Ura (宇良)

Quiz! 2020 in sumo

Timothée Heinz Tokyo November Basho , , , , , , ,

Just like in recent years, 2020 has been quite an eventful year in sumo: surprise winners, stunning comebacks and the Covid pandemic all coloured this year. The dust might settle a bit next year, but still, how much do we remember about sumo highlights this year?

1. 2020 has been a year to forget for the yokozuna, who will both need to get at least ten wins in January. How many wins did they get combined in 2020?

a. 29

b. 33

c. 37

d. 41

2. In how many bouts did Hakuho actually participate in 2020 (during honbasho, of course; not counting fusen losses and torinaoshi)?

a. 25

b. 30

c. 35

d. 40

3. What about Kakuryu? How many times did he fight in 2020?

a. 15

b. 20

c. 25

d. 30

Both yokozuna will face a make or break situation in January 2021.

4. Let’s now focus to 2020’s ozeki. How many times did an ozeki finish with a losing record?

a. Three

b. Four

c. Five

d. Six

5. Going further down the banzuke, Mitakeumi had a (very) disappointing year 2020. How many make koshi did he get?

a. One

b. Two

c. Three

d. Four

Mitakeumi won a yusho in 2018 and 2019, but was less successful this year (Photo Courtesy Rob Donner)

6. Tokushoryu, on the other hand, obviously had a great year 2020, winning the first yusho, then keeping a place in makuuchi. Following his surprise win in January, how many more kachi koshi did he get?

a. None

b. One

c. Two

d. Three

7. Let’s have some fun with names: which one of these pairs of rikishi have shared the same division at some point (1/3)?

a. Hoshoryu – Shohoryu
b. Hoshoryu – Oshoryu
c. Oshoryu – Shohoryu
d. Kaisei – Kaisho

8. Same question: which pair of rikishi has fought together in the same division in 2020 (2/3)?

a. Daieisho – Daishoho

b. Terunofuji – Fujinoteru

c. Tomisakae – Tokisakae

d. All three pairs

9. This time, which pair of rikishi has NOT been together in the same division (3/3)?

a. Chiyonokuni – Chiyonoumi

b. Churanoumi – Chiyonoumi

c. Churanoumi – Chiyonokuni

d. None of the above – they have all shared the same division at some point.

10. Kotoshogiku’s body could not enable him to remain fully fit in 2020. He hasn’t been able, in either tournament, to get more than…

a. Six wins

b. Seven wins

c. Eight wins

d. Nine wins

11. How many newcomers have been welcomed in makuuchi?

a. Six

b. Seven

c. Eight

d. Nine

12. Who got five kachi koshi in makuuchi this year?

a. Nobody

b. Takakeisho

c. Takanosho

d. Takakeisho and Takanosho

13. How many bouts did Ura lose this year?

a. Four

b. Six

c. Eight

d. Ten

Ura produced a stunning comeback this year.

14. Hanakaze is still wrestling, being half a century old! But how many kachi koshi did he get this year?

a. Zero

b. One

c. Two

d. Three

15. Going right to the bottom of the banzuke, how many bouts did Hattorizakura win this year?

a. Zero

b. One

c. Two

d. Three

The answers:

1. 2020 has been a year to forget for the yokozuna, who will both need to get at least ten wins in January. How many wins did they get combined in 2020?

c. 37. 24 for Hakuho, and only 13 for Kakuryu. In my opinion, it comes as no surprise they are facing the risk of having to retire early next year.

2. In how many bouts did Hakuho actually participate in 2020 (during honbasho, of course; not counting fusen losses and torinaoshi)?

b. 30. Three bouts in January, fifteen in March and twelve in July.

3. What about Kakuryu? How many times did he fight in 2020?

b. 20. Four times in January, fifteen in March, and just one in July.

4. Let’s now focus to 2020’s ozeki. How many times did an ozeki finish with a losing record?

b. Four times, by four different sekitori: Asanoyama (1-2-12) and Shodai (3-2-10) in November; Takakeisho (7-8) in March, and let’s not forget Goeido (5-10), in January!

5. Going further down the banzuke, Mitakeumi had a (very) disappointing year 2020. How many make koshi did he get?

b. Two, in January and November. Mitakeumi will start 2021 approximately where he started in 2020: below the rank of sekiwake, no yusho and one more aborted ozeki run. Put it briefly, trademark Mitakeumi.

6. Tokushoryu, on the other hand, obviously had a great year 2020, winning the first yusho, then keeping a place in makuuchi. Following his surprise win in January, how many more kachi koshi did he get?

b. One time only, in November (8-7). He got payback right in March (4-11), but had decent efforts in July and September, barely missing kachi koshi (7-8).

7. Let’s have some fun with names: which one of these pairs of rikishi have shared the same division at some point?

c. Oshoryu – Shohoryu. Hoshoryu has reached juryo in November 2019, whereas Shohoryu is still in makushita. Kaisho got relegated from juryo in November 2019, while Kaisei returned to makuuchi in January 2020. So the only pair having shared the same division is Oshoryu – Shohoryu. Actually, they’re still together in makushita.

Bow twirler Shohoryu

8. Same question: which pair of rikishi has fought together in the same division in 2020 (2/3)?

c. Tomisakae – Tokisakae. Daishoho wasn’t higher than juryo 3, and actually finished the year in makushita. Terunofuji went so low down the banzuke that he chould say hi to Fujinoteru in jonidan, but actually started the year in juryo. Tomisakae and Tokisakae have seen each other in makushita.

9. This time, which pair of rikishi has NOT been together in the same division (3/3)?

d. None of the above – they have all shared the same division at some point. That one was tricky. Churanoumi and Chiyonoumi have been together in juryo thrice, in March, July and November. Churanoumi actually spent the whole year in juryo; therefore, he met Chiyonokuni during his sole basho in juryo, in September. Chiyonoumi sat in makushita in September, and has NOT met Chiyonokuni – but they BOTH were in makushita, in January 2020.

10. Kotoshogiku’s body could not enable him to remain fully fit in 2020. He hasn’t been able, in either tournament, to get more than…

c. Eight wins, in July.

11. How many newcomers have been welcomed in makuuchi?

a. Six: Kiribayama (January), Kotonowaka (March), Kotoshoho (July), Tobizaru, Hoshoryu (September) and Akua (November) have all been new to makuuchi – and will begin 2021 in sumo’s first division.

12. Who got five kachi koshi in makuuchi this year?

a. Nobody. If both mentioned rikishi had a fine 2020 year, both finished 7-8 earlier this year (Takanosho in January, Takakeisho in March).

13. How many bouts did Ura lose this year?

c. Eight. One bout in July, one in September, and six in November. He won back to back yusho in jonidan and sandanme

14. Hanakaze is still wrestling, being half a century old! But how many kachi koshi did he get this year?

b. One, a 4-3 record in March. He’ll be relegated to jonokuchi in January.

15. Going right to the bottom of the banzuke, how many bouts did Hattorizakura win this year?

Hattorizakura has not won a single bout since January 2019.

a. Zero. No big surprise here, unfortunately…

Quiz ! l’année 2020 en sumo

Timothée Heinz Tokyo November Basho , , , , , , ,

Comme les années précédentes, 2020 a été une année assez mouvementée en sumo: de surprenants vainqueurs, d’improbables retours, et la pandémie liée au Covid-19 ont tous marqué cette année. Nous pourrions avoir un peu de repos l’an prochain ; mais de quoi pouvons-nous nous remémorer de cette année ?

1. 2020 a été une année à oublier pour les yokozuna, qui vont devoir obtenir au moins dix victoires en janvier. Combien de victoires ont-ils obtenu à eux deux en 2020 ?

a. 29

b. 33

c. 37

d. 41

2. A combien de combats Hakuho a-t-il participé en 2020 (en prenant en compte uniquement les honbasho, mais ni les défaites par défaut, ni les torinaoshi) ?

a. 25

b. 30

c. 35

d. 40

3. Et Kakuryu? Combien de fois a-t-il combattu en 2020 ?

 a. 15

b. 20

c. 25

d. 30

Les deux yokozuna auront leur fin de carrière en jeu en janvier 2021

4. Concentrons-nous à présent sur les ozeki. Combien de fois un ozeki a-t-il obtenu un résultat négatif ?

a. Trois

b. Quatre

c. Cinq

d. Six

5. Allons plus bas dans le banzuke. Mitakeumi a eu une année 2020 (très) décevante. Combien de make koshi a-t-il obtenu ?

 a. Un

b. Deux

c. Trois

d. Quatre

Mitakeumi a remporté un tournoi en 2018, et en 2019. Mais il n’a pas été aussi décisif cette année (Photo Courtesy Rob Donner)

6. Tokushoryu, de son côté, a de toute évidence eu une belle année 2020, remportant le premier tournoi, puis conservant sa place en makuuchi. Après sa victoire surprise en janvier, combien d’autres kashi koshi a-t-il obtenu ?

 a. None

b. One

c. Two

d. Three

7. Amusons-nous à présent avec les noms: laquelle de ces paires de lutteurs a été dans la même division, à un moment quelconque de l’année 2020 ? (1/3)?

a. Hoshoryu – Shohoryu
b. Hoshoryu – Oshoryu
c. Oshoryu – Shohoryu
d. Kaisei – Kaisho

8. Même question: laquelle de ces paires de lutteurs a combattu dans la même division en 2020 (2/3)?

a. Daieisho – Daishoho

b. Terunofuji – Fujinoteru

c. Tomisakae – Tokisakae

d. Toutes ces trois paires

9. Cette fois, laquelle de ces paires n’a PAS combattu dans la même division (3/3)?

a. Chiyonokuni – Chiyonoumi

b. Churanoumi – Chiyonoumi

c. Churanoumi – Chiyonokuni

d. Aucune de ces paires – ils ont tous partagé la même division à un moment donné

10. Kotoshogiku n’était pas suffisamment rétabli pour combattre à 100 % en 2020. Dans aucun tournoi, il n’a pu engranger plus de…

a. Six victoires

b. Sept victoires

c. Huit victoires

d. Neuf victoires

11. Combien de lutteurs ont découvert le makuuchi en 2020 ?

a. Six

b. Sept

c. Huit

d. Neuf

12. Qui a obtenu cinq kashi koshi en makuuchi, cette année ?

a. Personne

b. Takakeisho

c. Takanosho

d. Takakeisho et Takanosho

13. Combien de combats Ura a-t-il perdu cette année ?

a. Quatre

b. Six

c. Huit

d. Dix

Ura a réalité un superbe retour cette année

14. Hanakaze combat toujours, âgé d’un demi-siècle ! Mais combien de kashi koshi a-t-il obtenu cette année ?

a. Zero

b. Un

c. Deux

d. Trois

15. Allons tout en bas du banzuke. Combien de victoires Hattorizakura a-t-il remporté cette année ?

a. Zéro

b. Une

c. Deux

d. Trois

Les réponses :

1. 2020 a été une année à oublier pour les yokozuna, qui vont devoir obtenir au moins dix victoires en janvier. Combien de victoires ont-ils obtenu à eux deux en 2020 ?

c. 37. 24 pour Hakuho, et seulement 13 pour Kakuryu. Ce n’est à mon avis pas une surprise si tous deux risquent d’être contraints à la retraite, début 2021.

2. A combien de combats Hakuho a-t-il participé en 2020 (en prenant en compte uniquement les honbasho, mais ni les défaites par défaut, ni les torinaoshi) ?

b. 30. Trois combats en janvier, quinze en mars et douze en juillet.

3. Et Kakuryu? Combien de fois a-t-il combattu en 2020 ?

b. 20. Quatre combats en janvier, quinze en mars, et un seul en juillet.

4. Concentrons-nous à présent sur les ozeki. Combien de fois un ozeki a-t-il obtenu un résultat négatif ?

b. Quatre fois, et par quatre lutteurs différents: Asanoyama (1-2-12) et Shodai (3-2-10) en novembre ; Takakeisho (7-8) en mars, et n’oublions pas Goeido (5-10), en janvier !

5. Allons plus bas dans le banzuke. Mitakeumi a eu une année 2020 (très) décevante. Combien de make koshi a-t-il obtenu ?

b. Deux, en janvier et en novembre. Mitakeumi va débuter l’année 2021 tout comme il a débuté 2020 : en-dessous du rang de sekiwake, pas de yusho, et une campagne d’ozeki avortée. En un mot, typique de Mitakeumi.

6. Tokushoryu, de son côté, a de toute évidence eu une belle année 2020, remportant le premier tournoi, puis conservant sa place en makuuchi. Après sa victoire surprise en janvier, combien d’autres kashi koshi a-t-il obtenu ?

b. Une seule fois, en novembre (8-7). Il a eu un retour de bâton en mars (4-11), mais a obtenu des résultats corrects en juillet et septembre, ratant le kashi koshi de peu (7-8).

7. Amusons-nous à présent avec les noms: laquelle de ces paires de lutteurs a été dans la même division, à un moment quelconque de l’année 2020 ? (1/3)?

c. Oshoryu – Shohoryu. Hoshoryu a atteint le juryo en novembre 2019, alors que Shohoryu est toujours en makushita. Kaisho a été relégué du juryo en novembre 2019, tandis que Kaisei est revenu en makuuchi en janvier 2020. Ainsi, la seule paire à avoir partagé la même division est Oshoryu – Shohoryu. En réalité, ils se trouvent toujours tous les deux en makushita.

Le yumitori shiki : Shohoryu

8. Même question: laquelle de ces paires de lutteurs a combattu dans la même division en 2020 (2/3)?

c. Tomisakae – Tokisakae. Daishoho n’a jamais été mieux classé que juryo 3, et a terminé l’année en makushita. Terunofuji est descendu si bas dans le banzuke qu’il a pu saluer Fujinoteru, mais il a débuté l’année en juryo. Tomisakae et Tokisakae ont été ensemble en makushita.

9. Cette fois, laquelle de ces paires n’a PAS combattu dans la même division (3/3)?

d. Aucune de ces paires – ils ont tous partagé la même division à un moment donné. C’était une question piège ! Churanoumi et Chiyonoumi ont été trois fois ensemble en juryo, en mars, en juillet et en novembre. Churanoumi a finalement passé toute l’année en juryo ; ainsi, il a rencontré Chiyonokuni lors de son seul tournoi en juryo, en septembre. Chiyonoumi était en makushita en septembre, et n’y a donc PAS rencontré Chiyonokuni – mais les DEUX étaient en makushita, en janvier 2020.

10. Kotoshogiku n’était pas suffisamment rétabli pour combattre à 100 % en 2020. Dans aucun tournoi, il n’a pu engranger plus de…

c. Huit victoires, en juillet

11. Combien de lutteurs ont découvert le makuuchi en 2020 ?

a. Six : Kiribayama (janvier), Kotonowaka (mars), Kotoshoho (juillet), Tobizaru, Hoshoryu (septembre) and Akua (novembre) sont les nouveaux venus de 2020 – et ils débuteront tous l’année 2021 en makuuchi.

12. Qui a obtenu cinq kashi koshi en makuuchi, cette année ?

a. Personne. Si les deux lutteurs mentionnés ont eu une belle année 2020, tous deux ont eu un résultat négatif de sept victoires pour huit défaites, plus tôt cette année (Takanosho en janvier, Takakeisho en mars).

13. Combien de combats Ura a-t-il perdu cette année ?

c. Huit. Un match en juillet, un en septembre, et six en novembre. Il a remporté deux yusho consécutifs en jonidan et sandanme.

14. Hanakaze combat toujours, âgé d’un demi-siècle ! Mais combien de kashi koshi a-t-il obtenu cette année ? b. Un seul, 4-3 en mars. Il va être relégué en jonokuchi pour le tournoi de janvier.

15. Allons tout en bas du banzuke. Combien de victoires Hattorizakura a-t-il remporté cette année ?

Hattorizakura n’a plus remporté le moindre match depuis janvier 2019

a. Zéro. Pas une grosse surprise, malheureusement…

Updated! Kyushu Basho 2020 – Juryo preview, and prediction

Timothée Heinz Aki Basho 2020 , , , , ,

So, here we go again! It’s sumo’s last honbasho of the year, and all eyes will be once again turned to makuuchi’s higher ranks. Can Shodai win back to back yusho, for his ozeki debut? Can fellow ozeki Asanoyama and Takakeisho step up, and win their first yusho as ozeki? Will Hakuho and Kakuryu last fifteen days, or will the yokozuna have to retire?

I’m eager to find this out, but would like to provide you with a preview of sumo’s second division, juryo.

Juryo used to entertain us quite a bit in the recent past. Seeing some pixies’ emergence (Enho, Terutsuyoshi, Wakatakakage) has been a joy to watch. Watching Aminishiki hanging on, and poor Gagamaru being henka’d all over the way has added appreciable folklore, too.

The picture is a bit different today. The first obvious feature is the number of former makuuchi wrestlers. Of the twenty eight juryo candidates, only seven have never entered the dohyo alongside san’yaku elders: Midorifuji, Churanoumi, Wakamotoharu, Hakuyozan, Mitoryu, Nishikifuji and Chiyonoumi. This is more than twice less than two years ago, by Kyushu 2018 – fifteen juryo wrestlers had never discovered makuuchi before.

Soon discovering makuuchi’s marvel? Wakamotoharu

True, many of these fifteen have successfully knocked on makuuchi’s door (for example Enho, Terutsuyoshi or Tobizaru). Incredibly, some of them have reached sumo’s first division, and then fell down to makushita, or below (Takagenji, Tomokaze)! Though, as makuuchi got older and older, it was quite natural to see new faces coming from below – with mixed success, obviously.

But, precisely, several makuuchi elders have fallen to juryo – so what to expect from them?

Kotoshogiku (J3w) will undoubtedly be the attraction – seeing a former ozeki back in juryo is not a common thing, after all. His lower body condition will be a giant question mark, though, even to get his kashi koshi. Similar concern surround Ikoi (J8w) and Tsurugisho’s (J9e) final appearance of the year. Both certainly have set their sights much higher than their current rankings, but their bodies currently hardly allow such an ambition.

Shohozan (J2w)has recently struggled in makuuchi, four straight make koshi (7-8, 4-11, 5-10, 5-10) eventually proving fatal. He might regain some energy, though, and manage a straight comeback to makuuchi.

What about both juryo ito wrestlers? Akiseyama (J1e) and Chiyonoo (J1e) have not wrestled in makuuchi for quite some time – March 2016 and March 2017 respectively. If Chiyonoo has produced good sumo by late (10-5 and 9-6 records), Akiseyama’s 11-4 record in September came a bit in the middle of nowhere, following two indifferent basho (9-6, 7-8). Though, I believe the Kise heya resident has good chances to climb back to makuuchi.

Can Chiyonoo (left) join Terutsuyoshi (middle) and Enho (right) in makuuchi?

Other promotions are already a long shot – Midorifuji (J2e) looks like an interesting outsider, but can he secure promotion so early after his juryo debut? I doubt it. For the record, the Isegahama heya resident has just wrestled thrice in juryo so far, and arguably produced just one very good tournament (11-4 in September). Remember, he might find himself a couple times in makuuchi’s torikumi, in November.

Another pixie in makuuchi? Midorifuji

The two exchange regulars, Ishiura (J3e) and Chiyomaru (J4e) often prove a bit too good for juryo, but a bit too soft for makuuchi, and don’t really get storming performances in juryo. That means, both usually get their promotion from an already enviable spot, meaning juryo 1 or 2.

Others could aim juryo’s top ranks by January, in order to target promotion in 2021: Nishikigi (J4w), Hidenoumi (J5e), Wakamotoharu (J6w) and Azumaryu (J7w) could be looking for that. I would not entirely exclude direct promotion for Nishikigi, who definitely have the required potential. He hasn’t looked fit enough recently, though.

Remarkably, I’d certainly put makushita promotee Ura (J13e) in the “looking for more” category! Ura has recovered admirably well from his two terrific knee injuries, and should not spend too much time in juryo – remember the kinboshi he earned against Harumafuji?

The battle against relegation.

Let’s mention one certain demotion: it’ll be Abi’s (J11w) second forced kyujo, following his breach of the Covid rules. He’ll end up 0-0-15, and will start 2021 in makushita.

Both wrestlers ranked juryo 14 unsurprisingly face an uphill task for their survival. Hetouh’s favorite, Chiyonoumi (J14w), did a decent job early on in juryo; he hasn’t managed a single kashi koshi in sumo’s second division since January 2019, however. Fujiazuma (J14e), like Ura, has been as high as maegashira 4, before sliding down all the way back to makushita. He managed one comeback to juryo in 2017, but failed to get his kashi koshi and got demoted straight away. A similar fate might await him here, if he does not better than the 6-9 record he has for his last juryo return, last July.

Nishikifuji’s (J13w) juryo debut ended in frustrating fashion last basho, as he lost his five last bouts to end up make koshi (7-8). He kept exactly the same rank, but will need to gain stamina in order to avoid worse consequences.

Takagenji (J12e) has looked like a ghost on the dohyo since his brother’s dismissal. It took him just over a year to go from maegashira 10 to makushita demotion. He managded to get back to the salaried ranks thanks to a minimal kashi koshi (4-3, being ranked makushita’s top rank). Can he get his career back on track?

Back on track? Takagenji

Jokoryu (J12w) will certainly be another curiosity, down there. The Tokyo-to born rikishi was promised a bright future, as he won the twenty-seven (!) first bouts of his career (excluding maezumo) and entered the salaried ranks just one year after his sumo debut. He went as high as komusubi; but from there, his career went backwards – he actually returned to sandanme, following an injury. Can he keep a juryo spot, now aged 32?

Finally, I tend to believe Hakuyozan (J10e), as well as Mitoryu’s (J11e) reliable juryo stint – he spent twelwe of the sixteen basho he participating in, in juryo! – in decent positions to keep their ranks.

Hakuyozan (left)

All in all, this juryo basho promises quite some fun, doesn’t it?

As a bonus, Andy and I tried our luck in guessing full juryo results after 15 days. Let’s hope we’re not too off the mark!

Here’s Andy’s prediction, with commentaries:

“I think Ikioi is closest to retirement of this group. The past few basho he has not looked impressive. I think there are a lot of talented wrestlers here in different shades of banged up. Several of the young guns may take their shots. I hope Kotoshogiku got in some good time to heal and can come out swinging. I’m not sure about Ishiura at all and I’m sure he won’t go kyujo but I kind of hope he does to heal up.”

Andy’s prediction

And here’s mine:

Tim’s prediction

Sumo debates for 2020 – 3/3

Timothée Heinz Sumo Topics , , , , ,

10. Will a rikishi win a yusho for the first time in 2020 ?

Last years showed us we’re not immune to great upsets, during a troubled period where top ranks are ageing and youngsters are struggling to meet up expectations. Indeed, 2018 and 2019 saw a maegashira lifting the Emperor’s Cup (Tochinoshin in 2018 and Asanoyama in 2019).

Anyone up for another surprise in 2020 ? At the risk of being a party spoiler, I’m not !

11. Will Hoshoryu reach maku’uchi ?

Lower divisions have seen the emergence in 2019 of Hoshoryu. Often called “nephew of…”, I’m sure he’ll want to prove his own strengh, in order to me remembered, not just as Asashoryu’s nephew.

A future star ? Hoshoryu Tomokatsu

His rise from jonokuchi has been pretty fast, although it took several honbasho for Hoshoryu to break the glass and reach the salaried ranks : from March of last year at makushita 7, 4-3, 4-3, 3-4 and 4-3 records saw him finally reach juryo. His first stint there did not bring much joy either, as he barely managed to save his rank, thanks to a senshuraku victory – he ended the tournament with a 7-8 make kochi.

Can he raise up his lever in 2020 ?

My prediction: Asashoryu has had harsh words towards him last year. I’m sure he will be a major help towards maku’uchi promotion in 2020.

12. Will Kotoshogiku stay in maku’uchi ?

Lots of words have been written about the way Kotoshogiku failed to regain his ozeki status, as an ozekiwake in March 2017. Since then, much less has been said about Kotoshogiku’s rather anonymous, albeit decent later career in maku’uchi – he even defeated Hakuho in Nagoya.

Former ozeki Kotoshogiku Kazuhiro (left)

Lately, his form has plunged, however. The former ozeki is on an unfortunate four make kochi streak (6-9, 7-8, 6-9, 6-9). He’ll turn 36 this month.

Can he find the winning formula again ? I’m afraid not.

13. Will Ishiura stay in maku’uchi ?

What about Ishiura ? Interestingly, he already spent six basho in a row in maku’uchi (from Kyushu 2016 to Aki 2017), but never during a full calendar year (he got demoted in Kyushu 2017 and Kyushu 2018). He spent four tournaments in the top division in 2019.

From hatakikomi to mitokorozeme : Ishiura Masakatsu

He is known for using the henka technique quite often during his bouts. Lately, however, his form seemed to improve, with combative 8-7 and 9-6 records at the end of the year. Last basho saw him use more raffined techniques, including one of the rarest techniques of the sport, mitokorozeme. It had not been used since Mainoumi, back in 1993 !

Can Ishiura’s sudden feisty sumo grant him a spot in maku’uchi during the whole year 2020 ? Unfortunately, I tend to say no.

14. Will Ura produce the greatest comeback ever ?

We spoke about Terunofuji’s remarkable return to juryo, and, possibly, to maku’uchi. What if Ura does the same ?

The greatest comeback ever ? Ura Kazuki

To put that question into context, Ura had a breakthrough in 2017, starting his first two honbasho in maku’uchi with two winning records. He even defeated former yokozuna Harumafuji in Nagoya, before seeing knee injuries totally stopping his rise. After almost a year without participating in a competitive bout, Ura started his comeback with 6-1 and 7-0 records in sandanme, before reinjuring his knees at the beginning of 2019. At the bottom of jonidan, Ura started his career again, producing a 6-1 record.

Is it on once and for all ? Can Ura produce six kachi koshi in 2020 ? Once again, I tend to say no, but wish him, as well as all other wrestlers and our readers, a successful year 2020 !