Ozumo/Sumo

Not sure if anyone else here watches sumo. I've been trying to get back into the sport for several years now. This past Nagoya Basho had a good two-rikishi race to the finish.

Big thing this week: a new yokozuna promotion! What a year for Terunofuji!

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210721_09/

Well this is sort of a big deal: Hakuho retires! https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210927/p2g/00m/0sp/010000c

I really wasn't following sumo all that much for the great majority of his career. Still I was able to gleem his greatness even through headlines and watching highlights only every so often. He'll likely never be given Ichidai Toshiyori by the JSA but I believe the majority of sumo fans understand his legacy and greatness.

 Griffin Seannery:

New sumo fan here, never got the chance to watch Hakuho showing his greatness (I started after Haru 2020) but then I got to see this year's July basho and it's just wow.

The final day showdown between Hakuho and Terunofuji was a helluva buildup. I can't imagine a zensho taiketsu happening again any time soon.

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Kind of a big deal: Yokozuna Terunofuji is set to participate in the Hatsu Basho this Sunday, his first since the Nagoya Basho in July: https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/01/dc421fa1568e-sumo-yokozuna-terunofuji-confirmed-for-new-year-meet.html

Ozeki Kirishima is tsunatori this basho and looks to be in good shape. All the best to Terunofuji, who honestly has nothing left to prove. His place in history is set, rising from the ashes of Jonidan after injury and illness to the top rank is the stuff of legend. Fans should just appreciate his Dohyo-iri this basho and hope he lasts for all 15 days.

 *** DAY 13 SPOILER ALERT ***

Day 13 in the books. Yanno, I'm not sure if anyone else noticed this but Kotonowaka had ZERO game plan in his showdown against the Yokozuna. I mean, he seen how guys have defeated Terunofuji: Keep moving, don't give him a chance to get a grip and get set, keep him off balance. Instead, he did what his daddy woulda done and just ran into Terunofuji smothering aura. I think the yusho and probably ozeki is a wrap.

Didn't think it possible a week ago but I think Terunofuji will pull off the upset and shaddap the Shingi Iinkai old farts for another cycle.

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240126/p2g/00m/0sp/093000c

*** SENSHURAKU SPOILER ALERT ***

I was low-key about it but man, Terunofuji proved why he's a legit Yokozuna, even after taking off half of 2023. Two absolutely convincing wins on Sunday, taking his 9th Emperors Cup. I will miss "Kotonowaka" as he transitions to his grandpa's shikona -- something I'm not really down with but I understand why it's done.

https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/sumo/20240128-165268/

Takerufuji has a chance to make history by becoming the first guy since, like before WWI to win a top-division title in his first makunouchi tournament. I mean, I don't really know how ozumo was in 1914 but I'm pretty damn sure it has little to do with what you see on TV nowadays.

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240322/p2g/00m/0sp/064000c

I'd say the odds pretty damn good. It's not out of the realm of possibility that he chokes, of course. This shit's hard.