Araiguma_Rascal

"Token" movements are inadequate. And what about movements (and not just "token" movements!) to extirpate the culture of hazing altogether? A kid has been murdered. Do more kids have to die before something is done? I hope parents take notice before entrusting their children to the tender mercies of these sadistic stable masters. Perhaps there needs to be an age limit for of 18 or 20 for residing in a sumo stable, and younger deshi need to go home to sleep and all deshi need to be able to leave the stable whenever they want. People cannot be confined against their will like some kind of slaves in the 21st century. When real reform has happened, and young deshis' human rights are respected, I will happily start watching again. Now, it is closer to the level of dogfighting for which Michael Vick is in prison.

Stable Master Held in Fatal Beating of 17-year-old I used to be a fan of Sumo. Even went to see it in person last year, although I haven't been an active poster here recently. I have to say that the whole Sumo world disgusts me now. This abuse and hazing of youngsters is just part of it. Another thing is that the lifestyle encouraged by the traditions is totally unhealthy. The Japanese are among the longest-lived people in the world, but Sumo wrestlers have much shorter lives on average. IIRC, I read somewhere that they die in their 50's on average. There is also not to my knowledge any attempt to even find out if performance-enhancing substances are a problem in the sport. Wake Up Ozumo! Welcome to the 21st Century!

What is the evidence? Put up or shut up, I say. I don't believe this particular allegation because I don't think he needs to do it. So he better come with real evidence. Otherwise, sue him for every yen he has.

I wonder why either NHK or the NSK does not make these videos available over the Internet? I am lucky enough to live in Japan, so I don't have this problem, but I feel bad for Sumo fans elsewhere. The Japanese sports leagues seem to be way behind the power curve when it comes to making the most of the Internet. For example, compare MLB's site to that of Nihon Yakyuu. Or don't, because there really isn't any comparison. :-P

If Wakanosato is back to health, I think he must win. It was not so long ago that he was on the cusp of Ozeki.

Sawai's new shikona is Goeidou Goutarou. In Japanese: 豪栄道 豪太郎 （ごうえいどう ごうたろう）

In the Kokugikan, they display giant paintings of each yusho winner going back for about 5 years. At each new Tokyo basho they take down the oldest 2 paintings I think (because every other basho is elsewhere: Kyushu, Nagoya or Osaka) and put up new paintings for the last two yusho winners. Today was the last day for Takanohana's last yusho poster to be displayed during a honbasho at the kokugikan. I suppose they sell those things to collectors? If so, that one will probably fetch a good price. Also, I wonder if Takanohana will come out with a diet book. I've not seen a former rikishi so skinny. Anyone able to post a recent picture of him? I saw him on the ol' tellie and his hair is now shorter than it had been recently. He looks really healthy. Something about him just seems weird though. Maybe that's why he has such self-discipline.

Impressive bashos for both young rikishi. I suppose that it is important to be cautious at the tachiai if opponents are always trying for the henka or hatakikomi. I think it is impressive to never win by going backwards, but OTOH, could that be a weakness because he is too predictable? Eventually, most rikishi will resort to the henka once in a while, if just to keep their opponents guessing. Like in baseball, a pitcher who always throws strikes would not be a good pitcher because the batter does not have to guess.

He had the 2nd-worst record among the Ozeki, that's reason enough. Yes, Ozeki is different. It's not really a 'demotion' because he is still Ozeki. I believe that among returning Ozeki the one with the best record in the previous basho gets the O1E spot. I don't know what the tiebreaker is. Head-to-head? If so, that would favor Kotooshu. You can't really demote any sanyaku so I bet they will add some sanyaku. Is there any precedent for 4 komusubis? Or, maybe The Kid gets promoted to Sekiwake?

Anyone want to venture a guess about how many demotions from / promotions to Juryo there will be?

Sounds like a smart choice to me. A loss for sumo, but if I was Asashoryu, I think that I would be thinking the same thing. It is his home, and also his riches would be much higher in Mongolia. Its hard to be a gaijin in Japan, frankly. I do not say that because I don't like it here or because I resent the Japanese. Its just hard to be different in this society. I am fluent in Japanese, but not like a native speaker. I am a permanant resident, Japanese wife, house and mortgage and (half) kids (who can't speak English), but I increasingly feel psychologically alienated. I suppose its my own fault for choosing this life, but I have too many commitments to do anything about it now. Even my own children actually have called me a gaijin. :'-(

Tough luck, but yes he needs to be going forward, and poor sumo is a cause of this injury. Next basho he should presumably fall down the banzuke far enough to have a "tune up" basho in the relatively easier lower ranks before returning to Joi.

Tochiozan's bout was a long one in which he managed to get a right-hand grip on the larger Daimanazuru's mawashi, but was unable to do anything with it. He kept trying various attempts of pushing or throwing, but was unable to move Daimanazuru, who waited for Tochiozan to get tired and then pushed him out.

I tuned in early today to catch Sawai's bout. He won quite handily going forward with a quick yorikiri. I will be watching tochiozan's bout, too.

I thought 10-5 was considered "par" for an ozeki. What is "par" for a yokozuna?