Shitamachi

Also the taping on the fingers.

I don't really understand Oosunarashi's air slapping. He seems to land few blows on his opponent but then wins despite this. How does he keep his balance whiffing so much? Is he summoning a sandstorm from the dohyo?

Loved the focus on the kesho mawashi. Was that direct from the feed or some video magic zoom on a wide shot?

You're totally right. My bad. The credit on Cibersumo was hidden behind a link.

Hmm. I read the same article on Japan Times. I think this should be credited to Kyodo. Looks like Cibersumo kind of ripped it off without sourcing. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/07/20/sumo/basho-reports/hakuho-moves-ahead-pack/#.Va31sIrXfCQ

Wow. Major props to Tochizan stepping up to his potential this tournament. I thought he would begin to stall after a yokozuna, but he really impressed with a convincing win over Kakuryu. Hope he can maintain this level and that we see a rise towards ozeki.

I wonder if part of this has to do with his Japanese level. His command of the language doesn't seem to be as good as some of the other Mongolian rikishi and it seemed like he didn't understand some of the questions he was asked in the yusho interview, giving "ganbarimasu" answers as a pretty safe response. Granted he hasn't been here as long, so he has time to learn.

Any chance harumafuji could be east Yokozuna next basho?

Not like this... Not like this....

Me too! Tokushoryu practically skipped back to his position on the dohyo!

Wow. These are awesome. I've been wondering if other people on this forum use Anki (to study Japanese). Your page would make an excellent foundation for a deck of rikishi, picture, and heya for those who wanted to study them.

You didn't see his invisible nunchucks?

Sorry to revive a long-gone thread, but I couldn't find anywhere more appropriate to ask this question. I recently learned that Isegehama beya is pretty much in my neighborhood (a 10 minute bike ride away) and ever since have been wanting to go to watch asageiko there. When I search online, it seems that there are some beya that are more welcoming than others to watch asageiko. I wonder where Isegahama falls on this spectrum and if any forum members have any tips regarding it. Honestly, as I've never visited a beya period, I'd love any recommendations that members have from personal experience. And of course, if anyone else is in Tokyo and interested in going with one morning, let me know! Thanks for anything you can provide!

Yes, but in dollar terms, 2012 was still much more impressive as a year (not that most rikishi are overly concerned with the USDJPY rate)

Rare to see sumo in the Economist. http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2015/03/economist-explains-13?sort=3#sort-comments

Dunno if this is the right area to ask, but any news on Chiyootori? From the replay, it didn't look that bad, but I hope he is OK. He had a great basho once and finally recovered from that nasty cough he'd had...

Anyone have any information on Shohouzan? He doesn't look particularly injured and is putting up a fight each bout but cannot make anything work for him. At this rate, we'll be missing his golden mawashi in makuuchi soon.

Say my name!Nishinoshima You're goddam right. Correction: Nishinoshima had it right today! Great commentary as always.

Aminishiki is incredible this basho. 7 wins with 7 kimarite. Assuming he takes one more, he's a shoo-in for another technique prize. The English language NHK announcers had it right today (sorry, don't know their names): "Brace yourself, Aminishiki is coming."

When they look like a Yokozuna--Usually winning two tournaments in a row from Ozeki is considered the unofficial criteria. Unless you're Kakuryu and one jun-yusho (runner up) tournament is considered as good as a win (I guess because Hakuho is so strong?)

When I first read this thread I thought it said "Kotoshogiku enraged." This is a much nicer story.

Loved Ichinojo and Tochinoshin today. No doubt we'll see him up in k/s territory soon even if he falls this basho.

Hello. Here is my last-minute entry: rikishi: Abiko rank: J6w Thanks!

I was surprised when I went on the 14th day at the Aki basho, when Hakuho was due to face Ichinojo. I was expecting it to be crowded, so should up shortly after 6am. People who showed up as late as 7:30 were getting tickets surprisingly enough. I imagine you'd have to get there fairly early on Sunday, but I wouldn't expect Monday to be so bad.

It's still possible! But I agree with everyone's comments on his lack of ganbarization. I was curious, so I went through the DB. Kyokutenho is career (juryo/makuuchi) 59-62 in bashos AFTER he got his KK and the last time he did better than 50% was when he won his yusho... I made some kind of neat formulae to see how his record was on the days after making KK and this was the result. Might be interesting to compare to other rikishi. Basho / Record / Record after KK 1996.03 9-6 1-0 1996.05 6-9 MK 1996.07 8-7 MK 1996.09 5-10 MK 1997.01 7-8 MK 1997.03 8-7 0-1 1997.05 9-6 1-2 1997.07 8-7 0-1 1997.09 8-7 0-1 1997.11 9-6 1-3 1998.01 9-6 1-2 1998.03 6-9 MK 1998.05 8-7 0-1 1998.07 4-11 MK 1998.09 8-7 0-1 1998.11 6-9 MK 1999.01 9-6 1-0 1999.03 8-7 0-2 1999.05 9-6 MK 1999.07 7-8 MK 1999.09 8-7 0-1 1999.11 6-9 MK 2000.01 11-4 Kanto-sho (1st) 3-2 2000.03 4-11 MK 2000.05 7-8 MK 2000.07 9-6 1-2 2000.09 4-11 MK 2000.11 7-8 MK 2001.01 10-5 2-3 2001.03 3-12 MK 2001.05 6-9 MK 2001.07 8-7 0-1 2001.09 9-6 1-3 2001.11 8-7 MK 2002.01 6-9 MK 2002.03 6-9 MK 2002.05 6-9 MK 2002.07 8-7 0-2 2002.09 8-7 Kinboshi MK 2002.11 7-8 MK 2003.01 8-7 MK 2003.03 9-6 Kanto-sho (2nd) Kinboshi 1-0 2003.05 10-5 Kanto-sho (3rd) 2-1 2003.07 6-9 MK 2003.09 10-5 Kanto-sho (4th) 2-1 2003.11 4-11 MK 2004.01 8-7 MK 2004.03 10-5 2-0 2004.05 6-9 MK 2004.07 8-7 MK 2004.09 5-10 MK 2004.11 5-10 MK 2005.01 10-5 2-1 2005.03 6-9 MK 2005.05 6-9 MK 2005.07 8-7 MK 2005.09 10-5 2-1 2005.11 8-7 MK 2006.01 4-11 MK 2006.03 11-4 3-0 2006.05 5-10 MK 2006.07 6-9 MK 2006.09 6-9 MK 2006.11 10-5 2-1 2007.01 8-7 MK 2007.03 4-11 MK 2007.05 0-0-15 MK 2007.07 12-3 4-2 2007.09 12-3 Jun-Yusho (1st) Kanto-sho (5th) 4-1 2007.11 4-11 MK 2008.01 10-5 2-4 2008.03 9-6 1-3 2008.05 4-11 MK 2008.07 10-5 2-0 2008.09 6-9 MK 2008.11 10-5 2-1 2009.01 9-6 MK 2009.03 6-9 MK 2009.05 8-7 MK 2009.07 6-9 MK 2009.09 5-10 MK 2009.11 8-7 0-2 2010.01 8-7 0-1 2010.03 3-12 MK 2010.05 9-6 1-0 2010.07 7-8 MK 2010.09 4-11 MK 2010.11 9-6 1-0 2011.01 7-8 MK 2011.05 8-7 0-1 2011.07 2-13 MK 2011.09 11-4 3-1 2011.11 4-11 MK 2012.01 9-6 1-0 2012.03 5-10 MK 2012.05 12-3 Yusho (1st) Kanto-sho (6th) 4-0 2012.07 2-13 MK 2012.09 10-5 2-5 2012.11 10-5 2-2 2013.01 4-11 MK 2013.03 7-8 MK 2013.05 9-6 1-0 2013.07 6-9 MK 2013.09 8-7 0-2 2013.11 5-10 MK 2014.01 6-9 MK 2014.03 9-6 1-2 2014.05 3-12 MK 2014.07 6-9 MK 2014.09 8-7 0-2 2014.11 9-5 1-4 Edit: Total formatting fail :oP