Morty

He looked really punchy, like he has a concussion or a virus or something

Ideally it would Hak which would really seal the deal

I think Asanoyama is going to do this. Yutakayama has really impressed me this basho. He seems to come in with a different strategy for each opponent, and has shown incredible patience in executing what he wants to do, not rushing things, and waiting for his opponent to make the mistake. A new favourite I think.

He got a morozashi today as well right at the start of the bout and still couldn't win. He has zero power going forward - it's painful to watch. What is also painful to watch is the number of headbutts Tamawashi puts out there in each bout. He hit Sadanoumi with about six today, all clearly deliberate. His brain is going to end up like Swiss cheese (if it isn't already).

Ishiura essentially henka'd Ikioi three times during that bout: once at the tachiai, then once in the middle, then once at the end to get the win.

Nah. Look on Youtube for Kenta Kobashi and Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada and Akira Taue, Jan 24, 1995, greatest tag match of all time. Apologies Mods if this is getting off topic.

This is your chance to go back and relive all those great sporting events from years gone by. There is an awful lot just on Youtube. I'm planning on watching all those great Japanese pro-wrestling matches from the 80s and 90s Misawa, Kobashi, Hansen, Kawada era . Weeks of entertainment right there.

The Australia-New Zealand One Day Cricket tournament has been cancelled as of today, primarily because of the New Zealand travel ban. Here in Australia, the Australian Rules Football (AFL) season is due to start but they will be playing in empty stadiums. The Australian Rugby League however is still playing in front of crowds, but only for this weekend. The Federal Government has implemented a ban on gatherings of more than 500 people as of tomorrow.

The empty stadium seems to have a different effect on different rikishi. The ones who seem more motivated by it: Mitakeumi, Takarafuji, Takanosho, Chiyotairyu all seem more than usually invigorated this basho. The ones who seem totally disinterested and switched off: Takakeisho, Okinoumi, Shohozan, Tamawashi, Azumaryu are not only not doing great sumo, but they all look like they wish they were somewhere else. I often wondered what it would be like to be a top athlete competing at a time in the world when serious outside events are overshadowing whatever sport you are participating in. It must be hard to concentrate on competing when when stuff is getting really serious out in the real world.

Likewise the herniated disc in the back... That's a lifetime injury - they don't heal, you just manage them

Just wanted to say thanks for the link to this map - amazing resource.

Poor Tokushoryu is not thriving at these rarified levels. I had hoped he'd at least win a few but he is getting owned on a daily basis. Still, only one of the four who have beat him so far have won a yusho, so there's that. But tomorrow he faces the Boss...

Today was the day that Kakaryu reminded everyone why he is actually a Yokozuna - that was beautiful belt sumo and Okinoumi had no way to deal with it. Completely comprehensive win.

I watched the Abema live stream - it was weird watching the empty arena, but less so than if it had been in Tokyo because the Kokugikan is so much bigger. The Abema commentary team helped immensely. Wakanohana's eternally smiling face and engaging explanations of what was going on got me interested. I had no clue what he was saying but he was clearly enjoying it which helped me enjoy it more. Still, 15 days of a quiet empty arena might kill the novelty a bit.

I hope it is. Because human life is more important than sumo

How many people on the banzuke, nearly 700 odd? And Heya members and hangers on etc? Must be at least a thousand who will all be in the same place at the same time. It only takes one of them to get it and in such close quarters and that would really stuff sumo for a while... Given that rikishi are human beings and can catch corona virus and pass it onto other people, it seems to me like a crazy decision to hold the basho. Better to cancel and come back in May when the coast is clear.

I would argue that the reason the virus isn't spreading like wildfire is because of all of the quarantine processes that have been implemented everywhere it has been identified. They are designed to stop the spread and they are working. They also worked for Ebola, SARs, even HIV etc etc etc. Quarantine procedures are based on working out how the disease spreads and addressing that (eg condoms and clean needles for HIV, which worked brilliantly). If you want to see how COVID-19 spreads without appropriate quarantine processes in place to stop it then the Diamond Princess is a prime example. Holding the basho (unfortunately) goes against basic quarantine procedures.

And this might be the silver lining. Imagine how awesome a basho we could have if every rikishi was given four, or even six months to rest and heal their injuries, or even (gasp) take the time to seek proper medical treatment...

One yusho, but zero zensho. Three kuyjo

Unfortunately (and I hope I'm wrong) injury is going to do him in

He is clearly out of form, but is too good to slide for too long so back to Sekiwake I reckon, and hopefully an Ozeki run in 2021.

I think it's highly likely that one or both of Hak and Kak will have retired before the next Yok is crowned, and even if they haven't, the chance of both reaching day 15 at the same time seems a very long shot. I can only see Takakeisho with a realistic chance of Yok promotion this year. Let's say Kak retires this year and Hak some time early next year, that will leave Takakeisho as the sole Yok, and I can't see two more being crowned in 2021, so I think we are a couple of years off at least before there are three Yoks on the banzuke again. My prediction, it will happen in July 2022, and it will be Takakeisho, Asanoyama, and Shodai(!?!?) - and clearly, that's a huge guess

A good debut often isn't followed by further good bashos. I suspect he will end up a middle maegashira wrestler

I think the Geek will retire when drops to Juryo (which is pretty close) but Shohozan will hang on for another year

I was wrong last year - people haven't worked Abi out because his arms are too long and he has too much reach. So Abi in front in all areas.