Shomishuu

In the

Thanks a lot, Paul. Cheers to you as well! (Neener, neener...)

SUMO FAN MAGAZINE - Day 3 Henka Nominations: KISENOSATO vs. Aran Vote yea or nay at http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_24/interactive.htm if you have an opinion on whether or not the rikishi in bold print above committed a henka in his match. Click on 'Cast Your Votes!'. If you believe a henka occurred in a match not listed above, request a nomination at itsulon@wavecable.com and visit the site at a later time to cast a vote.

SUMO FAN MAGAZINE - Day 2 Henka Nominations: TOKITENKU vs. Iwakiyama Vote yea or nay at http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_24/interactive.htm if you have an opinion on whether or not the rikishi in bold print above committed a henka in his match. Click on 'Cast Your Votes!'. If you believe a henka occurred in a match not listed above, request a nomination at itsulon@wavecable.com and visit the site at a later time to cast a vote.

you know, if that had come off, Kakuryu would have been haunted for a long time by it, just like when Asa did it all those years ago to Kotomitsuki...after dumping mickey in the middle of the ring like a schoolboy his confidence was shot for years against Asashoryu who has racked up an extremely one sided record against him. If his tsuriotoshi had failed that day we would have said it was stupid, I guess its only stupid it you can't pull it off...its genius if you do....Asashoryu of 5 years ago would have nailed that throw More than likely, Asa of 2 years ago would have nailed it. The first time I recall it failed (tsuri in the middle of the dohyo) was in his return from suspension on senshuraku of 2008 Hatsu. Tried it against Hakuho...a desperation move in that match, and it sapped his power for the rest of the match. I also think it was a desperation move today as well. Doesn't look good for him right now.

SUMO FAN MAGAZINE - Day 1 Henka Nominations: KIMURAYAMA vs. Tosayutaka KAKIZOE vs. Hokutoriki CHIYOHAKUHO vs. Asasekiryu GOEIDO vs. Kotooshu Vote yea or nay at http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_24/interactive.htm if you have an opinion on whether or not any of the rikishi in bold print above committed a henka in his match. Click on 'Cast Your Votes!'. If you believe a henka occurred in a match not listed above, request a nomination at itsulon@wavecable.com and visit the site at a later time to cast a vote.

Ah yes, I do (unfortunately) remember it well...and thanks for the reminder, Maneki! (In jonokuchi...)

If you take your Beethoven seriously, you may not want to watch this - otherwise, enjoy! http://www.flixxy.com/beethoven-fifth-symphony-breakfast.htm

I wonder about this excerpt: "While the rules are not clearly defined, each sumo stable is allowed one foreign wrestler and there are 53 stables." I was under the impression that the rules regarding the number of foreign rikishi allowed were pretty clear (not to imply that I clearly understand them). Is it still just one per heya unless a heya already had one when the rules were implemented? AFAIK, it was never a "rule" (not written anywhere)-more an "understanding", like the "40 foreigners limit" and the "temporary foreigner ban" and who knows what else were. Thanks, Kinta. At least it looks like the understanding is clearly defined, or will be as long the foreigners make up at least - what say maybe - 15 percent of makuuchi and 40 percent of yokozuna/ozeki? Or maybe until Hakuho Oyakata is given a really important job, like Lifestyle Guidance Vice-Director. B-)

I wonder about this excerpt: "While the rules are not clearly defined, each sumo stable is allowed one foreign wrestler and there are 53 stables." I was under the impression that the rules regarding the number of foreign rikishi allowed were pretty clear (not to imply that I clearly understand them). Is it still just one per heya unless a heya already had one when the rules were implemented?

Maybe a more equitable way to compare them would be using the ratio of make koshi to number of ozeki basho, rather than using kadoban; this because the criteria for kadoban itself have changed several times through the ages (somewhat self serving here because I have the make koshi data at hand but not the kadoban...). At any rate, there have been 25 ozeki since about 1950 with 10 or more basho at the rank, and here they are listed in order of the percentage of their total ozeki basho in which they were make koshi (i.e., worst first). I apologize, I don't know how to enter a post so that the columns line up (maybe someone who knows how to do this can PM me...). The columns are OZEKI - # OZEKI BASHO - # MK BASHO - MK PCT. Chiyotaikai is the leader in total make koshi with 16 but is only 9th on this list with a MK ratio of 26%, so I believe your point is well taken. Kaio fares slightly better than Chiyo. Lots of other interesting placements in this category, but after all, it is just one category. 1. Matsunobori 15 7 .47 2. Kotogahama 28 12 .43 3. Tochiazuma 26 11 .42 4. Wakahaguro 13 5 .38 5. Musoyama 27 9 .33 6. Kirishima 16 5 .31 7. Maenoyama 10 3 .30 8. Tochihikari 22 6 .27 9. Chiyotaikai 61 16 .26 10. Yutakayama 35 9 .26 11. Kaio 52 13 .25 12. Dejima 12 3 .25 13. Daikirin 25 6 .24 14. Konishiki 39 8 .21 15. Kitabayama 31 6 .19 16. Takanonami 37 7 .19 17. Kiyokuni 28 5 .18 18. Wakashimazu 28 5 .18 19. Asashio 36 5 .14 20. Hokutenyu 44 6 .14 21. Takanohana 50 6 .12 22. Kotooshu 20 2 .10 23. Kotomitsuki 10 1 .10 24. Asahikuni 21 2 .10 25. Kotokaze 22 2 .09

Why was it elminated? Made sense for it to be in effect!? As I recall, NSK was concerned that top rankers were abusing the privilege, and that fan interest was declining because too many of them were absent too often. I'm sure there's more to the story but right now I don't have time to take a deeper look. Help??

SUMO FAN MAGAZINE - Day 15 Henka Nominations: HAKUBA vs. Tosanoumi HARUMAFUJI vs. Kaio Vote yea or nay at http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_23/interactive.htm if you have an opinion on whether or not either rikishi in bold print above committed a henka in his match. Click on 'Cast Your Votes!' and scroll down to Day 15. If you believe a henka occurred in a match not listed above, request a nomination at itsulon@wavecable.com and visit the site at a later time to cast a vote.

SUMO FAN MAGAZINE - Day 14 Henka Nominations: ARAN vs. Asasekiryu SHOTENRO vs. Homasho KOTOSHOGIKU vs. Goeido HARUMAFUJI vs. Chiyotaikai Vote yea or nay at http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_23/interactive.htm if you have an opinion on whether or not any of the rikishi in bold print above committed a henka in his match. Click on 'Cast Your Votes!' and scroll down to Day 14. If you believe a henka occurred in a match not listed above, request a nomination at itsulon@wavecable.com and visit the site at a later time to cast a vote.

Hmm, wasn't the "two consecutive yusho or equivalent" rule in place long before that? It has been the accepted standard for as long as I've been following sumo, but there are plenty of promotions that were far short of that, and a few that were obviously based on a three-basho performance (Onokuni, Asashio, Tamanoumi), and even more far out than those three was Kashiwado, who was promoted with 10, 11, and 12 wins in his last three basho. As far as I know, there is nothing actually written down, though. Despite the fact that the last seven promotions have actually met a pure 'two straight yusho' standard, I believe the so-called 'rules' remain situational.

SUMO FAN MAGAZINE - Day 13 Henka Nominations: KIMURAYAMA vs. Futeno KOTOSHOGIKU vs. Takekaze HARUMAFUJI vs. Miyabiyama Vote yea or nay at http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_23/interactive.htm if you have an opinion on whether or not any of the rikishi in bold print above committed a henka in his match. Click on 'Cast Your Votes!' and scroll down to Day 13. If you believe a henka occurred in a match not listed above, request a nomination at itsulon@wavecable.com and visit the site at a later time to cast a vote.

Asasho, on the aspect of including historical ozeki in the discussion, I meant one pointing out how Kaio's case might be different from theirs - that's what was missing. Lastly (really): I couldn't tell where you were going with the idea of using fans' collective judgment and public perception to determine if an ozeki 'belongs,' and what process might be used to quantify that perception (e.g., I'm sure Kaio would get the Kyushu vote). In the end, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on the validity of judgments that are admittedly very subjective. I respect your views and others who disagree with mine. This is, after all, why we are here. (Holiday feeling...)

I forget sometimes that not everyone (myself included) remembers all of the points made in prior posts in a long thread. Here's what I included in one of mine: As you (I think, at least) imply here, the kotenage issue is a red herring. It started out as the main thrust, but as I read more and more of the posts, it seemed to lose significance. Perhaps I should go back and re-read everything between the lines, but I'm approaching the ad nauseum stage myself. In short, I feel 'Kaionage' is useful only as a trifling add-on - something akin to the idea that the more cheap ingredients you add, the closer you get to a gourmet dish. The only real issue to me is how competitive he is, or is not. In that vein, I haven't seen anything that warrants a summary demotion, especially in light of how others before him have been treated.

The 9,10, 50 win requirement scenarios are much more reasonable than some kind of public impeachment process, which would be divisive, impossible to administer fairly, and embarrassing to all who would participate in it, not to mention the rikishi themselves. I did a study using the 9 win scenario recently by assuming it had been in place in the past (found here): Click on The Ozeki article in the left column. I would have had no problem with the outcomes, and frankly believe it would be good for ozumo. But if Kaio (or Chiyotaikai) is to be the subject of a 'get out before you embarrass the rank' discussion, then the discussion should also include Musoyama, Hokutenyu, Asashio, Wakashimazu (and on and on), all of whom spent the bulk of their waning years at the rank without ever challenging for a single yusho, or even being viewed as a contender. This seems to be the general reason for asking for his head, while in fact it's nothing new. His only sin is that he is the current offender - not one from the past - and he's managed to hang on longer than the others. I don't really have a problem with the idea that Kaio may not fit the ozeki ideal, but since there's nothing special about his example, I do firmly disagree with the idea that he be stripped of his rank by any process that has nothing to do with his opponents on the dohyo. I would be highly in favor of a simple nine win requirement for avoiding kadoban and demotion, while maintaining the ten win avenue for regaining the rank in the first basho following demotion. The results of my study - while impossible to replicate actuality, of course - at least suggest that the outcome would result in more spirited competition, while still maintaining a reasonable degree of stability at the rank.

SUMO FAN MAGAZINE - Day 12 Henka Nominations: KIMURAYAMA vs. Shimotori SHOTENRO vs. Iwakiyama KOTOOSHU vs. Kaio Vote yea or nay at http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_23/interactive.htm if you have an opinion on whether or not any of the rikishi in bold print above committed a henka in his match. Click on 'Cast Your Votes!' and scroll down to Day 12. If you believe a henka occurred in a match not listed above, request a nomination at itsulon@wavecable.com and visit the site at a later time to cast a vote.

In what manner would the proper number be determined, on an ongoing basis? There has never been a proper number, and given the stringent requirements for ascension to ozeki, in effect it wouldn't be a proper number, it would be a maximum number. A few years ago, when Miyabiyama was almost the sixth ozeki, was there a serious suggestion that one of the existing ozeki should retire if he got the promotion? In the end, the proper number would be the result of a subjective judgment that someone just 'doesn't belong.' It seems that is what we have right now, anyway. Or have I misunderstood what you've said?

I'm not quite sure I follow this. Implying that Takanonami lost his rank on purpose is a real stretch, in view of the fact that he got it right back. Of course he lost it again, but it's another stretch to assume he spent the next four years NOT trying to get it back again - and then another long leap to assume that if he HAD regained it again, that he would've immediately retired. It's hard to dump on Kaio for hanging on when history shows that's what ozeki do when they can (as has been well documented earlier here). Sure he's done it longer than anyone else, but all of those hangers-on would've done the same, if only they could. Shall we just automatically take the longest-running hanger-on and berate him, whoever he might be? It's true the system allows this to happen, but why single out one guy, just because he's the one still around? Before we can even start down that road, let's consider this: Let's say there were no ranks, just the best 20 or so rikishi going at each other for 15 days, 6 times a year. Would the likes of Aminishiki, Baruto, Kisenosato, Goeido, Kotoshogiku, Kyokutenho et al, be outperforming Kaio, basho in and basho out? IF the answer is no, to say that Kaio is sullying the ozeki rank is stretching things since he's still outperforming everyone below ozeki. That leaves the kotenage issue, which the NSK could deal with, if they cared to (remember Raiden?) But as long as they don't, he's not the culprit - they are. Lumping several tenuous arguments to make one strong case is sometimes tempting, but usually not very accurate.

??? Sorry, was only waiting for this dirty henka day nominations! ;-) Thanks, Peeter. Well, because of my time zone and 'lifestyle considerations,' I haven't watched sumo in real time for a looong time. The timing of the henka postings pretty much depend on how much I can get done before breakfast (smiley for 'too much information'...).

???

SUMO FAN MAGAZINE - Day 11 Henka Nominations: TOYOZAKURA vs. Kakizoe DEJIMA vs. Kimurayama KAKURYU vs. Baruto KOTOOSHU vs. Goeido KISENOSATO vs. Hakuho Vote yea or nay at http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_23/interactive.htm if you have an opinion on whether or not any of the rikishi in bold print above committed a henka in his match. Click on 'Cast Your Votes!' and scroll down to Day 11. If you believe a henka occurred in a match not listed above, request a nomination at itsulon@wavecable.com and visit the site at a later time to cast a vote.