2017 Aki Basho.

[Swami]

Indeed. Goeido has had two bad days. The next two days will be interesting.

BTW, do you have an favourite wrestlers?

Of the current generation, not really. I first got interested in sumo when it was broadcast in the UK in the late 1980s - Chiyonofuji was simply the best, but was also a fan of Hokutenyu and Konishiki. Hokutenyu's nage technique was awesome to watch.

To be honest Hakuho is overrated, I wouldn't rate him anywhere near Taiho, Chiyonofuji or Kitanoumi.

Swami

 

[Trick-or-Treat Stevens]

Of the current generation, not really. I first got interested in sumo when it was broadcast in the UK in the late 1980s - Chiyonofuji was simply the best, but was also a fan of Hokutenyu and Konishiki. Hokutenyu's nage technique was awesome to watch.

To be honest Hakuho is overrated, I wouldn't rate him anywhere near Taiho, Chiyonofuji or Kitanoumi.

Swami

I enjoy your insights. I'm still learning some of the terminology in the sport. I've always been a fan of martial arts and have practiced some over the years so the basics are familiar. One day I'd like to view a tournament or visit a stable in Japan. I just don't want to be one of those in the front row when a warrior is tossed out of the dohyo.

 

[Swami]

I enjoy your insights. I'm still learning some of the terminology in the sport. I've always been a fan of martial arts and have practiced some over the years so the basics are familiar. One day I'd like to view a tournament or visit a stable in Japan. I just don't want to be one of those in the front row when a warrior is tossed out of the dohyo.

The only criticism I have at present is the level of technique is not as high as it used to be, with the rikishi being heavier on average than the 80s and 90s, there are very few real technicians left.

Also, they have let too many foreign rikishi in, I don't think there should be as many in the top division as there are currently.

Swami

 

[Swami]

Aki Day 14: Goeido survives scare to close in on 2nd career title
Details
Written by Kyodo
Category: News
Published: 24 September 2017
Hits: 26

Ozeki Goeido dodged a bullet on Saturday to rebound from back-to-back defeats and zero in on his second career championship at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.

Goeido was given a serious run for his money by ninth-ranked maegashira Takanoiwa in the day's penultimate bout at Ryogoku Kokugikan but improved to 11-3, one win ahead of Mongolian yokozuna Harumafuji.

Goeido and Harumafuji face off in the final bout of regulation on Sunday, with Harumafuji needing a win to force a championship playoff.

Harumafuji holds a 31-11 career record against Goeido at grand tournaments.

After a pair of false starts, Goeido survived a couple of big scares against plucky Takanoiwa (8-6), but eventually came through unscathed, toppling the maegashira with a "watashikomi" thigh-grabbing push down.

Goeido is the defending champion at this tournament, having won his maiden title here last year with a flawless 15-0 record.

Whoever wins the championship on Sunday will have done it without having to face many of the sport's top wrestlers. Three yokozuna -- Hakuho, Kakuryu and Kisenosato -- and two ozeki -- Takayasu and Terunofuji, pulled out of the meet owing to injury.

Harumafuji (10-4) kept alive his title hopes by forcing out sekiwake Mitakeumi (7-7) in the day's last bout.

Earlier, No. 16 maegashira Asanoyama's hopes of a shock title win in his first tournament in the elite makuuchi division ended after he was sent to a fifth defeat.

Third-ranked Onosho (9-5) grabbed Asanoyama by the throat after the tachiai charge and followed up with a two-handed shove to send him off the raised ring.

Former ozeki Kotoshogiku scored a ninth win, bellying 11th-ranked maegashira Daieisho (8-6) towards the edge of the dohyo and finishing the job with a shove to the midriff.

Swami

 

[Swami]

Aki Day 15:Harumafuji beats Goeido in playoff to win 9th career title
Details
Written by Kyodo
Category: News
Published: 24 September 2017
Hits: 44

Mongolian yokozuna Harumafuji came from behind to beat Goeido in a dramatic playoff on Sunday to capture his ninth career title on the final day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.

Harumafuji entered the last day of the 15-day meet trailing Goeido by one win and needing victory against the ozeki in the final bout of regulation to force a championship playoff at Ryogoku Kokugikan.

And the grand champion came through in dominating fashion, getting both hands locked onto the front of Goeido's belt before shunting him over the edge to leave both men with 11-4 records.

Harumafuji was in total control in the playoff too, tearing into the ozeki at the tachiai and charging him out to complete the turnaround.

"I wanted to wrestle (in the playoffs) in such a way that I'd have no regrets and just gave it my best shot," Harumafuji said after the dust had settled.

Harumafuji's path to glory here was eased somewhat with the injury-enforced withdrawals of three yokozuna -- Hakuho, Kakuryu and Kisenosato -- and two ozeki -- Takayasu and Terunofuji.

Elsewhere, fifth-ranked maegashira Takakeisho (9-6), who posted wins over both Goeido and Harumafuji, won his first Outstanding Performance Prize, one of three prizes the Japan Sumo Association gives to makuuchi-division wrestlers on the final day of a grand tournament.

"It's my first experience (with so many elite wrestlers out)," Harumafuji said. "At the start of the tournament, my technique and my spirit were out of synch. But as the tournament went on, I just focused on the next bout, trying not to think too much and hoping the results will follow."

Third-ranked Onosho (10-5), who also beat Harumafuji, won his second Fighting Spirit Prize, while 16th-ranked maegashira Asanoyama picked up his first after posting an impressive 10-5 mark on his debut in sumo's top flight.

"It (winning the prize) is not something I was conscious of but I went aggressive into the bout and that led to the win," Asanoyama said after wrapping up an impressive tournament with victory over third-ranked Chiyotairyu (8-7).

Asanoyama was in title contention until he suffered his fifth defeat on Saturday.

"That's been a good experience," said the 23-year-old. "I have fought with the spirit of a challenger over the 15 days and that has led to my finishing with double figures in wins. I am really happy about that."

Thirty-five-year-old Yoshikaze, who finished at 8-7 after losing on the final day against fellow sekiwake Mitakeumi (8-7), was awarded the Technique Prize for the fourth time.

Swami

 

[Swami]

No doubt that Goeido well and truly threw this away, very rare that anyone has a two-win lead and lets it fritter away.

Having said, it was the first time the yusho has been won with such a low 11-4 score since Kyushu 1996 (then ozeki Musashimaru won a 5-way play-off) and the withdrawal of so many top-rankers has definitely weakened its significance.

Swami

 

[Trick-or-Treat Stevens]

I agree, Goeido lost his edge in the later bouts. A shame too since he was doing so well.

It was thrilling to see the Harumafuji come back to win both matches. He did indeed put himself in that hole with those losses but it took the grit of a yokozuna to come back. Hopefully the other yokozuna and ozeki get better and return for the Kyūshū basho.

I look forward to seeing young talent like Onosho and others as they develop their sumo.

 

[Swami]

I agree, Goeido lost his edge in the later bouts. A shame too since he was doing so well.

It was thrilling to see the Harumafuji come back to win both matches. He did indeed put himself in that hole with those losses but it took the grit of a yokozuna to come back. Hopefully the other yokozuna and ozeki get better and return for the Kyūshū basho.

I look forward to seeing young talent like Onosho and others as they develop their sumo.

We definitely need at least one tournament with all four yokozuna competing to the end but eras of four yokozuna tend to be short-lived.

Swami

 

[Trick-or-Treat Stevens]

For those who didn't get their kachi-koshi, are they demoted for the next tourney in November? I know yokozunas can't be demoted. Kotoshōgiku's drop of ranks from ozeki to this tourney's maegashira rank got me thinking.

Can siding out a tourney due to injury create loss of rank for ozeki ranks and lower? Just curious.

 

[Swami]

For those who didn't get their kachi-koshi, are they demoted for the next tourney in November? I know yokozunas can't be demoted. Kotoshōgiku's drop of ranks from ozeki to this tourney's maegashira rank got me thinking.

Can siding out a tourney due to injury create loss of rank for ozeki ranks and lower? Just curious.

To be demoted from ozeki, you have to have two consecutive losing records. Obviously yokozuna can't be demoted; sekiwake can only be promoted to ozeki after three records totalling anywhere between 33 to 37 over three tournaments. Otherwise, all other ranks - win gets you moved up, losing sees you drop down in ranks.

Similarly, pulling out of a tourney sees demotion unless in the cases above.

Swami

 

[Trick-or-Treat Stevens]

To be demoted from ozeki, you have to have two consecutive losing records. Obviously yokozuna can't be demoted; sekiwake can only be promoted to ozeki after three records totalling anywhere between 33 to 37 over three tournaments. Otherwise, all other ranks - win gets you moved up, losing sees you drop down in ranks.

Similarly, pulling out of a tourney sees demotion unless in the cases above.

Swami

Thanks! I knew you'd have the answers. :thank:

 

[Swami]

Thanks! I knew you'd have the answers. :thank:

I try my humble best!

Swami

 

[Swami]

Juryo promotions and retirees after Aki Basho
Details
Written by José Luis Corral / Sumoforum
Category: News
Published: 28 September 2017
Hits: 36

Takanosho and Chiganoura oyakata

The Nihon Sumo Kyokai announced the names of the rikishi that will be promoted to the sumo's second division for the upcoming Kyushu Basho in November.

In Fukuoka 22-year-old former Masunosho will make his debut as new sekitori under the shikona of Takanosho. The Chiganoura Beya's rikishi ended the recent Aki Basho with a 6-1 record as Ms3e.

Also, Takanohana Beya's Takagenji will compete in November as sekitori after gaining his second promotion to Juryo. The 20-year-old rikishi posted a 4-3 record in September as the first Makushita rikishi of the banzuke,

Besides former Juryo Dewaotori, and Rikishin and Wakanoshima (who retired as of Day 13 of the last tournament), another 12 rikishi have called it quit.

Kisenowaka (Kise)
Suzaku (Hakkaku)
Hirotsukasa (Irumagawa)
Tokushuzan (Nishonoseki)
Minatosho (Minato)
Hayate (Fujishima)
Fujinohana (Dewanoumi)
Okuma (Takadagawa)
Gagyusan (Shikoroyama)
Hokuseikai (Yamahibiki)
Tamashinriki (Kataonami)
Sakurayama (Shikihide)

Swami