Gospodin

kawaigari. Right after his ozeki promotion, to make sure he doesn´t lose his motivation for the next step

It coincided with the end of Hakuho´s complete dominance.

Not that it matters at all, but in my country blue suits are the ultimate testament of really bad taste. They even beat furs for men. Brrrr...

In my opinion the Kyokai didn´t do themselves a favor with reminding Hakuho in writing of the rules basically everybody has to adhere to. That gives them much less leeway on how to deal with infractions of other members, or they will be publicly accused of double standards. That´s one thing they can´t afford.

A wild guess: could it be that the Kyokai´s recent experience with a dai Yokozuna-turned-oyakata prompted them to be, say, a bit more careful with rikishi that enjoyed demigod-like reverence joining their ranks ? (And I need a tagline: "Say it ain´t so, Hak !" )

Same for Mitakeumi a day earlier it seems....They should at least withhold the kensho for "efforts" like that. A disgrace.

I think Takakeisho has already peaked, and I just don´t see him becoming a remotely decent yotsu-wrestler. For starters, I can´t remember him getting an outside grip - ever.

To me it looks like Takakeisho is dealing with an issue that affects his performance on a daily basis. Today he was on (and Wakatakakage doing not very inspiring sumo).

A curious question: what is happening with the (lacking a better wording) "announcement sheets" after a basho ?

I think Mitakeumi is primed for a Kotomitsuki-like career, i.e. languishing in lower sanyaku and the joi for a very long time, before pulling his act together and finally making ozeki.

No problem here. Actually having people realize from time to time that their old fart of a boss has a human side is a good thing :-).

This Thursday I accidentially forgot to mute before I opened the stream. Chance had it they just announced a rikishi, and a young staff member of mine checked into my office as she heard somebody screaming . The expression on her face when I explained to her what was going on was priceless, she will never view me the same again.

Wait. Aminishiki still hasn´t had his danpatsu-shiki ? Or am I confusing him ?

Hoshoryu is getting bigger at a striking pace.

I am going to bet ten Likes against that

Yusho: Hakuho Jun-Yusho: Terunofuji (only because of the social committments coming with his promotion reducing/changing his preparation) Most intriguing to watch: Hoshoryu, Takaysu (will he be able to mount another run or will he ultimately begin an irreversible decline ?)

Wasn´t singing athletes a thing of the 80s ? The memory of football players or skiers trying their best at pop ballads of the day, usually with adapted texts celebrating their greatness, still makes me sick to the stomach.

I think Tachiyama broke the "curse" before it was even established . Only beginning with the 70´s were a string of short-lived yokozuna using the Shiranui-style. Terunofuji seems to have decided for that style as well.

According to "God Save The Kinks" it was Ray, but in 1973. He plunged into a deep crisis after his wife had left him.

Perhaps I am missing something here, but Davies wasn´t exactly leading a hermit´s life back then. Since the mid of the naught years, he had a regular touring schedule going, and significantly cut back on performing live from 2013 on.

Hoshoryu was visibly shocked and immediately apologized several times after recognizing Ura is badly injured again.

Frankly, I it doesn´t make any sense to me why Hakuho fought today like he did. I also don´t know why some predicted Hakuho cannot win a belt battle. I know, I am repeating myself here, but if there is one thing in sumo that comes close to a law of nature, it is when Hakuho gets his left uwate grip, it´s over. You are going to get forced out, thrown, or yanked down. What happened today ? The deciding moment was when Hakuho got his grip. He could have done that without those shenanigans, right from the tachiai. Terunofuji isn´t exactly a master in the battle for the belt, chances were he would have given up Hakuho´s favoured grip. That´s why I expected Hakuho to win today. Why he chose to employ a "kachiage"* and engegaged in meaningless exchanges of harite (and at one point almost losing his balance), only he knows... *ca. 20 years ago I was told the purpose of a kachiage is to move your opponent into a more upright position by striking the upper chest or occasionally the chin, and not to deliver an elbow blow that could have brought a donkey to its knees to someone´s blind side

Off the top of my head I‘d say it would make sense to henka on the opposite side of your opponent‘s dominant hand.

No, not that politically charged meaning. I was referring to a QB kneeling after the snap to wind down the clock (i.e. giving up).

No idea why they did not review it, but Kotoeko was clearly beaten and in no position to recover .