Next Mongolian to reach juryo

[Asashosakari]

Just noticed that I haven't started a poll in over two years, so here's a subject that seems somewhat timely right now with no Mongolian in an immediate position for promotion (short of a 7-0). I suppose for many people, the decision will come down to "will anybody make it before Kyokushuho does?" (I am not worthy...) Still, the new phenom is probably still a few basho away - two 6-1's would likely send him into the promotion zone for September, anything less wouldn't - so it's conceivable that somebody could beat him to it.

I didn't include every Mongolian who's currently in makushita - Oniarashi, Shironoryu and Hoshizakura haven't really done anything to consider them juryo prospect in the short term. (If you disagree, there's always the "other" choice.) On the other hand, I did include Arawashi who's in the process of coming back strongly from injury, mostly because he used to be a big-time prospect (reached makushita before his 18th birthday!) and it's hard to tell how much better or worse he may have become during his recent injury timeout.

I'll get things started with a Tokusegawa vote. (Clapping wildly...)

[messi19]

I'd like to see Hoshikaze make it, but despite his terrific nage ability and overall good variety in his sumo, there's the big question mark of whether he is physically strong enough for his sumo to work when he's in the juryo promotion zone or ranked just outside of it. In the last couple of basho he seems to have established himself in the first quarter of makushita so he should be capable of taking the next step. Daiyubu has so Hoshikaze can as well.

Edited May 4, 2008 by messi19

[ilovesumo]

I believe in Hoshizakura (Clapping wildly...) (see the Hakkaku pix from John and Fish) . He will be Juryo, but don't ask me for the date.

Ganbatte kudasai! :-D

On Hoshikaze- he deserves it. Great entertainer and, a great Rikishi. Also, he is a young man with a golden heart.

He looses bouts because he is too nervous. I wish him mental power to reach his goal. :-)

Kyokushuho- what can I say. (I am not worthy...)

[aderechelsea]

since the question says "next" i will bet on Tokusegawa. He could do it by September basho without much fuss. Nothing spectacular needed .. just consecutive 5-2 records (ok .. i know ... he could do it with so many other results .. i am just speculating here (Clapping wildly...)).

i can also "see" Kyokushuho and maybe Hoshizakura (barring new injuries) following him but they should need more time. In the case of Hoshizakura it is mainly his new phisique that intrigued me ... more muscle to help his Mongolian skills (I am not worthy...)

[kaiguma]

since the question says "next" i will bet on Tokusegawa. He could do it by September basho without much fuss. Nothing spectacular needed .. just consecutive 5-2 records (ok .. i know ... he could do it with so many other results .. i am just speculating here (I am not worthy...)).

In a similar vein, I voted Hoshikaze. Whether or not he's truly "ready", he can easily "luck out" / "luck in" with consecutive 4-3 records. So why not?

And I remember from someone's vids, maybe V's?, that he carries a psychological edge onto the dohyo. It won't work against veterans, but it seems to carry some power against the younger set, so I wish him luck and also that extra mental push!

[higginbotham]

Kyokushuho and Hoshikaze are my picks. Hoshikaze has been over there for while without making it. 3 or 4 Basho should be the time he needs to prepare for one more step, coinciding with what Kyokushuho will take for his climb up the ladder. Shotenro maybe next year.

let's see. (I am not worthy...)

[Fujisan]

I hadn't even heard of Kyokushuho untill a fellow Grimsby sumo fan mentioned him as a rising hope but I'm gonna trust my friends tip and vote for him.

[That-Satsu-Guy]

Does anyone else think that we may be close to a point where foreigners won't be making sekitori status as often as before?

I mean, most heya have recruited their maximum number of foreigners and many of them who haven't made sekitori, like Orora, will probably never make sekitori. So, unless they change their citizenship or quit their heya are stuck with dead weight.

On a related note, of the six Chinese rikishi will any of them make sekitori? I have high hopes for Sokokurai, but he's kind of hit his wall.

I picked Hoshikaze.

[Mark Buckton]

Does anyone else think that we may be close to a point where foreigners won't be making sekitori status as often as before?

yes - and this basho is the beginning of the end of the Mongol-jidai IMO.

[Fay]

On a related note, of the six Chinese rikishi will any of them make sekitori? I have high hopes for Sokokurai, but he's kind of hit his wall.

I'm quite sure Sokokurai and Nakanokuni will make it to sekitori and to answer the poll, next one should be Tokusegawa, although he already had some chances and missed them.

But I still have some hope for Arawashi.

[Randomitsuki]

Kyokushuho: Haru 2009

Arawashi: Kyushu 2009

Daitensho: Kyushu 2009

Sensho: Hatsu 2010

Tokusegawa, Hoshikaze, Shotenro: never

[Fay]

Kyokushuho: Haru 2009

Arawashi: Kyushu 2009

Daitensho: Kyushu 2009

Sensho: Hatsu 2010

Tokusegawa, Hoshikaze, Shotenro: never

wow this is clipped and precise ;-)

[higginbotham]

But I still have some hope for Arawashi.

Does anyone have a clue on how Arawashi's heavily bandaged shoulder is doing ?

Edited May 6, 2008 by higginbotham

[Randomitsuki]

Kyokushuho: Haru 2009

Arawashi: Kyushu 2009

Daitensho: Kyushu 2009

Sensho: Hatsu 2010

Tokusegawa, Hoshikaze, Shotenro: never

wow this is clipped and precise (Welcome...)

Why should I make half of a fool out of myself when I have the golden opportunity to make a complete fool out of myself? ;-)

[Bealzbob]

Seems as though most faith is in the youngster despite his lower starting point on the banzuke.

[That-Satsu-Guy]

What is the consensus on Hoshikaze now?

He looks pretty good to me!

[Bealzbob]

I'd say Hoshikaze, Shotenro & Tokusegawa will all be within striking distance of juryo when the Aki banzuke comes out. It'll be very tight and could be a tie.

[Asashosakari]

What is the consensus on Hoshikaze now?

He looks pretty good to me!

since the question says "next" i will bet on Tokusegawa. He could do it by September basho without much fuss. Nothing spectacular needed .. just consecutive 5-2 records (ok .. i know ... he could do it with so many other results .. i am just speculating here :-|).

In a similar vein, I voted Hoshikaze. Whether or not he's truly "ready", he can easily "luck out" / "luck in" with consecutive 4-3 records. So why not?

And he almost did luck into it one basho later, albeit with a low-ranked 7-0. Hoshikaze's fun to watch from what I've seen over the years (even beyond his Sakariesque antics), but I don't think he's making kachi-koshi from ~Ms3 next time...

My money (and also adere's, presumably) is still on Tokusegawa. Big bout tomorrow against Towanoyama...could make the difference between being Ms3 and being Ms6 next basho.

Shame about Kyokushuho this basho, but who knows, a fresh start from the bottom of makushita (in case he drops to 1-6) might be just what the doctor ordered; no pun intended.

I'd say Hoshikaze, Shotenro & Tokusegawa will all be within striking distance of juryo when the Aki banzuke comes out. It'll be very tight and could be a tie.

Barring a banzuke-making rule change, I'm pretty sure it won't be a tie. :-| Shotenro still needs to win his 4th on senshuraku against a juryo opponent...I'm pretty pessimistic right now, he has been exhibiting a Wakatenro-like ability to lose all the really important bouts.

Thanks for the renewed interest in my little poll, BTW...I figured it might be pretty interesting to watch these less-heralded guys jockey for position, and so far it seems to be the case.

[Kintamayama]

I've been on the Tokusegawa bandwagon for too long. I'm betting he will be promoted together with Musashiryuu. Same basho- both with 5-2.

[Bealzbob]

What I meant by 'tie' is that because they'll all be high up in makushita, if 2 of them do enough to get into juryo then they'll have got into juryo at the same time i.e. for kyushu. Or to put it another way, they'll have tied how quickly they got into juryo :)

[Gougou na Nami]

I'm behind Hoshikaze all the way! (In a state of confusion...). He's been around a while without making it and is still ton of fun to watch, like a PO'ed goofy monkey. I'm not sure if he has the physical strength, but you never know :). Tokusegawa is also a solid choice.

-Gogo

[Tony]

Hoshikaze! I saw him during keiko and impressed me a lot.

[Asashosakari]

What I meant by 'tie' is that because they'll all be high up in makushita, if 2 of them do enough to get into juryo then they'll have got into juryo at the same time i.e. for kyushu. Or to put it another way, they'll have tied how quickly they got into juryo :)

You might just be getting your wish, what with three Mongolians in the immediate promotion zone and lotsa spots available in juryo next time...

[Asashosakari]

And he almost did luck into it one basho later, albeit with a low-ranked 7-0. Hoshikaze's fun to watch from what I've seen over the years (even beyond his Sakariesque antics), but I don't think he's making kachi-koshi from ~Ms3 next time...

Ahem. 1-4 with a fairly one-sided loss to Kotokuni today.

[ilovesumo]

And he almost did luck into it one basho later, albeit with a low-ranked 7-0. Hoshikaze's fun to watch from what I've seen over the years (even beyond his Sakariesque antics), but I don't think he's making kachi-koshi from ~Ms3 next time...

Ahem. 1-4 with a fairly one-sided loss to Kotokuni today.

(Detective...) s**t