Gooner

Can you explain?

I think the quality has definately dropped for a couple of years mainly because there is no dominating yokozuna. Hakuho has won 4 out of the last 16 yusho, Kakuryu 3. However I feel the standard in this basho (and in July too) has been great. It seems like a lot of exiting rikishi are in good form since they had 4 months off between april and July. Asanoyama and Takakeisho are proving to be very solid Ozekis. We have three Sekiwake coming into this basho with 11-4 records, 2 of them are looking up to Ozeki. Oldie Okinoumi is showing his best sumo of the last 5 years, so is oldie Myogiryu. Endo is a steady komusubi, M1 and can surprise everyone. Terunofuji is back to beastmode. And we have some very exiting newcomers in Kotoshoho, Hoshoryu, Wakatakakage, Kiribayama,... they all definately belong in Makuuchi. Don't write Meisei off too. I think the bottom has been reached in 2019 and the quality is now going up. This will probably have consequences for some older wrestlers who near the end of their carreers.

Takeoka's Jonidan yusho must have come as a surprise for most as he is only the 4th in almost 50 years to win the division after a very mediocre Jonokuchi debut with 4 wins in the previous basho. http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Query.aspx?show_form=0&amp;form1_rank=jk&amp;form1_wins=<5&amp;form1_jk=on&amp;form1_debutd=on&amp;form2_y=on&amp;form2_jd=on Yokozuna Wakanohana I is also part of this select group.

I agree with the topicstarter. I have been disappointed with the yokozuna performances for quite a while too. Hakuho has finished 7 out of 17 over the last three years, Kakuryu 8. They have only met 5 times in the last 4 years...Sumo is all about gambarizing and perseverence but I feel that the rikishi at the top are lacking it.

Takagenji going from makuuchi to Makushita with 6 straight makekoshis. He looked so strong the first few days in his only makuuchi tournament then it went all downhill. Meanwhile Hoshoryu will probably make his debut in the highest division. From ms5 to makuuchi in 5 tournaments having only 7 wins more than losses. Maybe you can call that 'banzukeluck'. Anyway i'm looking forward to his throws in makuuchi!

Hoshoryu in Makuuchi next basho!

That random guy had a makushita yusho while being only 16. He had a second one a month after his 17th birthday. Incredible!

I think Mitakeumi will win it all although I would love to see another kimedashi win of Terunofuji just like in Hatsu 2017. Probably Terunofujis most impressive win of his career. Tokushoryu could not have drawn a tougher opponent in his battle for kachikoshi. He's 0-8 against Endo... I'm glad to see Takayasu and Tochinoshin both have their first good tournament in about a year. They did not face eachother which is a bit weird considering they have had almost identical records all through the basho and are only one and a half rank apart.

Tomorrow Asanoyama vs Terunofuji for the lead! I can't remember the last time I was this exited for a single sumo battle. As it stands after day 12 Hoshoryu is 4th in line for promotion to makuuchi. Chiyomaru and Kotonowaka are already sure of demotion and Shohozan needs to win his last three. Nishikigi needs two more wins to be safe and Ikioi probably too. I'd say were on track for Hoshoryus makuuchi debut in Aki!

Yutakayama on 1-10... You know you're having a bad tournament when you lose to Aoiyama by Yorikiri. The first Yorikiri win for Aoiyama in 20 months. It seems the yushorace in Juryo will be exiting aswell with one leader on 8-3 followed by seven on 7-4. I would be surprised if Mitoryu keeps his nose in front of the chasers. Chiyonokuni now 1 win away from Juryo!

Kotoshoho now on 4-0 and looking impressive. I feel he has the body to become a sumogreat. About the same length as Asanoyama but still a tad lighter.

Anyone have a video of Ura vs Kitanowaka?

There are only five clear demotions from makuuchi and six - 7 if you count Chiyoshoma - very promotable rikishi in Juryo. Who will be the unlucky sixth? I guess Takayasu will certainly stay in Makuuchi?

I always liked his movements. He looked cool. It's a shame his bouts ended by disappointment so often. Another yotsu rikishi gone, it feels like only the oshi rikishi remain...

I wonder if rikishi ever take some tactical lessons? Goeidou rushing forward against the most agile rikishi and being pushed out seconds later... Aoiyama has the ability to bulldoze Ishiura out of the building, yet ends up being henka'd. I bet most of the visitors on this forum saw the henka coming from miles away... Does anyone know if they watch videos or talk about strategy with the oyakata?