bartolimu posted:

Overall thoughts on this basho and Day 15, typed stream of thought as I watched:

Kitanowaka tanked my score but that's fine, kid did okay for a first foray into top-division work. I hope we'll see him again. There were moments of competence among the sea of disappointment.

This basho contained an acceptable, though less than preferred, amount of Ryuden eating poo poo.

Poor Endo. Dude clearly just needs a break to get well again.

Chaos Shodai pulls off the gentleman's C of sumo scores, of course.

Glad to see Kotoshoho get a last-minute KK as well, and with a sweet as hell move at the rope. I like Roga's style and want to see more of him. Hopefully he's got enough rank padding to stay up at -1; I haven't followed Juryo at all this time so I'm not sure how many dudes did well from the top.

Shonannoumi quietly had a very solid basho and nearly got a 10-5. If the Muppet Team isn't possible next month I may have to pick him. I suspect he'll do fine wherever he lands.

It's been a real pleasure to see Daiamami back in Makuuchi. He was a fixture when I started watching, and it's great to see he's still got it - mostly.

Excellent basho from Best Bear Takayasu. He didn't challenge for the cup, but that's probably better for his mental health anyhow.

HOLY gently caress Takerufuji pulled it off. With convincing sumo, clearly adjusted to what his ankle could do but drat he looked good doing it. Bravo! Now I very much hope he hasn't hosed up his ankle permanently.

...was that his mom and dad who hugged him in the entryway as he left? Is he so low-ranked he couldn't even pull tickets for his parents? If so, that's hilarious.

Midorifuji and Sadanoumi have both caught my attention this basho for some really good technical work, despite very mid results. I think the better fighter (this basho) got the win today, but I'm glad to see both men having solid showings.

Onosho hasn't always been my favorite. But he's showing a little more technical breadth lately - probably becuase he can't just bulldoze anymore - and he looked good against Tobi today. I doubt he'll ever make Ozeki, but he can probably manage a year or two in Sanyaku if he stays this healthy.

Oho continues to struggle in upper Maegashira. I hope he can clear that hurdle and pusl into Sanyaku. He's got an ideal physique and clearly has good instincts.

Ura also struggles at higher levels, but with two half-knees and ten years on Oho that's way less surprising. I'm glad he keeps at it, though. Him pulling out some obscure kimarite is a highlight every time.

Nishikigi deserves better than 3-12. And he treated the obviously hurting Kinbozan very gently this match, because he's a super nice guy. At last he started with a kinboshi to bump up his salary every basho going forward, but there wasn't much else to cheer about his sumo this time.

Yup, I still fuckin' hate Abi. His sumo is sloppy, his footwork is like a frog in a frying pan, and he shouldn't succeed nearly as much as he does.

I think the concerns about Asanoyama returning to Ozeki are well-founded. He's fragile, and while he had moments of dominance this basho they were mostly against the youngest, least experienced guys. I dunno, maybe he'll do it - but I don't think it'll be before July of next year.

Hiradoumi continues to impress me with absolutely frenetic speed and massive strength. I still think this kid'll go far.

I got default-drafted into Daieisho and I'm kinda mad about it, but whatever. Dude's skilled, he just had a so-so basho this time.

I was really cheering for Onosato to get the final win against Hoshoryu, but he lost in good fashion - clearly overpowering the Ozeki and losing to superior technique at the rope. Stay healthy, Onosato, and maybe stealthily trim your hair so you can get a yusho before you get a topknot.

He didn't take the cup, but an excellent final basho for shin-Ozeki Kotonowaka. I look forward to Kotozakura taking up the reins and driving for the rope!

Kirishima showed none of the injury/slowness/whatever that had him down all basho in this match. Best fight of the day, actually, and what a sweet move to finish it off. I look forward to Kimura Shonosuke authoring Yet Another Resignation Offer to the JSA for rejection. I wonder if he just forgot which side Kiri was on at the start of the match again?

Nativity In Black posted:

13-2 moves in theory moves Takerufuji up 11 spots which puts him around m6. I would imagine they actually bump a couple more based on the 3 prizes and the yusho, so my guess is that he'll be m2 or m3.

Assuming he's healthy and can keep up this type of sumo, good chance he's sanyaku by EOY.

ALSO, Asanoyama should be komusubi in May. It's been quite a road back for him. I don't think he's putting up ozeki performances recently, but he's consistently a threat.

Ice Phisherman posted:

Also the guy narrating the end of grand sumo highlights sounds like some sort of quaalude elemental.

Hirayuki posted:

Which one of you was in the stands bellowing SHODAI alone above the entire crowd before his bout?

Hirayuki posted:

It's so weird that all the other English voiceovers are normal and that one alone is always that snoozy dude. Good for a reliable laugh, anyway.

Which one of you was in the stands bellowing SHODAI alone above the entire crowd before his bout?

DeepL posted:

Masayuki Yamauchi, chairman of the Yokozuna Judges' Committee, at the regular meeting at Ryogoku Kokugikan, praises Terunofuji's attitude as a yokozuna after his absence from the Spring Tournament, saying, "He should be able to wrestle his true self as soon as possible.

The yokozuna judging committee held its regular meeting at the Ryogoku Kokugikan on May 25, and gave encouragement to yokozuna Terunofuji (32), who was absent from the tournament again.

Takerufuji became the first new makuuchi to win the spring tournament in 100 years, and Masayuki Yamauchi, professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo, said, "Takerufuji's and Onosato's successes were greatly appreciated. The future of sumo is very bright, and there are encouraging signs that a new segment of sumo's popularity may be developing.

On the other hand, he said, "Sumo society is composed of yokozuna, ozeki, and the ranks below them. It was unfortunate that yokozuna had to take a leave of absence during the tournament. The ozeki ranks have not been very energetic and have been sluggish. The fact that the ozeki and other san'yaku were easily beaten by lower-ranked rikishi means that the possibility of an ozeki's promotion to yokozuna in the near future is remote. It is also true that yokozuna are lacking in another sense in the history and current state of sumo, where the yokozuna have the weight of the East and West together. In the next tournament, I sincerely hope that the yokozuna and ozeki will rise to the occasion and that the san'yaku will put up a good fight. Needless to say, I hope that Takanofuji, Onosato, and other promising young rikishi will be promoted to higher ranks in the ranking chart, and that sumo will become more vibrant and improve further."

"Terunofuji, who had made a comeback in the first tournament, suffered four losses on the sixth day of the spring tournament and was absent from the tournament from the seventh day. Terunofuji competed in two consecutive tournaments. He had achieved a victory in the last tournament. This tournament, he may have been tired from the previous tournament and suffered some aftereffects, but it is regrettable that he suffered a string of five defeats (including a non-fighting loss). However, as Terunofuji did, he tried to fulfill his responsibilities as yokozuna until the end of the tournament, which is highly commendable. The Yokozuna Judging Committee is filled with hope that Terunofuji's health and recovery from his injuries will be an extension of his good fight and efforts, and that he will overcome his injuries and become the sumo champion he was meant to be as soon as possible. We are filled with hope that Terunofuji will recover and overcome his health and injuries as quickly as possible, and we wish him the best of luck in his recovery."

Banana Canada posted:

Take all the time you need Kenning and thanks for running the fantasy all these years!
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Banana Canada posted:

Ben Nerevarine posted:

I resolved to stick with Nishikigi instead of trading him, and it hurt my stable. It hurt it very much. I will ganbarize and train in the off-season as I perfect my brand of sumo.

ImplicitAssembler posted:

Hey, try having both Nishikigi and Kirishima.

ImplicitAssembler posted:

Hey, try having both Nishikigi and Kirishima.

ImplicitAssembler posted:

Hey, try having both Nishikigi and Kirishima.

Bentai posted:

bessantj posted:

EDIT: I wonder what is up with Endo, usually a solid Makuuchi wrestler his last three bashos have all been 5-10 and he'll probably drop into Juryo for May.

Bentai posted: