Itachi

Sd 32e Takunishiki Sure to be a popular choice in the Sandanme Game!

Sd64e Dewahikari Joker Jd75w Asahibenten

I was offline for a while while installing a new o/s and in the process, I lost about 66 unread messages from my inbox. Most of those would be ordinary SML chatter but there may have been Sandanme Game entries in there. I have received entries from Fay, Torideyama, and Profomisakari (and myself). If there is anyone else who sent in an entry, please resend. If you are not familiar with the game, it is similar to the Makushita Game. Players select 15 Sandanme rikishi, one from each of 15 groups within the division. The first ten groups each contain ten rikishi and the last 5 contain 20. E.g. group1 Sd1-5, group2 Sd6-10, ...group10 Sd 45-50, group11 Sd51-60, ... group 15 Sd 91-100. You score points for each win and for each kk. Another point is awarded for each rikishi who leads his group. A bonus of 15 points is awarded for the yusho winner - less for losing the playoff match or just winning the jun-yusho. The maximum 'possible' score is 150 which makes it easy to convert scores to records out of 15. To help gauge our performance, three drones will enter. The drone Mirai can see the future and will select the best possible lineup. Mirai's score will be scaled to 150 and all of our scores will be adjusted by the same amount. If you select the best possible team, you will get 15 wins. Mirai will always have the best score but is not eligible to receive the yusho. The drone Genzai will select the most popular rikishi in each group. If there is no consensus pick, Genzai will choose based on some other factor (was it the youngest last tournament?). Genzai did fairly well last time which means collectively we did a good job of selecting riksihi. The drone Mukashi will select the rikishi who had the best record in the previous tournament - in the previous two if there is a tie and even further if necessary. Mukashi didn't do as well as the rest of us last time. Please send your picks to nmatsuo@shaw.ca (that's me). I enjoyed posting daily reports on the game last tournament and I hope to find time to do the same this time but I may miss a day here and there as life interferes. Please see last tournament's Sandanme Game thread to see how it went. (Just look a few pages down in the games subforum) I look forward to setting up a few more entries. If just half the Makushita Game participants join, I'll be pleased (and busy!). I'll accept changes up until the matches (if your riksihi hasn't had a match yet, I'll even let you change him on Day1 for another who hasn't had a match). I'll try to warn you if you've selected an injured rikishi also. Good luck with your selections, Itachi

Shikishima was the first rikishi who I suspected of possessing mammaries. If only they made sports bras in his size ...

The meaning of life is the opportunity to perceive and participate in events in the universe. It is a very special opportunity for us because we will all be not-alive for much longer than we are living so let's make the most of it. The choices offered would be better classified as 'best uses for life' rather than 'meaning of life'. I think many of them are fine choices. For me, I think it is important to seek understanding, knowledge, and appreciation of the universe we have this rare opportunity to perceive. Also, I think it is important to be good neighbours to one another and make the experience as enjoyable as possible for others - or as least not spoil it for anyone else. If everyone would at least try hard not to spoil anyone else's enjoyment of their life think how much better things could be.

Shibouyama>Yes, Kintamayama was a valuable member/assest to the sumoforum, but it seems to me like he left because he couldn't stand people disagreeing with him. Itachi>I sincerely hope Kintamayama returns - partly for selfish reasons because of his valuable contributions, and partly because I think he enjoyed sharing his sumo passion and knowledge here. I'm sure he enjoyed reading posts from some of the other great contributors here. Shibouyama>First, there was the Roho/Chiyotaikai thingy. He came charging out of the blocks adamant that Roho should be kicked out of sumo immediately, if not drawn and quartered first. When I said that it looked like Chiyotaikai started it with a bit of trash talking, a lengthy discussion ensued. Shibou>The second thing was someone objected to Ootake oyakata slapping Roho in the face. Kintamayama was incredulous that someone should have such an opinion in regards to sumo. Shortly after, he put himself on timeout. Shibou>Of course, I enjoyed many of his posts, but he often came across too strongly for my tastes. Itachi>Kintama-zeki stuck his neck out a bit on the Roho issue. He has opinions and he passionately defends them which leaves him open to frustration and flaming when others are equally passionate in their disagreement. It is easier to be boring and dispassionate and not get too worked up about what other's may think but passionate posters like Kintamayama breathe life into the forum. It may be that Kintamayama came across too strongly in some of the his posts over the last while but I took it with a few grains of salt because he has earned himself a lot of slack with his efforts over the years and because, as was suggested earlier, he may be under a lot of stress due to events outside sumo and I do not envy him that. I hope that the tone of the forum over the past month is just a temporary problem due to unbearable summer temperatures or World Cup Football disappointment or something. Perhaps we can all get back to sharing opinions and information about sumo (and happy lurking) when anticipation of next tournament heats up. I look forward to your return Moti! I hope you will continue to participate in sumogames, in particular I am hoping you will try the Sandanme Game next tournament (which is currently being administered thoruhg the sumoforum sumogames subforum). Itachi

Hello all you lower division fans! There were 35 of us on the Makushita Game banzuke for this tournament and some of you may have an eye on the Sandanme division as well. I'm sure many of us find themselves drawn into more games than they have time for but if you follow the lower ranks anyway then a game like this may help focus your attention and add structure to your procrastination time. My propsed format for a Sandanme game is as follows. 1. Divide the Sandanme division into 15 groups (as we do in the Makushita game) and select one rikishi from each group. Since the Sandanme division has 100 ranks, it does not divide nicely into 15. I decided to divide the top half into groups of 5 and the bottom half into groups of 10. e.g. group 1: Sd1e - Sd5w group 2: Sd6e - Sd10w etc. group 11: Sd51e - Sd 60w etc. 2. Send your list of 15 rikishi to me in an email to nmatsuo@shaw.ca 3. Deadline is arbitrarily set at midnight before the first day of the tournament - Japan time. This is just to ensure that no results are known before picks are made. I'll post something with a list of everyone's picks once the entries are all in and the tournament has started. Scoring: My goal is to produce a score out of 15. This is why I was attached to the idea of 15 groups. I also like the idea of rewarding the group winners as well as the yusho winner, any kachikoshi, and any wins even for makekoshi rikishi. Each rikishi you select will earn: 1 point for each win. 1 point for reaching kachikoshi 1 point for having the best record in the group (tied for best record is ok) 15 points for winning the yusho (only for actual yusho, not for equivalent record) This will produce a maximum score of 150 (9 points for 7-0 riksihi 9x15 = 135 plus 15 point bonus for yusho makes 150) Divide by 10 for a score out of 15. Round up to make integer scores. (7.5 = 8 wins and 7.4 = 7 wins) I don't have a lot of tools or time for tracking the game so my plan at this stage is to compile the results at the end of the tournament. I may surprise everyone with the occaisional update during the tournament (if no one else beats me to it). I'll gladly contract out the banzuke making duties, but if no one offers to do it, I'll work that out too. Let's try it! Itachi

Here is everyone's complete lineup with detailed results For Mirai I included all possible rikishi it could have chosen for the groups where more than one rikishi had the best record. This may be useful for Mukashi in deciding its picks for next basho. The last three numbers in each row are wins, losses, and group (1 to 15). Pasted in tables from excel don't seem to line up very nicely. Ignore the --o-** lines, I must have cut them short, they don't display all 15 days. Mukashi from heya wins losses group Fujitsukasa Sd5W Shizuoka Irumagawa *--O-* 2 5 1 Hanada Sd6E Aomori Naruto -*-**- 0 7 2 Isoazuma Sd11W Kanagawa Tamanoi O--O*- 2 5 3 Yamasaki Sd19W Ehime Musashigawa -*O--O 4 3 4 Murayoshi Sd21W Yamaguchi Hanaregoma -OO--O 3 4 5 Kaonishiki Sd27W Akita Azumazeki -O-OO- 6 1 6 Morioka Sd34W Hyogo Arashio O-O-O- 5 2 7 Tochikasuga Sd39W Aichi Kasugano O--OO- 4 3 8 Sadanoumi Sd44E Kumamoto Sakaigawa -O-*-O 5 2 9 Chiyonoshin Sd50W Mie Kokonoe -**-O- 3 4 10 Toma Sd52E Fukuoka Shikihide -O-**- 2 5 11 Takunishiki Sd63E Chiba Chiganoura -O-*-O 5 2 12 Kakushoma Sd76W Hyogo Izutsu O--*-* 4 3 13 Jiguruma Sd81E Osaka Musashigawa -*O--* 4 3 14 Shimasegawa Sd94W Kagoshima Kiriyama *-O--* 3 4 15 Fay from heya wins losses group Kaishoryu Sd4W Tokyo Tomozuna -OO--O 7 0 1 Gokenzan Sd7W Kagawa Takanohana O--OO- 4 3 2 Kakureizan Sd15E Aichi Izutsu O-O-O- 6 1 3 Enatsukasa Sd18W Gifu Irumagawa O--O*- 5 2 4 Kyokushoten Sd23W Tokyo Oshima -*-OO- 4 3 5 Kotohikari Sd27E Ibaraki Sadogatake O--*-* 5 2 6 Wakamifuji Sd32W Aomori Magaki *-O--* 4 3 7 Asahanada Sd36W Miyagi Takasago *-*-*- 1 6 8 Gagamaru Sd45W Georgia Kise -OO-*- 5 2 9 Takashoma Sd48E Hokkaido Takanohana -*O--O 3 4 10 Shinzan Sd52W Kanagawa Takasago -*-**- 1 6 11 Kotomisen Sd64E Shimane Sadogatake *-O--O 5 2 12 Kotootori Sd74W Shimane Sadogatake O--O*- 2 5 13 Seiryu Sd89E Aichi Nishonoseki *--**- 3 4 14 Masunoumi Sd95W Osaka Dewanoumi -O-*-* 3 4 15 Itachi from heya wins losses group Sadanofuji Sd3E Nagasaki Sakaigawa O-*--O 4 3 1 Shironishiki Sd6W Mongolia Sakaigawa -O*--O 5 2 2 Kakureizan Sd15E Aichi Izutsu O-O-O- 6 1 3 Orora Sd20E Russia Kitanoumi -O-*-* 2 5 4 Maenoyu Sd24E Mongolia Takadagawa -O*--* 3 4 5 Kaonishiki Sd27W Akita Azumazeki -O-OO- 6 1 6 Morioka Sd34W Hyogo Arashio O-O-O- 5 2 7 Masuhikari Sd37W Chiba Chiganoura -O-*-* 4 3 8 Gagamaru Sd45W Georgia Kise -OO-*- 5 2 9 Ginkakuzan Sd47W Kyoto Nishikido -O-*-O 2 5 10 Daitensho Sd53E Mongolia Takashima O-O-O- 7 0 11 Takunishiki Sd63E Chiba Chiganoura -O-*-O 5 2 12 Yoshinoryu Sd78W Aichi Dewanoumi -O-*-O 4 3 13 Seifu Sd86E Aichi Oitekaze O--O*- 5 2 14 Masuko Sd100E Tokyo Nakamura O--*O- 3 4 15 Sekihiryu from heya wins losses group Sadanofuji Sd3E Nagasaki Sakaigawa O-*--O 4 3 1 Shironishiki Sd6W Mongolia Sakaigawa -O*--O 5 2 2 Kyokuryudake Sd11E Tokyo Oshima *-*--O 4 3 3 Yamasaki Sd19W Ehime Musashigawa -*O--O 4 3 4 Maenoyu Sd24E Mongolia Takadagawa -O*--* 3 4 5 Asahisakari Sd30E Tokushima Dewanoumi -OO--O 3 4 6 Morioka Sd34W Hyogo Arashio O-O-O- 5 2 7 Masuhikari Sd37W Chiba Chiganoura -O-*-* 4 3 8 Gagamaru Sd45W Georgia Kise -OO-*- 5 2 9 Ako Sd46W Mongolia Ajigawa *-*-*- 3 4 10 Daitensho Sd53E Mongolia Takashima O-O-O- 7 0 11 Takakiho Sd66W Tokyo Takanohana O--O*- 3 4 12 Kabutoiwa Sd72W Kumamoto Kise *--**- 0 7 13 Ikemoto Sd85W Yamaguchi Nakamura -**--* 1 6 14 Masuko Sd100E Tokyo Nakamura O--*O- 3 4 15 Tamanogijima from heya wins losses group Sadanofuji Sd3E Nagasaki Sakaigawa O-*--O 4 3 1 Futasegawa Sd7E Aichi Kiriyama *-O--* 3 4 2 Fujinokaze Sd14E Hyogo Oguruma -*O--O 4 3 3 Yamasaki Sd19W Ehime Musashigawa -*O--O 4 3 4 Maenoyu Sd24E Mongolia Takadagawa -O*--* 3 4 5 Yuminosato Sd30W Fukui Naruto O--*O- 3 4 6 Wakamifuji Sd32W Aomori Magaki *-O--* 4 3 7 Masuhikari Sd37W Chiba Chiganoura -O-*-* 4 3 8 Gagamaru Sd45W Georgia Kise -OO-*- 5 2 9 Ako Sd46W Mongolia Ajigawa *-*-*- 3 4 10 Wakamigo Sd54E Osaka Magaki -O*--* 1 6 11 Takunishiki Sd63E Chiba Chiganoura -O-*-O 5 2 12 Kakushoma Sd76W Hyogo Izutsu O--*-* 4 3 13 Oseumi Sd88E Miyazaki Ounomatsu O-O-O- 6 1 14 Masuko Sd100E Tokyo Nakamura O--*O- 3 4 15 Doitsuyama from heya wins losses group Shimada Sd1E Hyogo Kitanoumi -*-O-O 5 2 1 Shironishiki Sd6W Mongolia Sakaigawa -O*--O 5 2 2 Kachimori Sd12E Iwate Isenoumi -O-**- 1 6 3 Sadanoshima Sd16E Nagasaki Sakaigawa -O*--* 3 4 4 Maenoyu Sd24E Mongolia Takadagawa -O*--* 3 4 5 Asahisakari Sd30E Tokushima Dewanoumi -OO--O 3 4 6 Morioka Sd34W Hyogo Arashio O-O-O- 5 2 7 Masuhikari Sd37W Chiba Chiganoura -O-*-* 4 3 8 Gagamaru Sd45W Georgia Kise -OO-*- 5 2 9 Kabasawa Sd47E Aomori Hakkaku O--OO- 3 4 10 Wakatora Sd56E Mongolia Hanaregoma -*-*-* 4 3 11 Takunishiki Sd63E Chiba Chiganoura -O-*-O 5 2 12 Kirinishiki Sd71W Ibaraki Michinoku -O-O-O 6 1 13 Bungonishiki Sd89W Oita Dewanoumi -*-O-O 4 3 14 Masuko Sd100E Tokyo Nakamura O--*O- 3 4 15 Genzai from heya wins losses group Sadanofuji Sd3E Nagasaki Sakaigawa O-*--O 4 3 1 Shironishiki Sd6W Mongolia Sakaigawa -O*--O 5 2 2 Kakureizan Sd15E Aichi Izutsu O-O-O- 6 1 3 Yamasaki Sd19W Ehime Musashigawa -*O--O 4 3 4 Maenoyu Sd24E Mongolia Takadagawa -O*--* 3 4 5 Asahisakari Sd30E Tokushima Dewanoumi -OO--O 3 4 6 Morioka Sd34W Hyogo Arashio O-O-O- 5 2 7 Masuhikari Sd37W Chiba Chiganoura -O-*-* 4 3 8 Gagamaru Sd45W Georgia Kise -OO-*- 5 2 9 Ako Sd46W Mongolia Ajigawa *-*-*- 3 4 10 Daitensho Sd53E Mongolia Takashima O-O-O- 7 0 11 Takunishiki Sd63E Chiba Chiganoura -O-*-O 5 2 12 Hatayama Sd75E Kochi Shikoroyama -O-*-O 5 2 13 Isetsukasa Sd83W Mie Irumagawa -*O-*- 1 6 14 Masuko Sd100E Tokyo Nakamura O--*O- 3 4 15 Mirai from heya wins losses group Kaishoryu Sd4W Tokyo Tomozuna -OO--O 7 0 1 Shironishiki Sd6W Mongolia Sakaigawa -O*--O 5 2 2 Fudoyama Sd10E Mongolia Takashima -OO-*- 5 2 2 Kakureizan Sd15E Aichi Izutsu O-O-O- 6 1 3 Aogifuji Sd20W Osaka Ajigawa O-*--O 6 1 4 Tamaryoma Sd22W Kochi Kataonami O-O--* 5 2 5 Satsumanishiki Sd25W Kagoshima Matsugane O-*--O 5 2 5 Kaonishiki Sd27W Akita Azumazeki -O-OO- 6 1 6 Morioka Sd34W Hyogo Arashio O-O-O- 5 2 7 Miyamaru Sd31W Kanagawa Kitanoumi -O-O-* 5 2 7 Takamaru Sd33E Chiba Asahiyama O--O*- 5 2 7 Terusegawa Sd36E Kumamoto Kiriyama -*-O-O 5 2 8 Gotenyu Sd38W Hokkaido Kitanoumi *-O-O- 5 2 8 Hokutogo Sd42E Ibaraki Hakkaku -OO--* 6 1 9 Gagamaru Sd45W Georgia Kise -OO-*- 5 2 10 Akinohana Sd49W Aomori Ajigawa -O-O-* 5 2 10 Daitensho Sd53E Mongolia Takashima O-O-O- 7 0 11 Nankairiki Sd68W Kochi Kise -O-OO- 6 1 12 Kirinishiki Sd71W Ibaraki Michinoku -O-O-O 6 1 13 Toho Sd77W Hyogo Otake -O-OO- 6 1 13 Oseumi Sd88E Miyazaki Ounomatsu O-O-O- 6 1 14 Hidaka Sd91W Kagoshima Naruto -*O-O- 5 2 15 Terunosato Sd92E Ehime Naruto *-O--O 5 2 15 Tomishima Sd92W Osaka Shikoroyama -O-OO- 5 2 15 Hananosato Sd97E Ibaraki Takasago O-O-O- 5 2 15

Did the attachment appear?

Mukashi Fujitsukasa Sd5W Shizuoka Irumagawa *--O-* 2 5 Isoazuma Sd11W Kanagawa Tamanoi O--O*- 2 5 Toma Sd52E Fukuoka Shikihide -O-**- 2 5 group leads Murayoshi Sd21W Yamaguchi Hanaregoma -OO--O 3 4 Chiyonoshin Sd50W Mie Kokonoe -**-O- 3 4 Shimasegawa Sd94W Kagoshima Kiriyama *-O--* 3 4 Yamasaki Sd19W Ehime Musashigawa -*O--O 4 3 Tochikasuga Sd39W Aichi Kasugano O--OO- 4 3 Kakushoma Sd76W Hyogo Izutsu O--*-* 4 3 Jiguruma Sd81E Osaka Musashigawa -*O--* 4 3 Morioka Sd34W Hyogo Arashio O-O-O- 5 2 Sadanoumi Sd44E Kumamoto Sakaigawa -O-*-O 5 2 Takunishiki Sd63E Chiba Chiganoura -O-*-O 5 2 Kaonishiki Sd27W Akita Azumazeki -O-OO- 6 1 Fay Asahanada Sd36W Miyagi Takasago *-*-*- 1 6 Shinzan Sd52W Kanagawa Takasago -*-**- 1 6 Kotootori Sd74W Shimane Sadogatake O--O*- 2 5 Takashoma Sd48E Hokkaido Takanohana -*O--O 3 4 Seiryu Sd89E Aichi Nishonoseki *--**- 3 4 Masunoumi Sd95W Osaka Dewanoumi -O-*-* 3 4 Gokenzan Sd7W Kagawa Takanohana O--OO- 4 3 Kyokushoten Sd23W Tokyo Oshima -*-OO- 4 3 Wakamifuji Sd32W Aomori Magaki *-O--* 4 3 Enatsukasa Sd18W Gifu Irumagawa O--O*- 5 2 Kotohikari Sd27E Ibaraki Sadogatake O--*-* 5 2 Gagamaru Sd45W Georgia Kise -OO-*- 5 2 Kotomisen Sd64E Shimane Sadogatake *-O--O 5 2 Kakureizan Sd15E Aichi Izutsu O-O-O- 6 1 Kaishoryu Sd4W Tokyo Tomozuna -OO--O 7 0 Itachi Orora Sd20E Russia Kitanoumi -O-*-* 2 5 Ginkakuzan Sd47W Kyoto Nishikido -O-*-O 2 5 Maenoyu Sd24E Mongolia Takadagawa -O*--* 3 4 Masuko Sd100E Tokyo Nakamura O--*O- 3 4 Sadanofuji Sd3E Nagasaki Sakaigawa O-*--O 4 3 Masuhikari Sd37W Chiba Chiganoura -O-*-* 4 3 Yoshinoryu Sd78W Aichi Dewanoumi -O-*-O 4 3 Gagamaru Sd45W Georgia Kise -OO-*- 5 2 Morioka Sd34W Hyogo Arashio O-O-O- 5 2 Takunishiki Sd63E Chiba Chiganoura -O-*-O 5 2 Shironishiki Sd6W Mongolia Sakaigawa -O*--O 5 2 Seifu Sd86E Aichi Oitekaze O--O*- 5 2 Kakureizan Sd15E Aichi Izutsu O-O-O- 6 1 Kaonishiki Sd27W Akita Azumazeki -O-OO- 6 1 Daitensho Sd53E Mongolia Takashima O-O-O- 7 0 Sekihiryu Kabutoiwa Sd72W Kumamoto Kise *--**- 0 7 Ikemoto Sd85W Yamaguchi Nakamura -**--* 1 6 Maenoyu Sd24E Mongolia Takadagawa -O*--* 3 4 Masuko Sd100E Tokyo Nakamura O--*O- 3 4 Asahisakari Sd30E Tokushima Dewanoumi -OO--O 3 4 Ako Sd46W Mongolia Ajigawa *-*-*- 3 4 Takakiho Sd66W Tokyo Takanohana O--O*- 3 4 Sadanofuji Sd3E Nagasaki Sakaigawa O-*--O 4 3 Masuhikari Sd37W Chiba Chiganoura -O-*-* 4 3 Yamasaki Sd19W Ehime Musashigawa -*O--O 4 3 Kyokuryudake Sd11E Tokyo Oshima *-*--O 4 3 Gagamaru Sd45W Georgia Kise -OO-*- 5 2 Morioka Sd34W Hyogo Arashio O-O-O- 5 2 Shironishiki Sd6W Mongolia Sakaigawa -O*--O 5 2 Daitensho Sd53E Mongolia Takashima O-O-O- 7 0 Tamanogijima Wakamigo Sd54E Osaka Magaki -O*--* 1 6 Maenoyu Sd24E Mongolia Takadagawa -O*--* 3 4 Masuko Sd100E Tokyo Nakamura O--*O- 3 4 Ako Sd46W Mongolia Ajigawa *-*-*- 3 4 Futasegawa Sd7E Aichi Kiriyama *-O--* 3 4 Yuminosato Sd30W Fukui Naruto O--*O- 3 4 Sadanofuji Sd3E Nagasaki Sakaigawa O-*--O 4 3 Masuhikari Sd37W Chiba Chiganoura -O-*-* 4 3 Yamasaki Sd19W Ehime Musashigawa -*O--O 4 3 Wakamifuji Sd32W Aomori Magaki *-O--* 4 3 Kakushoma Sd76W Hyogo Izutsu O--*-* 4 3 Fujinokaze Sd14E Hyogo Oguruma -*O--O 4 3 Gagamaru Sd45W Georgia Kise -OO-*- 5 2 Takunishiki Sd63E Chiba Chiganoura -O-*-O 5 2 Oseumi Sd88E Miyazaki Ounomatsu O-O-O- 6 1 Doitsuyama Kachimori Sd12E Iwate Isenoumi -O-**- 1 6 Maenoyu Sd24E Mongolia Takadagawa -O*--* 3 4 Masuko Sd100E Tokyo Nakamura O--*O- 3 4 Asahisakari Sd30E Tokushima Dewanoumi -OO--O 3 4 Sadanoshima Sd16E Nagasaki Sakaigawa -O*--* 3 4 Kabasawa Sd47E Aomori Hakkaku O--OO- 3 4 Masuhikari Sd37W Chiba Chiganoura -O-*-* 4 3 Wakatora Sd56E Mongolia Hanaregoma -*-*-* 4 3 Bungonishiki Sd89W Oita Dewanoumi -*-O-O 4 3 Gagamaru Sd45W Georgia Kise -OO-*- 5 2 Takunishiki Sd63E Chiba Chiganoura -O-*-O 5 2 Morioka Sd34W Hyogo Arashio O-O-O- 5 2 Shironishiki Sd6W Mongolia Sakaigawa -O*--O 5 2 Shimada Sd1E Hyogo Kitanoumi -*-O-O 5 2 Kirinishiki Sd71W Ibaraki Michinoku -O-O-O 6 1 Genzai Sadanofuji Sd3E Nagasaki Sakaigawa O-*--O 4 3 1 Shironishiki Sd6W Mongolia Sakaigawa -O*--O 5 2 2 Kakureizan Sd15E Aichi Izutsu O-O-O- 6 1 3 Yamasaki Sd19W Ehime Musashigawa -*O--O 4 3 4 Maenoyu Sd24E Mongolia Takadagawa -O*--* 3 4 5 Asahisakari Sd30E Tokushima Dewanoumi -OO--O 3 4 6 Morioka Sd34W Hyogo Arashio O-O-O- 5 2 7 Masuhikari Sd37W Chiba Chiganoura -O-*-* 4 3 8 Gagamaru Sd45W Georgia Kise -OO-*- 5 2 9 Ako Sd46W Mongolia Ajigawa *-*-*- 3 4 10 Daitensho Sd53E Mongolia Takashima O-O-O- 7 0 11 Takunishiki Sd63E Chiba Chiganoura -O-*-O 5 2 12 Hatayama Sd75E Kochi Shikoroyama -O-*-O 5 2 13 Isetsukasa Sd83W Mie Irumagawa -*O-*- 1 6 14 Masuko Sd100E Tokyo Nakamura O--*O- 3 4 15 Mirai group Kaishoryu Sd4W Tokyo Tomozuna -OO--O 7 0 1 Shironishiki Sd6W Mongolia Sakaigawa -O*--O 5 2 2 Fudoyama Sd10E Mongolia Takashima -OO-*- 5 2 2 Kakureizan Sd15E Aichi Izutsu O-O-O- 6 1 3 Aogifuji Sd20W Osaka Ajigawa O-*--O 6 1 4 Tamaryoma Sd22W Kochi Kataonami O-O--* 5 2 5 Satsumanishiki Sd25W Kagoshima Matsugane O-*--O 5 2 5 Kaonishiki Sd27W Akita Azumazeki -O-OO- 6 1 6 Morioka Sd34W Hyogo Arashio O-O-O- 5 2 7 Miyamaru Sd31W Kanagawa Kitanoumi -O-O-* 5 2 7 Takamaru Sd33E Chiba Asahiyama O--O*- 5 2 7 Terusegawa Sd36E Kumamoto Kiriyama -*-O-O 5 2 8 Gotenyu Sd38W Hokkaido Kitanoumi *-O-O- 5 2 8 Hokutogo Sd42E Ibaraki Hakkaku -OO--* 6 1 9 Gagamaru Sd45W Georgia Kise -OO-*- 5 2 10 Akinohana Sd49W Aomori Ajigawa -O-O-* 5 2 10 Daitensho Sd53E Mongolia Takashima O-O-O- 7 0 11 Nankairiki Sd68W Kochi Kise -O-OO- 6 1 12 Kirinishiki Sd71W Ibaraki Michinoku -O-O-O 6 1 13 Toho Sd77W Hyogo Otake -O-OO- 6 1 13 Oseumi Sd88E Miyazaki Ounomatsu O-O-O- 6 1 14 Hidaka Sd91W Kagoshima Naruto -*O-O- 5 2 15 Terunosato Sd92E Ehime Naruto *-O--O 5 2 15 Tomishima Sd92W Osaka Shikoroyama -O-OO- 5 2 15 Hananosato Sd97E Ibaraki Takasago O-O-O- 5 2 15

It's been a while since I mentioned my two adoptees. I've even failed to trumpet their successes so it's not that I'm a fair weather friend - just a negligent one. Anyway, Nishikikaze (who indirectly provides me with a regular stream of banzuke through his father and my wife's relatives) has achieved his 2nd 4-3 in a row, this time from Ms 33e. He actually started the year at Ms19 or something but I think he's just about at his ceiling there. One day, perhaps he'll surprise me and become one of those longest-time-to-reach-Juryo guys. He has had a match or two there over the years but no victories. Sasaki is form Aomori, with the same stable as Wakanosato who I like, and seemed to get a pretty good start on his career - getting to Sandanme fairly smoothly. Since I adopted him, he's drifted around in Sandanme, once or twice even falling to Jonidan. He rebounded a bit over the past year and was ranked Sd29w which has to be close to his best rank. 3-4 was the result, after two 4-3 tournaments. 4-3 and 3-4 isn't very exciting but these guys are both at a fairly high rank for themselves so not getting slaughtered shows me that maybe they are getting a bit better through experience and next basho may show further improvement. My goals for them are that Nishikikaze earn at least one win against a Juryo ranked rikishi and for Sasaki to get promoted to Makushita. Sasaki is still fairly young but Sandanme seems to be his level just as Nishikikaze seems trapped in Makushita.

Ok, since the only player who will lose points (Fay) seems to approve I will adjust the scoring formula where it distributes bonus points for yusho equivalent scores. There will be a full 15 point bonus awarded to those that have the yusho winner. If you don't have the yusho winner but you have a rikishi with an equivalent record (who lost in the playoff) then you get only 10 points (this will put you one half win behind the yusho winner). If you don't have the yusho winner and there isn't a rikishi with the same record than you can still pick up 5 points if you have the jun-yusho winner. This way the yusho is still an advantage but getting close to the yusho is rewarded as well. Here are the final results. Rikishi; (win-loss); average wins per rikishi; kk; group leads; yusho equivalent; Sd Game score Mirai (86-19); 12.29; 15; 15; 2; 15 Itachi (66-39); 9.43; 11; 5; 1; 11.11 Genzai (63-42); 9; 10; 4; 1; 10.53 Sekihiryu (54-51); 7.71; 8; 3; 1; 9.16 Fay (58-47); 8.29; 9; 2; 1; 9.05 Doitsuyama (59-46); 8.43; 9; 3; 0; 8.13 Tamanogijima (56-49); 8; 9; 1; 0; 7.56 Mukashi (52-53); 7.43; 8; 2; 0; 7.1 And the standings: Mirai 15-0 Itachi 11-4 Genzai 11-4 Sekihiryu 9-6 Fay 9-6 Doitsuyama 8-7 Tamanogijima 8-7 Mukashi 7-8 Mirai cannot be awarded the yusho for the simple fact that it automatically wins every time. I'm not sure if Genzai or Mukashi should be eligible or not - the best real player should get the award. This time, it seems to be me. Sekihiryu would recieve recognition for the jun-yusho, narrowly edging out Fay by having the playoff winner. As for Sansho, I think our numbers need to grow a bit before this would be meaningful. Some obvious categories for consderation would be - best overall win-loss record - most kk riksihi - most group winners. There ought to be a minimum level for each of these before a sansho can be awarded. I would've taken all of those this time too - I wonder if the yusho winner would always be on top of those categories in which case there is no point in awarding sansho. As for the banzuke, I'm open to offers of banzuke construction. I considered having us all start in Jonokuchi as with the Guess the Yusho Winners Game. I considered starting us as new sekitori since we have 15 bouts. It's simpler for me if there is only one division for now (especially since there are so few of us) so I'd rather we start somewhere we can't easily be demoted out of the division from. How about we start in upper Makuuchi (except Mirai who is expected to always win). Yokozuna East: Mirai M1E: Itachi M1W: Genzai M2E: Sekihiryu M2W: Fay M3E: Doitsuyama M3W: Tamanogijima M4E: Mukashi New entrants can start in the next available spot. Some rough promotion guidelines for upper sanyaku: Ozeki promotion after 3 consecutive double digit win performances in Sanyaku (last one must be Sekiwake). Yokozuna promotion after 2 consecutive yusho as Ozeki with no more than 6 combined losses or 3 consecutive yusho equivalent or jun-yusho records with at least one yusho and no more than 7 combined losses. If the Ozeki promotion rule is too soft, we could add a requirement for a minimum total of 33. The Yokozuna rule allows for 13y-12jy-13ye to lead to promotion or 12y-12y to give the weakest promotable examples. I think it might be too difficult but we don't want that position to fill up too soon. Ozeki demotion as per usual kadoban rules. Perhaps some special kadoban rule for Yokozuna will be needed. I've made up a spreadsheet with everyone's detailed records including the makeup of Mirai's winning team. I'll try to set that up to be viewable here later on. I expect that Mukashi will be studying Mirai's picks to prepare for next tournament. Thanks to everyone for playing and to those who are just observing, thanks for your interest - come and join us in September! My email link is correct now so lost emails such as Torideyama's shouldn't happen anymore. Comments? Suggestions?

Keeping in mind that this is a trial run, here are the results after the final day of the tournament. I have scored the game as I described in previous posts. The one area that may need to be adjusted is the yusho bonus. It was easier to give the bonus to everyone who had a yusho equivalent rikishi and so as it stands, Fay earns the same bonus for having Kaishoryu as Sekihiryu, Genzai, and myself who have the Sandanme playoff winner, Daitensho since both have 7-0 records. I had considered giving an additional 10 points (1 extra win overall) for those who actually had the yusho winner but I think the scores are high enough as it is. Thoughts? Congratualtions to Mirai (who wil always win anyway but cannot recieve the yusho for obvious reasons). Congratulations to Itachi (yes, that's me) for devising a game he (I) could win (kidding). ... pardon the interruption - I have to go. I'll post the results later today. Sorry. .. everyone got kk except Mukashi.

Perhaps this is a stupid question but where do they post the results of the playoff matches? I can't seem to find out what happened in Jonidan and Sandanme where there are a pair of rikishi tied for best record. I'm looking around at www.sumo.or.jp on the Japanese side and my reading skills are not what they used to be but I just don't see the results of those bouts anywhere. I haven't got the feed tonight but surely those matches have already happened.

Go to the end of the daily results of the respective division and you will find what happened in the kettei-sen. In sandanme, Daitensho beat Kaishoryu, son of Tomozuna Oyakata, by shitate-nage. In Jonidan, Matsutani beat Sakaizawa, who won jonokuchi last basho, by uwate-nage. Thanks, I guess I was looking too early. I had checked there for the Sandanme results once the Juryo had started but I didn't see them. That lead me to expect that they were displayed elsewhere. The Daitensho win solidifies my lead in the Sandanme game while the Sakaizawa loss dampens my efforts in the Guess the Yusho Winners Game as well as one of the Banzuke Surfing waves.

He must really regret that loss on shonichi to Asasekiryu. At least Miyabiyama is Ozeki caliber (he hasn't had as poor a record as 4 of 5 Ozeki this tournament since January.

I don't like it when a rikishi seems to try less hard after making kk or clinching a yusho or worse yet, after it's no longer possible to meet either of those goals. For that reason, I'd like to see Asa go for the zensho with as much determination as he showed on the way to his yusho. If he does, then he will almost certainly beat Hakuho - though Hakuho is one of the very few who has a chance against him when he's in good form. On the other hand, I won't be too disappointed if Hakuho wins in a good contest. I would like to see him join Asa and stand clearly above the inconsistent pack of Ozeki. Does anyone think Kisenosato might develop into a Ozeki or even a Yokozuna eventually? Or will he be like Wakanosato or Kotomitsuki, seemingly talented enough but never quite able to put the wins together to do it?

With one more day to go, most of our rikishi are finished for the tournament. Mirai and Tamanogijima have 6 bouts today while Doitsuyama and Fay have 5, Genzai has 4 and the rest of us only 3 left (not counting any 8th bouts that may be scheduled). Rikishi; (win-loss); projected wins; kk; group leads; yusho equivalent; Sd Game score Mirai; (82-17); 12.42; 15; 15; 2; 15 Itachi; (66-36); 9.71; 11; 7; 1; 11.47 Genzai; (63-38); 9.36; 10; 5; 1; 10.85 Fay; (54-46); 8.10; 9; 2; 1; 9.40 Sekihiryu ; (54-48); 7.94; 8; 3; 1; 9.27 Doitsuyama; (57-43); 8.55; 9; 4; 0; 8.28 Tamanogijima; (54-45); 8.18; 9; 2; 0; 7.76 Mukashi; (51-51); 7.50; 8; 3; 0; 7.22 And the standings: Mirai 15-0 Itachi 11-4 Genzai 11-4 Fay 10-5 Sekihiryu 9-6 Doitsuyama 8-7 Tamanogijima 8-7 Mukashi 7-8 Good luck on Senshuraku. Itachi

Congratulations Asasho-zeki! Thanks for running the game Randomitsuki! It looks like there will be an overabundance of Sekiwake. I would feel comfortable seeing Asashosakari promoted on the strength of his back to back yusho - if only to make room in lower sanyaku for all of us Sekiwake. It must be tempting to give slight demotions to 8-7 sanyaku just to get the best ones up front. Even with 9-6, I feel that I could be moved down to S2 with Randomitsuki and Asasho passing me. Well, I'm not a banzuke mechanic so I'll leave it to the specialists. I look forward to seeing the results.

After 13 days ... Rikishi; (win-loss); projected wins; kk; group leads; yusho equivalent; Sd Game score Mirai; (79-17); 12.34; 15; 15; 2; 15 Itachi; (60-36); 9.38; 10; 6; 1; 11.03 Genzai; (59-37); 9.22; 10; 4; 1; 10.68 Fay; (53-42); 8.37; 9; 3; 1; 9.77 Sekihiryu ; (50-46); 7.81; 7; 3; 1; 9.10 Doitsuyama; (53-43); 8.28; 9; 4; 0; 8.10 Tamanogijima; (50-43); 8.06; 8; 2; 0; 7.59 Mukashi; (46-50); 7.19; 6; 3; 0; 6.77 Mukashi took a big hit for losing its last yusho equivalent rikishi. And the standings: Mirai 15-0 Itachi 11-4 Genzai 11-4 Fay 10-5 Sekihiryu 9-6 Doitsuyama 8-7 Tamanogijima 8-7 Mukashi 7-8 Good luck on day 14. Itachi

I know what you mean but this is too tempting to resist. (In jonokuchi...) Dewanosato will be 36 in November and currently he is fighting for kachi-koshi at 3-3 in mid makushita. :-S hahaha ... that's what happens when I stay up so late to see the results come in - of course I meant Dewaotori and not Dewanosato. Thanks for the update on Dewanosato.

Hello everyone, I don't mean to interfere with Hoshifurasu and his game but I am often frustrated by the absence of a forum to discuss it. Benchsumo has it's own yahoo group as does Seki-toto (though it isn't as well used) and most of the other games I play have open topics here at the sumoforum. I thought perhaps some of the 132 particpants in the Juryo Game may want to use this forum to brag or vent their frustrations or whatever. Firstly, thanks again to Hoshifransu for implementing the game. It is one of my favorties and on a very short list of games I do not intend to give up even as my sumogame time becomes restricted. I may be quite biased as I've had a certain amount of success in the game - I'm about to end my second term as Ozeki (moshiwake nai desu kedo ...) Here are my topics for venting. What is with Mokonami and Dewaotori? Surely I'm not the only one who liked them going into this tournament. They have been very disappointing. As for the worst Makuuchi pick, I've been waiting impatiently for Tamakasuga (7-1), one of the few rikishi from Ehime-ken (and the only sekitori I can rmember) to resume his age-induced decline! I'm beginning to worry that he won't begin his final slide to retirement until I stop predicting it! Also, I am suffering for having selected Wakanoho (1-3) over Kageyama (4-0) in the Juryo Hopes category. It is one thing to be wrong but quite another to be so much wrong.

This is his record so far: Miyabiyama 7-5 1st day- l oshitaoshi Roho 2nd day- w oshidashi Kyokushuzan 3rd day- w no contest Asasekiryu 4th day- l oshidashi Kaio 5th day- w hikiotoshi Kisenosato 6th day- l oshidashi Chiyotaikai 7th day- l hatakikomi Kotooshu 8th day- w hikiotoshi Kotoshogiku 9th day- w hatakikomi Hakuho 10th day- l yoritaoshi Asashoryu 11th day- w oshidashi Hakurozan 12th day- w hatakikomi Baruto As you can see, he has lost to all of the higher ranking rikishi thus far, with the exception of Hakuho. I don`t know if they look at WHO they won and lost against, but it would matter to me. It looks to me as though he'll face Kyokutenho. It seems likely that he could beat 'Tenho if he can somehow beat both 'Azuma and 'Mitsuki. 'Azuma may the toughest - though he's not at his best. Perhpas after tonight we will know if he can do it. I find myself convinced about the 10 wins being adequate. 9 though, I just don't think they'll do it without double digit wins in the last basho.

I saw it too. Not bad. I was half expecting it to be more of a novelty show than a real competition but this wasn't for novelty. I have heard that there have been some efforts to have sumo included as an olympic sport. There is a lot of internatioal interest in sumo and even a modest amount of international participation at both the professional and amateur level. One of the obstacles seems to be the gender equity issue. There seems to be some rule that new olympic sports should have both genders involved. The rarity of women in sumo would seem to eliminate it from consideration. If women's sumo is as good as this and if it can be popularized enough then perhaps sumo could become an olympic event one day. Let's see more of this.

Well, it took the guy 13 years to make it to Juryo. He wasn't exactly a rising star when he made his juryo debut. I'd say I was more surprised by his 10-5 in May than I am by his struggles in July. Unlike you (I think), I do not get a chance to see the matches so I can't comment on his form. He may have changed his style or his committment to improving his sumo which could explain his long delayed success as a riksihi but just following his records over the years, he seems way over his level. I hope he has a great time up there before he falls back down. Perhaps he will find a way to linger but I'd be shocked if he developed into a Makuuchi caliber rikishi so late in his career. It would be a great and happy story though, if he did transform into a Makuuchi level rikishi. Let's see if he can find his footing again.