Ichinojo may miss the Kyushu tournament due to shingles. It’s kind of funny this would happen now because on TV here in the States there’s been a rash of shingles medication commercials. Pun obviously intended.

They’ve been saying it’s due to stress. I do wish NHK and everyone would lay off. If he’s good, cool. But he’s not a yokozuna until he’s a yokozuna. And he’s not going to be able to henka his way there. Where’s Endo been since his first great tournament? Yes, he’s raking in the cash – but lately his opponents have been walking away with more of it than he has. Even Osunaarashi has two kinboshi from the July tournament, but he has difficulty getting kachi-koshi if his opponents are prepared for his aggressiveness.

Ichinojo is a bit of an unknown quantity so until he’s consistently grabbing 10 victories per tournament, let’s hold off the coronation ceremony.