Chiyonofuji vs Hokutoumi by Daimon Kinoshita
About two years ago, I got a TV for Christmas and saw that the local PBS station had a sub-channel that aired NHK World programming. Sweet! Stuff from Japan but in English. I watched mostly NHK World during that winter break and sometime around mid-January I saw that NHK World aired Grand Sumo Highlights, a recap of the day's bouts. I later learned it was the top Makuuchi (Makunouchi in spoken word) division bouts, but no matter, they still intrigued me that I tried to find more info on sumo and fan opinion. I managed to find an excellent forum at Sumo Forum, quick uploads of Makuuchi action from Kintamayama (sorry to the Japanese people out there, he thought it had an "ii sound" when he came up with it). and an at the time budding but excellent blog in Tachiai. I started watching sumo at the time that the now former Kisenosato was coming off a very consistent but very good year as an Ozeki, the second highest rank in sumo. He won the January 2017 tournament and along with his 2016 bouts was promoted to the highest rank of Yokozuna. Tragedy would befall him in March 2017 as he suffered an injury to his left shoulder that permanently reduced his ability to do sumo. Meanwhile even the most dominant Yokozuna in modern history and perhaps all of history Hakuho (from Mongolia) was dropping out of tournaments on claims of injury. Recently there have been more than a few young men hungry for glory in the top ranks and some surprise tournament winners. Last year, Tochinoshin from Georgia won the tournament in January as a Maegashira (first rank in the top division) then proceeded to post two more good winning records with enough wins to promote him to Ozeki. Other surprises include two tournament wins from the Yokozuna Kakuryu (from Mongolia, like Hakuho) in spite of injuries, and tournament wins from Mitakeumi, Takakeisho, and Tamawashi. Last year, Hakuho barely competed but did manage a zensho-yusho. Each tournament lasts for fifteen days and a yusho is a championship while a zensho-yusho is winning the championship without a single loss. Only the Juryo and Makuuchi rikishi participate all fifteen days, the lower ranked rikishi compete for seven days. There have been scandals, miracles, and disappointments a-plenty in the past two years and I can't wait to see what sumo has in store for 2019. Will Takakeisho (who is a year my junior) earn Ozeki after the current tournament? What about Tamawashi (who at 34 was the second oldest Makuuchi yusho winner)? Will Mitakeumi and Takayasu cement a fierce rivalry? Stay tuned!
No comments:
Post a Comment