Author: Bruce H

The May Banzuke is Posted!

Bruce H Banzuke (番付)


http://sumo.or.jp/EnHonbashoBanzuke/index/

All across the divisions, this is shaping up to be a barn-burner of a tournament. Some highlights (at least as I see them)

Takakeisho – first tournament as Ozeki. Congrats!

Ichinojo – Back at Sekiwake, which he shares with Tochinoshin who is 10 wins away from regaining his Ozeki rank.

Aoiyama – Komusubi for May, his fans all hope that he is in top form and can stand up to the intense pressure.

Kotoshogiku – Top echelon of the rank and file Maegashira 1w, a winning record might put him back in the named ranks.

Enho – Debut in the top division, I know fans who only get to see the highlight shows are going to wonder where this powerhouse has been hiding the whole time.

Roga – At Sandanme 22, the March Jonidan yusho winner takes a huge leap up the banzuke.

Terunofuji – He looked like death warmed over in March, but maybe he is in better condition now. He punches in at Sandanme 49.

Wakaichiro – After a losing record in March, he finds himself back in Jonidan at 19. Time for him to regroup and move forward.

While We Wait…

Bruce H Natsu Basho 2019 , ,

Yes, it’s true – I did not catch that the NSK was holding back the Banzuke until Tuesday AM Japan time. You can understand given that tradition plays a strong role in most things they do, that a rabid sumo fan would assume it would be published on Monday.

While we wait for it to actually show up, here’s a fun little video clip shared by Nicola Hetherington – a wonderful person and friend of Tachiai (she shares many, many basho photos with us).

Is That… Gagamaru on Drums?

Its ALMOST Banzuke Tuesday!!

Bruce H Banzuke (番付), Natsu Basho 2019

It’s almost that magical day that sumo fans wait 2 months for: The Japan Sumo Association will release the ranking list for the Natsu tournament, which starts 2 weeks from today. Tachiai will bring you the details as soon as it’s posted (we expect it in about 48+6 hours), and if you want to read through master prognosticator lksumo’s forecast you will find it here. The banzuke comes out on Tuesday. (Hat tip Herouth…per now deleted tweet.)

This will be the first banzuke where we see Takakeisho as an Ozeki, and we will see Tochinoshin reduced to a rank we call Ozekiwake – he is a Sekiwake, but 10 wins returns him to Ozeki. Given the brutal records of many fan favorites, we anticipate a large amount of churn when the Banzuke is published today. We expect to see micro powerhouse Enho make his Makuuchi debut, and for the spheroid known as Chiyomaru to return to the top division. But die hard fans want to know who will fill in the top division’s joi-jin, and we will be tracking new ranks for all of our lower division ones to watch. Check back soon for all of the glorious details.

US President Trump To Attend Senshuraku?

Bruce H Haru Basho 2019 (Osaka) ,
This Kabuki-style Trump image was created by atgart, and you can buy copies at Society6

There is a poorly sourced story circulating the Japanese press stating that US President Donald Trump may attend the final day of the May tournament, and join Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzō Abe to present the Prime Minister’s Cup. Firstly, all of us at Tachiai are careful to stay well clear of politics of any country, as it is a disappointing distraction from sumo. Secondly, I credit Herouth with finding this story.

I would point out that in my estimation, this is someone having a bit of fun with their readers. While it is true that President Trump is scheduled to be in Tokyo during the final weekend of the Natsu basho, his primary purpose is to meet with the new Emperor, discuss bilateral ties with Japan (one of the closest friends of the United States, may it ever be thus), and probably throw a big pile of fish food at some koi. It would be quite unusual for a foreign head of state to attend a day at the Kokugikan, and as far as the US Secret Service is concerned, an unworkable security nightmare.

So for those of you who want to keep political figures out of your sumo, have no fear, I very much doubt this would happen.

Update

Well, maybe I was too skeptical, more information from Herouth’s twitter feed…