Day 10 Comments (Matt Walsh reporting)
Hellooooo and welcome. (that works better in my seductive baritone ...).

So raise your hand if you had bet on Takarafuji two wins ahead of Hakuho by day 9. Nobody? How about the bottom three on the banzuke with as many wins of the Yokozuna, Kotooshu, and Harumafuji combined after day 10? (crickets) Yeah, I had all of that in my preview. It's on the 15th page of comments from the last basho.

So while the suckers go dig for that, all of you really smart people (gotta lube up the audience, right?) can let me weigh in on the shenanigans that the other Sumotalkers have been telling you about.

My basic opinion on all of this is that the "Japanese must get a yusho" theory is correct. Just listen to the English commentator if you get the NHK broadcasts overseas – he talked multiple times about the lack of Japanese yusho over the recent past. It's extremely important to sumo and everybody agrees on that much. I almost wrote "important to the sport" there, but it's not the sports part that demands this. They aren't wearing diapers and sporting backwards comb-overs because it makes for superior fights. They don't hold their basho in the middle of the afternoon on weekdays because that's when the athletes are at their peak abilities. They don't throw salt to improve their footing on the clay and they aren't drink power water with electrolytes. This is about ancient Japanese traditions and it ties into Japanese culture and religion. They certainly wouldn't hire a bunch of Mongolians to come over and take all the priest and monk jobs in their shrines and temples. However, it must feel to some Japanese like they did just that by letting these foreigners come over, dress the part of good rikishi, and then physically dominate their own young men in their national sport.

I may disagree with the other Sumotalkers – and have – about whether a specific bout was thrown, like the Goeido-Kakuryu bout from last time. Those disagreements come down to the fact that sumo is such an easy sport in which to throw a match and it's really hard to make a clear call about intent. When the key to victory is to keep your stance balanced by taking one more step with your left foot or finding some way to grab that mawashi, just skip that step or leave the mawashi alone and you're on your way to a loss.

But we have to face the broader facts: a confirmed, long-standing history of bout-throwing and trading favors from the top on down, a desperate need to grow the sport after a terrible scandal, and a lack of top Japanese talent on the big stage in a mono-ethnic country that strongly favors its own. Mix that with some weird action on top of the dohyo and it should be clear enough that something's going on.

Now to the action.

First, I'll just note that Tamawashi (with the win) and Takarafuji (with the loss) theoretically remain in the yusho hunt at 8-2, which means they'll start to get a steady diet of significantly higher-ranked opponents for their trouble. But I'm sure they're happy to get off the bottom of the banzuke.

Tokitenku (5-5) won a straightforward yotsu battle. When's the last time you read that? It was over Asasekiryu (3-7), so take that for what it's worth.

Shotenro (7-3) had a stronger hit at the tachi-ai than Tochinoshin, and he quickly used it to set up the pull. No Shine (5-5) took a roll, making the otherwise standard pull down of the head look cooler than it was.

Shohozan met up with a much bigger Daido (over 30 kg heavier) in a pushing contest. As you might expect, Shohozan brought the superior energy while Daido brought ... well Daido had the weight advantage. And he used it for a moment, driving the Ho Show back after losing the tachi-ai to a round of tsuppari. But Shohozan turned the tables again and blasted Diddly-Don't all the way across the ring. Both men are 5-5.

From a pushing/thrusting battle, the lighter Yoshikaze got moro-zashi on Wakakoyu, which the larger man quickly turned into what looked like it would be a kime-dashi by locking down on both arms with the two outer grips and bullying Yoshikaze around. But Starbuck managed to swing his partner over his right side at the edge for what should have been the close win as Wakakoyu's elbow hit the clay first. Instead, the call and subsequent mono-ii both went for Wakakoyu (6-4). That's a rough way to drop to 4-6.

In a battle of two guys who are close together in my mind for their similar physique and recent appearance in the top division, Kaisei appeared to have Aoiyama dead to rights. Aoiyama was pushed to the edge and with his side facing the Brazilian for a second. But actually, Aoiyama was spinning all the way around before he slid a bit more to the slide and let Kaisei (6-4) step past and over the tawara. Surprising agility at the edge for the baby-faced Bulgarian (7-3).

Miyabiyama suckers Sadanofuji into his usual push then pull. The English commentators keep mentioning that Sadanofuji has put on some weight, going up to 194 kg if I remember correctly. For reference, Baruto and Gagamaru are listed at 199 kg. I guess that means Sadanofuji (4-6) has gained the one thing that he can use to make up for a lack of power or significant skill at this level. Perhaps he'll hang around the top division for a while due to his size, which doesn't seem to affect his overall mobility or balance too much. Miyabiyama's picks up the early make-koshi at 2-8 – he's at the point where I rarely would say that he's a clear favorite in any match and relies on his opponents being off their game. This basho, at least, that hasn't been enough.

Tochiohzan entered today tied at the top of the leaderboard, but showed why he doesn't have the stuff to hang with the big boys. He locked up with Kyokutenho (7-3) and had the better, lower position. More than Oh-zan (still 8-2) pushing forward, the veteran "Rising sun heaven phoenix" (taking a page from Mr. Martin here) moved back and induced Oh-zan to slightly lose his balance going forward. He then grabbed his lower opponent around the back of his head and slapped him down for the quick win. You may safely ignore the call of "kata-sukashi" – not sure how they came up with that one for a mostly typical slap down.

Kitataiki pulls a henka, which is such a pussy move against a clearly injured and weak-looking Tochinowaka. North (something something, too lazy to look) moves to 4-6 with the lame win, while lame Waka Waka (note: irony) gets his MK.

In a match of two solid rikishi, Okinoumi and Toyohibiki got into a shoving match, which should favor Hibiki. And it did, with Okinoumi getting moved back by some strong armpit shoves before get a solid grasp on the Hutt's left shoulder and arm. This led to a nice kote-nage throw.

Okinoumi is 7-3, but is winning with retreating sumo this basho. Hibiki continues to look good at 4-6, but will need to start converting better tachi-ai into wins to pick the KK from M3.

Gagamaru and Takekaze both started out doing what they do best – shoving hard and evading, respectively. Gagamaru had some trouble getting a lock on his shifty opponent, so he tried at one point to grab the mawashi near the edge. Takekaze snuck out of that, spun around Mr. Gaga, got an arm under his right armpit, and used that to throw the off-balance big man to the clay. Too much running around for the 3-7 White Hutt; Takekaze with the same mark after this surprisingly good effort.

Aran and Homasho come in already with their MKs locked up. They got into migi-yotsu after a tachi-ai so slow that I actually thought it was a false start. Homie went for a maki-kae with his left and, getting it easily, started to move Aran back but without any grip. Aran tried to put on the kime – the double arm lock. As they got near the edge, Aran leaned back and swung his partner around and out for a kote-nage win.

Takayasu (2-8) was pounding away with tsuppari on Aminishiki for a while, when Shneaky (6-4) got a good shove in to knock the youngster back and set up a pull.

Myogiryu is looking seriously good. Today, he managed to yori-kiri Toyonoshima without a belt grip. With all of the veteran savvy and array of moves that Toyonoshima has at his disposal, that is a tough task to pull off. In fact, it should be considered a mistake to try. But Myogiryu got into his aite's defenses, and used power and speed to work Tugboat out before he could make any of those veteran moves work. Both men are at 5-5.

Warning: from here on up, we enter the Sumotalk Conspiracy Zone, where strange things can and do happen and we can only explain them by calling upon a higher power (in this case, Mike).

That said, the first Ozeki bout between Harumafuji and Goeido looked pretty straightforward. The two locked in migi-yotsu and got low, with their hips back. Then HowDo quickly dropped his right hand inside grip, reached underneath Goeido and flipped him. Not much to say for a move that was simply called uwate-nage but was really something different in my book since it involved getting leverage in a different way. Goeido at 6-4 is in position to KK from Sekiwake. Harumafuji is also 6-4 and will get his KK, probably without a little help from his friends.

Alas, Kisenosato and Kotooshu looked pretty off to me, even at full speed. At first, Kotooshu went for his favored left hand grip, but on the inside – he usually likes a left hand outer. Hmmmm. Kisenosato didn't like it and backed out in a hurry. After a quick (and unbalanced by Kise) spin around each other, Kotooshu came back in too high and again went for the inside left hand grip, getting it this time. However, instead of backing his opponent out or keeping his hips back while waiting for a better opening, Kotooshu bodied up into Kisenosato and let Kise grab a strong right outer. He then turned a bit to the left, letting the Japanese Hope really make the best use of his grip possible while greatly limiting the value of his own inside grip. From there, it was easy for Kisenosato to work the compromised Bulgarian out to reach 9-1.

To me, it looked like Kotooshu came in with a plan and executed it perfectly – just that it was a plan to lose. Kisenosato almost blew it with the initial back-out after the tachi-ai, but Kotooshu was active enough to re-engage, get the grip he wanted (again, going against his favorite winning strategy), and made sure that his opponent had the leverage to attack. Kotooshu (6-4) just needs two wins in five days and is likely to also have help available if he needs it.

Baruto (7-3) beat Kotoshogiku (7-3) in a match that was effectively decided on Day 9. Once Giku lost the battle of the Japanese Hopes, he was fodder for a superior rikishi like Baruto (whereas the winner can expect gentler treatment over the final stretch). I never cease to be amazed by Baruto's feats of strength. Today, from what looked to be a regular hidari-yotsu position (though his opponent was gripless), he locked his right arm around and down over his aite's left arm and picked 170 kg of Giku up for a trip into Baruto-dashi land. Unreal.

So, the Yokozuna is hurt. I buy it – why not? These guys get hurt all the time. Why would he let people know, though? It's a terrible decision from a tactical perspective if you're trying to win every match possible. You know my answer to that. Anyway, the injury explains some of the sumo we've seen from him. He's trying to win without using his injured hand to grip a mawashi. [Note: I saw the Day 9 report -- isn't it the right hand? the one that's taped up and is NOT used to throw Gagamaru? they keep zooming in on that hand.] Anyway, it's pretty awesome to watch him take on the field with a (literal) handicap. Assuming that today's bout was clean, it was exactly what he needs to do under the circumstances – hard tachi-ai and dominate with power, speed, and positioning to get a quick force out win. Seems that Kak (7-3) doesn't suddenly have Hakuho's number, huh?

By the way, I'm not saying that the hand explains everything. The match with Goeido for example – I haven't read the Day 8 report yet, but that was thrown, right? Hak appears to do a double reverse maki-kae, turning double inside position into double outside position. That seems like a good idea if you want to lose a bout while appearing to be very active.

But all the sumos in Sumoville had a fun basho anyway. Somebody different should yusho, which makes it worth watching in any case. Enjoy the final stretch!

Day 9 Comments (Mike Wesemann reporting)
One of the finer things in life is settling onto the couch in my underwear with nowhere to go and a full broadcast of the day's bouts waiting for me in my DVR. Such was the scene Saturday morning (day 7) where I had enough time to watch the full broadcast instead of fast forwarding from bout to bout. From the end of the Yokozuna dohyo-iri to the start of the first Makuuchi bout, there's approximately 15 minutes to fill each day, and NHK does a phenomenal job using this time to introduce us to new faces, discuss current issues, or relive exciting basho from the past. I'm guessing that about half of you access the daily bouts via YouTube, which means you only get the bouts themselves with no replays and no commentary. The other 45% of you likely watch the NHK feed in English, so while you get the visuals during rikishi profiles and other documentaries, the translation is done on the fly, and the nuance of watching it in Japanese just isn't the same.

There's a couple of truths I've learned the past decade since starting up Sumotalk. One is that Mainoumi is the best analyst in the business. If all I ever did was just repeat Mainoumi's takes on Sumotalk, the site would still be worth reading. Another truth is that the media coverage of sumo is done in concert with the approval of sumo's board of directors, so if you can learn to read what's being spun in the media, you can get a glimpse into the minds of the people running the sport. It's very difficult to deceive the masses in any country without cooperation from the media, so in a country like Japan where group harmony is encouraged, very few people ever question what's being fed to them by the mainstream media. The Sumo Association knows this and wisely takes full advantage.

With this in mind, let me rehash the mini-documentary NHK broadcast at the beginning of the day 7 bouts because my ears really perked up when Kariya Announcer and Kitanofuji introduced the piece that highlighted "a struggling Ozeki's sudden promotion to Yokozuna." The focus was on former Yokozuna, Onokuni, and his improbable 15-0 yusho exactly 25 years ago at the Natsu basho that provided the basis for his Yokozuna promotion. Heading into the tournament, Onokuni--who was ranked at Ozeki--had averaged just nine wins per tourney since the previous year's Natsu basho, so in a word, he was floundering big time. Then, all of a sudden he comes out of nowhere and goes 15-0 to take the yusho. Riding that momentum, he posted subsequent records of 12 wins and then 13 wins taking runner-up honors in both of those basho, which resulted in his promotion to Yokozuna.

The documentary focused on his bouts throughout that Natsu basho 25 years ago, and then they had comments from Onokuni and his peers as they recalled the miraculous tournament. The theme of the piece was that you never know when a rikishi can get hot and make a historic run. Now, it could have been just a coincidence since 25 years is a good number to commemorate things, but I couldn't help wonder as I watched the piece, "are they prepping the general public for a similar run?". Now, I'm not saying that a similar run is going to happen just because they chose to show this miraculous story, but I wouldn't be surprised if this piece was planned in order to plant in the minds of the viewing audience that such a run by a struggling Ozeki is possible.

I had a similar reaction to this documentary that I had to one of Hakuho's pre-basho comments on May 1st where after roughing up Kakuryu in the keiko ring he said, "The Ozeki who have momentum right now are Kakuryu, Kotoshogiku, and Kisenosato, and I've been testing to see what works best against them." I agreed with him that Kakuryu certainly had momentum going into the tournament, but what about Kotoshogiku and Kisenosato? Why mention them by name and not Baruto who took the yusho in January or Harumafuji who has also won a tournament within the last year?

When I read that quote from Hakuho, it sounded to me like a company line that was planted in the Yokozuna's head and was conveyed to the general public through his statement. In other words, the typical Japanese person would read that quote and assume that Kisenosato and Kotoshogiku had momentum heading into the tournament when the opposite was really true. That same person would then also watch that documentary on Onokuni's run 25 years ago and be reminded, "yes, miracles can happen for floundering Ozeki." In this manner, the Sumo Association can establish line by line what the Japanese public could expect to see at the upcoming basho.

I could be totally wrong in that assessment, but I thought I would mention these personal observations because they obviously shape the way that I perceive sumo. Oh, and for the record, I thought the bout they showed in that documentary where Onokuni defeated Chiyonofuji was the easiest yaocho to read the entire broadcast!  The only other time I can remember a dai-Yokozuna losing by abise-taoshi was when Takanohana deferred to his older brother Wakanohana at the '95 Kyushu basho...a bout Takanohana admitted he threw.

Well, the last time I submitted a report, Hakuho had four wins, and now today as I write this report four days later, Hakuho is stuck on five wins. At least the acting has been acceptable, and now I see where they finally published Hakuho's official injury, but let's first get to the final bout of the day that featured the Yokozuna vs. the scrappy Sekiwake, Toyonoshima.

The Yokozuna secured the right inside position from the tachi-ai and hugged his gal in so tight that Toyonoshima's right arm was pointing to the rafters. I have yet to see Hakuho lose a bout when he has his opponent in this position, so as soon as the Yokozuna let him go without grabbing his belt, I thought to myself "here we go again." With Toyo-Houdini now on the run after his great escape, Hakuho kept up with him forcing him back with his body while firing some non-committal shoves that missed their mark. Toyonoshima ran out of room, though, as he scampered across the ring, and as the two hooked back up in to migi-yotsu, the momentum of the bout carried both rikishi to the edge forcing them to commit. The end result was a Hakuho right scoop throw (albeit with his arm straight as an arrow) for the Yokozuna vs. a Toyonoshima left kubi-nage, a low percentage desperation throw used by a rikishi when he has no other options. Yet, somehow the Yokozuna miraculously crashed down first giving the victory to Toyonoshima. This was one was close, and they even called a mono-ii, but that was just for show. The end result was an unheard of third consecutive loss for the Yokozuna while Toyonoshima is gifted the shukun victory.

Later in the evening it was announced that Hakuho was suffering from a broken index finger on his left hand, an injury that was "likely sustained" (yes, that's how the article worded it) in his day 1 bout against Aminishiki. You remember that one right? It was the bout where there was little to no contact as Aminishiki backed up from the tachi-ai and snuck to the side of the Yokozuna getting him off balance to where he easily pushed him out. I challenge anyone to show me at what point Hakuho broke his finger on day 1.  And if he did break his finger during the bout, why wasn't he favoring it afterwards?  He didn't flex it, he didn't favor it, nor did he even look at it after the bout.

Actually, the injury does jive with Hakuho's sumo today. When he had Toyonoshima in tight with his left arm pointing to the rafters, the logical next step was to grab the outer grip with the left hand on the other side. The Yokozuna refrained which aided Toyonoshima's escape, and this is actually the best argument against yaocho in this bout for you purists although I could counter with he didn't grab it because he didn't intend on winning AND he knew it would be reported that the hand was injured. The main problem with the argument that it's broken is this pic which shows Hakuho's left hand dug snugly into Gagamaru's belt a few days ago as the Yokozuna is heaving the 200 kg behemoth over with an outer belt throw. Just imagine in your mind you have your hand underneath your opponent's belt, and you're executing an outer belt throw. Where is all of the pressure focused during the throw? Yes, the index finger. That news article went on to say that Hakuho's injury would require two weeks to heal but that the Yokozuna was going to continue fighting and wouldn't go kyujo.

The Ozeki and Yokozuna have a right to withdraw from any tournament at will citing a phantom injury that will always be conveniently diagnosed as requiring "two weeks to heal." Happens all the time. I'm actually surprised that the Association isn't making Hakuho withdraw to preserve the image of the Yokozuna rank, but if he is allowed to continue, I suspect it's so he can hand the foreign Ozeki losses while giving the Japanese Ozeki wins. Who knows? But two things I am certain of, Hakuho did not break his finger during his day 1 bout (he hasn't even been taping it), and the Yokozuna could have easily beaten Toyonoshima today with one hand. Are you telling me a kubi-nage from a vertically challenged Sekiwake is going to best a right inside scoop throw from a dai-Yokozuna? It's so highly improbable that when paired with the other shenanigans going on this basho, I don't see how anyone could deduct anything but that Hakuho gave away his fourth bout of the tournament. Don't worry though, it gets worse as both thespians finish the day 5-4.

Part of me was thinking that today's Ozeki duel between Kisenosato and Kotoshogiku would determine the yusho, but the fight wasn't straight up. It may well be that the victor is being groomed for the yusho, but my thinking was if you're going to put the yusho on a silver platter for either of the Japanese Ozeki, at least make them fight straight up to give us something that's real. Wouldn't happen, though, as both rikishi hooked up into migi-yotsu from the tachi-ai where Kotoshogiku took the advantage by bellying Kisenosato back. The right outer grip was wide open for the Geeku, but he refrained from grabbing it, and at this point, I knew the outcome. Kisenosato managed to force the action back into the center of the ring, but Kotoshogiku gave him the gaburi-yori again this time grabbing the right outer grip. The Geeku let it go, however, with no prodding from his fellow Ozeki, so back and forth this nonsense continued for about 30 seconds until Kisenosato hooked his left hand under Kotoshogiku's right armpit, backed up a step, and pulled him down in the process.

This bout reminded me a lot of the Kisenosato - Aminishiki matchup because Aminishiki dictated the pace and had opening after opening in that one; yet, he never did go for the kill eventually letting Kisenosato get him in the end. As the dust settled here, Kisenosato moved into a tie for the lead at 8-1, but it doesn't necessarily mean he's the chosen one. I'm very curious as to why Kisenosato was allowed to win this one because Kotoshogiku has been the far better rikishi through nine days. We'll just have to wait and see how this plays out, but the one thing that's clear is the way has been paved twice over for a Japanese rikishi to take the first yusho the country can boast in over six years. Incredible.

In our second Ozeki duel of the day, Harumafuji was way too high at the tachi-ai allowing Kotooshu the left inside position that was for all intents and purposes insurmountable. HowDo actually went for a right kote-nage that set up a maki-kae getting his right on the inside, but Kotooshu just maintained that same stifling grip which changed from a solid inner to a solid outer that now allowed the Bulgarian to pinch in on Harumafuji's right side. With nowhere to go but down, Kotooshu obliged throwing the Mongolian to the dirt with an outer belt throw with that left hand. Pretty straight up ass-kicking here as Kotooshu soldiers on at 6-3 while Harumafuji falls to 5-4.

Ozeki Kakuryu's initial charge was weak, and to make matters worse he kept his right hand up with his left arm non-committal against Komusubi Aminishiki. Took another second for the Kak to align his feet, so Aminishiki just ducked his head and bulldozed the Kak straight back and out with a methodical oshi attack. Nothing more to say than you can easily tell at the tachi-ai if Kakuryu has any intention of winning a bout. He sure as hell gave this one away taking himself out of a tie for the lead now at 7-2. Aminishiki improves to 5-4 with yet another gift.

M2 Gagamaru pushed at Ozeki Baruto's face, but the Estonian got his right arm firmly on the inside, which silled the dill as far as us Utahns are concerned. With Gagamaru still pushing into his face, Baruto just bodied his foe back and out never once grabbing the belt. Easy stuff here as Baruto improves to 6-3 while Gagamaru is the converse.

M1 Aran henka'd to his right against Sekiwake Goeido, but 1) the move was half-assed, and 2) the only time Goeido goes forward balls to the wall is when he knows Kakuryu is gonna let him win. So, with both rikishi now separated by a meter in the middle of the ring, Goeido tried to pounce to the inside while Aran batted him away wit the left paw. This cat and mouse affair continued for a few seconds until Aran went for a meager pull that resulted in the Father deftly charging to the inside and forcing the Bride back and out from there. Goeido moves to 6-3, and before we consider adding a seventh Ozeki, let's get that first yusho in six years outta the way first. Aran falls to 0-9.

Rounding out the sanyaku ranks, M1 Takayasu charged low against Komusubi Homasho and then started firing tsuppari into his face and upper torso. Homasho had no answer, and so Takayasu pounced driving him back and down for the oshi-taoshi win in under five seconds. Takayasu ekes his way to 2-7 while Homasho's make-koshi becomes official at 1-8.

M2 Myogiryu and M5 Okinoumi hooked up in the hidari-yotsu position from the tachi-ai, but Myogiryu showed some impatience going for a maki-kae with the right arm. Okinoumi sensed the slight let-up in his opponent's momentum and struck forcing Myogiryu back and down at the edge with a nifty left scoop throw. As much as I like Myogiryu (4-5), I also enjoy seeing him making these young mistakes (like going for an unnecessary maki-kae) because I know he'll learn from it and get it right the next time. Okinoumi is a quiet 6-3.

M3 Toyohibiki (4-5) rushed his oshi charge against M6 Aoiyama (6-3), who backed up to his right and slapped down Toyohibiki near the edge. Funny how this same attack worked wonders against the Yokozuna a few days earlier but failed miserably today.

Rounding out the jo'i, M3 Takekaze henka'd M4 Tochinowaka to his right, but the Sleep-waka couldn't recover anyway, so Takekaze squared back up, pushed his man against the ropes, and then shifted gears pulling him down into the center of the ring. Both dudes are 2-7.

M4 Tochiohzan stayed tied for the yusho lead against M6 Wakakoyu who as usual was non-committal in his shove attack because he would rather go for the pulldown. Before he could even execute it, Tochiohzan was in his grill getting the left on the inside and the right outer grip, which he used to throw the Wookie over and down with ease. So yes, Tochiohzan is your co-leader along with Kisenosato at 8-1. Wakakoyu falls to 5-4.

There's really only a couple more bouts from the lower half that are worth mentioning, and one of them didn't even take place. M15 Tamawashi improved to 7-2 thanks to a no-show by M10 Chiyotairyu. The rookie withdrew after a decent 5-4 start citing an ankle injury that he actually sustained during the Haru exhibition season. The problem with Chiyotairyu's unstable sumo is it makes him prone to injury. If you study the basic sumo exercises, none of them gear a rikishi up for pull sumo, so when a guy like Chiyotairyu insists and retreating with that huge body of his, at some point he's bound to overload a certain joint and suffer an injury as a result. I'm sad to see him go because the dude was so powerful yet so raw, but he should be back in Nagoya ranked on or near the bottom rung of the banzuke.

And finally, M16 Takarafuji lost out on a chance to become the basho's sole leader (if only for just 30 minutes) after a huge surge from M11 Shotenro that was too hurried for it's own good enabling Takarafuji to secure moro-zashi as he retreated. But as soon as Takarafuji looked to seize the momentum and drive Shotenro back for the win, Shotenro retreated faster than Takarafuji could advance pulling him down to just his second loss. As for Shotenro, he looked awful his first three days but has since turned it around with six straight wins.

After nine days, we have the exact leader board that I predicted in my pre basho report. Here's how it breaks down:

8-1: Kisenosato, Tochiohzan
7-2: Kotoshogiku, Kakuryu, Takarafuji, Tamawashi
6-3: Baruto, Kotooshu, Goeido, Okinoumi, Kyokutenho, Kaisei, Aoiyama, Shotenro,

I expect the furries to continue to be sifted out of that group making it virtually impossible for a Japanese rikishi not to take the yusho. As for Hakuho, I would rather see him just withdraw than to continue to suffer losses like this, but if he does stay, I expect him to beat up on the foreigners and lose to the eventual yusho rikishi.

Matt will try and make sense of things tomorrow.

Day 8 Comments (Clancy Kelly reporting)
People looking to criticize Hollywood for disseminating misinformation do not want for easy targets. Whether its Vikings wearing horns on their helmets, citizens making arrests, or Mars attaining a human friendly atmosphere in less than three minutes, the film industry of America has a long and storied history of misleading the average Joe.

Most of the time these bogus beliefs are harmless and have no great impact on the real world (though we can all be grateful that the future governor of Californias head did not explode like a super heated enema bag). But on occasion they have implications that cause some harm.

There have been some high profile criminal cases in America in the past few years where defendants who seemed guilty as dogs were acquitted, and some prosecutors are pointing to the fact that many jurors do not understand that circumstantial evidence is enough to convict. It has been suggested that the TV and film industries are mostly to blame (Id toss in the fact that most people are idiots as well). Theyve labeled it "CSI" syndrome, which stands for "Circum Stantial Ividence," I believe.

Put simply, there does not need to be an eyewitness (who are, by many accounts, wrong over half the time anyway) or DNA or fingerprints to decide someone is guilty. Like the indefatigable Johnny Cochran (God rest his soul) once uttered, If the evidence is compelling, we must listen to what its telling.

In the final match of Day 7, Hakuho (one of only five or six guys in sumo history to yusho more than twenty times) wrestled like a Maegashira 16 for the second time this basho. He rushed forward and as he was falling, left his right foot behind him, going so far as to DRAG his right foot behind him. You could almost see a thought bubble above his head as he dug his toes stubbornly in: "Come hell or high water, I am NOT going to bring my leg forward!" For me this has long been the easiest tell in fake losses. Sure, guys do lose legit in this manner, when they go all out and shove their foe, assuming hes so close to the edge hell go out first. And also guys do forget, in the heat of battle, to bring their legs forward. Question we need to ask ourselves is, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, Does it stand to reason that HAKUHO would do this? Against Toyohibiki? Please.

Yeah, theyve been trotting out the "Hakuho is injured" story since Day 1, saying he sprained it vs. Aminishiki. Right, the same hand he used on Day 6 to fling Gagamaru to the dirt like a wastepaper basket? Or theyve been saying his head isnt into it. Right, suddenly the guy who has just rocketed through sumo and basically adopted Japan is now Ricky Williams? Please.

So today it was no surprise that he continued with more of the same vs. Goeido, the guy about whom Mike wondered in his pre basho report might not beat the Yokozuna based on his spicious win over Kakuryu on Senshuraku in Osaka that took him from M6 to Sekiwake! To describe todays bout is insulting, but basically Hakuho hit Goeido hard, which made him circle to his left and get close to the ropes. Kublai then came forward and inexplicably hooked his "uninjured" right arm around foes neck, not with any conviction, just long enough to whisper something, completely open up his defenses, and let the Sekiwake in for the easy yori-kiri win. Yes, the guy who went 172-8 over two years in 2009-2010, including four straight 15-0, tried to pull a Hokutoriki.

And its not like he had set it up with some shoving, or Goeido was leaning too far forward; nor was he fishing, standing in a solid stance taking a quick exploratory shot to see if the guy will go down easily. No, he simply decided to wrestle like one of STs all-time favorite dung beetles. But as Oscar might opine, "Pero si no se puede confiar en un arreglo entonces, en que?"

The problem with the "Hes injured" story is that none of the mistakes he is making are those that a guy who with an injured left hand would make. And remember, he was dominating in pre-basho keiko, beating Kisenosato 18 out of 19 times, and Kakuryu 14 out of 14, so its not like he has some other ailment.

Sorry, but the jury is NOT still out on this one, despite the fans at the Kokugikan slapping their fins together when thrown that kinboshi fish. Hakuho is doing what he has to try and save the sport. His past year or so has been the very definition of taking one for the team.

So, how to work up the verve to report on the rest of the bouts in a sport where the head judge could very well be Freddie Blassie? Maybe watching nearly naked men in large cloth wraps isnt the way to go. Maybe I ought to start covering a sport that has more clothing, like womens beach volleyball.

I took it as a good omen when I, for some reason, switched on the English language broadcast for the first time in a year, and found that YoRoss-kun Mihara was slated, along with Stewie. Having dodged the David Shapiro bullet, I settled in for some sumos.

But first they had a nice little piece (and yes, thats a double entendre about the female interviewer) on Shohozan, and how he scowls when on the dohyo but surprise, is a sweetheart when off. He even rides a Cannondale road bike! Id lay 50/50 odds hes slammin that NHK hottie by the end of the month. She seemed very impressed with his tidy room.

Then they cut to the booth where todays guest commentator was a 650 year-old undertaker. . .I mean oyakata Takanohana. Holy shite! Somebody call Bela Lugosis family, tell em grandpops aint dead after all.

After disposing of Juryo Yoshiazuma, 7-1 Takarafuji was the sole leader. I dont think that sentence needs anything more.

Tamawashi ran Asasekiryu out with little fanfare. In the dictionary under the word "ineffective" theres a picture of Andreas, holding a book with entitled "Reverse Psychology On Me," but hes wearing a t-shirt with Sexys face on it.

Kaisei did his best young Miyabiyama, setting up Fujiazuma with some hard pipin tsuppari, then stepping back and slapping the forward leaning E15 to the clay.

As Kimikaze and Sadanofuji prepped, we were told that Ross had attended the prestigious Japanese center of higher learning Wossamatta U, as did Kimikaze. I did not know that. At any rate, after some ferocious slapping by both men, Sadanofuji decided to end it all (no, he didnt commit suicide!) by giving one last mighty shove that blew the Windy One back and out.

Daido was thoroughly out maneuvered by Wakanosato, who hugged up and laid his large form on the Big Doh, biding his time (yes, like a Croc). When Daido went for an inside belt, Grandpanosato said, "Not so fast, sonny jim. Your center of gravity is now somewhere in my lower intestine" and slung him down like a plate o hash! "Okay, schools out, young fella. Better be scootin home."

Before Yoshikaze and Tenkaiho fought twice (Day 8s mandatory spoiler alert), they showed the crowd and Ross said he had been sitting there yesterday when Toyohibiki upset Hakuho and that his friend wanted to throw the zabuton. Then he added, "HER zabuton." 9/10ths of the known universe heard this except for Stewie, who took a minute or so to notice Ross said anything at all, finally asking, "Well, did he throw it?" Ross quickly interjected, "She. And no, she didnt." Man, YoRoss-kun is subtly trying to let the world know that, hells yeah! hes getting some, but his co-worker aint pickin up what hes puttin down. Im tellin ya, I have a half a mind to move to Tokyo and apply for the job. (Speaking of which, mi madre always said, Clancy, if you had half a mind, it would die of loneliness. Happy Mothers Day, Ma!)

In the bout, Tenkaiho, who outweighs Yoshikaze by an average sized adult Japanese female, seemed to be in control throughout in a yotsu battle, but at the very last Yoshikaze twisted the big lug and they collapsed together. Once the redo was announced the W9 scampered off to a phone booth (remember those?) and returned as Starbuck, Hyper Caffeinated Champion of Hit and Run Sumo Purists everywhere. This time Café did not let the big man touch him (unlike Matt and his uncle Jerry—but Ill let him tell you more when he reports on Day 10). He shifted and slapped and dodged and parried and thrusted, and so too did Yoshikaze on this day, and he got it in the end (meaning Café the win, not Matt the indignity).

Shohozan demonstrated why Tokitenku ought to employ trick sumo as he came at the man like a cannon. . .DALE and rode the old man back and out (love covering a sport where I can call a guy 13 years younger than me, and about 5 times as strong, an "old man"). Unlike Mick and Keith, time is not on Tokidokis side.

Time DOES seem to be on Kyokutenhos side, though, as he continued to defy the odds today by getting inside on Chiyotairyu and swinging his not insubstantial form around and out. The Chauffer will be 38 on my wedding anniversary this year, and he shows no signs of. . .oh, who am I kidding? Hes as slow as my cousin who drank turpentine, but hes still got game, and really, isnt that what sumo is all about, turpentine?

Tochinoshin fought like a Yokozuna today, meaning he charged forward like a man on fire and all Wakakoyu had to do was resist for a second and then move. The Private needs some lessons, Private lessons, in getting in close to his man. Maybe he ought to call John Travolta?

It was all ashore whos goin ashore as Shotenro took on the Pirate King Aoiyama, standing the buccaneer up and then slapping him down when the ruffian got too close to Big Shots treasure. Arrggh! Ahoy Yama falls to 5-3, but he just needs a little smooth sailing and I think he will be able to patch things up.

In the final bout of the first half, Kitataiki dismantled Okinoumi, who had been looking sharp before his humiliating loss to the Chauffer yesterday, in a lightning quick force out win.

While were waiting for the next match, let me update you on our good friend Mark Arbo. Well, dude is back from Africa and he is getting married (Im serious) to a wonderful woman from southern Japan. He is obviously deeply in love and committed, as the picture on the wedding invitation I received shows. Hes lost a bit of weight, and is looking, in my opinion, better than ever. Congratulations to the remarkable Mark Arbo.

In the bout that promised the most excitement, fiery upstart and conqueror of 4! Ozeki this tourney, Myogiryu, took on a former fiery upstart himself in Tochiohzan. Oh Snap produced halfhearted sumo in 2011, but started the year off with a badda boom 11-4 in January, only to stink up the joint with a 5-10 at Komusubi in Osaka. Hes 7-1 and in the lead after luring the E2 in close and then smothering him down. Snap kept his cool in this one, not losing his head to be fighting the Ozeki slayer and patiently waiting for the slightly smaller man to come to him. Still, major Hyogo state props to our boy Myogiryuski! Make us proud.

Gagamaru needed literally two contacts to beat Tochinowaka, the first being the kind of blast they use to make tunnels through mountains, and the second a kind of "make sure the car door is locked" check. In the dictionary under the term "domination" theres a picture of Mike, holding a book entitled "How Girls In High School Treated Me," but hes wearing a t-shirt with Gagas face on it.

Takayasu chose the rikishi with the largest breasts (so predictable!) to be his first, as he put up with Miyabiyamas tsuppari protests before making some room for the big guy to lie on the soft earth and accept what was coming to him. Takayasu gets win number 1 and can sleep well knowing hes finally done it.

On the other hand, Shneaky ignored Arans half assed attempt to henka by circling in on him and running him out like a cricketer. Arans record indicates he will surely be going as Gandalf this Halloween, complete with hand carved staff.

Maybe Hakuho ought to ask Harumafuji for some tips on how to move forward when facing a quick retreating foe. Today How Do gave a slap to Takekaze ("Thats for being small, bitch!") and then grabbed him and took him back and out. The Ozeki did what a sumo is supposed to do, bring his feet up with him after he pushes, sliding them forward one at a time where he has space and then jumping forward with both when he is close to the ropes. Textbook.

Kotooshu took Homasho out. Kotooshu is 5-3. Homasho is 1-7. Im outta here.

Toyohibiki showed that not only can he vanquish Yokozuna going backward, he can defeat Ozeki going forward, driving Kotoshogiku to the bales and. . .wait, Geeku has that spin mojo and flings the E3 to the soil to keep pace with the leaders at 7-1. What an escape? I mean, what an escape! Now in this bout, we saw The Ibiki leave his leg behind like Hakuho did yesterday, but the difference is, Toyohibiki was close enough to the edge that he could be forgiven for thinking hed fall on Geeku and push him out. As Mike said, Hakuho did a ski jump.

Easily one of the least focused bouts of Toyonoshimas career today vs. 7-1 Kisenosato. Tugboat essentially just stood there taking a beating, not even trying to get inside, and got pushed out oh so simply in a couple of heartbeats. Kid moves to 7-1 and co-leader. I noticed a woman in the crowd so excited at this win that she lifted her infant up and shook it. Had this been the States, some alert caller would have 9-1-1ed the popos and had her child taken away, replaced with pamphlets on Shaken Baby Syndrome.

In the final bout of the day (sorry, Hakuho was yet to present Goeido with his first ever win in the series), Kakuryu got inside on Baruto and they spun. Baruto made a tactical miscue he often makes and tried to pull down his Ozeki foe. No basis for wanting to do this as Kak was way too close and tight, and he simply drove the Biomass backward onto his ass. Baruto looked to be panicky. Kakuryu is a lock for the yusho in my opinion. I also think everyone should buy Sony stock cause beta is coming back in a BIG way.

Well, thats about the size of it. I have to go now and take care of some of my own bidness, if you know what I mean. Ill be back next Sunday. Head torero Miguel Felipe Guadalajara Von Ramos Del Fuente Los Punto MacWesemann jams the banderillas into our quaint notions of sumo on Day 9.

Day 7 Comments (Martin Matra reporting)
It's 5:27 AM as I finally get a shot at starting my report, and I'm playin' Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb, though I'm neither comfortable nor numb. Got sucked (or suckered) into going to the opera last night, but I don't really regret any minute of the three-odd hours of Don Giovanni, especially because of the ton of booze which followed (I'll prolly start regretting about noonish, but so far, so good). I get a strange feeling of inadequacy showing up the way I did, having read the reports of Herr Kungl, Señor Gutiérrez and Master Mike beforehand, and something tells me I'll feel even more dwarfed when I read my report sober tomorrow (well, today proper). To hell with it, let's start talking about sumo already.

Having said that, I'm forced to go back to the inferiority complex routine, since the above-mentioned guys also dissected the basho and the state of the sumo as a whole way better than I could right now (and, to be honest, probably ever) and probably better than anyone (especially the casual, naive fans) needed it. Actually, given the amount of molecules of CH3CH2OH in my bloodstream, I'm actually feeling a bit cheated – WWF style – by it all. At least this is something which will go away later, because I am and will still be aware it's a necessary evil – for the greater good of sumo and all. As The Prodigy just put it – Screw 'em and their law.

And I'm jumping right into the action, hardly hoping the sumo was better today. And I'm duly rewarded by Takanoyama of all people, who withstood a few paws to the chest from a guy literally twice his size, only to use his speed to evade ridiculously at the edge and worm his way into a nigh insurmountable moro-zashi. Props to the guy for finding a way to win without cowering away at the tachi-ai. Fujiazuma loses his 5th, while Takanoyama might just find his scrawny ass in Makuuchi next basho.

Asasekiryu's annoyingly low stance and long limbs weren't enough to win against the larger Kaisei, who took his time into methodically driving his sneakier foe to the edge and over. 5-2 for the Brazilian, 3-4 for the Secretary.

The word which pops to my mind after seeing the next one is adroitly (look it up). Good, solid, skillful sumo from the rookie Chiyotairyu got him into a winning position. But the same word can apply to Takarafuji's (what is it with these guys and all the riches and abundance in their ring names, anyway?!) evasion skills – 'cause he got out of the way just enough to force a mono-ii and a do-over. Which was longer and not as exciting, with the rich guy eventually forcing out the thousandth generation of Great Dragons (who comes up with this stuff?).

Veteran M10 Wakanosato's days seem numbered as the other rookie, Kimikaze, left him nary a pot to piss in, driving forward from beginning to end and laughing off his laughable pull attempts. Guess what, I ain't laughing (and that's partly because Blind Guardian's Noldor which just finished – now that's a sad little power metal piece). Kimikaze "improves" to 3-4, a record shared by his hapless foe.

The next two guys came in with mirroring records and walked out the same way (surprise!). Starbuck befuddled his larger foe with tsuppari long enough to get into moro-zashi and force things to the edge. The Round Vulture (one of the more creative readings of The mawashi's shikona) almost pulled off the counter-throw, but it was too little, too late. 5-2 for the loser, 2-5 for the winner.

Tochinoshin won his fight right from the start, lunging right into migi-yotsu and leaving nothing for his opponent. It was only a matter of seconds for Dildo to be ejected from the ring. Both guys share 4-3 records. The Chemical Brothers? I didn't know I had that in my computer.

Cheetos made short work of The Phoenix Clad in Godly Armor (oh, my head!), pushing and thrusting this way and that and not allowing his fatter foe any offensive. Easy oshi dashi win for Oscar's homie there – and they dare say size matters.

Sadanofuji will be none the happier after getting his ass rammed right out of the dohyo by Bulgarian Aoiyama via tsuki-dashi. Remember this – oshidashi = win, tsukidashi = ass-kicking.

Shotenro took his record above sea level with a win dubiously similar to the one above, against Wakakoyu. Both share a 4-3.

Miyabiyama's luck doesn't seem to be changing (he's 1-6), as he drew the mother of all bastards today and duly fell for her signature dirty trick. Is kicking that hard even legal in sumo? Tokitenku skirts to 3-4 with the dubious keta-guri win – he must be after the all-time record (good luck with that).

Kyokutenho's vast experience at the belt prevailed against the younger Okinoumi, as the elder ex-Mongolian got his preferred uwate and denied Okidoki one of his own. The bout ended with a flipping uwate-nage, which Tenho enhanced with a paw on his foe's head. It rarely gets better, given the material.

Kitataiki briefly looked like he had a chance against Tochiohzan, but he rushed it at the edge and allowed Oh to recover and get moro-zashi. It was hilarious to see Mike's former mancrush get pushed with the face (I'm failing to find a proper way to describe this, you go watch the bout, mk?). Oh stays on the leaderboard at 6-1 (sorry for the spoiler there, but if you're hardcore enough to mind it this is a spoiler, you probably knew it already, so get off my case). Kitataiki slumps to 2-5.

Tochinowaka got sick of getting his fat ass handed to him day in and day out and pulled a surprisingly deft henka against still winless Takayasu. Not good, my man, not good at all. If I were Kasugano, I'd break a few bamboo canes on his hide (as a small side note... do you have any idea how hard those things are?! I couldn't believe it, it's like carbon fiber – only lighter).

Homasho showed typical resilience and his trademark low stance in absorbing Aminishiki's rather useless pushing. Homie (1-6 now, yay) ultimately got a decent mawashi grip and forced the giant slayer a little further away from the Shukunsho. And, lazy as I am to go back and change, I've just realized bamboo actually IS carbon fiber. Genius.

Ozeki Kakuryu improved to 6-1 as well, after claiming his gimme from Aran. The Ossetian kinda made it look like he had a chance at some point in it, but then came Kak's maki-kae, and Aran probably knew he was toast. His bagel is totally deserved. Kakuryu is doing fairly well in his debut basho, but, if you listen to conspiracy theorists bigger than myself, he's due a few more losses come week 2.

Kotooshu is one of a handful of few who can stop Gagamaru in his tracks (no mean feat, just ask Harumafuji), and that's exactly what he did today before penetrating (hngh, I said penetrating) the Georgian's defenses and getting the double inside. Yori-kiri was a mere formality, and with it Yogurt rises above the .500 mark. Gagamaru falls to 2-5, but can still get 8.

Myogiryu used godly de-ashi to overpower Ozeki Kotoshogiku and prove there IS I in "Team Japan", dealing the yusho hopeful his first loss. Looking at this guy's schedule in the first week (nothing but Ozeki and Yokozuna) you'd expect 1-6 or the like, but Myogiryu boasts a shiny 4-3, and if anyone should the Shukunsho, it's him. The Geeku gets caught by the chasing pack, and it will be VERY interesting to see how this particular yusho race turns out.

Kisenosato looked tentative a few seconds into his bout with slippery Takekaze, but he methodically (I really use this word a lot, ne?) overpowered him, so much that the little guy ended up rolling out of the dohyo like an odd bowling ball. Der Kinder improves to 6-1 as well. Takekaze limps to 1-6.

The "Bout of the Day" award goes to the Goeido-Baruto matchup, one which, despite the huge size difference, is fairly even. Goeido showed large, steel cojones as he lunged straight into yotsu with the Estonian, and for a second I thought he was toast when Baruto got the left uwate, his right on the inside of Goeido's pit and denied him the uwate on the other side. Unable to budge him forward on the count of his lower stance, Bart deployed the throw, but Goeido used textbook defense, hooking Bart's nearest leg, threatening the soto-gake, so the move could not be completed. Even worse for the Biomass, Goeido now had both arms inside. Normally, that's not a huge deal for a monster like Baruto, who duly used his double outside mawashi grip to force the force-out (if you can walk the walk and talk the talk, why not force the force? Much to learn you still have.). Goeido, though, repelled him like a giant mosquito, lifting him off his feet for a split second and getting back to safety. Baruto sensed he was going nowhere fast and tried another twist with his uwate, but Goeido found the perfect opening and finished his compromised foe by soto-gake. I really, really, REALLY want to believe this one was legit.

 Really. And there's a good chance it might've been, but we'll never know for sure. Bottom line, though, Baruto falls to 5-2 and is out of the running, while Goeido rises above .500 with the hard-earned win. And don't look now, but he's getting fed to Hakuho tomorrow. Should he win that, not only will it be the first time he beats Hak, it will also confirm our darkest suspicions (there is, of course, the possibility of a legitimate upset – yeah, right).

Ama was never in trouble against Toyonoshima, keeping his short foe away from moro-zashi and timing his throw to perfection to improve to 4-3. A contender this one is not (it's in your head too, now; whaddya mean, what? Yoda speak, of course). Tugboat falls to the same mark.

Toyohibiki evened his head to head record against Hakuho... wait, what? Nope, no mistake there, Hakuho looked like he was gonna dominate his way to yet another one-sided win, but somehow, out of the proverbial hat, Toyohibiki pulled a Frank of a kote-nage (those of you who get the reference please email me for your prize), making Hakuho land a split second before he hit the ground himself. The gyoji couldn't believe it either, so he gave it to Hakuho, but a mono-ii rightfully reversed that decision. Fishy? Yes. Provable? Hell no. Hakuho falls to 5-2 and might even go kyujo, pending on tomorrow's outcome. Toyohibiki... well, he improves to 4-3 after also recording first time wins against ex-Ama and Kotooshu. Shukunsho anyone?

It's kind of early to speculate on the prizes (or anything else, for that matter), but Myogiryu should definitely get some. My only hope is the wheels don't come off in the second week. While we're at this, it'll also be interesting to see whether they give Chiyotairyu anything for a 10-5, which he's definitely capable of. With Kotoshogiku and Kisenosato tied for the lead at 6-1 and Hakuho one behind and not looking his best, there's a definite possibility of a Japanese yusho. Somebody should tell Kakuryu, though, because who knows what desires for greater glory the little pest might harbor?

That's all for me this tournament, don't miss me too much, mk? Clancy should be up tomorrow (if you know what I mean), and I'm off to get some much needed rest.

Day 6 Comments (Óscar Gutiérrez reporting)
Sports compete with a lot of other entertainment options for people's attention. Being a good aficionado to a lot of them (and some of those aren't exactly mainstream, eg, I knowingly smiled at Andreas' Ronnie O'Sullivan comment), the thing that pisses me off the most is when some sport actually becomes mainstream and the casual fans, only there because everybody else watches it too, dare to instruct you about it. Because they don't approach you and try to have a little chat, nooooo, armed with just a pair of viewings of the sport and the "useful" insight the dumbass TV commentator has given them, they start to lecture you about a sport you've been following for 10 or more years.

That thing happened in Spain with Formula 1. Before Fernando Alonso came along, only a freak would get up at 6 am on a Sunday (or not sleep at all after coming back home from a drinking spree) and watch the Malaysian GP. But overnight, the appearance of a local idol made everybody an expert on the subject. I actually remember this time I was hanging out with some friends (couple guys, couple gals, none known for being a sports fan) in the beach, one afternoon, just chillin'. Suddenly the girls start packing. "The f*** are you doing? It's only 12:30", I tell them. "Oh, Alonso's race (the actual Spanish translation of Formula 1) is about to start, we have to go back to the apartment to watch it"..."What?" I look at the guys looking for some help but they start packing too. Being surrounded by that level of stupidity, I try at least to delay the departure. "Look, the race doesn't start till 2 pm, we can stay another hour in here". The answer was puzzling "But we have to watch the pre-race show"..."So, are you telling me that watching those morons asking the drivers what's her favorite colour or that Heinz-Halrald Frentzen likes paella, is inherent to the pleasure of a 90 minute, 300 kms long race?" "Well, of course". Being young and stupid (now I'm older and stupid), I yielded and came back with them, 3 of the longest hours of my life, while they (2 months long fans) explained to me all the secrets, schemes and excellences of the sport. Some guys that told me Nigel Mansell was a name I had just made up. Sigh.

Being that way, the sad part is that knowing that most hardcore fans won't leave them, the casual fan is the holy grail all sports are looking for. Mass media attention. So sumo, a national matter in Japan (thus not having the choice of going international) needs a local hero (love this song) to revive it. Nothing more, nothing else. The truth is that we're years ago from that happening organically, so try to keep an open mind regarding this matter. If Baruto makes the helicopter, he's trying to save the sport from disappearing. As sad as that may sound to a good fan like you are. Enough of this, let's go to the dohyo, because your Tamaasukas are being forgotten by my keen companions.

First of all, a tsuki/oshi affair took place between Takarafuji and Kotoyuki. You know I'm not the biggest fan of this style, but this bout was actually pretty good. With nobody going for the cheap pull, this was a real "mano a mano", nice de-ashi (forward movement) from both guys when they had the chance. Takarafuji dictated the pace mostly, Kotoyuki was trying to push from the side and gained the upper hand momentarily, going for the frontal push out and not asking himself "WWWD?" (What would Wakakoyu do?). Still, Takarafuji recovered and overpowered the Juryo visitor with a final shove that sent him to the third row. The Sadogatake guy took his time to come back for the final bow, but when he did, he was limping and he walked that way down the hana-michi. A pity, really, because he was looking to get promoted after a nice start and now I wouldn't bet a dime on it. 4-2 for him and 5-1 for Takarafuji, who is looking for his first kachi-koshi in his fourth basho in Makuuchi.

During my rather frequent fishing trips (and I don't know what a river is, I'm more of a Chuck's than Sneed's type of guy - see adjacent picture to understand the joke - ) I've learnt that "Ta-" is a prefix that means "I don't want to know anything about it". I would observe the grounds, Cutty Sark & Coke in one hand, approach a female I considered worthy of my affections, and she'd answer me "Ta"… The difference a dentist makes is a lot, that must be why they charge so much. Because in Russian "Da" means "yes". The day I discovered that, man, was I pissed. Maybe some of the Slav girls I looked forward to bring to my dominions were actually willing to come. The money I would have saved in chloroform...Well, I was telling you this because in the second bout of the evening Mr. "I don't want to know anything about the mawashi" did just that and disposed of Kamikaze (who didn't perform up to his name), just as easily as I did of Svetlana that summer night a couple years ago…Never mind, Tamawashi is 5-1 and looking sharper than ever and Kamikaze is 2-4.

Daido jumpstarted the gun and got an easy uwate while Kaisei was still raising up. No need for that, my Brazilian friend, as Dildo had sidestepped him and threw him to the clay in the blink of an eye. This was a blatant non-call. These things didn't happen at the beginning of the reign of Musashigawa Rijicho, also known as the Great Matta Purge (© by Andreas Kungl). We miss those times. Both rikishi are 4-2.

Hot Shot stayed lower than his opponent at the tachi-ai and raised the bulky Fujiazuma straight up for an easy-peasy oshi-dashi. Third consecutive win for Shot after 3 losses, Fujiazuma is 2-4 and will have to scrap if he wants to stay in the division.

Yoshikaze looks injured. Last basho he missed the last 3 days and he hasn't recovered properly, so a henka was only a question of time. Asasekiryu, being a master at pulling them off, is also absolutely clueless when he's on the other side of the rope. With these data, you can figure yourself what happened. Café needs 3 or 4 more of these to keep himself in the division, while the Secretary has a balanced account.

Kyokutenho showed today that sheer power is useless even in yotsu-sumo if it doesn't come with the proper footwork and skill. Tenkaiho looked to crash the Chauffeur's car, but old Tenho stopped the first charge, moved laterally to set up his rival and then drove Miss Daisy out, neat and tidy to even his record. Tenkaiho is 2-4 if you need him.

Sadanofuji got Wakakoyu'd again. He should change his name to Masonofuji (If you don't laugh at the joke, it's coz it's baaaad) .For the ones who are counting, today's one was a hataki-komi, which makes 3 this basho, plus one hiki-otoshi and 2 losses for Koyu. Sadomaso is 2-4.

Chiyotairyu pulled the leapfrog henka against Mt. Pirate. Ahoy was close to catching him in mid-air (remember Wakanoho-Ama, blatant non-call, by the way), but he was so startled at the move, that he just stood there gawping and was easy pushing fodder for the flying pig. 5-1 for the rookie, who should get tsuriotoshi'ed, if you ask me. If you want to do this, try it in front of a 500kg bull (El Cordobés, famous Spanish "torero" did it, I won't link images just in case…, you can search it for yourself). Ahoy gets his second loss of the tournament, and I hope he'll be sharpening his knives for the next meeting.

Quick advice for No-shine. Putting your forearm in the neck of your rival is OK to keep him at bay momentarily, but for four freaking seconds? What were you expecting? Okinoumi got an obvious moro-zashi out of the move, but Tochinoshin mended his ways with a strong utchari that flew Okinoumi out of the dohyo. My first impression was in favor of the Private, and after close viewings, maybe Tochinoshin's right ankle touches the sand an instant before Okinoumi's left arm. Let's quantify "an instant": half a tenth of a second (1 frame, 20 fps video, I'll show you the caps if you don't mind the quality). And here you can't point to Okinoumi being the aggressor, the utchari was an aggressive one, desperate, but aggressive. If somebody was deserving here, I'd go with Tochinoshin, but to be fair, I would have ordered a rematch, after all, that's entertainment. After a review by a group of Japanese people, the win was awarded to the Japanese rikishi. Meh. Okinoumi advances to 5-1 expecting to face some toughies in the second week and Private No-Shine gets his third consecutive loss for his efforts, balancing his hot start.

We need a new sheriff in town, as Miyabiyama is washed up. Shohozan beat Miyabi in his own game and that's a clear tell of what's to come for the former Ozeki. Cheetos looked like having a submachine gun, while Flobby was firing with his old colt, which gets jammed easily. Ol' style oshi-dashi and a 2-4 record for Matutano, Miyabi walks towards the horizon with a lone win on his bag.

The last bout before the intermission went as one-way as a Harlem Globetrotters game. Wakanosato played the Washington Generals part and Tochiohzan did his sumo 101 ,keep arms tight, be low, and move forward. Textbook oshidashi and 5-1 record for him. Grandpanosato got his third loss.

Tochinowaka keeps disappointing yours truly. Today Tokitenku gave his neck some loving and Tochinowaka stood there, like a teppo pole. When Toki's pull attempt came, Tochinowaka was caught off-guard and Tokidoki pounced on the opportunity to yori-kiri the big man out. Abysmal 1-5 for my man, not that brilliant 2-4 for the Mongolian.

Kitataiki and Takekaze made a sincere effort to doze me off with the tachi-ai preparations. When they finally got going, Takekaze tricked everybody and went for the straight up push out win. Kitataiki sure wasn't expecting that and put up a Frenchman-like resistance. Takekaze finally lost his virginity, while former Mike's mancrush shows a poor 2-4.

Takayasu continues his dismal basho. Despite successfully hitting his almost nonexistent target, Tugboat's neck, with his tsuppari, the rest of his body wasn't put into the effort. The Maegashira went in panic mode trying to circle the Sekiwake, but Toyonoshima did his best spinning top impersonation (has the perfect body for it) and the youngster, absolutely terrified, crumbled to the floor. 4-2 for Toyonoshima, who's taking care of business defeating the guys lower ranked than him. Takayasu could very well have a level 80 paladin, cause he's yet to score.

Aran has no fighting spirit this basho. He's acting like the head cheerleader in a teenage movie, letting every guy do her without putting that much of an effort. Today, the Russian kept tight trying to fish for moro-zashi against Yoghurt and when he couldn't get it, there was no plan B. Kotooshu willed his way into a left uwate and used his right arm rendering his foe's left one useless, pointing at the roof for the funny looking yori-kiri. Even steven for Yoghurt, Aran is yet to win.

Ozeki Kotoshogiku is the lone undefeated rikishi, but take it with a grain of salt. The records of the rivals he's faced before today were 0-5, 0-5, 0-5, 0-5 and 2-3.That's a combined 2-18 if we exclude the 5 Kotoshogiku wins. Not that impressive, huh? Well, today, the Giant Killer Komusubi Aminishiki was in front, and Kotoshogiku simply bulldozed him out of the dohyo. The Giku got an early left inside position and Aminishiki tried to force his way on that side with a fruitless maki-kae attempt, allowing the Ozeki to easily roll him out of the dohyo via oshi-dashi. Snakeoil Oyakata has 3 gaijin scalps and 3 national defeats. Ahem.

Kisenosato made a show of his strength, single-handedly (literally) pushing the side of Sekiwake Goeido, who was trying to touch cloth. With that colossal power exerted right from the tachi-ai, nor the most willing rikishi could have done anything but fall flat in his face, as the Sekiwake unwillingly did. 5-1 for the Kid, still very much in contention and 3-3 for Gogo, who will have to fight hard for his second kachi-koshi in 6 sanyaku appearances.

The key to defeating Baruto is not letting him get an inside position, but even if you succeed there's a good chance you end up losing anyway. Toyohibiki conceded that inside position right off the bat and then tried to undo his wrongs, trying to maki-kae his way in (just like Aminishiki 5 minutes ago). Baruto didn't let him, of course, and escorted him out of the dohyo. Easy day at the office for the Ozeki's fifth win. Toyohibiki has 3 wins, the number I had him penciled for in the whole basho, but don't count on him getting kachi-koshi despite this thrilling start.

Myogiryu overpowered Ozeki Harumafuji at the tachi-ai with some nice shoves. The Maegashira then stuck to the retreating Ozeki like flies to shit. That gave him the win, because Harumafuji had already grabbed a left uwate and was trying to pull a rabbit out of his hat, but Miyagi's nice de-ashi left the Ozeki with no room to operate. This is the main difference I see between Myogiryu and Takayasu. Both have arrived here at the same time (though Myogiryu is 4 years older, he went to college) and have very similar styles, mainly oshi-sumo, but able to defend themselves in yotsu. The difference is Myogiryu tries to go forward, but Takayasu tries to go backwards, hence today's results for both of them and in the basho (3-3 vs. 0-6). HaruAmafuji is off to one of his cold starts with same wins than losses.

Homasho gave Ozeki Kakuryu a run for his money. Compare the Komusubi's attitude today with the one on day 3 against Kisenosato. Kakuryu worked with a nice tsuppari to Homie's neck, but stability is Homasho's main feature. Homie tried to weather the storm and look for shelter in the belt, but Kakuryu wouldn't let him in, combining his nice tsuppari with nice pulling moves. Finally, the winless Komusubi leaned forward a little too much and Kakuryu dispatched him with a non-cheap hataki-komi. Featuring only a loss in his record, the shin-Ozeki is showing no signs of jitters, but the second week battles against his counterparts will really tell.

Hakuho's hand looked pretty well today. He grabbed the left outer grip and wasted no time in making a tasty Gagamaru-roll with the textbook uwate-nage. I work under the impression that if Hakuho was really injured (and I'm not talking about little nagging injuries all professional sportsmen carry, even more common if they're wrestlers), he would go kyujo. But as in this sport I'm not that long from being a casual fan, I won't speak ex cathedra. Maybe he has some problems, but the powers that be think his presence is needed to carry the sport and to keep everybody accountable. I think you, avid reader, are capable of forming an opinion of your own. Anyhow, Hakuho is one win off the pace, and Gagamaru is a not so shabby 2-4.

So, Giku is still in sole lead, undefeated. 9 guys have only one loss, Hakuho and 3 Ozekis standing out from the pack. If I had to bet money, I'd put it on Hakuho, but I could fathom watching a Japanese rikishi holding the Emperor's cup next week.

Martin will continue to brain your wash tomorrow. Hasta la vista.

Day 5 Comments (Mike Wesemann reporting)
Have we entered the dog days of this basho or what? I keep looking at the basho calendar in terms of what day we're on, and it feels like I'm in church staring at my watch for the tenth time with 30 minutes to go in the sermon. I think this sense was also reflected in Andreas' day 4 comments, which I really enjoyed. Not only did I agree with his takes, but his comments and style resembled the format of Sumotalk before we ever hit the web. Back in the day, both Kenji and I had access to the live NHK broadcast, so we didn't need to repeat to each other what had just occurred atop the dohyo. Instead, we emailed back and forth talking about trends, great moves, controversial calls, the Japanese commentary, pretenders, contenders, cream rising to the top, etc.

I'll never forget the time when former Itai came out back in 2000 and proclaimed that nearly 80% of Makuuchi bouts are rigged. Kenji and I of course discussed the subject, and while neither of us believed that 80% of Makuuchi bouts are rigged, we both did agree that when rikishi are 7-7 heading into senshuraku that opponents who had nothing to lose were sometimes doing the other guy a favor. But then I took it another step in a subsequent email listing up a few incidents and a few rikishi where some things didn't seem right to me, and Kenji's response to me defending the purity of sumo was as explosive as I've ever seen him. Perhaps it was because I mentioned Tosanoumi in one of the incidents (another was Dejima), but he was extremely passionate in his defense of the sport. I believe we met halfway in the end with me backing off and Kenji agreeing that Takanohana took a dive against his brother, Wakanohana, in a playoff for the 1995 Kyushu basho yusho, but I learned at that time how sensitive a topic yaocho can become.

Actually, my intent with this intro isn't to talk specifically of yaocho; rather, I've been doing some speculation the last few days as to why the sumo has been so awful, especially among the Ozeki ranks, and I have a new theory that I will share similarly to the way that I would have floated it by Kenji back in the pre-Sumotalk days.

The thing that actually got me thinking about this was the recent presidential election in France where a socialist, François Hollande, defeated the incumbent, Nicolas Sarkozy. Not only does François-san have a cool letter in his name like Óscar, but dude's also a socialist, and one of the items he ran on was taxing the rich at a rate of 75%. The whole premise with such an agenda is that a candidate can woo the middle class and peasants to vote for him by implying that he's going to basically tax the rich and redistribute the wealth to the poor. In my view, all that does is encourage more people to live on the dole and discourages people from becoming successful because why try harder (to make money) if it's only going to be taken from you and given to some lazy ass down the street? Before I lose the remaining half dozen of you, let me apply this to sumo, and why I think the action in the ring has become so uninspiring this basho.

If you've followed me the last year or so, you know that I've been of the opinion that the majority of Hakuho's losses have been on purpose in order to give the appearance that he's vulnerable. Hakuho losing more would theoretically give other rikishi the opportunity to rise up and perhaps even take the yusho. Since I began this talk, Harumafuji has risen up to take a yusho, Baruto took his first career yusho, and three rikishi have been promoted to the Ozeki rank. My belief is that Hakuho has been asked to lower his guard in order to give other rikishi a chance, namely the two Japanese Ozeki. I talked at length about this in my Haru post-basho report (I've since posted that to my blog), so I won't expound on it here, but there have been a few questionable bouts so far this basho that involved rikishi other than Hakuho, so I get the sense that more people are being taxed now than just the Yokozuna.

The first bout in question happened on day 2 when Ozeki Kotooshu faced Sekiwake Goeido. In that bout, Kotooshu refused to grab an outer grip when it was wide open. I found that strange because Kotooshu's sumo is defined on obtaining an outer grip, so when it's right there from the tachi-ai and he opts for a high kote grip instead and ends up losing the bout, I can't help but to question it.

The second bout in question happened yesterday between Ozeki Baruto and Komusubi Aminishiki. Like Kotooshu, Baruto always goes for the outer grip...always. Yet, in his bout against Aminishiki he refused to grab it with the left hand even when it was wide open. He instead placed his hand at the middle of Aminishiki's side and was pulled out of the ring in short order. The loss meant that Kisenosato and Kotoshogiku lead the basho just four days in, a convenient coincidence in terms of Japanese rikishi doing well.

So my theory--and it's just pure speculation at this point--is that sumo's dire situation has been made known to all of the stable masters, and a movement is in place to help restore sumo's popularity to the extent possible by having high profile Japanese rikishi do well. In order for that to happen, the elite foreigners must also do their part for the sake of sumo's livelihood. Just go back to those pictures Andreas posted yesterday. If you're Kakuryu, what are you gonna do? Stay in Tokyo and continue to get fat for the next decade at the price of sacrificing a yusho? Or say to hell with it all and return home? When I worked in Japan in that government job, there was so much crap that I had to put up with, but I put up with it because thoughts of a fat paycheck each month far outweighed the prospect of returning back to America unemployed. Additionally, during those times working for the Fukuoka gumment when things happened that I thought were unethical or inappropriate, my on-the-job-morale went down and my productivity lessened. It was just human nature, especially for a kid in his early to mid-twenties.

In short, I suspect we could be witnessing a sort of sumo socialism at the expense of the foreign rikishi. The foreign rikishi are being asked to sacrifice a bit, and they willingly comply because they understand the alternative. However, in doing so the quality of their work (sumo) is declining because what they are fighting for now matters less.

Let me reiterate that this is pure speculation on my part, but I'm just floatin' it out there since the action in the ring isn't exactly creaming anyone's Twinkie at this point.

With that said, let's move to the day's bouts starting from the top once again. Yokozuna Hakuho welcomed the lethargic Komusubi Homasho. Hakuho secured the easy right inside position from the tachi-ai that led to a left outer grip on the other side, and while Homie did manage to escape, the only direction to run was back. Hakuho caught up with him in short order and shoved him out to make it official moving to 4-1 in the process. I've heard rumors that Hakuho is injured, but it sure didn't sound like anything was hampering him pre-basho, and he hasn't taken a hard fall yet either. Nothing would surprise me at this point as Homasho falls to 0-5, but Hakuho looks pretty stable to me.

Ozeki Kotooshu was lazy at the tachi-ai allowing Komusubi Aminishiki to keep him upright with shoves to the chest, which led to the firm moro-zashi position. The Ozeki countered with the left outer grip, but Ami is tall enough allowing him to keep Kotooshu upright and on his toes, so his right scoop throw attempt was more than enough to overcome the Ozeki's outer. Aminishiki moves to 3-2 with the win and has the Shukunsho in the bag if he can get to eight wins. Kotooshu falls to 2-3 and has looked completely uninspired this basho. Even that loss to Toyohibiki where he was robbed, he still went for broke with just one fold of the mawashi instead of gaining the sure grip and taking care of bidness the easy way.

Ozeki Kakuryu looked awkward at the tachi-ai as well against M1 Takayasu, and Takayasu took advantage shoving Kakuryu back, but the Kak is just too crafty in this situation and he was able to evade to the side (mawari-komu) with perfect timing causing Takayasu to just shove his way straight out of the dohyo. There was a little contact in the end drawing the okuri-dashi winning technique, but basically Kakuryu baited his opponent into a forward charge and then escaped at the edge. I've seen better 4-1 starts, but Kakuryu will take it. Takayasu is winless.

Ozeki Harumafuji's feet were perfectly aligned at the tachi-ai against M3 Toyohibiki, so despite the Ozeki's left inside and flirtations with the front of the Hutt's mawashi with the right hand, his footwork was awful, so Toyohibiki just bulldozed him back and off the dohyo for the shweet yori-kiri win. I can see Harumafuji being 3-2 at this point after citing an ankle injury pre-basho, but how in the hell is Toyohibiki 3-2 as well?

Ozeki Baruto went for his usual moro-tezuki at the tachi-ai against M1 Aran, but Aran was too quick...

Just had to stop the tape and point out that I actually typed these words in succession: "Aran was too quick"

...and lurched into the moro-zashi position. Baruto managed to hold on, though, thanks to a weak right outer grip, and when Aran didn't force the action straightway, the Estonian was able to perform a maki-kae (notice how I didn't use the word quick there) with the left arm turning the bout to gappuri yotsu. Took a few seconds for the Ozeki to dig in, and then he easily carried the Bride across the threshold via tsuri-dashi moving to 4-1 in the process. Aran failed to strike when the iron was hot and falls to 0-5 as a result.

Somebody has got to remind Ozeki Kisenosato that his hari-zashi charge doesn't work and never has worked. Yet, he tried the move again today against M2 Myogiryu, and there's no way the fiery youngster would let him get away with it. Myogiryu not only stopped the Ozeki's momentum with the right inside position, but he caught him with his feet aligned, and there's no one in sumo who can recover from such a mistake (see today's Harumafuji - Toyohibiki matchup). The result was a forceful Myogiryu (2-3) pushout that sent the Kid to his first loss in mere seconds. A lot has been handed to Kisenosato on a platter including a few signature wins over the Yokozuna and the Ozeki rank, but the Kid still has to exhibit solid sumo on the dohyo. I haven't really been impressed with his sumo since January 2011.

Fortunately, Ozeki Kotoshogiku has it together with his solid yotsu attack although he wouldn't need it today. Facing M3 Takekaze, the Geeku struck his opponent at the tachi-ai and then took a quick half step to his left pulling Takekaze down in the process. There really wasn't much contact, and it was more a result of Takekaze going down on his own. Who knows if that was an intentional dive, but Takekaze's left elbow was bent outward and he rolled perfectly on his shoulder just as they do at the end of morning keiko each day. How often do you see roll like that from a slapdown?  And just like that, Kotoshogiku is your leader at 5-0 while Takekaze is completely floundering at 0-5.

The two Sekiwake did battle today, but Goeido was way too high in his charge allowing Toyonoshima to seize moro-zashi. As Toyonoshima immediately drove his counterpart back, Goeido went for a kubi-nage at the edge that actually caused Toyonoshima to touch down first, but Goeido was well beyond the straw, and we saw how lazy the judges were when Kotooshu fought Toyohibiki. The end result is both Sekiwake at decent 3-2 clips.

I'll just cover bouts of interest from the Maegashira ranks beginning with M4 Tochiohzan who was well-intentioned from the tachi-ai as he looked for the inside position, but who knew that he'd be pelted in the face with two Christmas hams in the form of M2 Gagamaru's hands. Tochiohzan was simply too slow and methodical in his approach, so once Gagamaru laid those beefy paws on him, Tochi-slow-zan was bullied back to his first loss of the tournament. It's nice to see Gagamaru at 2-3, and yeah, his record is still underwater but dude's making enormous progress among the jo'i.

M4 Tochinowaka has his right arm and shoulder heavily taped today, and honestly, I hope he is legitimately injured. I never want to see a guy get hurt, but it pains me to see this dude underachieve so much. Today against M7 Shohozan, Tochinowaka easily stood his ground against Shohozan's upper body tsuppari attack, but it was clear that Tochinowaka couldn't attack on his own, so there we sat for about 15 seconds watching Shohozan fire weak tsuppari into the M4. In the end, I think Shohozan figured out he could take a bit more risk, so he ducked down just enough to give his shoves meaning, and he was finally able to score the oshi-dashi win leaving both fellas at 1-4. Expect a Tochinowaka kyujo soon.

Probably the best fought bout of the day featured M5 Okinoumi vs. M6 Aoiyama, who is surging of late, and Aoiyama meant bidness from the beginning firing effective tsuppari Okinoumi's way punishing him for most of the bout. But Okinoumi's size kept him alive and he finally managed a right arm on the inside to bring the action in close, and with Aoiyama still up high after his volley of shoves, Okinoumi was able to execute a maki-kae with the left arm giving him moro-zashi. Somehow, Okinoumi was able to force Aoiyama back and across before just collapsing on the dohyo out of exhaustion. I'm not sure how else to say it, but this was the rare exception where a guy gets the shit kicked out him and still manages to win. Both warriors are 4-1.

M10 Chiyotairyu reminds me a little bit of Baruto. I know their bodies are completely different, but Chiyotairyu is such a beast that I actually think some guys are afraid of him. That was the case with Baruto as well, and it resulted in Baruto shooting up to the jo'i fast, but remember how he just couldn't get over the hump once he hit the top 15? It took him quite awhile to finally reach the sanyaku, and by that point he was polished just enough to steadily work his way to the Ozeki rank. I see the same sort of future for Chiyotairyu. His sumo is so unpolished, and he relies way too much on the pull (Baruto never had that problem), so he should quickly rise up to the jo'i and then hit a wall. The guys at the top are just too good to get burned by Chiyotairyu's faulty attack...as strong as it may seem. Doesn't mean the beast won't work it out, but in the short term, I expect him to get schooled once he reaches the jo'i. Anyway, M6 Wakakoyu was quicker at the tachi-ai today, but he was also quicker at the first pull attempt, and this was one duel where you don't want to fire on that first. Chiyotairyu was waiting and took one step forward and knocked the Wookie into oblivion improving to 4-1 in the process. Wakakoyu falls to 3-2.

I think the Apocalypse may be upon us. I swear before the M9 Tokitenku - M12 Daido match that a fan was actually yelling out the name "Daido!!!" Furthermore, it was a girl. I'm not quite sure what to make of it, but reach out to your loved ones just in case. If I must, the two rikishi hooked up in migi-yotsu but neither had outer grips as they positioned their hips way back. Finally, Daido (3-2) grabbed the left outer and went for the immediate throw barely throwing Tenku (1-4) to the clay before he hit down himself. I think I was having more fun discussing French politics.

M9 Yoshikaze is winless and in dire trouble of getting booted from the division. He made M11 Shotenro (2-3) look like an Ozeki today (no, that's not in insult) offering the perfect target for Shotenro's straight up oshi charge fueled by de-ashi.

M14 Asasekiryu henka'd classlessly to his left against M10 Wakanosato, but Croconosato read the move and immediately assumed moro-zashi. Just when it looked like Asasekiryu had a fork stuck in him, he spun a step and then kicked out Wakanosato's right leg with his own right leg earning the stunning chon-gake win. Horrible start but you gotta admire the finish as both guys are 3-2.

M16 Takarafuji is 4-1? Course the tsuki-hiza gaffe from M11 Sadanofuji two seconds into their bout today will help with that.

And finally, M13 Kimikaze picked up his second win in as many days by persisting against J3 Hochiyama. The rookie grabbed a left outer early, but he was still out of position to really attack. Still, Hochiyama is so damn high off the ground that he could never use his height and length to capitalize despite a decent inside position with the right, so Kimikaze stayed on the move and eventually wore the big fella down.

Óscar sobers up tomorrow...I hope

Day 4 Comments (Andreas Kungl reporting)
I really hate to bother you with difficult words right in the first sentence, but the problem of this basho's first week is clearly the lack of any intrinsic suspense. No tsuna run (i.e. the attempt of an Ozeki to make it two yusho in a row), no Ozeki run, not even a kadoban Ozeki desperately aiming for the eight. Worst of all -- at least from the perspective of the Japanese public -- still no wormhole to an alternative universe, in which all of a sudden a Son of Nihon looks like a legitimate yusho contender.

Naturally, you know all this and Mike has been making a point of explaining the ins and outs, whys and whats, have beens and will bes, so that you can all gain an elevated viewpoint when considering our beloved sport. While, of course, it is no sport. As such.

In a perverse way, I have to agree with the most xenophobic, nationalistic and isolationist Japanese radicals: The sorry state of today's sumo as an institution is clearly the fault of the foreign devils, who started to invade in several waves. While the first wave in the 70s was easily fought back, the second one in the late 80s brought changes that cannot be dispelled anymore. That it was a foreigner in Akebono to fulfill the strict consecutive yusho criteria exactly at a time when sumo was short of at least a single Yokozuna for the first time in history, is -- on hindsight -- an irony of catastrophic dimensions. Questions linger. Would he have been granted the rank if there wouldn't have been a void at the top? Let's ask Konishiki. Would he have been promoted, if he wouldn't have been American but instead, say, a fellow Asian? Idle questions indeed.

In any case, this all farmed the fields for the crop we are harvesting for the last two decades. The third wave turned into a bullet fired at point-blank range. Us observers in the year 2012, are we surgeons, trying to figure out how the emergency gunshot victim could be saved? Or are we rather pathologists, expertly analyzing the exit wound?

So what's the problem with the foreigners, you might rightfully ask? It's pretty simple. In the context of changing social, economical and ideological standards, many of the best foreigners in sumo bring something along that their Japanese counterparts lack: a motive. A motive of the strongest type that is.

What's the average per capita income in Mongolia? Look it up. What's the per capita GDP in Bulgaria compared to the Japanese one? You can find these answers pretty quickly. How many dollar millionaires do actually hail from Ossetia (where most of the so called "Russians" in sumo come from) or Georgia? I tell you this: Just through salary, price money and basho bonus alone while excluding advertisement contracts, sponsors gifts and even kensho money, Hakuho earned approximately $ 5.5 Mio. throughout his career. Harumafuji stands at about $ 2.3 Mio., while even Aran has already earned about $ 700k. Let's add Kyokutenho ($ 2.6 Mio.), Kotooshu ($ 2.4 Mio.), Kakuryu ($ 1.3 Mio.), Tokitenku ($ 1.4 Mio.), Shotenro ($ 600k), or Kokkai ($ 1.6 Mio.).

And if numbers are just that, consider a couple of satellite snapshots. Spot the difference.

Harumafuji's hometown


Kakuryu's hometown


Tokitenku's hometown


Kyokutenho's hometown


Shotenro's hometown


A tiny part of Tokyo


Andreas' hometown


How on Google Earth can we expect that any of the Modern Days Japanese boys would bring along the same inspiration and determination to subject themselves to something that has to be called voluntary slavery with the vague hope that there might be a carrot dangling at the end of the tunnel? Whereas, the foreigners come with nothing and might leave with everything they could ever have wished for.

To round up the thought that I wished to present here, while lacking the time and proficiency in English to thoroughly follow through: Add to this situation the urge, the need for Japanese society to have Japanese hold high the glory of sumo, and you will quickly come to the messy situation we find ourselves in: Feudal carnival plus freakshow plus WWF plus a little bit of actual competition. I'm working on my own mental approach to this at the moment, and I will gladly share with you as soon as I have found my personal pleasure cave to deal with all this.

The most important Day 4 action included:

* Strong wins by Aoiyama and Kaisei, who both seem to have overcome their respective funks. I don't know what bugged them (or especially Kaisei) in the recent past, but both youngsters seem to have rekindled their initial fire. The best part is that their sumo is oriented forward and showing great presence of mind and body. In this state, both men would legitimately attack the upper Maegashira ranks in the near future, as they stay without loss so far.

*Another bizarre hataki-komi win by Chiyotairyu, who behaves a bit like Wakakoyu plus juvenile impudence. He is clearly on the way up, but let's see how he can score with this kind of sumo against the big boys.

*Easy wins by Kotoshogiku and Kisenosato. There might be a Japanese yusho coming up. The Geek looks to be the more stable of the pair. Whatever. Their actual sumo content nevertheless doesn't exactly feed the flame inside of me.

*A textbook example of how thrown bouts don't look like. Harumafuji showed his exceptional skill by converting a very disadvantageous situation into a killer kote-nage throw against upstart Takayasu. The latter is one of the few hopes sumo really has, but he got schooled today by a man who means business.

*Another extremely shaky win by Hakuho, who is either really injured or setting new standards for method acting. Or maybe he does the sumo equivalent of Ronnie O'Sullivan's left hand demonstrations by trying to win the yusho without a single belt grip. Anyway, his far superior skill allowed him to push down Myogiryu -- who is the other real hope Japanese sumo has -- while not even considering going for the belt. I predict that Hakuho will go kyujo after a third loss. But he will make a point of staying in as long as possible.

Trivia: With Day 4 concluded, Hakuho is now the rikishi with most Makuuchi wins of all active wrestlers, overtaking Miyabiyama and seating himself on #20 for now.

See you next week. "Passing the mike to Mike" is a pretty worn out phrase, I agree, but I will anyway use it in memory of the late, great MC Adam Yauch.