Eikokurai

Well, that’s the perennial problem and it’s what gives us something to talk about. :) I suspect they will too, but a strong finish for Shodai will give them the excuse to pull the trigger if they want to. I’m sure the Kyokai likes having choices.

But purists don’t run the show exclusively, as shown by the very fact Asanoyama was promoted. If we take four basho as our timeframe and assume a 13-2 for Shodai this time, we’d have the following runs, with one basho in the joi and three at junior sanyaku for both: Shodai: 13-2J, 8-7, 11-4, 13-2 Asanoyama: 10-5, 11-4J, 10-5, 11-4 I’d argue those are very similar records, with Shodai’s 8-7 blip more than offset by two 13-2 basho. He’d have amply demonstrated his ability to perform consistently in the sanyaku ranks and would have five consecutive kachikoshi, which not even Asanoyama could claim (he had one marginal MK at M1). Purists be damned.

Plenty of purists weren’t thrilled about Asanoyama’s record I recall.

He just might. We only have two Ozeki right now and there’s a fair chance of either one or both getting demoted or promoted out of the rank in the next year. Add that both Yokozuna aren’t long for the game and the stars may just be aligning for Shodai to benefit from some leniency. I’ve argued before that sometimes the Kyokai needs to seize an opportunity to promote to Y/O when it comes along or else risk one not coming along again for a while. An 8-7, 11-4, 13-2Y run, preceded by two jun-yusho further down the banzuke (with one 13-2 in the joi) makes a strong case. Heck, he might not even need the yusho with 13-2. His run of form is not that dissimilar to Asanoyama’s during his run actually, albeit he got his hands on the cup while Shodai lost out to M17 Tokushoryu. Shodai M10: 11-4J M4: 13-2J S: 8-7 S: 11-4 S: 8-2* Asanoyama M8: 12-3Y M1: 7-8 M2: 10-5 K: 11-4J S: 10-5 S: 11-4

I wonder if they find it disruptive to their own routine since they have to wait for him to do his salt shower before they can go back into the ring. He sets the tempo in a way. That must annoy some.

No, I had a bad back for about a month thanks to working from home and not having an ergonomic chair. It’s better now but evidently she thinks I still need the support. Anyway, enough about my failing musculoskeletal system, how about the sumo? ;)

Oh, that’s right. I actually noticed that last year. I’m exactly 10 years older than him and I have the same arthritic knees he will have if he retires in a decade.

So Asanoyama will get another freebie this basho and moves to 7-3, level with Terunofuji. Shodai secures his Sekiwake status for next basho, maintains his place tied for the lead and is just a couple of wins off what he needs to make next basho makes Ozeki confirmation more straightforward.

Not sure about the time difference, but if it’s the 22nd, we share a birthday. Happy birthday!

Takanosho!

It’s my birthday today and my wife got me ... a back support. That’s not a joke for the forum. She literally got me a support I can put on my chair or under my lower back when I sleep. I’m not even old!

There’s nothing comfortable about sitting cross-legged without back support for any length of time, especially for men of a certain age. If I was a shimpan, I’d call mono-ii all the time just to stretch my legs.

Asanoyama was East. He got the fusen off Yutakayama.

I’m pretty sure one guy has gone 0-7 to 8-7. It was a future Yokozuna, though I forget which and my internet is terrible so I can’t check the DB.

Not seen any of the bouts yet but just checked the results. Wow. There are now nine guys tied for the lead and six more just one back. It’s wide open.