Over halfway, here's the leaderboard. Also 12 guys tied at 5 - 3. Will this be the one where Takayasu finally wins one? For a long time when he was Ozeki, he was the only one that hadn't won a basho. This is the one good thing about no Yokozuna, it leaves the basho wide open.


K1e Takayasu 7 - 1

S1e Terunofuji 6 - 2

M9e Chiyonokuni 6 - 2

And then there was one.

Kakuryu announces his retirement

Yokozuna Kakuryu retired Wednesday after missing a fifth straight tournament due to injury. The retirement of the 35-year-old Mongolia-born wrestler was approved the same day by the Japan Sumo Association.

Kakuryu, whose real name is Mangaljalav Anand, has long been dealing with elbow and lower back pain, and recently announced he would sit out the ongoing Spring Grand Sumo Tournament because of a left hamstring strain.

The surprise retirement announcement came less than two weeks after Kakuryu told his stablemaster, Michinoku, that he was not ready to retire yet. Michinoku told reporters at the time he had confirmed the wrestler’s desire to keep fighting.

In November, Kakuryu, as well as fellow Mongolia-born yokozuna Hakuho, received stern warnings from the JSA over their absences from the ring. The admonition was the harshest the JSA’s Yokozuna Deliberation Council can make short of recommending a wrestler retire.

The following month, Kakuryu acquired Japanese citizenship, which will allow him to remain in Japan and run his own stable of wrestlers after retirement.

He will retain his wrestler name for his toshiyori name as a sumo elder.

Kakuryu made his sumo debut in November 2001, and was promoted to yokozuna in the spring of 2014.

Terunofuji wins, back to Ozeki

S1e Terunofuji 12 - 3

M12w Aoiyama 11 - 4

O1w Asanoyama 10 - 5

O2e Takakeisho 10 - 5

K1e Takayasu 10 - 5

M2w Wakatakakage 10 - 5

M3e Meisei 10 - 5

M8w Tobizaru 10 - 5

M15w Hidenoumi 10 - 5

But never mind Ozeki, if he keeps this up could he be the next Yokozuna? 4 of the last 5 basho he has either been winner or runner-up. None of the other three Ozeki really strike fear in anybody's hearts. Takakeisho just came off Kadoban, and Shodai is going on it. Terunofuji seems to have that swagger that he expects to win every match.

And talk about going in the tank, after day 12 Takayasu had a one win lead, still in the drivers seat and proceeded to his last three, all to rank-and-filers.

I included the 10-5 guys because there's a rikishi there, Wakatakage, that I think is somebody to keep an eye on. Started the basho 2-4 then went 8-1 the rest of the way, beat two of the three Komusubi's and two of the three Ozeki's. And if you say his name real fast, it sounds cool.

Over halfway in May, Terunofuji alone at the top, but he better not stumble, lots of wrestling at his heels.

O2w Terunofuji 8-0

O1w Takakeisho 7-1

S1e Takayasu 6-2

K1e Mitakeumi 6-2

M5w Onosho 6-2

M6w Ichinojo 6-2

M8w Endo 6-2

M12w Okinoumi 6-2

M14w Chiyotairyu 6-2

This tightens things up with him still having to face the other three Ozeki, but it looks like the only person that can beat Terunofuji is Terunofuji.

Terunofuji loses on day 11 due to foul

Ozeki Terunofuji was handed his first defeat of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament in unusual fashion Wednesday, when his 11th straight win was overruled by the ringside judges, who ruled he had committed a foul.

Terunofuji (10-1) was at his dominant best and looked to have eased to another victory by flooring Maegashira 4 Myogiryu (5-6) with an armlock throw, using his powerful left arm.

But a ringside judge, a sumo elder, called for deliberation with his fellow judges on the raised ring and after review ruled Terunofuji's right hand grabbed Myogiryu's topknot, an act the ancient sport prohibits, while finishing off the throw. Video showed the ozeki's hand brush his opponent's hair as Myogiryu was in the process of tumbling to the sandy surface.

"I had no sensation of that occurring," Myogiryu said when asked about the infraction. "But the decision is made."

It was the first win by foul since January 2016 when then ozeki Goeido was penalized against Takarafuji for the same violation.

Tried loading a video of the match but keep getting "spam detected" message.

Well, it took a playoff* but Terunofuji wins again. Big surprise was Endo beating two of the three Ozekis, if he'd beaten Shodai, there would have been a three way tie for first.

O1w Takakeisho 12 - 3

O2w Terunofuji 12 - 3

M8w Endo 11 - 4

S1e Takayasu 10 - 5

K1e Mitakeumi 10 - 5

M14w Chiyotairyu 10 - 5


* I still don't think Terunofuji grabbed Myogiryu's top knot. Myogiryu says he never felt anything.

One less Ozeki in the mix. Or put another way, you can't fix stupid.

Asanoayama given one year ban for breaking Covid restrictions

Ozeki Asanoyama has essentially been sidelined for a year when the Japan Sumo Association handed him a suspension of six grand tournaments for breaking its coronavirus safety guidelines ahead of the Summer Grand Sumo in May.

Asanoyama, will, because of his absence, forfeit his Ozeki rank and likely drop as far as the sport's fourth-tier sandanme division. The wrestler also had his wages halved for six months.

A weekly magazine reported during May's grand tournament in Tokyo that the 27-year-old dined out while members of the sumo association were under instructions to stay home. Although Asanoyama initially denied the allegations, he pulled out of the meet on the 11th day after admitting he had broken the rules.

The JSA said Asanoyama submitted a retirement declaration on May 21, but association president Hakkaku will hold on to it and only accept it should Asanoyama cause further trouble for the JSA in the future.

^ Speaking of Covid suspensions, what's up with Abi?
_________________

ashley juggs wrote:

^ Speaking of Covid suspensions, what's up with Abi?

He spent the last two basho in Makushita, went undefeated winning both at 7-0. He'll be in Juryo in July. But I have a feeling even if he wins it going undefeated or maybe only one loss, they'll keep him down there for another basho just to remind him who's in charge.

Over halfway in Nagoya. Hakuho and Terunofuji both undefeated but neither has looked particularly dominating. Wouldn't surprise me if they both hit a couple bumps in the road this week.

Y1e Hakuho 8-0

O1e Terunofuji 8-0

M10e Tamawashi 6-2

M11w Kotonowaka 6-2

M17e Ichiyamamoto 6-2

This is from day 7, Hakuho vs. Tobizaru. One of the strangest matches ever. Someone watching Sumo for the first time might think its a non-contact sport: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv3oN49WqVA

For the first time in 12 years* both undefeated 14-0 going for the championship: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK1QYKWSUSI

*And that time it also involved Hakuho which just shows how long he's been at the top.

He lost, but he won.

Terunofuji to become 73rd Yokozuna

Mongolian sumo wrestler Terunofuji will be promoted to yokozuna after the Japan Sumo Association's Yokozuna Deliberation Council recommended his ascension to the sport's highest rank on Monday.

Terunofuji will officially be named the sport's 73rd yokozuna on Wednesday at an extraordinary meeting of the JSA's board of directors, a mere formality after the recommendation following his 14-1 record at the Nagoya Grand Sumo tournament that ended Sunday.

The promotion caps an epic comeback for the 29-year-old, who wrestled at the sport's second-highest rank of ozeki before injuries to both knees saw him fall into the fifth-tier jonidan division in March 2019.

He has since battled back to the sport's elite makuuchi division and dominated, winning his second career Emperor's Cup on his July 2020 return and also claiming the title this March and May.

Halfway thru the Fall basho. Terunofuji in the drivers seat. Mitakeumi might have an outside shot, but they don't call him "Mr. Inconsistency" for nothing.


Y1w Terunofuji 8 - 0

M10w Myogiryu 7 - 1

S1e Mitakeumi 6 - 2

M6w Onosho 6 - 2

M8e Okinoumi 6 - 2

M11e Endo 6 - 2

M17e Chiyonokuni 6 - 2

Terunofuji wins the basho at 13-2. The other sanyaku wrestlers really "distinguished" themselves. Not one got double digit wins.


Y1w Terunofuji 13 - 2

M10w Myogiryu 11 - 4

M11e Endo 11 - 4

M4w Daieisho 10 - 5

M6w Onosho 10 - 5

M8e Okinoumi 10 - 5

The greatest of all time, and unlike most sports that really isn't open to debate here, is calling it a career: https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/09/e1bffcc07f28-breaking-news-record-holding-sumo-grand-champion-hakuho-to-retire

Depending on how long Terunofuji's knees can hold up, we might be in a situation soon where there are no Yokozuna. I don't see any of the current rikishi having any future Yokozuna potential.

John Gunning has done a real good article about Hakuho in the Japan Times. I didn't realize how close Hakuho came to not making it in sumo at all.

From the article:

"Twenty years ago, Davaajargal Monkhbatyn, weighing just 60 kilograms and standing at barely 180 centimeters, was turned down by every sumo stable he approached and dejectedly preparing to return to his home country when he received word of a late reprieve.

Miyagino stablemaster, at the urging of Mongolian rank-and-file wrestler Kyokushuzan, had decided to take a chance on the skinny teenager.

Just eight months earlier on the other side of the world, the New England Patriots tried their luck by selecting quarterback Tom Brady with the 199th pick of the 2000 NFL draft.

Both young athletes — virtual afterthoughts in their respective sports — would go on to rewrite the record books and redefine greatness over the following two decades."

20 Years of Hakuho

https://youtu.be/Z0Sd8eJdTio

Over halfway, Terunofuji and Takaeisho undefeated.


Y1e Terunofuji 8 - 0

O1w Takakeisho 8 - 0

S1e Mitakeumi 7 - 1

M15w Abi 7 - 1

M6w Tamawashi 6 - 2

M7e Ura 6 - 2

M12w Hokutofuji 6 - 2

M16w Sadanoumi 6 - 2

Terunofuji wins going undefeated. During the interview, he said his goal for next year is end up with double digit championships. Very doable since he needs four and right now the sumo world is basically two categories, Terunofuji and everybody else.


Y1e Terunofuji 15 - 0

O1w Takakeisho 12 - 3

M15w Abi 12 - 3

S1e Mitakeumi 11 - 4

M2w Takanosho 11 - 4

M12w Hokutofuji 11 - 4

Leaderboard after day 8:

S1e Mitakeumi 8 - 0

Y1e Terunofuji 7 - 1

M3e Tamawashi 6 - 2

M5e Onosho 6 - 2

M6w Abi 6 - 2

M7w Takarafuji 6 - 2

M14e Kotonowaka 6 - 2

M17e Kotoeko 6 - 2

Terunofuji had his winning streak snapped at 23. Hakuho probably thinking, "23! Is that all?! I used to do 23 without breaking a sweat!!"