Hello all, it’s Bruce here, warming up to bring you daily coverage of the 2023 Aki basho. There are a lot of topics to watch during this tournament, but I think the biggest news to me is that Yokozuna Terunofuji will be kyujo. This is not a surprise given the state of his knees, but he has only complete a single tournament in the past year. Granted the finish was a 14-1 thundering yusho. But I would expect we are closer to the time when he will step down as Yokozuna than the start of his reign. In some ways that’s going to be sad, but he’s really fought very well in the 2 years since he took the rope.
We also have the debut of shin-Ozeki Hoshoryu, who was promoted following his 12-3 yusho in Nagoya. Readers know I like his sumo but wish he would display more hinkaku, though many have taken vocal exception to my writing about it (more on that further down the post). Truth be told, I want the guy to be a bit more sure of himself. That means you should know that you are one of the best, and act with self assurance and confidence. You don’t need to act like a punk, and frankly displays of that sort would keep you from getting the rope should your sumo ever warrant it. The NSK had enough of that from your uncle, and I am sure they have explained that to you and your oyakata.
After sitting out Nagoya with injury, the longest surviving Ozeki, Takakeisho, returns to clear kadoban. This is his second kadoban this year, and with luck he will get at least 8 wins. In January I predicted that the NSK may regret not giving him the rope following Hatsu, and I worry that prediction may come to pass, though many readers took vocal exception to my writing about it (more on that further down the post). He is the only Japanese Ozeki, and if you think that does not matter to Japanese fans, guess again. I have often written that Sumo is a Japanese sport made by Japanese people for Japanese people who are living in Japan. Everyone else (like us) are mostly welcome to come along for the ride, but we are a fraction side show for this, Japan’s national sport.
Likewise Kirishima is kandoban, having fallen into the modern Ozeki curse of securing the promotion and immediately suffering a performance limiting injury. The real question is my mind: Is the san’yaku weak enough to allow 2 Ozeki to clear kadoban in the same basho? Looking at the roster the warning signs are there, and I would name the primary obstacles to that plan Wakamotoharu and Kotonowaka. I can see both Takakeisho and Kirishima struggling in act 3 to piece together their 8. While it would be huge drama in front of the Tokyo crowd (and make for solid TV ratings on NHK), it will be brutal. Of course I am wondering about both of them being 7-7 on day 15 and facing an Ozeki Grand Darwin battle. The stuff of nightmares.
I would like to close this post with some personal news. At the conclusion of Tachiai’s coverage of Aki, I intend to retire. Possibly forever, at least for a time. The daily 5-6 hour burden to takes to put together the highlight and preview posts take their toll. When I have less than that time available, I tend to make mistakes. The readership has become more vocal as of late, and frankly, I don’t need the hassle of a few people who are willing to complain that the coverage that we give freely is not up their their standards or their tastes. While I give a defiant middle finger to the louts who have posted garbage in the comments section of our blog in the past several months, I offer my thanks to all of the solid readers and commenters here who share our love of sumo. I will miss you lot indeed.
But after the birth of my second child in January, and his ongoing health problems, there are not enough hours in a day to earn my income, take care of my family, and write about sumo. So let’s ride this last basho together, and hope for a glorious Aki tournament full of brilliant fights and exciting matches.
Onward!
Discover more from Tachiai (立合い)
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
While I will miss your commentary, I agree with the others that it is 100% the right thing to do.
I don’t always read the comments but how anybody could be mean to someone who is writing about their love of a sport is beyond me. I’ll miss your commentary very much, it was always the first thing I’d read during a basho. I learnt so much from your insights. All the best for the future and I hope you’ll return one day.
Sumo will not be the same without you Bruce. I have laughed out loud at your posts, marveled at how much you know about sumo, and learned a lot while having fun reading what you write. I totally understand putting family first. May you and your family experience good health going forward. Thank you for all that you have contributed to the sumo community here. I am certain that you have many more fans than detractors.
Best regards and wishes. And, put simply, “thanks.”
Gosh dang Bruce! All the best to you and your family! Yours was my go to site for the latest dohyo news. Where to turn now???
This is extremely sad news. I am a very loyal Tachiai reader – I even have the Tachiai T-shirt –and I have religiously read every one of Bruce’s previews and reports for the past 5 or 6 years. Many many thanks for all the joy and laughs and sumo wisdom Bruce.
Of course I totally understand that young kids change everything. But I do hope that Bruce will consider returning to Tachiai duties in a few years down the road. It does get easier once kids sleep through the night and can get their own breakfast and turn on the TV in the morning! I promise!
I would also like to say that part of the reason I love this website so much is that the tone of the comments (almost always) avoids the sort of vile nonsense that infects most of the internet, especially when it comes to sports and sports fans. I would strongly encourage the Tachiai team to please vigorously maintain the excellent standards of niceness and politeness on this blog, by ruthlessly deleting comments and banning any users who lower the tone.
Dear Bruce, I will miss your columns so much, but I completely understand. All my best wishes for the health of your son, and that all of your family get the rest they need.
It is the height of graciousness that you give us one last basho of your insightful, genial, thorough and fun commentary.
I am forever grateful to whatever kami (could it have been the Great Cat of the Kokugikan?) nudged me to find Tachiai during the second basho I ever watched, almost 6 years ago. This site and its community have been a joy.
I too will miss you, Bruce, very much. 😪Thank you for all you have given us. Best wishes for you and fam. 💖
いつもありがとう。
There is a simple way in my opinion – stop writing previews and only focus on bouts that are done. Previews are often a burden to predtict with crystal ball – analyzing done bouts on the other hand – is a work on given material. Less fuss more essence.
There is merit to this idea, but the daily summaries are usually pretty serious stuff, where the previews is where I unleash most of the crazy descriptions, and tend to be more fun for myself. The problem really hinges around a lack of sleep right now thanks to the baby, so I have the intellect of a 3 week-old watermelon you bought from WalMart.
If at some point you have the energy to rejoin, perhaps you could do what’s fun for you – the previews. People can find the results elsewhere, even though your excellent commentary would be missing.
As a father of two who no longer knows what “personal” time is, I salute your efforts thus far. Bruce I hope you do continue to chime in somewhere in the comments section from time to time – you are a very good writer who understands the beauty of subtle humor and the balance of decent yet opinionated discourse. It always a pleasure to read your words! Best of luck.
First, Natto Sumo was axed by NHK. Next, my favorit You Tube host, Chris Sumo decided to move on. Now this. Just found this fun, informative site. Poor me. But mostly, poor you. Didn’t realize how mean folks coukd be. Take care of yourself and your new baby.
This is such sad news. No more chuckling over rikishi trying to wrestle an eight story apartment building, or visiting Sadanoumi’s salt basket, or any number of wonderful images you have served up to us over the years. Your knowledge and wit has enlightened every tournament. Many many thanks.
I found the critics annoying, and it must have been even more irritating for you but I hope that hasn’t really affected your decision. They are such a minor voice.
Everything has its time and putting your family first is much more important.
Very best wishes to you.
Old stompy, big Dan, the w.twin…. I will miss…. Best of all! I will miss you!
Thank you for all of your passion and hard work over the years. I know I learned so much about sumo from you and the rest of the Tachiai team. Y’all were one of the major inspirations for me to start posting about sumo (though goodness knows if THAT was a good idea or not…).
Take care of yourself, love to your growing family, and f*ck the haters.
While I’m relatively new to Tachiai I find myself here regularly looking for updates and pertinent information on the sport.
It saddens me that you’ll be leaving us but the welfare and well-being of your family and yourself have to come first.
Wishing you nothing but the best and many thanks for what you’ve done for the sport.
Dear Bruce, I am a big fan of you.
Although I have never seen you, reading your blogs since more than 5years made me feel like you are a friend.
Your retirement, is a shock and I will be missing you a lot dear friend.
For sure Sumo will not be the same for me, anymore.
I wish you all the best and may God bless you.