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Another sumo tournament, in Fukuoka this time, has snuck up on me and started today. I'll make this thread quick. It'll be good to have more Yokozuna back for this one, although Kakuryu is still sitting out. Let's take a look at the rankings:
Tournament Topics:
- One debuting top division wrestler - As with the last tournament there is only one wrestler making his debut in the top division. Daiamami is a young guy at 24, and has only picked up one losing record since his professional sumo debut in 2016. He also won the Juryo yusho in July.
- Fan favorite sitting out - Unfortunately the injury that forced Ura to leave the last tournament is keeping him from joining this tournament as well, and at M16 he'll fall way down to Juryo. He'll be sorely missed, and the top division was a lot more fun with his presence.
- Return of the wily veteran - This tournament will mark the return to the top division for Aminishiki who has been out of Makuuchi since May 2016. He debuted in the top division over 10 years ago, and it's great to see him back again.
- Sophomore success? - Having a phenomenal tournament in his debut in the top division, Asanoyama will now have to try to follow up that success with another good tournament. I'm looking forward to seeing how he does, and I actually think he'll do pretty well again.
- Paths converging at Komosubi - The Komosubi ranks are pretty interesting this tournament as you have one wrestler whose career is on the way down, and another whose career is on the way up. Onosho has looked phenomenal in the top division so far, with three 10-5 records in a row, two special prizes, and a kinboshi. I don't see that momentum stopping either, and while he may not go 10-5 with three Yokozuna competing this time, I can definitely see him getting a winning record. Above him at East Komosubi is Kotoshogiku who has been struggling lately, but was able to get a winning record in the last tournament.
- Former Ozeki - Unfortunately Terunofuji has been pretty much crippled by injuries and lost his Ozeki rank last tournament. I'd be surprised if he had an easy time of it this tournament, as I don't think his injuries have gone anywhere. We'll have to see as a good performance here could get him his Ozeki rank back, but I don't see it happening. It's a real shame as when he's in form he's one of the most dangerous guys in the sport, but it's been a long time since he was healthy enough to be that much of a threat.
- Current Ozeki - Due to having to drop out of the last tournament, Takayasu is also facing demotion out of Ozeki. I think he should be able to get a winning record and avoid demotion here, and having another Ozeki lose their rank would be disastrous. Goeido actually did pretty well last time, staying in the yusho race and getting a good record. With two more Yokozuna competing this time though, he'll find it much tougher.
- Yokozuna questions - A big question coming into this tournament will be about the fitness of the Yokozuna. Are Kisenosato and Hakuho healthy enough to compete well here? I expect that they are, and even a hobbled Hakuho is a real danger. Aside from them, even Harumafuji's fitness should be a concern, as he was clearly injured last time but continued on in the tournament because he was the only remaining Yokozuna. And with Kakuryu sitting out another tournament, there will be questions about how much longer he'll remain a Yokozuna.
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So there you go!
Stay tuned to Kintamayama's YouTube Channel for daily highlights of the top division, and the taka sumo YouTube Channel for possible daily posts of the NHK digest of the top day's action (in Japanese). Also check out Robert Mensing's YouTube Channel for English versions of the NHK digest episodes (although I don't think they include all of the top division matches). Or go straight to the source, on NHK World's Sumo website. There's also a good blog at tachiai.org with news and information.
And as usual, for anyone who'll be watching the sport for the first time, please feel free to ask any questions you might have here and someone will try to answer them. Also be sure to check out my Introduction to SUMO thread for a brief (although quite outdated at this point) overview of the sport.
Hakke-yoi!
(I'll just @ everyone that posted in the last thread)
@JkMMA @PurpleStorm @Asurah @Sano @josh from md @Okajima