New recruits Hatsu 2022

[Akinomaki]

On 23/12/2021 at 23:14, Akinomaki said:

Shoichiro Takeda 竹田章一 (18, 177cm, 125kg, Tochigi pref.), he joins Tokiwayama-beya, with sempai Takakeisho as the top. He was runner-up at the national high school tournament in January. "I want to do a sumo where the opponent can't do anything, like the ozeki." - another tsuki-oshi specialist.

I still haven't posted the details from an article about Takeda/Wakanosho https://www.shimotsuke.co.jp/articles/-/539868

More similarities with the ozeki: early in childhood he also did karate - and judo, since 3rd grade primary school he trained at the Younan sumo dojo in Utsunomiya. In middle school he concentrated only on sumo, in his 3rd year he was 3rd both with the team and in the individuals at the national championships.

Runner up at the interhigh replacement tournament in his 2nd year, last year team taisho at the interhigh in August, where Saitama Sakae only made it to the best 8, losing to later winner Tottori Johoku.

As he joined there were 8 rikishi from Tochigi, none from the capital Utsunomiya, the last was Toshonishiki, who had quit after Haru last year.

[Akinomaki]

On 29/12/2021 at 01:22, Katooshu said:

By far the best in this group though is Tetsuya Ochiai, who just qualified for a Sd100TD as a high schooler and perhaps will join ozumo soon - we will see.

He was interviewed at the (Koto-)Sakura-zumo kids tournament in Tottori, at which Ochiai started his sumo life. He's continuing with keiko at the moment (as Tottori Johoku staff I guess) and wants to join ozumo this year. Video: https://www.nkt-tv.co.jp/pc-news/news107547xcowq2k4t7nfi.html

[Katooshu]

Good to hear - he is a bit of a beast, as shown in getting a Sd100TD as a high schooler. He's thrown around some of last basho's most promising newcomers like they were little kids.

Edited April 25, 2022 by Katooshu

[Chartorenji]

36 minutes ago, Katooshu said:

Good to hear - he is a bit of a beast, as shown in getting a Sd100TD as a high schooler. He's thrown around some of last basho's most promising newcomers like they were little kids.

He made it too the top 8 at the All Japan (?) cup as a high schooler right? Kids a prodigy for sure

[Katooshu]

Yep, and his loss came vs the eventual winner too. I would've favoured him over 4 of the other 7 quarterfinalists....with the right draw he could've make it even further.

Edited April 25, 2022 by Katooshu

[Koorifuu]

Necromancing this thread with a bit of an update on the class, now we're past the halfway mark on their sophomore banzuke...

Their jonokuchi basho was always going to be tough, with some weak KK that would've otherwise been extremely solid results, as the guys cannibalised each other. The level was way too high...

...but now that they're a bit spread through jonidan, their worth is becoming more apparent. These are all at least sandanme level.

jd21e Kototebakari 4-0
jd21w Kotokenryu 4-0
jd42w Daiseizan 4-0
jd43e Wakanosho 3-1 (loss to Daiseizan)
jd72e Hanafusa 4-0
jd74e Satsumasho 3-1 (loss to Toseiryu)
jd80w Toseiryu 4-0

At the risk of jinxing some of them, this is pretty impressive. No loss to any outsider yet. Satsumasho is probably the most likely candidate to break the streak.

[Chartorenji]

Tokitora (former Shimoyama) might cause problems, he looks destined for a quick rise back to Makushita or Sandanme.

[Koorifuu]

On 17/05/2022 at 09:02, Chartorenji said:

Tokitora (former Shimoyama) might cause problems, he looks destined for a quick rise back to Makushita or Sandanme.

Indeed, that was a dangerous aite. He dropped to Hanafusa, however, so the streak is well and alive into the lads' 7th bout. Everyone's either 6-0, or 5-1 with a loss to someone else in the group. Impressive, really - Hanafusa was never one of the highest rated in the bunch.

The jonidan yusho will be between;

jd21e Kototebakari 6-0
jd42w Daiseizan 6-0
jd72e Hanafusa 6-0
jd80w Toseiryu 6-0

Now that Kotokenryu's dropped out of contention (courtesy of Daiseizan), there's no intra-heya complications in the yusho race. The winners of the Kototebakari v Daiseizan and Hanafusa v Toseiryu are now expected to go zensho and face each other on a senshuraku playoff.

From the rest of the guys with 5-1 records in jonidan, I dare say that Shunrai, the younger Sakamoto, might be the biggest danger there - and at j24, he's close enough to j21 Kotokenryu for this matchup to happen.

[Koorifuu]

Well, it's a wrap. They made it.
Kototebakari takes his second yusho in a row, again via playoff.

Everyone held it together - including Satsumasho, with an impressive senshuraku victory against Tokitora, mentioned earlier by @Chartorenji.

jd21e Kototebakari 7-0 Y
jd21w Kotokenryu 6-1 (loss to Daiseizan)
jd42w Daiseizan 6-1 (loss to Kototebakari)
jd43e Wakanosho 6-1 (loss to Daiseizan)
jd72e Hanafusa 7-0 D
jd74e Satsumasho 6-1 (loss to Toseiryu)
jd80w Toseiryu 6-1 (loss to Hanafusa)

The top five will have a very interesting go at sandanme in Nagoya - Kototebakari still undefeated in 14+2 bouts. So Satsumasho - but particularly Toseiryu - are looking like favourites for the jonidan yusho in Nagoya, although Kazekeno won't make it easy for them.

[Koorifuu]

Colour me surprised - the undefeated streak was broken not by one of the sandanme lads, but by lowest ranked Toseiryu who got kuroboshi'd against jonidan habitué Suzaki.

Did anyone here expect A Boy Named Sue to be the slowest rising of the bunch?

[Chartorenji]

3 hours ago, Koorifuu said:

Colour me surprised - the undefeated streak was broken not by one of the sandanme lads, but by lowest ranked Toseiryu who got kuroboshi'd against jonidan habitué Suzaki.

Did anyone here expect A Boy Named Sue to be the slowest rising of the bunch?

His Maezumo bouts were def deceiving overall, and though lower Jonidan was a breeze, I expect 4-5 wins here then be in a lull similar to Murayama or Kyoda

[Katooshu]

And with that the losses start piling up...........

Kototebakari steamrolled by Itadaki for his first loss.........Kotokenryu, Wakanosho, and Hanafusa also losing today, though Hanafusa's loss was 'in-house' to Daiseizan. Satsumasho also had a close call in jonidan.

Edited July 12, 2022 by Katooshu