26 Comments
User's avatar
Dan Bieranowski's avatar

What a story with Onosato, but my favorite storyline is Asakoryu sneakily having an awesome run.

Expand full comment
Tim Bissell's avatar

Asakoryu is such a great addition to makuuchi. I really hope he can stick around in this division. Hopefully this isn't a case of him just catching guys by surprise.

Expand full comment
Ken France's avatar

Onosato doing this in record breaking fashion too.

Expand full comment
Ken France's avatar

Onosato doing this in record breaking fashion too.

Expand full comment
Deborah  Storer's avatar

Onosato has worked very hard for this promotion, we hope he gets it

I really support Hoshoryu as well and hope they both word together to lead future Sumo through the stages

I feel particularly Atamifuji needs support, I think he suffered when Yokozuna Terunofuji retired.

Expand full comment
Tim Bissell's avatar

All signs point to Onosato getting the promotion. There's a JSA meeting planned to discuss/rubber stamp it on the day after the tournament.

I really like Atamifuji. I think he still has a lot of promise at just 22 years old. He's definitely got some Terunofuji in his game. I'm still a little sad that we don't have Terunofuji around right now.

Expand full comment
Deborah  Storer's avatar

It looks like Terunofuji is set to take over his stable as the word is the retirement process might be set for his stable master that is there now

Expand full comment
Tim Bissell's avatar

Yeah, the current Isegahama (former Asahifuji) is 65 in July. Elders have mandatory retirement at 65. All signs point to Terunofuji acquiring the Isegahama elder stock and stable. I remember a few years ago there was a rumour that Terunofuji had bought some property for a new stable, though...

Expand full comment
Deborah  Storer's avatar

Yes I thought I saw he had just opened a stable shortly after retiring, so now perhaps he has two, I am probably over sentimental but I think he won’t abandon his old stable and particularly the wrestlers I of course have in mind Atami whom he does have a close bond with

Expand full comment
Tim Bissell's avatar

The other question is what happens to Miyagino/Hakuho. There was a rumour a while ago that Isegahama might name him successor. That hasn't gathered much steam since then, though. If Hakuho has been an exemplary coach at Isegahama, and Terunofuji is wanted to start something new, then maybe that's something that happens. Either wya, I'd love to see Miyagino restated in some fashion.

Expand full comment
Deborah  Storer's avatar

Yes it’s complicated I think, Terunofuji is extremely popular, he led in the ring with a opinion of not unnecessarily hurting an opponent as injuries take time to heal, each has a different style of leadership I know, but his behaviour in the ring was outstanding

So we shall just have to wait for decision process . Also the decision might be made on longevity as Terunofuji has had some major health issues and we know that Hakuho hasn’t , so any decision might be made on a way to keep balance and stability, unless of course Hakuho doesn’t want it

Expand full comment
Whoopdy Do's avatar

Very happy for Onosato, and glad to be a sumo fan at this historic time. That said, he's like former Yokozuna Terunofuji was – too easy to root for. Rooting for Onosato is like saying you're for world peace. So, much as I like him, I'll always root for the guy facing him.

I think one of my big takeaways from this tournament will be Kayo. I know he's still fighting down in the lower ranks, and it remains to be seen how he does against the higher-ups, but after that rocky start he's been pretty good. He's young and has time to develop. He's like a baby Takakeisho. I like his name, too – like K.O. in boxing – although rather curiously it's a girl's name in Japanese, so I must find out what it means. I'm already looking forward to Tim's inter-tournament analysis of his fighting style.

Expand full comment
Tim Bissell's avatar

I get what you mean about Onosato. I love an underdog, too, so I'll be quietly rooting for guys to get one over on him. That being said, I am very blown away by his talent and his improvements and if all we see is Onosato dominance for the next little while... that's pretty special, too.

One of my takeaways on Kayo right now is that his amazing girth might make him hard to grapple with. Looking forward to digging into the tape and seeing whether or not his size is preventing yotsu guys from getting a good grip around him.

Expand full comment
Daniel Nickel's avatar

That Shishi bout was nuts! 🥜

Expand full comment
Whoopdy Do's avatar

He's like a wild man in the ring, ain't he? Just barely under control. I get the feeling if he tightens up his technique he could be a fighter to be reckoned with.

Expand full comment
Tim Bissell's avatar

Shishi is definitely very wide. I think a lot of that comes from how straight up he is all the time. It feels like a lot of what he does is all upper body strength. He doesn't really squat down and engage his whole body like a lot of the better guys, too.

Expand full comment
Deborah  Storer's avatar

Onosato has worked very hard for this promotion, we hope he gets it

I really support Hoshoryu as well and hope they both word together to lead future Sumo through the stages

I feel particularly Atamifuji needs support, I think he suffered when Yokozuna Terunofuji retired.

Expand full comment
Jorge's avatar

Such a big night for Onosato and a great night for sumo! I assume he'll fight Hosh on the last day? I think the elders still have to officially declare Onosato as Yokozuna and that there's all the ceremonies but for all of us that's definitely a Yokozuna v Yokozuna bout!

Also peep is a great nickname for Kayo. I keep hearing butter, butterball, and butter chunks but peep wins out in my book

Expand full comment
Deborah  Storer's avatar

What a Basho we have just been through

We now have two Yokozuna and I think this hopefully will start to push forward the Rishi

I was glad that Onosato did tremendously well and although he lost bout 15 to Yokozuna Hoshoryu I think it won’t be long before the table is turned, hopefully this will up both their games.

I feel it’s so important that they now work hard to push the other rishi

They have been lost without Terunofuji

The noticeably sadness of Atamifuji obvious for all to see

However Atami was amazing this time

I can see him going all the way , he’s extremely popular!!

Expand full comment
Jack of all's avatar

Onosato maintained good posture during the throat thrust. Partly, I think, because of a slight turn to deflect the force to the side.

Expand full comment
Tim Bissell's avatar

Yep, good point. In the last tournament Wakamotoharu got a win over him thanks to the throat thrust. This might be another example of Onosato learning, quickly, from his past losses.

Expand full comment
Deborah  Storer's avatar

Onosato has worked very hard for this promotion, we hope he gets it

I really support Hoshoryu as well and hope they both word together to lead future Sumo through the stages

I feel particularly Atamifuji needs support, I think he suffered when Yokozuna Terunofuji retired.

Expand full comment
Jorge's avatar

Such a big night for Onosato and a great night for sumo! I assume he'll fight Hosh on the last day? I think the elders still have to officially declare Onosato as Yokozuna and that there's all the ceremonies but for all of us that's definitely a Yokozuna v Yokozuna bout!

Also peep is a great nickname for Kayo. I keep hearing butter, butterball, and butter chunks but peep wins out in my book

Expand full comment
Tim Bissell's avatar

I was just corrected and told that Kayo is actually "Little Big Peep".

Onosato vs. Hoshoryu will be the Day 15 match-up, yeah (as it will be for the foreseeable future).

Expand full comment
Elizabeth Oldham (she/her)'s avatar

Been watching every night but am just catching up on Sumo Stomp. Great basho! I feel lucky to be watching Onosato at this point in his career. We started watching in January 2024, just as he entered the Makuuchi, and he’s been consistently amazing. And his sumo and mentality are maturing and getting stronger.

Expand full comment
Tim Bissell's avatar

Yeah, we're all very lucky to see what a generational talent (perhaps multi-generational) blossom in front of us. It's fun to wonder how much success he might have in front of him.

Expand full comment