Tochinofuji

Should the band ever get back together and you need a vice-president, let me know.

Does anyone know what other rikishi have had back-to-back kinboshi? Alas, my database query skills are...I would say rudimentary, but I'm pretty sure non-existent is closer to the mark.

I'm interested as well. Looks as though he at least appeared at the YDC Keiko Soken (shamelessly stolen from @Akinomaki's post on that topic) .

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Enho/Yutakayama controversy aside, as a long time fan of Toyohibiki, I was heartened to see Onosho pay homage to his style of sumo and clutch defeat from those pesky jaws of victory.

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I certainly agree that in its abstracted/idealized form, the tsukebito system has much to offer (see, for example, Enho and Hakuho, at least as that relationship has been portrayed). However, like many other systems designed with one senior individual holding power over a junior, in practice it can be prone to abuse and misuse, as we've seen on occasion. That isn't to say the system needs to be abolished, as that would be a knee-jerk overreaction that overlooks the good in the system. But it seems a system that could use some minor reforms, as well as checks on balances, to bring out the ideal while limiting the potential for abuse. That isn't to imply I have any specific reforms in mind, and I think those far closer to the system than I (read: not some shmuck in Canada who's merely a fan) would be better placed to comment. But still, I would be interested to hear those comments.

I hope my comment wasn't taken as critical in any way, as I greatly appreciate all the article posting and translating you do for the forum! And to be fair, Takanofuji does seem like enough of a dolt to have meant "if they let me stay, I'll apologise to chickens 1, 2, and 3.", so your initial version may be spot on.

The verb he used can mean either "to forgive" or "to permit/to allow" . So an alternative translation would be "If the Kyokai will allow it, I'd like to go to the deshi's homes to apologize." I'm just pulling from the articles, not the video though. While he's undoubtedly an ass, and I think the sumo world will be better off without him, I wouldn't read too much into that one sentence.

I think you're likely right. Which I suppose means, by default, weight as a rikishi is a good thing, at least to a point, regardless of style.

Interesting, I'd actually think the opposite. To me, for excellent yotsu sumo someone like Kitanoumi comes to mind, who is hardly a lightweight. Once you've locked into a yotsu position, it's hard for a lighter rikishi to generate forward momentum, as they've essentially been locked into a standstill. Wrapping someone up and using your weight advantage to walk them out seems amuch more predictable to win than staying disconnected from your opponent while moving forward and thrusting, as that gives your opponent much more maneuverability. Extreme light weights like Enho stay disconnected and then dart under and in to try to get into a position where they can move a heavier opponent. But if you picture them going straight in, seiseidodo style, they'd never overcome the weight disadvantage. Interesting to read a very different take, and many seem to agree with you, so I may well be completely off in my take on things!

Don't know about always, but there is at least a history of female sumo fans, particularly when there are promising and attractive rikishi (see: Chiyonofuji, Endo, etc.). For a recent article on the phenomenon: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/01/02/national/sumo-gets-boost-avid-female-fans/#.XXpbplNlAwA

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While I assume he remains the king of the keikoba, things have been oddly silent on him in the lead up to this basho!

Honoured to be an underling on that crew!