi. Juryo yobidashi. Makushita & Sandanme yobidashi. Jonidan & Jonokuchi yobidashi.

Ranks, names and heya correct as of the 2023 Hatsu banzuke. Tate and Sanyaku gyoji. Makuuchi gyoji. Juryo gyoji Makushita & Sandanme gyoji Jonidan & Jonokuchi gyoji

Just noticed also that Sendagawa-oyakata (ex-Tokushoryu) has moved from Kise-beya to Nishikido-beya.

A few pictures from Kawabuchi's danpatsu-shiki, which took place at Shikoroyama-beya's senshuraku party. Three shots from Chiyohokkai's danpatsu-shiki. Goshimaru was greeted by some of his heya mates in the hanamichi following his final bout, and then announced his retirement to the supporters at the senshuraku party. Musashigawa-beya says his danpatsu-shiki will take place back at the heya in Tokyo in the near future. Saidaiji joined what was then Irumagawa-beya after graduating from Okayama University of Science High School. He served as tsukebito to Shishi, and when he was still learning Japanese he would act as an interpreter of sorts, translating questions from the media into simpler terms that Shishi could understand. He plans to return home to Okayama prefecture to learn about agriculture, in order to help his mother who is a grape farmer there. His danpatsu-shiki was apparently livestreamed on the Ikazuchi-beya Instagram.

Restoring some pride to the -shoryu bunch, congratulations to Oshoryu who by my count is the 8th rikishi to win a yusho in each of the four lower divisions. Satonofuji's kimarite glory days are long gone, his last kakenage was over four years ago. He's been fighting in a way that avoids any risk of getting injured for a while now, which is fair enough for a man soon to turn 48 and who was needed for yumitori-shiki and tsuna duty until this year. I reckon he's just marking time until Isegahama retires.

Gokishin had to be stretchered away after his last bout of the basho, in which he was hatakikomi'd and faceplanted the dohyo hard. I've read that he was later transported to hospital via ambulance.

It was announced earlier that the kimarite in Kirishima's Day 13 win has been corrected, from uwatenage to shitatenage. The Kyokai site already shows this, but I don't know if Sumo Reference would automatically catch it so I thought it best to mention it.

I've written about some inherited costumes (also here) and gunbai as and when I learn about them.

For the final round of lower division action, one rikishi makes a swift return while three others make a late start. Entering/Returning: Ms46e Fujiazuma (withdrew Day 11) - seems to have been a minor calf problem that caused his brief absence from the basho. Jd57w Satsumasho - reportedly (one of) the tsukebito suffering under Tobizaru, hopefully not entering for one last bout before quitting. Jk11w Nishikimaru Jk19w Higohikari Nishikimaru and Higohikari meet each other tomorrow, the bout will keep them on the banzuke for the Natsu basho. Assuming they aren't retiring, the following rikishi will drop off the banzuke: Jk1e Kaizen (4th consecutive kyujo) Jk1w Daibasho (2nd consecutive kyujo) Jk8w Goseiryu (3rd consecutive kyujo)

Oldest first-time kinboshi winners: Takekaze 35 years, 1 month, 0 days 2014 Nagoya, Day 9 Harumafuji Orochigata 34 years, 9 months, 23 days 1954 Haru, Day 10 Kagamisato Oshio 34 years, 9 months, 2 days 1935 Natsu, Day 3 Tamanishiki Shionishiki 34 years, 7 months, 10 days 1959 Natsu, Day 3 Asashio Matsunosato 34 years, 1 month, 16 days 1944 Haru, Day 6 Futabayama Hishuzan 33 years, 8 months, 23 days 1940 Natsu, Day 10 Futabayama Chiyoshoma 33 years, 7 months, 21 days 2025 Haru, Day 5 Hoshoryu Kuganishiki 33 years, 5 months, 26 days 1946 Aki, Day 5 Terukuni Sokokurai 33 years, 2 months, 5 days 2017 Haru, Day 3 Harumafuji Kasagiyama 33 years, 0 months, 10 days 1944 Haru, Day 9 Haguroyama Dropping out of the top ten: Asahigawa 32 years, 5 months, 7 days 1938 Haru, Day 13 Minanogawa

Probably not. But provided he stays healthy, I have no doubt he'll set a new benchmark.

Ahead of Day 11, two rikishi return to the basho while three more have to withdraw. Returning: Sd33e Fukutsuumi (fusenpai Day 4, withdrew Day 5) Sd65e Sanukiryu (fusenpai Day 4, withdrew Day 5) Withdrawing: Ms46e Fujiazuma Sd54e Raiho (fusenpai Day 10) Jk17w Uchiumi (fusenpai Day 10) - Musashigawa-beya reports poor health.

Yes, mizu-iri only applies to sekitori bouts, where the bout is halted for a short break, then the rikishi are put back in place and start from there. In the lower divisions they simply go straight to a ni-ban-go torinaoshi a couple of bouts later, doing the whole thing again from scratch. Fine effort from Osanai, who joined the basho late as he was recovering from a right leg injury. This was the third time he's fought a ni-ban-go torinaoshi.

Good defence by the eventual winners of these bouts, particularly the second one who might try ballet once he hangs up his mawashi.

In the lower divisions ahead of Day 9, two rikishi enter the basho but one has to withdraw with a leg injury. Entering/Returning: Ms19w Osanai (fusenpai Day 2, withdrew Day 3) Jk19e Sadanojo Withdrawing: Jd53e Kenho - His right leg seemed to collapse beneath him in his loss today, he left in the wheelchair. Not good, that is a lot of weight to go through one knee, if it was the knee that gave way.

Two in, two out ahead of Day 5, with a couple of late starters and another pair of withdrawals. Entering: Ms14e Tsushimanada Jd23w Inaba - Onomatsu-beya gives the generic poor health (体調不良) as the cause of his initial absence from the basho. Withdrawing: Sd33e Fukutsuumi (fusenpai Day 4) Jd65e Sanukiryu (fusenpai Day 4) Oh, I had already forgotten twice to mention that Jonidan gyoji Shikimori Komei had been kyujo from the start, but I've remembered just in time to announce that he joins the basho from Day 5.

Yamanobe looks so youthful that I can't shake the idea that he took a wrong turn at a wanpaku sumo competition and ended up on the ozumo dohyo by mistake. Can't fault the effort or skills though. Have the wakaimonogashira running maezumo been told to smarten up while they're on camera? It's slightly strange to see them in suit jackets outside of the senshuraku ceremonials. And they're back in their regular Kyokai work jackets when they return to the arena minutes later. Terao is indeed shown as Kototerao on his heya profile page. Good spot, and not far away. So far I can only find two greater age differences, for Katozakura (now Gokishin) in 2020 Haru. He was 9 years, 8 months, 24 days older than Haruku, and 9 years, 7 months, 6 days older than Ezura.

In the lower divisions ahead of Day 3, one rikishi begins his basho but two others are withdrawing. Entering: Jd51e Tamatensho Withdrawing: Ms19w Osanai (fusenpai Day 2) Jd86w Okuniiwa (fusenpai Day 2) Cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (頚椎症性神経根症), degeneration of the bones and/or disks in the neck, requiring one month of rest and treatment. Isegahama says return possible. Arashio-beya reports a medial collateral ligament injury for Sonoshun. The heya also announces that Taiga has retired, they had tried to persuade him to continue but it seems his heart was no longer in it and he had lost his will to train and compete. He felt that staying any longer would make him an obstacle to the other rikishi who are training hard, so he has already left the heya and set off towards a new goal he has found.

Correction to that, Takasago-beya has now announced that Kyoda will start as Asarikimaru instead, with the new given name of Tetsuji (朝力丸 哲次). Hanaregoma-beya announced that Osanai will take the shikona Hokutonada (北斗洋), combined from his home city of Hokuto and the shisho's first shikona, Tamanonada.

Ms39e Kawazoe

Oshiogawa-beya reveals the shikona for their four shindeshi: Ishii > Kazeoka (風凰花 / かぜおうか) Kumai > Kazenohana (風ノ華 / かぜのはな) Yokose > Kazekodai (風紅大 / かぜこうだい) Ginya > Kazeoki (風桜輝 / かぜおうき) The middle kanji of Kazekodai is from his high school, Koryo. Elsewhere, Nishiiwa-beya gives Matsunaga's shikona as Satomatsunaga, so he's probably the younger brother of Tokinosato (Wakamatsunaga), who retired a couple of years ago. He's from Habikino, Osaka and reported as 171cm, 133kg. Takasago-beya's Hirai is from Sakai city, Osaka and a graduate of Hamadera Junior High School there. 170cm, 103kg. Both Takasago recruits will be Asafamilyname for now.