Terunofuji promoted to Ozeki

[WAKATAKE 2,671]

Hopefully Terunofuji doesn`t let the festivities get to him like it does most of the time with new ozeki. He has lots of potential and obviously the Kyokai thought that. I will admit that before the basho I did not see him getting a promotion, of course I also did not think he would win the yusho too. But it is a breath of fresh air to see somebody other than Hakuho dominate and actually win, so perhaps Teru can keep things interesting for everybody.

[orandashoho 720]

Didn't he get yusho fish last Sunday?

[Wurstbroetchen 5]

Moreover, what's the significance of holding the fish? Do they even eat it or is it just "The Ozeki fish?"

That is actually some kind of word play.

It is always the same fish, red seabream, which in Japanese is called "tai" 鯛

Now, if there is something to celebrate - in Japanese this means: "omedetai (koto)"　おめでたいこと (lit. "happy event")　

it is emphasized by holding this fish。

(I can't imagine that they throw it away afterwards, but I haven't had the pleasure to attend such an event so maybe someone in the know can fill in on that part of the question)

Sorry, but how did they manage to preserve that fish? Doesn't it smell after so many years of sumo? (Sigh...)

[Akinomaki 40,763]

Some facts about the ozeki rank on the occasion of Terunofuji's promotion.

Highest rank during the Edo period, first on a banzuke for an event in Kyoto, May 1699, yokozuna as banzuke rank appeared first in May 1890 with 16th yokozuna Nishinoumi (on Sumo Reference the dates for those old basho are all Jan. 1st to Jan. 1st), established as top rank in Feb. 1909.

Since Nagoya 1969 an ozeki gets demoted only after 2 make-koshi in a row, and gets back at once with 10 wins the next basho. Other special demotion rules were in place since 1889 and changed in May 1921 to a drop in the 3rd basho after 2 basho kyujo or with bad result (much less basho a year), then with 6 basho it changed to 3 make-koshi in Aki 1957.

A salary increase of 654 000 Yen a month compared to a sekiwake.
First class seats in planes and trains, entering the basho by car in the underground parking lot.
A special merit bonus on retirement.

Allowed to use the color purple in the kesho mawashi, which is forbidden up to sekiwake.
- I don't know which shade of color exactly is allowed and which not, this one is apparently:

Yoshikaze('s...) mawashi shows the Florence cathedral.

(Nikkan gives incomplete information: this constraint is for the "baren" - first time I heard of that term - part only, the sagari type cords on the bottom of the kesho-mawashi)

Again the part about whether also foreign ozeki are allowed to remain in the sumo kyokai for 3 years after retirement without a kabu is a bit fuzzy (but the first time I see that detail): the article gives as further detail that those with Japanese nationality become higher rank toshiyori with i-in salary, thus implicitly but not explicitly does exclude that foreign ozeki are allowed to remain in the kyokai under their shikona - the foreigners could still remain with much less pay and as not even a proper toshiyori - apparently there is no clear rule for them.

http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/1482051.html

Edit: I added some info from the Sumo Daijiten

Edited June 4, 2015 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki 40,763]

Some facts about the ozeki rank on the occasion of Terunofuji's promotion.

Allowed to use the color purple in the kesho mawashi, which is forbidden up to sekiwake.

- I don't know which shade of color exactly is allowed and which not, this one is apparently:

Yoshikaze('s...) mawashi shows the Florence cathedral.

Nikkan gives incomplete information: this constraint is for the "baren" - first time I heard of that term - part only, the sagari type cords on the bottom of the kesho-mawashi. (I added some info from the Sumo Daijiten)

Looking at old Rikishi Meikan I see several juryo with suspicious looking colors in the baren - still I don't know which shade of violet is forbidden. Also, the Daijiten uses the term "to sare", it is considered, which makes the forbidden less strict.

And another question is: is a former ozeki allowed to use one of his old kesho-mawashi like this after he dropped?

Edited June 4, 2015 by Akinomaki

[Washuyama 641]

I believe the "ozeki purple" rule refers to the fringe at the bottom edge of the kesho mawashi.

[Tsubame 368]

First class seats in planes and trains,

Is that a benefit they can use even after retirement? Or only for active ones?

[Naganoyama 5,945]

I believe the "ozeki purple" rule refers to the fringe at the bottom edge of the kesho mawashi.

This is what I thought too.

[Akinomaki 40,763]

First job as ozeki: with Isegahama-oyakata at a talk-show. In his quest for yokozuna he names important not to get fat (like Ichinojo) and get more into sweat than anybody else by training efforts.
http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2015/06/06/kiji/K20150606010489130.html

Isegahama-oyakata was made tourist ambassador there, Yahiko village in Niigata.

Edited August 19, 2017 by Akinomaki

[Treblemaker 254]

OK, so is it too early to start talking of another Mongolian Log-Jam at the top? Given that, of the three Native Son Ozeki heading into the last tournament, only Kise might be capable of actually becoming a Yokozuna, but we all know he's getting older, and with parity being what it is, I don't see a timeline with a belt in his IMMEDIATE future.

Next in line for promotion? I firmly believe that it's Ichinojo.(yet another Mongolian).

I've been wrong before (and Many times before), but with Geeku and Goeido, well, still not sure that they're Yok material.

By Sept, you could have 5 Mongolians out of the top 8 spots.

Kise remains the last Native Hope. Just don't hold your collective breaths....

IMHO, of course.

[Andreas21 188]

Hard to argue with that!

Kise remains the last Native Hope. Just don't hold your collective breaths....

From external circumstances, Kakuryu and Harumafuji possibly Kyujo next basho, Terunofuji possibly in the promotion hangover, next might be the Basho for Kisenosato. But is he up to it?

Next in line for promotion? I firmly believe that it's Ichinojo.(yet another Mongolian).

Well possible but I don't see it in the immediate future. Terunofuji's promotion to Yokozuna is also on the line. I believe, no more promotions this year to the top-2 ranks.

[CT3* 331]

I don't see Kotoshogiku or Goeido as Yokozuna material.

Kotoshogiku is banged up, and as of late, is struggling to maintain his rank. Don't see him ever becoming Yokozuna and wouldn't be surprised to see him go intai within the next year or so. Goeido? He needs to focus on getting double-digit wins as an Ozeki before even dreaming of winning 2 consecutive basho. Unless and until Terunofuji proves otherwise, Kisenosato is currently the best of the current crop of Ozeki and I can definitely see Kisenosato winning a tournament. But given how often he chokes in the big moment, its hard for me to envision him as a Yokozuna.

[yorikiried by fate 2,029]

This is the essence of the whole discussion, isn't it? There hasn't been a Japanese Makuuchi winner for almost 10 years (= 60 basho). Looking at the current top rankers of that particular group: How realistic is it that all of a sudden one of the two-consecutive-yusho variations manifests? The only chance for the near future would be Hakuho's rapid decline along with lengthy injuries of the other MongYoks plus sudden detoriation of the obvious new foerign threats like Terunofuji and Ichinojo.

I really don't even see room for a Kisenosato yusho there, to be honest, with promotion thoughts bordering on the fantastic.

(Hey, maybe that was a nega-jinx!)

[CT3* 331]

I think Kisenosato can yusho if the conditions are right. Hakuho having a sudden "meltdown" and losing multiple bouts at the end of a tourney made a yusho possible for Kakuryu and Terunofuji. Maybe Kisenosato gets lucky..

[Benevolance 2,511]

Those conditions sound an awful lot like Kise winning by accident...

[Naganoyama 5,945]

I'm sure he'll take "by accident" if that comes along.

[Jakusotsu 6,049]

I'm sure he'll take "by accident" if that comes along.

Nah, he'd just decline once again.

[Washuyama 641]

While I don't predict Kise, Goeido or Giku will make Yokozuna, I don't doubt that all may win a yusho. And don't forget about the late-bloomers who maintain ozeki for a long time and suddenly make it to yokozuna late. (Kotozakura and Mienoumi for example...)

[Masumasumasu 902]

It's a lot easier for a gaijin to win a yusho. They don't have an entire country breathing down their neck.