Trivia bits

[RabidJohn 1,855]

I watched one of the documentaries posted hereabouts, and the yobidashi check the dohyo every day and carry out repairs as needed. I don't know if such repairs have ever been needed mid-session though.

[Randomitsuki 2,843]

I just realized that there are hardly any strong rikishi born in 1988 and 1989 (current Makuuchi has only ailing Kyokushuho from these two cohorts). In one or two years, when a lot of the bunch of rikishi born before 1988 will have declined, this might bode very well for the rikishi born 1990 and after. Long may they reign (Yokozuna Takayasu, anyone?)!

[Asashosakari 19,667]

I doubt it's going to result in any appreciable effect, i.e. rikishi born post-1990 achieving career-high ranks noticeably younger or in noticeably greater numbers than one would observe in any generation of rikishi. The flipside of the lack of 1988/1989 born sekitori is an abundance of sekitori born 1984-1987 which likely means those age cohorts will have quite a few rikishi who will be able to stick around for longer than average.

Edited September 22, 2016 by Asashosakari

[Hakuyobaku 33]

10 hours ago, Asashosakari said:

I doubt it's going to result in any appreciable effect, i.e. rikishi born post-1990 achieving career-high ranks noticeably younger or in noticeably greater numbers than one would observe in any generation of rikishi. The flipside of the lack of 1988/1989 born sekitori is an abundance of sekitori born 1984-1987 which likely means those age cohorts will have quite a few rikishi who will be able to stick around for longer than average.

Exactly like current ozeki crop -Terunofuji. If there was someone really strong coming up there would not be any talk of making a yokozuna out of them. Also Kakuryu might have been on his way to retirement.

It's quite a big hole though. 1988-89, But there's also a shortage of youngsters who are now 22-23, born in 1993-4. There's just Ichinojo and Daiesho and Kagayaki. So thin. These holes are hope for the yokozunas to stay for longer and the current 30+ ozekis to dream of getting there or at least comfortably retaining rank (Shogiku)..
 

[Asashosakari 19,667]

Only five rikishi in history have won a juryo yusho but not been ranked in makuuchi at any time in their career:

Genbuyama (1927.03)
Sagahikari (1957.11)
Tochiizumi (1983.05)
Hidenohana (1988.05) - didn't win another sekitori bout after his yusho
Daigaku (1991.11)

In addition, Ishinriki is the only rikishi to have the best record in juryo twice (two playoff losses, 1989.05 and 1989.09) and never be ranked in makuuchi.

Edited September 23, 2016 by Asashosakari

[shumitto 418]

I think Arawashi is the only Yusho-less rikishi in the whole Makuuchi. I wonder have many have retired with a similar record.

[Tenshinhan 1,612]

19 hours ago, shumitto said:

I think Arawashi is the only Yusho-less rikishi in the whole Makuuchi. I wonder have many have retired with a similar record.

In fact, Arawashi and Kagayaki are currently the only two rikishi in makuuchi without any (lower division) yusho. Aminishiki also never won a yusho what I find quite surprising.

[shumitto 418]

I think this must have been written elsewhere (though I haven't found it), but Kyushu will see Hakuho ranked as Y2 for the first time.

[Tenshinhan 1,612]

For the second time in his career as a Yokozuna, Kakuryu managed to lose to every makuuchi rank (Yokozuna Harumafuji, Ozeki Goeido, Sekiwake Takayasu, Komusubi Tochiozan and Maegashira Okinoumi). The same thing already happened to him during his rank debut (Natsu 2014).

The last different Yokozuna who lost to all five makuuchi ranks in one basho was Wakanohana exactly 17 years ago (Aki 1999). And this was the last complete basho in his career...

[Sumozumo 240]

A kadoban ozeki winning the yusho is rare, but at the opposite end of the banzuke a slightly similar rare event took place.

Kurahashi struggled mightily to a 4-3 kachikoshi in jonokuchi only to be revitalized in jonidan and go to the playoffs with a perfect 7-0 record. Since the 7 match era for lower divisions began, this is the 7th time this has happened. The last time was fan favorite ikioi 11 years ago.

[Asashosakari 19,667]

45 minutes ago, Sumozumo said:

A kadoban ozeki winning the yusho is rare, but at the opposite end of the banzuke a slightly similar rare event took place.

Kurahashi struggled mightily to a 4-3 kachikoshi in jonokuchi only to be revitalized in jonidan and go to the playoffs with a perfect 7-0 record. Since the 7 match era for lower divisions began, this is the 7th time this has happened. The last time was fan favorite ikioi 11 years ago.

However, two rikishi even did it after a makekoshi. 

[Sumozumo 240]

Alright, I give up. I got a Shimamura but who else?

[Bumpkin 438]

3 hours ago, Sumozumo said:

Alright, I give up. I got a Shimamura but who else?

Nishihara in March-May 1982.

[Akinomaki 40,801]

Aminishiki is the last remaining sekitori from the 20th century: new juryo for Hatsu 2000 and the last active rikishi who made it to juryo in the last century - and also for makuuchi (Nagoya 2000). http://mainichi.jp/sumo/

http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Query.aspx?show_form=0&columns=1&rowcount=5&showintai=on&form1_year=1998-2002&form1_j=on&form1_debutd=on&sort_by=intai

[Manekineko 200]

The geek in me is unaccountably happy that the authors consider 2000 to still be in 20th century.

[Benihana 1,937]

4 hours ago, Manekineko said:

The geek in me is unaccountably happy that the authors consider 2000 to still be in 20th century.

And the nerd (me) tells you, that they are right. There was no year 0. It all started on day 1 of year 1. The 2nd millennium ended 31.12.2000, NOT 31.12.1999. 

[Gurowake 4,108]

Chiyotaikai has been the only Ozeki or Yokozuna to spend more basho as an Juryo rikishi (13) than as a maegashira or junior sanyaku (10).  Chiyonofuji was probably the next closest: 17 Juryo, 19 maegashira and junior sanyaku.

Ok, maybe someone in the 18th century did it too.  That doesn't really count.

Edited October 8, 2016 by Gurowake

[Asashosakari 19,667]

A contender for the worst banzuke luck ever:

Edited October 18, 2016 by Asashosakari

[Jakusotsu 6,049]

Especially so with Ms2e not even marked in red.

[Bumpkin 438]

1 hour ago, Jakusotsu said:

Especially so with Ms2e not even marked in red.

West to East promotions are not marked in red.

[Jakusotsu 6,049]

15 hours ago, Bumpkin said:

West to East promotions are not marked in red.

Really? Thanks, I never noticed...

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Hakuhou has not lost on day 4 of a basho since March 2008. 8 years and 8 months.

Today was the first ever modern era match-up between two rikishi who say ni. Ok, between two rikishi with one letter in their shikona- Ikioi vs. Kagayaki.  How the heck did I miss that one??

Edited November 16, 2016 by Kintamayama

[Bumpkin 438]

1 hour ago, Kintamayama said:

Hakuhou has not lost on day 4 of a basho since March 2008. 8 years and 8 months.

Today was the first ever modern era match-up between two rikishi who say ni. Ok, between two rikishi with one letter in their shikona- Ikioi vs. Kagayaki.  how the heck did I miss that one??

I wondered about that.  I almost asked you if this had ever happened before.  Almost, yeah, I know.  Almost doesn't count.  Still "our boy" won, so I'm happy.

[Asashosakari 19,667]

1 hour ago, Kintamayama said:

Today was the first ever modern era match-up between two rikishi who say ni. Ok, between two rikishi with one letter in their shikona- Ikioi vs. Kagayaki.  how the heck did I miss that one??

Sekitori ranks anyway. It's not that uncommon in makushita and below.

[Akinomaki 40,801]

18 hours ago, Asashosakari said:

19 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

between two rikishi with one letter in their shikona- Ikioi vs. Kagayaki

Sekitori ranks anyway. It's not that uncommon in makushita and below.

In makuuchi after 183 years again. http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2016/11/16/kiji/K20161116013733390.html