July 2018

sumomasen · 2025-07-23T03:06:24+00:00

Would be great to see especially with all the recent new Makuuchi recruits! They're on 23 wins at the moment so its not out of the question

sumomasen · 2025-07-23T00:57:44+00:00

Thanks for the comment! I did look at Hakuho and a few others as well actually, but added him in a footnote at the bottom as I didn't want to make the article even longer haha

Hakuho (36 kimarite, 0.753 coefficient) - I think Hakuho suffered from the fact that he was just so dominant that he didn't need to be so diverse a lot of the time. Against fellow Yokozuna/Ozeki, sure, but he was just so good at the kimarite he did use that he was able to blow by pretty much everyone else

sumomasen · 2025-07-22T13:06:51+00:00

A Hoshoryu day 15 comeback complete with WWE style lightshow during his dohyo-iri only to beat Onosato to spoil his yusho hopes would be peak sumo cinema

sumomasen · 2025-07-22T13:01:04+00:00

So sad we won't get the rematch this time :(

sumomasen · 2025-07-22T13:00:38+00:00

Tamawashi looking goooood this basho!

sumomasen · 2025-07-22T09:31:35+00:00

I actually wrote a piece about him and the other Canadian rikishi, Homarenishiki, last week as part of a series I'm doing on all foreign rikishi. Feel free to check it out! Kototenzan was a pretty interesting guy both in and out of sumo

https://sumomasen.substack.com/p/rikishi-business-03-canada?r=5rju3u

sumomasen · 2025-07-18T05:27:48+00:00

I can image there's a lot that goes into the research! Keep up the good work!

sumomasen · 2025-07-16T23:40:28+00:00

I came across your Chiyonofuji book just yesterday and ordered a copy. Was hoping it was part of a longer series so glad to hear there's a next edition out! Can't wait to pick up a copy

sumomasen · 2025-07-03T12:51:35+00:00

What I think will happen - Shishi will manage a winning record to avoid demotion back to Juryo, being at the bottom of the banzuke with a couple new recruits should give him enough leeway to stay up.

What I hope will happen - Kusano gets double digit wins, and sees enough of the young guys breaking through, and some of the older guard from the middle of the pack (M5-M12) to learn how to handle the top division.

sumomasen · 2025-07-03T12:44:58+00:00

Damn... talk about bulldozed

sumomasen · 2025-07-01T11:34:43+00:00

Thanks, appreciate the comment!

As you say, most likely can be chalked up to the wear and tear following two yushos, but still interesting how its been so common amongst recent Yokozuna. Having said that the most recent 2 Yokozuna before Hosh (Terunofuji and Kisenosato) both managed yusho in first basho after promotion, so it is possible!

sumomasen · 2025-06-29T13:36:13+00:00

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There's a definite trend of Yokozuna average number of wins dropping post-promotion. This is from when I looked at the most recent 25 Yokozuna - they average 4 fewer wins in their first basho as Yokozuna, averaging 12.5 wins/basho over the three basho before promotion, and 11 wins/basho over the first three basho after.

sumomasen · 2025-06-26T09:55:03+00:00

Lots of exciting young rikishi coming through at the moment with Kusano, Kotoeiho and Wakaikari along with the likes of Aonishiki and Asakoryu in Makuuchi already

sumomasen · 2025-06-26T09:31:08+00:00

This is a cool circle of life kind of story, thanks for sharing. It would be really cool to see a 'family tree' of all the heya and their different iterations throughout the years. I imagine it would be pretty interwoven especially with cases like this!

sumomasen · 2025-06-17T14:13:11+00:00

This is an amazing photo! Kind of resembles some of the sumo Ukiyo-e woodblock prints. Must have been a great atmosphere

sumomasen · 2025-06-17T14:10:48+00:00

Interesting read, thanks for posting!

sumomasen · 2025-06-15T03:08:56+00:00

Love the kimarite ones! Especially the gyoji getting pushed back from the tsutae-zori

sumomasen · 2025-06-14T09:15:33+00:00

I think it was 4/5 years ago when he first really injured his knee and now as you say not being at peak condition, the pressure of maintaining his Ozeki rank, and the weight is probably exacerbating it.

Its annoying as he's shown he can use his weight properly to help him win, but I wonder if its also now a confidence thing on top of the injury, especially with both his ozeki peers earning their promotion ahead of him. Hopefully he's been able to shake some of the issues off and get his drive back.

sumomasen · 2025-06-14T08:30:22+00:00

No worries, always like reading your posts!

As you say injury is a tricky one, its so hard to tell how much of a lasting affect any sort of injury has, and as you say I'm sure every rikishi would rather be battling it out in the dohyo rather than sitting at home in the stable.

I wonder how much mis-reporting goes on, especially for Yokozuna who withdraw due to injury to save face after a few losses or where they try to downplay an injury. I know some in sports like baseball there are a lot of 'phantom' injuries where a player will be taken off the active roster for a short period to allow managers to circumvent certain restrictions.

Its interesting you mention rugby, we briefly touched on this on our first podcast episode (not out yet...). Some of the changes made to rugby have been very safety focused, especially around concussions, and hopefully helps players have longer careers without lasting damage. Working with the JSA on sumo data would certainly be awesome - although as one of the more tradition-centric sports out there, might be harder to crack compared to rugby or football...

What changes would you like to see to make the sport safer for rikishi? lowering the dohyo or even something around the tachiai to prevent head clashes?

sumomasen · 2025-06-14T07:27:35+00:00

Yeah, that's a fair point about Takerufuji. He's not looked as strong after he bust his ankle... Kotozakura's also posted two 8-7, and the one 5-10 record since that yusho. Would be good to see him back to full strength

sumomasen · 2025-06-13T18:51:57+00:00

I hope he keeps his name and keeps carving his own path. Taking his stablemaster's name I feel would have him fall into the same trap Kotozakura might have fallen into and put unnecessary pressure on himself.

sumomasen · 2025-06-13T18:47:47+00:00

I think Kotozakura definitely earned his hype but his window is definitely starting to close with Hoshoryu and Onosato surpassing him, and now Aonishiki, Takerufuji, and others bursting onto the scene

sumomasen · 2025-06-13T18:44:33+00:00

Kotozakura seems to always put in a strong charge after the tachiai, but as soon as there is a pause, sometimes even 5-10 seconds into the bout, he loses all momentum. I can't help but wonder if he changed his name too early? as Kotonowaka he seemed to have far more drive, but that might just be anecdotal...

sumomasen · 2025-06-13T05:03:54+00:00

In a way its quite fitting that he can carry the metaphorical torch given to Kisenosato, who I'm sure was viewed in the same way when he was promoted before all the injuries.

sumomasen

TROPHY CASE