Kaninoyama

Ounomatsu Oyakata and Hakkaku Rijicho both confirmed Takakeisho's Ozeki promotion. Well deserved! And here's hoping Tochinoshin can fight his way back to the Ozeki ranks next basho.

They are both the real deal.

Something I'm NOT surprised about: Terutsuyoshi struggling mightily in his Makuuchi debut. I do believe that long term he'll be back and find some extended success at this level, but for now, it's back to Juryo for next basho.

Can't argue with that reasoning, but my dream scenario at this point would be: Takayasu wins today, and everything falls in place for him to get his first yusho. Takakeisho loses to Takayasu, but then wins his last 2 and that's enough to gain Ozeki promotion. Tochinoshin somehow wins 2 of the last 3 to hang on to his Ozeki status. Based on the remaining match-ups, is all of that even possible?

Today's Takayasu v. Takakeisho Torikumi has some serious implications. Both desperately need this win: one for a chance to secure Ozeki promotion, the other to stay in the Yusho race and secure his first tournament victory. As fans of both, I feel very conflicted.

I expected him to be only a brief visitor to Makuuchi but he has continued to exceed my expectations and if quickly becoming a favorite. This time around, he lost against the joi ranked above him, but he fought gamely, so I expect him to learn from this basho and come back a better, stronger rikishi. I hope he continues to surprise.

Authoritative win by Takayasu over Kakuryu to remain in the yusho hunt.

Ozeki Takakeisho now looking like far from a sure thing.

Ichinojo casually swatting a fly on his way to win number 11.

This absolutely. His stature and build are his strengths, not his weaknesses.

He's just the worst: can't put a complete sentence together in his native tongue. In contrast, ex-Musoyama delivers the explanation flawlessly and concisely every time.

Tamawashi with his best Tochiozan vs. Hakuho impression.

Already a thread for this

Very true. Given their respective track records, I could have just as easily have written: "The only thing more believable about how Hakuho managed to win from that position was how Tochiozan managed to lose from it.

Televised sumo will never be the same. "Olympic Ojisan" Naotoshi Yamada (he of the top hat, white & red jacket, and fan), a fixture for many years in the center of the TV screen during NHK broadcasts of sumo events at the Kokugikan, has passed away. He was 92. Article in Japanese