RabidJohn

I'm pretty sure it's not my imagination that I saw a video with Kisenosato/Araiso saying "Hello*, sumo fans." *Herrow, obviously...

Given the opportunity, a vanishingly small chance due to the sheer unlikelihood of me: a) visiting Japan; b) managing to obtain tickets for a honbasho; and c) witnessing a yokozuna losing to a sufficiently low-ranked rikishi, I most certainly would not throw my zabuton - in disapproval of the loss. However, I'd definitely throw one to celebrate a plucky underdog defying the odds!

After pic after pic of statues with tsuna and kesho-mawashi rendered in stone, this one came as a bit of a surprise. Bit of a manikin vibe for me... My first thought was that 'they shoulda put a tsuna on it', but then I wondered if there's anything in the photos (or if anyone knows) about the significance of the aged looking kesho-mawashi they've chosen to use.

Hmm, you can.

First and only one so far.

Atm, I'd still favour Mitakeumi as the 2nd former collegiate yokozuna rather than Asanoyama. At least Mitakeumi's proven that he belongs at the higher levels, and if it's a case of attrition, he's there.

Probably someone none of us expect. I mean, look at the last few ozeki promotions. Shodai was the next ozeki, right? Then Takayasu, who couldn't string back to back KKs together, got promoted; then Tochinoshin, who was on no one's radar until he won that yusho; then Takakeisho, who was too short and one-dimensional to ever make it above sekiwake... Meanwhile, Shodai has turned into something of an also ran. All I know for sure is that the next yokozuna will be an ozeki for at least 2 basho, but I have no idea who that ozeki will be. It could be any of the present incumbents, but it could also be someone still toriteki atm.

Jungyo performance notwithstanding, that reads like the plan of a man who knows the end is nigh. Restaurant and bar sound like a business plan, otherwise... well, for personal use it's just a fancy kitchen and dining room, innit?

In know it's only jungyo, but whatever it was, it was awesome!^^

I think you're missing the context. It had become a belt battle, which is not oshizumo specialist Hokutofuji's strong point, and Ichinojo had a left hand uwate on Hokutofuji's mawashi, which is usually a win condition for the Mongolith (cba to go back to find who coined that, but I like it!). The commentator was surprised that Hokutofuji won under those circumstances, as was I - pleasantly I might add. Being able to handle yotsuzumo when necessary is probably a prerequisite for Hokutofuji making it to ozeki.

And you need the salt to enhance the flavour, don't you?

I think there's also the fact that Terutsuyoshi is small and agile enough to keep up with anything Enho can do, whereas the latter can run rings around much larger. less mobile rikishi - quite literally in Kaisei's case.

I have to admit to wondering that myself. Google isn't particularly helpful...

Lol - now you tell us! I shall have to read posts more carefully...

I'm very sorry if it comes across that way. Actually I love ozumo just as it is, with all it's imperfections and ludicrous idiosyncrasies. However, if indeed the Kyokai imposed a permanent driving ban on all rikishi as a result of Mitoizumi falling off a motorbike, then that seems to be a prime example of a knee-jerk reaction. If you want another one, there's the very recent ban on having kids on the dohyo with rikishi at jungyo events. Such reactionary behaviour from the elders is one of very few things I would wish to see moderated, not that I'm in any position to even try to elicit change in the organisation. Mods: This thread appears to have been well and truly hijacked. Maybe this driving ban discussion should be split off into another thread.