Kintaro

I heard you can now leave the Kokugikan, snag a lunch, and get back in. If that's correct, the food problem is greatly simplified by the excellent choices only a few minutes away. Does anyone know it it's true, that we can get back in? I'll be at the Aki Basho for days 7-15. Cheers, Kintaro!

Wow, what a super analysis. Yes, I almost forgot about Tochinohana (Eeyore). He certainly faded fast... too bad.

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Welcome to day eight of the Natsu Basho. In Osaka, all Makuuchi rikishi started on Shonichi, but natural laws cannot be denied for long, and we're back to having kyujo rikishi. Three Makuuchi lads sat out on day one. At the top of the banzuke, Young Turk

Welcome to Senshuraku. No heya news today, so let's get right to it. Off to the races... Hokutoriki vs. Kotonowaka Kotonowaka has an impressive 10-4 record, and the puffin-chested Hokutoriki is one step behind with nine wins. The west side Yobidashi deftly replaces the chikara mizu (power water) with Geritol for the ancient behemoth. Kotonowaka shows spirit as he follows his opponent's scampering retreat, finally beating Hokutoriki by oshidashi (frontal push out). The 11 wins earns Kotonowaka a Kanto-sho prize (fighting spirit). Tokitsuumi vs. Toki The Man of Steel is 7-7 as he faces the 8-6 King of Rock and Roll. Tokitsuumi shows his determination and beats Elvis by oshidashi. Aminishiki vs. Kinkaiyama Amichan finishes a disastrous tournament with an impressive oshidashi win over Kinkaiyama. Aminishiki finishes with 3-13, Kinkaiyama finishes with 4-11. Tochinonada vs. Takanonami Well, it's Senshuraku, so it must be our old friend 7-7 Tochinonada. Today he is meeting the Evil Takanonami. The faded, former Ozeki is 5-9, although he showed sparks of his old self yesterday when he beat Jumonji by kimedashi (arm barring force out). It was vintage Takanonami. This is the 23rd meeting between these two men. The Evil One gives a sissy slap on his way in, but Tochinonada quickly establishes a left hand inside, right hand outside grip and bulls the faded one out for a yorikiri win (frontal force out). Buyuzan vs. Kyokutenho Both men have kachi-koshi, but the tall Mongol would like to rack up double digits. A few visiting British football hooligans start their chant, "Buuyyuuzzaannnnnn!! Buuyyuuzzaannnnnn!!" When the bout starts, Kyokutenho leads them to a double, man overboard drill. The Gyoji gives the nod to Kyokutenho, but a mono-ii determines a rematch is needed. Kyokutenho leads the second bout to the same conclusion -- double man overboard. Yet another mono-ii is called, and you guessed it... another rematch. Kyokutenho has been the aggressor for both bouts so far, but both conclusions were inconclusive. (Is that statement an oxymoron?) Kyokutenho wins the third bout convincingly by yoritaoshi (frontal crush out) to finish with a 10-5 record. Dejima vs. Kotoryu This is a 7-7 match-up. Who wants it more, the black-footed Dejima or the powerful Dragon Harp? Kotoryu wins by hatakikomi (slap down). Dejima makes a show of looking at the sand outside the tawara, and stands around hoping for a mono-ii, but the Shimpan aren't interested in re-examining the decision. Tamanoshima vs. Kyokushuzan The Chinless One is 5-9, while his opponent has already entered the realm of double digit losses. Tamanoshima wins today by oshidashi. Miyabiyama vs. Takamisakari The Robotic One has certainly attracted lots of kensho banners this basho. Unfortunately, he's only collected half of them. Tonight he meets Musashigawa-beya's Denebian Slime Devil. Miyabiyama would love to collect those nine envelopes, as they would buy a lot of Twinkies. Miyabiyama looks nervous and steps back from the tawara. When they start again, the artless Miyabiyama stumbles forward, and RoboCop quickly yanks him down to the clay. The fans wince as the huge gut pile lands on the dohyo with a sickening squishing sound. Mothers cover their children's eyes in horror. The Robotic One wins his kachi-koshi by hikiotoshi (hand pull down). It's the 200th win for Takamisakari. Tosanoumi vs. Shimotori Both men have losing records. Angel Ankles has double digit loses. Both men look terrible today, but Angel Ankles looked less terrible. Tosa wins by hikiotoshi. Kakizoe vs. Jumonji Two poor records for these lads. Jumonji aims a whack at Angelina Jolie's pouty lips, but Kakizoe grabbed the bacon eater and belly bumped him back and out over the rice bales. This yorikiri win gives Kakizoe a 6-9 record. Iwakiyama vs. Kotomitsuki Both men are hoping for Komusubi slots. Iwakiyama hopes to move up to the slot, Kotomitsuki hopes to fall there rather than tumble into maegashira. Kotomitsuki shows strong determination backing Iwakiyama up to the tawara. Iwakiyama fought back from the bales, but the Sekiwake kept pushing, pushing, pushing, finally winning by yorikiri. Both men finish with 7-8. It looks like the Komusubi lot goes to Kotomitsuki. Wakanosato vs. Asasekiryu Wakanosato is in an unusual pickle for him. He's fighting for kachi-koshi on day 15. Asasekiryu has positively sizzled, racking up a 13-1 record and earning two prizes -- the Gino-sho (technique) and the Shukun-sho (outstanding performance). It's a spirited bout, but the powerful Wakanosato was solid, winning by shitatenage (underarm throw). Musoyama vs. Kaio Both Ozeki have performed well. Kaio started with 11 straight wins before he dropped two in a row. He looked pretty good beating the Wolf Pup yesterday. Musoyama's new pus colored mawashi has brought him luck and 9 wins. Musoyama's new pus-power is no match for Kaio today. Kaio wins easily by yorikiri. Asashoryu vs. Chiyotaikai Asashoryu has 29 consecutive wins and would like to earn his second zensho Yusho. Chiyotaikai can force the decision to a play-off if he defeats Asashoryu in this match. The Yobidashi start their record-breaking kensho banner march -- 22 banners on the first pass, followed by a second round of 10 banners. Chiyotaikai bulled in, but the Yokozuna slips to the side and wins by hikiotoshi. Kintaro heads up the Hanamichi...

O Genki desu-ka? Welcome to day 14 of the Haru Basho. Obana came to the Woodstock-beya last week for our Sakura Festival. Atlanta is very beautiful in the spring. Kintaro and Obana did a lot of recording in the Woodstock-beya studio, adding tracks to songs that brother Chanko-cho recorded last month when he visited the heya. (Actually, Kintaro is still trying to dry out his liver from Chanko-cho's visit.) Kintaro and Obana are making plans to attend the second week of the September basho. We hope to see you there. Let's see... What's been going on in Makuuchi? Someone must have put something in the water in the Sanyaku Private Lounge. Both Komusubi have already bought tickets to Maegashira Land. Kotomitsuki is trying to decide whether to take the local to Komusubi Land or go ahead and catch the express train to Maegashira. As for Wakanosato, he needs wins the last two days or he'll also be hopping the train south. Off to the races... Tochinonada vs. Takamisakari The Robotic One is 7-6 as he faces 6-7 Tochinonada. Ahh... Tochinonada. What is it with him and Senshuraku? It seems like he always goes into day 15 with a 7-7. Will he do it again? Let's see. Matta Robo. Matta redux Robo. RoboCop launches into his hefty opponent. Tochinonada took control and won quickly by yorikiri (frontal force out). Dejima vs. Hokutoriki With Dejima's black shins, and Hokutoriki's white shins, this looks like a Spy vs. Spy cartoon. Dejima still needs a win to get his kachi-koshi, while the puffin-chested Hokutoriki has already earned 8 wins. Hokutoriki slapped on a couple of nodo-wa to keep the charging Dejima at bay. Dejima tucked his head down for a charge, and the high-waisted Hokutoriki tumbled him off the dohyo into the loving arms of the Shimpan. Hokutoriki gets his 9th win by hikiotoshi (hand pull down). Tochisakae vs. Kyokutenho The tall Mongolian has won 5 of his last 6 bouts to earn kachi-koshi. Tochisakae has pretty evenly spread out his six wins over the 13 days. Kyokutenho maintained control and quickly won his 9th bout by yorikiri. Tochisakae drops to make-koshi. Miyabiyama vs. Asasekiryu Asasekiryu's sizzling 12-0 start was arrested last night by Ozeki Chiyotaikai. The young Mongol's head is still foggy from the facial massage he received at the hands of the ferocious Ozeki. Today the Red Dragon of Morning meets the Artless Miyabiyama. Miyabiyama is wearing his signature bile-colored mawashi. The young dragon jumped to the side in horror as the odious and offensive sack of offal lunged up at him. Asasekiryu dropped Miyabiyama to the clay like a steaming pile of decaying, festering, fetid, foul, putrid, and rancid, yak entrails. (Note: descriptors alphabetized for your reading pleasure) Asasekiryu advances to 13-1 by uwatedashinage (pulling overarm throw). Aminishiki vs. Kyokushuzan This is guaranteed to be a slug fest. Now I know you think a slug fest means they'll throw a lot of punches... nay nay... that's the wrong type of slug. At 2-11 and 3-10, these guys are both fighting like slugs -- the garden variety type. Aminishiki tosses a handful high, a small amount lands on Kyokushuzan's right arm. "It BURNS!" he shrieks. We all know slugs and salt don't mix. The lads clash at the tachi-ai. It's a merry romp around the dohyo -- "which way did he go?" slap! whap! slap! slap! biff! boff! (remind anyone of Batman?) It's a mad scramble around the dohyo until Kyokushuzan finally drops Amichan by hikiotoshi (hand pull down). Kakizoe vs. Tokitsuumi At 5-8, Kakizoe has already pushed the

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