Morty

Add the effects of covid for both. I remember Shodai was described as suffering from long covid, not sure about Mitakeumi. But I know that for me, five months after having it I still have a heavy chest with persistent cough and pretty regular brain fog. Having a bad dose and after effects must be a nightmare for a professional athlete.

Kise choked for so long that I eventually gave up hope for him and then when it actually happened it was a huge and pleasant surprise. I'm kind of at the same point with Takayasu, even going into the final day with a one win lead I felt no optimism (which was justified). I thought he'd broken his neck in that last bout and am glad he didn't have to mount the dohyo again. If he ever achieves a yusho I'll be overjoyed, but I have given up hope for it happening.

Two grandsons, and one nephew of famous Yokozunae rising to the top of the banzuke, aged 22, 25, and 23 respectively, must be an absolute dream for the Kyokai. In this basho Hoshoryu beat Kotonowaka, Oho beat Hoshoryu, and Oho and Kotonwaka are yet to meet. If those three end up battling it out for supremacy over the next ten years it will be a sumo story for the ages. You couldn't write a better movie script. Now I just hope it happens.

Dang it, my favourite rikishi. I figured the end was nigh based on his recent performances and general decline but this is sudden. He would frustrate me because he could bulldoze anyone when he got the tachiai right, and he was better on the belt than people give him credit for, but he always went for that push then pull routine that everyone knew was coming. But he was an absolute character, a funny interview and had great side burns. I guess I have another reason to visit Japan again, so I can go to his restaurant.

Takakeisho basically catching Midorifuji in mid-air mid-henka and just shoving him out was beautiful to watch. And Hoshoryu looks switched on.

Most days when I watch the sumo I can get invested in the bouts because I like the rikishi, or there is a compelling storyline happening or similar, but there is usually also one "who cares" bout where I'm not really interested in either rikishi or the outcome of their match. Today that was Azamryu/Okinoumi, but by the end I was completely invested. Great sumo, great bout. Also, beautiful kotenage by Mitoryu.

I hoped it might be but once I watched the slo-mo replay I realised it probably shouldn't be. Presuming they both stay healthy I reckon we are going to see a lot of bouts between these two over the next decade, so plenty of chance for a do-over. The Nephew vs. the Grandson just writes itself as a long term rivalry.

Wayhey! My crystal ball worked. Thanks @Jejima for doing these each year, they're fun

He looks much older with facial hair

He's won three of the last six basho, and jun-yusho'ed a fourth. He's got a few basho yet before anyone will be calling for Intai. His knees look buggered this basho, but he's still the most dominant rikishi on the banzuke over the past two years. Add to that that none of the three ozeki are remotely close to achieving Yokozuna status so there is no obvious replacement. So long as he doesn't hit anyone with a game controller or play a football game in Mongolia he should be insulated from Intai calls for at least another year

The fact that Terunofuji definitely didn't want to go belt to belt with Takayasu and did everything possible to avoid it, says everything about where he is at physically. Then he struggled to step off the dohyo after the bout. He's still got the upper body strength to throw the less skilled guys around, but in a belt battle with a big guy like Takayasu he knows he doesn't have the legs to do it.

Takakeisho is going noticeably longer in bouts this basho. Previously if he didn't win in the first three to four seconds you knew he was toast. This basho he's pushing bouts out to seven-eight seconds and winning without being as gassed as he previously would have been. Seven to eight seconds doesn't sound like much but if it is double what you normally do then it's a 100% improvement. Is his style evolving a bit?

Midorifuji - Hoshoryu was bout of the basho so far. Great stuff. Interesting that Midorifuji has beaten Hosh five times out of five so far.

Totally agree. Numbers never tell the true story.

I wonder if two successful utchari in three days has ever been done before?