Koorifuu

12th out of 68. That's definitely an improvement from the last time I tried! (last place..)

I expect a full sixful by Hakuho.

Adding my little 2 cents, I have to agree. As a Portuguese, I watch dozens and dozens of Brazilian players coming here to play soccer professionally. This is their favorite destination as the language barrier is restricted to the different accents. And let's face it, nearly all of those who have an European Union grand-grand-mother/father or the sort will definitely apply for that citizenship. Be it Portuguese or Italian or other one. But on this case it's a little different, as having an EU passport will give you free entry into any EU national league while there's tons of problems for non-EU nationals.

That comment about the Jakarta Jungyo leaves no doubts, he's got intai firmly in his thoughts.

Here I am hoping it's because of that corrective surgery on his heart...

The waterboy didn't last long! That's a pity.

Double zensho-yusho is definitely a very yokozunae feat. He tried to adapt his style to what he's demanded to as a yokozuna, and it clearly doesn't fit. Harumafuji rarely wins by overpowering his opponent, and when he does that's because of his speed actually.

On the other side of the coin, Either Kitaharima or Nionoumi (probably the latter) got away with a lucky stay!

Fujiazuma seemed pumped up as he got that darn KK! Takayasu's tsuppari barrage was AWOL this basho and that explains the bad score, I guess. Aran, Aran... that commando sambo style is still better than henkakikomi nearly every bout.

Has Takayasu's tsuppari barrage deserted him? It's mostly what got him up there. Myogiryu landed heavily on his bandaged knees, that didn't look good... His awful score has to come from somewhere, it's totally different from what we've seen. And his knees might be the reason. Masunoyama having a long bout was deeply worrying me, but then again I guess that if something dreadful happened I'd have read the spoilers somewhere before watching the video.

I see! At first I interpreted it like "winning fair and square was great" as an allusion to that infamous henka.

Kotooshu in a nutshell. 2 days after he denies kadoban with a KK-clinching dominating win against the undisputed best rikishi of recent years, he sprints out of the dohyo like he was being chased by an enraged honeybee colony. Sigh.

Ouch, there goes the yokozuna politeness!

Happy birthday! Legendary being amongst gaijin sumo fans. :)

Takanoyama is very entertaining whenever he doesn't use his henka - tottari combination for 3-second long matches. Kickin' and flappin' around the dohyo, that was weird even by Tokitenku's standards. And definitely yokozunadom has taken Harumafuji's special quality away.

To keep battling on through that seriously dangerous condition borders on seppuku. I like the lad a lot and it doesn't feel good to hear he's basically playing Russian Roulette every bout. I know that on traditional Japanese culture this is actually honorable and that sumo still keeps much of it, but seriously... Is it really worth it? Or am I just too West-European minded?

Kotooshu actually caring about what he's doing in a bout. That's a refreshing sight, I thought those were only fond memories.

As it was days 14 and 15 respectively, then the work had been done. I think I remember seeing the Chiyonofuji yusho. Dislocated his shoulder while winning his bout on day 14 and picked up the Emperors Cup one handed the next day. I was impressed (I am not worthy...) WARNING SPOILER Truth that the work had been done, but ehh. I imagine that for a yusho yokozuna to no-show their last bout would be considered dishonorable and maybe even insulting to all other rikishi... The top of the chain just shrugging off their duty to impose themselves regardless of the achievement, without even trying? Heck, if the likes of Asashoryu tried to pull that one off he wouldn't need to punch a random civilian in order to get the boot.

Judging from the way he was gently walked out of the dohyo the last 3 days, I'd say Daido is set to set a record of losses-by-yorikiri-in-one-basho if he doesn't go kyujo.

Indeed! I'd expect the first list to be much longer so I didn't even think about it. As for the second one, it's normal it's REALLY rare because of pride+hinkaku factors. And they were probably stared sideways for ages after that (sorry, I got into sumo only a few years ago).

Harumafuji sure doesn't hold back on harite despite the warning!

Hakuho tried to pull the same tachi-ai blow to the chin he landed yesterday, I am not pleased with his attitude. It's all nice if it was a lucky hit that didn't happen on purpose, but to repeat it when he knew it'd be dangerous to his opponent...

I mostly agree with this. Despite the abundance of ozekis all of them get KKs 97% (rounded up number, TL2Q) of the time because the difference is abysmal, even if Osh's mind tends to drift away from the dojo he's still an exceptionally capable competitor. Anyone ranked below ozeki is fodder for those... unless you're named Myogiryu or Goeido, and we all know the thorns to the ozeki dominance are constantly changing like trends. However, despite the low chance anyone gets demoted there's no denying it all makes for a much more thrilling basho.

We gotta plan some popcorn for the Kadoban Party in November.

A gyoji did stall a match for wardrobe malfunction just a few days ago. That doesn't really count as definite stoppage / decision though, even though it's the same kind of authority stamp. As for the Notozakura vs Mankajo bout... Wow. I didn't even think it was possible to be so damn blatant on a hairpull. Not to mention he slightly did it before at least a good 5 times. Also, the makuuchi division having to deal with a single fusen the whole basho is noteworthy on the good side.