since_94

Drat! These accursed cogent and well-articulated arguments of yours are making mince of my ill-conceived scattershot prognostications! You make eminent sense, and I defer to your understanding of the nuances of promotion deliberations. I will leave my baseless prediction dangling out there anyway, for all to see, on the off chance it will come to pass, whereupon I shall trumpet myself as a clairvoyant. Not that I wish any misfortune on Shodai, mind you.

An astute observation and I concede your point. Admittedly, I was getting my day 3 and 4 bouts confused. It’s early here and the coffee is just kicking in. It would be more apropos to describe the win over Asanoyama as convincing, whereas Shodai put up much less of a fight and the day 4 bout was much more one sided. In any case, I predict Terunofuji will reclaim his Ozeki rank before Shodai earns promotion and before Asanoyama gets a rope.

Seriously. For all the Asanoyama hype, the big Mongolian just thrashed the “next Yokozuna” poster boy and made it look easy. If his legs stay healthy, look out.

Good. Here's hoping I'll have somewhere to go and something to do with all the money I'm saving because of travel restrictions. maybe I'll turn barber to the Sumo stars. Silver linings in every cloud.

Anybody know what is going on with Takaryu's (Makushita #43) legs? He doesn't walk in a normal way. His legs almost seem to be misshapen. He's a large lad, but does that account for it? Height 180.7cm Weight 188.4kg

Very interesting about Tobizaru wanting to speak English to communicate with foreign fans. Last January outside the Kokugikan one day during hatsu, Tobizaru was sitting at a table beside one of the food trucks that park outside near the Abema TV tent where I was hanging out. I noticed he was looking at me rather intently, and I got the sense he was almost expecting me to approach him to ask for a photo or autograph. This was uncanny, as in my experience most Japanese rikishi tend to be quite reticent and make only fleeting eye contact—or avoid eye contact altogether—during brief encounters with fans who they presume (correctly, in my case) do not speak Japanese. Now I have reason to believe I wasn’t just imagining it. He certainly projected being approachable. Next time, I’ll definitely speak to him in English and get that photo.

That crash of heads between Meise and Shimanoumi...Yikes! Watch it again with the volume up if you missed it the first time. Sounded like cartoon sound effect of two coconuts bashing together, but nthing funny about it. Shodai looking very powerful---that shove had serious authority behind it. Miyogiryu and Daiesho was a great, spirited fight. Miyogiryu really looks on his game at 3-0. Hokutofuji victory over Takakeisho was a pleasant surprise to keep the Ozeki honest.

Agreed. Should have been a torinaoshi. Was this the dead body rule in effect? I suppose. As for the judge’s explanation by former Mitoizumi, now Nishikido...Wow. What a shambles. That’s all I can say.

Just watched and very much enjoyed. Well done.

My wife is an amazing chef and veritable rice expert who says 6 months is the longest you should store rice, even under optimum conditions. If it’s vacuum packed, 6mos. Packages will indicate this with a best before date. Otherwise packaged, only 3 months. After that weevils will emerge and taste can also go off.

So disappointing to learn this is transpiring. Not much to add that hasn’t been said already. Feels like a rather poor start to a day when many of us are still getting over basho withdrawals. Coming so close on the heels of Tochiozan’s retirement announcement makes it worse.

Indeed. I wasn’t aware of all the trials and tribulations he’d already been through before his most recent (2019) injury. His career has been something of a roller coaster. The more power to him. Guy doesn’t quit. Very happy he’ll be back in the paid ranks. Hope he stays healthy.

Yeah, Terutsuyoshi made everybody’s tickets for tomorrow worth a lot more, spectacle-wise. Gonna be a barn burner of a finish.

Shocked at the lateness of the kyujo announcement. Not entirely surprised, though. This certainly changes everything.

Yes. Some of us will never forget or completely forgive that henka against kadoban Kotoshogiku, but I now root for him whereas I used to revile him. He’s made an admirable comeback against very long odds through sheer force of will and a lot of sweat.