Finding it hard to get excited about this basho. Maybe it will get more interesting as we get deeper in.
Still early but trending toward a Takakeisho yusho. Maybe Kirishima.
But if the Ozeki slip and drop a couple more bouts, it could be one of those wild finishes where any number of rikishi have a shot.
For me, the highlight so far was Tobizaru almost killing an old dude in the front row by tossing Tamawashi at him.
I guess I’m pulling for Takayasu to final ship one.
Shhhh, hurry up and delete that post before you curse him like many of us before you have done.
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And the Takayasu curse lives on…
https://x.com/GSumoBreakdown/status/1704136180000755804?s=20
Love it when all of the international fans get completely behind a wrestler for no apparent reason.
Hardly no apparent reason if you’re a fan of the sport. No one has had a more heartbreaking journey with more close calls only to fall just short than Takayasu. He’s also an affable, hairy bear, half-Japanese with a difficult childhood so is a bit of an underdog, made Ozeki but succumbed to injuries, and is at that point in his career where he’s unlikely to have many more chances. If he fails to get a yusho, he’ll become one of the best to never win one.
And worst of all, he’s cursed. The minute we fans start to get excited about his yusho prospect (I alone have cursed him about a dozen times), he crumbles in spectacular fashion, as he predictably did yesterday.
But if he ever manages to break the curse and win one, it’ll be the most popular win since his former stablemate Kisenosato (similarly cursed by sumoing in the era of the GOAT) finally broke through.
Looks like we’re down to young upstart Atamifuji, Ozeki gatekeeper Takakeisho, or tragic hero Takayasu for the yusho race unless something bizarre happens.
Takakeisho is the obvious bet, but I’d be delighted if either of the other two somehow found a way to take the Emperor’s Cup home.
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And indeed he was.
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Need the twitter menswear guy to weigh in but Okinoumi’s suit game looks on point. Maybe the arms are a little poofy.
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Can’t comment on the suit, though he does look quite dapper, but he cleaned up nicely after this happened during his retirement ceremony:
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Happy Kyushu basho everyone. Will Takakeisho repeat is autumn performance and become our next Yokozuna?
My boy 'Keisho looks crisp so far, I’m 100% on the hype train
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After the first five days, all of the sanyaku and Ozeki are off to good starts, something that has been a rarity in recent years. Promises to be an exciting finish next week if thinks continue to trend this way.
And yesterday’s intense stare down between Hoshoryu and Gonoyama was quite the spectacle.
Haven’t had a chance to follow this much, but wow my boy Tobizaru is too much fun, look at how he styled on Hokuseiho, a man roughly 7x his size. Just needs one W on the last day to get a winning record, let’s goooooo
Tobizaru is an entertaining havoc wreaker, in the spirit of his predecessor, Yoshikaze. And Hokutofuji is a kindered spirit. Too wild to be a consistent winner, but capable of playing spoiler at any time.
Was hoping Atamifuji could pull off the upset, but Kirishima is solid as a rock, and appears poised to make a run at becoming the next Yokozuna.
Some sad, sad sumo news today. Ex-Terao (Shikoroyama Oyakata --Abi’s shisho) has passed away at age 60 after a long battle with health problems.
https://twitter.com/NhkSumo/status/1736379639096827958
If you’re not familiar with this picture from his younger years, you’ll probably recognize him from this more recent photo:
https://twitter.com/nikkansports/status/1736362495340925338
He was one of the most popular wrestlers when I began watching sumo in the mid-90s, and he remained a favorite until his dying day.
He was taking tickets at the ticket gate the last time I went to the Kokugikan to see a tourney and there was a line a mile long at his window just because everyone wanted to meet and greet him.
He’ll be missed in the sumo community.
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Hakuma?