Oortael

Given his reputation, I'm pretty sure Nishonoseki has all the necessary connections to pick the best foreign prospect available, he doesn"t have to rush it with a relative unkown. Looking quickly at all the heya with an open spot for a foreigner, my best guess (and I know nothing, Jon Snow) for him to get in is Musashigawa : - a foreign born oyakata who may help him getting acclimated to Japanese and Ozumo culture - in his early 50s so the new foreigner gonna be retired when he does retire and not a problem for his successor - no real prospect to speak of, so anything like a Makushita-level rikishi is helpful - I don't seem to remember seeing him among the candidates for the best amateur prospects, so the Georgian isn"t taking a better prospect's spot Obviously this is spitballing at the highest degree.

Also that's an interesting point, using that strategy for elders in sumo is kinda weird as there is a strictly limited number of positions and no shortage of new candidates*. So guys like Shohozan and others listed in this thread are getting closer to 'on field' retirement with no elder stock available. And this happens to keep in place some old oyakata who most likely are highly replacable at this stage. Let's say I'm not a fan of their choice here. But I always try to remind myself : this is not my culture. * wichi I guess is the point of that employment strategy : keep experienced elders active because they lack younger workers at the bottom du to the decreasing birth rate ?

IIRC, Ohtani asked for the additional H in his name when he transfered.

There you go. Our local amasumo experts always there to provide inside info on prospects ! Thanks sir ! Just noticed Fujita Kazuto was #5 on Mikawa's Class of 2019 prospects behind pros Yoshii and Kototebakari (and also uber-prospect Ochiai).

Rikishi W L Suyama 3 0 Kazuto 3 0 Imazeki 3 1 Takahashi 3 1 Machi 3 3 Oyamada 2 3 Wakaonehara 1 4 Yamadaumi 0 4 Ikazuchido 0 2-2 Suyama looked fairly good, but in my untrained eyes Kazuto looked better. Takahashi mostly used his bigger frame to manhandle his opponents. The last 3 probably won't go that high on the banzuke, but at least Oyamada and Ikazuchido can be entertaining.

Day East - - West 3 Machi L W Wakaonehara 3 Suyama W L Yamadaumi 3 Imazeki W L Ikazuchido 3 Takahashi W L Oyamada 3 Machi L W Kazuto Day East - - West 4 Machi W L Yamadaumi 4 Ikazuchido L W Oyamada 4 Suyama W L Wakaonehara 4 Takahashi L W Imazeki 4 Kazuto W L Wakaonehara Day East - - West 5 Suyama W L Imazeki 5 Machi L W Oyamada 5 Takahashi W L Wakaonehara 5 Kazuto W L Yamadaumi Day East - - West 6 Machi W L Wakaonehara 6 Imazeki W L Oyamada 6 Takahashi W L Yamadaumi 6 Machi W L Oyamada

Lucky Sakura and I might get a huge boost next basho, as someone will fall around Sd22 and only be eligible for us 2. Unless they put Tebakari Second of his name at Sd15-20 ? See you on the beach !

FTFY

Jokoryu actually scored a dominant win vs Tokunomusashi on day 7 with morozashi yorikiri. Just rub some dirt on it and walk it off.

On Naruto-beya's twitter, their Yamada was introduced as Oyamada 欧山田

Sd89e Fukuazuma 0-0 0-0 Sd89w Aratakayama 0-0 Jd1e Genbumaru 0-0 0-0 Sd90w Baraki 0-0 Well, wouldn't that leave Sd90td Kayo up for day2 ? Or am I missing something ? Also why wasn't it Sd90e Hokutoyakumo vs Sd90w Baraki and Sd90td Kayo vs Jd1e Genbumaru ? There is no intra-beya intricacies around there ...

Ms32w Mukainakano

Ms34w Hokaho

Only 4 of the 10 Minato rikishi (including Ichinojo) are annouced as kyujo. Weird.

J3w Ryuden