jomojo

Ah well, anything is possible in Benchsumo. I started off in the first ever BS Sandanme division tournament in January 2002 as the lowest ranked non-newbie on the whole banzuke. And ranked just above me was Hitotsuboshi. Since then I've done some elevator moves on the banzuke, while Hitotsuboshi has remained as a Sandanme stalwart - the only one to have continued doing his sumo in Sandamne ever since that original tournament twelve basho ago. And we have both carved out our niche in the game's annals. Sometimes losing consistently can make you as interesting as winning consistently. I wouldn't let that stop you from joining an ichimon in Benchsumo. (Neener, neener...) with best wishes, jomojo

Sure, we need all the bodies we can get! (Neener, neener...) I notice you have recruited Derufidurono, the Benchsumo drone, to the Florida heya! (Punk rocker...) jomojo

That is just too funny! (Holiday feeling...) Thanks for drawing it to my attention Zenjimoto. I am feeling almost embarrassed about it. As this really was just a first toe in the water of Japanese sumogaming for me, and my picks were made very quickly. Oh well, there are still plenty of days left in this basho, and so I am sure some of the more experienced players of this game will overtake my beginners luck. Thanks again for your help in enabling me to take part in the fun - as I said before, I know no Japanese, and so your Sekitori-Oracle crib sheet with Japanese characters for the rikishi, really helped. best wishes, jomojo

would you mean by "all of that", you have never understood what the concept of an ichimon is in Benchsumo? if so, may I refer you to the following link: http://www.chijanofuji.com/northpole.html and then scroll down to the section entitled: FAQ - A Short History in Quotes - compiled by jomojo *** "What is an ichimon in Bench Sumo and how did they come about?" *** and read on. If you still have any queries, just let me know. cheers, jomojo :-)

For me, the whole idea of why Benchsumo is the favourite sumogame of mine and many other cyber rikishi, is precisely because it does attempt to give a sense of being a real rikishi (hence the descriptions of our mawashi at the dohyo-iri and the sumo techniques mentioned in the daily bouts), alongside the fact that there is a community spirit attached to this game. Introducing ichimon adds another layer to Benchsumo's sophistication, in my opinion, by adding team spirit, to go alongside the individual competition and the around the world friendly banter (most times), which are already associated with this game. I think Benchsumo is on to a definite winner with ichimon - already producing a hive of website making activity. B-) If the energy's good, let's embrace it. You never know, some of your Japanese friends could even become hooked, fukunoyama, if you gave them the chance to join in the fun. best wishes, jomojo

Bah! I picked Ama for my Day 1 Chaingang pick. By coincidence, so did my brother Jejima. Oh well, there's always next basho. jomojo

Yes, I have the same problem. Will ODDSUMO be running on Day 2? jomojo

Welcome to the team Fujisan - this is the first outing for the North Pole in ODDSUMO. There is room for one more by the way, if anyone else would like to join us. cheers, jomojo

Many thanks Zenjimoto. Good luck to you for the upcoming basho. And thanks for all the interest and enthusiasm, as well as time and ideas, which you have contributed to the sumogames world. jomojo

Any news on whether ODDSUMO is running this basho?

I haven't had any problems with the form on the front page myself. jomojo

If it's a problem, send your provisional line-up to Jejima or one of the other Tate-Gyoji's for Benchsumo. jomojo

Between Kintamayama, Doitsuyama and myself, though, I think we can try and help out anybody who would like to give these games a try. All but one are pre-basho. I think once you find out how they work, you'll have no trouble going through the motions to make your selections, even if you know preciously little Japanese (such as myself) (Laughing...) Cheers Z. Hi guys, I was thinking of giving the following Japanese game a try this basho: Grand Sumo Tournament Prediction Compilation which is at http://wa-q.hp.infoseek.co.jp/ and which Zenjimoto has described as: A GISP-like game where you pick one rikishi each from different regions of the banzuke, before the basho. Any chance someone could guide me through the clicks I would need to make to get to the application form, and then the information I needed to enter once I am at the form? I currently know no Japanese. Don't worry about it if you think it will be too much effort to explain. Just thought I would at least show I was willing to try and learn. cheers, jomojo

Any chance of some info on this file? jomojo

A different case of a "drone" is the Monkey in Fantasy Sumo, which is made up of random picks for each category. The "fun" involved in this, I guess, being can the competitors do any better than a Monkey? jomojo

Hi Taka, this discussion thread may be worth a read for you: http://www.sumoforum.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=688 In it, Kyukenzan asked for suggestions for games to play for a "newbie" to sumogames. And myself, Zenjimoto, and Zentoryu, gave our sauggestions. Hope this helps. cheers, jomojo

Well, I don't know for the rest of you, but for me, a ranking system in CG makes me LESS interested in playing (as opposed to for any other game). I think the game is fun, but with a ranking, it makes it too obvious how bad you are, and I don't think I'll continue playing it. In my view it's a little too much luck in chain gang to really make a ranking worthwhile. But that's my view. (Being mellow...) Thanks for publishing this Zenjimoto. I always like to know where I am ranked in each of the games I play. And at position 105 in the Chaingang rankings, I realise I am deep in Makushita territiory. By comparison, Yubiquitoyama (see quote) looks decidedly skillful, way up there at position 64, with the honour of qualifying for sekitori status, no less. However, I suppose if Yubi does retire, that will put me one place nearer to gaining some SuperBanzuke points ... jomojo

Well, after doing a little research on this over the weekend, I've finally discovered the answer to this question (if anyone's still interested that is). :-/ Yubiquitoyama's streak of 16 straight basho as a Maegashira ties him for the longest uninterupted stay at the same division (or rank grouping) with Sherlockiama, who had spent 16 straight basho as a Juryo rikishi. B-) Thanks for this info Zentoryu. So Sherlockiama is another candidate for the "Staying" Ichimon then. Or did Takanorappa describe it as the "Barnacle" Ichimon? jomojo

Hi Jomojo I have another idea for a Ichimon that Ichimon will be the staying Ichimon for all the players that stay in the same place in the banzuke Hi Tominishiki, Lovely thought. My all-time favourite nominee for the "Staying" Ichimon would be Hitotsuboshi, who has now notched up eleven straight basho ranked as a Sandanme, with just the one kachi-koshi. Another chap who may be interested in the "Staying" team would be Butanotomo, another Sandanmer, who describes his Sumo style in his BS Profile as "Pig, wallowing". jomojo

I think there's a definite flaw in the elevator rikishi ichimon... I'm probably the one player whose bench sumo career is MOST like the classical view of an elevator rikishi, bouncing up and down in Makunouchi, but I'm not eligible to enter, just because I haven't visited Juryo. :-P Hi Yubiquitoyama, Are you perhaps then the ideal candidate to head up Takanorappa's proposed "Escalator Ichimon - for those who are afraid of Elevators", ie. an Ichimon specially formed for those who find stepping on and off between the Ground Floor and the Mezzanine level is enough excitement for them? Not everyone feels the need to jump up and down the whole banzuke, as Takanorappa has done, and so perhaps this distinction is worth making. The link below is for Takanorappa's mail from yesterday, if you felt inspired to answer his call to action. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bench_sumo/message/11817 jomojo

Interesting thought Manekineko, I'll propose it on your behalf on the Benschsumo list. jomojo

Ok Fujisan, just voted. jomojo

(Whistling...) Congratulations, Fukunoyama, on your Sekitori debut. Benchsumo is a tough, old game to perform consistently well in. Hence the high number of what we call "Elevator" rikishi. They even have their own Ichimon now, thanks to Kintamayama's inspiration. However, the toughness of gaining a Benchsumo kk makes for a more exilerating feeling on those basho where you do excel. So enjoy the feeling, and don't be too hard on yourself if you have some mk further along in your career. You could always gain a special Benchsumo No Cigar Prize as compensation. best wishes, jomojo

Hey Tsuyuharai/ Mike, welcome to the forum. I like how your basho postings at Sumotalk have firm opinions, I feel I'm receiving a description of the matches from a true fan. It wont suit everyone of course. As you highlight though, there is definitely an audience out there for your kind of reporting. I also play Fantasy Sumo at the Sumotalk website. I'm wondering whether a link to your game and a description of it should be added to the www.sumogames.com webpage, as I think this would bring more players to the game. best wishes, jomojo

:-D Wow! 15 people still in Chaingang after 10 days! Must be a new record for this game? jomojo