Yamanashi

Thanks, Mom

Harumafuji -- saved from holding the most embarrassing record in Makuuchi by a dang karaoke remote.

After his injury and drop to Ms55, he showed classic rubber band behavior -- four Yusho in a row (including zensho Juryo), and Kanto-sho before hitting M1 and going 6-9; at that point I'd put him at a zero point of ~M3. Then her did something I haven't seen before [note: I've only been following Sumo since 2016] -- three magic basho (with Faust as his tsukebito) and he's Ozeki. Did he sell his soul?

" ... and father of two ... "

I sometimes entertain myself by using the "rubber band"® theory to assess rikishi quality. For each rikishi there is a zero point which is his natural state; if he gets a little bit above that level he gets a 7-8 and gets knocked down -- a little low and he gets an 8-7 to return to equilibrium. A disastrous basho (say, due to injury) acts like a large stretch of the rubber band, and he gets double digits to return to his natural rank. Of course, the zero point drops as the rikishi declines with age (except for the Y/O -- a Yokozuna is unbreakable). I first thought of this idea when looking through the career of Takamiyama. I estimate Kotoshoho's zero point at M12. EDIT: Of course, I'm not saying that I'm the first person to ever think along these lines. I'm just the first person I knew of.

He's a confusing fellow -- I don't know where his rank should be. In Makuuchi he's 94-116-15, with three kyujo and some disastrous strings of losses. In Juryo he's 82-53 with 3 Yusho and no kyujo. He certainly has talent (15 basho to reach Makuuchi); is his problem physical or mental?

Short fellow in first row: "I've been fascinated with wine since I was a child. While running a large family corporation, I've made almost fifty trips to France with the sole purpose of learning about the terroir of each winery, and spoken with wine experts in dozens of countries to understand what makes their wines unique. At last, I have felt myself worthy to become a sommelier. So, Gorgadze-san, tell me about your wine journey."

It makes me nostalgic for Legend of Zelda II -- OK, not really.

It appears Oshoumi was one year behind Onosato at Kaiyo High School in Niigata (the well-known Fisheries-related HS); they are also both from Tsubasa. Oshoumi will enter Juryo as Onosato leaves, most likely.

I follow Narutobeya on Twitter and Instagram, so I'm creating this topic to record my news and views (sometimes incorrect/lamebrain; that's why I've cordoned it off in its own topic!)

The cynic in me thinks it's because the dohyo gets slipperier and slipperier as the day goes on.

Aoiyama (Daniel Ivanov) began Ozumo six years after his countryman Kotooshu, and had the same 35-7 record after six basho, but with Yusho in Jk, Jd and at Ms48 [and, like many rapid banzuke risers, he's only had 1 basho in each of the lowest divisions]. Unlike his fellow Bulgarian, it took him 18 basho to reach Komosubi (vs 14), and he was 0-4 as a Maegashira against the Ozeki.

Hushed snow in Edo, Quiet under dark Ezo, Stilled Forum Sumo

Don't they usually go to Okinawa on this jungyo?

Dang, they probably knew I was putting up Christmas decorations this weekend.

I think the presence of fringe kimarite in a particular basho depends on the presence of rikishi known for trying unusual techniques. The collapse of Enho has decreased the number of strange tricks in Makuuchi, partially offset by the presence of Ura. Of course, if you were to search the yearly numbers for a particular kimarite, you'd find it almost exclusively in the bottom ranks from 2017-2019, then appearing almost only in Juryo for 2020, then mostly in Makuuchi after that. I'm referring to katasukashi, which Midorifuji wins with at a 24% clip, while it appears at only 1% for everyone else.

Pretty much the same photos of Oshoumi presser over on X: Incidentally, Oshoumi (Fukasawa Seiya) is a native of Tsubasa, a small city in the hills north of Kanazawa.

And not winning much against opponents with winning scores, unfortunately.

On Instagram (sorry, no embedding), some photos from Oshoumi's press conference. Naruto Oyakata looks ecstatic, Oshoumi as usual looks mildly amused [actually, he always looks very shy]. https://www.instagram.com/p/C0N8D8VrFWn/?img_index=1

The endless staredown didn't make any sense when it happened: endless cringe-inducing stare, not against an old rival, but against an M4. "Oh, they went to the same high school" or something: still doesn't make any sense. Did he do this when they met in Aki? It seemed random and arbitrary to do this. Was there too much time left before six o'clock, and NHK gave him the "draw it out" sign?

If there are more than six men in the Y-O slots at any time during the year, it's statistically impossible to do this. Having a lack of Y/O makes this at least possible.

Though, to be fair, they give them these shikona with that in mind. It's not an accident, after all.

Who cares what I think®, but "Lower division celebs" seems to be about either kids on their way up, or well-known veterans on their way down, or unique individuals (some hafu, for instance). For next basho, Takerifuji and Oshoumi should fall up. Kayo should follow soon. I guess sons and brothers are permanent, so ... If Kazekeno and Otani have peaked and continue slumping, they should leave the list [I don't care what University or heya is involved].

Weird, isn't it? Even if everyone is wearing a yukata, X i s sure they're going to whip them off and parade around in their diapers at any moment.

Post-basho group photo: My guess, Top L to R: Marusho, Oshoumi, Oshoma, Naruto Oyakata, Okamisan, Mishima, Karino, Mukaida, Gyoji Komei, Yobidashi Kenta Bottom L to R: Tokoyama Toko, Oshoryu, Hoshuzan, Yamane, Murayama, Oshozan, Oyamada, Honma, Kawamura, Manager Daigo Emoto (ex-Kotodaishin)