Election erection

[Asashosakari]

I'm highly amused by the fact that all four stables involved haven't exactly excelled at raising Japanese deshi lately, considering that's one of Taka's big rallying cries. All in all, I'll maintain my opinion about it until further notice - this is the most pointless "revolution" ever. (There are FIVE riji exiting the board in two years!)

BTW, a few days ago Nikkan Sports carried a report that Tokitsukaze's second nominee Kagamiyama was thinking about dropping his run in the interest of maintaining peace and order if Nishonoseki decided to go with only two instead of three candidates (which would then leave only 10 again). But in the meantime there's that whole Tatsunami/Tomozuna business that brought in candidate #13, so I'm not sure that possibility is still in play. Nonetheless, it's at least theoretically possible that there won't be an election after all and Takanohana will get his riji position uncontested.

I guess, even if more would follow leaving an ichimon, there cannot be a new one formed, right?

I'd say an ichimon is whatever they want to consider one. As a necessary structure it's been obsolete since the introduction of heya-betsu-so-atari and the centralization of jungyo tours decades ago anyway, nowadays they're really not much more than officially recognized factions and keiko cooperation groups. Bring on Takanohana-ichimon, I guess...

This is all pretty significant, or am I wrong?

Put it this way, earlier today my bookmark on Google News showed nearly 25 articles in succession about it (with most papers doubling and tripling up on their coverage); even highly suspenseful yusho races or ozeki promotions never get anywhere near that, as far as I've seen.

Edit: Oh, and while I'm posting - buried in one of those 25 articles was the news that the two Takadagawa electors are now planning to cooperate with Dewanoumi-ichimon; presumably the previous plans to vote with Tatsunami-ichimon were waylaid by their internal problems with Tomozuna.

Edited January 19, 2010 by Asashosakari

[ilovesumo]

Brendan F. Behan:

Edited January 19, 2010 by ilovesumo

[Asashosakari]

Why now? - ahm, what, if there is some reason we dunno? horoscope, advise by somebody Taka looks up to- who knows.

Or perhaps the entirely profane, a desire to become rijicho in 2012 when Musashigawa steps down?

[ryafuji]

So there are now FIVE pariah stables - Takanohana, Onomatsu, Otake, Magaki and Takadagawa. Enough for a new ichimon - not that the first four have any connection to the fifth.

Not?? They might not follow the same politics but there sure are connections.

Akinoshima, I guess. Any others?

[ilovesumo]

Why now? - ahm, what, if there is some reason we dunno? horoscope, advise by somebody Taka looks up to- who knows.

Or perhaps the entirely profane, a desire to become rijicho in 2012 when Musashigawa steps down?

As I mentioned before - asked who will be the next Rijichou - I got the clear answer "Takanohana" from Oyakata.

Edited January 19, 2010 by ilovesumo

[Asashosakari]

Well, then I'll start readying myself for "the recession we had to have".

[yorikiried by fate]

All in all, I'll maintain my opinion about it until further notice - this is the most pointless "revolution" ever. (There are FIVE riji exiting the board in two years!)

Or one of the more clever ones. If Takanohana really wants to provoke a shift of power in his favor, and if he had foresight enough to actually calculate with all the events we are now witnessing, starting a surprise attack two years early is an excellent tactical move. If he had waited, all pieces would only have been set according to the ritual of the elders. I start to see the sense in all this.

[Kintamayama]

And the "good guys": Futagoyama. Ounomatsu, Tokiwayama

and Oodake and Magaki:

and Otowayama (ex- Takanonami)

And Takanohana on security duty:

[madorosumaru]

Exit comments from Taka's minions.

Magaki Oyakata: They forced the issue. We are all Kyokai members. Why do we have to go through this. They did not use the term "expulsion," but it feels like that.

Tokiwayama Oyakata: [Takanohana] and I broke bread together, so I want to support him. His thoughts concerning sumo are wonderful. I believe riji members also want to improve the Kyokai but [Taka] thinks about it to a greater degree.

Otowayama Oyakata: The ichimon agreed on the decision so I will abide by that. They concluded that since we are moving in different directions, they wanted us out. We hadn't done anything wrong and I don't think we caused them any trouble.

Onomatsu Oyakata: I didn't want [to leave the ichimon] in this manner. I agree with Takanohana's single-minded determination and his unwavering thoughts on sumo.

Otake Oyakata: I want to make it so that [at a later date] the sumo world would think that we did the proper thing. It doesn't matter if [Taka] wins or loses the riji election. If we toss this stone, it would make the 100-plus members of the Kyokai think more about the situation.

What now for the not so magnificent seven? Will the Seven Ronin-Oyakata form a new ichimon? One report summarized the four heya, which the seven oyakata belong to. They are hardly the model of success.

Heya - 4; Shisho - 4; Heya-affiliated oyakata - 3; Wakaimonogashira - 0; Sewanin - 1;

Yokozuna - 0; Ozeki - 0; Sanyaku - 0; Makuuchi - 0; Juryo -2; Makushita - 8; Sandanme - 18; Jonidan - 14; Jonokuchi - 1;

Gyoji - 0; Yobidashi - 4; Tokoyama - 5.

In contrast, two of the more successful heya that remained in the ichimon, Sadogatake and Oguruma, have the following.

Heya - 2; Shisho - 2; Heya-affiliated oyakata - 6; Wakaimonogashira - 1; Sewanin - 1;

Yokozuna - 0; Ozeki - 2; Sanyaku - 1; Makuuchi - 2; Juryo - 2; Makushita - 7; Sandanme - 13; Jonidan - 7; Jonokuchi -6;

Gyoji - 2; Yobidashi - 3; Tokoyama - 2.

[Asashosakari]

Or one of the more clever ones. If Takanohana really wants to provoke a shift of power in his favor, and if he had foresight enough to actually calculate with all the events we are now witnessing, starting a surprise attack two years early is an excellent tactical move. If he had waited, all pieces would only have been set according to the ritual of the elders. I start to see the sense in all this.

By "pointless" I'm trying to speak about it objectively, not on Takanohana's own terms (where indeed it might be considered wildly successful; I dunno). What can I say - my BS detector is usually pretty well-calibrated, and while there's lots in Ozumo to set it off, nothing does so more than Taka's political ambitions. I'm not even doubting the sincerity of his intentions, but you know what? Sincere zealots make the worst leaders. (Again, objectively that is, not on their own terms.)

If I'm wrong you can all lord this error in judgement over me for the next 20 years, but: This will not end well.

Edited January 20, 2010 by Asashosakari

[Orion]

]

By "pointless" I'm trying to speak about it objectively, not on Takanohana's own terms (where indeed it might be considered wildly successful; I dunno). What can I say - my BS detector is usually pretty well-calibrated, and while there's lots in Ozumo to set it off, nothing does so more than Taka's political ambitions. I'm not even doubting the sincerity of his intentions, but you know what? Sincere zealots make the worst leaders. (Again, objectively that is, not on their own terms.)

If I'm wrong you can all lord this error in judgement over me for the next 20 years, but: This will not end well.

BS is about right, IMHO. To see him wearing a pinstripe suit and speaking in a quiet, modest voice, using the NHK booth commentator's seat as a platform, does not cancel out the recollection of a younger man, who in his active life bulked up amazingly and subsequently had bitter quarrels with his father, his mother, his elder brother, and several of his stablemates (not all at the same time). The only thing that dumfounds me is the quality of some of the oyakata who have apparently joined forces with him -- Onomatsu especially.

Edited January 20, 2010 by Orion

[Andreas]

Maybe Takanohana is changing... dont underestimate peoples ability to grow up. My favourite example for this come from music, a german gangster rapper who changed from his "bad boy" image to social criticism after getting older and having a family of his own. Heck, even Robbie Williams is settling down!

Edited January 20, 2010 by Andreas

[Sokkenaiyama]

Or one of the more clever ones. If Takanohana really wants to provoke a shift of power in his favor, and if he had foresight enough to actually calculate with all the events we are now witnessing, starting a surprise attack two years early is an excellent tactical move. If he had waited, all pieces would only have been set according to the ritual of the elders. I start to see the sense in all this.

By "pointless" I'm trying to speak about it objectively, not on Takanohana's own terms (where indeed it might be considered wildly successful; I dunno). What can I say - my BS detector is usually pretty well-calibrated, and while there's lots in Ozumo to set it off, nothing does so more than Taka's political ambitions. I'm not even doubting the sincerity of his intentions, but you know what? Sincere zealots make the worst leaders. (Again, objectively that is, not on their own terms.)

If I'm wrong you can all lord this error in judgement over me for the next 20 years, but: This will not end well.

Could you expound on that a bit? I'll admit that the internal politics aspect of sumo isn't exactly my main interest, but I'm really curious why you think Takanohana's (let's say alleged) desire for change is bad - there's stuff that needs to be changed. The zealot analogy is also intriguing. In my almost complete ignorance of the matter, the one thing I can see is an extremely popular former Yokozuna trying to make an impact (maybe for his own selfish reasons), but unless he's an imcompetent bordering complete imbecility, I can't see how this can be bad for sumo's overall image.

BS is about right, IMHO. To see him wearing a pinstripe suit and speaking in a quiet, modest voice, using the NHK booth commentator's seat as a platform, does not cancel out the recollection of a younger man, who in his active life bulked up amazingly and subsequently had bitter quarrels with his father, his mother, his elder brother, and several of his stablemates (not all at the same time). The only thing that dumfounds me is the quality of some of the oyakata who have apparently joined forces with him -- Onomatsu especially.

How are these quarrels relevant to the current affair? How do you know Takanohana wasn't justified to quarrel with those people? And even if they had some importance, Andreas above has a point, people do grow up.

[Asashosakari]

Could you expound on that a bit? I'll admit that the internal politics aspect of sumo isn't exactly my main interest, but I'm really curious why you think Takanohana's (let's say alleged) desire for change is bad - there's stuff that needs to be changed. The zealot analogy is also intriguing. In my almost complete ignorance of the matter, the one thing I can see is an extremely popular former Yokozuna trying to make an impact (maybe for his own selfish reasons), but unless he's an imcompetent bordering complete imbecility, I can't see how this can be bad for sumo's overall image.

I don't know if I can really verbalize it - it's just a creeping feeling based on how these things historically tend to play out when a stable-but-ossified organizational structure comes into contact with somebody who harbors a burning desire for grand, sweeping changes. (And make no mistake, he's surely not set on just tinkering a bit with stuff to make it work better, otherwise he wouldn't be going about the whole thing the way he does.) Add in the fact that he hasn't actually demonstrated much in the way of managerial competency yet, nor much of an ability to work alongside others - besides the various quarreling mentioned by Doreen there's also his aborted shimpan-bucho stint more recently - and so I'm flabbergasted when people already think of him as rijicho material.

I'd have no problem supporting him for a riji position - make him sink or swim - if he wasn't so set on burning the place to the ground to get there right now. Seriously, TWO YEARS and he'd have been handed the position on a silver platter. Nishonoseki and Hanaregoma are both done in 2012, so there'd have been space for both Taka and Naruto, plus yet another new guy, perhaps even a Taka ally. Kokonoe-rijicho or whoever follows Musashigawa would likely be finished by around 2020, when Taka will still be only 47, younger than even Kitanoumi was when he became rijicho.

To turn things around - if he fails now, what do you think that will do to his riji chances in two years? Short of the Musashigawa administration running headfirst into another bunch of big scandals or Taka kowtowing before Nishonoseki-ichimon (or, nearly as unlikely, somehow stripping away more stables to build his oyakata base), he's probably done for. They had no trouble freezing out Kokonoe for ages, for much less troublesome things.

There's surely lots of stuff that needs to be reformed, but going about it this way - well, I dare say if he accomplishes absolutely nothing that would be the best outcome right now, because I shudder to think of the fun times we'll be in for if he actually gains a significant amount of power. Actually, I have a sneaking suspicion that he'll end up having a fit and taking his ball and going home in a few years once he's run into too much resistance. All in all, if you're actually interested in useful, long-term reform measures rather than change for the sake of change, Taka is just about the last person to support, IMHO. (This somewhat parallels my assertion a while ago that it'll be the quiet types like Kyokutenho who will end up helping move the Kyokai towards more internationalization, not headline-grabbers like Asashoryu.)

[Sokkenaiyama]

Thanks, it's much clearer now.

[Kintamayama]

More balagan. Tatsunami Ichimon is convening tomorrow to verify their two candidates, Ooshima and Isegahama (who will be replacing Tomozuna). Really? No. Current riji Tomozuna wants back in. They had an internal election last December which left Tomozuna short. But since then, the situation has changed-Chiyotaikai retired, assuming the Sanoyama name, which was being rented by ex-Touki. Elvis is now renting the Asakayama name, which is waiting for KaioU. Elvis supports Tomozuna of course, KaioU etc.. Now he has 5 supporters, giving him a good chance of being voted in if a new internal election will take place tomorrow.

Stay tuna.

[Asashosakari]

Meanwhile, Musashigawa-rijicho, after having stayed out of Nishonoseki's troubles for all this time, finally commented on the whole Taka brouhaha the other day. I'm 105% certain to butcher the actual quotes so I won't do anything except beg the pros for assistance, but suffice it to say Musashigawa's not a happy rijicho at all, prompting the papers to speculate that Takanohana will almost certainly be out of his yakuin taigu executive position and job as jungyo vice-director if he fails to get elected to the board.

Meanwhile #2, after yet another round of extremely vague interviews by Takanohana even Mainichi Shimbun - surely not known as a particularly staunch defender of traditionalism - got on his case about his lack of detail on what, you know, he's actually trying to become a riji for, amid all those undefined promises about "making sumo better" and "into something more people want to watch and cherish" (etc. p.p.) Musashigawa hit on the same point in his aforementioned comments, so Mainichi didn't stay alone for long in taking that line. Nevertheless I for one am completely, utterly stunned to see today's morning Sports Hochi coverage - none other than Magaki-oyakata has apparently admitted to not actually hearing about any concrete reform proposals from Takanohana, and that the reason for Taka's candidacy to the rijikai may in fact simply be to become a riji. One of Takanohana's colleagues in the jungyo department has reportedly pressed him for details since the start of Hatsu basho as well, but also received only evasive answers. Hochi's writer sounds rather skeptical about Takanohana's chances to attract the still-missing 3+ votes if he continues to stay mum on his plans, should he in fact have any.

[Asashosakari]

Didn't he outline his plans a couple of years ago? Wasn't he for ending the entire heya system and having all rikishi directly employed by the kyokai?

I have no idea, to be honest. Over the last year or so I've run into so much speculation about his long-term plans that I'm finding it difficult to separate fact and fiction as to any specifics, and Taka's non-committal to basically anything these days doesn't help. Though the rumours that he considers (at a minimum) the ichimon system obsolete and outmoded seem particularly pervasive. Not sure about the heya level - got a link, by chance?

I must admit I'm completely puzzled by this "maybe he doesn't even have any plans!" turnabout today - I find it hard to believe that it's all just a naked power grab, so in keeping with my own biases I'll probably just continue to assume that his plans are so grandiose that everybody would declare him out of his mind if he actually revealed everything...

This story certainly feels like it's going to have another handful of more or less unexpected turns in it before February 1. Quick and completely uneducated guess at the next one: Other than his five in-house electors the entirety of Tatsunami-ichimon votes to affirm Isegahama as their second candidate and tells Tomozuna in no uncertain terms to shove it if he doesn't like it. (And he'll hopefully quit the nonsense at that point.) Has that guy actually done anything in his several years as riji? I'm hard-pressed to think of a more invisible guy up there. Maybe it's just a matter of the posts he's filling, but the fact that his ichimon was going to dump him so unceremoniously altogether makes one wonder.

Edited January 22, 2010 by Asashosakari

[madorosumaru]

In 2005, Takanohana did tell the press the foundation of his reforms.

1. Abolish the tanimachi system, where super wealthy backers of heya underwrite a large part of the expenses and exert undue influence on the operations of the heya. Instead, he advocates a supporter system where backers will become members of varying categories. They will receive benefits commensurate to their annual dues.

This sounds fine in theory but Takanohana Beya has gone from one of the most successful and wealthiest heya (Futagoyama) under his father's regime to the brink of ruination under his stewardship. Taka has quarreled with and lost virtually all of the supporters that his father and uncle painstakingly collected over the years.

2. Establish new rikishi compensation system which would consist of annual salaries based on merit.

Again, it sounds fine in theory but he has never come up with a concrete method for implementation. Just by looking at other professional sports, one can imagine how complex such a system would entail.

2a. A corollary to this would be a new compensation system for behind-the-scene personnel, such as yobidashi, tokoyama, etc.

Once again, laudatory but he has never mentioned how he would finance such as change.

2b. At the bottom of the compensation reform is Taka's real objective. He feels that with merit pay, he can once and for all do away with what he thinks is rampant yaocho. For those that refuse to acknowledge the existence of such thing, here is the "Great Reformer" for whom yaocho is the Moby Dick to his Ahab.

3. Implement new sales and marketing system.

This is the most reasonable and most implementable part of his platform. In fact, many of his suggestions are already in effect. There are now outlets outside of KK to sell tickets. There are now 2-person masu boxes where there used to be only 4-person boxes to make it more comfortable for the larger sized population.

3a. Here again, Taka has an agenda. He wants to abolish the chaya system which has traditionally dominated ticket availability, especially the good ones. Well, there are several considerations. First of all, the chaya system is on its way out anyway. Many of them, especially at the regional venues, have already shut down. It is an anachronism whose time has passed and there is really no reason to make a big deal over it at this point. This is especially true since a significant number of oyakata are inextricably connected with various chaya. Some have married the daughters of owners. Others have received financing through them. The prudent way is to let these dinosaurs die away instead of engaging them in a fight to death.

4. Promote popularization of sumo.

It is well known that sumo is on a decline in Japan so "spreading the good news" of sumo has to be part of any platform. Taka has not come up with anything really concrete. We know that he is categorically against the influx of foreign rikishi. The twin evils for the entire Futagoyama Group are gaijin and gakusei.

Asashosakari wrote above that Taka has not made public anything concrete about his reforms. Interestingly, the papers just reported, almost facetiously, on "Taka Manifesto #1." They said in an interview, Otake Oyakata finally announced something: "We would like the children of Japan to understand how much fun sumo is, and to that end, we intend to work closely with the Ministry of Education to make sumo a mandatory subject in elementary and middle schools." Sigh. I'll let that speak for itself.

[madorosumaru]

The oyakata from Tatsunami Ichimon met after Day 13 and decided to change one of their nominees for riji from Isegahama Oyakata to Tomozuna Oyakata. In December, they had voted to nominate Isegahama to join Oshima Oyakata as their two candidates but Tomozuna had expressed his intention to remain in the race.

Knowing any internal division would be contrary to their interest, the ichimon met to resolve the situation. After the decision, the party line was that Isegahama withdrew his candidacy out of respect for Tomozuna's seniority. However, the bottom line was that Tomozuna had gotten an extra vote with the retirement of Chiyotaikai. Now, Kaio, Tomozuna's deshi, had control of two votes--his own as a rikishi rep and his oyakata kabu Asakayama which is on loan to Toki.

The media see this as bad news for Takanohana, who needs dissension in other ichimon to pick up stray or discontented votes. Also, the more candidates in the race, the less votes necessary for getting elected. Now, it is back to 11 candidates for 10 slots with a minimum of 10 votes needed to assure a riji seat.

Oh, yeah. With Tamarikido borrowing Kisenosato's Araiso myoseki, Nishonoseki Ichimon has picked up an additional vote in the election. This vote is going to be used in whatever manner necessary to thwart the election of renegade Taka.

As reported elsewhere, Tamarikido lost to Kitazakura yesterday in a battle of two beaten-down geezers. The torikumi arrangers must have a perverse sense of humor. It was general understanding that the Araiso myoseki would be loaned out in time for the riji election. Who were the likely candidates to retire? Kitazakura comes immediately to mind. His chances of returning to sekitorihood gets slimmer by the day. But for him to retire and borrow a myoseki, there would have to be a chain reaction of oyakata name changes. There were even speculations on who would be involved in the musical chair game. However, with the retirement of Tamarikido, it was a slam dunk. Naruto and Kataonami are both in the beleaguered Nishonoseki Ichimon. Do you think there was some inducement for him to retire at this time? Do you think there is politics in sumo? Nah . . .

Edited January 22, 2010 by madorosumaru

[Asashosakari]

Wow. Damn.

Oh well, Oshima's done in two years, too, so Isegahama should be up there soon enough.

[Fay]

This story certainly feels like it's going to have another handful of more or less unexpected turns in it before February 1. Quick and completely uneducated guess at the next one: Other than his five in-house electors the entirety of Tatsunami-ichimon votes to affirm Isegahama as their second candidate and tells Tomozuna in no uncertain terms to shove it if he doesn't like it. (And he'll hopefully quit the nonsense at that point.) Has that guy actually done anything in his several years as riji? I'm hard-pressed to think of a more invisible guy up there. Maybe it's just a matter of the posts he's filling, but the fact that his ichimon was going to dump him so unceremoniously altogether makes one wonder.

What makes you say that Tomozuna Oyakata hasn't done anything in the last years? Being more or less invisible for the press doesn't mean he does a bad job. Often the work backstage is more effective. He himself complained that there are candidates who don't do anything and even have no respect of their deshi but get elected for political reasons.

As an effect of the whole affair some people today in the Kokugikan started insulting Onomatsu Oyakata during his shimpan duty. I was too far away to tell them to shut up ;-).

[Asashosakari]

What makes you say that Tomozuna Oyakata hasn't done anything in the last years? Being more or less invisible for the press doesn't mean he does a bad job. Often the work backstage is more effective. He himself complained that there are candidates who don't do anything and even have no respect of their deshi but get elected for political reasons.

Didn't mean to say that he's doing a bad job, just that he doesn't seem to do it better than anybody else could, and so his own ichimon apparently didn't feel much of a reason to keep supporting him. Well, now they do again, and for political reasons, which I immediately find very amusing. (It doesn't help that his quotes in the press after he decided to go against his ichimon's decision came across as rather whiny to me. Not unjustified, sure, but it didn't leave a particularly good image IMHO.)

Anyway, "respect for deshi" shouldn't really enter the discussion here; I'm not raising questions about his skills as shisho, just as a Kyokai executive. I'd actually love it if the Kyokai was better at getting people into their best-suited roles instead of having all the major players go half and half between coaching and managing...

As an effect of the whole affair some people today in the Kokugikan started insulting Onomatsu Oyakata during his shimpan duty. I was too far away to tell them to shut up ;-).

Tell Onomatsu to get his sanity back instead. (Holiday feeling...)

Edited January 22, 2010 by Asashosakari

[ilovesumo]

"We would like the children of Japan to understand how much fun sumo is, and to that end, we intend to work closely with the Ministry of Education to make sumo a mandatory subject in elementary and middle schools." Sigh. I'll let that speak for itself.

that screams for itself...

A mandatory subject.......just think about that... make em study Sumo for 9 years...The kids will know more about Sumo history etc. then some Oyakata who only focused on the "more important aspects"...

Isn't Sumo already part of PE? Give em the opportunity to get in touch, support clubs, but don't force em like that- you breed haters (I will always hate maths (Heart...) ) .

All of the kids, or no need for the ("useless"- cannot become a Rikishi -) girls to take part?

Nah, they must read books like "kawaii Sumo"...

Edited January 22, 2010 by ilovesumo

[Asashosakari]

Interestingly, the papers just reported, almost facetiously, on "Taka Manifesto #1." They said in an interview, Otake Oyakata finally announced something: "We would like the children of Japan to understand how much fun sumo is, and to that end, we intend to work closely with the Ministry of Education to make sumo a mandatory subject in elementary and middle schools." Sigh. I'll let that speak for itself.

Ah, the always helpful "the beatings will continue until morale improves" approach to solving the problem of flagging youth interest in sumo.

As reported elsewhere, Tamarikido lost to Kitazakura yesterday in a battle of two beaten-down geezers. The torikumi arrangers must have a perverse sense of humor. It was general understanding that the Araiso myoseki would be loaned out in time for the riji election. Who were the likely candidates to retire? Kitazakura comes immediately to mind. His chances of returning to sekitorihood gets slimmer by the day. But for him to retire and borrow a myoseki, there would have to be a chain reaction of oyakata name changes. There were even speculations on who would be involved in the musical chair game. However, with the retirement of Tamarikido, it was a slam dunk. Naruto and Kataonami are both in the beleaguered Nishonoseki Ichimon. Do you think there was some inducement for him to retire at this time? Do you think there is politics in sumo? Nah . . .

Heh. I'd almost stopped wondering whether something was going to happen with the Araiso-kabu in time, and then they sprung that development on us today. Makes perfect sense, of course, what with both Naruto and Kataonami at the forefront of the anti-Takanohana backlash. Anyway, if Kaikitsune is ever lurking he'll be happy to hear that ol' Mr. Sumo Businessman has found a spot. Pretty safe one, too.

(Today's double retirement also removed two potential contenders for the sewanin position opening up next January. I really am wondering who it's going to be...probably something to revisit in the kabu-babu thread once the dust kicked up by the election has settled.)

Vote tally update:

Tokitsukaze (1): 17 (-1) oyakata, 1 gyoji

Takasago (1): 12 (+2-1) oyakata

Tatsunami (2): 17 (+1) oyakata, 1 gyoji, 1 rikishi

Dewanoumi (3): 30 (-1) oyakata

Nishonoseki (3): 22 oyakata, 1 rikishi

Takanohana: 7 oyakata

Independent: 2 oyakata

Planned voting blocs: Tokitsukaze/Takasago 30 votes for 3 riji, Tatsunami 20 votes for 2, Dewanoumi+Takadagawa 31 votes for 3, Nishonoseki 23 votes for 2, Takanohana 7 votes for 1...looks rather bleak indeed now. BTW, in case I'm not the only one who was kind of wondering about this - from what I've read the voting will be done in secret balloting, so there presumably won't be any way to trace additional Takanohana voters should there be any, short of them revealing themselves on their own.

Edit:

Wow. Damn.

Oh well, Oshima's done in two years, too, so Isegahama should be up there soon enough.

And the papers are quick to remind us that Oshima was Isegahama's shisho while active. That should make it pretty much a lock that Isegahama will be taking over that riji spot in 2012 without any further issues.

Edited January 23, 2010 by Asashosakari