apraxin

Deaths in Bergamo are apparently far in excess of last year, even with all confirmed coronavirus fatalities removed from the tallies. I wouldn't be surprised if we see something similar to what happened with Swine Flu, where in a couple of years the total death toll gets revised upward, with a little asterisk after the numbers that says something to the effect of 'probably, but we'll never know for sure'.

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.

Not sure if this is best posted here, but probably doesn't warrant it's own thread - an Ootake-beya makushita rikishi has apparently prepared for the tournament by driving drunk and getting into a car accident, per NHK: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20181110/k10011705681000.html. He is not named in the article, and is apparently being 'questioned about the circumstances' by police and not arrested, but Ootake's response 'Even though I told them not to do anything that would disappoint Sumo fans... I feel this is inexcusable.' makes it seem probable that the reports are accurate. PR chief Shibatayama says they Kyokai will respond promptly once the police report findings.

Not much more detail on this as yet. NHK reports his passing at 70. No details, and the article gives an account of his sumo career but has nothing beyond his retirement except that he worked as 'a pro-wrestler and TV personality' and no details of his later life. People in his hometown of Nanao react: 'He was a superstar who I've admired since childhood, I can't help being saddened by news of his death' - a man in his 50s. 'As a local hero, I always cheered for him, I was very sad to hear of his passing' - a man in his 80s.

Squinting at the picture, I'm 95% sure the visible part of the caption is 'Showa 37, May', so I think your instinct is right on this one.