Stable development game

[Azumashida]

Now that the banzuke for Hatsu 2009 has been published, it is possible to send your selections for your virtual heya in the Stable Development game. Please check that you select rikishi with the appropriate highest ranks (see rules below). Once Sumo Reference is updated I will generate lists of rikishi groups to help you in your selection process, so you may want to wait for these lists before you make your picks.

Stable Development Game: The Rules

Form a virtual heya by selecting on the Hatsu 2009 banzuke:

1 rikishi whose highest career rank is in juryo (we'll call any such rikishi HRJ)

2 rikishi whose highest career rank is in makushita (HRms)

3 rikishi whose highest career rank is in sandanme (HRsd)

4 rikishi whose highest career rank is in jonidan (HRjd)

2 rikishi whose highest career rank is in jonokuchi (HRjk)

(Send your picks to me using the "send e-mail" option from SumoForum)

FAQ1: Each player can select the rikishi they want from each category, there is no system in the game to prevent players from picking the same rikishi.

FAQ2: If for some reason you would rather want to keep some of your slots open, it is possible, but be aware that in any basho after Hatsu 2009, each individual open slot will only give you the possibility to recruit one HRjk. In other words, keeping slots open will not give you any advantage.

Then, for each basho: if you do nothing between the release of the new banzuke and the beginning of the corresponding basho (edit: deadline is shonichi 8am JST), you keep these same rikishi in your heya.

However, when any new banzuke is released, and at any point between the release of the banzuke and the beginning of the basho (edit: i.e. shonichi 8am JST), there are the following exchange possibilities:

- you can replace any one rikishi (or open slot) in your selection by one HRjk of your choice

- you can replace any two rikishi (and/or open slots) in your selection by one HRjd of your choice

- you can replace any three rikishi (and/or open slots) in your selection by one HRsd of your choice

- you can replace any six rikishi (and/or open slots) in your selection by one rikishi - of your choice, if there is any choice - who is makushita tsukedashi for this basho (mstd)

- you can combine the above operations as you like (e.g. replace 3 of your rikishi with 1 HRjk and 1 HRjd, or replace 5 of your rikishi with 1 HRjd and 1 HRsd, etc.)

FAQ3: These exchange possibilities are also valid for Hatsu 2009, i.e. you can change your initial selections before the beginning of the basho – you can for instance send me your initial selection of 12 rikishi and the changes you make in the same e-mail.

FAQ4: If one of your rikishi goes intai, you can also replace him according to the scheme above.

Tsukebito rule: for each of your rikishi promoted to juryo and/or from juryo to makuuchi for the first time, you get to recruit one HRjk. For example, if one of your HRms becomes sekitori after Hatsu 2009, you can recruit one HRjk when the Haru 2009 banzuke is published - you can also use this new HRjk in an exchange as described above. If this same former HRms is then promoted to makuuchi after, say, Natsu 2009, you can again recruit one HRjk. As for the HRJ selected from the beginning, it is only if he is promoted to makuuchi that he will allow you to recruit a HRjk.

The points:

Any jonidan deshi: 1

Sandanme 100-51: 2

Sandanme 50-1: 3

Makushita 60-31: 4

Makushita 30-16: 5

Makushita 15-1: 6

Juryo 14-8: 9

Juryo 7-1: 10

Maegashira 18-13: 13

Maegashira 12-9: 14

Maegashira 8-5: 15

Maegashira 4-1: 16

Komusubi: 18

Sekiwake: 20

Ozeki: 30

Yokozuna: 50

The rankings will be based on total points gathered by all the rikishi of your heya through their positions on a given banzuke – i.e. they will not be based on highest ranks. They could in principle be established after each basho, but it makes more sense to think of them in the longer term. Each new Hatsu banzuke will be the occasion to discuss the rankings at some length. The duration of one full game will be 5 years, i.e. for this first game the Hatsu 2014 banzuke, released in December 2013, will determine the final standings and crown the winner.

I hope this new game will attract quite a few players with an interest in the prospects from the lower divisions! Good luck for the game!

... and Merry Christmas!

Edited January 2, 2009 by Azumaryu

[Azumashida]

Thanks to Doitsuyama's Sumo Reference update, I can now add the lists for all rikishi groups. As I haven't figured (yet) how to create a good-looking table here in a not so time-consuming way, I'll link to Sumo Reference for each group.

List of all rikishi with a highest rank in Juryo (HRJ): here

List of all HRms: here

List of all HRsd: here

List of all HRjd: here

List of all HRjk: here

Looking forward to your entries!

[Sashohitowa]

I don't really understand the reasons behind the idea to keep th entries secret by sending them via mail. Why not posting them (also) here in the forum?

I think it will be part of the fun to see who got who - and to track the development not only of "your guys", but also of the other forum members... (Besides that I am curious who will be the most picked rikishi...)

At least, can you please just put a list of the names submitted valid entries - as kind of confirmation that everything is fine with the mail I sent... Thanks!

[Azumashida]

At least, can you please just put a list of the names submitted valid entries - as kind of confirmation that everything is fine with the mail I sent... Thanks!

Thanks for reminding me, was planning to confirm received entries but hadn't yet; they are here

I don't really understand the reasons behind the idea to keep th entries secret by sending them via mail. Why not posting them (also) here in the forum?

I think it will be part of the fun to see who got who - and to track the development not only of "your guys", but also of the other forum members... (Besides that I am curious who will be the most picked rikishi...)

You'll be able to track the development of everyone's heya eventually, as I will make all heya public when the deadline for entries has passed... but I'd rather have it "hidden" before the deadline (and anyway all players are in principle still able to make changes / exchanges before the deadline)...

If you want, I can send you the other players' entries already now. Especially, it will unburden me to send my own entry to someone... But before I do that I would need to know that your entry is final for the Hatsu basho, i.e. please confirm that you're not going to make more changes before the deadline. My own entry is final so I can send it to you now!

Edited January 8, 2009 by Azumaryu

[Doitsuyama]

What is the deadline again? Actually, this info should be easy to see in the initial post, but I didn't, so I am asking...

[Azumashida]

What is the deadline again? Actually, this info should be easy to see in the initial post, but I didn't, so I am asking...

Good point. (Oops!)

The deadline is what I sloppily called "the beginning of the basho", by which I mean in principle the first jonokuchi bout. I'm not exactly sure at what time that is, but let's say shonichi 8am JST, as in Banzuke Surfing. Apologies for the sloppiness!

Edit: initial post edited accordingly.

Edited January 2, 2009 by Azumaryu

[Gusoyama]

I've entered, let me know if you don't get it.

[Sashohitowa]

Especially, it will unburden me to send my own entry to someone... But before I do that I would need to know that your entry is final for the Hatsu basho, i.e. please confirm that you're not going to make more changes before the deadline. My own entry is final so I can send it to you now!

My entry is final - if you want to unburden yourself - you can send your picks to me - via a forum personal message, please, not via e-mail.

I hope that till the deadline more people will join...!!

[Azumashida]

I've entered, let me know if you don't get it.

Got it! I add you to the list above.

[Azumashida]

My entry is final - if you want to unburden yourself - you can send your picks to me - via a forum personal message, please, not via e-mail.

Done, earlier today.

[Azumashida]

BTW, several of you have sent me their entries via Personal Message on the forum rather than e-mail. My inbox here is more or less full all the time so please send your entries via e-mail (using the "send e-mail" option from here), thanks!

Edited January 3, 2009 by Azumaryu

[Azumashida]

List of received entries so far:

Asafan

Azumaryu (after receiving the first entry, I decided to make my own selection in order not to be affected by other players' entries)

shimodahito

ilovetochinoshin

Jejima

Randomitsuki

Sashohitowa

Gusoyama

Profomisakari

Ganzohnesushi

yamaneko

Bunijiman

liclic

Kintamayama

Bogdanyama

Fuseigou

Fatakiyama

Flohru

Kasamatsuri

Neko (need to change one of your picks, see my message)

crall

So 21 players have sent their entries so far...

Edited January 10, 2009 by Azumaryu

[Asashosakari]

Entry mailed.

[Vikanohara]

I might enter a selection for this game as well, but till when do we have time ?

[Azumashida]

26 entries have been accepted (2 were a bit late but no advantage can be said to be have been gained from submitting these slightly late entries):

Asafan

Azumashida

shimodahito

ilovetochinoshin

Jejima

Randomitsuki

Sashohitowa

Gusoyama

Profomisakari

Ganzohnesushi

yamaneko

Bunijiman

liclic

Kintamayama

Bogdanyama

Fuseigou

Fatakiyama

Flohru

Kasamatsuri

Neko

crall

Asashosakari

Oshirokita

Toratorii

Vikanohara

Takanorappa

Edited January 15, 2009 by Azumashida

[Azumashida]

Here are the entries, in order of registration. E3 means "in exchange for 3 rikishi". Sorry for the "simple" design, haven't found out how to create a neat table in a time-effective way (using code? how do I do it directly from the excel file? if some zealous member wants to drop me a note - by e-mail, please - I'll be very thankful, otherwise I'll just stick to this minimalistic presentation which probably does the job anyway...

Asafan Hoshihikari Kyokushuho Kamei Kotoenomoto Sakigake Kotokashiwadani Aratoshi Kyokutaisei Akita Raiko Hikosaka Shijima

Azumashida Tosayutaka Ri Ryuden Kotoenomoto Yashiki Kotookuyama Isanokuni (E3) Okinoshita Kawashita Hikosaka

shimodahito Shotenro Fukuoka Homarefuji Kei Ozakiumi Sasayama Aratoshi Kawashita Kunigami Watagawa Hikosaka Miyakita

ilovetochinoshin Tochifudo Kaisei Takanoyama Kihaku Ozakiumi Yashiki Iwashimizu Kainofuji Kainomiya Tochidaiho Kawahara Akinosato

Randomitsuki Tosayutaka Kamei Ogata Kotoenomoto Isanokuni Yashiki Aratoshi Kawashita Okinoshita Yamada Hikosaka Shijima

Sashohitowa Tosayutaka Gagamaru Kaisei Ozakiumi Nishiyama Kotoenomoto Iwashimizu Aratoshi Akinoyama Kawashita Hikosaka Asayamashita

Jejima Tosayutaka Fukuoka Kamei Kei Isanokuni Yashiki Kotoenomoto (E3) Inoue (E3)

Gusoyama Tosayutaka Ri Fukuoka Yashiki Kotoenomoto Inoue Aratoshi Kawashita Kunigami Daiseiho Hikosaka Yoshizawa

Profomisakari Shotenro Fukuoka Kamei Kei Kotoenomoto Ozakiumi Aratoshi Daiseiho Yamada Nohara Hikosaka Shijima

Ganzohnesushi Tosayutaka Shiratsuka Kamei Kotoenomoto Yashiki Ozakiumi Aratoshi Yamada Akinoyama Kawashita Hikosaka Shijima

yamaneko Tosayutaka Kyokushuho Kamei Kotoenomoto Yashiki Ozakiumi Aratoshi Yamada Tatsuhibiki Iwashimizu Hikosaka Shijima

Bunijiman Tosayutaka Ri Kyokushuho Kotoenomoto Yashiki Kei Yamada Okinoshita Aratoshi Tsuya Hikosaka Shijima

liclic Daishoumi Satsumahibiki Ogata Ota Chiyoarashi Ozakiumi Aratoshi Kainomiya Teraonami Hanaoka Miyakita Takada

Kintamayama Tosayutaka Kotoyutaka Shiratsuka Kotoenomoto Inoue Ozakiumi Tatsuhibiki Aratoshi Okinoshita Iwasaki [open slot] [open slot]

Bogdanyama Tosayutaka Minami Ri Kotoenomoto Kei Yashiki Kawashita Kunigami Tatsuhibiki Aratoshi Hikosaka Shijima

Fuseigou Tosayutaka Kamei Homarefuji Kotoenomoto Yashiki Kei Aratoshi Okinoshita Nagakura Kawashita Hikosaka Shijima

Fatakiyama Tosayutaka Ri Kyokushuho Kotoenomoto Kotokashiwadani Yashiki Aratoshi Kawashita Okinoshita Yamada Hikosaka Shijima

Flohru Tosayutaka Fukuoka Ri Kotoenomoto Yashiki Kei Aratoshi Kawashita Okinoshita Yamada Azumaryu Takanoiwa

Kasamatsuri Tosayutaka Minami Mankajo Ryutei Kotoenomoto Chiyoarashi Kawashita Aratoshi Tatsuhibiki Akinoyama Hikosaka Shijima

Neko Tosayutaka Fukao Yamashita Kotoenomoto Kaishin Ozakiumi Daiseiho Kainomiya Okinoshita Kunigami Kameiyama Shijima

crall Tosayutaka Ri Kyokushuho Kotoenomoto Yashiki Oazuma Aratoshi Suzuki Tatsuhibiki Kyokutaisei Hikosaka Shijima

Asashosakari Tosayutaka Fukuoka Homarefuji Kotoenomoto Yashiki Kotowatanabe Akinoyama [open slot] [open slot] [open slot] [open slot] [open slot]

Oshirokita Shotenro Fukuoka Shiratsuka Kotoenomoto Yashiki Chiyoarashi Aratoshi Okinoshita Kawashita Kunigami [open slot] [open slot]

Toratorii Tosayutaka Shiratsuka Homarefuji Isanokuni Kotoenomoto Inoue Tatsuhibiki Aratoshi Kunigami Kawashita Hikosaka Shijima

Vikanohara Tosayutaka Shiratsuka Ogata Kotoenomoto Ozakiumi Nishiyama Aratoshi Akinoyama Kawashita Isamizuki Hikosaka Shijima

Takanorappa Hoshihikari Ogata Ri Ozakiumi Chiyoarashi Kuwahara Aratoshi Kawashita Kotonakai Kyokutaisei Kameiyama Shijima

As you can see the selections look quite much alike at this stage, but I suspect that with the two interesting bunches of recruits reaching jonokuchi in the next 2 basho, we'll have some more differentiation. We'll see...

Edited January 15, 2009 by Azumashida

[Azumashida]

Most selected rikishi, out of 26 players:

HRJ

Tosayutaka 19 times!

HRms

Ri 8

Kamei and Fukuoka 7

HRsd

Kotoenomoto 22!

Yashiki 15!

Ozakiumi 11

HRjd

Aratoshi 21!

Kawashita 15!

Okinoshita 9

Yamada 7

HRjk

Hikosaka 17!

Shijima 15!

Edited January 12, 2009 by Azumaryu

[Azumashida]

Here are the records of all selected rikishi after 8 days:

HRJ

Shotenro 6-2 (should be promoted to makuuchi with 2 more wins)

Tosayutaka 5-3 (could be promoted to makuuchi with 4 more wins)

Hoshihikari 5-3 (could be promoted to makuuchi with 6 more wins)

Daishoumi 3-5 (needs 3 more wins to stay in juryo)

Tochifudo 3-1 (in sandanme)

HRms

Fukuoka 4-0 (almost sure to be promoted to juryo)

Gagamaru 4-0 (could be promoted to juryo with 3 more wins)

Ri 4-0

Fukao 4-0

Yamashita 4-0 (in sandanme)

Satsumahibiki 3-1

Ryuden 3-1

Kyokushuho 3-1

Kotoyutaka 2-2

Ogata 2-2

Homarefuji 2-2

Kaisei 2-2

Takanoyama 1-3

Minami 1-3

Kamei 1-3

Shiratsuka 0-4

Mankajo 0-4

HRsd

Ozakiumi 4-0

Nishiyama 4-0

Yashiki 3-1

Kihaku 3-1

Kotowatanabe 3-1

Chiyoarashi 3-1

Inoue 3-1

Ryutei 3-1

Ota 3-1

Kotookuyama 3-1

Kotoenomoto 2-2

Kaishin 2-2

Isanokuni 2-2

Kotokashiwadani 2-2

Oazuma 2-2

Sasayama 2-2

Sakigake 1-3

Kuwahara 1-3

Kei 0-0-7

HRjd

Aratoshi 4-0

Kawashita 4-0

Akinoyama 3-1

Watagawa 3-1

Nagakura 3-1

Isamizuki 3-1 (in jonokuchi)

Tatsuhibiki 2-2

Kyokutaisei 2-2

Raiko 2-2

Teraonami 2-2

Nohara 2-2

Kainofuji 2-2

Iwasaki 2-2

Kainomiya 1-3

Tochidaiho 1-3

Suzuki 1-3

Kotonakai 1-3

Tsuya 0-4

Yamada 0-4

Daiseiho 0-0-7

Okinoshita 0-0-7

Iwashimizu 0-0-7

Akita 0-0-7

Kunigami 0-0-7

Hanaoka banzuke-gai

HRjk

Miyakita 3-1

Takada 2-2

Hikosaka 2-2

Shijima 2-1-1

Kawahara 1-3

Yoshizawa 1-3

Kameiyama 1-3

Asayamashita banzuke-gai

Akinosato banzuke-gai

Azumaryu banzuke-gai (3-1 mae-zumo)

Takanoiwa banzuke-gai (2-2 mae-zumo)

To conclude, shimodahito, Profomisakari and Oshirokita (who all have Shotenro and Fukuoka in their selections) are very likely to get two more rikishi (2 HRjk, exchangeable for 1 HRjd for example) for next basho. Asashosakari, Flohru and Jejima may also be able to recruit 2 HRjk after this basho (with Tosayutaka and Fukuoka).

Edited January 18, 2009 by Azumashida

[Vikanohara]

Most of them doing quite well, but oh how bad are my Makushita ones doing ! ;-)

Ogata & Shiratsuka

[Azumashida]

Here are the final scores of all selected rikishi:

HRJ

Shotenro 11-4 (to be promoted to makuuchi)

Tosayutaka 9-6 (not to be promoted)

Hoshihikari 7-8

Daishoumi 7-8 (staying in juryo)

Tochifudo 6-1 (to be promoted to makushita)

HRms

Fukuoka 7-0 (to be promoted to juryo)

Gagamaru 6-1

Ri 6-1

Ryuden 6-1

Fukao 5-2

Kyokushuho 5-2

Yamashita 5-2 (in sandanme)

Kotoyutaka 4-3

Satsumahibiki 4-3

Takanoyama 3-4

Minami 3-4

Ogata 3-4

Kamei 3-4

Homarefuji 3-4

Kaisei 3-4

Shiratsuka 2-5

Mankajo 2-5

HRsd

Kotowatanabe 6-1

Ozakiumi 6-1

Ota 6-1

Kotoenomoto 5-2

Kihaku 5-2

Chiyoarashi 5-2

Nishiyama 5-2

Ryutei 5-2

Sakigake 4-3

Yashiki 4-3

Oazuma 4-3

Kotookuyama 4-3

Sasayama 4-3

Kaishin 3-4

Inoue 3-4

Kotokashiwadani 3-4

Kuwahara 3-4

Isanokuni 2-5

Kei 0-0-7

HRjd

Kawashita 6-1

Isamizuki 6-1 (in jonokuchi)

Aratoshi 5-2

Raiko 5-2

Nagakura 5-2

Akinoyama 4-3

Watagawa 4-3

Suzuki 4-3

Kainofuji 4-3

Iwasaki 4-3

Kainomiya 3-4

Kyokutaisei 3-4

Teraonami 3-4

Nohara 3-4

Tatsuhibiki 2-5

Tochidaiho 2-5

Kotonakai 2-5

Yamada 1-6

Tsuya 1-6

Daiseiho 0-0-7

Okinoshita 0-0-7

Iwashimizu 0-0-7

Akita 0-0-7

Kunigami 0-0-7

Hanaoka banzuke-gai

HRjk

Hikosaka 5-2

Shijima 5-2

Miyakita 3-4

Kawahara 3-4

Takada 2-5

Yoshizawa 2-5

Kameiyama 1-6

Asayamashita banzuke-gai

Akinosato banzuke-gai

Azumaryu banzuke-gai (3-1 mae-zumo)

Takanoiwa banzuke-gai (2-2 mae-zumo)

To conclude, Oshirokita, Profomisakari and shimodahito will get two more rikishi (2 HRjk, exchangeable for 1 HRjd for example) for next basho. Asashosakari, Flohru, Gusoyama and Jejima will be able to recruit 1 HRjk after this basho (thanks to Fukuoka).

Edit: and of course the provisional points (not very significant at this stage obviously) will be determined after the Haru banzuke is announced.

Edited January 25, 2009 by Azumashida