I guess I'm basically an optimist because even though things are kind of a mess at the top of the banzuke, the yokozuna's can't stay healthy and the ozeki's aren't exactly domineering, several good young rikishi coming up thru the ranks.
Two new rikishi this basho, Abi and Ryuden both ended up with double digit winning records. Will be interesting to see how they do next basho when they get some tougher opponents. Ishiura came back to go 9-6, Mitakeumi only went 8-7, but he did beat Kakuryu. Hopefully Onosho can come back from his injury next basho.
No women allowed in the ring, even if someone might be dying.
Women told not to enter 'sacred' sumo ring
Controversy over gender discrimination in sumo tradition flared again this week when a referee urged two women to stay out of the ring as they tried to assist an official who was unconscious.
The sumo world has long maintained that the ring is a sacred place and that women cannot enter, in a tradition often criticized as discrimination.
Maizuru Mayor Ryozo Tatami, 66, was delivering a speech in the ring, in Maizuru, Kyoto Prefecture, on Wednesday when he collapsed due to a subarachnoid hemorrhage. He was later rushed to a hospital and underwent surgery. His condition is stable and not life-threatening, one of his secretaries told The Japan Times on Thursday morning.
The referee’s announcement, aired through loud speakers at the gymnasium, rekindled public criticism and prompted Japan Sumo Association Chairman Hakkaku to later issue a statement of apology.
“The referee was upset and made the announcement, but it was an inappropriate response because the situation could have been life-threatening,” Hakkaku said in the statement. “We extend a deep apology.”
He also said the association “deeply thanks the women for giving first-aid treatment.”
Video of the event was repeatedly aired on TV shows Thursday morning, showing several people rushing to help the mayor including at least two women.
Several commentators on different channels argued that the referee should not have urged the women to leave the ring. Numerous people also criticized the sumo tradition on social media outlets.
This basho may end up being the "Last Man Standing" basho.
No Yokozuna, Kisenosato was a no show from day 1, this makes eight tournaments in a row he hasn't participated in. Hakuho withdrew on day four with a knee injury, and Kakuryu on day six with an elbow injury.
Then on day seven, new ozeki Tochinoshin withdrew with a toe injury.
NHK said this was the first time a Japanese wrestler had won this basho since Kaio did it in 2003. :shocked:
Kaio appeared on the Dotchi no Ryori special that aired several years after that show ended. Looked like he had lost weight, not a lot but some.
The two yokozuna from Hawaii who were Kaio's contemporaries--Akebono and Musashimaru--have had serious health problems in recent years. Musashimaru received a kidney transplant from his wife; he is supposedly improving to the point where he is back to running his stable. Akebono has had serious heart issues; at one point he was put in a medically induced coma. He has a long road to recovery.
Kakuryu has looked good, but Hakuho has dodged a couple bullets, could just as easily be 6-2. Kisenosato started well at 5-0 but has lost two of his last three. Glad to see my man Yoshikaze (how can you not like a guy that leads with his forehead?) doing well after a terrible last basho.
Career wins for Hakuho, his 14th basho where he goes undefeated, also a record, 807* wins just as Yokozuna. :bow:
Y1w Hakuho 15 - 0
O1e Goeido 12 - 3
O1w Takayasu 11 - 4
M15w Yoshikaze 11 - 4
Y1e Kakuryu 10 - 5
Y2e Kisenosato 10 - 5
M12w Nishikigi 10 - 5
M13e Ryuden 10 - 5
M13w Takanoiwa 10 - 5
* I tried to find an all time winners list, could only find the top 10. At 10th is Terao with 860 so I'm guessing if you only counted Hakuho's Yokozuna wins he would still be somewhere in the top 15.
Could be a wide open basho, two Yokozuna have withdrawn and the one left isn't exactly Mr. Dependable.
Hakuho and Kakuryu withdraw from Kyushu basho
Mongolian grand champions Hakuho and Kakuryu will both withdraw from the upcoming Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament due to injuries, their respective stablemasters announced Thursday.
Following surgery on Hakuho's right ankle and right knee last month, his stablemaster Miyagino said the 33-year-old yokozuna lacked sufficient preparation for the Nov. 11-25 tournament at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.
"He hasn't recovered yet (from the knee surgery). He says it's still painful," Miyagino said."I'm sure he wanted to compete in the last Kyushu meet of the (current) Heisei era. It can't be helped. He's getting better," he added, but Hakuho did not speak to reporters after a morning training session.
Kakuryu is sitting the tournament out due to pain in his right ankle and right knee. It will be his 11th withdrawal and first since pulling out partway through the July meet in Nagoya with a right ankle injury.
Their absence puts pressure on Kisenosato, the remaining grand champion, to perform well over the full 15 days and ensure there is at least one yokozuna competing. It is the first time Kisenosato will open a tournament as the sole grand champion.
It will be the 10th time in Hakuho's career that he has missed part or all of a basho, and first since he pulled out on the fourth day of the 15-day Nagoya tourney in July. He has only gone the full distance in two of the six grand tournaments this year.
Hakuho had a procedure to remove bone fragments from his knee and fluid from his ankle joint shortly after he experienced pain and left the 24-day autumn regional tour on Oct. 12.
Miyagino revealed that Hakuho can barely execute a shiko, a basic sumo warmup movement, and will remain in Fukuoka for rehab. But he also said he is optimistic for Hakuho's comeback in the New Year meet in January and expects him to join the promotional tour which starts Dec. 2.
With his likely withdrawal from all 15 days of the Kyushu tourney, Hakuho will finish the year with 31 wins, eight losses and 51 rest days. His sole overall victory this year came at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament in September, when he secured his record-extending 41st championship with a perfect 15-0 record.
If, as expected, he does finish 2018 with only one tournament victory, Hakuho will see a run of 11 straight years with at least two grand sumo championships end. The last time he won a single title in a year was in 2006 when he took his debut crown at the summer meet in May.
ONOJO, Fukuoka Prefecture--Hobbled yokozuna Kisenosato dropped out of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Nov. 15 after setting a postwar record for futility by a grand champion.
Kisenosato, 32, who belongs to the Tagonoura stable, made the announcement on Day 5 of the tournament held at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center.
“I am sorry for sumo fans because I was the only yokozuna going into the tournament,” Kisenosato told reporters. “I am truly mortified.”
An injury to his left chest and arm had kept the yokozuna out of a number of previous tournaments. But he indicated that was not the reason he was withdrawing from the Kyushu basho.
“I newly injured my right knee during the bout on the first day (of the tournament),” Kisenosato said.
The yokozuna lost to komusubi Takakeisho on Nov. 11, the first day of the tournament, followed by three consecutive defeats to rank and filers.
Going into the final day, Takakeisho and Takayasu both tied at 12-2. Takakeisho came thru with a win, Takayasu lost to Mitakeumi, congratulations to Takakeisho. :victory: