Octofuji

The higher ranked wrestler won in all the joi matches today. It must be a while since that happened.

Chiyonofuji maybe?

He was doing it before he dropped to Makushita, and I've seen him do the same thing in mattas. The only (generous) explanation I can think of is simply that it's best to make absolutely sure that your opponent is out. I actually find it quite impressive that - in general - wrestlers so suddenly manage to stop once their opponent had stepped out, especially as they are often not able to see the tawara.

Juryo was definitely more exciting today, the highlight being Enho giving Roga the runaround. And some great sumo from Ochiai and Kawazoe too.

There are some surprisingly one-sided head-to-heads in the torikumi for tomorrow: Asanoyama 1-4 Chiyomaru Mitoryu 6-0 Oho Azumaryu 7-1 Chiyoshoma Hokutofuji 1-9 Ura Asanoyama's matches with Chiyomaru all date from 2018 or earlier though (Chiyomaru was higher ranked each time they met).

Having to fight Asanoyama then Hokuseiho on consecutive days is a pretty tough juryo schedule for Ichinojo! One of the most interesting things about this basho is wondering how good these guys coming up, or back up (Asanoyama, Kinbozan, Hokuseiho) really are...

Aoiyama's foot didn't look out to me. It reminded me of Asanoyama v Tochinoshin in 2019.

Well one of them is definitely going to lose tomorrow! Really looking forward to the match.

The relative numbers v Asanoyama look very good for Oshoma compared to the current san'yaku.

Wow the haircut (and smile :) takes years off him

This is very sad to hear. The stats and presentation etc... is very nice on Natto but the little comments and asides on your videos were matchless. I'm still smiling at Abi's WTF?? when Hoshoryu landed on him, hilarious interview translations, font day, oshiwashi, Oh-what-a-nage! etc etc... Thank you for all these happy memories.

Thanks, I had thought he was closer to 65 than that. Two and a half years does seem like a long time for Terunofuji to hold on.

I thought a Yokozuna had a five year grace period to find a kabu (e.g. Kakuryu), by which time ex-Asahifuji will be fully retired?

His Wikipedia page even says "Putin has distanced himself from Seagal". That's gotta hurt.

I wondered that too, he must find himself in unorthodox positions when doing those 2-on-1 bouts, it's conceivable that's made a difference.

I just assumed he was 22-23ish. John Gunning's article from last month has more detail (towards the bottom). https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2022/12/14/sumo/new-recruits-january-basho/ I wonder about the reason for taking a 'gap year'. Maybe he was so confident (for good reason clearly) that he would get a Ms15TD slot that he'd rather earn a salary for a year than join in sandanme.

The sacred ritual offering carried out like dog poo! This is quality sumo journalism you can't get anywhere else.

Yes really impressed by how he controlled the bout and went in for the clinch when I expected him to keep his distance. Plus that's a solid year of completed bashos behind him now, his longest such spell since he made Ozeki.

I seem to be in a minority but I thought it was a fantastic round of matches today, probably the best day of the basho. I was surprised by how easily Tsurugisho dealt with Kinbozan. You could argue Tsurugisho had more to fight for but it didn't look like that from the expression on Kinbozan's face afterwards.

Not counting the two longest bouts the other 17 come to just over a minute in total. That confirms my impression when watching the highlights, that we didn't get to see much sumo today. With five yotsu wrestlers kyujo (including Takayasu and Ichinojo) the average bout time must be down a lot this basho.

He did one against Kagayaki on Day 6 But yes definitely a change of tactic for him this basho. At first I thought Aoiyama was trying to pull down Takarafuji's heel onto the janome as he fell, which would have been an Ura-esque move, but I guess he was probably just trying to stop himself from touching.

After today's win against Kotonowaka 7 out of 10 of Mitakeumi's kimarite have been yorikiri, including a loss to Tamawashi! I don't know if it's injuries that have forced him to take this route but he's looking pretty good at it and I was surprised to see him only at 5-5, it feels like he's been fighting better than that.

Impressed (and surprised) by the way Nishikigi defeated Onosho so easily. I remember watching those joint televised keiko sessions while he was in juryo. He looked so outclassed it seemed impossible he would make it back to makuuchi let alone be holding his own in the higher ranks.

Many thanks for the explanation (and the enumeration).

In the linked PDFs I can see the kensho at the top left, with what looks like the names and descriptions of the sponsors (with multiple sponsors for the same bout bracketed together). So some of these companies must put on multiple kensho per bout - but I can't see where it says the number on the page...? (Sorry my Japanese isn't very good)