Morty

I thought he had 2 sukuinage as well but one of those was a loss to Kiribiyama. But three throws, or 25% of his wins, is a pretty fabulous improvement.

Yep, he looks completely gassed out after every bout and just looks tired in general. Post-covid fatigue? It has been mentioned he has had long covid symptoms. I have had after effects for well over six months since I had it and I'm not a top athlete having to compete against the very best. I wonder how many rikishi have been impacted this way. There are a number who appear to have fallen off a cliff in the past couple of years which may be the result of this.

I think he's a shoe-in with anything more than 13. The Kise precedent is irrelevant here because last basho was a doten, which is a yusho-equivalent, not coming second like a normal J-Y. If he wins here that's two yushos in a row and he has the runs on the board to prove he can keep doing it. Two yushos and 3 doten, plus another 5 J-Y is a solid record.

I certainly did, it was a doozy

Since Chiyotairyu retired I have had a vacancy for favourite rikishi, but I think Midorifuji has now filled it. That was an awesome technical bout against Hoshoryu. He's small but he's hugely skilled.

There have only been two ozeki yushos in the past 6 years! - One for Takakeisho and one for Terunofuji. So Takakeisho is at east doing better than the other half a dozen guys who have occupied that rank during that period. But in general it has been a poor period for the ozeki all over.

He looked exactly like this last basho before falling off the cliff and losing three of his last four. At about day five I was convinced it was going to either be Hoshoryu or Takayasu that was going to win it and then the inevitable happened.

Fast start, then injury, then intai at the end of the year

I think Hoshoryu and Kotonowaka will get that generational rivalry going which will drive them both to ozeki level, and I think Kiribiyama will also sneak into an Ozeki position as well. I think this will be assisted by Terunofuji not appearing for more than a couple of bashos

I can't see much changing. He'll be a solid ozeki, will win a yusho, but his style won't allow him to be consistent enough to get the rope. I had hopes for that before, can't see it happening now (unless he yushos in January....)

He'll keep doing exactly what he's been doing for the past five or so years (but without winning another yusho)

I think he's ready to take the next step, and will string together three good basho which will get him to Ozeki

I think he'll only appear in three bashos. One he'll win. one he'll finish and one he'll go Kyujo in after five days. I think this will be enough to keep him on the banzuke for January 2024. I stupidly said he'd lose three times to the same opponent so as a pure guess I'm going to pick Kotonowaka as that person (even though I don't think thhaat will actually happen).

I can't see him making a return to Ozeki. But he'll be back to sekiwake. Repeatedly.

M1-M3 - I can't see him getting beyond that yet, though the potential is there

Teronofuji will get one at the end of the year, Takakeisho will get one, and newly minted Ozeki Hoshoryu will get one. He will also get one as sekiwake. Kotonowaka will get one at sekiwake, and as a pure guess Ryuden will get one from about M7

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