since_94 650 Posted September 30, 2020 Because I think this promotion is significant enough to warrant its own thread. Disagree? Fight me. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Morty 1,495 Posted September 30, 2020 Awesome news, really pleased Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gaijingai 1,576 Posted September 30, 2020 https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/09/0463d262e625-sumo-shodai-earns-promotion-to-ozeki-after-winning-1st-title.html 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kintamayama 45,093 Posted September 30, 2020 (edited) I always said he will make it. It wasn't guesswork-it was written. I know, I missed by a few years, but it was a long time coming. I never gave up on him- he is the king of keiko and has been consistently training with the toughest opposition for years and was getting his ass kicked all the time-but that has to pay off sometime. Next guy to get much better is Yutakayama - another guy who trains endlessly. Remember this.. More than deserves a thread of his own. Such a nice, humble guy who wears his heart on his sleeve.. Edited September 30, 2020 by Kintamayama 15 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yokozuna Hattorizakura 153 Posted September 30, 2020 I'm going to miss all the next ozeki jokes. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pricklypomegranate 730 Posted September 30, 2020 (edited) Here are some of my favourite photos from the event - they are on the Kyokai's Twitter: FINALLY A FISH PIC. Gotta have the fish pic. Can't have an Ozeki promotion or yusho parade without the fish pic. And I am a fan of Shodai, but Kumamon is the GOAT of Japanese mascots, pay your due respects: And my all-time favourite Toyonoshima, with Yutakyama and another oyakata (sorry don't recognise him): Edited September 30, 2020 by pricklypomegranate 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 40,421 Posted September 30, 2020 19 minutes ago, pricklypomegranate said: And my all-time favourite Toyonoshima, with Yutakyama and another oyakata Acting shisho Edagawa (Aogiyama) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hakuryuho 335 Posted September 30, 2020 LETS GO SHODAI, YOU DESERVE IT BABY! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pitinosato 120 Posted September 30, 2020 2 hours ago, Kintamayama said: I always said he will make it. It wasn't guesswork-it was written. I know, I missed by a few years, but it was a long time coming. I never gave up on him- he is the king of keiko and has been consistently training with the toughest opposition for years and was getting his ass kicked all the time-but that has to pay off sometime. Next guy to get much better is Yutakayama - another guy who trains endlessly. Remember this.. More than deserves a thread of his own. Such a nice, humble guy who wears his heart on his sleeve.. Yutakayama ? Never ever ! Remember this... Once I thought he could become Ozeki - but no more Pitinosato Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kintamayama 45,093 Posted September 30, 2020 (edited) 46 minutes ago, Pitinosato said: Yutakayama ? Never ever ! Remember this... Once I thought he could become Ozeki - but no more Pitinosato We shall see..You did read that all I wrote was that he would get much better.. Edited September 30, 2020 by Kintamayama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kintamayama 45,093 Posted September 30, 2020 (edited) Shoudai's promotion to Ozeki at this time has a pattern- a reason for it happening now. For the last three years he was alternating between KK and MK and moving around the joi ranks between M1-M5 mostly, with one- basho stints at Sekiwake and Komusubi two and a half years ago. Then, a year ago, he suddenly went 3-12 at M4. That dropped him to his lowest rank since he entered Makuuchi back in January 2016. He never fell lower than M7 all those years. In November at M10, he faced the lowest ranked opponents he ever faced since being promoted. A good time to test your strength. Boom- jun-yusho and kantosho with an 11-4, only the second time he ever had 11 wins in Makuuchi at that time. Bumped up to M4 for January. Then even a bigger boom, facing "real" opponents- 13-2, jun yusho and kanto sho. Bumped up to Sekiwake W for March, his third-ever sanyaku rank. Then came the small wall- 8-7, but his first kachikoshi in Sanyaku. Bumped up to Sekiwake E (his highest career rank) for July, as the May basho was Coronarized and did not happen. A lot of time for contemplating, confidence building up after going 24-6 in the prior two basho. Then 11-4 and the kanto-sho at Sekiwake E. Confidence brimming. Sekiwake E for the second straight basho in Aki- 13-2 yusho and 4th kanto-sho in five bashos + a shukunsho. Ozeki. In this run he had only been sekiwake for three bashos. He had been Komusubi only once, back in March 2017, but went 4-11. I think this is incredible. 5 sanyaku bashos in all since his promotion to Makuuchi, and he's Ozeki - took him awhile, but there you are. And during all this time, almost not a single word regarding an Ozeki run, not even before this basho, during his whole career. Maybe that helped, as there was no pressure till the final days of Aki, when it suddenly became a reality.. Edited September 30, 2020 by Kintamayama 9 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kintamayama 45,093 Posted September 30, 2020 Another angle: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pitinosato 120 Posted September 30, 2020 58 minutes ago, Kintamayama said: We shall see..You did read that all I wrote was that he would get much better.. We will see... If he brings all together what he has got, I could see him as a Joi-mainstay. But not more Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Morning 78 Posted September 30, 2020 Congratulations to Shodai. I wish him the best for the final basho of the year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hakutorizakura 628 Posted September 30, 2020 5 hours ago, Yokozuna Hattorizakura said: I'm going to miss all the next ozeki jokes. How about we give Mitakeumi NTNO status now? Might work in his favor. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Iwayama 25 Posted September 30, 2020 3 hours ago, Kintamayama said: Shoudai's promotion to Ozeki at this time has a pattern- a reason for it happening now. For the last three years he was alternating between KK and MK and moving around the joi ranks between M1-M5 mostly, with one- basho stints at Sekiwake and Komusubi two and a half years ago. Then, a year ago, he suddenly went 3-12 at M4. That dropped him to his lowest rank since he entered Makuuchi back in January 2016. He never fell lower than M7 all those years. In November at M10, he faced the lowest ranked opponents he ever faced since being promoted. A good time to test your strength. Boom- jun-yusho and kantosho with an 11-4, only the second time he ever had 11 wins in Makuuchi at that time. Bumped up to M4 for January. Then even a bigger boom, facing "real" opponents- 13-2, jun yusho and kanto sho. Bumped up to Sekiwake W for March, his third-ever sanyaku rank. Then came the small wall- 8-7, but his first kachikoshi in Sanyaku. Bumped up to Sekiwake E (his highest career rank) for July, as the May basho was Coronarized and did not happen. A lot of time for contemplating, confidence building up after going 24-6 in the prior two basho. Then 11-4 and the kanto-sho at Sekiwake E. Confidence brimming. Sekiwake E for the second straight basho in Aki- 13-2 yusho and 4th kanto-sho in five bashos + a shukunsho. Ozeki. In this run he had only been sekiwake for three bashos. He had been Komusubi only once, back in March 2017, but went 4-11. I think this is incredible. 5 sanyaku bashos in all since his promotion to Makuuchi, and he's Ozeki - took him awhile, but there you are. And during all this time, almost not a single word regarding an Ozeki run, not even before this basho, during his whole career. Maybe that helped, as there was no pressure till the final days of Aki, when it suddenly became a reality.. This really puts things in perspective for newer fans who didn't experience the mediocre Shodai of the last few years. Being a Shodai fan through that time was full of ups and downs and lots of frustration, but I am so happy that he has finally gotten it all together and risen to his full potential. So well deserved. Congratulations Ozeki! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CT3* 331 Posted October 1, 2020 Happy to see him achieve promotion to Ozeki. Very interested to see what role he will play in the emergence of Sumo's new hierarchy! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Godango 983 Posted October 1, 2020 (edited) I was never in on the 'next ozeki' joke. As a regular watcher since 2017/2018 I always viewed Shodai as a kinda cartoonish apathetic wrestler, who I viewed with indifference (I knew nothing about his character, just in watching bouts only). But man, the Shodai we've seen in the past 12 months?! He's been incredible. And now that his performance has afforded him more media focus with interviewers and just some candid shots with the camera while he's waiting for bouts; he seems like an incredibly likeable person. I'm very happy for him, and I look forward to seeing him go on with it. Whether that means a strong ozeki career or a tsuna run, I don't care, I'm just enjoying the content of his sumo and his nature. Edited October 1, 2020 by Houmanumi 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gurowake 4,050 Posted October 1, 2020 1 hour ago, Houmanumi said: I was never in on the 'next ozeki' joke. As a regular watcher since 2017/2018 I'm fairly sure Kintamayama called him the next Ozeki during his coverage when he was still (relatively) new to the joi, which would have been 2016. I don't know how often he repeated it, but he only needed to say it once for people to mock him for it over the last 4 years that produced 4 other Ozeki. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Godango 983 Posted October 1, 2020 1 hour ago, Gurowake said: I'm fairly sure Kintamayama called him the next Ozeki during his coverage when he was still (relatively) new to the joi, which would have been 2016. I don't know how often he repeated it, but he only needed to say it once for people to mock him for it over the last 4 years that produced 4 other Ozeki. Ah, and so here we are: 2 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kintamayama 45,093 Posted October 1, 2020 5 hours ago, Gurowake said: I'm fairly sure Kintamayama called him the next Ozeki during his coverage when he was still (relatively) new to the joi, which would have been 2016. I don't know how often he repeated it, but he only needed to say it once for people to mock him for it over the last 4 years that produced 4 other Ozeki. I'm not sure anyone was mocking me- I started to call him not- the - next-Ozeki, not because I didn't believe in him, but because factually, he was not the next Ozeki. I think only Asanoyama and Takakeishou became Ozeki after I said Shoudai was the next one, so it's two, not four. If anyone can find the first instance of my utterance.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pricklypomegranate 730 Posted October 1, 2020 19 hours ago, Pitinosato said: Yutakayama ? Never ever ! Remember this... Once I thought he could become Ozeki - but no more Pitinosato Ozeki promotion on Sumoforum is like Boxing Day, everyone will be pulling out the receipts I don't really have an opinion on Yutakayama - I am going to have to pay more attention... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jakusotsu 5,960 Posted October 1, 2020 3 minutes ago, pricklypomegranate said: Ozeki promotion on Sumoforum is like Boxing Day, everyone will be pulling out the receipts Ok, I'll bite: Akiseyama!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kintamayama 45,093 Posted October 1, 2020 19 minutes ago, Jakusotsu said: Ok, I'll bite: Akiseyama!! Why would you bite Akiseyama? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
