Churaumi

3 out of 5, not bad for me.

Family and friend commitments force me into one of those every few years, and something I noticed is every one of those has an out-of-the-way corner with a pile of broken chairs. Not fat shaming...I'm weak chair shaming? If there is any fandom to be part of that proves I'm indifferent to body shape, it's sumo.

I've followed his Twitter since he left Japan, and have to admit I've enjoyed watching his adventures at Lake Baikal and watching him slowly melting back into a more recognizable human shape. Have to respect the drive, not many folk in my part of the US do that. It's basically Golden Corral until death after someone hits 300 pounds in Oklahoma.

This is the second article I've read that cites Orora as if he were typical. If anything, he's an expert at sabotaging himself by blowing up to a size his body couldn't manage to do much with. At least this article had John Gunning clarifying that at the end.

Been watching Shiba since he started, pretty good class of newbies that basho.

Well played, @Benevolance

He looks gangly and uncoordinated to me. He's probably got some more growing into his own body to do before that goes away.

I think they all get paid, but like the wrestlers it's a pittance until they get higher in rank. I don't think becoming juryo as a gyoji or yobidashi comes with the same status raise as a wrestler, though. It's just a higher rank, a little more pay, and more responsibilities to the Kyokai.

At the end of the day,, but before the yumitorishiki, Hakuho strides down the hanamichi, sheds the blue suit, and reveals a mawashi. He stands in the way waiting for a competitor to appear, making every one uncomfortable for far too long. Then, when none appears, he turns back down the hanamichi, double birds to the sky.

Hokuseiho will falter in actual juryo competition, Asanowaka is too small, Hiradoumi will be okay because I need to say something nice about someone today. The ozeki will be okay. Green baked goods.

O1E and not for long if his injuries don't improve significantly. He'll stay in makuuchi but as a maegashira by year's end. Sad news from the crystal ball today.

Mitakeumi will continue to be the forever sekiwake. There are a couple future ozeki on the list but they won't make it next year.

At least he can say he was a "professional" athlete...just without any money.

He did lose some, I remember several of us on the forum remarking he looked visibly smaller maybe six months into his career. It's just a bummer to follow a kid and have them go out like this. I just hope he's healthy and moves on to his next thing. There's still hope for Tanakayama, in terms of kids I've followed over the years.

I saw a little documentary piece on him when his team won a national team sumo tournament when he was in middle school, and it showed an interview with his dad while Toma was eating rather aggressively. They seemed to believe size was the most important thing, but I would argue it's not that important. Few makuuchi wrestlers are as chunky as him.