Godango

I always make sure to watch NHK World's live broadcasts via either the app or in browser on the days they do them (usually days 1/8/15 for the second hour of Makuuchi -- sometimes others). If we want them to know there is a market, we need to make sure what they give us has high viewership.

Completely agree, I just would have `understood` a torinaoshi. Calling it a Hoshoryu win would have been outrageous. I was surprised they even checked it.

I haven't watched the bout again since the broadcast; but my thinking at the time was that it was Onosato's win, or a torinaoshi would be justifiable. I'll have to go back and watch it again, I'm surprised people see it differently.

What a terrific tournament. So much to be excited about for the future.

My local rugby league team literally just made the grand final and now this. What a fantastic evening. COME ON HOSHORYU!!

Ah amazing! I was Same photo experience but you definitely got the special treatment with the goodies. Ignorant me didn't recognise the former okamisan on sight and it only really clicked as I was leaving -- but she was happy/impressed with my ability to finish the meal . I was at the Nagoya basho just past, and had a chap pat my belly with my Takayasu tshirt; the Japanese fans were super welcoming and enjoying my enthusiasm. Great time. I wore the Takayasu shirt a few days of the trip and got a lot of reactions from people, it's fun/nice. We went to Hokkaido and I can't recommend enough that you do a bit of a drive -- we flew from Tokyo to Asahikawa (central Hokkaido) - spent a night there and drove through via the Blue Pond, Furano and a couple of other stops to Sapporo then flew back to Honshu to continue the trip from there; that drive was one of the highlights on what was out third trip. I know I'm getting off topic here -- but happy to discuss this further! Feel free to shoot me a message if you're keen; or I have another post in the off-topic section.

No heya connection -- but I had the same experience with Chiyonofuji's wife and the Japanese people when I was in my sumo clothes and with super basic Japanese. So good, right? Excellent work giving Tatsunami-beya an extra nudge! I've been loving their videos and will definitely be joining the fan club.

I know I'm getting ahead of myself but just for fun. Hanada obviously wouldn't have any trouble finding a heya; but is he linked to any already?

In Australia we call it "tall poppy syndrome". Paired with good old fashioned xenophobia.

I noticed him too -- it's actually a gold mawashi. I believe it's the Israeli amatuer Yarden -- there was a post about his Tatsunami visit in the hopefuls thread.

Hey, we're living in a world where literally any rikishi is capable of winning a yusho...

Quality basho for Tamawashi. Ya love to see it.

Kinboshi-aside, if your "disappointing" performance is 10/11 wins facing the top of the pack, you're probably pretty good at this whole sumo wrestling thing. Onosato will be more than fine. I also love me some Hoshoryu, and I'm not stoked about this most recent withdrawal, but he will also be fine. History is littered with Yokozuna with < 10 yusho. I have an extremely hard time believing Hoshoryu won't win at least 1-2 more, even if he proves injury prone. I have an extremely hard time believing Onosato won't get to 10+. They are 25 and 26. Yet to hit their peak by modern athlete standards. Let'm grow.

If they win, definitely. I believe the point being made was there is a path to a big playoff if they both lose tomorrow. And perhaps that's the thinking from a match-making perspective. This was just an excellent burn, well done . For real though, that actually kinda helps the case. "Dang, our new yokozuna are perceived as underperforming, but a huge playoff would keep the fans happy...". Continue the buzz, rather than dampen it. To be super clear, again, I'm not saying I believe this is what's happening, I'm not saying it isn't what's happening. I'm just sayin' use your imagination is all, it's not that farfetched an idea. Anyway you look at it they're holding out for day 15 for maximum yusho decision fun times.

It's really not hard to imagine a world where the powers that be say, ‘Hey, a huge playoff would generate some buzz’ — especially if we're looking at yet another hiramaku yūshō. I'm not explicitly agreeing that's what's happening, but, as I have said before, Kinta-san has a history of this forum telling him he's wrong and then being proven right.