Yamanashi

Thanks for the offer! I have a few questions: 1) Does he keep in touch with countryman Tochinoshin? 2) Are there Sumo-related things that he likes to do now that he's not locked into the life of an active rikishi? 3) Does he know the difference between Texas BBQ and Southern BBQ?

So shy ... has he checked with his Oyakata to see if gambarizing will be involved?

I don't know whether to react with "like" or "sad" emoji. Sad that he's out of the gig, but maybe it was his idea.

A good 20% chance they're both from Pinner.

I'm being a little more cautious, wait-and-see; it may take a few years for the plot to emerge. Here's the key: if Hakuho's son gets serious about joining Ozumo, everything's fine; if he gets the urge to design shoes, watch out ...

From the database (nothing missed, I hope): Chiyonofuji retired in 1992 and ran Kokone until ~2016. Chiyotaikai (O, b. 1976), Hokutoriki (S, b. 1977), and Chiyohakuho (M, b. 1983) were sekitori who could have seen Chiyonofuji while he was active. During his stint as Oyakata, Chiyonofuji brought in 2 future Komosubi, 4 Maegashira and 3 Juryo; most of these are still active and all were born between 1988 and 1993, so their parents would have been around for Chiyonofuji's Yokozuna career. Did his name bring in more aspirants? Incoming numbers for Kokonoe were 6 (1989), 6 (1990), 3 (1991), 16 (1992), 19 (1993), 8 (1994), 6 (1995) [so probably, at first]. Whether anyone had any influence on anyone else, I leave to others (see above).

It depends on his ethnic background: 70% (and rising) of Kazakhs are Turkic and Muslim, and 20% are Russian and (Russian) Orthodox. "National" Kazakh wrestling is maybe somewhat like Mongolian wrestling: Sumo w.o a tachiai. Edit: Here's a video of the 2018 Asian championship in Kazakh Wrestling.

Is it the money (they're spending too much on COVID-related things and losing income)?? Or the precedent along with the money? (Never mind; money always wins over precedent).

I never try the "CC" button 'cause they never work; but this one did! Muchas arigatos, Señor y Señora!

I don't get it; mine weren't in English.

Amanoshima (CR Ms17) spent eleven year at Hakkakubeya. His rise was slow, making Makushita after 6 year, but staying there through most of the rest of his career. Gorikiyama - see Yubinhaad's post in the Nagano 2022 thread. Miyabishin (Sd53) from Kanagawa had a five-year career, mostly see-sawing between upper Jonidan and lower Sandanme. Wakaseido (Sd70) is another young retiree at 24 years of age, injured twice and off the banzuke twice. Tagomaru (Sd91) retires at 21 after spending 10 of his 27 basho out of action. Kototaiko (Jd7) spent twelve year without quite rising to Sandanme, including a five-basho kyujo in 2019-2020. Yuta Tanaka (Jd80, not the anime director) has never had an MK on the dohyo; one 4-3 basho and then gone. Machi (Jd25) retires at seventeen after 12 basho and a second run through Maezumo. Chiyonomichi (Jk21) leaves after zero bouts in three basho.

The sequence is on the db (Hatsu basho day 4 January 11 2012). The sound of his head hitting the floor is clearly audible.

This topic is for your favorite songs, for whatever reason. I have loved certain songs for years and years, and cherish revisiting them again and again. I'm a little pop-oriented, though many on this Forum seem a bit more metal-influenced. Some of these songs go back before my time; there aren't many newer than ten years old, because I haven't decided if they're timeless yet! I invite all of you to let us know what songs have stayed with you for a long time. I'll start out with a few in alphabetical order. Alison Krauss Shadows https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ_jmNcm-Dw Bill Evans Trio When I Fall in Love https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adPpG0Dnxeg Bobby Hebb Sunny https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3ZdVc8V_Ss Boz Scaggs We’re All Alone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nf4_JbtPo6c Burton Cummings Is It Really Right? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUS-qZTHq30 Carl Carlton Everlasting Love https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qTzVV01iNA

I have found myself more and more realizing that there is no longer any distinction between the song title and the band title. I would think nothing of hearing a song titled "Two Steps from Hell" by Protectors of the Earth, or "Groove Addicts" by Ashes to Ashes. Or even "Sixpence None the Richer" by Breathe Your Name.

Thanks for your hard work (both of you!) Still, the fusens must have been a nice break.

Well, here's one listener, although I knew about him. This brings me back to the Jazz Fusion era (Return to Forever, Mahavishnu Orchestra, etc.)

Then the middling case is Takanosho (1-6-8); how do you think he will be treated?

A belated note on this list, which I've been going through. The video for Takeda no Komoriuta showed scenes from "Grave of the Fireflies", but I see that it's about a young buraku girl. A haunting song. Some of the links are gone, but I've seen the Judy Ongg video (an interesting "international" singing style!) and Hiromi Ota (very beautiful and lively voice, more pop style rather than Enka?)

Agree. I was disturbed by his "backstage" story that the sekitori were clamoring to just get the heck out of Dodge (or Nagoya). That's pretty rude and, dare I say, un-Japanese.

Everyone's wondering what the Banzuke committee will use as an algorithm for assigning slots for Aki. My hunch is they will confound any algorithm as many times as they follow it. No major sport would do it that way, and strangely that's why I love Sumo.

How odd. Of Takayasu's five JY's, three of them are at Ozeki (natch') and the other two are at M7e(!?)

Since I'm not tapped into the NSK, I couldn't possibly know. My point is that these statistical burps happen when not all systems are exposed to the same criteria. If you add a fusenpai to Oshoma and half of the remaining active rikishi (say, 7 total), they end up at 36-30 -- 10th place on day 9, and 10th place on day 15, out of 43 heya. So they still rise in the standings while others fall by RTTM. Take Hanaregoma, for instance: they shut down on day 9 and it looks like they took two fusenpai to put them at 21-17 (55%, tied for 8th place), but they end up tied for 9th out of 43 heya simply by sitting at home. If they had not suffered the two losses they would have ended up at 58%, tied for 6th. Since I follow Narutobeya I know how streaky they are (7-1 one day, 2-8 the next). So this was a "perfect storm" where a lucky draw up to day 8 leads to this apparent anomaly at day 15.

The best bet would be to take alternate basho off with COVID heya-kyujo, like in Natsu. In fact, if the "take a basho off, come back healthy" model is correct, Aki 2022 is going to look like the Battle of the Titans.

Aaand Enho wins 8 bouts (days 1, 5, 6, 8, 11, 13, 14, 15) and receives the fan award on days 5, 6, 8, 13, 14, 15. Only missing days: day 1 (hey, look at those low-rankers!) and day 11 (Enho showed a lot of spirit, but it was a fusensho, so ... )

As expected, Naruto reaches second place by sitting out half the basho. Take that, regression to the mean.