The Sumo Thread

[Melkerson]

@Ikioi

1. After a bit of research, apparently it hasn’t happened since 1938:

Query result

2. Reaching Ozeki without having won a single basho is not at all uncommon. Takayasu is the last one I can think of, though Kisenosato, Kotoshogiku, and Goeido before him all reached Ozeki before winning a yusho (that was during the Hakuho/Mongolian dominance era when 10 years went by without a Japanese-born-rikishi yusho before Kotoshogiku broke the spell).

Thanks. One more for now.

Do they still judge foreign-born rikishi harder, or is that a thing of the past?

[Ikioi]

A thing of the past. There’s no such discrimination these days. Can’t be really, as foreigner-born (mostly Mongolian) rikishi have dominated the sport over the past couple decades.

[Trolly]

I hear rumors from time to time among international fans that there’s bias against foreign rikishi or that they give native guys more breaks, but I haven’t seen strong evidence of it. .

[Trolly]

[Ikioi]

Wow, and before we get started both Ozeki Takekeisho and Kirishima are OUT with injuries. Sheesh. The path to promotion for the three Ozeki in waiting just got that much easier.

[Melkerson]

Is there some sort of unwritten limit on number of active Ozeki? I think there is one for Yokozuna, IIRC.

[pvn]

@Melkerson

Is there some sort of unwritten limit on number of active Ozeki? I think there is one for Yokozuna, IIRC.

There were four active Yokozuna just a few years ago (hakuho, haramafuji, ksinesato, kakuryu). Seems like at least one of them was always injured for any given basho, though.

[Ikioi]

@pvn

There were four active Yokozuna just a few years ago (hakuho, haramafuji, ksinesato, kakuryu). Seems like at least one of them was always injured for any given basho, though.

This. Likewise for Ozeki. If they qualify for promotion, welcome to the club. In practice, there are seldom if ever more than four at one time, and usually fewer.

[pvn]

Hokuseiho is TOO BIG

[Trolly]

@pvn

TOO BIG

Sir, this is the sumo thread.

[Ikioi]

More like he’s too young. Still only 21 years old and not even close to filling out his enormous body.

There was another fellow even taller than Hokuseiho. Went by the name of Akebono. His career turned out OK.

[Trolly]

Obligatory:

Hokuseiho is a large fellow.

[pvn]

me whenever I see hokuseiho:

https://twitter.com/david8hughes/status/850469537673756672

[Trolly]

Nishikigi just looked like a boss on day 2, we have a legit contender here.

[Ikioi]

Terunofuji is out of the basho, but Kirishima is coming back–hopefully not sooner than advisable. No Yokozuna. Injured or absent Ozeki. Two of the three next-Ozeki hopefuls already with a loss on their card.

What initially looked to be a promising basho is quickly devolving into a shit show.

[pvn]

that day 3 tobizaru/terunofuji match was amazing, not surprised that he’s withdrawing, he looked seriously out of it after that match, I was kinda surprised he walked to the locker room on his own. Just looked completely disoriented and dazed.

love watching the interviews with the winners after these kinboshi, great stuff.

[Trolly]

So I guess Nishikigi is the winner, that was a fast tournament.

[Melkerson]

Just catching up on several days of Nagoya. There is a rikishi named Hakuoho? Dafuq? Even fucking Google isn’t having it. Put in a search for Hakuoho and it’s all like, “Oh, obviously you meant Hakuho. Here are the results for that.”

[Ikioi]

In case you didn’t know, Hakuoho is Hakuho’s underling, and the name was given to him by the Man himself.

It’s clearer when reading the kanji.

白鵬 - Hakuho
伯桜鵬 - Hakuouho

But yeah, it’s confusing.

[Melkerson]

Thanks. I did not know that.

Definitely seems easier to keep them straight in Japanese.