The Fat Cyclist

I cant believe I didnt notice that and that the NHK highlights show didnt mention it.

I was a little worried for him too but he doesnt look out of place & certainly has the build for sumo. As a southerner it took me far too long to parse that last sentence :)

Yes that was an epic purple rain! The fans have still been a little too quiet for me since covid. It was nice to see their involvement. I was also confused by the gyogi making both Oshoma & Roga bow again. If anyone knows why I'd love to find out.

(Cut to not keep reposting the pic) That is genius!! Best laugh I've had in a while

Unsurprisingly if you go to NHK to look for this technique who else but him could feature in the video. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/sumo/techniques/75/

I read that this morning (UK time) a really good read & nice to see that he seems happy.

Yes. I was expecting a matta from the shimpan maybe even after the bout. That was barely sumo let alone ozeki sumo.

Better than a day with no sumo though. Also I noticed quite a few people not bothering with masks. As others have said it will be interesting to see how that goes during the basho

Serves me right for not posting often. Congratulations!

Thats exactly my reading of it. If he goes on & keeps losing there will be talk of intai but if he goes kyujo now there will be much less damaging to him. Especially given the recent history of Yokozuna kyujo.

I've had that too. I found a source of some really good arancini that had pine nuts in them & it was all good until I got a horrible taste in my mouth that made me think there was something badly wrong with my teeth. Someone mentioned that pine nuts could cause that & the taste went away when I stopped eating them. It was really unpleasant Back on topic. There doesnt seem to be that much chatter pre this basho, although I realise this is often the case with the events outside of Tokyo.

If you follow the link I think the bag is best of a fun group of items.

Found this on Sora News today. https://soranews24.com/2022/01/26/sumo-salt-shaker-steals-the-show-in-new-range-of-japanese-wrestler-goods/

Thanks for that. I had gone looking for a recent photo of him & come up empty. He does look healthy & happy.

Me too. In fact your post is how I found out that it doesnt start this weekend

Wakatakakaka . . . . . . I cant even say that after a runup :)

We need an "Ouch" reaction :)

Noooooo!!! There goes my pick for the yusho!

I just watched that because of your comment. Ouch!!!

Not at all surprised. I think they should have cancelled but I didn't think they would dare.

That's funny. If I were Tokushouryuu I'd send a good bottle of sake around.

You know that really wouldnt surprise me. I thought before his bout on day 1 that he had the look of someone who had had enough and would have much rather been somewhere else.

Exactly my point thanks. Look at this video & neither wrestler makes any real effort to get even close to the ground.

Watching some of his bouts on Youtube really shows that they were much more relaxed about the tachiai then. His hands dont even get close to the dohyo

If I remember correctly it's also a sort of security role to make sure that no one gets in the way of the rikishi and is traditionally the first job a retiree is given. Sort of a 'it doesnt matter who you were in the ring you start at the bottom again' thing