Thanks to friend of Tachiai, El Zeno, who tipped me off to this short article in the New York Times Magazine. They refer to him as “Kendrick Young”, which is fun to read because that is likely the name he used for most of his adult life, Tachiai readers know him as Musashigawa’s Wakaichiro. It is a great glimpse into his world, even if it’s just for a moment, and some of the physical routines that are outside of what an athlete in the US might go through as part of their daily workout.
It has always impressed me that the sumotori can maintain such limber bodies, even while stacking on the mass. Underneath all of that body lies remarkable athletic ability.
The Natsu basho is always a special time for me. Both this year, and last year, I’ve spent a significant amount of time in Tokyo around the May tournament, and been fortunate enough to enjoy some fantastic sumo experiences and meet with some great people. In this post, I’ll share a bit about what I encountered over the past several weeks in Japan’s capital city.
New Tachiai experiences
First of all, I’m happy to share that I will be bringing a number of pieces of new content to the site in the coming weeks before the Nagoya basho. I attended keiko at Onoe beya with John Gunning, and later met one of Onoe’s new oyakata, and former sekitori Satoyama, who asked me to share some news with our readers, which will be coming in a later post.
Keiko at Onoe beya. Former sekitori Tenkaiho (Hidenoyama oyakata) looks on.
Additionally, backed by some fantastic questions from our readers, I spent an hour and a half with one of the voices of NHK’s sumo coverage, none other than popular broadcaster Murray Johnson. We had an amazing conversation, and I’m excited to bring it to you soon. And as a surprise for our readers, I met up for coffee and chocolate cake with luminary of the digital sumo world, the one and only Kintamayama. We had a similarly in-depth conversation that will be making its way to these pages soon (and we may even sneak some audio snippets into a future Tachiai podcast, so if you haven’t subscribed now, do it). I also, of course, got to visit my first sumo art exhibit, and my first dohyo consecration ceremony, the dohyo matsuri. Check out this post if you want to learn more.
Finally, I’m happy to say that I got to meet so many members of the Tachiai community. Natsu is a very popular tournament for sumo tourism – the weather is fantastic and the early summer time makes it a convenient moment for many fans to visit Tokyo. Jason Harris of Jason’s All Sumo Youtube Channel hosted a brilliant meet up during the tournament, where many Tachiai community members were present. Our reader and friend El Zeno produced fantastic Black Panther movie inspired Wakaichiro shirts, and it was a great chance to meet up with our friends at BuySumoTickets, who continue to provide so many of our readers with access to live sumo.
It was also wonderful again to link up with Tachiai contributor Nicola – please follow her work on the Tachiai instagram! – who has shared literally gigabytes of original photos that we are working to bring to the site in the near future. And I’d like to give a special shoutout to friend of the site Melissa, who along with her partner shared a box with me at my final day of the tournament – it was wonderful to have some great conversation and take in the basho with some very serious sumo fans!!
A panoramic view of Kokugikan, from the “Box C” masu section.
The Live Experience
I could probably write several posts on this, so I’ll keep it somewhat short. The live experience at Kokugikan continues to be the reason why so many folks make the trek from far and wide. There simply is nothing like experiencing sumo in the building that goes some way to making the sport as special as it is.
Special new “Reiwa” era merch has been produced, featuring the san’yaku of the first basho of the Reiwa era. Tochinoshin’s upcoming re-promotion has rendered these immediately out of date, but the NSK is clearly working to capture the enthusiasm of this new period. I would also add that like many of our readers who visited Kokugikan during this basho, I wore a Tachiai t-shirt with pride, and many locals (including vendors!) were very interested to find out where I got it. The well-received shirts can, of course, be purchased from Tachiai’s shop!
Kisenosato / Araiso arrives at Kokugikan
The Kisenosato exhibit at the Kokugikan drew massive numbers – and also as much enthusiasm as the man himself when he made his way into the public areas of the arena, as he did on several occasions. I witnessed mass hysteria greet the 72nd Yokozuna as he entered the building, and he continued to make a string of increasingly popular media appearances. His commentary has been praised from many quarters.
Natsu was the first tournament where I was able to watch from one of the “masu” box seats on the first floor. It was a very new experience for me, as I managed to score seats in the “Box C” section. The sight lines were still very good, though if you’re looking for a pure view and can’t manage to obtain the very rare and expensive seats nearer to the dohyo, I might recommend the Arena A seats on the second level.
For me, the box experience was almost less about seeing sumo and more about living the live sumo experience. It was the first time I had been at a basho where I hadn’t been surrounded by folks who look or talk like myself, and whether that’s good bad or irrelevant, there can be no denying that it created an incredibly different atmosphere for me and a very different experience on the whole. A year ago, I hadn’t even taken my first Japanese lesson, so it was a very rewarding feeling not only to be able to have basic conversation with the Takayasu-loving locals in the next box at points throughout the day, but also to be able to cheer for and share the rikishi that I love to follow (even if those were in some cases met with quizzical looks!).
Kokonoe beya’s “variety chanko,” served during the Natsu basho
Of course, it’s impossible to talk about sumo without talking about food. Kokonoe beya delivered the tournament’s helping of tasty “Variety chanko” for fans to sample. This tournament also marked the debut of the new Takakeisho bento box, which I experienced and will review in a later post. Of course, with Tochinoshin poised for an ozeki return, there won’t be a shortage of rikishi-inspired meals for us to continue to indulge at the venue in future.
At the end of it all, one man stood alone.
The Tournament, The Trophy, The Winner
I can’t say that on the days that I attended it really felt like there was a momentum or a story building behind Asanoyama – it was still early enough in the tournament that his first week, like that of many other well performing Maegashira every basho, could be corrected with a gruelling week 2 dance card. But he does have a growing number of die-hard fans in attendance at the tournament, and his cheer towel is one of the better sellers.
I have to say I agreed a lot with Bruce’s thoughts on the presidential visit and the trophy. It was impossible to escape conversation about this with virtually any english-speaking sumo fan or pundit in Tokyo. It was a moment of intrigue that has to do as much with the person as the politics – that is to say everything and nothing. This is because frankly, wherever you sit on the political spectrum or what you believe – everyone just didn’t know what would happen. How would it work? What would it be like? Kokugikan is a very security-free venue, which makes it part of the charm. So, this conversation piece certainly added to the sense of occasion.
The great tea cup of Hungary: unique, and staggering
I also concur with Bruce that I am happy for there to be some kind of American trophy. It’s not the one I would have made – personally, I long for the creativity of the giant macaron or the tea cup, I love those things. But, we have seen such a growing affinity between Americans and sumo over the past few years – this site is testament to that. So for there to be any trophy from America, well, it’s a nice feeling. Perhaps in future years America can do something like contributing a gift from the home state of the president, much in the way other countries supply yearlong supplies of beer or gasoline.
It’s important for us to keep the focus on sumo though, and I’m happy and relieved that we experienced a tournament that delivered that yet again. To our new followers who may have just discovered this world: welcome! We’re happy to have you. And to our friends of the site and long time readers, I’m excited to continue partnering with everybody else to create more content for the site! Thanks for sharing the experience with us.
Let’s look at what the Natsu results mean for the next banzuke. One fun fact: Asanoyama’s surprise victory means that the Makuuchi banzuke will contain a near-record 9 top-division yusho winners: Hakuho, Kakuryu, Goeido, Takakeisho, Tochinoshin, Mitakeumi, Kotoshogiku, Tamawashi and Asanoyama (plus a 10th, Terunofuji, currently toiling in Sandanme).
Upper San’yaku
Kakuryu will regain the top East Yokozuna rank, displacing absent Hakuho. And there will be four Ozeki on the banzuke for the first time since January 2017. The last such quartet consisted of Kisenosato (promoted, retired), Goeido (still here!), Terunofuji (demoted, just went 6-1 in Sandanme, and should be fighting at the bottom of Makushita next time), and Kotoshogiku (demoted, strong maegashira). The order of the Ozeki should stay the same: Goeido, Takayasu, Takakeisho, with Tochinoshin rejoining at O2w. And with that, we wave goodbye to the M17e rank along with its current holder.
Lower San’yaku
Three of the four slots opened up with West Sekiwake Tochinoshin’s re-promotion and the impending demotions of East Sekiwake Ichinojo (5-7-3) and East Komusubi Aoiyama (6-9). As a result, the only returning member, West Komusubi Mitakeumi (9-6), will move up to East Sekiwake. He will be joined at sumo’s third-highest rank by the other “San’yaku regular” over the past couple of years, M3 Tamawashi (10-5).
The open Komusubi ranks will be filled by M4 Abi (10-5) and the yusho winner M8 Asanoyama (12-3). I am not sure which will get the nod for the more prestigious East side: Abi’s tougher schedule or Asanoyama’s championship.
The New Joi
With 10 rikishi in the named ranks, the joi-jin should include the top 6 maegashira, although the line frequently extends further due to absences and occasional scheduling conflicts. The identities of the top 8 maegashira are clear, although their exact order is anything but. We have newcomers M5 Ryuden (10-5), who fought a full San’yaku slate at Natsu and should record his highest career rank of M1e, and the M7 duo of Shodai and Meisei, both also 10-5. For Shodai, this marks a return to his customary upper maegashira rank, while fast-rising Meisei will reach a new career high for the 5th consecutive basho!
Joining them will be San’yaku dropouts Aoiyama and Ichinojo, as well as upper maegashira survivors M1 Hokutofuji and the M2 duo of Endo and Daiesho, all 7-8. With all 8 rikishi arguably deserving to be ranked M1-M3, someone will experience bad banzuke luck.
The Makuuchi-Juryo Exchange
M17e Chiyoshoma (5-10), M16w Ishiura (5-10), and M14e Tokushoryu (4-11) have all booked seats on the Juryo express. Going in the other direction are Juryo yusho winner J2e Takagenji (13-2), who should make his top-division debut in the mid-maegashira ranks, and returnees J6e Kotoyuki (11-4) and J1e Toyonoshima, who just managed to scrape together the necessary 8 wins. The only “edge case” is M15e Terutsuyoshi, whose 6-9 record at that rank is enough to warrant demotion, but the 4th-best promotion case in Juryo belongs to J4w Azumaryu (8-7), and I don’t think that’s good enough to force the exchange.
As was the case last time, the bottom of Makuuchi is a mess, and it will be hard to come up with a banzuke that satisfies all the constraints and doesn’t promote anyone with a losing record. After Kotoeko, who should vault all the way from M15w to M11e (or higher if they place Takagenji here) with only an 8-7 record, there are 3 rikishi with minimal 7-8 make-koshi (M13e Chiyomaru, M13w Sadanoumi, and M14w Enho), two rikishi with weak promotion records from Juryo, and such under-performers as Tochiozan, Nishikigi, Yago, Kagayaki, Kaisei, and Terutsuyoshi, all with between 3 and 6 victories. All deserve to be ranked M14 or lower, yet someone must occupy the M11-M13 ranks.
The Juryo-Makushita Exchange
Basho-long absences and corresponding demotions of J7w Chiyonokuni and J11e Hakuyozan effectively created two extra open slots in Juryo. These should be complemented by the certain demotion of J14e Churanoumi (5-10) and the likely demotions of J13 Irodori (6-9) and J14w Seiro (7-8). Seiro’s survival is made less likely by the fact that there is no luck of strong promotion candidates at the top of Makushita.
Making it across the heaven/hell boundary should be Ms2w Takanofuji (7-0), Takagenji’s twin and fellow yusho-winner, Ms3e Ichiyamamoto (5-2), Ms3w Kizakiumi (5-2), Ms2e Kotokamatani (4-3), and Ms4e Ryuko (6-1). With the exception of Takanofuji, who’ll be making his 3rd trip to Juryo, the others are all debuts, marking an influx of exciting new names into the sekitori ranks. Ms4w Hoshoryu (4-3) will just miss out, but he will be in a great position to earn promotion in July.
The basho is over, and this is our ultimate Natsu 2019 lower division report. The lower division schedule is a little lighter on senshuraku, and we have fewer bouts today.
In Jonokuchi, we wish the giant from Miyagino beya, Toma, farewell and success in losing some weight by the Nagoya basho. Here is his final bout with Yabugasaki. Both are 4-2, Toma is attacking from the left.
Toma extends his balance to 5-2, and we will see him somewhere around Jonidan 60-70-ish in Nagoya.
In Jonidan, we move forward in time to watch the yusho playoff (which takes place at the end of Juryo matches). Tochikamiyama on the left is facing Okinohama on the right, and he is more than a little nervous.
The TV announcer expected a monoii, but apparently, Okinohama was flying while Tochikamiyama still had two feet inside the ring. Tochikamiyama bravely fights the smile that floats to his face, as he wins the yusho.
Next up, in Sandanme, we have Tamakongo (left) facing Kotoozutsu on the right. Or rather, this footage starts when Tamakongo has his bout to us. Tamakongo, if you recall, is Tamawashi’s lone heya-mate. The two are 5-1:
He is now 6-1, and all the rikishi in Kataonami beya have had a wonderfully large kachi-koshi this basho, it turns out.
The more serious Sandanme contest is between Shiraishi and Hokutokawa. Again we move forward in time, as this is a yusho decider. Shiraishi is set to become Tamanoi beya’s next star. Shiraishi attacks from the right:
Shiraishi is completely unfazed by the large crowd gathered for prime time. The Sandanme yusho is his, reminding us of one Oyanagi, who achievede the same in his first basho – nowadays called Yutakayama. Definitely one to watch for Nagoya as well.
Going up to Makushita, we can’t do without the back-flipping Tomisakae from Isegahama beya. He is matched with Takemasa, and both are 4-2. Tomisakae is coming from the left…
…and going straight to the right. Trust Tomisakae, though, to convert a Kotoyuki-style roll into a lithe cartwheel.
Well, maybe not exactly lithe.
Another bout in the 4-2 bracket that was relegated to senshuraku is our friend Kototebakari, facing Ryusei. In this case the video angle is such that Ryusei is with his back to us and Kototebakari attacking from the opposite direction.
Kototebakari was in a bit of danger there for a second, but manages an almost Hakuho-like stop and change of direction, for the win.
Finally, Here is a cynical, yucky bout at the bottom of Juryo. Seiro (right) is 7-7 and needs his kachi koshi to survive in Juryo. Ryuko is 5-1, but at Ms4e, with four kachi-koshi rikishi ranked above him, he needs that Juryo spot to be vacated and his own score to improve, to pass the “hell/heaven” line. This is how he does it:
