Natsu 2024: Shonichi Preview

Andy Natsu 2024, Natsu Basho

The Japan Sumo Association released the torikumi-hyo (bout list) for shonichi (Day One), and with it the names of kyujo sekitori. Takerufuji and Asanoyama are injured and will not compete from Day One. Though we do not anticipate either man participating in this tournament, we will keep our eyes and ears open for any news. Takerufuji will need a few wins (likely 2 or 3) to be safe from demotion to Juryo in July.

Coming into March, we were anticipating strong performances from our top guys, particularly Terunofuji and Kirishima. That got flipped on its head during the tournament as the Yokozuna left early from injury after picking up a string of losses, and Kirishima struggled to find wins. The fact that Kirishima showed up each day meant that he was able to attend Senshuraku activities and participate in the danpatsushiki of his long-time tsukebito, Yuki. We are eager to see if he can turn his fortunes around at Kakuryu’s Otowayama-beya.

So, coming into April, the story is completely different. And that means the bout list itself is chock-full of interesting match-ups. These early bouts carry a bit more weight than one would anticipate, leading up to an absolute banger: Terunofuji vs Onosato in the musubi-no-ichiban. While that is certainly the biggest bout tomorrow, the entire slate has promise. Before Terunofuji’s bout we will have Hoshoryu against Atamifuji, Kotozakura and debuts his new shikona against Daieisho. Takakeisho will face Hiradoumi and Kirishima will take on Gonoyama in a pair of bouts where the Ozeki should be heavy favorites to win. Should. Emphasis added there.

I will be watching the Wakamotoharu/Takayasu bout with keen interest and Tobizaru facing Abi should be a highlight, even if it shouldn’t feature into the yusho race. Now, outside of the sanyaku, Oho will take on Ura, Onosho takes on Meisei and Nishikigi will start his tournament against Midorifuji. The full bout list is here but I have a particular feeling about Ichiyamamoto and Hokutofuji. I think the two of them could light it up this basho.

New Ad-free Streaming Sumo Option for Natsu

Andy Japanese Language, Japanese Society, Television ,

Jme.TV (pronounced Jay-mee), the exclusive North American streaming provider of NHK content, will offer a fourth channel exclusively for sumo content just in time for the May tournament. Two hours of live sumo will be available via the NHK World Premium channel and repeats of that sumo action (with English audio) will be streamed four times daily on the new channel. The service is described the image to the right. Tachiai welcomes this development from NHK Cosmomedia and their NHK parent company, unreservedly.

In the past, JapanTV was the only legitimate source of live sumo coverage in North America. That service required a cable subscription. In my experience, if you wanted TV in High Definition, that required extra bundles beyond the basic cable. Ultimately, I would be left subsiziding 500 channels I’d never watch just for one show or one channel.

JME was launched this year to replace the old JapanTV option with a streaming capability, direct to consumers at $25/mo. This effectively shutdown JapanTV at the beginning of April 2024. I don’t use Roku or Amazon Fire and I don’t watch via apps on my phone but those options are available. I have heard some users have complained about the fact that the new service is streamed and is not their usual cable package. To those who complain, I ask how many of their three remote controls do they use? And do they hate it when luddites like myself come over to visit and push the wrong “ON” button on the wrong remote to turn on the TV? (My daughter usually has fix my parents’ cable set up after I destroy it.) All of those remotes and all of those buttons when you probably use five, max.

There are three streaming channels as well as an “on-demand” option for various Japanese television series. Two of the channels are in Japanese and the third is the “NHK World” service that we were most familiar with. Jme Select is NHK content shifted for North American timezones. NHK Premium is Japanese with some programming (including live sumo) having English audio available. NHK World is…well..NHK World, the NHK’s English language channel. Until recently that had been available via broadcast in the MHZ networks. The new, sumo only channel is a welcome development!

For cord-cutters like myself, this has been quite the encouraging development, especially since the content is AD-FREE. We will continue to advocate for more sumo coverage. That case will be made easier with rapid uptake of the new streaming service. Let’s face it, if they see impressive viewer numbers on the exclusive sumo channel it’s my hope that they expand viewership to Juryo and the lower divisions and maybe even “off-season” special events, like retirement ceremonies and Jungyo.

I encourage viewers to comment here with their unfiltered reviews of the service. I started watching on senshuraku in March. Senshuraku offers 2.5 hours of live coverage which is a bit more than the 2 hours of day-to-day coverage. That is enough to watch makuuchi, no VPN or illicit stream needed. I’ve been a casual viewer of the service in the off-season, mostly of the news. But I have definitely found a few Japanese dramas and comedies to watch as I try to improve my own language skills. There have been a few bugs and glitches, generally quickly resolved. Earlier this week, the schedule for one of the channels was unavailable in the usual location but that was fixed. What has been your experience so far?

Natsu 2024 Banzuke Review

Andy Natsu 2024, Natsu Basho , ,

On Tuesday, the Sumo Kyokai released the banzuke for the upcoming May tournament. So, what are the big highlights? Starting at the top of the banzuke, Kotonowaka is now, Kotozakura. Ozeki Kirishima is kadoban. Wakamotoharu stays at Sekiwake for the second consecutive basho. He’s joined at the rank by Abi (on the West), who returns to the rank for the first time since 2022 — and the first time since his yusho. Asanoyama and Onosato were both promoted to Komusubi, for Onosato it’s his first time in sanyaku. Takerufuji jumped up to Maegashira 6 East after his yusho.

We have two new promotions to the top division with Oshoma from Naruto-beya at M14W and Tokihayate (Tokitsukaze-beya) at M15E. Mitoryu, Tomokaze, and Takarafuji return to Makuuchi. Onokatsu, Tochitaikai (Tsukahara), and Kazekeno were promoted to Juryo for the first time while Chiyomaru returns.

SumoDB Banzuke

In a six-basho career, Onosato’s got the second fastest sanyaku promotion after Ichinojo’s lightning fast 5-basho trip to Sekiwake. From his top division debut, he hits sanyaku after two tournaments. That’s in the realm of guys like Asashoryu, Ryogoku, and Konishiki. The hype machine will be in overdrive for both Onosato and Takerufuji this basho, that’s for sure.

So, what am I watching this tournament? Obviously, Takerufuji. You can’t just walk in to the top division and win a yusho without getting everyone’s attention.

Takerufuji is just far enough down the banzuke that he is outside of the “joi” so he should not have the most difficult schedule. That being said, if he’s undefeated after Nakabi or in the yusho race, he will get hit with a bigger challenge. Given his injury, though, I think we will all be surprised if he is in this title race.

It’s anyone’s guess who will take this championship. I am hopeful that the Yokozuna or one of the Ozeki rolls to a convincing 14-1 yusho. Right now, I am thinking Kotozakura has the best opportunity to claim his first title.

Former Chiyonoshin Hospitalized After Stroke

Andy Breaking News

Some very sad news out of Japan today as Chiyonoshin has been rushed to the hospital after an apparent stroke. As Herouth notes, the former Makushita wrestler out of Kokonoe-beya is the elder brother of Chiyonokuni and had recently played the role of Enya in Sanctuary. He is known to Tachiai playing such a big part in the Sumo + Sushi event that Justin (pictured) and I enjoyed last year. Justin was able to face him on the dohyo. We hope he gets well soon.