Benevolance

So, Goeidou just needs 4 wins tomorrow to keep his tsuna hopes alive? It's doable, right?

I personally love how Hakuho drops two matches on a basho returning from injury (one of them against a rikishi with the second most winningest record versus Hakuho, no less) and the forum consensus quickly shifts to "something's wrong!" or "he's not quite ready for intai yet!" as if being in the yusho race simply isn't considered good enough sumo from him.

Well, he's 24 years old in metric measurements. In American Imperial, he's, um, about 78 years old.

And that reason is because he can't make yokozuna. I'm rooting for Kise, though. Ever since NSK started that series of obviously photo-shopped images where Kise is relaxed and smiling, I've been won over by his charm.

He got hit so hard by Konishiki in training that he changed his shikona to Homarefuji.

Ha ha! Good catch!

For those that followed the Homarefuji fiasco, there is a good training video with moto-Konishiki going over pushing techniques with the new guy. Given the number of coaches in some heyas, and the fact that only a couple guys can actually be wrestling at the same time, I assume this sort of stuff is happening all the times on the sidelines.

Yeah! If you take away Hakuho's unparalleled technical abilities, uncanny ring-sense, ability to intimidate opponents, and ruthless competitive edge, he's just another mediocre wrestler coming back from injury! How'd this schmuck even ever beat Goeidou!?!?!

Did Kaisei really answer this prior to his match with Hakuho? Because if so, that's hilarious he considered himself a foregone conclusion!

Yeah, but Germany doesn't have Gundam construction bots to help out. It's not a fair comparison.

I suppose there is a slim chance that Hakuho might have to wait until Nagoya to break the record, but I find it very unlikely.

Every matta should result in a round of butskari keiko with Hakuho or Harumafuji during the following jungyo...

I have a friend visiting Japan in December and January, and unfortunately he will be out of Tokyo before the basho starts, but he'd really like to watch some sumo. The dates that he's in Tokyo are Dec 26th to Dec 31st. In Canada, that'd be like trying to arrange stuff during Golden Week, but since Japan doesn't celebrate holidays in quite the same way, I'd figured I'd check for him... Are any stables likely to be hosting open practices that visitors can come watch during that time frame? Any recommendations on guides for a sumo tour?

Dammit. All the good jokes were taken when I got here.

Though perhaps unlikely, given his M5 ranking, I would be content to watch Shohozan face-palm Goeidou out of the ring again.

Goeidou is denied the yusho and his yokozuna hopes are dashed by Kotoshogiku, who picks up his second yusho.

I'm sure Chiyotairyu could have pulled something to get it done, but I really can't envision him going forward with it.

Kintamayama, why hasn't your band written a power ballad about Ikioi and Okinoumi?

Yeah, he posted as 'skepticalsports' on the forum.

See, when I ran the original text through google translate, I got, "Good for 5 yusho a year and all the macarons an oyakata can eat!"

My wife and I did all fifteen days in Kyushu and we really enjoyed going every day. But that was in 2012 and sumo wasn't quite as popular, and Kyushu is usually under attended. On the week days, we could simply walk up and buy box seats in the morning. Those seats were the best, because we were surrounded by elderly people that wanted to play with our one-year-old son the whole time, leaving us free to enjoy the basho.

Why would anyone stay to senshuraku? Hakuho's usually wrapped up the tournament by Day 10...

I'm really surprised that Hakuho wasn't able to at least pick up a win or two while sitting out the tournament. It's a disgrace. He should retire.

But, because the YDC is such a stickler for tradition, Goeidou will still be Kadoban for November.

I'm confused by these results. Is Goeidou on an ozeki run now?