Yarimotsu

I don't always post my guess because I don't think my musings are really adding much, but here goes. Hoshoryu Y1e Onosato Y1w Kotozakura O1e Kirishima S1e Daieisho S1w Wakatakakage S2w Oshoma K1e Aonishiki K1w Takayasu M1e Wakamotoharu M1w Oho M2e Abi M2w Onokatsu M3e Kinbozan M3w Tamawashi M4e Hiradoumi M4w Takerufuji M5e Hakuoho M5w Gonoyama M6e Ichiyamamoto M6w Meisei M7e Tobizaru M7w Ura M8e Endo M8w Sadanoumi M9e Chiyoshoma M9w Midorifuji M10e Atamifuji M10w Roga M11e Takanosho M11w Tokihayate M12e Asakoryu M12w Shodai M13e Churanoumi M13w Kusano M14e Kotoshoho M14w Wakaikari M15e Shishi M15w Kayo M16e Hidenoumi M16w Mitakeumi M17e Kotoeiho M17w

Seems to be somewhat contradictory in its advertisement and I couldn't find anything in English about the Orical company that supposedly is distributing it. I wouldn't trust this app as distributed from here, and due to the nature of QR codes I can't tell if that will redirect me to a reputable app store or not.

I suspect that I've reordered the S1's incorrectly, but not enough precedent to say one way or the other. I'd rather swap them so I did. The rest of it should fall pretty easily, right? If you look at the history of how high a high J debutant with a good score goes, the variability is massive. Certainly not a single arithmetic conclusion. All the one session afaik.

I think Kusano's spot can vary wildly, and I don't have any real insight how they're making that juryo decision. Seems random each time where the strong juryo contender falls in makuuchi. I saw a great opening that only created mild issues below, then found a much lower spot to put him that allowed consistent underdemotions of same-record results across makuuchi. So chances are they put him somewhere in the middle of those spots and just muck up everything.

I think you're stretching this part a bit but it still is funny

I have in the past more easily imported tables from Google sheets than excel, and if you have it in excel it is easy to send it across.

I thought it was pretty cut-and-dried that the whole Sanyo thing came about due to the government bailout situation, where one of the government's goals was to increase employment of the elderly. Didn't it basically get mandated through that without much say from the kyokai at all?

Such nonsense is clearly covered under the other restrictions. A blanket "no monetizing" remains silly.

Rikishi, Sumotori, sumo wrestlers. Sumo is the sport and ritual, not a person.

I once again question who these guidelines are possibly supposed to benefit. Sure, dignity etc etc.. but no monetizing? Surely more correct and beneficial would be to say that all heya pay their YouTube money into a shared fund, rather than to just completely destroy a solid revenue stream.

With all these heya now active, surely it is a majority or close to. Which begs the question; who exactly is objecting? Is it just hakkaku himself?

It is of course all speculation, but I think you can quite easily consider both of those outcomes as "certain" in this alternate scenario.

I know for me, the reason I didn't go on and on about this is because it isn't going to accomplish anything. To actually think about how thoroughly hakuho's record dominates sumo and to try to mesh how he has been treated in that way with his legacy is really damn hard. Correct me if I'm wrong but this is far from the first time. It really stuck out to me how wajima's handprint is missing from the yokozuna handprint stones outside the kokugikan. Sure, that man might have sullied his reputation and been forced out the door for good reason, but when the nsk treats what should be their current golden boy in this way it's hard for me to look at any prior incident of a recent trailblazer being forced out the door. Hakuho took his eyes off a deshi with a really detestable attitude for too long, that much is true. We also know it is true of at least a few other current oyakata (with varying degrees of detestable behaviour swept under the rug) - all of whom since have kept their stables, including the easy comparison of nishonoseki who now gets to reap the rewards of his own deshi's success. Others have mentioned after the fact that onosato's rise was probably inevitable, and some have praised kisenosato for a steadying hand in this rise, but these commentators seem to have forgotten both the minor scandals around onosato under nishonoseki's guidance, and especially forgotten the intrigue around which stable the boy would join in the first place. That's a long rant going all over the place. Arguably I should keep it to myself, but I want to release these thoughts. Hakuho's got a lot on his plate and as the uber-famous international personality that he should be and probably always will be, that won't change. That might not be the most suitable for someone trying to manage a heya full of young men, but when has this consideration ever factored into sumo heya before? Special treatment again. I note that not once was it publicly discussed to move any oyakata into miyagino beya to stabilise it and teach hakuho and the deshi how to behave there. In hindsight at least, that seem far more acceptable to both stables' Rikishi and their futures in sumo, and far more likely to keep the nsk's members/employees on good terms. I can understand all the rationale that led to this situation, but I cannot condone it.

Sumo may not suit his body, but he does beautiful sumo. Arguably it is the "wrong" sport for all Rikishi due to the risks involved, but I don't think we'd be commenting here if we thought that way.

I'd argue that it certainly does, and I think they might be making juryo a hard line to cross for the first time for this reason. Think about all the effort and money that has to be spent to get a new Rikishi into juryo. Mawashi and kesho mawashi, change in rank and privilege and all that comes with sekitorihood - the more I think about it, the less surprising it is that they would want first-timers to juryo to be given a second chance in a tie, and request a fairly undeniable record from newcomers to enter. The disappointment of a one-basho juryo visitor for all involved in funding that and the Rikishi himself must be pretty high.

Rather the other way around - he didn't get one so they considered that against his promotion? I don't think we can say for sure which way.

Some of the rank numbers on those last 3 categories need changing. Good stuff

I'm sure they would still accept donations somewhere, but all the ones I have seen in person have been for Noto

Welcome to Game 21 for the Natsu 2025 Basho! I am launching the game again today, and Profomisakari will be back for the day-to-day comments. HOW TO PLAY GAME 21 Shortly after the Banzuke is published, 21 potential bouts are selected by the admins. You just have to decide which bouts will or will not take place and, if they will, who you think will be the winners. The deadline to play is always the Friday before the basho starts. Usually at 11 AM (JST) / 2 AM (UTC), but may be hours earlier if I discover the torikumi has already been revealed. Each correct pick will earn you one point. If a Rikishi is listed in one of the potential bouts but never has a match scheduled in the Basho, the bout will not count for the allocation of points. If two or more entrants end up with the same number of correct picks, the two following tiebreaker rules will apply: TB1: entrants will earn TB points for their ability to spot winning outsiders (i.e. the fewer players to correctly pick a winner, the more TB points you score) and the entrant with most TB points will win the tiebreaker. TB2: if the first tiebreaker does not break the tie, the entrant with the earliest submission time will be declared the winner. Your submission time updates if you edit. If you want to play, simply click the link below. it will take you to a multiple-choice form that will offer you three choices for each bout: A if you think the first Rikishi will win B if you think the second Rikishi will win X if you think the bout will not take place In addition to your picks and your shikona, the form will ask for a valid email address. The reason for this request is (a) to allow the system to send you a copy of your picks and (b) to allow you to update your choices until the deadline by clicking the “Edit Response'' button that is in the email.  If you want to play for the upcoming Basho, HERE IS THE LINK.  The deadline to play is Friday 9th of May at 11 AM (JST), 2 AM (UTC)  To help you prepare your picks, here are the bouts for the upcoming Basho: Nr A History B 1 Hoshoryu 6-8 Wakatakakage 2 Kirishima 1-0 Takerufuji 3 Aonishiki - Midorifuji 4 Daieisho 4-2 Gonoyama 5 Kotozakura 4[-1]-5[-1] Takayasu 6 Oho 6-6 Hiradoumi 7 Ura - Hakuoho 8 Tamawashi 2-2 Oshoma 9 Wakamotoharu 13-9 Tobizaru 10 Ichiyamamoto 5-3 Chiyoshoma 11 Shishi 1-1 Endo 12 Kinbozan 3-3 Sadanoumi 13 Onosato 3-3 Abi 14 Onokatsu 1-1 Meisei 15 Churanoumi 0-2 Takanosho 16 Shonannoumi 3-2 Kotoshoho 17 Tokihayate - Kayo 18 Tamashoho - Ryuden 19 Roga 1-1 Atamifuji 20 Nishikigi - Tochitaikai 21 Asakoryu - Shodai I hope you find this carefully considered selection of bouts interesting. Please join us once again for Game 21!

Thank you profo, I have been busy in the mountains and only catching snippets of the Basho. See you all again next time and congratulations to the winner!

I will join

Amazed that wakaikari is going up. I thought he was a complete goner for at least a couple years after that sickening arm injury some months ago. Glad he isn't, as this guy is one of the most interesting technical guys in a while. Will have to catch up on his bouts this Basho sometime.

Majoring in aerospace engineering and choosing to join ozumo must surely be unprecedented, and probably the greatest academic achievement of any Rikishi before joining?

Ms14w Asanoyama and Ms3 Otsuji

Jd62 Hikarumusashi