Author: Herouth

Bouts from the lower divisions – Aki 2020, Day 3

Herouth Aki Basho 2020

It’s Day 3. And you know what happens on Day 3? Maezumo starts!

Only, not this time.

For the first time since the current system has been set up (in the ’60s), maezumo will not take place. Normally, maezumo consists of new recruits and rikishi who were off-banzuke and wish to make a comeback. This basho, there has been only one new recruit. Being Mongolian, however, he cannot enter the association until he receives the appropriate visa, which is expected to happen next basho.

This leaves us with off-banzuke rikishi. But only one such rikishi had plans to return this basho – Reon, of Shikihide beya. I have been joking on twitter about the sumo equivalent of “one hand clapping”, but this turned into reality. Reon will be declared “shusse” (passing), and will start next basho at Jonokuchi, without ever having mounted the dohyo this basho (except, perhaps, in the goyji toss? Not sure).

Which leaves us with nothing to do but cover the ranked matches of the day, which is the first day of round 2. Let’s get on with it, then.

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Bouts from the lower divisions – Aki 2020, Day 2

Herouth Aki Basho 2020

Here we are again, in the second half of the first day, so to speak. The lower divisions matches are arranged to spread the rikishi’s 7 matches over 15 days. And other than near the end of the basho, this generally means that each pair of days is a “round”, in which each rikishi fights once. Then they pick the next round’s matches based on the standings at the end of the previous round – matching men of equal scores.

So today we will see matches of men who didn’t fight the first day. Let’s get moving!

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Bouts from the lower divisions – Aki 2020, Day 1

Herouth Aki Basho 2020

Ohisashiburi (“it’s been a long time”)! These days I don’t have much time to write daily reports, but I decided to take some time off work. These being COVID days, vacations are best spent at home, and what is a better way than to spend my vacation immersed in Sumo? So here is a collection of matches from the lower divisions. Today, we are featuring all three bow twirlers. Let’s start.

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COVID-19 outbreak in Tamanoi beya

Herouth Aki Basho 2020

Here is an update to the earlier news we published about a new outbreak of COVID-19 in Grand Sumo.

Following the completion of all test and results, the NSK announced that 18 new rikishi have been found positive for COVID-19, all belonging to Tamanoi beya.

This includes one of the heya’s sekitori – Fujiazuma (J14E).

In total, counting the first rikishi who was diagnosed on September 5th, this makes 19 rikishi out of the heya’s 28.

13 of the rikishi have already been hospitalized, and have mild symptoms. The others are asymptomatic, and are currently isolated at the heya, awaiting admission to a proper facility.

However, the basho will go ahead as planned – excepting the Tamanoi rikishi and oyakata, who will all be absent.

Unless the NSK makes a special dispensation for these rikishi (which I consider unlikely), this means the two sekitori will go 0-0-15, the lower ranked rikishi will go 0-0-7, and they will all suffer the usual consequences to their rank. The ones to be most affected are:

  • The two sekitori, Azumaryu and Fujiazuma, who will lose their sekitori status.
  • Shiraishi, currently Ms2W, will drop out of the promotion range.

Luckily, the heya does not have any Jonokuchi wrestlers, so nobody will be going off-banzuke.

The heya also includes a gyoji, yobidashi, two tokoyama and a sewanin. However, they do not live at the heya, and have not been at the heya at all in the applicable time slot. The NSK consulted with its infection expert, and he said that in such a case, there is no reason to keep them away from the basho.

Tachiai wishes all rikishi involved a speedy and complete recovery, and hopes that no new cases should arise.