Yokozuna Kisenosato to retire

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Grand champion Kisenosato has decided to retire as a sumo wrestler after suffering his third loss of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament, his stablemaster said Wednesday.

The 32-year-old, who went into the 15-day tournament with his career in jeopardy, decided to close the curtain on his career after he was unable to post a single win in the first three days at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

The Tagonoura-stable wrestler was promoted to sumo's highest rank in March 2017, and won his second straight championship on his yokozuna debut at the following tournament.

Source: Mainichi

It's been a crazy first three days. Hakuho is undefeated at 3-0, but the combined records of the other two Yokozuna and three Ozeki is 2-13.

Day 8, over halfway. In addition to Kisenosato retiring, Kakuryu, Tochinoshin, and Mitakeumi have dropped out with injuries. Hakuho still undefeated but he's had to dodge a couple bullets, could just as easily be 6-2 or 5-3. Here's the leaderboard:

Y1w Hakuho 8 - 0

M8e Kaisei 7 - 1

M13e Yago 7 - 1

M15e Chiyonokuni 7 - 1

S1e Takakeisho 6 - 2

S1w Tamawashi 6 - 2

M6w Onosho 6 - 2

M12w Meisei 6 - 2

New kid Yago impressive at 7-1.

Don't look now, but we have ourselves a basho. Mitakeumi, coming back after missing 3 days, defeats Hakuho on day 11: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4wWJEcZwEA

Then, on day 12, Tamawashi does also:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SMNoPqFF0A



Meanwhile, the wheels have come off the cart for new kid Yago, was at 7-1, now 7-5.

And Tamawashi wins the basho!

S1w Tamawashi 13 - 2

S1e Takakeisho 11 - 4

Y1w Hakuho 10 - 4

M8e Kaisei 10 - 5

M9w Endo 10 - 5

M10w Abi 10 - 5

Neither of the ozekis that finished the basho got double digit wins. Takayasu and Goeido both finishing 9-6.

Speaking of not finishing, has something changed in the way wrestlers train? There seem to be more dropping out than ever before. Just this basho, in addition to Kisenosato retiring, Tochinoshin, Kakuryu, Hakuho, Kotoyuki, Chiyonokuni, all failed to finish and Mitakeumi missed four days with an injury as well. That's 7 out of 40 wrestlers almost 20% of all the wrestlers.

Re: January basho

A lot of yaocho in this tournament. Pretty obvious examples.

Leaderboard after day 8:

Y1e Hakuho 8 - 0

Y1w Kakuryu 7 - 1

O1e Takayasu 7 - 1

O1w Goeido 7 - 1

M4w Ichinojo 7 - 1

M7e Aoiyama 7 - 1

S1e Takakeisho 6 - 2

M8w Kotoshogiku 6 - 2

M11e Ryuden 6 - 2

M15w Kotoeko 6 - 2

42

Y1e Hakuho 15 - 0

M4w Ichinojo 14 - 1

O1w Goeido 12 - 3

M7e Aoiyama 12 - 3

M8w Kotoshogiku 11 - 4

gaijinmark wrote:

42 Y1e Hakuho 15 - 0 M4w Ichinojo 14 - 1 O1w Goeido 12 - 3 M7e Aoiyama 12 - 3 M8w Kotoshogiku 11 - 4

Who knew Ichinojo could be consistently excellent throughout an entire basho. Very impressive sumo by the big guy.

shin2 wrote:

Who knew Ichinojo could be consistently excellent throughout an entire basho. Very impressive sumo by the big guy.

Yeah, he surprised me. Seems like usually he just relies on his bulk and so ends up right around 8-7. But this time for a guy weighing close to 500 lbs. he showed some pretty good moves.

I thought the dohyo was sacred, I would consider this guy setting foot in the ring as defiling it.

Trump may present trophy at Tokyo Sumo tournament

Japan and the United States are considering a plan for U.S. President Donald Trump to present a trophy to the winner of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo in May, Japanese government sources have said.

Trump is scheduled to visit Japan as a state guest for three days starting on May 26, which coincides with the final day of the 15-day Summer Basho at the Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Under the plan, Trump and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would enter the sumo ring together after watching the matches. Trump would then present the 40-kilogram Prime Minister’s Cup or another special trophy to the winner.

A major challenge is security at the venue. The ring is surrounded by rows of seats, making security more difficult than in locations with no seats behind the stage.

“It is very hard to guard. Some people may throw seat cushions,” a Japanese government source said.

If I were there I'd be throwing more than just a seat cushion.

We'll have a different champion this basho:

Hakuho pulls out of Summer basho with arm injury

Yokozuna Hakuho, who was diagnosed with a torn biceps tendon after winning his 42nd title in March, has withdrawn from the upcoming Summer Grand Sumo Tournament, his stablemaster Miyagino said Thursday.

According to Miyagino, the yokozuna told him Wednesday evening that he has not fully recovered from his right arm injury and has decided to pull out of the tournament, which begins on Sunday, at Ryogoku Kokugikan.

“He should be well in a month or so. He said yesterday he is at the 70-percent recovery point. It’s not a long-term injury,” Miyagino said.

gaijinmark wrote:

We'll have a different champion this basho

And he won't be undefeated either. Leaderboard after day 8:

Y1w Kakuryu 7 - 1

S1w Tochinoshin 7 - 1

M8w Asanoyama 7 - 1

M4w Abi 6 - 2

M5w Ryuden 6 - 2

M14w Enho 6 - 2

M15w Kotoeko 6 - 2

Tochinoshin really wants his ozeki ranking back. Speaking of which, the three ozeki's have been decidely unimpressive, all with three losses.

How do you say "I wuz robbed" in Georgian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ2L4EvD9qg

First basho of the Reiwa era, not without some controversy.

M8w Asanoyama 12 - 3

Y1w Kakuryu 11 - 4

S1w Tochinoshin 10 - 5

M3w Tamawashi 10 - 5

M4w Abi 10 - 5

M5w Ryuden 10 - 5

M7e Shodai 10 - 5

M7w Meisei 10 - 5

M12e Shimanoumi 10 - 5

Hopefully, Asanoyama will win another one somewhere down the line because this win will always have a cloud over it.

Don't blame Tochinoshin for the henka he pulled on Kakuryu on day 14. His way of saying "Up yours!" to the Sumo Association.

Two new guys this basho, Enho, another little guy, started out a house afire at 7-2 but just couldn't get that 8th win, and Shimanoumi, started out 1-3 but went on to finish 10-5.

After day 9, Kakuryu alone at the top.

1e Kakuryu 9 - 0

Y1w Hakuho 8 - 1

O1w Takayasu 7 - 2

M7e Myogiryu 7 - 2

M7w Tomokaze 7 - 2

M16w Terutsuyoshi 7 - 2

It comes down to the two Yokozuna, as it should: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRonGb-jdJQ

"Is it okay for me to win the championship?" Said no American athlete, ever: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jan/28/japan-in-raptures-as-outsider-wins-sumo-contest-and-bursts-into-tears?CMP=share_btn_tw

Because of the Coronavirus, no fans allowed at the Osaka basho. This is really weird :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCM6jfwNLq0&pbjreload=10

^ But the zabuton should be in good shape for the next basho.
_________________

ashley juggs wrote:

^ But the zabuton should be in good shape for the next basho.

They sure would have been flying after this match: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQVNx1GSUlo

I wonder if this is the first time a wrestler got his first kinboshi AFTER he'd won his first basho?