Jyuunomori

It is truly wonderful time right now. In the Great Mongol Era, it looked so bleak for a Japanese Yokozuna to emerge, Kisesonato managed to emerge...but didn't thrive. But our boy Oonosato is not only thriving, but dominating. It has been so long since we had a dominant Japanese Yokozuna. Other remarks: Ura was fantastic this basho. He just did pure conventional sumo and managed double digits. It is good stuff. Aonishiki can become Ozeki, and hopefully does in next year. He is so young and has so much potential to get stronger and even more skilled in Sumo. He is still in his bodybuilding mode. Too bad his missed his Shukun-sho. Shodai from years ago showed up. Weird. Takanosho had one of his best tournaments ever. Congratulations to him. Also there is some incredible new blood coming up the ranks. Sumo ain't done heating up!

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it is Abi, flying out of the dohyo! Onosato may be a little bit strong. Ura is doing great sumo this tournament. Just stellar work. Aonishiki is being Aonishiki, consistent and good. There is once again like 2 or 3 people (Hoshoryu, Takayasu and Kirishima) who should completely outclass him by either skill or experience and be able to defeat him (Onosato already did so he doesn't count) so he should hit 10 wins, although he realistically can get like 11 or more because he can beat all three and somehow will lose to Kusano and Kotoshoho. (as he did last basho).

Aonishiki is just great, Tamawashi fought super well and he had great tachiai but got dispatched anyway. It should be almost guaranteed that Aonishiki wins the Gino-sho, his technical performance is so brilliant. If he wins Yusho he better get the Shukun-sho as well. Kanto-sho? He's shown a lot of fight, but I think he will miss out on that one by being ranked this high but I personally wouldn't mind him getting Kanto-sho hat-trick. Hopefully he will be S2w next Basho, unless he gets K1w.

Aonishiki better get that 8 wins and he better earn that Gino-sho. It is incredible work at this point.

What was Oonosato's plan with going backwards instead of forward? Sure, Abi can push, but he shouldn't be able to harm a big guy like Oonosato. Just go forward, stand there and take it, grab and walk Abi out. Should be simple. Maybe a certain saying by certain boxer applied here? Aonishiki doing things, as expected at this point. Moving on.

Aonishiki is not good, he is great. Not only in technique, but in mind and strength too. It would be a heck of a thing for him to be promoted to Sekiwake (if stars align) this basho and begin an Ozeki run...in this Makuuchi which is more competetive than it has been in ages. There are so many fresh Rikishi who are good. Some of them in a cusp of greatness: Onokatsu, Hakuoho, Takerufuji (who I still believe to be the greatest prospect for newest Ozeki run) have all ingredients to be great. Hell, even Kinbozan has the grit to bloom to be a strong Sekiwake regular who may just go into a run. There are the already tested strong veterans: Kirishima (who is on an Ozeki run), Takayasu, Tamawashi. Wildcards who can just win and stop your run by doing something crazy like: Ura, Asakoryu and Tobizaru . The newest rising wonder in: Kusano. The current Ozeki and of course the reigning Yokozunae. It just ain't easy to go on an Ozeki run now. It is way harder than it was a year ago.

Shishi and Kotoshouhou decided together that it was a matta. And Gyoji was confused as hell.

Man, Kotozakura got completely outskilled. That is some terrific technique by Aonishiki. I see a shadow of old Shodai in Aonishiki ( as Shodai made it to Sanyaku without makekoshi, and I see Aonishiki doing the same), aside from Aonishiki being a much more technique oriented Rikishi than Shodai. Onosato was a bit jumpy, but still looking really strong. Glad to see that he is locked in despite all the partying that must've occurred. Hoshoryu had the best match of the day and he is looking vicious this basho. He wants the Yusho and show he is the dominant Yokozuna.

Congratulations to Oonosato. What a beautiful tournament, lets see if he can Zensho. Also we have Yokozuna on THE WALL now. Oonosato: ''Makekoshi? What is that? Can you eat it?'' Got to feel a bit sorry for Hakuouhou. First get destroyed by Oonosato, today get destroyed by Aonishiki. Can't see Atamifuji beating Aonishiki tomorrow either, so a safe bet would be a 10-5 record and maybe even a mirror 11-4 record of a last basho if he wrestles well. He is a pleasure to watch. I think he deserves a special prize again. Gino-sho would be fine due to all the technical stuff he has been doing.

I hope we see Kiribayama next basho. This Kirishima dude ain't all that.

Aonishiki keeps on murdering the lower divisions. He is 20-0. Oonosato seems to be the Hokuseiho we all wanted. Huge, powerful and really agile for his size. He will go far, Ozeki in a few years. Possibly a Yokozuna in a couple more (at least before he hits 30). Then there is The Demon Beast, or Takerufuji. Which demon or yokai did he sell is soul to? This man has to be stopped. How far will he go? Who the hell knows, or the hell knows.

People putting both arms under Terunofuji's armpits has the same energy as a child who has touched the fire once and been burned, then touches the fire again to see if it is still hot.

Yup. Wakatakakage has them stealth hands.

Ura pulling out the magic tricks again. I swear, every damn basho he either tries to or actually pulls off something awesome.

To be perfectly honest: Hakuho was actually trying to lose today, just so that he could give Terunofuji the good ol' Henkaryuu special and double Henka him, first in regulation and in the following play-off... Kisenosato v. Henkaryuu flashbacks intensify.