Benevolance

Watching the Art of Sumo videos that Araibira posted, I was surprised to see that Kaio could actually fight. I'd just assumed he was a Kotooshu-type character. But I only ever watched Kaio the last three or four years of his career when he'd hit 8 wins in a tournament and stop trying, so my view on him is a bit coloured.

Ex-Chiyonofuji does look like he could still step into the ring at a moment's notice... I doubt that Kokonoe has to scout much. If you're an aspiring and talented young sumo rikishi, and you have the opportunity to apprentice under a Japanese ex-yokozuna of Kokonoe-oyakata's stature, are you going to pass that up? If you're stablemates are likewise talented, then that pushes up the bar that everyone aspires to, and suddenly you have a flood of top-division rikishi.

Deja vu. Didn't this happen the same time last year? Someone who bothers me at the starting line more than Kise is Akiseyama. He lines up and does his little fist/bicep squeeze-prayer thingy, then pretend tap and charge. But since the other guy is lined up and typically signalled his readiness before Akiseyama, it's never a matta. I mean, Akiseyama needs all the leverage he can get to win, but it still irritates me.

No detailed banzuke results for specific tournaments or video links for Raiden? Colour me disappointed.

That may be, but Hakuho taking the yusho is as close to a sure thing as you can get. :)

I think Baruto possesses more ozeki qualities than the current crop of ozeki. He's not looking as tentative on his knee as the previous basho, and his day 2 win was more convincing than day 1. Assuming that he doesn't make the knee worse, I can see him getting back to ozeki.

We've had a similar problem in the past, same setup with Win 7 and WMP 12. Sometimes, if you watched a previous basho live stream, it'll somehow remember the wrong link when you launch windows media player, even when you're clicking on the new link. Delete your browser cookies, then retry. That usually works for us.

I thought it was nice of him not to shove Kitataiki off backwards onto the shimpan, though he could have. At least, that's what it looked like he was trying to do, getting Kitataiki to step left or right instead of straight backwards.

Brief aside...it's weird clicking on the 1999/2000 results and seeing Kyokutenho in basically the exact same banzuke spot as he is now...

What is the point of the additional reflectors? Back up feeds? The reflectors show the same video stream as the primary link posted on the goo sumo site, right?

I'd like to take a moment and thank the NSK for single-handedly saving the BC pulp and paper industry. Without your generous consumption, we'd have to cut down less trees. Aren't Kimura Shoji and Kimura Kichijiro the guys that sit ringside and narrate the juryo/makuuchi dohyo iri?

I hope that Ikioi manages a better showing this tournament. I have a standing bet with my wife that Ikioi will hit Sanyaku before Chiyotairyu that I'd rather not lose... 22-10 with Okinoumi isn't bad; Okinoumi is no slouch. Ikioi needs a little more training, a little less singing boat tours this time around.

I'm not sure if it's the translations or what, but in all his interviews for the past three bashos, Giku sounds like a Bumpity Bump Ball of Sorrow. I get that he and his fiancee split, but I'd expect a little more mental fortitude from an ozeki.

The sumdb has 178.8 listed as his highest weight, for what it's worth. I also noticed he's been shrinking for the last few years. Gravity is a harsh mistress.

Musashimaru II knows how to pose for the camera, at least. :)

He's only listed at 178kg? He looks bigger on camera. Or maybe his speed makes him look heavier than he is...

The angry red bird mascot always reminds me of Kisenosato.

^^ What he said. It's a catchy tune, but it's not nearly as catchy as the hakkeyoi tune.

Osuunarashii was reporting that he's at Makushita 7. Google translate fails pretty spectacularly with the Kyokai tweets. Daikiho's announcement works out as: "May place new ranking> New advancing to the first grade sumo (Nishimae head 16) Daiki Peng (Fukuoka Prefecture, Miyagino room". Which made little sense to me until I came here and saw this thread. :)

When it comes time to do the banzuke, does it factor in that Chiyotairyu beat the two ozeki and a yokozuna and concerned Hakuho enough that Big H henka'd? Or does it only matter that Chiyotairyu went 3-4-8 for the tournament?

While I'm impressed he's attempting a marathon, I'll be really impressed when he finishes it. I take it that the LA marathon isn't like some of the other marathons, where a pace van drives up and collects you if you're behind a certain pace at designated markers...

The fact that everyone is clamouring about Goeido as the next Ozeki hopeful makes me think Baruto has a bit of an uphill climb.

Thanks! That post slipped by me.

What's the story with money?

Assuming the evidence against them was as flimsy. It sounds like the fact that one of the 'key witnesses' never appeared before court to testify was a major factor in this case, the rest of the evidence being entirely circumstantial. I was never really interested in Sokokurai before he was dismissed. But in the presser where they are holding hands, his pose screams Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. With star power like that, I'm a fan! Ganbare Sokokurai!