Rocks

Yeah, I guess their record isn't that special but considering there seemed to be so many I though it was much longer.

Congrats to Kirishima on a well earned Yusho. Maybe I'm just clueless but isn't this the first basho in a very long time without a Kokonoe rikishi in makuuchi?

I'm not suggesting Takakeisho would ever be their preference. Nor that I would put his chances of winning this Yusho at 11-4 at much above 1%. But the Kyokai's has to dance with whoever shows up to the party. If he has the best moves, even if poor in relation to others before, he's Fred Astaire for the night.

You can. We also routinely discuss sumo fandom, or in this case lack of. Why would your preferences be off limits? People routinely comment on Kintamaya's inexplicable love of Konosuke despite his constantly seeming to get in the rikiski's way.

He is the top ranked and longest serving at Ozeki actually showing up in most of the basho. In effect, the Yokozuna, at least for the Kyokai's purposes. He's also won as many Yusho as the other 3 combined. If he won here, as stated in the hypothetical, he would have more than those 3 and half the Yusho for the year. If that isn't Yokozuna level sumo I don't know what the heck is.

How many Yusho has each won this year? How many basho have they competed in? How double digit wins? I never said he was belter any way. I said he upheld the rank better. For all intents and purposes Takakeisho has been this de facto Yokozuna in competition this year.

Interesting. Normally I would say not but given: 2 Yusho in a row Competing in most of the basho. Only rikishi in the past year and a half to reliably post double digit wins when finishing a basho No other Ozeki level or near rikishi looks likely to win 2 yusho in a row any time soon. Terunofuji is almost certainly done. I say yes they still would. If they had promoted him after January and had the same record the rest of the year, while no one would call him a great Yokozuna, no one could argue he didn't hold up the rank. Certainly better than Terunofuji.

Hoshryu lost to a Sekiwake in the yusho race. Kirishima managed to not lose against a guy who sat out the first 7 days of the basho with an injury retuning in the hope to minimize his drop down the banzuke.

Because lifting the leg while Hokuseoho leaning that far forward is useless. He's not strong enough to push him straight backwards from that position. All of the leg taps were attempts to get Hokuseiho off balance enough to even try that. None worked. He also has to be concerned about going too far down himself as Hokuseiho is big enough to grab the back of his belt with both hands. If he does he is strong enough to lift Midoifuji off the ground from that position. He's done it to other smaller guys.

Agree. If Hoshoryu had a problem then stand up. Don't make the audience wait around for a ridiculously long time with nothing happening. This was more petulance .than power.

They can't all be sunshine and roses.

Totally jinxed them.

Everyone said it looked like a dislocated shoulder. He may have just figured he had no shot against Onosato anyway and took the rest day. Hopefully it isn't something kore serious.

East Juryo #8 Chiyomaru （Kokonoe Beya） has withdrawn the Day 4 of the November Tournament.