Jejima 1,498 Posted June 30 Announcing the July 2025 edition of Guess Kisenosato's Aite.... / Guess Hokutofuji's Aite.... / Guess Kiribayama's Aite..../ Guess Kotonowaka's Aite.... Guess Ura's Aite Deadline for days 1 and 2 entries is 11:30 am (Japan time) on Friday 11th July 2025. All you have to do is guess M9E Ura's opponent each day, before the torikumi comes out. If you guess correctly, you get a shiroboshi. This is surprisingly more fun (or frustrating) and challenging than it should be. It also gets you to think a bit more about the 'inner-workings' of sumo. Here is the current banzuke:- Banzuke for July 2025 Gurowake (Y1E 3-0-12) Y Sumo Spiffy (O1E 10-5) O Bunbukuchagama (O1W 10-5) Jakusotsu (S2E 9-6) S1 Fashiriteta (K1E 9-5-1) Oshirokita (M1W 10-5) K1 Kachikoshi (M4E 11-4) Profomisakari (S1W 8-7) M1 shimodahito (K1W 8-7) Ryoshishokunin (S1E 5-0-10) M2 Andonishiki (M1E 6-5-4) Jejima (M2W 8-7) M3 WAKATAKE (M3E 6-3-6) Hakuhonofan (M2E 3-0-12) M4 The Kyokai (M3W 3-12) Comments: Sumo Spiffy and Bunbukuchagama will be considered for promotion to Yokozuna with a Yusho. The rules are as follows:- 1. Guess M9E Ura's opponents on each day of the basho. 2. Entries need to be in before 11:30 am Japan time on the previous day, except for the days 1 and 2 entries which need to be in before 11:30 am Japan time on the Friday prior to the start of the basho. If it turns out that the daily toriukumi is printed before these times, then any entry proved to have come afterwards is not allowed for that day (so enter early to be safe). 3. Tie-breakers to decide the Yusho.... We look at the result of the day 15 prediction, then day 14, and so on back to day 1. If still a tie, then the highest ranked on the banzuke can claim the Yusho. 4. If M5E Ura goes kyujo during the basho, we switch to M9W Chiyoshoma (M8W Ichiyamamoto then M8E Sadanoumi kept further in reserve, if needed due to a mass spate of kyujos) for the days after his fusensho loss (I.e. we can still guess who gets the freebie). For the immediate day afterwards, (unless it is known very soon after the event), everyone will get a 'kyujo'. 5. Players that are leading the Yusho race (especially in the final few days of the basho), are requested / expected to get their picks in very early (before all the other players, if possible) - in order to avoid suspicions of 'tactical picking'. 6. If the kyokai changes the originally posted torikumi for any day (such as for a late kyujo), the first version released will be used for the purpose of this game. (Highlighted, so that I will remember it, unlike in a previous basho!) 7. If the sumo forum goes down for a long period of time, you may still make your picks to Jejima or Jakusotsu at the 'obvious' gmail addresses or by any other method. Special prizes (many thanks to Yaochoyama): 1. Outstanding performance (shukun-sho) - the one who correctly picks the aite the most consecutive days. You have to have a minimum of three to win this prize. 2. Fighting spirit (kanto-sho) - the one who limits their incorrect aite picks to the shortest number of consecutive days (literally the one whose longest losing streak is the shortest). Any losing streak of 5 or more days would disqualify you from this prize. 3. Technique (gino-sho) - the one who is best at making correct picks when no one, or hardly anyone else does. A point system is used as follows and you need at least 3 points to claim this prize: 3 points if you're the only win to make the correct pick 2 points if you're one of two to make the correct pick 1 point if you're one of three to make the correct pick New players () are cordially invited to this game! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fashiritētā 214 Posted June 30 1.Choyoshoma 2.Ichiyamamoto Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sumo Spiffy 667 Posted July 1 I just realized that I'm a little surprised we didn't switch targets for the game, considering it was clear Ura was going to fall well away from the joi. Even if we stick with him this time, it may be worth considering alternatives now if he winds up hanging around the mid-ranks in September. I'd be down for one of the hotshots (Aonishiki, Onokatsu, Hakuoho) if it looks like they might stall out in the joi/lower san'yaku for a while. Otherwise, it seems like Wakamotoharu is good if we want someone liable to be in and out of the san'yaku. Or Abi. Maybe even Oho. No, I never trust Oho. If we pick him, he'll either plummet to M12 or make yokozuna by next July. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jejima 1,498 Posted July 1 (edited) There are rules to this game about when we ditch the 'target' rikishi . Edit: They might even be published somewhere. Second edit: I'm not sure where exactly..... Third edit.... Sorry for being coy. The target rikishi is allowed up-to two bashos outside of the joi-jin / lower sanyaku before getting ditched. (From memory - please correct if I am mistaken.) Edited July 1 by Jejima Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jakusotsu 6,401 Posted July 1 I still don't understand the fixation on joi-jin. Me, I'm happy to have a less one-track game for a change, even if it's only for the second week. I'd love to have a M15 target some day which will cater for real guesswork. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jejima 1,498 Posted July 1 Just now, Jakusotsu said: I still don't understand the fixation on joi-jin. Me, I'm happy to have a less one-track game for a change, even if it's only for the second week. I'd love to have a M15 target some day which will cater for real guesswork. From memory.... The fixation on joi-jin / lower sanyaku began over a decade ago, when it was thought that the 'lower ranks' were too difficult to predict, so we should focus on the lower part of the '16' at the start of the banzuke. Since then, we have some super-experts who just know what is going to happen.... Anyways, at some stage (I think) we changed the rules to being allowed to have two bashos outside of the top - and I am looking forward to this basho, as I think there might be more divergence in the picks than usual.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jakusotsu 6,401 Posted July 1 ...and I'd really love to see a Juryo edition. I have absolutely no clue how the torikumi is done there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bunbukuchagama 978 Posted July 1 37 minutes ago, Jakusotsu said: ...and I'd really love to see a Juryo edition. I have absolutely no clue how the torikumi is done there. It's pretty boring really. Think Makuuchi without sanyaku implications. Even cross-division bouts are predictable till the last couple of days (except for usual kyujo surprises). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reonito 1,788 Posted July 1 51 minutes ago, Jakusotsu said: I still don't understand the fixation on joi-jin. Me, I'm happy to have a less one-track game for a change, even if it's only for the second week. I'd love to have a M15 target some day which will cater for real guesswork. For those who like to play by working out the torikumi, it's a lot more work to have to put it together for a whole bunch of additional ranks every day. I for one would not be very interested in a game that's mostly guesswork rather than analysis (and the current banzuke committee is starting to make me feel this way about GTB), but then again, I'm retired. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bunbukuchagama 978 Posted July 1 (edited) 58 minutes ago, Jejima said: From memory.... The fixation on joi-jin / lower sanyaku began over a decade ago, when it was thought that the 'lower ranks' were too difficult to predict, so we should focus on the lower part of the '16' at the start of the banzuke. Since then, we have some super-experts who just know what is going to happen.... Anyways, at some stage (I think) we changed the rules to being allowed to have two bashos outside of the top - and I am looking forward to this basho, as I think there might be more divergence in the picks than usual.... Actually, it might be the opposite at the moment: for a non-joi Maegashira, I don't even need to simulate the full sanyaku torikumi properly, I just need to know the sanyaku size and the number of intra-sanyaku bouts for that day to predict it. Later in the basho, things would get more interesting - but so they would for joi guys too. Edited July 1 by Bunbukuchagama 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sumo Spiffy 667 Posted July 1 1 hour ago, Jakusotsu said: I'd love to have a M15 target some day which will cater for real guesswork. Down in the M15 range is genuine guessing once we get to, like, day five. I've been tracking the bottom of the division for the last several bashos, just to see if I can find a rhythm to the matchups; I'm getting better at it, but at some point it gets to where it might as well be done at random.org. M9 should at least be more interesting than that. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WAKATAKE 2,759 Posted July 2 Hello. This has been an intriguing game to play to learn about torikumi making, but I believe my time is up. I would like to declare intai, I appreciate you having me on board to play. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jakusotsu 6,401 Posted July 2 8 hours ago, Sumo Spiffy said: Down in the M15 range is genuine guessing once we get to, like, day five. I've been tracking the bottom of the division for the last several bashos, just to see if I can find a rhythm to the matchups; I'm getting better at it, but at some point it gets to where it might as well be done at random.org. M9 should at least be more interesting than that. I see that our definitions of "interesting" vary. You're a Spike, I'm a Timmy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bunbukuchagama 978 Posted July 2 33 minutes ago, Jakusotsu said: You're a Spike, I'm a Timmy. I had to google this one. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jakusotsu 6,401 Posted July 3 Day 1 - Chiyoshoma Day 2 - Ichiyamamoto Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Profomisakari 915 Posted July 8 Day 1 - Chiyoshoma Day 2 - Ichiyamamoto Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kachikoshi 52 Posted July 8 1. Chiyoshoma 2. Ichiyamamoto Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jejima 1,498 Posted July 8 May I have a kosho this basho, please? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jakusotsu 6,401 Posted July 8 2 hours ago, Jejima said: May I have a kosho this basho, please? That's for the Rijicho to decide Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jejima 1,498 Posted July 8 Just now, Jakusotsu said: That's for the Rijicho to decide I hear that he's rather busy at present.... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Oshirokita 198 Posted July 8 (edited) 1. Chiyoshoma 2. Roga change ** Day 2 to Ichiyamamoto ** now that kyujo for Daieisho and Endo have been reported elsewhere Edited July 11 by Oshirokita Kyujo of Daieisho and Endo reported Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andonishiki 171 Posted July 9 day 1 Chiyoshoma day 2 Ichiyamamoto Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sumo Spiffy 667 Posted July 9 1. Chiyoshoma 2. Roga Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bunbukuchagama 978 Posted July 10 1. Chiyoshoma 2. Ichiyamamoto Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shimodahito 336 Posted July 11 We had a very long all-in train streak to start last basho. That won't happen this time as one player is going with a different 1-2 pick. I'm going to start with the pack. 1Chiyoshoma 2Ichiyamamoto Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
