Katooshu

Shishi dancing to the beat of his own drum

I once saw video of him as a youngster in student sumo, and he looked almost identical to how he does now (so at the time he looked far older than his peers). Somehow he has also had that same receding hairline almost 20 years ago. Born old yet unageing.

I would ask if anyone has ever seen Takarafuji and Matsuko Deluxe in the same room together, to prove they are different people, but sounds from above like they have

With Hokutofuji and Takarafuii retiring this year, that's 2 of my top 3 favourites gone in a short period. Glad we will still see them around as oyakata. Takarafuji, despite his hulking muscular build, had a passive, almost gentle style of sumo. Opponents would throw the kitchen sink at him, only for him to withstand the barrage to win with an economical push of their arm or tug of the mawashi. The was a period where he beat Hakuho 2 times in 3 basho, and gave him a scare by getting his back in the other. Hakuho obviously had a lot of respect for him, unlike a lot of opponents. Even in his last basho, he was able to school some youngsters, including handing the juryo yusho winner Asahakuryu one of his two losses.

While not the most clear cut win, I think a rematch would've been very generous to Hoshoryu. The only reason he didn't touch first, is because he was hit far enough outside that there was no dohyo under him for his upper half to touch as he fell. I think that is too close to awarding a rikishi for something their opponent deserves credit for.

At M1 now - ready to break through to sanyaku

Predictably all over Reddit, why did I bother looking there

Cant seem to react to any content at the moment, but many thanks. The digests are still the easiest way to catch up with particular bouts in the top division.

I thought Hoshoryu took Onosato's spirit in that first match. Onosato looked demoralized in a way I hadn't seen, and at that point I was expecting Hoshoryu to beat him again. Hoshoryu was very smart coming out hard - Onosato clearly wasn't expecting that blast in their first match. But credit to Onosato, he regrouped and delivered in the rematch for a great win - 5 yusho in 11 total makuuchi tournaments is a crazy number

He already beat several guys known to be among the most troublesome for him. And even when Kotoz defeats him it's pretty much never like it was the other day. He is an injury prone rikishi who has withdrawn from several tournaments before, he was openly struggling with his arm on tours and in training recently, and was visibly holding it after losing to Aonishiki. I don't get what's so outlandish about raising the possibility of him aggravating it - it's not an excuse because it's still down to his own level of durability and ability to perform at elite level while hurting. He's not the only one who must face these issues.

I have, and I think he looked good until the last few days. Certainly better than the guy who was haplessly escorted out by Kotozakura.

I don't think that at all about Hoshoryu, and have suggested previously that many people seem to have unrealistic expectations of him. However, he is injury prone, he did noticeably favour his arm after losing to Aonishiki, and there was a quick drop in form from a fairly confident 11-0, to being feebly blown away by someone he usually beats or at least loses to competitively, and then a very unconfident approach to an opponent he's defeated head on several times in a row. Durability is an ability and it is part of being a high achieving rikishi, so even if there is an injury, it's still down to him.

I do wonder if he aggravated something. He was holding his elbow after losing to Aonishiki, then uncharacteristically blown away by Kotozakura, then a not exactly confidence-laden win over WTK with a move to reduce engagement. Despite the one-sided head to head so far, I suspect Onosato will manage a win tonight, whether it takes 1 or 2 tries. If Onosato still can't beat him, then the big guy needs to do some serious thinking about why pretty much every high ranker in the division does better against Hoshoryu than him.

Funny how fast the tide turns in sumo. For most basho the mood was Hoshoryu mania and all about how dominant he was looking on path to a potential zensho. Two bouts later and Onosato can clinch the yusho with time to spare....and who knows, two days from now it could be back to Hoshoryu mania with two wins over Onosato, including a dramatic playoff finish. Taking things bout by bout works for rikishi, but if you don't take a basho long outlook you will be teetering all over the place as a sumo fan. To be fair, it can be fun

I wonder if the Ogasawara who was third in Aomori has any relation to Nishikifuji - same last name and high school.