Gospodin

"In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes two months." Andy Warhol has reached sumo, finally Seriously, Tokushoryu took adavantage of a quite unique situation. No yokozuna, badly performing ozeki, a relatively easy first week-schedule, and the top-tier opponents he faced didn´t know him well, probably. Not to take anything away from his success - after all he won those 14 matches - but I also cannot imagine him holding his own even in mid-maegashira over more than two bashos.

Enho better be careful, Princess Aiko seems to be moonlighting...

Many thanks. Somehow I was dead sure Miyabiyama retired upon falling to Juryo...

A question to the respected board: aside from demotions due to injuries, who was the the last ex-Ozeki carrying on in the Juryo division ?

I cannot believe that. This is unreal. Apologies for this meaningless post, but...

Shodai is a bit of an enigma, always good for a surprise win or, (way) more often, an unexpected, terrible loss. If he keeps wrestling like he did in this basho however, Tokushoryu has no chance.

Kotoeko getting two free slaps on Onosho - hilarious :D

Given the very different characteristics compared with the lower sanyaku ranks, in attaining and maintaining, I thought there is more behind than just a slot to be filled.

What is the reason behind having two ozeki at all times ?

I respectfully disagree. Kaio‘s kotenage often seemed to come out of nowhere and was technically perfect - not exactly what Ryuden displayed today.

Is it just me, or does Shodai‘s read-and-react style resemble that of Hakuho’s in his prime - though not on that level ? My impression is Shodai became physically stronger, and thus his „counter-punching“ skills improved.

In times of trouble Goeido remembers his kubinage. I thought he had completely dropped it from his repertoire.

Haven´t looked deeper, but my money is on Akinoshima. He had two kinboshi in a basho four times.

I think it´s fair to state Akebono was the last Yokozuna who achieved the rank with almost solely relying on oshi sumo.

Definitely, and I also don´t like the YDC trying to take away techniques seeming unbecoming to a certain rank. However, I am not sure if Hakuho always follows the spirit of said rules, which might be a reason he gets critized by the YDC . Just a gai-jin thought, though...