January 25thsearch for cupids and Asian girls
New Juryo rikishi announced
The Sumo Association's banzuke reorganization committee convened this morning to rework the rankings for the Haru basho. Following precedent, the committee announced the rikishi who had been promoted to the Juryo division in order to give their stables sufficient time to prepare for a new sekitori. Leading the way is Chiyoohtori, a 19 year-old who fights from the Kokonoe-beya. Chiyoohtori becomes the first Japanese teenager to obtain sekitori status since Tochiohzan accomplished the feat for the 2006 Aki basho. Joining him as a first-time sekitori is Sensho, a 28 year-old Mongolian rikishi who fights from the Shikihide-beya. He becomes the first sekitori from the Shikihide stable since it was established in 1992. Sensho also becomes the slowest foreign-born rikishi to reach sekitori status requiring 65 basho. Making their return to the division are Satoyama, who has fought several basho in the Makuuchi division and Arawashi.

January 23rdsearch for cupids and Asian girls
Yokozuna Deliberation Council meets, will consider Bart's promotion with 12 or more wins
The Yokozuna Deliberation Council met today after the basho to discuss with the discussion focusing on Baruto's promotion to Yokozuna pending the outcome of the Haru basho. Tatsuhiko Tsuruta, chairman of the group, stated afterwards, "Even if he doesn't yusho, if he is the runner-up will consider promotion." The chairman was specifically asked about Baruto's tachi-ai henka against fellow Ozeki Kisenosato to which he answered, "Elite rikishi are obligated to fight cleanly, so that bout was unacceptable. It's not just a matter of winning. We must closely examine the content of the sumo. If he wins 12 bouts or more, it will invite discussion regarding his promotion."

Baruto hold yusho press conference
Ozeki Baruto held the first yusho press conference of his career today at the Onoe-beya headquarters after his 14-1 performance at the Hatsu basho. "I was so thrilled. After taking one yusho, now I feel like I want 2, 3, 10, 20, even 30 more." When asked if the Emperor's Cup was heavy, he replied, "It was light in a sense, but when I think about what it took to get here, it was heavy. I also realized that all of this wasn't for naught. I think I can work even harder now." When asked about the reaction to his accomplishment in Estonia, he said, "I received a message from President Ilves even though I've never met him. He tried calling, but I was too occupied with the victory celebrations." When asked about his prospects of reaching the Yokozuna rank after next basho, he replied, "I was satisfied each day and had confidence that I wouldn't lose. If I can do sumo like this basho, I think the results will come."

January 6thsearch for cupids and Asian girls
Day 1 and Day 2 Matchups Announced
As the rikishi wrap up their pre-basho keiko, the Sumo Association committee that puts together the daily bouts met this morning to arrange the first two days of the tournament. The Makuuchi bouts were released and can be found on the Sumo Association's official website here:   Day 1   |   Day 2

January 4thsearch for cupids and Asian girls
Kisenosato and Kotoshogiku go all out in keiko
The Nishonoseki Ichimon held a joint keiko session today at the Oguruma-beya, and the practice was highlighted by the sport's newest Ozeki, Kisenosato and Kotoshogiku, battling each other 19 times in a spirited session that even drew blood from Kisenosato's nose. The rookie Ozeki promptly stuffed tissue into his nostril and kept fighting eventually besting his fellow Ozeki 11-8. Both rikishi were bright red afterwards and were both cursing after their losses. Afterwards, Kisenosato commented, "We were fighting over the rank. He was into it as well, and it was some great keiko. I haven't been able to beat him lately during the hon-basho (Kisenosato is 11-24 head to head), so it felt like I reaped some revenge here." Kisenosato also fought Kotooshu 7 times finishing 3-4 in a day that saw the rookie fight a total of 28 bouts, 26 of which were against Ozeki.

As for Kotoshogiku, who has been hampered a bit by a fever, he fought 24 bouts, second most to Kisenosato. He stated afterwards, "That was good, and I hope that we can both stimulate each other and liven up the basho in a good way." Sadogatake-oyakata also added, "They should become rivals to each other. They really did some good keiko out there." The host of the session, Oguruma-oyakata, chimed in with, "There's significance when two Ozeki clash together, and I think both of them realized that today."

Juryo rikishi, Takamisakari, also showed up at the Nishonoseki Ichimon joint keiko session today even though he is from the Takasago Ichimon. As a guest, it was tough for the former Komusubi to demand a lot of time in the ring, so he only ended up fighting 8 bouts finishing 4-4. Afterwards he spoke of his condition, "I felt like my body was moving fairly well. I got burned by a few pulls, but I hung in there." When asked about his aspirations for the year he said, "I just want to fight as many bouts as I can."

Hakuho dominates at de-geiko
Yokozuna Hakuho visited the Tokitsukaze-beya today for de-geiko battling the sekitori from that stable as well as Sekiwake Kakuryu who was visiting himself from the Izutsu-beya. The Yokozuna fought 20 times dominating his opponents 19-1. Kakuryu looked good as well and showed good speed during his practice, but he was no match for the Yokozuna. After the session Hakuho commented, "There were a lot of sekitori here, so I was able to do some meaningful keiko." Hakuho also mentioned Futabayama, a former Yokozuna who he greatly respects and who founded the Tokitsukaze stable back when it was still referred to as a dojo. "I know the older fans remember Futabayama, but I want to younger generation to know about him too."

January 3rdsearch for cupids and Asian girls
Hakuho and Baruto keiko reports
Hakuho visited the Oshima-beya today for de-geiko, his first trip away from his stable in the new year. He battled Kyokutenho and Makuuchi rookie Kyokushuho, and he also lent his chest to non-sekitori rikishi fighting a total of 26 bouts, 18 of which were against sekitori. Hakuho practiced an assortment of moves and breezed through the session. Afterwards when asked about the upcoming basho he said, "I hope that I can reach Takanohana's 22 yusho." When asked about his goal for the entire year he stated, "Asashoryu's 25 yusho." Hakuho captured his career 21st yusho at last year's Kyushu basho.

Ozeki Baruto participated in the Dewanoumi Ichimon joint keiko session held coincidentally at the Dewanoumi-beya. The Ozeki fought 19 times including bouts against Miyabiyama, Goeido, and Tochinoshin. No concrete results were given, but it was reported that the Ozeki struggled at times when forced to thrust. During a particular bout against Aoiyama, the youngster managed to turn Baruto to the side with an ottsuke and shove the Ozeki out from behind with relative ease. After the session Baruto commented, "I was all over the place out there, but it was okay." When asked about his goals for the year, he stated, "This year's theme is the yusho." The 27 year-old, who will fight in his 10th basho as an Ozeki, is still looking for his first career yusho.

December 23rdsearch for cupids and Asian girls
Soken general keiko session held
The traditional Soken general practice session that occurs in front of the watchful if not meaningless eyes of the Yokozuna Deliberation Council prior to each Tokyo tournament was held today at the Ryogoku Kokugikan. 2,831 fans filed into the arena doubling the attendance at the same practice session held back in September. A noticeable ripple swept through the crowd as newly-promoted Ozeki Kisenosato entered the venue, and he showed good fighting spirit in the ring taking on Baruto, Kotooshu, and Kotoshogiku whom he defeated three times in a row to highlight his keiko. Finishing 8-5 on the day, Kisenosato commented afterwards, "My number of bouts was low, but I got in some good keiko."

Hanaregoma Rijicho seemed pleased afterwards commenting, "Kotoshogiku and Kisenosato were different today; they were really fired up." The same couldn't be said for Yokozuna Hakuho who avoided sparring with the Ozeki and actually lost by yori-kiri to Komusubi Wakakoyu in the course of his 15 bouts. When sought for comment afterwards, Hakuho said, "Wakakoyu has some momentum right now. This next year's going to be difficult with all of these new guys. As for me, I'm not in top shape yet, so I wanted to keep things light today." When asked about his big win over the Yokozuna, Wakakoyu replied, "I'm going to go 100% even at the hon-basho, and I will kachi-kosu."

December 21stsearch for cupids and Asian girls
Introducing the four Makuuchi rookies
The four Makuuchi newcomers all held press conferences today upon learning that they had been promoted to the sport's highest division. Chiyonokuni, a 21 year-old from the Kokonoe-beya, met with reporters flanked by his stable master, former Yokozuna Chiyonofuji. "I was so happy that I just grinned at the new banzuke for nearly a minute," the youngster shyly admitted. When asked about his sumo, Chiyonokuni replied, "In Makushita, a lot of my sumo involved pulls and slap downs, but I've been working on my attack moving straight forward." The rookie spent just three basho in the Juryo ranks before his promotion. His stable master, Kokonoe-oyakata, offered, "He has steadily risen up the ranks...almost too steady. His initial attack from the tachi-ai has gotten much quicker, so now he just needs to find a style of sumo that suits him best."

Tenkaiho, a 27 year-old rikishi from the Onoe-beya and graduate of the famed Nichidai University, sat down with reporters as well beginning, "I'm so happy to see my name posted on the top row of the banzuke. Makuuchi has always been the stage of my dreams." When asked about his mindset on senshuraku of the Kyushu basho where he entered the day at 7-7 ranked from the top slot in Juryo, he said, "I was a bit uneasy since guys from my class and even rikishi younger than me had already reached sekitori status, but I never gave up on myself and finally made it this far. Two years ago in Nagoya [ranked as a Makushita] I realized that this was probably as high as I would go, so I changed my sumo and started leading with my head." Tenkaiho's stable master, Onoe-oyakata, added, "This is a gift of his hard work. If he uses his body effectively and is able to knock his opponents back, I think he's got a shot at the sanyaku some day."

Nionoumi, a vertically challenged 25 year-old from the Kitanoumi-beya pictured at right, spoke with reporters saying, "I'm thrilled to death." Nionoumi entered sumo in the same class as Ozeki Kisenosato, and when asked about his peer, he replied, "I feel like I want to continue to chase him up the ranks."

Finally, Kyokushuho, a 23 year-old Mongolian from the Oshima-beya, was excited as well regarding his promotion. Hailing from the same Ichimon as the Miyagino-beya, Kyokushuho expressed his desire to one day serve as the Tsuyuharai during Yokozuna Hakuho's dohyo-iri. "In Mongolia, they start the broadcast from the dohyo-iri ceremonies, so I'm looking forward to doing that one day," he stated.

Hatsu basho banzuke released early
The Sumo Association released the 2012 Hatsu basho banzuke early to generate publicity before Japan shuts down for the year-end new-year holiday season. Grabbing the early headlines is newly-crowned Ozeki, Kisenosato, who becomes the second Japanese rikishi in as many basho to be thrust into the elite rank. The last time two Ozeki were crowned in consecutive basho was in the year 2000 when Musoyama (Natsu), Miyabiyama (Nagoya), and Kaio (Aki) actually made it three Ozeki in three consecutive basho. The banzuke also sees five Ozeki again for the first time since Kotomitsuki was booted out of the sport for gambling on baseball.

Hakuho is the sole Yokozuna on the banzuke for the 11th straight basho as he looks to tie Takanohana for career yusho number 22, which would put the two in a tie for fifth place all time. In the sanyaku ranks, Toyonoshima ascends to the Sekiwake rank for the first time since March 2010, and Miyabiyama ranked as the East Komusubi makes his return to the sanyaku for the first time since the 2007 Hatsu basho. In the useless trivia department, Miyabiyama also becomes the first former Ozeki to fall to the Juryo ranks (after his forced kyujo for betting on baseball) and then make it back to the sanyaku.

Joining Miyabiyama in the Komusubi rank is Wakakoyu, who makes his first appearance in the sanyaku after posting 12 wins in Kyushu. He is also the first sanyaku rikishi to hail from the Onomatsu-beya since that stable was established in 2004.

The Hatsu basho banzuke also sees four rookies added to the division in Chiyonokuni, Tenkaiho, Kyokushuho, and Nionoumi. Nionoumi becomes the third Makuuchi rikishi behind Toyonoshima and Sagatsukasa who failed to meet the minimum height and weight requirements when first entering sumo. The complete Makuuchi rankings for the tournament, which begins January 8th, are as follows:

November 30thsearch for cupids and Asian girls
Kisenosato receives official word of promotion to Ozeki
Kisenosato's promotion to the Ozeki rank became official this morning as the Sumo Association sent a special envoy to the Naruto-beya to deliver the news. As the Banzuke Reorganization Committee met this morning to rework the Hatsu basho banzuke, Kisenosato's name was slotted in the Ozeki rank whereupon the Association dispatched Nishonoseki-oyakata and Minatogawa-oyakata to pay a formal visit to the stable and extend the promotion. With a picture of the recently-deceased Naruto-oyakata perched upon a white stand nearby, Kisenosato was flanked by his new stable master and the former stable master's wife as he bowed deeply and accepted the promotion. Kisenosato proclaimed his acceptance by simply saying, "I humbly accept and will devote myself so as to not defile the Ozeki rank." Often, the words a rikishi utters as he accepts the prestigious promotion are thought out and contain a complicated phrase, but Kisenosato was extremely straightforward using plain language. The simplicity is likely due to the recent demise of Takanosato less than a week before the start of the Kyushu basho. It is customary in Japan to mourn the death of a family member for one year and shun anything celebratory, which is the reason that no official press conference was held before or after the dentatsu-shiki, or formal promotion ceremony.

Kisenosato becomes the second Japanese Ozeki promoted since Kaio's retirement, which left a vacancy of Japanese rikishi among the Ozeki and Yokozuna ranks for the first time in 18 years. Kisenosato first became a sekitori at the age of 17 years and 9 months. He was promoted to the Makuuchi division shortly thereafter at 18 years and 3 months making him the second fastest rikishi to reach those marks behind former Yokozuna Takanohana. But once in the Makuuchi division, many felt that Kisenosato was inconsistent never living up to his full potential. The 42 basho in the Makuuchi division it took for him to rise to Ozeki is the fifth slowest climb in history.

New Juryo rikishi announced, one rikishi makes his return, 10 rikishi retire
As part of the banzuke reorganization process for the upcoming Hatsu basho in January, four rikishi were promoted to the Juryo ranks for the first time including Chiyotairyu (former Meigetsuin), a 23 year-old former college Yokozuna and graduate of the famed Nichidai University who hails from the Kokonoe-beya; Kitaharima, a 25 year-old rikishi from the Kitanoumi-beya; Amuuru, a 28 year-old Russian from the Onomatsu-beya who becomes the second slowest foreign-born rikishi to reach sekitori status requiring 57 basho; and Homarefuji, a 26 year-old from the Isegahama-beya. Making his return to the Juryo division is Tokushinho, who fights from the Kitanoumi-beya. Along with the new Juryo rikishi, the Sumo Association also announced that 10 rikishi have retired from the sport including former Juryo rikishi, Daishoumi who fought from the Oitekaze-beya.

November 29thsearch for cupids and Asian girls
Hakuho, Kisenosato hold their own press conferences after the basho
Yokozuna Hakuho held his usual morning after yusho press conference yesterday in Fukuoka. Recalling the tumultuous year, he began, "We've gone through a lot this year, and last night as I was drinking my sake, I thought to myself 'is it really all over?'. Now though as I hold this press conference, it's hitting me that the year is finally done. I feel a strong sense of relief." When asked about his prospects for next year, Hakuho stated, "I hope to achieve my goals one by one. First is to catch up with the Heisei era's dai-Yokozuna, Takanohana." When asked about Kisenosato and his promotion to Ozeki, the Yokozuna responded, "There's still room above the Ozeki rank. I'd like to see him achieve that for himself and for his former stable master."  When asked about his senshuraku loss to Ozeki Baruto, Hakuho simply explained, "I was too fired up."

Across town, future Ozeki Kisenosato met with reporters at the Naruto-beya the morning after the basho to talk about his performance and his upcoming promotion. When asked about his promotion to Ozeki despite his 10-5 performance, he responded, "I'm thrilled that they approved of my efforts, but I still have weaknesses...both mentally and physically. I hope to refine myself and become even stronger." When asked about fighting the 15 days with memories of his recently deceased shisho, he answered, "I trusted in my former stable master who told me to fight with a presence of mind and to believe in myself." When asked if he had announced his promotion to the former Takanosato, Kisenosato replied, "I wanted to report the good news to him first." When asked about his duties as an Ozeki, Kisenosato said, "I'm not going to be a part of any yusho races with the kind of sumo I did this basho. I've got to get stronger with my positioning in close. Things really get important from here on out."

Sumo Association announces upcoming schedule
The Sumo Association announced it's upcoming schedule surrounding the year-end/new-year holidays and the Hatsu basho as follows:
December 21st - New banzuke announced
December 23rd - Yokozuna Deliberation Council General Keiko (Soken)
December 28th - Iwakiyama retirement ceremony
December 29th - Futenoh retirement ceremony
January 8th - Hatsu basho day 1
January 22nd - Hatsu basho senshuraku
February 4th - Tosanoumi retirement ceremony
February 5th - Annual Ozumo Tournament
February 11th - Annual Ozumo Tournament for Charity

November 28ndsearch for cupids and Asian girls
Kisenosato to be promoted to Ozeki this Wednesday
Sekiwake Kisenosato will officially become an Ozeki this Wednesday when the banzuke for the Hatsu basho is reorganized. Prior to the start of the senshuraku bouts, the judging committee convened and agreed unanimously that a request should be made to Hanaregoma Rijicho to call for a special meeting of the board to officially promote Kisenosato to Ozeki. The Commissioner agreed with the decision and announced that the board would meet on Wednesday to grant Kisenosato his promotion. Takanohana-oyakata, a director on the board and the head of the judges committee, explained to reporters, "He has been a solid Sekiwake the last year, and he showed strong mental courage in the face of his terrible misfortune prior to the basho."

As for Kisenosato, he was defeated by newly-promoted Kotoshogiku on senshuraku failing to reach the 33 win mark over three basho that is an unwritten rule; however, his promotion had already been decided rendering his final bout inconsequential. Afterwards in the dressing room, Kisenosato shed tears as he stated, "I really wanted to win today and then report the good news to my former stablemaster. The promotion still hasn't hit me yet, but I wish he was with us for just three more weeks, so he could see this day."

November 21stsearch for cupids and Asian girls
Asashoryu pays surprise visit to Kokusai Center
Former Yokozuna Asashoryu made a surprise day 9 visit to the Kokusai Center in Fukuoka, the first time he has watched the bouts live since his retirement in February 2010. About 5:15 PM and wearing a gray suit with a blue necktie, Asashoryu walked through the main entrance for Association officials without a ticket and declared, "I came to see everyone." He headed straight for the West dressing room where Harumafuji was fighting that day and brushed right past Iwatomo-oyakata who was on guard duty at the entrance to the dressing room.

After talking with Ozeki Harumafuji, he returned to the main arena via the East hana-michi and patted Kisenosato on the rear end as the Sekiwake waited to enter the arena prior to his bout. Asashoryu walked to a first row seat in the middle of the muko-jomen side and plopped down to watch the remaining bouts and swill a beer with surprised fans around him.

After the bouts, Asashoryu walked over to reporters sitting near ringside and said, "It's been so long I figured you'd want to hear from me. From the time I was an active rikishi, my dream has been to sit in the masu-seki and drink a beer while watching the bouts." When asked about Kisenosato, Asashoryu said, "I hope he can overcome all of this and do his very best." When asked about Kotoshogiku, he replied, "He seems so relaxed out there."

November 17thsearch for cupids and Asian girls
Wakanosato withdraws from the Kyushu basho
M9 Wakanosato has withdrawn from the Kyushu basho citing an injury to his right hamstring suffered in his day 5 bout, a win against Tokitenku. Doctors examined the injury and determined he'll need three week to heal. This is Wakanosato's 12th career kyujo and first since Natsu 2009.