Seijakuzan

He does have a twitch, but to make a full diagnosis based on that reaches quite far... I don't know why there's such a stigma against it. The spectrum is very wide, and it usually does NOT involve the random outbursts of profanity like the movies would have you think. My brother has a mild case, and at its worst it was very similar to Kise's twitch. It's just an observation.

Also, we're talking about high-class athletes here, so the baseline for emotional/psychological stability under pressure isn't exactly the same as for random people who've never performed in front of large crowds. Kisenosato just doesn't have it together quite as well as the other top-level guys, that's all. He's also not quite as fast as them, but nobody would think to proclaim that as evidence that he must have suffered a debilitating accident as a child. I think anything 'mental' with him is more neurological than psychological. Like I said before, the guy very obviously has Tourette or something similar - and it's much harder for people with those conditions to relax. But I don't think that's what has cost him a chance at Yokozuna. He's just not good enough to beat the Mongolians consistently enough to get the needed 14-1 or 15-0 that he's needed (before this past basho) to beat the unbeatable Mongol du basho, and he lacks a killer instinct. I remember reading where someone in sumo (an oyakata I believe) saying that Kaiou would have easily been a Yokozuna if he had Asashoryu's killer instinct - and we know how well-appreciated Asashoryu's personality was as a whole - so that's saying a lot. Yeah, a killer instinct is sorta mental, but it's not a mental condition to be lacking killer instinct.

He was extremely young when he made it to Makuuchi, getting there from the bottom as a 15-year-old in 16 Ozumo basho. Hakuho also started at 15 a year previously and took an additional three tournaments despite being 4 months older than Kisenosato was upon joining (Kise's 16 months younger overall). I imagine it was reasonably expected that he would be the next Takanohana, at very least a Yokozuna. But he stubbornly refuses to win the matches he needs to in order to get that promotion despite being nearly on par with the weaker two Yokozuna now. There are plenty of Japanese who do not like the fact that there are 3 Mongolians there now (with another maybe on the way), but not the Japanese Kisenosato. Yeah, but assuming that most of this forum is not actually Japanese, why would we care that someone who burst onto the scene at a young age didn't turn out to be one of the top 71 rikishi in history? I enjoyed watching Kaiou, who came so much closer to making yokozuna, and on more than one occasion. That was with Musashimaru and a usually-absent Takanohana as his biggest competition, before the era of Asashoryu (and then Hakuho) permanently squashed his chances. Kisenosato has been about as consistently good as they come, while being swallowed up by the Mongolian horde from day 1. If you swap Kisenosato and Kaiou's birthdates, I'd put money on Kisenosato being the 68th Yokozuna. So, I'm guessing Kaiou must be about as close to public enemy #1 around here. I just don't see how there can be so much dislike for someone who will likely retire as a top 1% makuuchi rikishi of all time. He shows up and does excellent sumo day in and day out. He never henkas or falls on his face, and wins 90% of the matches he should be expected to win. His jumpiness at the tachi-ai went through a short (but admittedly annoying) phase, but you only have to watch him for 10 seconds to see that he is Tourette AF - I'm impressed that he's been able to rein it in as much as he has.

Why is there so much hate for Kisenosato? He shows up, never gets hurt, has averaged at least 10 wins as Ozeki for almost 4 years now, and employs textbook sumo. Does he have off-the-dohyo problems?

Kakuryu's henka just got a whole lot more shameful, especially if he takes the yusho by 1 win, or worse - by playoff.

As far as I know, they never swung from the side. Because slaps are so much worse than taking it to the face or throat... Anyone who practices martial arts also knows that defending against hits from the outside are a hell of a lot easier than defending a flurry of shots to the face. Myogiryu is just being a sore loser, and he of all people should be quick enough to close the gap when someone like Oosuna exposes his center while taking outside shots.

I'd hate to see how Myogiryu would handle getting his face re-arranged by Akebono, Terao, or Chiyotaikai.

Kotoshogiku went 15 out of their first 23 matchups, when both of them were maegashira (mostly), and I'd hardly call 31-26 a 'habit' of beating Kisenosato anyway. It's one of the great rivalries, like Akebono v Takanohana or Asashoryu v Hakuho, but between two generally disappointing ozeki. A step above Aminishiki v Toyonoshima's 21-20 rivalry. On Endo ever making yokozuna - I think the odds are 5% or less, I just think he has more of the physical and mental skills than Ichinojo at this point. He'd obviously have to put on some weight and get healthier, the latter of which also is probably the main thing currently keeping Oosunaarashi from making it to Ozeki in the next year or two. I can't think of the last sleepy giant that made it to Ozeki or Yokozuna without a killer instinct. Maybe Miyabiyama? I missed his prime, so I don't remember what he was like as an Ozeki. He wasn't one for long, either.

Ikioi did well to react quickly. One more step before he attempts that throw and I think he loses by yorikiri/oshidashi.

yea, he will be a good yok.. besides him, who you guys think will be the next 1/2 yokozunas? 72nd Yokozuna=Terunofuji 73rd Yokozuna=Kisenosato (Wishful) 73rd Yokozuna=Ichinojo (Realistic) I don't see Ichinojo ever making it until after Hakuho and Harumafuji both retire, and even then only if no other comparable talent comes along in the next 5 years. With a little more strength and technique, Oosuna will distance him over the next year. Endo is only a couple of years older and still has plenty of time, and even Tochinoshin is only 27. I see Ichinojo filling Okinoumi's shoes as the talented but perennial disappointment.

Myougiryu just figured that out?

He thought he was supposed to face Sadanofuji, he got it wrong-he faced Sadanoumi as planned. He got them mixed up. I'm guessing the "how many years?" thing was wondering if he's been hit in the head too many times?

Sort of-they're taking care of the "welfare of the fans" at the stadium. I wonder why you don't hear about more women who conveniently collapse 5 feet away from them, especially when someone like Kotoooshu is bodyguarding. Oh, right, this isn't America.

Your top 2 are probably fine, especially if this turns out to be a fluke for Hakuho, but 12-3 and two 10-5s from continuous underachievers is indeed very wishful thinking. I don't think that can mathematically happen unless Kakuryu, Kisenosato, Giku, and Goeido average 10-5 or 9-6 or something like that.

Then who has kept Hakuho going since Asashoryu retired? Harumafuji and Kakuryu aren't bad yokozuna, but the deck is stacked against them from day 1 of every basho. Hakuho hasn't slowed down a bit since his major competition has retired.

More than a foot?? Just look at the gifs posted after you - it's inches - and still almost exactly lined up from where his left foot started. Does it stop being called a henka if the feet stay inside of that imaginary line? What about when they go backwards or one twists to the side, yet stay inside the line? This argument is getting ridiculous. Look at their heads recoiling from the collision, and Giku's right arm going towards the belt. Clever idea from Giku, unfortunate or intentional slip by Terunofuji. Also, Harumafuji's not-henka has him going straight for the back of the belt and ejecting them forward. The positioning of Giku's left hand tells me he was going to go for the belt and push him from the side, but then the gamble paid off and he ended up just having to push him straight down. ​

Yeah, I'm not really buying into the whole henka thing. In what universe is this a henka? It was an expertly-executed slightest of lateral movements, putting Terunofuji's face right into his shoulder and allowing Giku to make the quick throw. They collided at the exact midpoint of the starting lines. So unless Terunofuji gave him a heads-up on how he was going to tachi-ai, this was brilliant execution by Giku, and he is more than owed a few rounds of not being expected to charge ahead like a bull. ​

Looks like　オールドアイ＿アル to me. I_al?

I'm thinking Okinoumi's. No way he actually cares that much about winning.

I honestly think it was just because he was so tall, and was a straight grappler. He had nowhere to go but right over the top of someone when trying to launch them out, and often ended up in those upside-down, both-rikishi-trying-to-uwatenage situations. When you're almost 7 feet tall, just about any landing is going to be awkward, especially when tangled up with someone else. Kotooshu was/is pretty universally loved, so I doubt there was any hostility behind any of it.

Gravity vs Kotooshu - dude had some serious crash landing like noone else. Or maybe Toyohibiki vs himself.

I see that it's called "Indoor Google Maps" and that it's been around a while now. I've just been living under a rock apparently. They even have a directory of them, although KKan and the White House (first placed I randomly looked to find another example) aren't listed, so who knows how (in)complete it is: https://support.google.com/gmm/answer/1685827?hl=en Edit: And a lot that are listed don't even work, so I don't even know what the deal is.

Hahahahaha at Toyonoshima and Aminishiki forming a heart with their combined hands. Awesome. They should have more things like this for places around the world. Are there, or is this truly groundbreaking?

I'm a little surprised that Homasho is only 2-2 from the J14 position. Is he still playing a little hurt, or has he really lost that much of his ability in the last year? He IS on the wrong side of 30 now...

Whoa, seeing Kisenosato smiling just blew my mind. Awesome photos!