Swami

This is actually about from 1984 Kyushu, but this is the ozeki/sanyaku gyoji I originally mentioned. He had a very distinctive call. Swami

Presumably he's the same gyoji in the famous Tochinishiki - Ouchiyama bout (Tochinishiki winning by kubinage)? Swami

I didn't think this would prove so tricky! Swami

A bit of a random one this, I know, curious to know if any of you have a favourite gyoji either past or present. The 27th Kimura Shonosuke (retired 1990), and the 28th Kimura Shonosuke (retired 1993) stand out for me, also the main sanyaku/ozeki gyoji of that time - was it Shintaro - his calls were very distinctive. Of current gyoji, around the mid-maegashira level - not sure who the gyoji is, but I love his calls of "Endo" and "Enho". Swami

Another member of the old guard exits stage left - who will be next? I hope the new Kasugayama enjoys success in his new role. Swami

I agree, while it is true that Nishikijima, Takasago, members of the media can be apportioned a fair bit of blame, the bottom line is Asanoyama, like every one of us, is reponsible for his own actions. Given he lied before he eventually came clean about what happened, somehow portraying Asanoyama as a victim simply doesn't wash. Given the timescale of the ban, and time involved in potentially returning to makunouchi, it will take at least two years before he returns to anywhere near his current rank. And surely there is a need to send a serious message to all others who would contemplate similar breaches of COVID regulations. Swami

My understanding was that they were holding onto the retirement papers in the event of another faux pas, in which case Asanoyama's hand would be forced. Swami

Yes, I did think he would quit rather than endure such a tough punishment, though he did attempt to submit retirement papers back in May, apparently Hakkaku has kept them in the event of another faux pas. When you add up the time it will take for him to return just to makunouchi, counting the six basho ban, that will be at least 18 months away, by which time he may be passing his prime.7 Sad all around. Swami

Murray is my favourite, though they all do a good job in their own individual ways. Swami

Perhaps 6 to 7 tops, I know all seems to be going well now, but he is still walking a tightrope - the next bad injury may well be curtains for his career. It was unfortunate that the last four years being ravaged by injury robbed Terunofuji of being at his peak. Swami

Indeed, when I suggested that, I certainly didn't foresee Asanoyama's current difficulties which will well and truly derail his bid for yokozuna. Swami

Happy birthday and hearty salutations from the Swami! Swami

Happy birthday and hearty salutations from the Swami! Swami

J Just checked January 1981 issue of Sumo World (article re Mienoumi's retirement), Mienoumi did indeed ask his oyakata to allow him to retire but Dewanoumi Oyakata (ex-Sadanoyama) first consulted Kasugano Rijicho (ex-Tochinishiki) who said to give him another chance. Next time out Mienoumi got 10 wins. Swami

Mienoumi also offered to retire when he was in danger of falling from ozeki for a second time, was talked out of it, and ended up steadying the ship, and making yokozuna into the bargain! Swami

The three-basho thing, whilst no longer about numbers, would be more about seeing a consistent level of performance. If Terunofuji wins this time and in Nagoya, at the end of the day it is the Kyokai (with the YDC's recommendation) who will make the call. Beating Hakuho may not be a factor if he, Hakuho, doesn't survive the first week at Nagoya. The worrying thing is if Terunofuji doesn't get promoted - which if he does, is really only going to be for a short time - where is the next yokozuna? Before his woe this time, Asanoyama seemed to have hit a plateau, Shodai hasn't shown much and Takakeisho, in my mind, would be a disaster if he made yokozuna. Given Terunofuji's knees, he'll do well if he lasts another couple of years, though it would be a great story if he makes it. He certainly has potential to win several more yusho. Swami

Thanks for that! It will put the YDC and the Kyokai in an unprecedented position if he finishes with 14-1 this time, although I think it is more likely chat for promotion would be more serious if was to win the yusho again (assuming Terunofuji wins this time) in July. But strictly speaking a three-basho run would mean September would be the expected target under normal circumstances, though clearly Terunofuji's comeback is a unique situation. Swami

I agree the three-basho totals is far from being the be-all and end-all. After all Wakanohana II and Onokuni both scored 40 wins over the three basho and didn't exactly have stellar careers. Plus the case of Wakanohana III highlights another point. Winning back-to-back yusho to get promoted doesn't guarantee a successful stay as yokozuna even though that has been the de facto criteria for promtion since Futahaguro's exit. But from the point of view of gauging consistent performance, surely a three-basho spell is a better barometer, wouldn't you say, rather than just two? I don't think my comment merited that response but whatever. Swami

No doubt it would be a very brave betting man who put odds on what decision the Kyokai eventually takes. Swami

I still think he's too short, and remains prone to slap-downs. Akinoshima though was short and was very much a yotsu-zumo man, although in many ways his greatest flaw was his tendency to lose to guys much lower-ranked, having done all the hard work by beating so many top-rankers. Swami

Having set the bar of 3 tournaments for Abi, they can't do any less for Asanoyama given his rank and expected standards of behaviour/conduct. I still think being asked to retire may be the most likely option. Likewise, for Takasago, they could potentially dismiss him, and all the heya's rikishi go to Hakkaku or other stables in the ichimon, though that would be a major punishment given how historic Takasago Beya has been. Swami

Takakeisho needs to badly work on his yotsu-zumo if there is any chance of him making yokozuna, if his pushing attacks fail he has nothing to fall back on. The likes of Hokutoumi and Akebono developed sufficient yotsu-zumo, so far I haven't seen much sign of Takakeisho doing likewise. In terms of promotion for Terunofuji, bearing in mind this is first basho back as ozeki, I can't see him being considered for promotion until September (if you consider the three-basho totals). Then again, Terunofuji's situation is truly unique. Futabayama and Terukuni were the only rikishi to be promoted to yokozuna after only two basho as ozeki. Perhaps if Terunofuji went zensho in July, he might have a chance. Swami

But clearly as an ozeki he is expected to be setting a good example, therefore one would reckon the punishment will be more severe. Swami

Hearty salutations from the Swami! Swami

I only raised this suggestion because yokozuna Maedayama was forced to retire in 1949 after dropping out of a tournament claiming illness, only to be subsequently photographed at a baseball game. He did get to remain as an oyakata. Very different situations of course. Plus the other notable examples are of course Wajima and Futahaguro - Wajima for putting his toshiyori stock up as collateral for loans, and Futahaguro for unacceptable behaviour to his tsukebito and heya personnel. In fairness to the Kyokai, so many of their rules and customs are centuries old and would never have factored COVID breaches into the mix. At the same time they have to be seen to be doing something about. Given the recent scandals involving foreign rikishi over the last decade and a half, they can't very well brush this case under the carpet. Swami