Yubinhaad

Furiwake-oyakata (former Maegashira Sadanofuji) has left the Kyokai today, vacating the myoseki which he was holding on loan.

Kairyu's danpatsu-shiki took place a few days ago at Dewanoumi-beya. And today Kirimaru's danpatsu-shiki took place at former Michinoku-beya, although like Chikureisen earlier I didn't find any shots of the actual hair cutting. Anyway, here's what did turn up.

It was announced today that he has taken his shikona as his personal name, Tamawashi Ichiro, 玉鷲 一朗. Kyokai profile updated.

Two new tokoyama have joined, both 15 years old. Tokosakura (床桜), Minato-beya. From Ichinomiya, Aichi prefecture. Tokokasumi (床香澄), Nishonoseki-beya. From Kashiwa, Chiba prefecture. There was a trainee gyoji visible in the background of early morning footage of both Hatsu and Haru basho, but maybe he's not ready to start officially yet as there's no change to the Kyokai's gyoji list.

I didn't spot it at the time but Takasago-beya announced on March 1st that itto-tokoyama Tokoyumi had retired after almost 47 years in the job. He still had over two years until mandatory retirement. Kise-beya posted a video of their senshuraku party, showing Mogaminishiki with his first-and-last oichomage (screenshot below). He has found a partner and will be getting married, the shisho announced in his speech. No footage of the danpatsu-shiki unfortunately.

The top post has been updated with the addition of Miyagino-beya and Michinoku-beya. I will shortly remove the Nakamura-beya entry following the retirement of its final survivor in January. Quoted here for posterity:

As mentioned in the post before this one, four more Showa Survivors followed Azumaryu into retirement after the 2024 Hatsu basho, leaving us with 45 on the banzuke, plus Higohikari who put in an ill-fated maezumo appearance. Kitaharima did indeed manage to return to Juryo for a record-equalling 9th time, and as the second-oldest to do so in the post-WW2 era. Unfortunately he couldn't do enough to hang on for another basho, so we'll be back to five Showa-born sekitori in May. The first kachi-koshi among the survivors this time went to Hitachigo, making his first 4-0 start for just over nine years. Yoshiazuma seems to have a chronically bad back these days, and chalked up the first zenpai record of his 28-year career in this basho. Some milestones this basho: Shoketsu - 1,200th consecutive career bout, Day 8. Nionoumi - 1,000th career bout, Day 15. Mimurodake - 900th career bout, Day 4. Sadanokuni - 800th career bout, Day 2. Ryuseio - 800th career bout, Day 8. Tochinoshima - 700th career bout, Day 2. Chiyoraizan - 700th career bout, Day 15. Sadanoumi - 700th career loss, Day 13 & 400th Makuuchi loss, Day 11 (but the only Makuuchi survivor with a kachi-koshi!). Sakura - 500th career loss, Day 13. Chiyooume - 400th career loss, Day 8. Ryuseio - 400th career loss, Day 11. After this basho we see another four calling time on their careers. Kirimaru was always expected to go when Michinoku-beya closed, while Okinofuji will still be around as one of three newly-recruited sewanin - he was never absent in 18 years, 742 consecutive bouts. Mogaminishiki and Sakura both served as chanko-ban of their respective heya, so will no doubt be missed by their gourmand rikishi. Full results for 2024 Haru in banzuke order:

Hi all, here are the kimarite statistics for all divisions in this basho. Takerufuji reached double-digit wins in Makuuchi before reaching double-digit losses for his career, along with a host of other remarkable achievements. Meanwhile, the lower divisions brought us a handful of rare kimarite to enjoy. Yamato and Ikazuchido had a nice bout to start their basho - Ikazuchido twice attempted a kakenage, but Yamato's position and superior balance ended up with him getting an izori win. It's the third zori-te win of his career in fact, following earlier tasukizori and tsutaezori. Nishikinoryu was driven back to the edge by Shoji's gabburi-yotsu, but survived and then picked up a sabaori win as Shoji's feet slid backwards. Oyamada toppled Ebisumaru with a lovely omata on Day 5, first backing him up to the tawara and then changing directions with the thigh grab. I also enjoyed the susoharai win for Shoran on nakabi, after an uchigake attempt didn't work. It was one of three susoharai in this basho, but the only one I found a video of. Satonofuji began his basho with an uchigake win, although it was originally called a kawazugake in the arena before being corrected later. Kimarite from kettei-sen bouts are not included in the statistics. Kimarite Makuuchi Juryo Makushita Sandanme Jonidan Jonokuchi Total Percentage Abisetaoshi 0 0 1 3 0 1 5 0.22% Amiuchi 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0.09% Ashitori 0 0 1 1 3 0 5 0.22% Chongake 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Fumidashi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Fusen (default) 6 2 4 8 8 1 29 1.30% Gasshohineri 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Hansoku (foul) 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.04% Harimanage 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Hatakikomi 29 22 48 51 43 3 196 8.79% Hikiotoshi 10 5 6 18 24 9 72 3.23% Hikkake 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0.09% Ipponzeoi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Isamiashi 0 0 1 0 3 0 4 0.18% Izori 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0.04% Kainahineri 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 0.09% Kakenage 0 1 1 2 2 0 6 0.27% Kakezori 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Katasukashi 6 2 10 3 5 0 26 1.17% Kawazugake 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Kekaeshi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Ketaguri 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Kimedashi 3 1 0 3 4 0 11 0.49% Kimetaoshi 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.04% Kirikaeshi 0 0 1 2 3 1 7 0.31% Komatasukui 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Koshikudake 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Koshinage 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Kotehineri 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Kotenage 8 5 8 11 6 0 38 1.70% Kozumatori 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Kubihineri 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Kubinage 0 0 0 3 2 0 5 0.22% Makiotoshi 2 1 0 1 1 0 5 0.22% Mitokorozeme 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Nichonage 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Nimaigeri 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Okuridashi 5 18 15 22 20 1 81 3.63% Okurigake 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Okurihikiotoshi 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0.04% Okurinage 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.04% Okuritaoshi 1 0 2 4 1 0 8 0.36% Okuritsuridashi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Okuritsuriotoshi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Omata 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0.04% Osakate 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Oshidashi 70 37 105 155 192 25 584 26.19% Oshitaoshi 8 6 6 28 17 3 68 3.05% Sabaori 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0.04% Sakatottari 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Shitatedashinage 0 0 1 1 1 1 4 0.18% Shitatehineri 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0.04% Shitatenage 5 4 7 14 17 1 48 2.15% Shumokuzori 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Sokubiotoshi 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0.04% Sotogake 0 0 2 2 1 0 5 0.22% Sotokomata 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Sotomuso 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Sototasukizori 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Sukuinage 6 5 9 11 12 2 45 2.02% Susoharai 0 0 0 3 0 0 3 0.13% Susotori 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Tasukizori 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Tokkurinage 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0.04% Tottari 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0.09% Tsukaminage 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Tsukidashi 8 1 10 12 15 0 46 2.06% Tsukihiza 0 2 0 2 0 0 4 0.18% Tsukiotoshi 18 18 23 35 24 3 121 5.43% Tsukitaoshi 1 0 1 0 5 0 7 0.31% Tsukite 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 0.09% Tsumatori 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Tsuridashi 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 0.09% Tsuriotoshi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Tsutaezori 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Uchigake 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 0.09% Uchimuso 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Ushiromotare 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Utchari 0 0 0 0 3 0 3 0.13% Uwatedashinage 4 2 8 5 6 1 26 1.17% Uwatehineri 2 0 0 2 1 0 5 0.22% Uwatenage 16 9 23 25 25 5 103 4.62% Waridashi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Watashikomi 0 1 0 1 0 0 2 0.09% Yaguranage 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Yobimodoshi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Yorikiri 81 56 92 139 156 19 543 24.35% Yoritaoshi 9 3 19 28 24 5 88 3.95% Zubuneri 0 0 2 0 1 0 3 0.13%

He thought the janome had been disturbed so rushed to sweep it, but it wasn't touched, I saw a spectator's video which showed the nishi-gata shimpan waving him back.

Sakura retires after 21 years in ozumo, having begun his career with 15 consecutive make-koshi. He went on to reach a highest rank of Jonidan 5. He had a 10-0 record against Moriurara, who is now the last active rikishi from their debut class of May 2003. Lots of retired rikishi move into the food business in some way, but Sakura's nickname in the sumo world was 'Chanko Yokozuna' because of his skills in the Takadagawa kitchen. I'd be shocked if he doesn't end up running his own place eventually. Anyway, his danpatsu-shiki was held at the heya senshuraku party. No pictures from the actual haircutting part of Chikureisen's danpatsu-shiki, but here's what I found of the before and after. And a few shots from Yuki's danpatsu-shiki. Kirimaru's danpatsu-shiki is apparently scheduled for April 14th.

Was that meant to be Hidenoyama (ex-Kotoshogiku)? I see now that he has been properly appointed to the shimpan department, having done the last three basho filling the gap left by ex-Toki's abrupt departure last autumn. Kataonami (ex-Tamakasuga) is the other departure alongside Asakayama. I also see that the punishment demotions for Tokiwayama and Nakagawa have ended, both back to iin.

For those who did it in Jonokuchi, yes to both - 123rd basho on the banzuke, aged roughly 36 years, 9 months. The previous longest was Daishiryu in his 99th basho, aged 32. Kotokanyu had to wait until his 134th basho at the age of 37 years, 5 months, but that was up in Makushita. And for completeness, Itakozakura has the longest gap between fighting eight bouts, at 168 basho.

All sekitori (besides the retired Hokuseiho) are participating in the Haru basho. The lower division absentees are: Ms3e Tochimusashi Ms30e Hokaho Ms35e Tochikamiyama Ms36w Terutsuyoshi Ms43w Takakento Sd5w Oki Sd7w Aratakayama Sd16w Raiho Sd23e Kiho Sd28w Gohakuun Sd41e Toramusashi - Musashigawa-beya reported he suffered a knee ligament injury in keiko and stayed in Tokyo to recover. Sd50e Gonoumi Sd84e Nishikikuni Jd4w Kototaiki Jd5e Daiyusho Jd37e Minorufuji Jd50e Yurikisho Jd54e Enho Jd72w Kotofuno Jd84w Satsumao Jd86e Kotokiho Jd89e Wakayamanaka Jd94e Shosei Jd97w Mishima Jk5w Wakaikki Jk6w Oginohama Jk7w Tsuyasato Jk14w Sadanojo

Aonishiki's winning streak comes to an end at 20, at the hands of Nagamura. And that decided the Sandanme yusho since the lower-ranked contender, Higonomaru, was beaten by Ryuo who will fight Tochimaru in a kettei-sen for the Jonidan yusho on senshuraku.

Ahead of the final round of lower division action, three rikishi return to action and four others make a late start to the basho. Five more have to withdraw. A win could save Hokaho's 73-basho streak in Makushita, on the other hand as the senior Miyagino-beya deshi he might simply be coming back to say goodbye before the heya closes. The flu continues to circulate in Sadogatake-beya, with two victims returning and two more leaving. Meanwhile in the lowest division Wakaikki (4th straight basho) and Sadanojo (5th straight basho) enter again to keep their places on the banzuke, and are joined this time by Oginohama who has been kyujo for the last three basho. Entering/Returning: Ms30e Hokaho Sd12e Kotohaguro (fusenpai Day 9, withdrew Day 11) Sd72w Kotoegashira (fusenpai Day 10, withdrew Day 11) Jk4w Katsunishiki (withdrew Day 9) Jk5w Wakaikki Jk6w Oginohama Jk14w Sadanojo Assuming he doesn't retire, Jk7w Tsuyasato will drop off the banzuke for the Natsu basho. Withdrawing: Ms5e Kotodaigo (fusenpai Day 11) Ms10w Hananoumi - seemed to be favouring his left leg slightly after his loss today. Ms14e Kotoyusho (fusenpai Day 12) Sd48w Arise (fusenpai Day 12) - pushed back to the tawara, his already-braced right knee buckled and he left the arena in the wheelchair. Jd69e Asadoji (fusenpai Day 12)

That was balanced out by the return of Kimura Akijiro. Tochimaru's tsuppari flurries can be quite effective, they don't really move the opponent back that much, but instead keep him off balance for a well-timed ottsuke, hazu-oshi or hikiotoshi. Kyokukaiyu didn't really get an opportunity to settle into any kind of position and was eventually outmanoeuvred. Ryuo also won his bout, he and Tochimaru are joined at 6-0 by Jd61w Taranami, who is in his second basho back after his own three-basho kyujo.

Sponichi goes into detail about the injuries suffered by four rikishi on the comeback trail. Former Juryo Tochimaru and former Makushita Hatooka, Ryuo and Hayatefuji have all missed the last three tournaments but are now back in action in Jonidan. Hatooka's ozumo career has been interrupted several times due to a litany of injuries. His latest kyujo was caused by a ruptured patellar tendon in the left knee; overall, he has had three surgeries on his knees, and has also suffered a torn biceps tendon, a dislocated shoulder and dislocated fingers. His ultimate goal is to fight in Makuuchi like his stablemate Churanoumi. "I have to think that I can win in the Makuuchi ranks. If I feel that it's a dream, I can't make it happen, so instead I think of it as a goal." Tochimaru has also suffered knee injuries and had surgery on both of them. He and Hatooka both started with three straight wins and met each other on nakabi, with the win going to Tochimaru. "I feel relieved, but this is only a checkpoint. My goal is to be at the top," he said afterwards. He has since advanced to 5-0 and fights Kyokukaiyu tomorrow. Ryuo won the Makushita yusho a year ago in Osaka, but before the Aki basho he tore the Achilles tendon in his right leg. Although he estimates he is only 30 to 40 percent fit (!), he is relishing his return to the dohyo. "I've had a difficult time, so I'm just happy I can appreciate the value of each win." He is also now at 5-0 and fights Daishosei in Sandanme tomorrow. Hayatefuji fractured the medial malleolus in his left ankle during the Nagoya basho last year. After having surgery he was aiming for a return in the Kyushu basho, only to suffer a recurrence of the injury and a second surgery. He was impatient after seeing his junior at Hiryu High School, Atamifuji, competing well in Makuuchi, but he was careful not to push too hard, and did almost no keiko before this basho. He lost his first bout as he was too nervous about moving forwards, but since then has won four in a row to secure kachi-koshi.

Datenomori goes for a ride on the Urutora carousel... (Slightly disappointed the kimarite was given as a shitatenage, I thought it could have been called okurigake)

Now available in official form (Nikkan and elsewhere): Back contusion and lumbar sprain, two weeks. Shirokuma returns from Day 11, taking on Aoiyama. Meanwhile in the lower divisions, it's three in and three out. There's clearly something relatively mild going around and Sadogatake-beya seems to be affected most for now, in addition to their comings and goings, shindeshi Kotokoguchi also missed the niban shussehiro. Returning: Jd63w Matsuzawa (fusenpai Day 4, withdrew Day 5) Jd76w Kotohanashiro (fusenpai Day 8, withdrew Day 9) Jd82e Kotomunakata (fusenpai Day 7, withdrew Day 9) Withdrawing: Ms25e Daikisho - a hard landing on his back, possible whiplash injury. He left in the wheelchair and looked in a lot of pain. Sd12e Kotohaguro (fusenpai Day 9) Sd72w Kotoegashira (fusenpai Day 10) Ms45w Hoshuzan and Jd91e Wakayahara also had fusenpai on Day 10, but have not withdrawn from the basho. Gyoji kyujo: Shikimori Kazenosuke and Shikimori Komei did not appear on Day 10 and are not on the torikumi tomorrow.

Ahead of Day 9, three rikishi in the lower reaches of the banzuke have withdrawn from the basho: Jd76w Kotohanashiro (fusenpai Day 8) Jd82e Kotomunakata (fusenpai Day 7) Jk4w Katsunishiki

I noticed him as well during the broadcast what was that about? He seemed quite mad at his opponent for some reason, he kept staring at him even after they stepped off the dohyo. I have no idea what caused it, but even if there was a reason that was poor conduct from Ryusei, who has been around long enough to know better. I wonder if he'll be withdrawn from the basho as a consequence. The old Twitter account of Kagamiyama-beya hadn't posted anything in nearly 14 months. Then today: 恥ずかしい Embarrassing

http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Query_bout.aspx?show_form=0&kimarite=33&onlyw1=on The latest one was much more textbook than last year's "what the heck happened there". There will be a video when I do the kimarite statistics after the basho.

Déjà vu ahead of Day 7, as two more rikishi begin their basho and one more has to withdraw. Entering/Returning: Sd28w Gohakuun Sd48e Hokutosakae (fusenpai Day 2, withdrew Day 3) Withdrawing: Jk10w Kakuho (fusenpai Day 6)

I've always assumed it's sort of ceremonial, to mark the start of a new path, i.e, their sumo career. Shikoroyama-beya does it with every shindeshi, the tradition continued with Hamada this time. (Personally I prefer to see that rather than a recruit with almost enough hair to make a chonmage already) Nice choice of kesho-mawashi for the shussehiro, from Irumagawa Ikazuchi-oyakata (former Komusubi Kakizoe). Looks like he's also had a trim since the announcement pictures at the start of the month.

I wondered about that too. The yobidashi in question was Jin, so maybe he was just teasing him about his brother who was in that group. (Also, Oshima is one of the most talkative shimpan with the yobidashi when they arrive for shift changes, along with the easily-distracted Tatekawa) I've turned up absolutely nothing. No help from the heya Facebook page and Youtube channel which stopped being updated a bit over a year ago. Mystery guy.