Kotomiyama

Will a senshuraku makekoshi be enough to keep Tomokaze in Makuuchi? That's all that matters to me now.

My soul has been cleansed by the sheer gracility of Kinbozan's utchari. A bout to show to your friends when they say that sumo is about two fat men shoving each other in the sand.

Fantastic nakabi, every option is open except Takakeisho becoming Yokozuna. That should wait, maybe forever. I suggest that those that still ride the Hokuseiho wagon transfer to Atamifuji's in the next station. The boy's only argument is height and that's not enough for upper Makuuchi.

Takayasu will surely retire without a yusho, but I am sure that in twenty years we will still remember him before a lot of yusho winners of his era.

Indeed. I was impressed yesterday with his sheer patience when cornered against the tawara, a quality that only the chosen have.

Does anybody have spare tickets for the Atamifuji bandwagon? I would like to jump in if there's place left!

First win in Makuuchi for Tomokaze since 2019. It's been a long road, but here he is again!

Very happy to see Tomokaze back in Makuuchi. Let's hope that he can get his kachikoshi. Takakeisho - Hokutofuji should have been a matta... or not. His opponents can't give him a centimetre, he will gladly take it.

I read your speculations about which rank can the youngsters achieve and I can't help thinking on injuries. Just look at Tomokaze, a hot prospect once, now legally disabled and on the verge of returning to Makuuchi after spending a couple of years in hell.

As usual, let me share a couple of thoughts about some rikishi. Midorifuji: After 7 years in sumo, he seems to have found his way of fighting via katasukashi. He has a 24% win rate using this kimarite, probably the finest user of this technique ever? (I don't know how to look for this statistics in sumodb). He is my favourite small guy in Makuuchi he is brave, fun to watch and I hope he will last longer than Enho or Ishiura. Hoshoryu: In his first basho as an Ozeki he was going straight to the classical kadoban after promotion. He managed to rally himself and captured a last day kachikoshi. He hasn't reached his prime yet, that I am sure. Takakeisho: I am not a fan of him. I find his sumo one dimensional, he fights always the same bout (a couple of shoves and a left swing) and I don't like his attitude. And yet I have the deepest respect for him precisely because of that: if sumo is about imposing one's brand of sumo, he has succeeded. He is the most successful Ozeki in the last 20? 30? Years? I don't know if he will one day get the rope, but I am sure he will fight with all his might till the end.

This makes me wonder: what is the probability of an Ozeki arriving with 8-6 at the senshuraku wins vs the probability of the rest of the banzuke in the same situation. Are ozekis playing safer once they get KK?

I took once-in-a-lifetime holidays trekking in the wilderness without Internet during this basho and is the first basho I miss in seven years. Unfortunately, is the basho of my man Hoshoryu rising yet another step. It is fun to think that few months ago we were concerned about having no Ozeki and now we have three. Let's hope that they will be healthy in September.

The whole ceremony hints at a very loved and respected rikishi. I love to hear Holst at the Kokugikan, The Planets is a foundation of modern classical music and an inspiration for many movie soundtracks.

Great basho with some excellent bouts and a powerful sanyaku. Some thoughts: Kiribayama becomes Ozeki and I get the feeling that he will last longer in the ranks than the last. I predict a long and fruitful ozekihood. Hoshoryu has been somehow surpassed by Kiribayama as the Ozeki prospect and I sensed some rage in today's bout. He has what's needed to be an Ozeki, but he needs that extra push. July will decide. Takakeisho from a Yokozuna possibility to clearing kadoban with a lackluster 8-7 score. I do not like his style nor his demeanor, his bout against Wakamotoharu was a vicious attack that doesn't belong in an Ozeki repertoire.

It's too late to jump into Hokuseiho's wagon? Because getting a kachikoshi so early and with an excellent win is quite a good omen.