apraxin

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/e82540fa341bc359f672021317ee73ecad8cac04 Yahoo article quotes Shibatayama as saying that Hibikryu is concussed and has injured his cervical vertebrae - 'it's possible pressure was applied to the nerves there' - which is not somehting I like to hear.

Yes, perfectly understandable in context and yet still very odd on one level to see the headline that Kakuryu will retire and take on the name of Kakuryu .

Good lord. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20210322/k10012928621000.html NHK reports that the charges are that ex-Yoshikaze's wife allegedly abused their 11 year-old daughter by hitting her, kicking her, and spraying insect repellant into her eyes. Per article, the daughter took video of the abuse on her phone. The only mention of ex-Yoshikaze himself is that the daughter 'consulted with him', so I guess the implication is that he was the one who took it to the police (I hope so!).

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20210222/k10012880181000.html To no-one's surprise, the rijikai has decided on a recommendation of expelling Tokitsukaze, effective as of today. Ex-Tosayutaka will take on both the name and the stable.

Perhaps a silly question, but should Roga be considered part of the new Mongolian generation? His entry on SumoDB says he's a Russian from Ulan Bator (the Mongolian capital), which obviously doesn't make much sense; looking into it a bit further, I found this article from last year: http://nyarunuko.com/archives/1849... ...which says he was born in the autonomous Russian republic of Tuva to a Mongolian dad and a Russian mum, and when asked about nationality he says he considers himself Russian. Has there been any change/update since then?

NHK now reporting that Kakuryu will be absent on Day 1: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20191110/k10012171591000.html

Yep, I was reading that as his application being submitted, on a re-read it was obviously that it was accepted and he has obtained citizenship. D'oh .

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20190903/k10012061001000.html Just breaking on NHK now, so pretty much just what the title says - it's understood that on September 3rd, Hakuho formally applied for Japanese citizenship, which is a requirement if he wants to be an oyakata. No word yet if this presages his imminent retirement from active sumo.

...and confirmed: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20190520/k10011922041000.html. Takakeisho re-kyujo from Day 9. Doesn't specify that this the first time an Ozeki's gone kyujo twice in one basho, but says it's 'an extremely irregular occurrence'.

Oh man, that pic:

It's being reported by NHK too now: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20190119/k10011783581000.html Cites 'pain in the left knee' as the reason, but no diagnosis beyond that.

NHK reporting Kakuryu will be kyujo for day 6: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20190118/k10011782121000.html?utm_int=all_side_ranking-social_003

Misread that as Takakeisho and mind-boggled for a moment!

I just see it as being particularly worrisome for Kise. My understanding is that if the YDC is going on record with an official Encouragement, it's them gently clearing their collective throat and indicating to the Encouraged that there could be more to come if they don't see improvement. Which isn't a huge deal if it's one basho of un yokozuna-like sumo to cover an injury, or a lack of hinkaku etc., but given the length of Kise's ongoing injury, the way his basho went so horribly, and how pressure and expectation have more often seemed to be a demotivator than a motivator for him, it seems somewhat ominous for his future.

Oof - the post-basho YDC meeting today handed down a formal resolution of 'Encouragement' for Kisenosato, chairman Kitamura citing his performance and saying that he should be showing physical strength and ability comensurate with his position and 'the disappointment of the fans who had earnestly hoped for his recovery at the Kyushu basho was great': https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20181126/k10011723551000.html Sounds like they may be running out of patience.