Nojo_Jojo

Congrats to Kakuryu. My favorite Yokozuna by far! Three guys on 7-7. Who gets their kachi-koshi? Endo (7-7) vs. Tamawashi (9-5) Takekaze (8-6) vs. Ichinojo (7-7) Myogiryu (7-7) vs. Lord Gaga (8-7) 3 guys with a shot at Jun-yusho and Kisenosato with a chance to start another Yokozuna run? Oh lordy. If all three somehow lose and if Hakuho, Ikioi and Ishiura win, we'll have a 7 way tie for Jun-yusho. Has something as ridiculous as that happened before? Meanwhile, can't wait to see Sato in Makuuchi. Only 20 as well... for all the hype around Ura, I quite like Sato myself. Would really like him to pick up the Juryo yusho.

Kisenosato might be setting some new most Jun-Yusho without a Yusho won records. And to be fair to him, he lost to the only other guy who also had all of these advantages as well. Harumafuji. And unlike Kisenosato, Harumafuji is really good at keeping his nerve when he is in the lead. Kisenosato's (or anyone else's for that matter) best chances are really in the rare Bashos where Hakuho isn't on his game. Hakuho will be back with a vengeance again... and Kisenosato will keep getting some more Jun-Yusho's.

Kisenosato will remain in perpetual Tsunatori limbo. Even after he retires.

Endo trying his best to not go down to Juryo.

And then there were two... Terunofuji possibly saving his rank while doing his heya mate (and Kisenosato) a huge favor.

Would also have been Tochinoshin's first win over Hakuho in 23 tries. Has anyone ever had that one-sided a record?

Oh Kisenosato... how many times....

Endo and Kotoyuki getting their first wins on the tenth day of the Basho. Kaisei with a decisive win in saving his rank!

Ichinojo one step closer to his kachikoshi. Yoshikaze is likely falling down the leaderboard now but Takarafuji soliders on! One or two more wins and he'll be back in the sanyaku surely. Should also seal some special prizes for his wins over a Yokozuna and two Ozeki.

They're only 1 win behind. He'll still be fighting them for the cup... Things are so unpredictable in sumo that now that half basho have passed, yokozunas losses likes that just get me worried, but yeah we still have a lot to go and they still have a chance, i don't think Kisenosato will keep up, or Takayasu, without a lost in the next five days, so yeah, everything is ok but Kisenosato seemed so pissed it was fun to guess why. Kisenosato has let better opportunities than this slip from his grasp before. And I didn't really see him pissed, just his usual intense face. Takayasu on the other hand has already fought two Yokozuna (has Harumafuji tomorrow), two Ozeki (and he can't fight Kisenosato) and both Sekiwake and the other Komosubi. After tomorrow, the only guy he's left to fight form the Sanyaku is Terunofuji... he's got a real shot at going all the way if he can somehow win tomorrow.

They're only 1 win behind. He'll still be fighting them for the cup...

Yoshikaze's style matches up very well against Harumafuji's... not really surprised with that result. And definitely did not expect that from Ikioi (or Hakuho). And so, it's the two Heya mates in the lead! Who would've thought?

Possibly not next Basho. He's likely going to end up M1-2 if he continues his run and gets 10 or so wins and don't think he is capable of having monster runs at that higher rank just yet. But his weight control is making his look less lethargic both in body and mind right now. Must be helping his back as well, and that bodes well for his future. Hamcornheinz might just be right, I hope so. I imagine though that Ichi's performance and rank will go up and down a while longer. Ichiyoyo. The commentators (English) on day 5, I think, said he still has back pain, but a new exercise regime had helped. They also said that Ichinojo had himself said that 'a glass of water' will make him put on weight and that he avoids eating sugar and fat. Perhaps he ought to avoid harder. He certainly looks happier. I know he lost today, but I was impressed. I've never seen him look so agile. He stayed on his feet - it was Chiyonokuni who fell (I like him too). Ichi ran out of dohyo. I actually do hope he's right. Nothing would make me happier. For now, I'd be happy with 10 or so wins this Basho and maybe a kachi-koshi at whatever higher rank he ends up at when the next Basho rolls around. It is time for him to get back to the Sanyaku.

Possibly not next Basho. He's likely going to end up M1-2 if he continues his run and gets 10 or so wins and don't think he is capable of having monster runs at that higher rank just yet. But his weight control is making his look less lethargic both in body and mind right now. Must be helping his back as well, and that bodes well for his future.

Harumafuji, Terunofuji and Takarafuji are from the same heya, they cannot fight each other unless in a playoff Terunofuji will definitely benefit from avoiding the two of them. Takarafuji looks to be a man on a mission. With Kakuryu, Kotoshougiku out and Takarafuji and Harumafuji from the same Heya, Teru's only really got Goeido, Hakuho and Kisenosato plus Kaisei and Takayasu left from the sanyaku. Even if he loses 4 of those 5, he's still got a shot at getting his Kachikoshi. He's leaving it awfully close though. I can definitely see at least three more losses from that lot of 5 and after that everything depends on the rank and filers he gets. If he somehow avoids Ichinojo, Shodai and Yoshikaze I can see him getting his kachikoshi. Other notable guys from the same Heya: Kisenosato and Takayasu; Goeido and Myogiryu; Aoiyama, Tochiozan and Tochinoshin; Kotoyuki and Kotoshougiku Sad for Kotoyuki as he'll be slightly desperate for a win at this point. The Hoot needs to return! Good for Kisenosato as Takayasu is motoring along very nicely indeed.