Just Sharing This Sumo

[ozumo]

After the spectator-free silent March tournament followed by the cancelled May event, Grand Sumo returns on the 19th of July in Tokyo with limited spectator numbers.

Grand Sumo Highlights are available daily from Sunday 19th July on NHK World Japan.

Daily Highlights, all times BST:
1730 with repeats at 2330, 0530 & 0930.

Grand Sumo will be live:
Sunday 19th July 0910am
Sunday 26th July 0910am
Sunday 2nd August 0830am

I recommend starting with the highlights, the live shows can be a bit slow going for non dedicated fans.

NHK World Japan HD is available FTA in English:
28e 11225V 23000 2/3 Europe beam
13e 11373H 27500 3/4
19.2e 11229V 22000 2/3



Yokozuna Hakuho will be aiming for an unprecedented 45th championship victory, with fellow Mongolian Yokozuna Kakuryu hot on his heels. Japan's Asanoyama will be making his debut at the second highest rank of Ozeki, with fellow Ozeki Takakeisho requiring a minimum of eight victories to maintain his rank.

The closest to home wrestler in the top division is the Georgian Tochinoshin, whose chronic knee injuries have seen him drop to the lower end of the top division, where he will require eight wins to prevent him dropping to the 2nd division.

 

[Analoguesat]

Hooray - Ive missed the Grand Sumo comp. Tochinoshin is my hero, although he aint done much since his big win a couple of years ago.

Fantasy Sumo anyone??

 

[ozumo]

Hooray - Ive missed the Grand Sumo comp. Tochinoshin is my hero, although he aint done much since his big win a couple of years ago.

Fantasy Sumo anyone??

The way he would hoist even the heaviest wrestlers out of the ring was incredible... until the knee went pop again. I miss Harumafuji, why oh why did he have to grab that karaoke remote

 

[ozumo]

For day to day tournament previews, analysis and news (beware of spoilers before the highlights show is aired):

https://tachiai.org

http://www.sumoforum.net

 

[Analoguesat]

Before he got injured & plummetted down the ranks Ura was another big favourite with us.

 

[ozumo]

Ura :thumbsup: Remember seeing him picking up his first cherry blossom belt on an episode of Sumopedia. He'll be back soon.
Will be interesting to see if any of the old guard former ozeki (Tochinoshin, Takayasu, Kotoshoguki & Terunofuji) can get their act together after 4 months rest, or whether they're truly destined for the knackers yard

 

[ozumo]

The September Grand Sumo tournament begins this Sunday in Tokyo. Highlights are available daily from Sunday on NHK World.

Daily Highlights, all times BST:
1730 with repeats at 2300, 0530 & 0930.

Grand Sumo will be live:
Sunday 13th September 0910
Sunday 20th September 0910
Sunday 27th September 0830

NHK World Japan HD is available FTA in English
28e 11225V 23000 2/3 Europe beam
13e 11373H 27500 3/4
19.2e 11229V 22000 2/3



The July tournament was won by Terunofuji after a fairytale return to the top division. This time he will face higher ranked opponents from the start, beginning with Ozeki Takakeisho on day one.



The question you all wanted to know the answer to, (sound of crickets), what colour was the giant macaron? The giant macaron was pink!



Yokozuna Hakuho (knee surgery) and Kakuryu (elbow injury) will be absent. Ishiura is also out (ankle trouble). Abi is missing due to him serving the first of a three tournament ban (he avoided being kicked out for good by the skin of his teeth) after breaching Sumo's covid regulations by visiting a hostess bar with supporters.

Hoshoryu, the nephew of former Yokozuna Asashoryu, is making his top division debut & giant Ichinojo returns after a spell in the second highest division.

Random fact:
Ozeki Takakeisho is a fan of horse meat. "I'm mostly eating horse meat for the proteins and fat. It's easy to eat and it's tasty. But not only horse meat - I'm eating all kinds of stuff well".

 

[Channel Hopper]

NHK has certainly improved its content in the past year, there was a programme last night on the animation artist , Yoshiki Imazu (Atomic World)

Drawing Emotions That Words Cannot Explain - Anime Supernova | NHK WORLD-JAPAN On Demand

Yoshiki Imazu is an upcoming artist who creates music videos for popular musicians, and advertising. We look into the artistry of Imazu who expresses both the emptiness and comfort in everyday life through his animation, while explaining such uncertainties without the need for words.

www3.nhk.or.jp

 

[ozumo]

The November 2020 Grand Sumo tournament begins this Sunday, again from the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. November tournaments are traditionally in held Fukuoka but the ongoing covid crisis means we stay in the capital. Maximum crowd attendance however will be increased to 50% capacity, up from 25%.



All TV times are an hour earlier than previous due to Japan not faffing on with stupid daylight savings clock changes. Highlights are available daily from Sunday on NHK World:

Daily Highlights, all times GMT:
1630 with repeats at 2230, 0430 & 0830.

Grand Sumo will be live:
Sunday 8th November 0810
Sunday 15th November 0810
Sunday 22nd November 0730

NHK World Japan HD is available FTA in English:
28e 11225V 23000 2/3 Europe beam
13e 11373H 27500 3/4
19.2e 11229V 22000 2/3

Both Yokozunas are absent again. In the previous tournament it boiled down to a final day showdown between Shodai and top division debutant Tobizaru, who was hoping to become the first wrestler to win the event on debut in over a century.

Tobizaru looked to be in control from the start:



But in the end Shodai was able to pull off a last gasp thrust down at the edge of the ring .






The pain on Tobizaru's face was clear for all see:



Victory meant Shodai was promoted to the second highest rank of Ozeki.



For the giant macaron fans, this time it was green

 

[Analoguesat]

Both Yokazunas out again? Surely they will be expected to stand down if their injuries continue much longer.

 

[ozumo]

Officially Kakuryu still has back trouble and Hakuho has an injured left leg and swelling to both knees.

From Kintamayama on sumo forum:

Oguruma Oyakata, senior Kyokai executive: "The January basho has to be a "do or die" basho for both Yokozuna, or else.. They should at least have that in mind when they show up !"

The other theory going round is Hakuho is trying to take the heat off Kakuryu - who needs to hang on until his Japanese citizenship is confirmed, without which he can not become a stable master after he retires.

Ura is back in Juryo, let's hope his knees can last the 15 day schedule

 

[ozumo]

The Hatsu January 2020 Grand Sumo tournament begins this Sunday, at its usual Ryogoku Kokugikan venue in Tokyo, subject to potential future covid regulations. Currently there is scheduled to be a 5000 crowd limit (50%).



What should have been the most important tournament in years has been diluted by the news that Yokozuna Hakuho has been diagnosed with covid. Fellow Yokozuna Kakuryu has also been granted Japanese citizenship, therefore we may have seen the last of him due to ongoing injury.

Both Yokozunas had been given a 'caution' by the Yokozuna Deliberation Council, meaning they had been expected to win at least eight bouts or face retirement. Hakuho will be given a free pass for this tournament due to his diagnosis.

Winner of the November event Ozeki Takakeisho will be promoted to Yokozuna if he can win again. Fellow Ozekis Shodai and Asanoyama need to win at least eight bouts or face demotion after failing to win eight bouts in November.

Wakatakakage is also absent due to covid.

All times GMT:

Grand Sumo 2020 Review:
Friday 8th January 0430 repeated at 0830, 1630 & 2230.

Daily Highlights:
1630 with repeats at 2230, 0430 & 0830.

Grand Sumo will be live:
Sunday 10th January 0810
Sunday 17th January 0810
Sunday 24th January 0730

NHK World Japan HD is available FTA in English:
28e 11225V 23000 2/3 Europe beam
13e 11373H 27500 3/4
19.2e 11229V 22000 2/3

November's giant macaron was gold.

 

[rodscha]

If I may ask...why the giant macaron?

 

[rodscha]

well I found the answer,I should have guessed!
Compulsory cocooning makes my brain work on wintertime
So, it actually bears witness to Japanese-French friendship!
Congratulations on being awesome at sumo! Have a giant macaron!
Could we bet on the upcoming macaron's colour?

 

[ozumo]

Sure, take your pick from green, gold or pink

Contrary to many website reports the giant macaron is not real. The tournament winner receives a box of delicious Pierre Herme macarons. Jacques Chirac was a big fan of sumo.

The other unusual trophy is a giant tea cup and saucer as part of the Hungary Friendship Cup.

 

[rodscha]

maybe for gulash ?

 

[ozumo]

The manufacturer Herend Porcelain suggests sake, the actual prize is a full set of normal sized tea cups & saucers.

 

[ozumo]

All 900 wrestlers were tested for covid and the following will be absent from the top division due to a positive test, or if a member of their stable tested positive.

Hakuho, Wakatakakage, Chiyonokuni, Chiyotairyu, Chiyoshoma, Kaisei

Kakuryu is also absent with a back injury.

 

[Analoguesat]

Interesting both the Yokozuna's are out again - does this mean they will be told they are expected to quit?

 

[Analoguesat]

I spotted this guy on the NHK preview show. Turns out he is His Excellence Demon Kakka.




I half recognised the outfit - it took me a while to twig its the lead singer from a Japanese rock group who covered one of my favourite songs many years ago! Its a small world.