Shiro

Speaking of stats, does anyone or has anyone compared how many wins and Yusho's Chyonofuji and Taiho had when they were Haks age? Or at least a "by this point in their career" comparison?

Tochinoshin is really looking great. I mean, 13-2 and 15-0 in Juryo is no small task. He's just looking really solid. I was a big fan of his back when I first started watching Sumo, second to Harumafuji of course.

I'm glad Harumafuji pulled it out against Ichinojo. Great straight ahead tachi-ai. Harumafuji was really quick and Ichinojo just didn't have an answer. Tochinoshin looks really great. Love how well he's doing coming back. Looks like a brand new wrestler.

I remember watching the Tournament where Amuru was injured. I remember thinking "This guy is looking good!" and then the ruptured knee. Glad to see him finally making his top division debut. I read that Harumafuji is undecided on returning this Basho after the eye injury. I hope he does what's best. Would really like to see him in the mix of what looks like a very exciting tournament.

That's the big thing. No matter how big of a fan you are 120 ($720 a year) dollars a month for six months is just not doable for 99 percent of sumo fans across the globe. That's really outrageous. Kids eat or I watch sumo...not a tough decision.

For me sumo will affectively end. I simply cannot afford to pay 10 bucks a day for 15 days 6 times a year. I can't even afford cable let alone this. It's not a question of wether I am a real or true fan. I am, believe me. It's simply financially impossible.

So does anyone know if Tochinoshin is going to be returning anytime soon? With this absence he'll be down in Makushita next tournament.

I realize sumo is a dignified sport and that it defines much of Japanese culture but we are still dealing with humans. I just don't feel it's something to get our mawashi's in a bunch over. If it was something that happened blatantly all the time, then yeah maybe something should be said. But I don't notice it that much. Just some intensity here and there.

Does it really matter if there are few shoves here and there? I mean it's a intense sport. It's bound to happen.

Nice to see both Yokozuna's tied at the end of the first week.

Any word on his status?

It'll be interesting to see how him and Endo fair this Basho

So he's tied Asa. And he's only 28 years Old. I think Hakuho has the chance to become the all time Yusho leader and more. He's arguably the greatest Yokozuna of all time. If he achieves that and tallies up over 1,000 wins I think he will be. As much as I love Harumafuji I think Yokozuna was maybe not the greatest thing for him. He was a great Ozeki. Now he's a mediocre Yokozuna and that fact may shorten his career. If Kaio had made it to Yokozuna he never would hung around as long as he did.

Wasn't sure where to post this. I've been looking at Japanese paintings and prints from the 18th Century and older of Sumo Wrestlers and they appear to be wearing a slightly different version of the modern day Mawashi. I was just wondering if there are any existing examples of old mawashis (photographs etc..) I'm a historian and I like to learn about the material cultures and their various changes. Any info or help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Will more issues be available soon?

The Nippon baseball site is really vague. There are no depth charts, I don't know who starters are etc. Is there a site that goes into more depth? A place to watch daily highlights?

Does anyone know the size of the sumo doyho before it was enlarged in 1945?

Apologies Kuroyama. Didn't realize that was a part of forum etequette.

Easy there. Just posted again cause i didn't want the question to get lost in the shuffle. I had read in Dynamic Sumo that it was during world war 2 that it was changed and that Futabayama (I think it was him, I don't have the book in front of me) sighted that as his reason for retirement. Maybe the book doesn't have its facts streight.

I guess no one knows.

That sounds familiar. Just a town with all these amateur sumo stables usually based around businesses etc...the woman would make keshomawashis for the wrestlers. Just a big sumo community.

Does anyone know about a sumo documentary about a smaller town in Japan that holds a grand sumo tournament every year? They have stables in the town and some of the wrestlers are 60 years old? I saw it on YouTube a few years ago and now cannot find it anywhere.

Honestly I should really retract that Harumafuji statement. He's my favorite rikishi of all time. I just have this fear that because of injuries etc that he won't be remembered as the great wrestler and Yokozuna I know he is. Consistency is something he seems to have trouble with. And I'm sure that's just injuries nagging at him.

If only they'd print it in English...

Who do you think is the greatest Ozeki of all time?