Katooshu

Kotozakura doesn't win as spectacularly as Hoshoryu, but he is so solid across different styles and situations. A well-earned and overdue yusho. One doesn't become a yokozuna with a big performance here and there though. Doing it back-to-back will be another challenge, but he's looking ready to at least make the run.

For the record...

Takerufuji may have gotten lucky there. Not even a monoii?

Well he's already won 2 and was in the race on day 15 another time. Even when he's 'off' he KKs in sanyaku comfortably. I know rikishi develop at different rates, but he's been so far ahead of the curve. Kotozakura, for example, was MKing as a mid-low maegashira at the same age. Sticking with those from a college background, Wajima had 5-10 and 6-9 as a maegashira coming up. Asahifuji took 5 years in makuuchi to yusho. With only a year and a half in ozumo I doubt he's reached his best. Many of his losses could've gone his way with just a bit of extra polish, and he's shown steady improvement from his debut. There is so much raw physical talent to work with. Given the current playing field, and assuming no catastrophic injury, I'd expect him to add several yusho to his collection, though there are so many variables at play that I'm always hesitant to pick a huge number. I have gone 7-9.

Heck of a promotion coming there

Onosato kyujo'd from the jungyo with illness, so perhaps he is fatigued. Also some ozeki promotion celebration hangover? But aside from that, I think he's had some missteps that are more a matter of experience. In college no one nodowa'd him like Takanosho did or survived being blasted to the edge of the dohyo like Daieisho somehow managed. In these cases he seemed to freeze up a bit when met with that resistence, whereas the other two ozeki are quite dynamic and can adjust to many different situations. He has steadily improved since turning pro - from 4-3 in makushita to runner-up in juryo to multi cup winner in makuuchi - and I think if he can become just a bit more adaptable he'll make a serious challenge for the top rank. The raw physical strength is already outstanding and even with his flaws he leads the ozeki for yusho.

Tohakuryu with his 5th hair pull loss. He must be aiming for a record....

How come Churanoumi and Oshoma faced the two most senior ozeki, but neither faced Onosato?

I am really curious about Kawazoe. His profile is high enough that I thought more info would be out by now (unless I missed it)...

I'm not sure anyone in sumo has made me as nervous as Higohikari does when he's on the dohyo. It is painful to watch him move and I fear another serious fall whenever he's up.

It pains me that this increasingly looks like it will never happen. I don't know that the senior Daiki has it in his tank to get up there these days, after being a rock solid high maegashira for years. Maybe I should put my hope in Asanoyama vs Asonoyama again

Onosato basically pulled and backpaddled himself out, Wakatakakage barely shoved him. Glaring error in a match where he didn't seem particularly in danger yet. Maybe he was spooked about Waka getting close and grabbing him like their previous meeting. He is so powerful that he's ozeki level as is and arguably the top performer this year, but at times he freezes up and malfunctions if his initial attacks aren't effective. Working to be more flexible in his tactics is important for his progression to an even higher caliber - he does look to have yokozuna potential.

Both Takekuma guys were mostly back benchers at Saitama Sakae, though I believe Gonosho got more competition time out of the two. Incidentally, I am getting Naruto beya vibes from Takekuma in terms of injuries and having an underperforming Kinki grad.

A well deserved late push if there ever was one.

Wow! Check out Aonishiki-Oshoumi if you can.

Better than the time he went 0-10 at least

What Nittaidai also has going for them is the best years 1-3 talent in college sumo. Their success should continue even as Bukhchuluun graduates. Conversely, Takushoku losing Goshima and Kodama will hit them hard. Nihon U may also be depleted as Hanaoka and Kawakami graduate, although they have enough depth to still be in the mix among the top teams.

I don't understand the format. To make it to the top 32 for individuals, some have had to win 5 matches, others just 1.

Weird situation

He hasn't aged much

I'm still in juryo despite having just one KK (an 8-7) since debuting in the first tournament - I guess that could make me the Shimanoumi of Sekitori Sweepstakes? Incidentally he was my Aki rikishi and faithfully delivered me another MK

1:23 - did they film that right after practice? Sweaty boy!

Adult winner, with an excellent spinning throw, is Yasuhiro Omori, a Kanazawa Gakuin third-year representing Ishikawa. Runner-up, who is usually the one doing those throws, is Nihon U fourth-year Masaki Hanaoka, representing Kumamoto. They both earn Ms60TD qualifications, as did Takushoku senior Masaharu Goshima, defending amateur yokozuna Shun Ikeda (corporate competitor but still only 22 or 23), and 20-year-old corporate competitor Sosorufu. Another Takushoku student also finished top 8 but not sure on his name - translating as Goyutoku but I'm not familiar with him. Ishikawa, with a stacked team of Omori, Ikeda, and corporate yokozuna Hayato Miwa easily won the teams, beating Kagoshima 3-0 in the final. Omori and Ikeda were both unbeaten in the teams, and Miwa lost only once - a semifinal bout already at 2-0 for Ishikawa.

Nishide looked like he thought it was a matta and was never in the match vs Takida. It's good he's qualified for the December All-Japans, because that would be an underwhelming way to end such an accomplished high school career. Takida was impressive throughout with strength far beyond his size, including catching a henka-ing opponent midair and carrying him out. I was disappointed to see him lose the final vs the squat, bulldozing Fukuzaki. The latter's Kagoshima team was enthusiastically supported, and drummed into each of their matches. Saito looked worn out already in the team competition, favouring his shoulder in the first round knockout match and then being thrashed by Nishimura in the loss to Tottori, so he did well to make it as far as he did in the individuals. His sumo is a bit wild but he's quick and adaptable. I believe Renta Ogawa is only in his first year? Great result considered. His same age rivals Shigemura and Tamiya weren't as successful - Shigemura was injured in the teams and Tamiya out in second round of individuals (still a good finish for a freshman to be fair). As for the adult prelims, the gyoji need to lighten up. So many matta that shouldn't have been called.

Yehor is huge but doesn't have the strength to match it. In his second match a small opponent went head to head with him and drove him out after a long battle, and in his third he was shoved to the ground by someone closer to his own size.