Leaderboard

Day 2 -Crocodile day

Day 3:

The fans on SNS are generally outraged about the decision - "Ura won!" "Onosato touched down first" Takadagawa explained that Onosato's hand touching down and Ura's body going dead were at the same time - that's the good thing with the dead body rule: the timing is free to chose by the shimpan, at what time the body is dead. The video room didn't reach an unanimous agreement and in that case it's a redo. - I'd say, Inosuke is the one to blame - he declared Onosato the winner. Had he picked Ura, it might have gone without a redo. Ura: "I can't win (also) the 2nd time." https://hochi.news/articles/20260113-OHT1T51276.html?page=1#:~:text=相撲 https://hochi.news/articles/20260113-OHT1T51175.html?page=1#:~:text=相撲 https://www.daily.co.jp/general/2026/01/13/0019908934.shtml#:~:text=相撲

I saw a very sloppy match that ended indecisively with 2 'dead bodies' falling in different directions. Yes, Onosato's hand touched down before Ura's arse, but I wasn't surprised when they called a redo. The current shimpan seem to me to be inclined towards leniency to the Y/O when they're dealing with close calls, but it isn't always like that. The former Isegahama regularly called against Terunofuji, almost like he was trying to make sure he didn't come across as biased. It's all part of the game. Ozumo has it's own rules and some of them are very opaque.

Takarafuji guest on abema . . . with a necktie?

Maegashira 1E Ichiyamamoto has further improved on the "fastest record in history" he set on the first day of this basho on the 11th. He faced a Yokozuna before the musubi no ichiban for the second day in a row. On the first day, he lost to Oonosato, and today, he lost to Houshouryuu. He made a mad dash to the shitakubeya every day. He stayed there for just 10 seconds, emerged from the bathroom, and in the blink of an eye, he had taken off his mawashi and was getting changed while being interviewed. He said, "If I don't hurry, the musubi no ichiban will start!" but he left the dressing room in just 4 minutes. On the first day, he was on his way home about 5 minutes after the end of his match. While it was unofficial, it was already the "fastest in history," and this time, it looks like he has further improved the record. After the musubi no ichiban, the spectators all head home, causing a crowd on the way out. To avoid this, he said, "I only washed my feet in the bath. I can just take a shower when I get home," in an attempt to shorten the escape time. On the first day, he was completely defeated by Oonosato, but "I was on the offensive today, so I'm glad. I want to do my best again tomorrow," and, frustrated by the start with a losing streak, he plans to quickly recover. The "speedster," whose signature style is his fast-moving thrusts, left his tsukebito behind, greeted the press with "Thank you for your hard work!" and ran out of the dressing room.

(The scoring adjustments necessitated by the malfunctioning Exidrono automation have been taken into account for these rankings.) Seki-Toto (play): For the first time since Haru 2023, no player managed to earn 12 wins, so the Kyushu title came down to a trio of 11-4 entrants with TochiYESshin coming out on top against runners-up Flohru and Hogashi. The overall scores were superficially sensible with the top division averaging "only" 7.75 wins with 23 KK and 17 MK, but the banzuke-making still ran into major troubles in the joi. Only a single lower sanyaku player finished makekoshi (and just 7-8 at that)...that spot went to the yusho winner who was ranked M5w for Kyushu, but there were more promotable records than that and further KK scores that overcrowded the high maegashira ranks. The most fair (but also rather ugly) solution turned out to be to hand out small demotions to a trio of 8-7's and a kosho player...sekiwake duo Joaoiyama and DeRosa thus find themselves dropped to komusubi (although Joaoiyama is actually the 10th-ranked player on both the old and the new banzuke...), while Kotononami and Athenayama took one-rank demotions as maegashira. Sorry about that, but I think you'll see that the players who did better than 8-7 were also treated quite harshly. Starting individually at the top, the new East yokozuna is Norizo courtesy of 10 wins, but he had entered the basho in danger of intai and that's still the case for Hatsu basho as the four tournaments from Haru to Aki 2025 had been so bad (details in last basho's update) that he's in need of at least 8 wins this month. Pandaazuma goes to Y1w despite a credible 9-6 score in Kyushu. Shout-out to his entire 2025 campaign which saw him scoring 9+ wins in all six tournaments, with a strong 62 wins in total for the year. (On a side note: Three other players also achieved kachikoshi in all six basho, these being ozeki Susanoo with 55 wins, Warusaru with 56 and Hisui with 55. Warusaru should be in sanyaku on this new banzuke but sadly isn't, while Hisui had only started to play last January and isn't quite there yet.) Thirdly, shin-yokozuna Kachikoshi unfortunately had a rough debut at the highest rank and finished 7-8. Things looked fine through ten days with a 7-3 interim record, but then the wheels fell off. I'm sure Hatsu basho will see a return to form and something more similar to the six straight 10+ wins results that had gotten him the tsuna in the first place. We had four ozeki back in September before Joaoiyama got demoted in that tournament. His Kyushu follow-up unfortunately only amounted to 8 wins, so his demotion has become permanent. Two previous drops had seen him bounce back with 11-4's both times, but no such good fortune this time around. We don't have three ozeki for Hatsu though, either, as another one has had to take the ride down to sekiwake after Kyushu: Andoreasu had only achieved 8-7's in July and September, putting him at risk of demotion under the rules revised two years ago, and sadly a 7-8 in Kyushu has completed two full demerit points to trigger his demotion. Yet another ozeki just barely avoided the same fate for now but might follow soon: Susanoo is in fact at three consecutive 8-7's, so he's now so deep in demerit land that even another 8-7 won't be enough to secure his position for March. In other words: Andoreasu needs 10 wins to regain the ozeki rank, and Susanoo needs 9 to keep it. Thus, the only ozeki in good standing for Hatsu is Ganzohnesushi after a convincing 10-win score. Due to the shenanigans that have seen 8-7 treated as demotable we actually only have two sekiwake now (down from four) as both komusubi scored 9 wins and I couldn't possibly hand out a promotion to sekiwake on that. It's demoted Andoreasu on the West side with Kajiyanosho as the only sekiwake holdover on the East. The latter isn't much of a promotion contender for Hatsu as he has shown great consistency (four consecutive 10-5's and now a 9-6) but without overly impressive win totals. Perhaps a yusho could sway opinions in a favourable direction, anything less probably doesn't make enough of a difference. If you're scoring along at home you already know that there must be five komusubi - the two incumbents ScreechingOwlet and Oskahanada, demoted ex-sekiwake Joaoiyama and DeRosa, plus yusho winner TochiYESshin - for the usual maximum allowable 12 sanyaku slots. Sorry to everyone who didn't make the cut. After M8e it almost looks like a normal banzuke, so starting from there everyone should be reasonably happy with their new positions. Norizo (Y1w 10-5) Y1 Pandaazuma (Y1e 9-6) Kachikoshi (Y2e 7-8) Y2 - Ganzohnesushi (O1e 10-4-1) O Susanoo (O1w 8-7) Kajiyanosho (S1w 9-6) S Andoreasu (O2w 7-8) ScreechingOwlet (Ke 9-6) K1 Oskahanada (Kw 9-6) Joaoiyama (S2w 8-7) K2 TochiYESshin (M5w 11-4 Y) - K3 DeRosa (S2e kosho) Chishafuwaku (M2w 9-6) M1 Panic!attheDohyo (S1e 7-8) Warusaru (M3w 9-5-1) M2 Kotononami (M1w 8-7) Athenayama (M2e 8-7) M3 Gaanaag (M6w 10-5) Flohru (M8w 11-4 D) M4 Balon (M4w 8-7) Kobashi (M1e 7-8) M5 Hisui (M8e 9-5-1) Chelseayama (M11w 10-5) M6 Chijanofuji (M7w 8-7) Effinojo (M12e 10-5) M7 GONZABUROW (M4e 7-7-1) Konosato (M3e 6-9) M8 Metzinowaka (M6e 6-9) Terarno (M5e 5-10) M9 Beeftank (M9w kosho) Kitakachiyama (M13w 8-7) M10 Papayasu (M14e 8-7) Onakaderu (M14w 8-7) M11 Asashosakari (M10w 7-8) Rowitoro (M11e 7-7-1) M12 Mariohana (M7e 5-10) Andonishiki (M10e 6-8-1) M13 Kintamayama (J2w 9-6) Unkonoyama (M9e 5-10) M14 Frinkanohana (J6e 10-5) Toonoryu (J4w 9-6) M15 Andrasoyama (M12w 6-9) Hakumadashi (J8e 10-5) J1 Benihana (J6w 9-5-1) Jakusotsu (M13e 5-10) J2 Anjoboshi (J7w 9-5-1) Kaiowaka (J1w 7-8) J3 Holleshoryu (M15w 6-9) Kaito (J2e 7-8) J4 Hogashi (J14w 11-4 D) WAKATAKE (J3w 7-7-1) J5 BlackPinkMawashi (J3e 6-9) Bill (M15e 4-11) J6 Choshu-yuki (J5w 7-8) Oortael (J1e 4-11) J7 Fujisan (J4e 5-10) Takanorappa (J7e 6-9) J8 Gilgamesh (Ms3w 9-5-1) Hitouki (Ms1e 8-5-2) J9 Gusoyama (J10w 7-8) Gustl (Ms4w 9-6) J10 Bunbukuchagama (J9w 6-9) Ketsukai (J11e kosho) J11 Oyama (J12e 7-8) Biloumaru (J10e 6-9) J12 Profomisakari (J13e 7-8) Kakushoyama (Ms5e 8-7) J13 Akishiki (J13w kosho) Gansekiiwa (J5e 3-2-10) J14 Hakunojo (J11w 6-9) Kishikaisei (Ms1w 7-8) Ms1 Ippikiokami (Ms7e 8-7) Fia (Ms10e 9-6) Ms2 Gawasukotto (J14e 6-9) Asapedroryu (Ms13w 10-5) Ms3 Ulishimaru (J12w 5-10) Hana-ichi (Ms4e 7-8) Ms4 Hagetaka (Ms12e 9-5-1) Katoomaru (Ms2w 6-9) Ms5 Achiyama (Ms5w kosho) Ekigozan (NR 9-6) Ms6 Tetsuarashi (Ms8w 7-8) Umigame (Ms6w 6-9) Ms7 Multimikstar (Ms7w kosho) Saruyama (J8w 0-0-15) Ms8 Getayukata (J9e 0-0-15) Joputosu (Ms8e 6-9) Ms9 Jimizakura (Ms9w kosho) Unagiyutaka2 (Ms2e 3-8-4) Ms10 Tyerenex (Ms3e 3-8-4) Ahokaina (Ms6e 4-11) Ms11 Akagitsune (Ms11w kosho) Chudorj (Ms11e 5-10) Ms12 Backeido (Ms10w 2-6-7) Dan Koloff (Ms13e kosho) Ms13 Yokaotoko (Ms12w 0-0-15)

The guy in yellow featured in my video today? He's a 55 year old Kise beya koenkai member, specifically follows new Juryo Kazuma. When asked directly, he is Katsuragi Kenji (55), the head chef of "Kappo Takeshi" in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture. He is a sumo fan who has been watching every single Tokyo tournament for about 10 years. He is also a supporter of Kise beya, graduated from Kanazawa Gakuin University High School (later Nihon University), and is a big fan of Kazuma. "I've seen him train since he was young. He dropped in the ranks once due to an injury. It was the same for Ura, so I saw him suffer setbacks." It is said that rikishi, including Ura, sometimes drop into Kappo Takeshi. The reason he dresses all in yellow is "so that the viewers will feel energized. Yellow brings good luck." The restaurant, which has been in business for 25 years, is filled with yellow, as are his cars and bicycles. On this day, he was returning to Kanazawa dressed all in yellow. "Kappo Takeshi" was introduced on the TBS program "Bananaman's Sekakuna Gourmet!!." He has been promoting crab dishes, saying, "We recommend our crab dishes."

New year, new performer - this time it's Ms13e Kamito, from Tatsunami-beya. He's done it at jungyo events but this is his honbasho debut with the bow.

Hatsu Basho 2026- Day 1: Day 1 results Day 2 matchups Toshinofuji (Seihakuhou), Mongolian ex-Hakuhou's recruit, is at Makushita 2W. Jonidan yusho Nagoya 2024. Highest career rank. Fukuzaki is 1-0 at Makushita 3E. Started at Makushita Tsukedashi 60 in March 2025. First ever high school graduate Makushita tsukedashi. Highest career rank. Inami is at Makushita 4W. Sandanme yusho in Nagoya 2024. Highest career rank. Arashifuji (Matsui), debuted at Makushita 60 tsukedashi in March 2024, and is 1-0 at Makushita 9W. Kurohimeyama, ex-Kurohimeyama's grandson, is 0-1 at Makushita 8E. Ryuushou, debuted at Makushita 60 tsukedashi in July 2025, nephew of Onoe Oyakata, is 0-1 at Makushita 9W. Great expectations. Highest career rank. Hanaoka, debuted at Makushita tsukedashi 60 in May 2025, is 1-0 at Makushita 12E. Highest career rank. Kamito, the new bow twirler, is at Makushita 13E. Kaki, is 1-0at Makushita 21E. Back to back yushos in his debut bashos so far. Highest career rank, obviously. And now-Sandanme yusho as well- three straight yushos. Career record: 21-1. Ikarigata, much hyped brother of Fujinokawa (Wakaikari) and son of ex- Ooikari (Kabutoyama Oyakata) is 0-1 at Makushita 24W. Gyokuouzan, father half-Japanese, half-Paraguayan, mother half-Italian, half-Paraguayan is 1-0 at Makushita 30W. Wakatakamoto is 1-0 at Makushita 34W. Eldest brother of Wakatakakage and Wakamotoharu. Ikazuchidou, half Nigerian, is 0-1 at Makushita 45E. Highest career rank. Kakueizan (Urayama), debuted at Makushita tsukedashi 60 in May 2025, is at Sandanme 9E. Jonidan playoff. Tenrousei, Mongolian, another ex-Asashouryuu's nephew is 0-1 at Sandanme 17W. Jonidan playoffs in the past. Shunrai, ex-Tokitsukaze's son number 2, (Kiryuukou's brother) is 1-0 at Sandanme 22E. Jonokuchi yusho in the past. Gyoutoku, debuted at Makushita tsukedashi 60 in May 2025, is 1-0 at Sandanme 29W. First ever Makushita tsukedashi from a sumo stronghold university who never was in a university sumo club. Naya, ex- Taihou's third grandson (second eldest) is 1-0 at Sandanme 38E. There is another grandson, Yukio, but he's a pro-wrestler. Agoura, ex- Brazilian, Lucas Kazuo Iima, is at Sandanme 41E. Hikarumusashi, American, ex- Musashimaru's nephew, is0-1 at Sandanme 42E. Highest career rank. Suyama, small first ever student/graduate from Tokyo University, is at Sandanme 45W. Quite a media celeb. Takahara, I made a bold statement about him (Ozeki for sure, maybe more..), we'll see how he does from up close.. He is 1-0 at Jonidan 9E. Highest career rank. Kouseiryuu (Imada), US Open judo champion 2022, majored in aerospace engineering at the University of Nevada, is 1-0 at Jonidan 3W. Son of ex-Akinoshuu. Furanshisu from the Philippines is 0-1 at Jonidan 17E. Kuwae, half Philipino Justine France Pasquale is at Jonidan 19W. KYUJO Shouketsu, the oldest guy in sumo (49 years old), is at Jonidan 24W. Dewanojou, the heaviest guy in sumo (252 kilos), is at Jonidan 35E. Asasourai, the shortest guy in sumo (1.63 meters) is 1-0 at Jonidan 38W. Shoutaimu - Showtime! Gets on the list just for that clever shikona - is at Jonidan 45E. Tenichi, tied for most years in sumo, is at Jonidan 58E. Entered in March 1993. 32 years and 10 months. Fujiizumi, is at Jonidan 83W. He was injured in November 2021 and missed no less than 16 bashos, returned in September 2024, only to be injured again the last three basho. KYUJO Daigozakura, the bald rikishi is 0-1 at Jonidan 85W. Tousouumi, youngest rikishi, is at Jonidan 93E. 15 and 8 months old. Urutora (Ultra..), the lightest guy in sumo (60 kilos) is 0-1 at Jonidan 97W. Fukufukumaru. How can I let this one pass? 1-0 at Jonokuchi 7W. Terunosato, tied for most years in sumo, is 0-1 at Jonokuchi 10W. Entered in March 1993. Asahifuji - said to be one of the strongest rikishi to ever enter sumo, is 1-0 at Jonokuchi 19E. Gets a shikona of a Yokozuna. Highest career rank. Tenshouyama, the tallest guy in sumo (1.97 meters) is 0-1 at Jonokuchi 19W. Highest career rank.

Koseiryu, Ms25w An interesting backstory for my pick: Koseiryu's real name is Kosei Imada, and his father was Akinoshu from Izutsu-beya, who reached Makuuchi in the 90s. Young Kosei spent a lot of time around his dad's friends, and Terao actually chose his name. As a kid, Kosei did judo instead of sumo, and then he went to the U.S., where he studied aerospace engineering at the University of Nevada and was a student judo champion. After Terao passed away, Kosei, who considered him to be a sort of second father, started considering entering sumo, as that was Terao's wish for him. Coincidentally, at that time, I (Kirinoumi) had just joined an amateur sumo club in San Diego. Our coach was a national champion and knew Konishiki, who referred Kosei to the club. So, I had the privilege of training with Kosei briefly in early 2024 before he entered and won a gold medal at our local SoCal Open sumo tournament. Early in 2025, Kosei passed the athletic ability test and joined Otowayama-beya. His shisho there, the ex-Yokozuna Kakuryu, has ties to the old Izutsu stable and also studied under the first Kirishima, who is my all-time favorite rikishi. Anyway, Koseiryu had a successful first three basho in 2025 but was injured in November, falling back to Jonidan. So, given the personal connection and Koseiryu's almost perfect placement to do well in the Torchbearer game, I really couldn't not pick him.

Seki-Quadrumvirate (play): Things weren't quite as bad in Kyushu (44% wins) as they had been in Aki (42%), but it was another rather below-average tournament for Quad. However, whereas Aki basho had a clear frontrunner who took the yusho with impressive 12 wins, this time around nobody went beyond 10...chishafuwaku took the yusho in a narrow tie-break decision over Ketsukai and Oskahanada. Furthermore, unlike Aki's all-around low scores this time there was a clear distinction between the makuuchi-ranked players who clocked in at 48% with nearly balanced 19 KK / 21 MK, and the lower-rankers who only managed to get to 40%, with just 6 KK and 38 MK. The result of that was something I've quite possibly never done before in my Quad or Toto banzuke-making. (Maaaybe once? I'm honestly not sure.) (Meandering meta discussion follows...skip the next three paragraphs if you're not interested in "behind the banzuke" stuff.) Some exposition: I consider scoring adjustments only as a last resort when the banzuke really doesn't work well without them. Sometimes they're just common sense, like two months ago when basically the whole field averaged more than one win below 7.5...it would be pointless to leave it like that. Sometimes they're forced because the best players (all of makuuchi or just the top ranks) have scored too well and there's just nobody to demote if their scores aren't reduced. Beyond that, I try to stay away from adjusting. In particular, that means that I don't adjust lower-ranked players upwards just because they've scored badly. For one thing, the lowest-ranked players having the worst results is exactly what you'd expect to see if the rankings are reasonably meaningful. For another, the "best of the worst" are going up automatically anyway...if you're 7-8 down in the handful of makushita ranks, there's nobody better to stop you from getting a (small) promotion. But the biggest reason is my overall approach which specifically rewards players for having a kachikoshi: If you've paid any attention to my banzuke-making at all, you know that going 8-7 is much more valuable than going 7-8. Specifically, it's treated as a two-win difference rather than just one win. I do that intentionally to avoid the staleness that affects a number of other games' banzuke. (It has other benefits beyond that, but that's the main reason it exists.) But it also means that adjusting players' results from 7-8 to 8-7 gives them an outsized benefit in my framework - which comes at the expense of other players, especially the "real" kachikoshi who end up with less room to promote them because some of it is taken up by the 7-8 -> 8-7 scores instead. I don't like that, and therefore I'm generally not doing it even when the average score in that lower part of the rankings has fallen significantly short of 7.5 wins. (Other banzuke makers don't have that issue...if you're treating the difference between 6 and 7 wins the same as the difference between 7 and 8, and the same as the difference between 8 and 9, adding or subtracting wins doesn't change the players' relative positioning.) In any case, all of these words just to say: This time the situation below makuuchi was so dire that I decided to give everybody down there an extra win anyway. Even with the adjustment the KK / MK split is still only 13 / 31, and no 6-9 -> 7-8 players actually received a demotion. It's not going to become a regular thing. The actual results of the basho, beyond the already-mentioned yusho decision: Two ozeki finished 8-7, which was good news for Ganzohnesushi who was soft kadoban and is entirely in the clear now, less good for Kobashi who was already hard kadoban and avoided demotion but hasn't improved his status going into Hatsu basho. (For those not inclined to review the rules, hard kadoban after two makekoshi can only be reversed with 9+ wins.) Norizo scored an unfortunate 5-8-2 record and has gone from soft to hard kadoban, so we enter the next basho with two ozeki in immediate danger of demotion. Just one of three sekiwake achieved kachikoshi, and 9-6 Kitakachiyama was in fact the only player between ozeki and M4 to go better than eight wins. In adjusted terms his last five tournaments have been 10-5 / 8-7 / 8-7 / 10-5 / 9-6 (started from M7; only the last three scores were in sanyaku), which has come close to satisfying the standard for a promotion to ozeki, but it's not quite there yet. Great chance for Hatsu basho, though! He is joined at sekiwake on the new banzuke by two rather lucky komusubi who have gone up with simple 8-7's...that's below my usual "promote on 9 wins" line, but one slot had to be filled and it felt wrong to hold back the other player, so both Choshu-yuki and Kaito have got promoted. They're further away from ozeki than is Kitakachiyama, but not so far that it's impossible. May take a near yusho-quality result, though. No holdovers at komusubi; as just mentioned two of them moved up, two others went down. A trio of newcomers thus feature at the fourth-highest rank, those being Joaoiyama who had 8 wins as the top maegashira, plus the two yusho runners-up Ketsukai and Oskahanada who were both ranked at M5 in Kyushu. The sanyaku ranks have shrunk from 10 to 9 slots. Not much else to say. Business as usual throughout the maegashira ranks, then (after the adjustments) kind of business as usual in juryo and below. As always the first banzuke display shows only the adjusted win-loss records, the one in spoilers also the original ones. Ganzohnesushi (O1e 8-7) O1 Kobashi (O2e 8-7) Norizo (O1w 5-8-2) O2 - Kitakachiyama (S1w 9-6) S1 Choshu-yuki (K1w 8-5-2) - S2 Kaito (K2e 8-7) Ketsukai (M5e 10-4-1 D) K1 Oskahanada (M5w 10-5 D) joaoiyama (M1e 8-7) K2 - reeeen (M2e 8-7) M1 ScreechingOwlet (K1e 7-8) Oortael (M2w 8-7) M2 Flohru (S2w 6-9) Joputosu (M4w 8-7) M3 Athenayama (S1e 5-10) Andrasoyama (M1w 7-8) M4 Pandaazuma (K2w 6-9) DeRosa (M7e 8-4-3) M5 Kotononami (M10w 9-6) Frinkanohana (M11e 9-6) M6 Bill (M3e 6-8-1) Unkonoyama (M3w 6-9) M7 Andoreasu (M10e 8-6-1) Susanoo (M4e 6-9) M8 lonewolf (M13w 9-6) Mariohana (M12e 8-7) M9 chishafuwaku (J1e 11-4 Y) Kachikoshi (M16e 9-5-1) M10 Asashosakari (M8e 6-9) Rowitoro (M14w 8-7) M11 Hogashi (M8w 6-9) Jakusotsu (M9w 6-9) M12 Kishikaisei (M7w 5-10) GONZABUROW (M6e 4-10-1) M13 Balon (M6w 4-11) Beeftank (M14e kosho) M14 Warusaru (M13e 7-8) KonyaGaYamada (J1w 9-6) M15 Achiyama (M15w kosho) Kajiyanosho (M15e 7-8) M16 Kakushoyama (M12w 5-10) TochiYESshin (M11w 4-11) M17 - BlackPinkMawashi (M16w 6-9) J1 Kyodaitimu (M9e 2-5-8) Kintamayama (J6w 9-6) J2 Andonishiki (J3w 8-7) Terarno (J4e 8-7) J3 Doreikishi (J9e 9-6) Kamibaka (J11w 9-6) J4 Asapedroryu (J2w 6-9) Bunbukuchagama (J3e 6-9) J5 Metzinowaka (J5w 7-8) Hisui (J2e 5-10) J6 Chocshoporyu (J11e 8-7) Kasamatsuri (J7e 7-8) J7 Sukubidubidu (J7w 7-8) Anjoboshi (Ms2e 9-6) J8 Panic!attheDohyo (J8w 7-8) Papayasu (J14e 8-7) J9 Hakase (J4w 4-11) Kaiowaka (J9w 6-9) J10 Hironoumi (J6e 4-11) Jejima (J12w 7-8) J11 Oyama (J10w 6-9) WAKATAKE (Ms3e 8-7) J12 Fujisan (J13w 7-8) Hagetaka (J12e 6-9) J13 Terukaze (Ms5e 8-7) Takanorappa (Ms5w 8-7) J14 Furanohana (J14w 6-9) Gansekiiwa (J8e 2-13) Ms1 Akagitsune (Ms1w kosho) Tetsukabe (Ms2w 6-9) Ms2 Holleshoryu (Ms1e 5-10) Kuroimori (J5e 0-0-15*) Ms3 tetsuarashi (Ms4e 6-9) Getayukata (J13e 3-12) Ms4 Multimikstar (Ms4w kosho) Hakumadashi (Ms7w 7-8) Ms5 Umihiyama (Ms3w 5-10) Hakunojo (Ms6e 6-9) Ms6 ballerscuba (Ms8w 7-8) Unagiyutaka (Ms7e 6-9) Ms7 Tyerenex (Ms8e 6-9) Saruyama (J10e 0-0-15) Ms8 Gusoyama (Ms6w 5-10) Fia (Ms9e 6-9) Ms9 yamakuma (NR 6-9) Jimizakura (Ms10e kosho) Ms10 Profomisakari (Ms10w 5-10) Backeido (NR 2-13) Ms11 Ruziklao (Ms11e 0-0-15)

If I can put on my pedantic hat, whether you want me to or not: There is a difference between a weather bell and a wether bell. I think you mean "bellwether", which is the lead sheep of a flock of sheep with a bell around its neck that other sheep follow and by extension means an indicator for a trend. "Wether" is an older term meaning a castrated ram. (I am not trying to revive the old myth about sumo wrestlers retracting their testicles.) 😇

Nishikido-okamisan mentioned when the banzuke was released that Fujiizumi has retired for "illness treatment" (病気療養). Hopefully it will be successful whatever it is for. Meanwhile, Onaruto-oyakata (former Ozeki Dejima) had to take a short break from his shimpan duties today. Awanoumi fell from the dohyo and landed on him in the first Makushita bout of the day, Onaruto had to be helped up by the on-duty medics and out of the arena for treatment. Ajigawa (former Sekiwake Aminishiki) took over the head shimpan seat, while Kiyomigata (former Sekiwake Tochiozan) arrived to fill his vacant seat. Eventually Onaruto was able to return, although he took that seat under the white tassle rather than return to the head shimpan position.

NSK data: SHIKONA KANJI NAME HEYA HEIGHT WEIGHT DOB BIRTHPLACE Sukhbat Ariunerdene スフバット・アリュンエルデネ Sukhbat Ariun Erdene Asahiyama 176 130 29 - October - 2001 Mongolia Ishida Renma 石田　漣眞 Ishida Renma Oshima 175 133 26 - March - 2008 Kanagawa Ito Kazuma 伊藤　和真 Ito Kazuma Kokonoe 183 123 15 - October - 2007 Chiba Nakazato Masaki 中里　昌暉 Nakazato Masaki Tatsunami 184 144 29 - April - 2007 Nagasaki Nara Subaru 奈良　昴 Nara Subaru Takasago 176 135 20 - October - 2005 Aomori Shiroishi Ren 白石　蓮 Shiroishi Ren Oshima 174 95 27 - January - 2008 Hokkaido Tanaka Shosei 田中　翔盛 Tanaka Shosei Nakamura 175 156 06 - February - 2008 Oita Yanagisawa Jinto 柳澤　仁利 Yanagisawa Jinto Oshima 176 123 28 - August - 2007 Kanagawa

He was also facing an enormous and hugely talented opponent in Tenshoyama. That was the jonokuchi yusho decided in the first bout of the basho. The good news for both of them is that they probably won't have to face each other again until the latter stages of the March basho.

Didn't know this game also ran on DOS.

Some pictures from Narutaki's danpatsu-shiki which took place a few days ago. In December he was working at one of those "sumo experience" restaurants in Kyoto, alongside fellow former rikishi Roman. Whether that's a long-term thing or just a stopgap, I don't know.

Mitakeumi had posted non-stop ozeki results and performances at the top of the banzuke for 5 years by the time he was officially made one. Undoubtedly one of greats of his generation. His stint may coincide with his sudden plunge in performance but at least the history books will have him as a moto-ozeki, which is beyond fair. As for Shodai, there was that peak that made him ozeki, but he always felt to me like one of those people who have all the physical tools to make it but not the mental ones. Incredibly strong, good build, exceptional technical sense... but probably too light-hearted and lacking any kind of killer instinct when you absolutely need lots of it to succeed at that competitive level.

Mitakeumi will remain in the record books as a great sekiwake with one of the longest ever runs at the rank. Getting promoted to ozeki was his peak. He had one good tournament then the curse got him. Yes, it was a disappointing thing to happen to one of my favourite rikishi, but his career, featuring three makunouchi yusho, cannot be regarded as a "big disappointment".

Latest message: I’m happy to share that I was permanently discharged from the hospital on November 11th. Afterward, I attended an outpatient appointment at the Tokyo hospital where I hope to receive a lung transplant. The appointment went well, and I hope to be placed on the donor list before the end of this year. I still have a very difficult road ahead of me before my lung transplant, but at least I can wait for it at home instead of in the hospital. For now, as I wait at home, I can only hope to be placed on the lung donor list and receive my transplant soon, while staying healthy. With heartfelt thanks, Sentoryu Henry & Family

On we go: Tsurugisho (34) had his engagement press conference today - detailed on NikkanSP Premium (79% behind the paywall) Many detailed job names now - I stay with the term stewardess for Yuuka (29), still working. She's from Soka, Saitama. The 2 announced at the heya that they'll marry, the ceremony is planned for June. They met in August 2021, via an acquaintance of both, have a relation since May 2022 and live together for 3 years now. Tsurugisho wants the kokugikan as home address to be registered for the marriage. o o o o o o o o o o with present from the media from Daily sports o o o o o o o o o o Chuspo o more to come

First time in some seven years that there are still 5 winless rikishi at M3 and above. basho 2012-now day 3 rikishi 1 rank Y-M3 rikishi 1 0 wins after the bout group by basho show groups with at least 5 matching bouts Basho Bouts 1. 2012.01 6 1. 2013.05 6 1. 2018.05 6 4. 2012.03 5 4. 2013.07 5 4. 2013.09 5 4. 2016.05 5 4. 2018.09 5 4. 2026.01 5

So it seems that I was not the only one curious who the gentleman is. It turns out he is Kenji Katsuragi, the owner of a Japanese restaurant “Kappo Takeshi”, a place specializing in crab dishes, in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture. He is a longtime supporter of Kise stable and a fan of Churanoumi. Based on the article in Nikkan Sports when asked why he dresses entirely in yellow, he states that was so that “spectators could feel energized. Yellow brings explosive good fortune.” Anyhow, if anyone needs an example of what guerilla marketing, here is one. Still a long way to catch up with the Olympic dude (has he passed away?) but he did a great promotion of his restaurant.

Well, if anybody has been looking for a good example of the dead body rule, you might want to save a clip of Aonishiki's match today.

He looks like a kid who just opened a present and is trying to figure out whether this is what he asked for.

Jk Yobidashi Kumajiro mixed up the Okuni- twins, he called out Okuniyama (left) from Asahiyama-beya as his brother Okuniiwa (right), from Oitekaze-beya - luring gyoji Kimura Yunosuke to the same miss - the gyoji hall announcer then correctly announced Okuniyama for the bout. He lost, so Yunosuke had no chance to repeat it at the kachi-nanori. Okuniyama said he was startled and thought he might have misheard, but that it had no effect on the bout o o

What a day today: Asashoryu losing by hansoku and a Kaio-nage on the last bout before juryo. Early 2000's vibes. A mistake by former Ochiai, should've renamed himself Hakuhofuji for maximum hilarity on mono-iis

Everything that follows is pretty useless but most of the players love statistics, don't they ? 27 players entered Metasumo 2026, a very decent number even if we didn't beat the record. Maybe in 2027 ? GROUP 1 : Duel of the Titans. Two underdogs (Andoreasu and Unkonoyama) picked once by gamblers. The big pieces of the pie go to Pandaazuma and Kaito with a slight preference to the "black and white beast" over the "Martial Art Master". GROUP 2 : The Comedians ! These two have almost always a "good" joke in their posts on the forum but when Sumo Games are involved..... they kick a.s ! GROUP 3 : Japan rules ! Norizo and Susanoo are the most picked with a good slice of Poland. Same colors on the national flags though! GROUP 4 : The unexpected couple and the quartet. Joaoiyama and ScreechingOwl are evenly picked followed by a tied quartet. GROUP 5 : The most diverse. 11 different players were chosen with two "Gs" far away from the others. GROUP 6: The Lonely One. Kamibaka could run for President here. GROUP 7: The Majority Shareholder. Yup, Jejima was the most picked of all groups ! Big pressure ! GROUP 8: Ladies Night. Fia is by far the most popular here. Will she deliver ? Most are confident. There you go. Stay tuned. As soon as the Superbanzuke Masters are officialy posted, I'll be back to report ! Unless @Tenshinhan ..... Good luck to all !

No need for the cryptic titles anymore? I kind of miss them :)

Hullo, I have just finalized the Hatsu 2026 Superbanzuke. Bunbukuchagama is ranked Yokozuna for the first time in his career as long-time Yokozuna Pandaazuma dropped to O1w. That being said, enjoy the basho!

Constraints noted and well known. I suppose hoping for variation is easier than committing defacement by pencil. Please review the historical overview of all yusho potraits here https://www.mainichi-sumo.com/. A decade ago the three Mongolians had a great deal of different poses. My favorite one would Asashoryu's raised hand resembling the end of his preparation for any bout, Hakuho squatting and kakuryu's dohyoiri's pose

Hello Everyone. As you may have noticed, no signup links were posted for Class Dismissed, JWS, and Sanyaku Carousel. Due to ongoing personal situations, and not having had enough time to prepare the for this basho, the games are officially kyujo. I was also wanting to revamp some of the gameplay. The games are planned to return in Haru 2026. Apologies for the games not around this time, and thank you as always for your support and interest. WAKATAKE

The week before the basho, NHK had several news features about the basho, esp. on news9, in the part not shown on NHK kokusai housou. Monday about the soken, Wednesday about Aonishiki, who is hoped to go for a yusho as new ozeki - the last was Hakuho Natsu 2006. Friday Fujishima commented on Onosato - he should concentrate on recovery, it may be a basho for the new hopes esp. Yoshinofuji, also Hakunofuji and Fujinokawa "Basho continue where we can't tell who'll get the yusho, which is fun. We as oyakata think it to be fun watching it." A report on Asanoyama , who didn't say on NHK that he wants the yusho. Ohayo Nippon at 7 on Wednesday had a feature on Ichiyamamoto going for sanyaku, the NewSoon sumo-bu on Friday was about Kazuma and about Ikazuchi-beya's New Year mochi pounding event. Ohayo Nippon at 6 on Saturday with a report of sujo Yamane Chika about Aonishiki and Asanoyama. Nomachi Mineko commented on the Soon sumo-bu about Onosato being in the basho, but .., Hoshoryu with the knee ?, Aonishiki new ozeki, so ... - and nobody mentions Kotozakura at all. My guess is the same, none of the Y/O involved in the yusho run, I expect Aonishiki to get 10, maybe 11 as usual. My pick for the yusho is Yoshinofuji, both yokozuna kyujo later on and Kotozakura as kun9roku6 ozeki. Ichiyamamoto not to sanyaku, Tsurugisho kachikoshi and active at the wedding reception. Newcomer sansho for Hatsuyama, though he doesn't aim for it, none for Asahakuryu. Makekoshi for Nishikifuji - he has space to keep the Aomori streak alive. Takerufuji closing in to replace him for Natsu.

o o with a Harry Winston engagement ring They'll register the marriage on shonichi, day 1, Jan. 11th, when he's "at home", and have the party on June 6th. Tsurugisho proposed to her last August in a restaurant in Kumamoto. He was there for condolences and she by chance had a flight to the location. Yuuka's dream in kindergarten was okamisan. He'll have to fight to stay sekitori this basho - he said that if he drops, he'll retire. Yuuka (172cm) wants to continue to work.

The retirement wasn't in time for the banzuke annoucement, so the culprit will be kyujo this basho:

Nakabi, day 8 will have Tenran-zumo, the Tenno watching - no info yet if he'll be with the empress and princess Aiko like last time, day 14 of the Hatsu basho 2020, the first in the Reiwa era. o - likely not, I guess it would be announced otherwise - it was only announced that he will be there Tenran-zumo took place 9 times in the Meiji, 51 times in the Showa and 23 times in the Heiwa era o - 40 times of those in the Showa era in the kokugikan (Kuramae and Ryogoku) o - I have found no full list of Tairan-zumo, members of the Imperial family watching without the Tenno - Naruhito was there alone a few times as crown prince, also with Masako and once with Aiko as well

Houshouryuu suddenly took a break from asageiko at his heya on the 8th. According to Tatsunami Oyakata, the condition of his left knee, which had been treated with taping and supports until now, has worsened. Dark clouds are already gathering over the New Year tournament , where he will be aiming for his first Yokozuna yusho in his sixth tournament as a Yokozuna. Houshouryuu was not to be found at the keiko- ba where he was supposed to be. According to Tatsunami, he was resting his left knee, which had caused concern due to swelling, and that it was prone to retaining fluid. "I think he went (to the hospital) yesterday. It wasn't painful until yesterday. Houshouryuu is just treating it with hyaluronic acid and stuff," he explained. Houshouryuu had been visiting Takasago beya for two consecutive days up until the day before, continuing his training. This is all quite surprising since he showed good form at the YDC soken a few days ago and said he felt good. "He has been teasing me that it's a torn meniscus.. He's been saying that since the last basho," and frankly expressed his thoughts on his participation in the New Year Tournament, saying, "I think he'll be fine. He's been training. It's not going smoothly." All he can do is make the most of the limited time until day 1. "Doctors say, 'Once it's torn...'" Dr. Matsumiya Koretetsu, director of Matsumiya Orthopedic Clinic in Yokohama, commented, "I think if all rikishi were to undergo MRI scans, many would find that their meniscus is torn. Rather than being a traumatic injury like a fracture, it seems like repeated impacts gradually cause the injury to widen and widen." Meniscus injuries are often treated with conservative treatment, and he said, "If surgery hasn't been discussed yet, I don't think it's a very serious tear." However, the meniscus is a tissue with almost no blood flow. "If it causes significant inconvenience in daily life, surgery is necessary. It's not something that can be cured with taping. Some people get better in six months to a year, but once it's torn, you can't expect it to go back to normal." We'll know in a few minutes.

To be fair, it's a good starting point. And it's way more romantic than

Meisei (30) revealed today that he had married last February, a younger woman. A wedding ceremony - with party - is planned for next month. "I care very much for my wife. I did sumo with utmost effort so far and will also go on gambarizing the same way." He dropped to juryo due to surgery for his back problems. o

I’d prefer if you would declare every day. If that’s not possible then please make your intentions very explicit (something like “I steal every day while I have Kinbozan.”) For now, since we are all figuring things out as we go, I will give you the benefit of the doubt.

Can I suggest that the score be put behind the players instead of their current rikishi to avoid confusion? eg. Jakusotsu (2-0): M16e Asanoyama, 1 steal, 1 attempted steal Your original format can be a little confusing because it seems to imply that Asanoyma's current score is 2-0 when it is 1-1 in the basho.

OK, how many of you are thinking "what if they accidentally let her kensho banner touch the dohyo?"?

The first post in this thread was nine years ago, and he was in 4th place even then (and not all that far behind 1st).

We probably need a standard of declaring a move for the sake of clarity. Something like: STEAL: Current Rikishi Shikona --> Opposing Rikishi Shikona It would help Kachikoshi to keep track of things.

Profile now updated, with the Wakanofuji reading confirmed.

Bukhchuluun will be making his debut on Day 2, and the Fanclub torikumi preview has his shikona as 和歌ノ富士. No confirmed reading (his Kyokai profile still isn't updated), but fairly safe to say that it's Wakanofuji - the first two kanji must have been taken from his shisho's former shikona, Tochinowaka 栃乃和歌.

Nothing. In. Everyone is in.

A good look at several kesho mawashi sets in the 100 years exhibition