Yamanashi

I get that vibe sometimes, too. The poor guy has a pockmarked face from all that chanko-induced acne. Whenever he appears in open collar and slight beard (compare with suit-and-tie in above pictures), he looks like he's been "assisting the authorities in their investigation."

This was a great video. Some comments about paying sumo athletes: 1) Ozumo is the only professional sumo group, and even there most of the rikishi only get an allowance (no actual salary). Any sport that can generate sufficient revenue can pay its athletes. 2) Women and men compete in sumo here in America (and other countries) as amateurs. Some make money as private coaches. There are several martial arts (and pseudo-martial arts) associations that make money from matches and TV, and pay their athletes (or celebrities) well. A few attempts have been made to put together pro Sumo in the States with no success. 3) University Sumo in Japan seems to work like most university sports. Others will know more about this, but in corporate Sumo individual companies seem to support employees that belong to their corporate team. Back when Olympic athletes had to be "amateurs", American corporations would employ top-level Olympic athletes and allow them to train almost full-time. 4) The Women's Soccer World Cup has ignited lots of talk in America about the national team's high quality -- but why don't they get paid the same as the men? One more comment: the woman in this video is amazing!

Good luck.

"I wanna push you around Well I will, well I will I wanna push you down Well I will, well I will I wanna take you for granted" -Push, Matchbox 20

Takakeisho, Tamawashi and Tochinoshin had Sanyaku experience before their yusho. Does anyone think there are extra concerns about the readiness of a mid-Maegashira for the next basho, what with all the hoopla surrounding Asanoyama?

Shut up, hater sumo guy, everyone knows his hands are small: https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/donald-trumps-small-hands (Just a little sample of American media, tops in the world!)

Agree; I thought I'd rank order the top 3. Tochiozan is almost spooky: even Elvis didn't look that much like Elvis as a kid.

Most like their current faces: 1. Takayasu 2. Tochiozan 3. Goeido 3a. Mitakeumi's mom.

Interestingly, I get bored rather quickly watching the uncut Sumo videos -- the rituals are interesting in and of themselves, but watching two guys spend 3 minutes going back and forth for salt, etc., is hard for me to watch for 30 or 40 matches in a row. However, if immersed in the whole milieu it would probably be fascinating. Kind of like baseball for me -- can't stand to watch on TV (and radio? puh-leez!) Now the Kinta highlights videos -- great!

FYI, Kyokutenho, born NYAMJAV Tsevegnyam in Nalaikh suburb of Ulaanbaator, changed his name to Ota Masaru in 2005 (now head of Tomozuna Beya).

Well, I wondered (and still do). His name listed on the NSK English site is Badarch Dashnyam, which looks Mongolian. It was my understanding that new citizens had to come up with a Japanese name (like, say, Karoyan Ando). That's what threw me off.

A question on citizenship for kabu: former S Asasekiryu currently borrows the Nishikijima kabu from the owner, Toyonoshima (still active). Asasekiryu appears not to be a Japanese citizen. He's not an oyakata, but he is a coach at Takasago Beya. Does the citizenship requirement start at the level of stable master, but not apply below that level?

A 15-minute, very informative feature on the NHK World series #Tokyo: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/ondemand/video/2064034/ Keyword: Ryogoku

My car seat burnt me Neighbor's lawn has turned to straw " ... but it's a dry heat ... "

Well, they have women on the committee, too.