Katooshu

Vancouver here too , great to see this, never heard of the club.

I think he's better than Ishizaki, up there with how I rated Kusano and Onokatsu entering ozumo, though whether he progresses as a pro like they have is yet to be seen. His frame is rather average for sekitori standards and he could do with building his strength more, as sometimes he could be overpowered by stronger, mauling foes before making his skill count. I do think he should establish himself in makuuchi eventually though, with the usual caveat about health, as technically he's so good.

I always wonder with the guys who look lackluster (or go kyujo) during tours. Lacking motivation, hurting, etc.......or conserving themselves and more focused on getting a feel for opponents than beating them?

Kokutai runner up, and winner of numerous tournaments throughout college, the uwatenage whiz Masaki Hanaoka, a Nihon University grad, will be turning pro with Sakaigawa. MsTD approved. He was a team mate of Kusano's from primary school through college, but goes elsewhere this time. For perspective, in his 2nd year I already rated him at ozeki on my college banzuke: 2022 Collegiate Sumo + Banzuke - Page 2 - Amasumo Discussions - Sumo Forum. With him joining ozumo, the top 5 on that banzuke are all pros now. Here he is in the 135kg weight class final last year.

He's already denied it, and the original quote hardly suggested he was quitting anyway. Just my own perception, but Hakuho strikes me as a fighter who would find motivation in a situation like this, to prove himself, rather than being driven to quit so quickly. Of course, that flame only burns for so long, after so many setbacks, after pissing off enough people, but if he quits I think there would have to be more piled on top than there is now.

'What are you talking about?" = he doesn't outright deny he's retiring, so he must be retiring. That is some fanciful logic even for a BS tabloid. I'm sure that certain content creators will be having a field day with this one - "my sources tell me...."

Per a video on Nihon University's Instagram, Sameijima has also joined the club, along with Tottori Johoku's Jonoshin Mitsuhashi.

"the town mayor and the Sugaru sumo jinku club performed an Onosato support jinku" I wonder how Onosho felt at his retirement party when they started singing songs for Onosato - I get that Onosato is popular, but that seems a bit much

Indeed, 9 years after he did it so perfectly the first time, Daiamami once again 4-3s his way to juryo

I am in and looking forward to my makuuchi debut

Ya, but what good is reality when you can have fun thought experiments

That would be awkward if Onosato gets back to back yusho, with twice the yusho of the sole yokozuna and 4x as many as him in the period since making makuuchi, and is still at ozeki. I've wondered, if an ozeki continually alternated between records like 14-1 Y/9-6, far surpassing an active yokozuna in tournament wins, ,how long, if ever, would it take before they finally threw their hands up and promoted him?

Losing to a couple inferior opponents each basho is a pretty regular thing in sumo, not really the sign of a big choke. Onosato did it too. Often you'll see the losses in 12-3/13-2/14-1 records are not all to the highest ranked rikishi or those with the best records, but also to comparatively non-descript opponents who didn't perform well. It was a neck and neck yusho race with probably our next yokozuna - who even without the rank is arguably sumo's top performer now (winner of 3 of the last 6). It was not one in which Takayasu had a big lead and gave it away with a series of poor performances. Even in the loss to Churanoumi he came out blazing, and in the playoff he gave Onosato a scare with the throw attempt near the edge; he didn't run into his chest and immediately collapse as he did in Nov 2022 vs Abi. I agree he has choked before and his jun-yusho to yusho rate is almost sad to see, but I felt he delivered this time - by the tiniest of margins it just wasn't quite enough to edge the best guy at the moment.

13-2 J - the match vs Kotozakura wasn't a playoff, even though it acted like one in determining the champion.

I hope Oshoryu does pull off the juryo promotion. It pains me to see an ex college star spend their entire career in the unpaid ranks, even with the impressive haul of yusho. He started so well but then something went wrong...

Was cool to see former Masutoo giving out one of the yusho awards on behalf of Hungary! I think the Friendship Award? I didn't recognize him at first.

The previous two playoffs he had late meltdowns: the first time he lost on day 14, 15, and then the playoff; the second time he lost day 15 and then the playoff. This time Onosato was always hot on his tail and I thought Takayasu did pretty well in his losses. He also delivered in his 15th match. It's easy to say he choked, but I didn't really see the signs of that as much as before. This time it seemed he had an overwhelming rival and he simply wasn't good enough at this stage to fend him off the whole tournament.

Hokutofuji looked as badly hurt as one could be while still being able to hobble away on their own. I really hope he doesn't appear tonight.

True true, although Abi is the 'sumo is funny sometimes' type who can lose 7 matches in a row and then beat an ozeki and a 13-1 sekiwake. I also didn't like Takayasu's reaction to losing yesterday - it's understandable he'd be disappointed, but he looked especially deflated and almost like he was thinking 'not this again'. I do favour Takayasu but still consider Abi dangerous. I am hoping for a playoff tonight, as I find it a bit underwhelming when someone wins a yusho indirectly upon a rival losing to another opponent.

Takerufuji has four shoulders

All considered I'd favour Onosato, but very excited to see how it turns out. Takayasu has a disappointing history in these situations but that doesn't mean he can't get it once. His pal Kise eventually got his rope after dozens of close ones! The 10-4s are still alive but I think a bit underpowered for now, and I'd be surprised if the stars aligned so that one of them took the yusho. That said, I expect Aonishiki to be contending again and perhaps going all the way for a cup(s). His ability to create openings and quickly counter mistakes is especially impressive to me. High IQ and fast sumo reflexes.

Day 15 is out already: Onosato vs Kotozakura Takayasu vs Abi (a cursed opponent for Takayasu? Remember Nov 2022) Aonishiki vs Oho Daieisho vs Churanoumi Tokihayate vs Kirishima https://x.com/sumokyokai/status/1903379023927103777 https://www.sumo.or.jp/EnHonbashoMain/torikumi/1/15/

Despite Kotozakura not being on form and having less to fight for, I still prefer him to be Onosato's final opponent. Maybe I am not giving Churanoumi enough credit, but he has mostly looked like a punching bag vs top guys.

Onosato vs Kotazakura Takayasu vs Aonishiki?

Almost feels like we've been here before