Irakusamaru

Does the winning kaiju get to rampage through the losing prefectures while their monsters look sadly on?

@Kasutera - I'd argue whether art is sublimation, I mean it can be, but you can also have transgressive art which is definitely just a limation(?) (say, Goya's black paintings, or Paul McCarthy's performance works). That being said, I think you can analyse sport through the lens of aesthetics. Sumo is probably very good for this, considering its origins and its continuing rituals. @egparis18 - I think I see what you're getting at. There's something 'fast' about that picture, it has speed, like its a primitive Futurist work. Like it maps out Harumafuji's half-henka.

at either 2:48 or 3:29. Watching it again, it might not make the most fascinating gif, but its such a great stare.

Maybe its Kline's line work - while I'd say I don't see Harumafuji's style as angular as that, its pretty dynamic. Maybe a Francis Bacon figure study would get the right feel.

Man, there needs to be a gif of Kisenosato putting on his 'war face' during the preparation. It was almost as scary as Hakuho's or Asashoryu's.

That's Kimura Konosuke - I'm pretty sure the red duds were a new outfit this basho. Some gyoji seem to favour a couple of outfits, while others, like Kimura Keinosuke, Konosuke's stablemate, can almost go a whole basho without repeating. He seemed to be channeling Keinosuke today - he's normally a bit more upright.

You mean: https://youtu.be/ZFPIgoPVMds?t=1m9s Can't wait to hear his name called out in Makuuchi (especially by Kimura Keinosuke...)

I'm kinda torn on these - they're nice enough to look at, but not sure where he's going with it. He can draw in a ukiyo-e style, but isn't really doing anything with it.

I agree. Kakuryu has been losing to guys who come out quickly at the tachiai and blast him away, which is (obviously!) disappointing because I really like his technique. He doesn't have the level of natural ability of Hakuho nor the agility of Harumafuji, but he seems to think his way through his matches.

Nagatanien missed a trick there - Gagamaru might be much more of a hug doll than Endo. (Laughing...) Maybe they could do a Gagamaru hug pillow. Extra wide, of course.

He'd seen the call - I think he was looking about for the monoii. I kinda like that Gagamaru tries (and fails) to hide his joy at winning and his disappointment at losing. He looks all rough and tumble, but I suspect he's a great big softie.

I can't believe I haven't noticed this thread before - some fantastic work here. I'm actually starting to paint again and I'm practicing with sumo themes, mostly for my own amusement. I'll post a photo or two when I get a chance to.

I'd say its more effective with your centre of gravity below the other dude's - not easy for the taller person to be in that position. I liked the Hakuho-esque "safety squat" at the end of his sixth match there. Nice.

On his Twitter feed, he said that he wanted to do it once.

In fairness to Ikioi, there's been a distinct lack of "gambarimasu" in all the post bout interviews. Very disappointing.

I was so focused on Hakuho and expecting him to faceplant on Kimura Tamajiro when watching this live, I didn't realise Myogiryu had fallen off the dohyo for a few seconds. You can almost hear the "YES...noooooo!"

Not his best roll, but still fun. The only rikishi who comes close to rolling satisfaction is Aoiyama.

Shikimori Inosuke isn't going to make Kimura Shōnosuke, is he?

There's something magical in the way Kotoyuki rolls off the dohyo. Also: yay, Takarafuji.

Close, but yup, tied together. Kintamayama just posted an article about it. Well, that was timely. Maybe if Hakuho gets taken down, one of the four person boxes will make an effort.

Are the zabutons in Fukuoka nailed down? Or are the people there not easy to impress? I just realised there was not even a whiff of cushion for Osunaarashi on Day 2.

I've noticed that a few of the Makuuchi gyojis seem to be bringing out some new outfits for the final basho of the year. Kimura Tamajiro has a floral number in peach and yellow that he wore, I think, on day 1 and again today. Kimura Akijiro has a red deal that I'm sure is new. Kimura Keinosuke, who seems to have the largest wardrobe, has only worn one familiar outfit this time round. Do the gyojis have any restrictions on their outfits (other than obvious rank related ones)? Do they have any traditions or superstitions with them?

Oh, that one was nice. Kise totally deserved it :D It was Nagoya 2012 Ha ha, that's it!

Incidentally, would anyone know the last time Hakuho henka'd? I remember someone posted him pulling one on Kisenosato after Kise had been dicking around with a matta, but don't know how old that was.

More like Henkaho. Seriously though, I'm not sure he meant to win like that - like he didn't want to catch Yoshikaze head on, but seemed surprised when Yoshikaze went flying past. Afterwards, he had a look on his face like: "Man, they're gonna think I pulled a henka!"