Shomishuu

Chiyotaikai does lead in number of make koshi, that is true; but not in the percentage of of MK as an ozeki. BTW, I used MK instead of kadoban for the comparison because in the past, MK didn't always result in kadoban, as it does right now.

In scrolling/scanning the database, I don't think you can establish a general rule regarding whether or not the yokozuna's ozeki careers were better early or late, except that the dai yokozuna generally had very short stints as ozeki. What is beyond dispute is that in almost every case, they ended up promoting the right guys to yokozuna, since - as the tables (not the database) show, only three yokozuna had worse ozeki grades than the highest graded ozeki (Kotokaze). Sometimes I wonder whether - if he no longer had a rank worth protecting - Kotooshu's current numbers would be any better than Dejima's post-ozeki numbers. Well, sometimes....

Thank you for posting this, Otoko-san. Speaking as an old-timer from the Taiho era, but whose time actually in Japan was limited to a couple of U.S. military tours (therefore, sheltered from the real Japanese experience), reading this was still a real eye-opener. Not only on the media, but on everything Japanese - government, business, my wife's family and friends, arguments we've had - all of that. Puts a lot of stuff that's happened into a little better focus. Sumo too, so not totally Off-topic, IMHO. Thanks!

Is your list including those rikishi who went on to become Yokozuna? If yes, how does he look when only compared to rikishi in that category, who peaked at Ozeki? This group of 18 are from those who peaked at ozeki. The entire list of 32 ozeki from circa 1950 can be seen by clicking on "The Ozeki" article (left column) in SFM's October issue here.

In Kaio's case, I would say to a large extent, the record has been 'earned' due to his make koshi rate of 26% in his ozeki career. This is 5th (going back to circa 1950) among the 18 rikishi with 20 or more ozeki basho. This rate has actually decreased in the past 17 basho since he's had only three MK during that time. In case you're wondering about the other heads of that class: Kotogahama 43% Tochiazuma 42% Musoyama 33% Tochihikari 27% Kaio 26% Yutakayama 26% Chiyotaikai 25% On the other hand, for the most part, when Kaio and Chiyotaikai weren't horrid, they were very very good, as they rank 4th and 6th respectively in that same group of 18 ozeki, in their percentage of double digit wins as ozeki (48%/46%).

That's why I specifically said that Rikshi should be able to declare Kyujo BEFORE the basho and sit the whole basho out. If you disagree with that, please state an objection other than the one above. 'Legitimate injuries' being in quotes - I believe - implies that the injuries are not thought to be real, and so kosho was requested as a result of the early losses to not only avoid a potential make koshi, but to gain an undeserved rest as well. But I'm sure Mark will set us all straight when he's up and about. (Singing drunk...)

My sincere best wishes, Paul. Just remember that no right thinking person gets to choose who goes on, and who doesn't. You will reward the care she had for you by staying well yourself. Take care.

That was my thought too (just the opposite way around), before I realized that this one was indeed called a koen - I'd thought the articles meant it was the first failed jungyo, because: Shomishuu's details make it sound like the aborted Seattle event was looked at as a koen by the Kyokai if they made a stink about the official invitation and centennial tie-in not being for real. But now it looks like two failed koens and zero failed jungyo. Maybe they've retroactively declared that first non-event a jungyo, I dunno. I don't have any Japanese news articles on the Seattle event, only some from Seattle, but in re-reviewing those, I would say that it was planned to be a koen because the JSA was awaiting a formal invitation from the Centennial Commission, which never came. It was the Commission's final determination that they couldn't afford to extend an invitation (i.e., had insufficient corporate sponsorships) that constituted the 'cancellation' of the event; so officially, it was the koen that never was. In the end, JSA/NHK felt they had been enticed and strung along for an entire year by a group of first class bumpkins. The only thing that was done right - from a Japanese perspective - was the Secretary of State's trip to Japan to formally 'fall on his sword' in front of the Rijicho and the head of NHK.

It kind of depends on who's saying that, and how they spin it. A jungyo was planned and scheduled for June 1989 in Seattle, WA (USA), as part of the state's centennial celebration. Dewanoumi Rijicho and two oyakata along with NHK representatives came to a kickoff dinner in April 1988, attended by the mayors of both Seattle and Tacoma, WA and several high ranking state officials. I was there, along with others who were volunteering to do some ground work. Although that event was a sellout, it masked the fact that the larger effort was poorly planned and even more poorly executed. It ended in failure when JSA/NHK finally realized that promotion in Washington state wasn't going well and established a deadline for guaranteeing local sponsorship. When the Centennial Commission realized they couldn't meet the deadline, they canceled the event in August of '88. In Japan, the story went that they were 'duped' by the original invitation from Washington state, which included an "official government request" by the Governor, followed by endorsement letters from the U.S. Ambassador, the entire state congressional delegation, and the Seattle mayor. They claimed this showed that the sponsoring government had thrown its full support behind the project, when in fact it was just a vote of confidence and - like most foreign jungyo - private sponsors were vital. As the effort stumbled along, a flood of additional complaints followed. In the end, the state ended up with much egg on it's face, and the Secretary of State (of the state) went to Tokyo to hand-deliver a letter of apology to Dewanoumi Rijicho and the NHK president. It was all very disappointing. ;-)

Of course I couldn't help but wonder myself, and I wouldn't begin to guess. Based solely on the tone of the discussion, you could conclude that either of those is plausible. I've never met Hiro personally but I've always thought of him as someone who is too nice a guy to do something like that, so I'll leave that there. And who knows, perhaps they weren't sitting side by side - but it was fun to imagine that.

The most entertaining thing about today's sumo was something only those watching TV Japan's English language broadcast would have heard, and only those who are familiar with Clyde Newton and the decline of Sumo World Magazine would understand. Apologies to those who are not familiar, but the 'saga' is just too long to recount. Anyway, Clyde was on the broadcast with Hiro Morita. At halftime, Hiro mentioned an article in the Japan Times Online about some sumo fans in Nebraska (USA) who said they really enjoyed the TV Japan sumo coverage, but were disappointed that there was no English language sumo magazine in print. Hiro exclaimed to Clyde something to the effect that they should get "your magazine." Instead of responding, Clyde went right into informing listeners about the shimpan for the second half (understandable because their names did come onto the screen right then), but then shut up without responding to Hiro. But Hiro wouldn't let it go. He brought the subject back up and asked Clyde how these guys in Nebraska could get Sumo World. Clyde said something about not having a web site right now. Hiro asked how/where they might write to ask for it. After a short pause, Clyde mumbled, "That's a good question." Now I'm assuming these two guys were sitting side by side. So by now I'm imagining Clyde giving Hiro a series of wave-offs, X-signs with his arms, or maybe elbows in the ribs. So finally after another sticky pause, Hiro said, "Well we'll just ask the Nebraska fans to keep watching the broadcast and when more information becomes available, we'll pass it on. How's that, Clyde?" To which a relieved Clyde readily agreed (paraphrasing here, someone else is controlling my TV now so I can't go back to get the exact words...) For me, it was a real gut-buster, but I'm guessing the boys in Nebraska are still scratching their heads. (Sign of disapproval...)

Someone HAS to be serious around here, so it's OK. I agree with all the above, except the "not THAT great" part, since this situation will force them both to go all out, and that is really rare in the "give and take" Ozeki club society etiquette of today. Yes, the show WOULD be THAT great...I was thinking more about the mere fact of two 7-7 ozeki meeting on senshuraku. And I think it's actually gonna happen...so on with the shoU...

Yes, you are correct that they may face each other on senshuraku- I'm just not sure about the both being 7-7 part, as I think Chiyotaikai will get his 8th before that, maybe as early as tomorrow, as Kotomitsuki will let him win of course... That being said, yes, it could happen, and yes, that would be great.. Well, not THAT great since neither is kadoban. Surely Mickey doesn't think he has no chance of beating both Hakuho and Ama (sorry for the double-neg) so his match with Chiyo will be straight-up - he may still lose it but he will be properly 'motivated.' Even if one believes that orchestration from the top down exists (which I don't), with the 'Mickey wants yusho + Chiyo-Osh want KK' stew so muddled with three whole days to go, it's just too complicated to do; and even harder for the rikishi themselves to agree how to set something like this up. Maybe with one day to go, but not with three. Having two kadoban ozeki in January isn't such a big deal anymore with the new kid on the block... Sorry for being so serious, the head games you guys play with each other are way over my head. B-)

A few assumptions (safe or not?): 1. Kokonoe's "working harder" reference is about the rikishi, not the toshiyori. 2. "Working harder" is mostly related to the unmotivated sumo discussion that followed. ;-) ;-) :-(

GMTA! (Great minds think alike)...I made the same note this morning as I watched the recording. But there's the rub. Passing on knuckle-grazers does smooth things out, much more fan-friendly; but as time goes by, first the knuckle, then the fingernail, then a few millimeters, then a centimeter. Next thing you know, we're partying like it's 2007. ;-)

Ever tried Google or the Yellow Pages?? (Showing respect...) Just in case you haven't found him yet, here he is (or at least was): http://www.nwsource.com/ae/scr/edb_vd.cfm?ven=267&s=st

Traditionally, they have left right after Kaio's match, but with no Kaio, it was Kotomitsuki today. Of course with so few fans left to squish them on their way out, they might as well stay for the whole show. (In a state of confusion...)

correction? Hakuho (4-1) over Hokutoriki by yorikiri ------------------------------------------------ "I wanted to keep myself calm and to go deliberately today. I needed to reflect on the yesterday's mistakes." "So far I lost one already so I cannot say I have done really well. But I do have a strong feeling to keep myself in the yusho race till the senshuraku." (Already getting 300th win in Makuuchi) "Is that so? I guess it's pretty quick. But I'd prefer to focus solely on one single basho rather than having a long active career." Middle finger mix-up :-( Nice to know I'm not the only one who never learned 10-key.

That was one strange tachiai. Toyonoshima pulled a Mainoumi on him, and he just froze...scared silly of the morozashi, I guess.

That's a possibility, although from the replays I'm convinced it did touch. Anyway, what's the point of stopping a match when the gyoji has let it go and both rikishi are already going at it full tilt? I'll answer my own question: None. To teach Aminishiki a lesson? Fat chance of that. If shimpan feel the need to show disdain toward a tricky tachiai, they're about 60 years late. It's very clear by now that - although the rules provide for it - they're never going to disqualify a rikishi for excessive matta. OK, I can live with that. But as long as that's the way it is, then accept the tachiai for what it is: a somewhat inscrutable, yet aesthetic display of imperfection that makes sumo the beguiling addiction that it is (sorry, got a little carried away there (Proverbial apple...) (Thinking in depth...)). In other words, if you've not gotten it right in 60 years, why keep trying to micromanamge the unmanageable? More tachiai insights can be found in the current issue of SFM here. Try Editor Chris Gould's comprehensive article on 'Tachiai Shenanigans,' or the tail end of the Aki Basho Summary for the more facile version.

TV Japan-wise, it was roughly 52 minutes into the broadcast on Day 1, between the Tochiozan-Tokitenku and Takekaze-Kakizoe matches. So very true. Most of the time, these little tidbits do occur between the makuuchi dohyo-iris and the start of makuuchi action, so the efforts of all several years ago who wrote to TV Japan, asking for (and resulting in) that extra half-hour of coverage have paid off handsomely.

More tachiai monku monku: I watched slo-mo hi-res replays of the Day 2 Chiyotaikai-Aminishiki tilt and I still don't get why Chief Shimpan Hanaregoma stopped the match after the first tachiai. Chiyotaikai obviously had both hands down at the start and Aminishiki's 'trailing' hand (left) clearly scraped the dohyo on his way up. The gyoji thought it was a good start and let it go, and both rikishi also were completely into the match, neither of them hesitating nor questioning anything. Sure, Chiyotaikai got the jump on Aminishiki, but isn't that job 1 at the tachiai anyway? Happens all the time. And in fact, he also did it on the second try, leaping forward before Aminishiki's trailing hand went down. The second go was nearly a carbon copy of the first, yet they let that one go. I realize it's easy to nitpick when you can replay things at your leisure, but this has become such a pattern I'm not sure what exactly they're looking for. It seems at this point that both rikishi and gyoji are still confused. In Kyushu especially, fans are finding more and more reasons to look away from sumo, and this so-called 'reform' movement isn't helping. Arrrgh! (Pulling hair...) (Pulling hair...) (Pulling hair...)

If Onokuni isn't used as the standard, he at least provides a very good example of the latitude that will be given to any yokozuna who is doing all he can to get back into form. At one point as yokozuna, in a string of eight basho he had only one KK (8-7), and actually one MK (7-8) in which he competed all 15 days. After the MK, he offered intai, which was rejected by Futagoyama Rijicho even though it was well known that he was in poor health, and even though there were two successful yokozuna at the time. He followed the MK with 0-0-15 and 8-7, and even then remained active, although it should be noted that he had the 'good' fortune to fracture his ankle on senshuraku of the 8-7 basho, which apparently allowed the PTB to allow him all the time he needed to heal, which required four basho. Without Asashoryu's disappearing acts and obvious insufficient training in recent years, as well as the other well documented transgressions, there would be no talk of intai - instead the talk would be: "Keep working at it - we need you!" During his suspension last year, I posted something to the effect that I didn't know how his career would end, but that his yokozuna career could be measured in weeks or months, and not years. I guess I would argue that my prediction is technically still alive because we're not to two years yet... Really, I think he is done. His injuries alone wouldn't sink him but they do require that he keep sumo in his heart and mind continuously, and keep his body in sumo shape by training with sekitori instead of doing whatever he does in Mongolia where no one can see. Sumo isn't easy for him anymore and I don't see anything in his demeanor that tells me he feels sumo in his heart and soul enough to work that hard at it. I also agree with paolo that he wouldn't tolerate playing a weak second fiddle to Hakuho for any length of time. I hope I'm wrong but it's just too late in the game for him to change. He is what he is, which is unfortunately, not what he was. He wouldn't stand for that, I don't think.

Why is Waka more dangerous then Itai was? All the scandals created a war-atmosphere, hum? Wakanoho is not more dangerous than Itai, but he is a lot more attackable. That is certainly true, but also at play may be that since NSK has yaocho related legal action underway against Shukan Gendai about specifics related to current rikishi, they may feel that Wakanoho has now 'backed up' some of SG's accusations. They may feel their suit against SG may not look credible if they just let Wakanoho's accusations go. Just a thought.

Ah, I've just read kame's post, which appeared as I was doing mine. It is plausible on the surface, but in order for the 'preserve everybody's career' culture to permeate - as is the suggestion - then it would be true that there are a relative paucity of 'real' matches. Not sure if I can buy that either. (Being unsure...)