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Other Sports Hatsu basho (sumo)

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Canedog said:
Yes, a new Shogun ….. errr Yokozuna:
sumo win GIF
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Say no to the henka
 
I think we actually miss out on a lot having all these entertainment options nowadays. Back when there were three channels and Wide World of Sports was on, we got introduced to sumo wrestling.
 
JD08 said:
I think we actually miss out on a lot having all these entertainment options nowadays. Back when there were three channels and Wide World of Sports was on, we got introduced to sumo wrestling.
Click to expand...
i feel like nothing culturally advanced me quite like the 4 to 6 am weekend time slot on ESPN in the late 80s and early 90s
 
A couple story lines to watch throughout the tournament:

A kotozakura win, and a hoshoryu tournament win likely results in a new Yokozuna. This will allow the current aging and broken bodied dai Yokozuna terunofuji to take a much needed retirement without leaving the top spot empty.

Kotozakura is Japanese, and a Japanese Yokozuna has been rare (only 1) this century since the Mongolian takeover. You might recognize that name, and with good reason. His grandfather also named kotozakura was Yokozuna in the 70s. His father reached sekiwake as well, so this is sport royalty.

Speaking of the Mongolian takeover, that started with asashoryu. He was a bad boy in the sport, traditionalists don’t like him for his antics/emotion, and of course because he is not Japanese. He had to retire early for getting in a bar fight, and is the only similar era wrestler with a winning record against the sport’s GOAT Hakuho (also Mongolian). My personal favorite, he was the villain of the sport, the same thing that drew me to the canes back in the day. Incidentally, hoshoryu is his nephew, and has had a couple incidents of disrespect as well. I’m cheering for him of course. Hoshoryu is not the biggest but does great work with throws and leverage.

It is actually possible for both kotozakura and hoshoryu to receive promotion after this tournament if hoshoryu beats kotozakura to finish 1 and kotozakura finishes 2 in the rankings like the November tournament (kotozakura beat horshoryu on the final day so they went 1/2 in November).

For promotion from Ozeki to Yokozuna you need two wins (or “near wins”, think playoff or final day loss to the eventual champion) in a row AND the committee has to think you check the boxes for representing the sport and the culture in a positive way, good role model etc.

Onosato is the other current ozeki. Needs a couple consecutive tournament wins for promotion, but he is a beast. He had a disappointing November basho after a top division yusho in September. Look for him to bounce back and prove the sudden celebrity status isn’t getting to him.

Takerufuji who made headlines last year by winning his first ever top division tournament (first time that has happened in like 100+ years) is also off to a strong start. Injuries derailed his ranking after the March yusho, but he is looking good and should be considered a contender despite being ranked in the bottom half of the division. This is one of the great young guys that will provide challenge to kotozakura and onosato for years to come.

Hakuoho (nephew of Hakuho) is also off to a strong start and will always be a story line due to the massive shadow of his bloodline.
 
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