Tsubame

I didn't get it... can you (someone else) explain your table?

I guess you are both right, Kintamayama and Asashosakari. But I also think that Harumafuji showed such a good sumo this Basho that it would be a surprise if he would not win this tournament. So with 95+% we will see a second Yokozuna next Basho! And as dingo said, I also think that Harumafuji will be a mediocre Yokozuna. But that will be only good for the sport! The too much dominating last two Yokozunas made some people forget that we spoke from DAI-Yokozuna if he mangaed to win 10 Yushos! Hakuho: 22Y, Asashoryu: 25Y, Musashimaru: 12Y, Takanohana: 22Y, Akebono: 11Y. All are/were dai-Yokozuna. It is time for a normal Yokozuna!

Remember Kaio... He also finished with Y/J-Y. But they don't promoted him and want to see a third good basho! IF Harumafuji should finish 13-2 I see his case similar to Kaios. But I still guess he will made it with two straight Yushos. But if he used to finish with 8.8 av. wins/Basho what else then just two strokes of luck are his Yushos?

Again, if he score 13-2 he will never get the Tsuna, because except his two previous Yushos, he finished with 8 to 11 wins as Ozeki*. Never enough to convince the YDC to see in him Yokozuna-material even with a Yusho/Jun-Yusho combination. Two straight Yusho has it to be... * av. 8.8 wins per Basho without this and the last one.

I dont see a promotion in that case. With a Jun-Yusho the YDC will find an excuse to say that there is a third good basho needed to get the tsuna. When he will loose the next two bouts, then he had lost to the two best sumotori next to him, that can never be enough for the YDC to promote him, even with his zensho in back. And by the way I don't see (or expect) a third good basho from Harumafuji. Next basho, wether as ozeki or yokozuna, will be again his normal ordinary 9-6 KK. So if he want the tsuna, he has to win in his last bouts.

Nice phrase from someone who wish another rikishi the death (see your own post above)... Why should we take your concern for real? But nevertheless you're right. It was a shame behaviour for a yokozuna. Being hard to an opponent during a bout is one thing, but to stand beside and watching while he lies on the floor without doing something (I mean this well-meant sign of a hand reached out to help standing up). And then this sharp kiri after taking the kenshos.

What do you thing your "good old jaw" is... surprise, surprise... a kyusho!

I guess it is less force or strength then rather that Hakuho hit correct a kyosho (pressure point) on Myogiryu head.

I totally agree... And if you consider Hakuho's behaviour by getting the Kenshos you can bet it was his intention to show a next "wannabe" hopeful who is still the primus...

In the same video quoted above you can find this fight here. A good example for a overuse of Harite und quite a bitch slap festival... Edit: And personaly I don't like this techique either. Maybe it is a good way to distract your opponent, especially by Tachiai, but it seem to me like a lack of respect for your opponent...

Hard question... Can they deny a sekiwake with, let us say 34+ wins in three bashos the Ozeki-promotion? And there are, as far as I know, no rules that limit the numbers of Ozeki. Clearly they will take a closer look before promotion, but I can imagine that there can be seven Ozekis. But on the other hand i guess in the time between now and Myogiryu's promotion, we will see the retirement of Kotooshu und the demotion of Kakuryu to Sekiwake. And maybe the Tsuna for Baruto... (Sigh...)

If Harumafuji can keep the shape and determination he shows in this (and of course in the last) Basho, he will be a good Yokozuna regardless the circumstances of his promotion. Frankly said I was (and will never be) a fan of Harumafuji, but honestly I had to admit, that the Harumafuji we can current see, deserved the Tsuna.

But they already stated that standard by demanding two straight Yushos to get the Tsuna. Remember that ridiculous fuss about Kaios almost promotion to yokozuna in '03 and in '04 where he was able to win twice a Yusho/Jun-Yusho combination. But got he, he the almighty Kaio his quite deserved promotion? No, because he was not able to convince by two straight Yushos. Sure, for many people watching sumo (including myself) this is quite exactly what they demand from a yokozuna. And all past yokozunas that I know from watching there bouts fulfilled that requirement. Ok, maybe without Wakanohana III, but he was also a great ozeki.

For general suspense i wish that we will see at least 3 sekitori after day 11 with 11-0. But I fear only Hakuho and Harumafuji will stay zensho. And a second straight fight on zenshuraku with both have a 14-0 record would be the most exciting bout for years!

Newspaper headline on Monday the 24th: "Double Yusho winner Kyokutenho spoils the Yokozuna promotion for Harumafuji" THAT would be a story for decades... :-D

I watch this guy the last bashos and I am looking forward to his debut in the Makuuchi division. Quite impressive career up to now...

The question with such "improvments" as suggested above is: Who has most to gain? Such improvments maybe make Sumo more popular (me for my part: I like sumo in the way it is), but i guess it will only fill the wallets of some few guys and NOT really help the SPORT sumo. Such ideas are not helping drawing young boys into Heyas, which for me is the first instance of the whole problems sumo has nowadays.