Naganoyama

Thanks Doitsu-zeki. You are a star!

Is this a snippet you could post on the net?

For various reasons, some of them obvious, Kitanoumi Rijicho has often come out in support of Asashoryu. Now alienating HIM would, as you suggest, be suicidal!

Considering that, the last few weeks weren't Asa's most sucessful ones in his career so far. So many little mistakes.... (Oops! ) Missed Former Takasago's funeral (Oops! ) Didn't show up for keiko (Oops! ) Didin't show up for tsunauchi-shiki (Oops! ) went out wearing a suit instead of traditional clothes :-D :-P :-S You missed an important one. He embarrassed his Oyakata. He will need Takasago's support in full measure in the days to come to absorb some of the heat from the YDC. Best not to alienate him.

I like this reasoning. It fits the fact of most sanyaku bouncing up and down. It also fits with the case of what happens when a rikishi IS much stronger than the average for the 12. (Asashoryu making his way fairly directly to Yokozuna)

cellspacing="0"> After day 12,January 2004, Makuuchi division scores are: Wins Rikishi Shikona 12 1 Asashoryu 11 0 - 10 1 Kotomitsuki 9 5 Chiyotaikai, Kaio, Kakizoe, Shimotori, Asanowaka 8 7 Tochiazuma, Dejima, Miyabiyama, Aminishiki,Kokkai, Tochisakae, Buyuzan 7 2 Wakanosato, Jumonji 6 5 Kyokushuzan, Kotoryu, Takanonami, Kaiho,Hayateumi 5 6 Tochinonada, Kyokutenho, Kinkaiyama, Yotsukasa,Asasekiryu, Ushiomaru 4 6 Tamanoshima, Hokutoriki, Iwakiyama, Tokitsuumi,Kasuganishiki, Tamakasuga 3 5 Tosanoumi, Takamisakari, Takekaze, Wakatoba,Takanowaka 2 1 Kitazakura 1 1 Toki 0 0 - cellspacing="0"> After day 12,January 2004, Juryo division scores are: Wins Rikishi Shikona 12 0 - 11 0 - 10 0 - 9 2 Chiyotenzan, Wakanoyama 8 5 Harunoyama, Futeno, Roho, Hamanishiki, Juzan 7 5 Toyozakura, Kaido, Nakao, Hakuho, Sumanofuji 6 4 Kobo, Oikari, Towanoyama, Bushuyama 5 3 Otsukasa, Takanotsuru, Masutsuyoshi 4 4 Gokenzan, Daimanazuru, Tochifudo, Oginishiki 3 1 Kasugao 2 0 - 1 0 - 0 0 - <

I am always surprised when a rikishi who has been performing well at top maegashira does badly at sanyaku. He is fighting pretty much the same opposition as he did before. So why do so many rikishi fail completely at sanyaku the first time (or even repeatedly)? Only the really high fliers seem to continue as normal. Is is because - becoming sanyaku is such a major step for most rikishi that it brings enormous new pressures on the rikishi? - the new komusubi will face many of the top opposition (including the yokozuna) early in the tournament and find themselves with a string of losses early on, leading to additional pressure? - there are other factors at work here? I would be interested to know what you think.

Thanks. I will go there. Much appreciated. (Applauding...)

Yes. You are right. My connection is dial-up, modem-speed and actually particularly slow at that time of the day when the local telecomms network is in a maintenance mode. (I could potentially get up to 45.1 kb/s about an hour later in the day but that would be no help). The modernisation of the service is a good thing and I should be grateful, but...

I made a clip as requested, covering the whole Makuuchi dohyō-iri. This was great! Thanks. :-) The level of synchronisation of the ritual movements was a bit disappointing (perhaps I have been spoilt by watching British ceremonies like the Changing of the Guard and Trooping the Colour) but they didn't even seem to crouch and rise together. It was quite interesting to see who was relaxed and who fidgeted as it was their turn to stand up and be announced. It didn't seem to relate to how well they were doing in the basho either. (Not that you would necessarily expect it to, come to think of it, but it also did not seem to relate to 'presence' in the dohyo during a bout) Some of them just stood up and were calm and still. (e.g. Tosanoumi, Hayateumi, Shimotori) Others (e.g. Chiyotaikai, Wakanosato, Takanonami) seemed to worry suddenly that they had forgotten to put on their kesho mawashi after their shower and just had to check. (Flies open syndrome?) Would it be possible to put up a clip of a normal dohyo-iri from this basho? I would be really interested to see more detail of this too.

I am not a huge fan of Chiyotaikai but when he is on form, there is no better exponent of oshi sumo. His power is immense. At such times, I agree with QttP-zeki that he is exciting to watch. When he is off form, however, and his oshi is not working, he has no technique to fall back on. Then perhaps he is boring to watch. Perhaps this lack of technique for the bad days is what has stood in the way of Yokozuna promotion for Taikai up to now. His results are however far more reliable over the last couple of years than those of the other ozeki who are rather inclined to yo-yo up and down. He often seems to get 10-5 when off-form. How can you criticize that?

Are these two destined always to pass each other, like ships in the night? Wouldn't it be nice if they could have a basho together in Makuuchi?

Don't count on that. And, yes, I realize what huge risk I'm taking by saying this, considering their past hon-basho record and recent soken results, and I realize that I might turn out super-stupid after the bout, but I've said it nonetheless. What is life like without a risk once in a while? :-)

I agree. Any time you have an opportunity to close out a bout and don't take it, you are open to the other guy making a comeback. Kotomitsuki is definitely a dangerous opponent and cannot be taken lightly.

align="center"> After day 11,January 2004, Makuuchi division scores are: Wins Rikishi Shikona 11 1 Asashoryu 10 0 - 9 3 Chiyotaikai, Kaio, Kotomitsuki 8 5 Kakizoe, Shimotori, Aminishiki, Buyuzan,Asanowaka 7 6 Tochiazuma, Wakanosato, Dejima, Miyabiyama,Kokkai, Tochisakae 6 4 Jumonji, Takanonami, Kaiho, Hayateumi 5 5 Kyokushuzan, Kotoryu, Kinkaiyama, Asasekiryu,Ushiomaru 4 6 Tamanoshima, Tochinonada, Hokutoriki,Kyokutenho, Yotsukasa, Tamakasuga 3 7 Tosanoumi, Iwakiyama, Takamisakari, Tokitsuumi,Kasuganishiki, Takekaze, Takanowaka 2 2 Wakatoba, Kitazakura 1 1 Toki 0 0 - align="center"> After day 11,January 2004, Juryo division scores are: Wins Rikishi Shikona 11 0 - 10 0 - 9 1 Chiyotenzan 8 2 Wakanoyama, Hamanishiki 7 7 Harunoyama, Futeno, Kaido, Roho, Nakao, Hakuho,Juzan 6 4 Toyozakura, Kobo, Bushuyama, Sumanofuji 5 4 Otsukasa, Oikari, Takanotsuru, Towanoyama 4 3 Masutsuyoshi, Daimanazuru, Oginishiki 3 3 Kasugao, Gokenzan, Tochifudo 2 0 - 1 0 - 0 0 - <

I am curious too, but I think we will have to wait until there is actually a stream going on ... :-) Unfortunately not. Any further suggestions?

Also, before the bout, matanashi, to tell them to get started.

Another longish bout for Asasekiryu. (Not in the same league as his encounter with Hayateumi of course) Is he in training to take over the mantle of Mr One Minute from Kotonowaka? He doesn't have the weight to wear out his opponent by leaning on them like Koto does but he is doing a creditable job of it otherwise. (Applauding...)

You are probably right. I like to play devil's advocate a bit. I suppose that so far in this basho Asashoryu has not been suffering from his old failing of underestimating certain opponents and then being surprised. (Applauding...)

Thanks, guys. I will try your solutions in turn as needed. If the problem is codecs, I would normally expect an error message. Kashu's solution has that ring of truth to it. (Microsoft 'enhancing' things silently usually leads to problems!) (Applauding...) Edit: I see I said solution too! Ever the optimist!

Thanks a lot. I will try that tomorrow.

width="100%"> After day 10,January 2004, Makuuchi division scores are: Wins Rikishi Shikona 10 1 Asashoryu 9 1 Chiyotaikai 8 4 Kaio, Kotomitsuki, Kakizoe, Buyuzan 7 5 Tochiazuma, Shimotori, Miyabiyama, Aminishiki,Asanowaka 6 5 Wakanosato, Dejima, Kokkai, Tochisakae,Hayateumi 5 6 Jumonji, Kotoryu, Takanonami, Asasekiryu,Ushiomaru, Kaiho 4 5 Tamanoshima, Kyokushuzan, Kyokutenho,Kinkaiyama, Tamakasuga 3 8 Tochinonada, Hokutoriki, Iwakiyama,Takamisakari, Tokitsuumi, Kasuganishiki, Yotsukasa, Takanowaka 2 4 Tosanoumi, Takekaze, Wakatoba, Kitazakura 1 1 Toki 0 0 - width="100%"> After day 10,January 2004, Juryo division scores are: Wins Rikishi Shikona 10 0 - 9 0 - 8 1 Chiyotenzan 7 5 Wakanoyama, Nakao, Hakuho, Hamanishiki, Juzan 6 8 Toyozakura, Kobo, Harunoyama, Futeno, Kaido,Roho, Bushuyama, Sumanofuji 5 2 Otsukasa, Oikari 4 4 Takanotsuru, Towanoyama, Daimanazuru, Oginishiki 3 2 Masutsuyoshi, Gokenzan 2 2 Kasugao, Tochifudo 1 0 - 0 0 - <

The good news is that the new server seems to have a much higher capacity than the old and you no longer need to get on early. I seem to have a problem with the video though. I get the audio just fine, but no video. I am using Windows Media Player 9.0. (I used to have no problems in the old days with MP 6 but when I was having problems at the beginning of this basho, I assumed that they had changed something which required some later features so I upgraded, but it made no difference) Can anyone help me?

The boss is always right. Not just in sumo.

Perhaps he plans to get a job in road-haulage if sumo doesn't work out for him? :-D