Irakusamaru

I think the video says 1901, though. The description at least says 1901–1932. Edit: I don’t know about the reliability of the English subtitles. I don’t think he’s 29 in that clip. That clip’s from 1901 as I understand it. I don't speak Japanese and only recognise a handful of kanji, so its quite possible. I was just going by what I could understand.

I found this will looking for historical yokozuna dohyo-iri: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3vUFg2mydo It has the 17th Yokozuna Konishiki at age 29 - which puts the clip from around 1895 - and the 18th Yokozuna Ozutsu (subtitles say Odutsu for some reason). Its in Japanese, but has subtitles for some headings.

Maybe a bit of both. Ichinojo seemed a bit more fired up versus Hakuho tonight - Hak won, but he had to put some effort in. Teru's definitely protecting his knee - I don't think he resisted Tochiozan 100% at the tawara tonight. Yoshikaze now 2-0 - for after-bout interviews. Is there a query on Sumo Reference for stats on this? They've had two bouts that lasted more than 4 minutes - January and March, if I remember rightly. Ichinojo won the first and Terunofuji the second. Then Ichi's form went to hell, but he'll get it back. I hope Terunofuji doesn't damage his knee permanently - better to withdraw than have that happen. I'd forgotten about those long bouts! Yeah, I think Teru will pick his fights. No point destroying your body to (maybe) beat a tough opponent early in the basho. Reckon he'll KK with his easier fights, but won't be as spectacular as the past couple of bashos.

Maybe a bit of both. Ichinojo seemed a bit more fired up versus Hakuho tonight - Hak won, but he had to put some effort in. Teru's definitely protecting his knee - I don't think he resisted Tochiozan 100% at the tawara tonight. Yoshikaze now 2-0 - for after-bout interviews. Is there a query on Sumo Reference for stats on this?

I think he just likes being interviewed.

Is there anyway to get official NSK merchandise from somewhere that's not-Japan? I'm trying to find Harumafuji themed stuff for my wife for our anniversary. I remember someone posting a link to the Japanese website earlier in the year, but I apparently didn't bookmark it (geeenius).

Let us know how you go!

The perfect present would involve actually capturing Harumafuji for my wife - I foresee issues with that.

Thanks Akinomaki, that's what I was thinking of. I thought it was you who'd posted it, but couldn't find it searching the forums. I don't think they ship overseas, but I have a friend in Tokyo I can possibly get to forward things on!

Thanks, but no - that's what I get when I search in English. There was a Japanese website someone had linked to previously.

The situation with Hakuho makes sense. The whole NSK structure is fascinating! As for koenkai, I was looking at the Otake-beya website last week and wondering how much I'd need to spend to possibly get ringside (well, dohyo-side) seats if I was going to be Japan for a basho again. Thanks again for the info.

Would anyone be able to point me to a resource that explains how the heyas work? That is, how they're funded and the benefits they receive from having good wrestlers and the politics of the ichimon? I can find information online about most of the workings of the sumo world, but not this!

Thanks, that's definitely the kind of thing I'm looking for! Are the oyakata amounts there yearly or monthly? Is the basho bonus solely for the head of the heya? And would that bonus move with a change of name or would it stay with the name? I'm thinking of the Miyagino kabu in that last case - would the bonus for Hakuho have gone to the (current) Miyagino-oyakata while he was Kumagatani-oyakata?

For some reason, I thought he'd already had extensions. Not sure where I read that though.

Does the website ship overseas? Or will I have to harass a Japanese friend to send stuff to me?

Are there restrictions on who can buy a kensho banner? I know Paul McCartney advertised one of his albums via kensho, but I presume they'd frown on someone proposing to their SO via kensho.