It’s Andy, Josh and Bruce from Team Tachiai discussing the Natsu banzuke, and news from the sumo world as we eagerly await a decision on May 6th on the fate of the May tournament. We cover: Shin-Ozeki Asanoyama, Shodai, Mitakeumi, Terunofuji, Enho and Ura along with the “Ozeki scrap heap” and a log jam of Sadogatake at the bottom of the banzuke.
The video version will be available soon, but for now here is the audio version for your listening enjoyment.
The threat of COVID-19 looms over the world of sumo, but at least one thing is certain—today is Banzuke day! That’s Sunday in the US, and early Monday for much the the rest of the world. In spite of the doubts about when the next basho will start, join Team Tachiai as we celebrate the Natsu ranking sheet!
Tachiai will bring you the details as soon as the banzuke hits the NSK web site, or you can join us in manically clicking refresh on this page: Grand Sumo Tournament Banzuke
Of course our master prognosticator, lksumo, published his predictions some time ago; you can find them here:
Simple question. Bruce’s article about 1918 begs the question, given this worst case scenario — fatalities — should Natsu 2020 happen? Has the NSK taken enough precautions to ensure the tournament can happen without spreading COVID-19 throughout the sumo world? They appear to have stopped the spread at one heya, which in my mind is remarkable given their communal living quarters.
I will ask this now…and at the beginning of May. I think it will be very interesting to compare the results.
In a meeting of the NSK board at the Ryogoku Kokugikan, a decision has been made to shift the next two basho by two weeks each.
Natsu basho will start May 24th, and Nagoya basho will start July 19th.
In the press conference that followed, chairman Hakkaku noted that the format is yet subject to change – the basho may be held in full format, behind closed doors, or cancelled entirely.