Couginishiki

Accidental learning is the best. Especially when the accidents are someone else's...

Scary......When I was a little kid I finshed up in a pit with the Racoons at the zoo(I made out I fell but actually I jumped in as part of a childish prank) Should say I was nowhere near the racoons and not in very long either Raccoons are the spawn of Satan. They have a weekly brawl on my roof. They seem to use modified Sumo rules for wins and losses. If one gets thrown one the roof, he loses. They sound worse than cats fighting.

That's one way of looking at it...

You sound bitter and somewhat judgemental towards non-Japanese rikishi, specially a certain muslim one. Maybe you should check your bias at the door. The comment about baldness and age is hilarious, i've met people of all races who go bald at a very early age, japanese included. Who cares anyway, both Endo and Oosunaarashi are fun to watch and clearly "rookies" learning the ropes. I have a bias against brute-force. It is a shame when sumo turns into an athletic spectacle...Like it or not, hair is an important part of sumo culture and the totality of sumo culture is what I am interested in. I couldn't care less about some silly combat spectacle. Should I check my opinion at the door? Are you actually looking for a non-athletic spectacle where hair is vitally important to the culture? You are not looking for sumo. It sounds like a drag show cabaret... I believe sumo is different than the ideals identified. Sumo IS an intensely athletic venture steeped in a mostly functional tradition. The skills are definitely based in form and technique. But form and technique can get a guy only so far. Speed, strength, and most intensely balance. A guy can't rise to the top with out a large measure of physicality and athleticism. You can't tell me that Hakuho, Ama, or even Kotoshogiku got where they are by not being a exquisitely trained and gifted athletes. You can't, attempting to do so would be a disgusting insult to the beauty and culture of this ancient sport. Otherwise Orora would be Y1E. Sumo is not a cake decorating competition. There is room for a wide of variation of style. I see bits of Mongolian wrestling and greek wrestling every day during the basho. I love nearly all of it. Having said that. The kachiage is getting ugly. Occasionally, fine. Daily and consistently used, it seems desperate (and I dig Osunarashi). I'd like to see him back off and work on his repertoire. He got to joi WAY too fast and his skill needs to catch up. He is a decent oshi guy, is getting better on the belt, and is starting to get comfortable on the dohyo. He will never be Kotoshogiku. He would be wise to watch film of Akebono and other physically powerful oshi guys. Use the kachiage 2-4x a basho to keep aite off-guard. His move is either feared or respected and makes his opponents have to plan on dealing with it. I was hoping that it was setting up the Yokozuna bouts for non-kachiage tachiai and would slow down after.

Separated at birth. Raised far apart. The Nakashima boys have a lot in common, a love of sumo and the remarkable ability to type. But for two weeks during every odd month they become clairvoyant and *know* things that others can only speculate on: Hakuho will be in the yusho race this tournament. These revelations are really a curse. A curse only possible by the power of the Nakashima Effect.

中島 Nakashima (center of the island) 籍真 Kazuma (take part in reality). Wishful thinking with Kazuma...

I'd never noticed how beat up Kotoshogiku's ears were. Pretty dysmorphic.

The US state of Wisconsin has an agricultural tradition of dairy farming. The state is known for cheesemaking among other things. Sports teams (specifically those of the Green Bay Packers NFL football team) supporters from Wisconsin show their pride at times by wearing "cheesehats". Packer fans are some of the most loyal to be found often attending games in extremely cold weather.

I'm glad one of then can smile...Shoho looks like he was passing a kidney stone.

It was filmed in 07 and 08. His hatsu dohyo was Hatsu 08.

Nice to see the Oyakata building his heya. And I'll make you an omelette if you come by the house. I made a kalbi beef one last week... Tomorrow it's taco beef and salsa with sour cream.

I LOVE THIS DIAGRAM!

He does OK on the belt. He's definitely not an oshi guy but is an artist with the kubinage... ;)

Meanwhile Kyokutaisei is back in Makushita, on a career high rank. Not bad at all.Amazing feat of this lad, climbing to a new personal high.Even getting close to Juryo after this basho. (Applauding...) Kyokutaisei had been a favorite of mine since the documentary that araibira posted before his account got blasted. I'd like to find ìt again somewhere. "A simple life" iirc.

Meanwhile Kyokutaisei is back in Makushita, on a career high rank. Not bad at all.Amazing feat of this lad, climbing to a new personal high.Even getting close to Juryo after this basho. (Applauding...) Kyokutaisei had been a favorite of mine since the documentary that araibira posted before his account got blasted. I'd like to find ìt again somewhere. "A simple life" iirc.