Short term future of sumo?

[Washuyama 641]

Will Hakuho have any competition in the near future?

Will the open Yokozuna slot spur HMF or Osh?

Will Baruto complete his Ozeki run in Haru? Is Bart the next Yokozuna?

All of these questions will be answered in time, but the departure of Asashoryu does open the possibility of an exciting future...

[ilovesumo 12]

exciting future...........well...no hope, no change.

With Taka running around, sounding a bit like Obama "change!!!", there will be some change...no idea what, how,if,too much, too little,positive,negative...

no predictions, cause I always mix em up with hopes......well, if, then Bart.

I hope there will be not more spiritless Sumo, now that Elvis has left the building.

May the change be for the better,but Asa will be missed by the fans. Loosing him is loosing the main character to me. It is a loss of action. Remember the suspended Basho? At least I missed him. The main act of the show was gone.

I predict empty halls...neither Hakuho, nor Bart could ever fill em. We need the Japanese Yokozuna, but who would that be? Next one might be a funny fella Estonian. Could it I be, that Sumo became too kawaii? I cannot stop thinking about the message of the book "kawaii sumo" - "aren't they cuuute??" - Sumo is not cute. Chiyonofuji was not cute, Kitanoumi was not cute (you all know what I mean...*scared*) ...I fear Sumo needs exactly such a guy.

[Kozaru 0]

...the departure of Asashoryu does open the possibility of an exciting future...

Or a really boring one. Check out the span from January 2004 to November 2005. 12 tournaments, Asashoryu won 11 of them, and only 2 went to a playoff. Asa often clinched before Day 15, even on Day 13 on a couple of occasions, if I recall. That was not exciting. We've been spoiled for the last 8 basho with a tonne of playoffs and exciting yusho races. But it appears Hakuho might be greater than even Asa in his prime was. So what does that mean for the next 2 years?

[Treblemaker 254]

Will Hakuho have any competition in the near future?

Will the open Yokozuna slot spur HMF or Osh?

Will Baruto complete his Ozeki run in Haru? Is Bart the next Yokozuna?

Will YMY continue to gain weight?

Will Hakuba henka?

Will Takamisakari ever find true, non-porn love?

Will Iwakiyama have another bleeding forehead?

Will Baruto ever learn to handle someone half his size?

Will an ozeki (any ozeki) win more than 1 basho in next 10 months?

Will Benny Lo ever learn to draw?

[Washuyama 641]

Will YMY continue to gain weight?

Will Hakuba henka?

Will Takamisakari ever find true, non-porn love?

Will Iwakiyama have another bleeding forehead?

Will Baruto ever learn to handle someone half his size?

Will an ozeki (any ozeki) win more than 1 basho in next 10 months?

Will Benny Lo ever learn to draw?

FWIW, I give a 'Yes' to all the above except the last one...

[Bealzbob 0]

Will Hakuho have any competition in the near future

Not a chance. Watch the records fall.

Will the open Yokozuna slot spur HMF or Osh?

I don't see an 'open' slot to be honest. There's no requirement to have any set number of yokozuna and given my answer to question number one, I can't see there being another yokozuna unless Hakuho gets a bad injury - and even then, the rest beat each other enough that no-one will stand-out.

Will Baruto complete his Ozeki run in Haru?

I would like to think so and Asa's retirement should mean one more guaranteed win against a lower opponent.

Is Bart the next Yokozuna?

Of the current crop I'd say he's arguably the most likely. Though he's still unlikely IMV.

[Babaryutaikai 1]

I don't know, I sort of like Baruto for future yokozuna-hood. That is, unless he screws things up with his own lesser shenanigans every so often. I think he got distracted with his win against Hakuho and might have lost focus. As has been said here before, he's got the goods - he has to concentrate and apply his skills. Kaido has come a long way from the over-the-back hold he favored quite substantial until fairly recently.

While I love HarAMAfuji (emphasis borrowed from a friend), he has to step up his game since he is still on the small side. But then, Asashoryu was considered on the small side even when he became yokozuna.

But then once again, I was one of the ones who considered dear Hagiwara/Kisenosato one of the great Japanese hopes after I got to know him better. ;-)

[Babaryutaikai 1]

SNIP

I don't see any future yokozuna anywhere. At least not while Hakuho is around. Perhaps someone like Kyokushuho in a few years.

Oh, no, not another Mongolian!

I've also liked Kyokushuho since he first joined sumo. Without the injuries he's had, and with regaining - here's that word again- "focus", I think he's an excellent prospect. I guess I was focusing myself more on the current upper level makunouchi crowd.

Gagamaru is a favorite of mine, but he needs more technique and discipline - maybe mid-maegashira for him? I also wonder if he'll change his name now that Sukubidubidu's daughter is likely pronouncing the whole four syllables by this time (Laughing...) .

Not having mentioned 'Osh, I really wonder what kind of Yokozuna he would make (none, I hope ;-) ) with his own moodiness and predilection to refuse comment, or to speak snidely to the press after a loss.

[Asashosakari 19,667]

Longishshot ozeki candidate for the near future - Okinoumi? I know he has a reputation for not being a particular keiko enthusiast, but perhaps last year's injury troubles have served as a wake-up call. At any rate, to me there's a certain fluidity to his sumo that...well, it just looks strong and effortless when he's "on". Much like what people were saying about Kyokushuho pre-injury troubles. (Contrast that with Tosayutaka who's the same age as Okinoumi and also kinda promising but somehow always looks like he's fighting his way through a vat of jelly.)

I do think there's at least one future ozeki currently in makushita - not counting Kyokushuho who I'm still not quite sold on - though between Takanoiwa/Takayasu/Masunoyama/Ryuden/Kotoyuki/etc. I can't even begin to guess who will eventually be the breakout candidate(s). But of course that's not exactly the answer as to the short-term future anyway.

Hakuho will keep winning between 4 and 6 yusho a year for the next 3 or 4 years I'd say. I don't see him losing 2 in a row which means it's unlikely any of the current crowd can force the issue.

Of course if he gets injured we could have Harumafuji, Kotooshu or Baruto becoming one of Asashosakari's adequate yokozuna.

Maybe I've been spoiled over the last decade but I want my yokozuna to storm the gates and take promotion.

Adequate in their promotion run (i.e. with some leniency by the Kyokai and YDC) or adequate at the rank after a "normal" successive-yusho promotion? I agree of course, having written all that stuff recently; unless Baruto fulfills all the "monster" potential he shows sometimes or Hakuho suffers an injury taking multiple basho to rehab, I just can't see anybody post two consecutive yusho anytime soon.

Edited February 5, 2010 by Asashosakari

[Treblemaker 254]

Pretty much has already been said by lots of people, and the immediate future of sumo is pretty much set... the usual diversity under a dominant yok.

In terms of competiion, it's pretty much parity throughout. Give Hak his 3-4 (or 5) yusho a year, maybe Osh or HF or Baruto pulls one off now and again...

Yusho races will now be more commonplace, and the absence of Asa (and Taikai) having an effect on wins and losses, we may see numbers put up by people that will look quite different from their usual scores...

For those "purists", especially the one who is glad the impurity has been removed... the archaicness of that is absurd. Does one still wipe up with leaves? Or write on clay tablets? Tin cans with string? What is one doing on a computer? Isn't a pencil and paper pure enough?

The one think lacking, with the exception of Hak, is the mental toughness of the current crop of rikishi. Osh, HF, Kise, Goeido and Baruto seem to have spells of the heebie-jeebies, and it's cost them.

I would love to see the six basho won by six different people in a year.. and who knows? It might just happen, given injuries, luck and a more level playing field.

[ryafuji 815]

Not having mentioned 'Osh, I really wonder what kind of Yokozuna he would make (none, I hope ;-) ) with his own moodiness and predilection to refuse comment, or to speak snidely to the press after a loss.

Some people just don't like talking to the press - that's common in lots of sports. Why should that make you hope he doesn't succeed in getting to the highest level?

[ilovesumo 12]

Shuuhou, yeah...I wish him all the luck in the world and as Barbara said, focus.

Since Aki09 I have Honda on my list...real good guy. At least Sekitori.

[Bealzbob 0]

I realise the OP specified 'near future' but seeing as some responses have dipped down into makushita I'll dip temporarily into sandanme.

For those who see those divisions' performers, does anyone have an opinion on Chiyootori? Only 17yrs 4mths old and missed out on promotion to makushita by 1 bout in hatsu. I've been keeping an eye on him since he entered sumo as Okinoshita and he appears to tick all the boxes. My biggest worry is that in his embryonic career he has already effectively missed 3 of 10 basho through injury.

Edited February 5, 2010 by Bealzbob

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Perhaps someone like Kyokushuho in a few years.

I will eat myself if he makes it to Sanyaku.

[Washuyama 641]

Perhaps someone like Kyokushuho in a few years.

I will eat myself if he makes it to Sanyaku.

;-)

[Kintamayama 45,530]

To me, it seems pretty clear cut that Baruto will be the next Yokozuna and I predict he will be as dominant as Akebono. He is getting better and better, and his win over Hakuhou last basho is the ultimate proof- it was no fluke. Times they are a-changin'.

There, it's in writing.

[Doitsuyama 1,192]

To me, it seems pretty clear cut that Baruto will be the next Yokozuna and I predict he will be as dominant as Akebono. He is getting better and better, and his win over Hakuhou last basho is the ultimate proof- it was no fluke. Times they are a-changin'.

There, it's in writing.

Eggsalad.

[Kuroyama 715]

To me, it seems pretty clear cut that Baruto will be the next Yokozuna and I predict he will be as dominant as Akebono. He is getting better and better, and his win over Hakuhou last basho is the ultimate proof- it was no fluke. Times they are a-changin'.

There, it's in writing.

I'm going to jump on this bandwagon now. I was thinking it yesterday, but wasn't bold enough to post it.

Although, I'd qualify it by assuming he stays relatively injury-free. I'd also say that, if he still had Asashoryu to fight, he'd have been improving more quickly than he will otherwise even if, under those circumstances, he'd never have been able to reach yokozuna and would have been a superb ozeki instead.

But he's clearly improving, and learning to adapt his sumo to his opponent, and I don't see him leveling off anytime soon.

Edited February 5, 2010 by Kuroyama

[Bealzbob 0]

Perhaps someone like Kyokushuho in a few years.

I will eat myself if he makes it to Sanyaku.

I'd be careful Kintamayama ;-) Note 2 of your "never Ozeki. Ever" list ;-)

Edited February 6, 2010 by Bealzbob

[Sasanishiki 57]

But it appears Hakuho might be greater than even Asa in his prime was

This quote got me to write what I've been thinking over the last two days, does Asashoryu's departure in any way diminish the way we will view Hakuho's career? Let's say he runs up a whole bunch more yusho (as everyone is predicting). Will we say, "Ah, he got xyz yusho but if Asa had been around then it would have been less"? Will we ever truly know how good Hakuho is/could have been, without his immediate rival not being there? I suppose the same could be said of Asashoryu given the abrupt end to his career...

[shimodahito 317]

good day all,

given that all the next tier contenders and possible future yokozuna's still are capable of 9-6 basho records, over the next 10 basho, which rikishi will have the most jun-yushos?

i predict baruto, ama, kotooshu may win a basho or two, but someone like kisenosato or kotomitsuki could rack up the most runner-up titles.

-shimodahito

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Perhaps someone like Kyokushuho in a few years.

I will eat myself if he makes it to Sanyaku.

I'd be careful Kintamayama ;-) Note 2 of your "never Ozeki. Ever" list ;-)

A. Careful is for woosies

B. Make enough wild guesses, one will surely happen and you can milk it for years.

C. Use sunscreen.

[Washuyama 641]

good day all,

given that all the next tier contenders and possible future yokozuna's still are capable of 9-6 basho records, over the next 10 basho, which rikishi will have the most jun-yushos?

i predict baruto, ama, kotooshu may win a basho or two, but someone like kisenosato or kotomitsuki could rack up the most runner-up titles.

I wouldn't hold my breath... I've been waiting & hoping since he made ozeki. One decent basho in over 2 yrs has made me skeptical... But I'll keep my fingers crossed just in case.

Edited February 6, 2010 by Washuyama

[01010101 0]

Will Hakuho have any competition in the near future?

Will the open Yokozuna slot spur HMF or Osh?

Will Baruto complete his Ozeki run in Haru? Is Bart the next Yokozuna?

All of these questions will be answered in time, but the departure of Asashoryu does open the possibility of an exciting future...

yawn

[Oshirokita 192]

good day all,

given that all the next tier contenders and possible future yokozuna's still are capable of 9-6 basho records, over the next 10 basho, which rikishi will have the most jun-yushos?

i predict baruto, ama, kotooshu may win a basho or two, but someone like kisenosato or kotomitsuki could rack up the most runner-up titles.

-shimodahito

Hakuho will have the most jun-yusho. IF he loses 3 yusho per year (at most barring injury), he will be the runner-up in those basho.

I see Harumafuji gaining the most improvement over the next 2 years (moreso than Baruto or the current ozeki) and he is my pick for next yokozuna.

I see no likelihood of anyone else winning any yusho over the next 2 years except Hakuho, Harumafuji, Kotooshu, Baruto.