Sue

Morita-san is my Hiro.

Ko-chan would have gotten it right.

Everybody wants to be a Hiro.

Have you met the NSK yet? Or Japanese sumo fans?

My first instinct was to try to figure out which Star Trek series he was from, and what rank a purple rectangle indicates. He's not wearing a comm badge, though.

Ichinojo Ozeki run! C'mon, Joe, you can do it!

Dear Takayasu, Yes, it is possible to blow a two-win lead and still win the yusho. Please keep that in mind for next time. Hope that helps, Sue

Early in the basho, Ichinojo showed everyone what he'd be like if he were fully healthy, and he was able to hang on long enough to win the yusho. I hope he can find a way to stay healthy in the future. If the Shodai we've seen for most of the basho had shown up for day 1, he might have taken the yusho. If the Yutakayama we saw today would actually show up every day, he wouldn't be fighting Darwin matches on senshuraku at the bottom of the division. Is this the end for Kaisei? Will he give it one go in Makushita before hanging it up?

Given that Asanoyama's punishment was for playing fast and loose with the COVID restrictions, there would be a certain justice in that.

Bad idea. If one guy is infected, everyone else is highly suspect, and tests don't show positive until 3-5 days after exposure.

Heya life is pretty difficult, and a rikishi needs to be strongly motivated, and feeling like he's on the right track, to persevere.

I spoke too soon: Plane of the Dohyo

Also, he will not push.

If you can say "Lee Harvey Oswald" or "Sally Jessy Raphael," you can say "Waka Taka Kage."

As far as I can tell, the NSK doesn't have a sponsorship deal with any airline to be the "official airline of Ōzumo." Therefore, there is no "Plane of the Dohyo."

Final results: Sanyaku: 3-3-9 Terunofuji Y 9-6 Shodai O Takakeisho 8-7 O Mitakeumi 11-4 12-3YG Wakatakakage S Abi 8-7 (o) (x) 4-11 Takanosho K Hoshoryu 8-7 (o) 8-7 Daieisho M1 9-6 Ichinojo M2 M3 10-5 Kiribayama M4 M5 M6 Kotonowaka 11-4K 12-3DK Takayasu M7 Makuuchi-Juryo: (~) 5-10 Chiyomaru M13 Chiyonokuni 5-6-4 (x) M14 (x) 4-11 Akua M15 M16 (~) 7-8 Kagayaki M17 Ichiyamamoto 8-7 (o) (o) 10-5 Oho J1 (o) 10-5 Azumaryu J2 Hidenoumi 8-7 (x) ... (o) 12-3J Midorifuji J6 (x) 10-5 Mitoryu J7 ... (x) 13-2Y Ryuden J13 Juryo-Makushita: J10 Churanoumi 5-10 (x) J11 (x) 4-11 Hakuyozan J12 Atamifuji 7-8 (o) J13 (~) 7-8 Takakento J14 Kotoyusho 4-11 (x) (o) 4-3 Chiyoarashi Ms1 Tochimaru 4-3 (o) Ms2 4-3 Nishikawa Ms3 4-3 Tsushimanada Ms4 Ms5 Hokuseiho 5-2

After Day 14: Yusho arasoi: 12-2: M7e Takayasu, S1e Wakatakakage 11-3: M6w Kotonowaka Sanyaku: 3-3-8 Terunofuji Y (o) 8-6 Shodai O Takakeisho 8-6 O Mitakeumi 10-4 12-2 Wakatakakage S Abi 7-7 (x) 4-10 Takanosho K Hoshoryu 7-7 (1) 7-7 Daieisho M1 9-5 Ichinojo M2 M3 9-5 Kiribayama M4 M5 M6 Kotonowaka 11-3 12-2 Takayasu M7 Makuuchi-Juryo: M5 Ishiura 2-6-6 (o) ... (1) 5-9 Chiyomaru M13 Chiyonokuni 5-4-4 (1) M14 (x) 3-11 Akua M15 M16 (x) 6-8 Kagayaki M17 Ichiyamamoto 7-7 (1) (o) 9-5 Oho J1 Tsurugisho 6-8 (x) (o) 10-4 Azumaryu J2 Hidenoumi 8-6 (1) ... (0) 11-3 Midorifuji J6 (1) 10-4 Mitoryu J7 Juryo-Makushita: J6 Shohozan 4-10 (o) ... J10 Churanoumi 5-9 (1) J11 (x) 4-10 Hakuyozan J12 Atamifuji 6-8 (~) J13 (x) 6-8 Takakento J14 Kotoyusho 4-10 (x) (o) 4-3 Chiyoarashi Ms1 Tochimaru 4-3 (o) Ms2 4-3 Nishikawa Ms3 4-3 Tsushimanada Ms4 (x) 3-3 Fukai Ms5 Hokuseiho 5-1 (o) (x) 6-1 Chiyonoumi Ms6 Juryo yusho arasoi: 12-2: Ryuden 11-3: Midorifuji

I had him as a (~) rather than a (x) just because it's mathematically possible for there to be up to six demotions. There'd be a need to go outside the Ms5 promotion zone if there are five or six demotions, and both Tsushimanada and Fukai finish with a MK. It's very unlikely, especially with two of the endangered only needing a single win each. And it's probably just as likely that one or both of them would be underdemoted as it is that they'd reach down to Ms6.

After Day 13: Yusho arasoi: 12-1: M7e Takayasu 11-2: S1e Wakatakakage 10-3: O2w Mitakeumi, M6w Kotonowaka Sanyaku: 3-3-7 Terunofuji Y (1) 7-6 Shodai O Takakeisho 8-5 O Mitakeumi 10-3 11-2 Wakatakakage S Abi 7-6 (1 for S, o for K) (x) 4-9 Takanosho K Hoshoryu 6-7 (2) 6-7 Daieisho M1 9-4 Ichinojo M2 Tamawashi 6-7 (x) M3 9-4 Kiribayama M4 Endo 7-6 (x) M5 M6 Kotonowaka 10-3 12-1 Takayasu M7 Makuuchi-Juryo: M5 Ishiura 1-6-6 (1) ... (2) 4-9 Chiyomaru M13 Chiyonokuni 5-4-4 (1) M14 (x) 3-10 Akua M15 M16 Kotokuzan 6-7 (o) (2) 6-7 Kagayaki M17 Ichiyamamoto 6-7 (2) (o) 9-4 Oho J1 Tsurugisho 6-7 (2) (0) 10-3 Azumaryu J2 Hidenoumi 7-6 (2) J3 Tohakuryu 6-7 (x) J4 J5 (1) 10-3 Midorifuji J6 (2) 9-4 Mitoryu J7 Juryo-Makushita: J6 Shohozan 3-10 (1) J7 J8 Daishomaru 5-8 (o) J9 J10 Churanoumi 4-9 (2) (o) 6-7 Hiradoumi J11 (x) 4-9 Hakuyozan J12 Atamifuji 6-7 (1) J13 Shimazuumi 7-6 (o) (x) 5-8 Takakento J14 Kotoyusho 4-9 (x) (o) 4-2 Chiyoarashi Ms1 Tochimaru 4-2 (o) Ms2 4-3 Nishikawa Ms3 3-3 Tsushimanada Ms4 (~) 3-3 Fukai Ms5 Hokuseiho 5-1 (o) (~) 6-1 Chiyonoumi Ms6 Juryo yusho arasoi: 11-2: Ryuden 10-3: Azumaryu, Midorifuji 9-4: Oho, Enho, Mitoryu, Kitanowaka

Waka-Waka-Waka! It's the Fozzie Bear brothers!

(SumoDB is down; apologies for any errors.) After Day 12: Yusho arasoi: 11-1: S1e Wakatakakage, M7e Takayasu 10-2: dare mo inai 9-3: O2w Mitakeumi, M6w Kotonowaka Sanyaku: 3-3-6 Terunofuji Y (1) 7-5 Shodai O Takakeisho 8-4 O Mitakeumi 9-3 11-1 Wakatakakage S Abi 6-6 (1) (x) 3-9 Takanosho K Hoshoryu 6-6 (2) 5-7 Daieisho M1 8-4 Ichinojo M2 Tamawashi 6-6 (x) 5-7 Onosho M3 8-4 Kiribayama M4 Endo 7-5 M5 M6 Kotonowaka 9-3 11-1 Takayasu M7 Makuuchi-Juryo: M5 Ishiura 1-5-6 (1) ... (2) 4-8 Chiyomaru M13 Chiyonokuni 5-3-4 (1) M14 (x) 3-9 Akua M15 M16 Kotokuzan 6-6 (1) (3) 5-7 Kagayaki M17 Ichiyamamoto 5-7 (3) (o) 9-3 Oho J1 Tsurugisho 6-6 (2) (0) 9-3 Azumaryu J2 Hidenoumi 6-6 (3) (x) 4-8 Kaisei J3 Tohakuryu 5-7 (~) J4 J5 (2) 9-3 Midorifuji J6 (2) 9-3 Mitoryu J7 J8 J9 (x) 9-3 Kitanowaka J10 Juryo-Makushita: J6 Shohozan 3-9 (1) J7 J8 Daishomaru 4-8 (1) J9 J10 Churanoumi 3-9 (3) (1) 5-7 Hiradoumi J11 (3) 4-8 Hakuyozan J12 Atamifuji 6-6 (1) J13 Shimazuumi 6-6 (1) (x) 3-8 Takakento J14 Kotoyusho 3-8 (x) (o) 4-2 Chiyoarashi Ms1 Tochimaru 4-2 Ms2 3-3 Nishikawa Ms3 3-3 Tsushimanada Ms4 Oshoma 3-4 (x) (~) 3-3 Fukai Ms5 Hokuseiho 5-1 (1) 6-0 Chiyonoumi Ms6 Juryo yusho arasoi: 10-2: Ryuden 9-3: Oho, Azumaryu, Enho, Midorifuji, Mitoryu, Kitanowaka

After Day 11: Yusho arasoi: 10-1: S1e Wakatakakage, M7e Takayasu 9-2: O2w Mitakeumi, M6w Kotonowaka 8-3: O1w Takakeisho, M15w Tochinoshin Sanyaku: 3-3-5 Terunofuji Y (2) 6-5 Shodai O Takakeisho 8-3 (o) O Mitakeumi 9-2 (o) 10-1 Wakatakakage S Abi 6-5 (1) (x) 2-9 Takanosho K Hoshoryu 5-6 (3) 5-6 Daieisho M1 7-4 Ichinojo M2 Tamawashi 5-6 5-6 Onosho M3 7-4 Kiribayama M4 Endo 7-4 M5 M6 Kotonowaka 9-2 10-1 Takayasu M7 Makuuchi-Juryo: M5 Ishiura 1-4-6 (1) M6 M7 Okinoumi 3-8 (o) M8 Sadanoumi 3-8 (0) M9 M10 M11 M12 Chiyotairyu 5-6 (0) (2) 4-7 Chiyomaru M13 Chiyonokuni 4-3-4 (2) (0) 6-5 Kotoshoho M14 Yutakayama 6-5 (0) (4) 3-8 Akua M15 (o) 7-4 Nishikigi M16 Kotokuzan 5-6 (2) (4) 4-7 Kagayaki M17 Ichiyamamoto 4-7 (4) (o) 8-3 Oho J1 Tsurugisho 5-6 (3) (1) 8-3 Azumaryu J2 Hidenoumi 5-6 (4) (~) 4-7 Kaisei J3 Tohakuryu 4-7 (~) J4 J5 (2) 9-2 Midorifuji J6 (2) 9-2 Mitoryu J7 J8 J9 (4) 9-2 Kitanowaka J10 Juryo-Makushita: J6 Shohozan 3-8 (1) J7 J8 Daishomaru 4-7 (1) J9 Bushozan 5-6 (o) J10 Churanoumi 3-8 (3) (2) 4-7 Hiradoumi J11 (3) 4-7 Hakuyozan J12 Atamifuji 5-6 (2) J13 Shimazuumi 5-6 (2) (x) 3-8 Takakento J14 Kotoyusho 3-8 (x) (o) 4-2 Chiyoarashi Ms1 Tochimaru 4-2 (x) 2-4 Kanno Ms2 3-3 Nishikawa Ms3 3-3 Tsushimanada Ms4 Oshoma 3-3 (~) 3-3 Fukai Ms5 Hokuseiho 5-1 (1) 6-0 Chiyonoumi Ms6 Juryo yusho arasoi: 9-2: Midorifuji, Mitoryu, Kitanowaka, Ryuden 8-3: Oho, Azumaryu, Enho

Wow! What an un-Kounosuke-like colour Kounosuke is wearing today! Is he allowed to do that? (No wonder he's a bit off his game today.)

Lesson from Takayasu: if you're going to pull, do it when you've got your opponent backed up on the tawara, so you have the whole length of the dohyo to recover when it doesn't work.

Both sekiwake are 4-1, and Mitakeumi looks good. Is TnoF healthy? If so, that's four very hard matches to get through. And both kadoban Ozeki will be in desperation mode if they've pulled themselves back together enough to still have a shot at a KK. Don't count on it being a cakewalk for him.