Sumo articles by journalists who are Forum members/or not

[Seiyashi 4,098]

53 minutes ago, Asashosakari said:

I could be wrong, but when I think of which current makuuchi rikishi might have a "just trying to have a lengthy career by not taking too many risks" mindset, Takakeisho would end up at or near the very bottom of the list. I really don't think becoming the next Kotoshogiku is what he's aiming at.

That's true. It could well be also that he knows his limitations by now, and is willing to trade a few years off the tail end of his career for eternal glory. It's just really unfortunate for him that we've had so many yokozuna kyujo that the tolerance for more kyujo for him is going to be very low.

It strikes me that Shodai might be a good sparring partner for him, being a yotsu specialist who doesn't really use the belt; if anything, Takakeisho can't reach the belt but I don't think he's averse to yotsu per se (other than that injury against Mitakeumi).

The other thing is, while Takakeisho's promotion is unlikely unless he yushos with something like a 14-1 or 15-0, will going, say 12-3 or 13-2D again this time keep the possibility of promotion open the next basho? Let's say he goes D, D, JY, Y or D, JY, D, Y from Natsu till the end of the year. Does that look promotable the moment he clocks a yusho or, less likely, a long string of doten?

I feel we're going long enough off topic that it deserves its own thread if anyone else wants to jump in.

Edited June 3, 2021 by Seiyashi

[Eikokurai 3,437]

9 hours ago, Asashosakari said:

I could be wrong, but when I think of which current makuuchi rikishi might have a "just trying to have a lengthy career by not taking too many risks" mindset, Takakeisho would end up at or near the very bottom of the list. I really don't think becoming the next Kotoshogiku is what he's aiming at.

I agree. While there’s only so much we can read into his mindset from what we see on TV, he doesn’t come across as a particularly conservative rikishi, at least not in his fighting style. He’s not using his body in a way that says ‘self-preservation for the long term’. He is driven by immediate goals it seems. I wonder if that will change with age and/or responsibility.

Edited June 4, 2021 by Eikokurai

[Eikokurai 3,437]

9 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

The other thing is, while Takakeisho's promotion is unlikely unless he yushos with something like a 14-1 or 15-0, will going, say 12-3 or 13-2D again this time keep the possibility of promotion open the next basho? Let's say he goes D, D, JY, Y or D, JY, D, Y from Natsu till the end of the year. Does that look promotable the moment he clocks a yusho or, less likely, a long string of doten?

I say yes, because he also has that JY > Y combo from last year to support the promotion bid. Two Ozeki yusho and a string of doten and jun-yusho inside 18 months would be an incredible feat. No hesitation in my mind that he’d get he rope. I’m not even sure the previous yusho would even be needed if your scenario plays out. 

Edited June 4, 2021 by Eikokurai

[Reonito 1,470]

Kisenosato needed several years of results like that to finally get the nod after a yusho, and that was against much more formidable competition.

[Eikokurai 3,437]

34 minutes ago, Reonito said:

Kisenosato needed several years of results like that to finally get the nod after a yusho, and that was against much more formidable competition.

Common wisdom is Kisenosato was promoted largely off the back of just one calendar year – 2016 – in which he got the most Makuuchi wins and four JYs, among them two 13-2s. Bear in mind too that in Seiyashi’s scenario, Takakeisho would have three yusho before promotion, of which two would be at Ozeki level, as well as the multiple JY/Ds. That makes his a superior record even allowing for Kise’s tougher schedules. YDC loves a yusho.

[Reonito 1,470]

1 hour ago, Eikokurai said:

Common wisdom is Kisenosato was promoted largely off the back of just one calendar year – 2016 – in which he got the most Makuuchi wins and four JYs, among them two 13-2s.

My impression was that the promotion came because this built on several previous strong years (like 4 straight JY in 2013), but it's hard to know the ways of the NSK/YDC.

[Eikokurai 3,437]

6 minutes ago, Reonito said:

My impression was that the promotion came because this built on several previous strong years (like 4 straight JY in 2013), but it's hard to know the ways of the NSK/YDC.

I’m sure they made reference to his many earlier JYs during their deliberations, but most commentary seemed to suggest the highest win total for the year was his ‘yusho equivalent’. 

[Gaijingai 1,583]

http://www.asahi.com/sp/ajw/articles/14362038
One-armed sumo wrestler. 

[Kaminariyuki 499]

On 08/06/2021 at 19:43, Gaijingai said:

http://www.asahi.com/sp/ajw/articles/14362038
One-armed sumo wrestler. 

OK, another great find. Thanks! Loved this article. I see why Terunofuji was so impressed.

[Kaninoyama 1,797]

A quick interview with Takakeisho on the Yakult (which I believe sponsors him) website.

Gleanings:

-He eats at least 1kg of beef each day. 
-He loses weight easily (!) so he has to keep eating to maintain his power. 
-Eating is a chore, not a pleasure.
-He goes to bed each night around 7:30 - 8:00, and also naps for two hours a day, for 10 hours of sleep total. 
-He has a lack of self-confidence about his physical makeup, which serves as his driving force. 
-Yakult helps him sleep, so he drinks one bottle before sleeping.
-His future goals are to build more power, win a yusho, and take aim at the rope. 

Full interview here

[ArvidMan 3]

On 27/06/2021 at 11:08, Kaninoyama said:

A quick interview with Takakeisho on the Yakult (which I believe sponsors him) website.

Gleanings:

-He eats at least 1kg of beef each day. 
-He loses weight easily (!) so he has to keep eating to maintain his power. 
-Eating is a chore, not a pleasure.
-He goes to bed each night around 7:30 - 8:00, and also naps for two hours a day, for 10 hours of sleep total. 
-He has a lack of self-confidence about his physical makeup, which serves as his driving force. 
-Yakult helps him sleep, so he drinks one bottle before sleeping.
-His future goals are to build more power, win a yusho, and take aim at the rope. 

Full interview here

1kg of beef every day... I would explode 

[Gaijingai 1,583]

Fear of retirement drove Hakuho

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/07/6a5720763343-sumo-fear-of-retirement-drove-hakuho-to-record-45th-championship.html

[Gaijingai 1,583]

https://www.asahi.com/sp/ajw/articles/14399422
 

Sheesh! Even without Mrs. Uchidate, the criticism is there.  

[sumojoann 1,266]

4 minutes ago, Gaijingai said:

https://www.asahi.com/sp/ajw/articles/14399422
 

Sheesh! Even without Mrs. Uchidate, the criticism is there.  

Hakuho said, "I would like to praise myself."  LOL

[Gaijingai 1,583]

https://mmasucka.com/2021/07/19/mongolia-dominates-sumo-wrestling/
 

very interesting!

[Amamaniac 2,079]

Hiro's review of the Nagoya basho:

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/1718/

[Benihana 1,929]

Not quite a news article, but well researched.

https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-sumo-wrestling-facts/melissa-sartore?pgid=642850749204637

[Inside Sport Japan 762]

“To protect the sport’s reputation and properly reward and nurture sumo’s international audience, the JSA and its partners need to make full livestreaming of tournaments and timely highlight packages an immediate priority.” - Japan Times

More:

 

[Kaminariyuki 499]

OK, this one's on the fringe, and although the final chapter is titled "Sumo," the average forum member won't likely learn too much. I've just published a short book with some of my more notable travels around the world, with a fair bit on Japan (food, customs, sumo...). The final chapter primarily centers on a visit to Miyagino beya shortly before the pandemic hit in January 2020. A couple of forum members are in the acknowledgments, and sumo forum is, of course, mentioned. For those who have Kindle Unlimited or the Kindle owner's lending library, the book is free, and the e-version is pretty inexpensive. The paperback and hardcover editions have some color photography and because it's not a true commercial venture, but rather what's termed a "vanity press" publication, I thought I'd use nicer paper for the photos.

In case you're interested, but the link doesn't work, the title is "Seduced by the Horizon" and the author is Mark Koopman. Oh, and it's rated at 18 years of age because there's a little coarse language and maybe an instance or two of stories not necessarily appropriate for children.

https://www.amazon.com/Seduced-Horizon-Mark-Koopman-ebook/dp/B09GNYM97J/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Seduced+by%3B+the+Horizon&qid=1632326407&s=books&sr=1-1

[Gaijingai 1,583]

Sumo's Waning Popularity

by John Gunning

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2021/09/22/sumo/sumo-waning-popularity/

[Yokozuna Hattorizakura 153]

not this shit again. sumo is dying because (gaijin) social media thinks it's boring and "engagement and discussion seem to be waning" [citation needed] . no mention of actual attendance figures, merch sales and tv viewers (ie where the actual money is made).

[Seiyashi 4,098]

To be fair, the headline is a bit baitey, but it's more like a preview of new rivalries rather than really pushing for sumo to do something about its popularity ASAP. I find it mildly ironic though that this is Terunofuji's shin-yokozuna basho, Hakuho is out only because of COVID, and John is writing as if Terunofuji's ascension without Hakuho suddenly sucked all the tension out of the past year.

[ryafuji 815]

Doesn't seem quite so much of an "inevitable march to a fifth Emperor's Cup" after today. 

[Yamanashi 3,866]

38 minutes ago, ryafuji said:

Doesn't seem quite so much of an "inevitable march to a fifth Emperor's Cup" after today. 

Your comment sparked a  thought.  For sub-Sanyaku folks a kyujo now (10-2) would seem like a disaster: maybe the closest they'll ever get to a Yusho, and a sure shot at a sansho gone.  For a Sanyaku, it might be disappointing, but they've kept their rank.  For Yokozuna it might work differently: win the first few, then a couple of losses and kyujo for some nagging complaint. Hakuho has pulled out even after 10 wins and 2-3 losses (because he can).  I know Terunofuji really wants to win his first YokYusho, but it would not plumb the depths of disbelief if he decided to save his knees and go kyujo, even with two bouts to go.  A big counterargument to this is that he's being chased by low-rankers, whom he may feel he can beat with less than top effort.

[Seiyashi 4,098]

1 hour ago, Yamanashi said:

A big counterargument to this is that he's being chased by low-rankers, whom he may feel he can beat with less than top effort.

Not any more. It's the two ozeki - hardly really easy pickings if they brought the right game - who'll be for him D14/15, most likely, although to be fair they've never given him as much technical trouble as say Takayasu or Kiribayama this basho.

Edited September 23, 2021 by Seiyashi