Leaderboard

I would like to thank Hoshoryu for the staring contest today. I think he finally won at the end, also the match but it sure did get the comments here in this thread. I call that “winning”.

While having his mage fixed after the bout, Hoshoryu was ordered to appear before the shimpan department to get scolded by head shimpan of the bout Kumegawa: "That was too awful". A rare event, usually (both) rikishi get called after three matta, this time Hoshoryu had started properly at the third try. https://www.sanspo.com/article/20231116-YUU46Y2TOFJZ3LWYLRCDPTTPR4/

Day 1 06.9s M13w Tsurugisho (1-0) uwatenage M14e Tomokaze (0-1) 03.6s M12w Tamawashi (1-0) oshidashi M13e Takarafuji (0-1) 07.2s M12e Oho (1-0) tsukidashi M11w Hiradoumi (0-1) 01.9s M11e Sadanoumi (1-0) yoritaoshi M10w Kotoeko (0-1) 03.6s M10e Ryuden (1-0) yorikiri M9w Mitakeumi (0-1) 09.5s M8w Atamifuji (1-0) kotenage M9e Myogiryu (0-1) 04.3s M7w Kinbozan (1-0) oshidashi M8e Endo (0-1) 75.1s M7e Hokuseiho (1-0) yorikiri M6w Takanosho (0-1) 101.5s M6e Shonannoumi (1-0) hatakikomi M5w Midorifuji (0-1) 06.0s M5e Onosho (1-0) oshidashi M4w Nishikigi (0-1) 06.0s K1e Abi (1-0) oshidashi M4e Gonoyama (0-1) 08.1s S2e Kotonowaka (1-0) oshidashi M3w Tobizaru (0-1) 02.7s M3e Takayasu (1-0) uwatenage S1w Wakamotoharu (0-1) 08.4s S1e Daieisho (1-0) tsukidashi M2w Meisei (0-1) 04.9s O2w Hoshoryu (1-0) tsukidashi M2e Shodai (0-1) 05.8s O1w Kirishima (1-0) yoritaoshi M1w Ura (0-1) 04.4s O1e Takakeisho (1-0) oshidashi K1w Hokutofuji (0-1)

Onosato has so much power going forward, that he doesn't need to use all of it to win bouts, which at times he seems not to realize. He's gotten better at controlling himself, but still needs to work on adjusting his charge to the opponent's response. Easy for me to say looking on, but I think had he eased up a bit vs Tamashoho he would've been able to send him out without toppling over. As for staring - when it gets to a certain point it makes you look silly rather than imposing.

Their being buddies definitely explains why Gonoyama was having none of it, unlike most other toriteki. That confrontational approach doesn't work as well with people who know you better than that.

Talking about potential bad blood ... what about that Akua bout? I think there even was a closed fist punch in the middle Maybe after mostly failing with Judo moves he just wants to try Boxing skills?if we are lucky maybe Capoeira is next

In preparation for watching Grand Sumo Highlights on NHK World, to celebrate Meisei's first win of the basho, I prepared some (very lightly) seared tuna, accompanied with Kubota sake. Go Meisei!

Would love to see Kitaharima back in Juryo again before he retires. Can't see it happening though...

Kitaharima back-to-back yusho? Can boars fly??

He is a proper hobbit.

And not to forget: heavy weight bronze medal for Ryoma Ishizaki (23, 172cm, 120kg) at the Riyadh 2023 World Combat games last month (nothing left of the results on the site for that) o A pity he didn't follow his brother Asakoryu into ozumo

What's wrong with Kinbozan's leg? I think you're thinking of Nishikifuji vs. Tsurugisho.

I thought there must have been an incident during the jungyo or during training or something, as I recall things like this happening as a result of such incidents. But I also don't remember seeing anything of the sort reported here, so...who knows. Otherwise Gonoyama seems like a very random target for such a staredown. As old friends they often train together Hoshoryu: "I was a bit on fire. I think there was something bad also from my side." o Tatsunami-oyakata, who was commentating that day on NHK on the mukou-shoumen seat, promised to instruct Hoshoryu properly in behaving properly o - plus comments of Asashoryu-fication o

After the jobansen (序盤戦 - first 3rd of the basho) it looks like Roga won't remain in makuuchi and only Churanoumi is on pace for the newcomer sansho. Daieisho is still in the lead for most wins of the year, but Hoshoryu is closing in on him sumodb/Query?basho=6&year=2023&sort_by=sum_wins Abi is not preparing an ozeki run, Kotonowaka and Daieisho could still be promoted after this basho with a (proper) yusho. Some other run? - no comment Atamifuji after this still has 4 more basho left to go for a new fastest ever career yusho, the 2nd try looks just as good as the first. Hokuseiho has only the Hatsu basho left and has to do better then. The record is 24 by (then) Takahanada and Asashoryu (present 6 basho era, since 1957). Gonoyama has 2 basho more, Kinbozan 6 basho more left than Atamifuji for a record below 24 - but as tsukedashi starters they don't count Edit: Taiho also had his first yusho in his 24th basho, but his first career basho is Aki 1956, the year before Kyushu was added

Standings after Day 5: Adjusted Oracle standings: Beeftank and Pandaazuma (597) in front of chishafuwaku, Flohru, and Kaito (596). Gonzaburow had a hell of a day, and if it weren't for a loss in Quad, he would currently vie for more than 60 Kyushu points (57.84 currently). Nobody comes even close. Other players north of 30 are Pandaazuma (37.94), Terarno (36.54), Andoreasu (32.96) and Korinokoishi (30.00). This has some implications for the World Championship. Some vibes from last year creep up. All relaxed, Oskanohana? Again, there is an imminent danger emerging from a Japanese veteran player as Gonzaburow straddles the 200 points mark. Oscar still leads by about 11 points, and it might be that Gonzaburow is now peaking, but I wouldn't call the race off right now. Kaito drops to third, Pandaazuma remains in 4th and Susanoo falls to 5th, but this trio is divided by about 6 points only. Norizo and Joaoiyama battle for 6th place, swapping positions in that process. Then comes a huge no-man's-territory (which was occupied by chishafuwaku yesterday). But lots of players who started great into the basho plummeted considerably (chishafuwaku, Athenayama, Gansekiiwa, Kitakachiyama). The Top 10 are rounded out by Andoreasu, chishafuwaku, and Oshirokita (who is currently without a Kyushu point).

Hōshōryū: "Did I leave the stove on?" Jokes aside, I though Gōnoyama got much more obviously psyched than Hakuōhō. But I also agree, Hōshōryū is nowhere near good enough to be pulling these as often as he does. Good that he's gotten a scolding for it. Save this for 13-1 Kirishima v Hōshōryū on senshuraku, not a 4-0 tormenting a MK trending first timer joi member. You got a lesson to teach, do it like Ama to Gōeidō.

Watching that Hosh niramiai, at first I was puzzled, why Gonoyama? Then I got irritated, just start already dammit. Then my laugh broke, Hosh looked like sleeping with eyes open. Good for him that he won in the end. Maybe Gono stole his sandwich, idk.

In keeping with comments above, I like a good staredown before the final return to the salt bucket, followed by a normal and spirited tachiai. Today's niramiai with Gonoyama and Hoshoryu came off as more petulant to me than a display of dominant attitude by Hoshoryu. Hoshoryu didn't win any points from me by initiating the whole thing, but Gonoyama did for not backing down. Regardless, will make seeing any match ups between them in the future all the more fun to watch. So long as Hoshoryu doesn't make it a regular shtick, it made for an interesting tail-end for the day at least!

Initially I thought I might have to take back my previous words about Oonosato. Today's loss was way too easy. Though on the other hand he still has time to gather experience and learn how to counter pulling effectively. Ichiyamamoto seems keen to hang out in lower makuuchi where he can demolish the crowd until he can get that makujiri yusho. Midorifuji's henka was as technically perfect as you can get. Dunno if he really needed to resort to one at this point in the basho, but at least he did it well. After his first impressive win Abi has been beaten in tachiai by all other opponents. Seeing as his sumo relies on getting quickly out of tachiai and in position for his nodowa, it's not looking very good at the moment. Daieisho's onesidedness got totally exploited Kotonowaka. When it works for Daieisho, it works well but Kotonowaka is slowly evolving into a rikishi who can absorb almost every straight push. I've said it before, but I see glimpses of Kisenosato peeking through time to time. Takakeisho had a well planned strategy against Takayasu and executed it perfectly. But like others have mentioned it's still quite clear he wants to safeguard his neck so he always goes hands first. I'm a bit worried how long he will last since it seems he's one headbutt away from kyujo. That was an epic staredown between Gounoyama and Hoshoryuu. Kudos to Gounoyama for not backing out for a while, but Hoshoryuu is the current makuuchi niramiai master. Looked like he could squat there scowling forever. Some juicy bouts to come between them in the coming years. In fact, there's some great rivalries in makuuchi again, like Takakeisho vs Kotonowaka as well.

I like the stare downs that happen after the timekeeper signals jikan desu before they go back to the salt bucket for the last time. The delay or this time, the complete refusal to put even one hand down at the shikiri-sen is BS. If his record was in the high double digits as an ozeki (or had a few more basho under his belt) I could maybe see the attitude. His best record as an ozeki is 8-7. Right now his attitude is way above his game.

Signed. Came across as a complete tool, he did. Off putting for sure.

Well, there are 4.35 squintillion Japanese rikishi in history, and 3 Bulgarians. [And don't you give me that look, young man, or I'm turning this Forum right around and driving it back home!]

That has never happened with a Japanese shisho???

The last 2 basho Insosuke gave his best, last basho even doing the kaobure on day 2 and 13, now that he has the promotion he's stopped to gambarize - no torikumi announcement from him so far this basho. Bad luck for Tamajiro - we only need 2 tate-gyoji if we have 2 yokozuna. Speaking of which, I suddenly got a nightmare vision of a Takakeisho yokozuna dohyo-iri

My old high school just had their generational football player/student join CSU with big hurrah from the city (not unlike rikishi reporting to their mayors haha.) Weird convergence of Sumo fan and personal life for me.