Tigerboy1966

Takakeisho kyujo. http://sumo.or.jp/EnHonbashoMain/absence/ and here https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2021/01/19/sumo/ozeki-takakeisho-new-year-basho/

The Daieisho v Kagayaki match may not have been a typical Daieiesho win, but it was a typical Kagayaki loss: thrusting his opponent back to the edge and then being utterly flummoxed by lateral movement. If Kagayaki could move sideways he would be Tamawashi, but he can't so he isn't. ...and speaking of the jewelled eagle... Tamawashi took the day off against Takarafuji on Saturday, but today he decided to have some fun and when Tamawashi is up for it anyone whose name isn't Hakuho should be very afraid. There may be those who will tell me that he's a genuinely sweet guy who does lots of charity work and befriends homeless kittens, but I think he's a legitimate hardman and a more than a bit of a bully. So there was really no excuse needed for Takakeisho, Tam just decided to go for it and kicked his arse.

No surprises there, I think Hakkaku might see a little of himself in Daieisho.

Sam Elliott voiceover: "there was this fella I wanna tell you about by the name of Hayato Takanishi . At least that was the handle his loving parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. He called himself "Daieisho"... sometimes there's a man... I won't say a hero, 'cause, what's a hero? But sometimes, there's a man. And I'm talkin' about Daieisho here... sometimes, there's a man".

To state the bleeding obvious, I think we are down to two likely winners, Daeisho and Shodai, and one seriously live outsider, Ichinojo. Everyone else is just fighting for rank.

I do wonder though, if sekitori are feeling pressured to persevere and keep the show on the road when they would otherwise have withdrawn through injury. There have been a lot of grimaces and limb-clutches after bouts. I just hope we aren't getting overdrawn at the injury bank.

You know the world's gone mad when Akiseyama loses to Ichinojo and we look for excuses.

He walks like someone negotiating his way between his specially adapted car seat and his mobility scooter. He's still a bloody good wrestler but he needs to lose about 20 kg. I have massive respect for his commitment and attitude buy right now he reminds me of the closing scenes of the Akira movie when Tetsuo's body goes out of control.

It's not just that he lost, but he looked bad in losing. I don't expect him to be hopping around the ring like Enho after ten cans of red bull, but he looked slow, passive and off-balance. Watching the replay Onosho's feet slipped a bit as he drove forward so although he was undoubtedly pumped up, he wasn't exactly flawless. I do wish that Takayasu could get a yusho, it would be emotional, to say the least, but I fear that his window of opportunity may have passed.

The tail-end of Kisenosato's career should have taught us that impressive form in training isn't worth a rat's ass once the real stuff starts, but I fell for it again and thought that Takayasu was going to be the man this time.

The paragraph in question in referenced to pages 28 and 29 of a 2015 book called "Shōwa Heisei oozumou-mei rikishi 100 retsuden" by Minobu Shiozawa, published by Hokushindo Publishing. Check your shelves!

Should be Haru 2019.

That's how I see it playing out. I don't think he would want his last appearance on the dohyo to be his slapstick-comedy, banana-skin defeat against Endo in July. I do hope that other foreign rikishi planning a coaching career learn from what's happened to Kakuryu and get their applications started early.

With no heya conflicts I can see, it looks as though the big lad might start his January campaign against Asabenkei, a big-hoss near-veteran with a good all-round game who has been in juryo a few times. Your education starts here golden boy!

I can't see Hattorizakura in jonokuchi. Is this the end of the line for our boy?