I will continue the story of my trip soon (I hope) but my brother informed me that I didn't write about November's basho and since the January basho started yesterday I think I'll just mention a couple points about November to update the two people out there that are actually interested in sumo.

To start the November basho we had four Ozeki (second ranking): Kaio, Chiyotaikai, Tochiazuma and Musoyama. Kaio, you might remember, won the September basho and had a chance to be promoted to the top rank and join Asashoryu at the much coveted Yokozuna status. Unfortunately for him he didn't quite live up to the standards needed to impress the powers that be. He ended up with a record 12-3 which is actually a very good one but was one shy of what the powers said he needed. What makes it all a little more depressing, too, is that on the final day of the basho he faced Asashoryu and won. So had he beat one of the three guys he lost to earlier in the basho we'd probably be looking at a new Yokozuna. But, alas, it was not to be. But we here at Sumo Fans Inc. are still quite excited about Kaio because in November he did do well enough so that in this month's basho he's still up for the promotion. He'll need at least 13 wins to do it though so he must start strong and stay strong.
For Chiyotaikai Novemeber turned out to be a bit of a bust. He finished at 7-8 and if he does so again in this basho he's likely to be demoted. Not much more to say about him other than that he needs to clean up his act and calm down when on the dohyo. He has a real tendency to get ahead of himself when charging his foe and many times ends up either on his face or in the first row of seats.
Tochiazuma had another mishap in November and somehow managed to crack a shoulder bone leaving himself on a 3-3-9 record. Three win, three losses, and nine no shows. Since he has also pulled out of September's basho with a knee (if memory serves) injury, he has been demoted to Sekiwake (the rank under Ozeki). 2004 was a dismal year for Tochiazuma in which he managed to finish only two of the six bashos. We'll see if he can make 2005 a comeback year.
And finally we have Musoyama. I think I remember writing about him after September's basho mentioning that retirement looked to be in his near future. Well, after starting November's tournament with four straight losses Musoyama pulled his own plug and respectfully retired from life as a rikishi (sumo wrestler). So long, old chap, and thanks for memories.
Kokkai, from the Republic of Georgia, had a bit of a disappointing basho in November finishing at 7-8. This allowed for a slight demotion from a Maegashira 2 to a Maegashira 3. No big deal. We'll see if he can get it back together this month.
Hakuho, who in my personal opinion will be a Yokozuna someday, sat on a ranking of M3 for September, moved up to an M1 for November and made his pressence felt going 12-3. This guy is good and even Asashoryu praised his fellow Mongolian before the basho started in November. Hakuho then thanked Asa for his kind words by handing him a defeat on day eleven. I'm telling you, Hakuho is going places in the world of sumo. Mark my words. For January's basho he now sits on a ranking of Komusubi (fourth rank).
As you might have guessed by now, Asashoryu ended up winning the basho sitting on a 13-2 record. His two losses came, as already mentioned, at the hands of Kaio and Hakuho, ironically the two guys that I think will join Asa at Yokozuna in due time. Asa's yusho (basho win) was his fifth on the year making 2004 a year to remember for the guy. And unfortunately for his competition, he is still a young 24 years of age, and was quoted in yesterday's paper saying, "I'm young, so I get stronger day by day....I plan to fight for many years to come." Words I am sure the other rikishi will have taken notice of.

On to some more sumo, 2005 style.