The new Ozeki - Kotooshu, Hakuho and who else?

[stunny 0]

After the retirement of Kaio, Chio and Tochiazuma, who do you think will take their places? Do you believe the current Ozeki group is performing below their supposed level as an Ozeki?

[Mark Buckton 1]

The Bulgarian henka'd - again - today. Even a man who spends most of his time running (I am not worthy...) was on NHK and called his sumo cowardly.

At least we don't see Hakuho henka'ing as much.

[Mark Buckton 1]

Asashoryu does henka too often. but it is called 'side shifting' when the talk is about him. just watch him.

no further on this one stunny bar to say that henka involves the avoidance altogether of the opponent at tachiai - something Kotooshu and sadly the Russian brothers have mastered but something the yokozuna doesn't do all that often at all - the 'ketaguri' as wasn't notwithstanding.

[aderechelsea 125]

Asashoryu does henka too often. but it is called 'side shifting' when the talk is about him. just watch him.

oh boy ..... here we go again (I am not worthy...)

[maxim 0]

New Ozeki... I'm pretty sure they will be Kotomitsuki, Roho and Kisenosato.

Roho could lose an Ozeki rank, but regain it later - he's the new Miyabiyama in inconsistent performance.

[aderechelsea 125]

New Ozeki... I'm pretty sure .....will be Kotomitsuki

(I am not worthy...)

have you heard the other one with "Roho" ;-)

[maxim 0]

(I am not worthy...)

[maxim 0]

Kotomitsuki has one of the best techniques and one of the most consistent performances in Makuuchi. He has won his last 3 bouts with Ozeki Chiyotaikai, has a 13 w. - 9 l. balance against Ozeki Tochiazuma and a 16 w. - 9 l. balance against Ozeki Kaio. Plus, he's a Sekiwake. I think he'll have one last shot at Ozeki.

[Afrozuna 8]

After the retirement of Kaio, Chio and Tochiazuma, who do you think will take their places? Do you believe the current Ozeki group is performing below their supposed level as an Ozeki?

I was chided for demanding a much more improved performance from the Ozekis. The truth of the matter is if the current performance of the Ozekis is maintained we will not be seeing a new Yokozuna for a long time. Not to mention 3 of the Ozekis will probably be retiring within the next 4 years. Right now there is too much inconsistency amongst all rikishi ranked below the Yokozuna. Some loose matches they should be winning etc. No wonder someone predicted 100 yushos for the Yokozuna.

[Fay 1,677]

I already say this for years ;-) and I'm still not bored to repeat it again and again: Kotoshogiku is on his way to Ozeki ( and maybe Tokitenku)

Edited January 13, 2007 by Fay

[Koriyama 0]

;-)

(Whatever above, it is funny...)

[Jejima 1,385]

Isn't Koromitsuki roughly the same age as the 'older' Ozeki? Wouldn't he be likely to retire at a similar time?

[maxim 0]

Isn't Koromitsuki roughly the same age as the 'older' Ozeki? Wouldn't he be likely to retire at a similar time?

Yes, he's as old as Tochiazuma and Chiyotaikai.

[Afrozuna 8]

Well let's look at the requirements for Ozeki promotion. Although these are not set in stone they have been applied consistently previously so there is no reason to expect any deviation from the

Promotion to Ozeki

The promotion of a rikishi to ozeki is a multi tournament process. It starts when a rikishi is at the rank of sekiwake or komusubi. From that point, the rikishi needs to win approximately 33 bouts or more over three consecutive basho to be considered for the promotion to the rank of ōzeki. Usually a record of at least 11-4 in the tournament immediately preceding promotion is also required. The quality of his sumo can also be taken into account - a wrestler who wins using certain dodging techniques at the beginning of a bout may be penalised for this behaviour, which is deemed to be not in keeping with the dignity of the top two ranks. Given the high standard required for promotion, compared to the lower ranks, it is appropriate that the name literally means "the great barrier".

Promotions are recommended by the Judging Division to the Board of Directors of the Japan Sumo Association. If it is a first promotion to the rank a member of the Board of Directors will formally visit the stable to inform the new Ozeki of his promotion. The Ozeki will usually make a speech on this occasion promising to do his best to uphold the dignity of the rank.

Which of our candidates has even come close to meeting these requirement?

[Afrozuna 8]

As for Hakuho

Relegation from Ozeki

Like the other sanyaku ranks, but unlike a yokozuna, an ōzeki may be relegated. For an ōzeki, relegation is a two-step procedure. First, the ōzeki must lose more bouts than he wins in a tournament; losing a majority of bouts is called makekoshi. At this point, the ōzeki is called kadoban. If he wins a majority of bouts in the next tournament (which is called kachikoshi), he is restored to regular ōzeki status. If, on the other hand, he loses a majority of bouts while kadoban, he is relegated to sekiwake.

In the tournament immediately following his relegation from ōzeki, if a wrestler wins ten or more bouts, he is immediately restored to ōzeki status. However, if he fails to win ten or more matches, he is treated just like any other wrestler in his attempts to being (re-)promoted to ōzeki. This system has been in place since the Nagoya Tournament of 1969.

Hakuho is currently at 4-3 and is yet to meet some of the Ozekis and the Yokozuna.

[Asashosakari 19,331]

1976 (the year of the dragon) produced so many wrestlers with potential that there was even a special card set promoting the fact.

In 2001 it looked as if this new wave was going to dominate sumo. Didn't quite work out like that but three of the eight have won the Emperor's cup a total of 7 times between them.

For the record the dragon kids are:

Chiyotaikai

Tochiazuma

Kotomitsuki

Wakanosato

Takanowaka

Chiyotenzan

Kinkaiyama

Jumonji

Let's add Iwakiyama as another 1976'er, although he got such a late start (MsTd 2000.07) that he wasn't on the radar yet in 2001.

[Afrozuna 8]

1976 (the year of the dragon) produced so many wrestlers with potential that there was even a special card set promoting the fact.

In 2001 it looked as if this new wave was going to dominate sumo. Didn't quite work out like that but three of the eight have won the Emperor's cup a total of 7 times between them.

For the record the dragon kids are:

Chiyotaikai

Tochiazuma

Kotomitsuki

Wakanosato

Takanowaka

Chiyotenzan

Kinkaiyama

Jumonji

;-)

[Doitsuyama 1,185]

Which of our candidates has even come close to meeting these requirement?

Why, Kotomitsuki of course. He had a 13-2 (yusho), 9-6, 12-3 run. Started from M2, but that's close enough.

[Afrozuna 8]

Which of our candidates has even come close to meeting these requirement?

Why, Kotomitsuki of course. He had a 13-2 (yusho), 9-6, 12-3 run. Started from M2, but that's close enough.

I guess it is

[stunny 0]

well, honestly, i dont see any new Ozeki candidates. nor i see any Yokozuna candidates. seems the current rikishi are in a black hole. no one really is a danger for Asashoryu. pity, that if someone beats him once in a blue moon that is accepted as we have seen the Halee's comet (once in every 76 years it passes close enough). i wonder what if Kotooshu had the fighting spirit and desire to chase the victory as Ama does. i wonder what if Ama had a bit bigger body. pity for Baruto too. it was a short hope we all dreamed for...

[BuBa 76]

1976 (the year of the dragon) produced so many wrestlers with potential that there was even a special card set promoting the fact.

How interesting, we had the same phenomena in Bohe for the year of dragon 1964. It was an expression on TV comentators tounque, calling them the Dragon year strongmen. Look out for kids from 1988.

Edited January 13, 2007 by Manekineko
fixed quote

[Asashosakari 19,331]

Which of our candidates has even come close to meeting these requirement?

Why, Kotomitsuki of course. He had a 13-2 (yusho), 9-6, 12-3 run. Started from M2, but that's close enough.

Miyabiyama's 10-14-10 run just last year seems to be quickly forgotten, as well.

At any rate, the "rikishi X has never come close to putting up Ozeki-level numbers, so how could he possibly make it?" perspective is pretty useless, as far as I'm concerned. There's way too much noise in the form of guys who put up consistent sanyaku-quality records without ever taking the final step (or, like Kaio and Musoyama, taking the final step half a decade later when everybody has almost given up on them already), and other guys who make it to Ozeki in their first serious run at the rank. I'm as much of a proponent of looking at stats as anyone, but in this case it's much more useful to look at each candidate's age plus the quality of his sumo, and as far as that goes Kotoshogiku is a decent (though far from sure) long-term Ozeki prospect while Roho, well, isn't.

[Asashosakari 19,331]

Kisenosato 1/5

Baruto 1/3

Kotoshogiku 2/1

Homasho 2/1

Futeno 6/1

Roho 3/1

Wakanoho 2/3

Ichihara 3/10

That works out to 4.01 expected new Ozeki just from those 8 guys...pretty optimistic, I'd say.

Edited January 13, 2007 by Asashosakari

[slt 9]

I won't speculate on the possibilities for all the potential Ozeki, but I think Homasho's sumo will lead him to Ozeki. Strong focus, stable, strong legs, good dohyo sense - he's the one I would bet on.

[Frinkanohana 13]

My first choice is Kisenosato. He still is the youngest makuuchi rikishi and now competes in his fourth consecutice basho in sanyaku (I'm already calling him sanyaku regular). I think he has enough time to improve his skills and thus become an ozeki.

My second choice for no reason is Kotoshogiku and my third choice is someone else, who is still under the radar and not yet a sekitori.