I created an updated banzuke in Tableau. This time the map shows where the heya are, which I thought was pretty cool. It’s interesting to see just how many of them are pretty far out from Ryogoku, into Chiba and Saitama prefectures. So if you’re staying in Tokyo, but not near Ryogoku, there may still be a stable nearby that you can visit.
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.
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.
It’s the weekend that sumo fans have waited 6 weeks for – the time when the banzuke for the upcoming Haru Basho in Osaka is published. We expect it to appear some time around 4:30 PM Eastern US time on Sunday, and we will of course bring you coverage, including one of our world famous Tachiai podcasts.
Our own prognosticator, lksumo, has already gazed into his formula and produced his forecast, but who knows what is actually going to be published?
Leave your forecasts, predictions and wild guesses in the comments.
Word to all readers – the banzuke for the Aki basho has been published by the Japan Sumo Association. Feel free to go have a look, and I am sure that lksumo will have his comments shortly.
2 Weeks to Aki basho!
This summer sumo break has featured some fantastic jungyo coverage from Herouth, as the rikishi have traveled northern Japan. But the day that sumo fans have been anticipating with delight is now just hours away – the publication of the September ranking sheet – the Aki Banzuke!
The team here at Tachiai are as giddy as toddler on Christmas Eve, but with cleaner undergarments. We will bring you the banzuke news as soon as its posted (Sunday afternoon US time), but the podcast may wait until next weekend. The Aki basho begins two weeks from right about now.
With the beginning of the Nagoya just a few hours away, here is the official Tachiai Scorecard for the 2018 Nagoya Basho. I’ve also included the Stable Card for those who looking to track the progress of their favorite rikishi. Here’s hoping for another great Basho!
Nagoya Basho Pt.1
Nagoya Basho Pt.2
Nagoya Basho Stable Card