HenryK

Splendid how Ama disposed of Chiyotaikai today. So he needs 3-1 against Hakuho Kotomitsuki Baruto and on rank-and-filer (possibly Dejima) ..... to be safe, 2-2 to have a good shot. Hakuho overpowered Baruto with pure speed, should be a recipe for Ama too.

Very strong sumo today for Ama's first Ozeki scalp of the tournament. Meanwhile, Baruto completes a formidable Sekiwake ticket.

Thank you as always.

Ama fought himself back into contention. But of course the big ones are still coming.

Ever seen something like this? ;-)

He can still go 2-2 as well. In any case, the two losses to lesser fodder (Kisenosato and Goueidou) early on will not be overlooked by the powers that be. It will depend also on how dominant he will be in the remaining bouts. If he wins 12, THAT would mean he would have had to been 3-1 or even 4-0 against the Y/O. Sure. I just made an allowance for dropping one on the road.

I'd love to win Moti's steak in this and peronally deliver it to a victorious 11-win Ama, but instead I must agree. I think it will take 12 wins - even the tottari didn't look too convincing. If he had been perfectly stable while executing it, yes, but no he wasn't :-( To get to 11 wins, Ama must realistically go 3-1 against the Yokozuna and Ozeki -- if so, wouldn't this help his case?

Ama left himself with a huge mountain to climb.... Pity because ability-wise he's arguably there. And as we're talking Ozeki -- what's wrong with Kootooshu? He looks as if all confidence had gone out of him, like a deflated balloon. Kotomitsuki is the only Ozeki at this juncture who looks the part.

Thank you guys.

Judging by Kaio's immediate reaction he seemed badly hurt, as if he had dislocated his shoulder or torn the rotator cuff. But then he looked better when walking out, and it seems he didn't go fusen. Anyone knows details? Nice gentlemanry display by Wakanosato, btw.

I'd really like to see Asashoryu back, but I'm afraid he is beyond it.

This must be one of the weirdest banzuke's in recent history, with all these outsized upwards-moves based on an 8-7 or 9-6 to accomodate all necessary demotions. I wonder whether in this specific situation -- when several rikishi leave the sport and free up ranks -- the strict application of kk-->demotion wouldn't better be relaxed. Yoshikaze, for example, got demoted from M11e to M12e for his 7-8, while he could have expected to get promoted to M5 had he won his final bout against Dejima.

Thanks much. Gerat stuff. HK

Are you sure ? (Wearing a paperbag...) LINK Seems the Kyokai took pity on Mori after falling just short a couple of times...

Good effort under extremely difficult circumstances. Until I learned the opposite, I would have reckoned that Asofuji would have hung on to his Juryo spot, instead of a promotion for Mori. (Wearing a paperbag...)

Thanks. All questions answered, sir. :-P

Thanks, but I fail to see a discussion of Juryo promotions. As for Makuuchi I overlooked Iwakiyama's sure demotion, and you're of couse right that Tosanoumi is the obvious 5th candidate for Makuuchi promotionn.

Here's my habitually amateurish speculation: Makuuchi seems relatively straightfoward -- Roho and Wakanoho out, Tamawashi and Kasugao demoted; hence Bushuyama, Koryu, Kasuganishiki and Aran should move up. Tosanoumi would just fall short. Now Juryo -- Kirinowaka must go down, Asofuji normally would, but this would free up a full 6 slots (given that Tamakasuga and Hakurozan are out). Wakakoyu, Shotenro, Sakaizawa, Tamasuka suggest themselves, but then it becomes quite a stretch for ## 5 and 6. Mori (Ms4E, 4-3)? Katayama (Ms5E, 4-3)? Fukuoka (Ms7E, 5-2)? Or yusho winner M13E Yotosuguruma?

Well as some people said after Kotooshu's yusho, it's probably not even desirable that he would get promoted to Yokozuna, as long as he is so inconsistent. Three bashos in the 7-9 range and people would ask for his retirement. Better to have him as a strong Ozeki who, every now and then, can hopefully upset the top dog.

Not too long ago may wrote Baruto off because of his repeated knee injuries. But thankfully his body seems to be holding up all right now. In the last few bashos, it was a joy to see how he gained more and more confidence in his knee, and hence moved better, became more versatile with his techniques, and made for a less one-dimensional fighter. If his body allows Baruto to continue on this path, he surely looks like Ozeki material.

I saw the bout only now, boy this was impressive sumo, from both. Pity that Kotooshu isn't more consistent and too easily wrongfooted by smaller, nimbler rikishi, which prevents him from establishing himself as Hakuho's main challenger.

Financial economist, fortunately in the public sector -- even most banks become public sector now (Shaking head...).

Tell him my kind regards. (Shaking head...)

Well real overpromotion for Aminishiki too. In my opinion a lot would speak for leaving Toyonoshima in the final K spot (between two bad choices), but of course this is not how it's going to play out. At least it's Aminishiki now, who was at the edge of the meat grinder in this basho, and thebanzuke makers don't have to resort to M6 8-7 Toyohibiki.