Kotonosato

She didn't have a chance to stand on it, but she definitely touched it with her hands.

Yes, it was a woman who came down the stairs with a large pile of white papers. The usher (tiny middle-aged lady) was unable to stop her and she began to climb onto the dohyo just as Goeido and Takekaze were completing their last preparations. That's when Nishikido Oyakata and Takamisakari jumped up to grab her. Finally, a yobidashi was summoned to escort her back down the hanamichi. The 'happening' was enough to make both rikishi turn around and they had to resettle their breathing before the match. I've never really thought about it before, but I guess there is almost no police presence within the K'kan. Let this be a lesson for Asashoryu: If you're going to pretend to be crazy you really have to go all out. Ganbatte!

And why should this basho be any different...? (Shaking head...)

Is there no sarcasm emoticon?

Kotooshu He has had the chops to become ozeki. Maybe he'll even be a yokozuna some day. But so far he is an underachiever a la Takanonami. The henka has got to stop too!

I think Raiden should be on that list too. Maybe yusho went to 'the side' rather than to him personally in those days, but he is definitely the ultimate ozeki.

I like the way Oshu is moving forward so far this basho. But with Hakuho healthy it's all his to win or lose!

I'm sorry Aminishiki hasn't cracked the list so far this basho. The way he's fighting, he deserves it!

Someone has already taken Hakuho at 14-1. Do I get a special prize for going with a 14-1 record after the rikishi has had his first loss? If so: Hakuho 14-1

I think they may have a 'management' problem at that stable. Isn't Itai still there? He's not exactly a bastion of good sportsmanship. (Blushing...) (Whistling...) Are you mixing up Naruto-beya and the defunct Onaruto-beya? Apparently, I am. Yes. :-) What happened to Onaruto anyway? Did it just dissolve on its own? I guess when accusations of yaocho come from within, the kyokai doesn't pursue them in court, do they?

Ahem. :-) (Whistling...) Of course, I meant a "precedented fourth or fifth juryo yusho". (Blushing...)

I've never been a big fan of his and I was certainly not one of the folks calling him "the next Japanese yokozuna", but at least a couple of times I felt he had potential. When he was moving up through juryo and lower maegashira he seemed to display some solid fundamental sumo. (When he won, that is.) Now I think Kotoshogiku more often displays the kind of good sumo that everyone was expecting from Kise back in those days.

I think they may have a 'management' problem at that stable. Isn't Itai still there? He's not exactly a bastion of good sportsmanship. (Whistling...)

I think Takasago's usage is not so good here. He's saying that "It would set a bad example for the kyokai and the fans." What he probably means is "It would look bad to the kyokai and the fans".

Maybe the perfect solution is to take every second basho off. That is: He wins the juryo yusho, doesn't appear in the next (makuuchi) basho, and then returns four months later for another juryo yusho. He could still earn a good living while giving his knee a chance to mend. After an unprecedented fourth or fifth juryo yusho he'd be in perfect shape for makuuchi in 2009.

I won't believe it until I see the original article. These bloggers tend to pull stuff out of their @$$es.

I think so too. He appears to be moving intentionally slow. He must be protecting the knee, by avoiding having to go into a defensive stance. Yet he's still stong enough to move forward. At his current rank this style shouldn't be a problem. I hope his condition has improved and he is able to take more chances when he is at a higher rank next basho. For now at least, slow and steady wins the race!

I didn't mean similar "looking".

? A person like Ms Uchidate or Asashoryu? (Clapping wildly...) I was wondering the same thing, Jonosuke. As far as I know, no member of the YDC has done as much to promote sumo than Uchidate has. I'm sure the other old fogies are sumo fans, but she spent her whole life stdying and writing about it. Maybe everyone on the YDC should be a "similar person".

I was thinking it was quite rare for a makuuchi gyoji to have such a weak voice. Maybe he was just having an off day.

It should be at www.juryo.net . It seems to be down right now.

On Day 4 he looked very patient. He didn't rush forward, but he wasn't pushed back at first either. Instead he struggled to get the grip that he wanted. It looked as if he might have waited too long when he got pushed to the edge. Then he made a good strong throw for the win. Well done! ;-)

There was only one reported death, so all in all, it was quite a light one. That said, where I am, an hour or two north of Tokyo, it was much worse than just your average heavy rain storm. It's not only the rain, but the intense winds. It's not enough to break windows on new homes, but the rain hitting the windows at right angles all night is enough to keep you awake unless you move to the opposite side of the house.

Great photo, Ikh. He looks a bit like Ama. Question: Why exactly does Tod look to you like a city boy, by the way? It can't be the way he dresses. I guess it must be the shape of his head.

Actually, there appear to be a number who say "I have lost all interest in sumo", or "I will completely boycott sumo until January!" Yet somehow they never tire of mission-posting on forums like this and the SML.