Tamawashi - his second year as the oldest sekitori

[Jejima 1,345]

Tamawashi is the oldest sekitori (a rikishi ranked in either Makunouchi or Juryo). He is now 39 years old.

In 2023, he had three KKs and three MKs. Back in 2022, he actually won a yusho! 

 

Will he hang up his mawashi before he hits 40 (during November 2024's basho)? Or will he continue with his Ozumo as he enters his fifth decade?

Please include your predictions (be as precise as you can!) in the comments below. 

Please also include in your comment your guess for either

a) Tamawashi's rank on the January 2025 banzuke  

or

b) Tamawashi's final banzuke rank before he goes intai in 2024

(These might well be used as a tie-breaker!)

Previous poll
2023

Edited December 2, 2023 by Jejima

[Fashiritētā 171]

Tamawashi still going strong, he did not have his usual power but the tournament where he had around 4 or 5 belt throws, shows that he can adjust his game on tge fly and execute it.

[Morty 1,483]

This one is a total crapshoot for me. But he can't go on forever, especially with that style. I reckon slow decline through the year, with a drop into juryo for the January 2025 banzuke (let's say J3W) which causes him to retire after the November basho. Or not. I can't predict this bloke.

[Yarimotsu 548]

not sure this is coherent but let's go with M9

[Tsuchinoninjin 1,261]

He will wash his hands before handling the 2025 banzuke, so the rank he leaves behind will be minimal

[just_some_guy 263]

M12W for January. I feel like he's got enough in the tank to make it through 2024. 2025 might be a hard ask though.

[Kashunowaka 300]

I think he will slowly slide down the banzuke, with 2 KK and 4 MK. He should have enough of a cushion to stay in makuuchi during the year.

[Sumo Spiffy 544]

He'll set the consecutive appearance record in September, I think? Hard to imagine he hangs it up immediately afterwards. M9W after November.

[Godango 973]

He'll be in Makunouchi all year. In the joi twice at least. I'm gonna say M13E for January 2025.

Edited December 4, 2023 by Godango

[WAKATAKE 2,644]

Tamawashi is supposed to break the all time consecutive match record on day 3 of Aki and unless something happens, he will stay in makuuchi. He is not a mainstay in the joi anymore, maybe even fall to Juryo. J1W for the Hatsu 2025 basho

[Athenayama 996]

Tamawashi at M10e on January 2025 banzuke.

[Jejima 1,345]

Tamawashi will not retire, but he will start to 'wind down'. He seems to alternate KK and MKs of late, but I fear that will change this coming year, so just two KKs for him. One 8-7, and the other 9-6. He will be ranked in the 'cellar' of Makunouchi for January 2025, let's say M16E.

[Shatsume 116]

Still going strong. M7e on jan 25 banzuke. 

[Wakawakawaka 146]

On 02/12/2023 at 15:16, Fashiritētā said:

Tamawashi still going strong, he did not have his usual power but the tournament where he had around 4 or 5 belt throws, shows that he can adjust his game on tge fly and execute it.

I think he has more say than time at least for now. He seemed unhappy to have to use throws, but it was quite sucessful.

The question is, will he swallow his pride and use more throws / belt fighting if it means extending his stay in the top division? 

For the poll I'm guessing he hangs on by a thread to the top divison, maybe M15e.

Edited December 31, 2023 by Wakawakawaka

[Pitinosato 118]

J3E

[Bunbukuchagama 701]

Low- to mid-Maegashira most of the year.

 

[Nantonoyama 247]

Intai after Haru, without kk

[Jejima 1,345]

21 voters in this poll.

We don't think that he will retire this year - so possibly expect the Tamawashi poll for next year too.

None of us think that he will have KKs in more than of the bashos - but the majority of us have plumped for exactly half of them.

10-5 or 9-6 will be his best record for 2024, we generally think.

[Jejima 1,345]

Well, Tamawashi has turned 40 (last week), and he ended 2025 with a KK, so I guess he'll be ganbatting on into 2025.

So, 15 of us (Fashiriteta, Yarimotsu, Tsuchinoninjin, just_some_guy, Kashunowaka, Godango, WAKATAKE, Athenayama, Jejima, Shatsume, #1HENKAFAN, Wakawakawaka, rokudenashi, I am the Yokozuna and Bunbukuchagama) saw this happening.

Tamawashi managed just two KKs over the year (January and November), as predicted by Morty, Kashunowaka, Asapedroryu, Jejima and Wakawakawaka.

Over the year, Tamawashi had four 7-8 records and two 8-7 records - so pretty average . But his best record was 8-7 (Jan and Nov) - as predicted by furanohana and Pitinosato.

Kashunowaka, Jejima and Wakawakawaka all tied for 2 out of 3 correct.

Jejima came closest (out of the trio) with the answer for Question 3  - so I am  awarding myself the yusho! 
@Wakawakawaka and @Kashunowaka can each have a share of the jun-yusho (as they both commented, and their comments are similar to what will be passing in reality.)