Corona and sumo

[Dapeng]

36 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

Two issues with that last post: it assumes COVID 19 infection is independent, and the population of comparison for the infection rate should be Tokyo not the whole of Japan. 

For Tokyo, the total numbers of infection until now is about 347,000, out of total Tokyo population of 13.9 million. 2.48%

Edited September 1, 2021 by Dapeng

[Tochinofuji]

8 minutes ago, Dapeng said:

For Tokyo, the total numbers of infection until now is about 347,000, out of total Tokyo population of 13.9 million. 2.48%

Any idea what the vaccination rate is for the city? Genuinely curious, as most of the news on this side of the Pacific has been about the slow pace. 

To my mind, rikishi likely face a higher risk of infection than most given the close contact required in the life, appreciating of course the NSK has tried to offset this with the restrictive measures that have seen a few metaphorical heads roll (or at least ensured a change in mage style for some more accurately). Keep in mind as well they're all being tested, whereas asymptomatic members of the public won't be, skewing the stats further. 

Edited September 1, 2021 by Tochinofuji

[Dapeng]

41 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

So 2 out of 600: 0.3% so far which means the vaccine 'works'! 

For a period of 1 month, 0.3% is still quite high. Since the recent infections are mostly by Delta that is more infectious, it's clear that the vaccine is less effective in preventing infection than against the old strain. 

[Dapeng]

39 minutes ago, Tochinofuji said:

Any idea what the vaccination rate is for the city? Genuinely curious, as most of the news on this side of the Pacific has been about the slow pace. 

Didn't find the data for Tokyo, but for the entire Japan, more than 112 million doses were injected, for 120 million entire Japan population. 

[Dapeng]

We'll see if anyone else of Miyagino heya get infected. If more than one comes out infected, I'll seriously doubt the effectiveness of the vaccine in preventing infection. Good news is that the Ichinojo is all by himself in his heya. 

Edited September 1, 2021 by Dapeng

[Godango]

I'm fine with being outvoted, but the discussion of vaccine efficacy seems off-topic in this specific thread. Can we stick to the theme of COVID-19 in sumo? I get that there is a tangible link given the rikishi are vaccinated, but all (I for one) care about here is who has been infected, and what ramifications are to the rikishi, basho and NSK.

Again, if the majority disagree I'll shut my mouth.

Edited September 1, 2021 by Godango

[Seiyashi]

https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202109020000748.html

Shibatayama reports no other rikishi in Miyagino have tested positive for COVID, but does not go so far as to say that they are clear for Aki. Some rikishi are reporting discomfort and they will be monitored notwithstanding the negative test. There will also be a PCR test for the entire NSK before the basho, so presumably that will be the test that decides whether Miyagino participates in the basho and if so, to what extent.

[Kintamayama]

All other Miyagino beya rikishi  were found negative. As for the heya entering the basho- "

5 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202109020000748.html

Shibatayama reports no other rikishi in Miyagino have tested positive for COVID, but does not go so far as to say that they are clear for Aki. Some rikishi are reporting discomfort and they will be monitored notwithstanding the negative test. There will also be a PCR test for the entire NSK before the basho, so presumably that will be the test that decides whether Miyagino participates in the basho and if so, to what extent.

Some of the rikishi are not feeling well, so the heya will continue to be monitored closely. "We will be consulting with specialists regarding the heya's entering or joining later or whatever, according to the situation," added Shibatayama.

Edited September 2, 2021 by Kintamayama

[themistyseas]

3 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

All other Miyagino beya rikishi  were found negative. As for the heya entering the basho- "

Some of the rikishi are not feeling well, so the heya will continue to be monitored closely. "We will be consulting with specialists regarding the heya's entering or joining later or whatever, according to the situation," added Shibatayama.

The idea of "joining later" feels like a really tough situation to try and apply for banzuke purposes

What they have done to this point is just treat it like a "kosho kyujo" and you (normally) hold your rank. But what happens in this case if they decide that Miyagino must start kyujo but can re-enter after (for example) nakabi? Do they treat a 4-3-8 like a 4-11 as they usually would, or do they treat it like an 8-7? Seems like both outcomes would be a little unfair and would have a tough precedent to be able to set.... especially where in the cases of Enho and Hokuseiho, someone's salary is on the line, or in Ishiura's case, his top division status.

I appreciate however that no one really has the answers and they're trying to put the best product out there that they can in spite of a never ending headache.

[Sue]

1 hour ago, themistyseas said:

The idea of "joining later" feels like a really tough situation to try and apply for banzuke purposes

It also could just be a rhetorical canard so the shisho sounds like his whole heya has the spirit of ganbarizing. I'd be surprised to see them.

[Kintamayama]

Nishikikaze, sewanin at Oguruma beya, has been found positive for the virus. He hasn't been in close contact with the heya rikishi recently.  "No symptoms at the moment. His fever has gone down and he is at his home recuperating,. No problem of the heya joining the basho at the for now," explained Shibatayama. No news on Hokuseihou and Miyagino beya's entering the basho. "We'll wait and see," summed Shibatayama

Edited September 3, 2021 by Kintamayama

[Kaminariyuki]

It will be amazing if we see any of the Miyagino boys this basho, IMO. And, 

On 02/09/2021 at 07:45, themistyseas said:

The idea of "joining later" feels like a really tough situation to try and apply for banzuke purposes

What they have done to this point is just treat it like a "kosho kyujo" and you (normally) hold your rank. But what happens in this case if they decide that Miyagino must start kyujo but can re-enter after (for example) nakabi? Do they treat a 4-3-8 like a 4-11 as they usually would, or do they treat it like an 8-7? Seems like both outcomes would be a little unfair and would have a tough precedent to be able to set.... especially where in the cases of Enho and Hokuseiho, someone's salary is on the line, or in Ishiura's case, his top division status.

I would think the latter 8-7 scenario would be fair. Essentially, a 4-3 the second week results in a marginal KK, and nobody is demoted. I may be missing something. Why do you think that would be unfair?

[Yamanashi]

Forgetting sekitori for a moment, how do make any judgments on performances in a basho that starts on day 9 and has the rikishi fight 3 bouts?

[themistyseas]

33 minutes ago, Kaminariyuki said:

I would think the latter 8-7 scenario would be fair. Essentially, a 4-3 the second week results in a marginal KK, and nobody is demoted. I may be missing something. Why do you think that would be unfair?

I can see how it might be problematic if a guy has to battle for 14 or 15 days to scratch out the 8 that he needs to stay in the division (let's say Takakento or Asashiyu, who are just below Hokuseiho), and then someone like Hokuseiho is able to show up and get 4 wins, possibly against a depleted field or with even one or two matches against a makushita opponent late in the basho, and ends up in a banzuke position for the following basho that more or less guarantees their sekitori status for a further tournament beyond that. It makes the playing field more uneven than if they were to simply hold their current rank by virtue of being kyujo.

That being said, I think it's tough for them to look at this and make one heya kyujo in full, multiple times per year. I just don't know that there's a winning solution.

[Seiyashi]

2 minutes ago, themistyseas said:

That being said, I think it's tough for them to look at this and make one heya kyujo in full, multiple times per year. I just don't know that there's a winning solution.

How's this a worse problem than the scenario you outline, though? It's certainly not optimal, but less obviously unfair than the 1-week basho, and has a clear precedent for just preserving the affected rikishis' rank.

[Godango]

Tachiai are reporting Miyagino-beya will be kyujo from Aki due to another infection discovered in the September 5 PCR testing. 

EDIT: Further reporting from NHK, seems as official as it will get.

Edited September 6, 2021 by Godango

[Kintamayama]

33 minutes ago, Godango said:

Tachiai are reporting Miyagino-beya will be kyujo from Aki due to another infection discovered in the September 5 PCR testing. 

EDIT: Further reporting from NHK, seems as official as it will get.

I reported that 20 hours ago..New thread.

[Godango]

18 minutes ago, Kintamayama said:

I reported that 20 hours ago..New thread.

You know, I was struggling to believe it was missed. I checked this and the Aki basho thread... surely that absolves me ever so slightly 

[Kintamayama]

1 minute ago, Godango said:

You know, I was struggling to believe it was missed. I checked this and the Aki basho thread... surely that absolves me ever so slightly 

Oh, I think this subject is worth many threads..

[Kintamayama]

All Kyokai members have tested negative to PCR tests. All heyas will arrive in Kyushu on November 5th.

[Akinomaki]

19 minutes ago, Kintamayama said:

All Kyokai members have tested negative to PCR tests. All heyas will arrive in Kyushu on November 5th.

So far the news were, the first start to go there on the 5th, so some may go later, especially since they want them to move seperately

23 hours ago, Akinomaki said:

All NSK members tested negative. They'll start moving to Kyushu heya by heya on November 5th. https://www.sanspo.com/article/20211028-44NQZ5QJKNOVBNQK5JHE457OFI/

[Inside Sport Japan]

November 3rd figures just in

There are 581 active cases of Covid-19 in all of Japan right now 

The lowest number since March 12 2020

it was 271,103 on Aug 28th

[Seiyashi]

1 hour ago, Inside Sport Japan said:

November 3rd figures just in

There are 581 active cases of Covid-19 in all of Japan right now 

The lowest number since March 12 2020

it was 271,103 on Aug 28th

Considering all that Japan has gone through, sounds like the population is basically no longer COVID-naive by now.

[Kaminariyuki]

5 hours ago, Inside Sport Japan said:

November 3rd figures just in

There are 581 active cases of Covid-19 in all of Japan right now 

The lowest number since March 12 2020

it was 271,103 on Aug 28th

So, I wonder when the government will allow vaccinated foreign visitors back into the country. I understand that they are now issuing vaccination passports to Japanese nationals for travel abroad. I'd think reciprocity will hopefully allow me to watch the Many pr July basho in person in 2022. 

I confess to being concerned about how gaijin will be received once visa restrictions are lifted. I'd appreciate the sharing of any observations by non-Japanese currently in the country. Although I adore the country and the people, the Japanese have always been a bit xenophobic. I wonder if it's about the same or perhaps more widespread at this point.

Either way, I'm glad for the Japanese people that the numbers are so much improved.

[Kaminariyuki]

4 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

Considering all that Japan has gone through, sounds like the population is basically no longer COVID-naive by now.

I'm not certain they were ever more COVID naive than the average country, population-wise, or the average G-20 country for that matter. The government was fairly naive, certainly, when they didn't restrict travel immediately like the most savvy Asian governments did. Although linked, I'd suggest there's a big difference between the population and the government on many issues.