So the basho has just ended and here's the news....
(I wrote this an then realized that I probably needed to define some terms for you even though I've probably defined them seperately before, so if you scroll down to the bottom there is a short glossery there--hope it helps)
Asashoryu managed to do it again, Yusho at 15-0. His nearest competetors, while having good showings themselves, were a long way back at 11-4. Asa just looked to be on form the entire basho. There was no stopping him. His best match came on day 13 when he faced Wakanosato and was teetering on the edge of the dohyo and some how managed to get out of it, spin around and then force Waka out. It was absolutely amazing and illustrates why he is....Mr. Yokozuna. Overall, though, it was business as usual for Asa. More interesting were the performances of some of the other rikishi.
My favorite, Hakuho, who is only 19 years old, had an outstanding basho going 11-4 from the rank of Komusubi. He will almost definately get promoted to Sekiwake for March's basho and then, depending on how he does there, might get up to Ozeki before I leave this country. It almost makes me want to stay another year to see if he can get Yokozuna while I am here. But I'll just have to figure out a way to follow this great sport from California. Hakuho is man on a charge and his sumo career should be a great one.
Kaio, you might remember, was up for promotion to Yokozuna in this basho. But it wasn't to be as he lost on the second, third, and fourth days to fall to 1-3 essentially ending his (and my)dream. Guess I won't see a Yokozuna crowned while I am here. Oh well. But that wasn't all for Kaio as on day ten he pulled out with a shoulder injury. He ended up at 4-6-5 and will likely have to work his way back up over the next couple of basho to be in contention for the coveted top rank. But this might have been it for him. Just have to wait and see.
Chiyotaikai removed his head from the chopping block just in time to see him retain his Ozeki status. He finished at 8-7, a dismal showing for him, but that 8th win guarentees he will be an Ozeki for at least the next four months. If ever hopes to get up to Yokozuna he is going to have to settle down and focus. His fighting style is predictable and his foes are figuring out how to beat him.
Tochiazuma will join Chiyo at Ozeki in March. He had a very good basho ending at 11-4. He had to get to 10 wins to get the promotion and was able to do it on day 14. After an injury plagued year in 2004 he is starting the new year out right.
Wakanosato, though, didn't fare as well. He was also a Sekiwake coming into this basho and was up for the Ozeki promotion but after going 6-9 no doubt the powers that be will writing his name in either the Sekiwake or Komosubi slot on March's banzuke. A 6-9 record leaves you open for demotion so we'll have to see what kind of mood the federation is in when they put pen to paper.
Kokkai, from the Republic of Georgia, fell one short of the eight wins all rikishi strive for leaving himself up for demotion. He was ranked at an M3 for this basho and I imagine he'll fall a slot or two for the next one. He, like Chiyo, tends to get sloppy and the others know it and use it against him. He's powerful but not very crafty.
The two other "whities" are Roho, from Russia, and Kotooshu , from Bulgaria. Roho, an M5, ended up one under at 7-8 while his taller comrade (he's about 6'7") impressed at 9-6. Roho will probably drop a spot or two while Kotooshu will move in the opposite direction from his M4 position.
So that's about it. Was a fun basho to watch. I went twice and will tell you about my days at a later time.


Basho--a 15 day sumo tournament, there are six a year falling every other month starting in January
Rikishi--a sumo wrestler
Yokozuna--the absolute top rank, once a riskishi gets here he cannot be demoted
Ozeki--the second rank
Sekiwake--the third rank
Komosubi--the fourth rank
Maegashira--the numbered ranks that begin with M1 and go down to about M17
Makuuchi--the collective term for all the ranks mentioned above, this tier is made up the top 40 or so guys
Juryo--the tier of rikishi below the Makuuchi ranks
Yusho--a basho championship
Banzuke--the rankings sheet, a new one is written out before each basho
Dohyo--the fighting surface