SUMO

[Steve]

Anyone remember Mainoumi?

Before my time.

 

[Tony Dismukes]

Wakatakakage is a little bigger, and has had more success. Is he sekiwake or komosubi?

He’s sekiwake. (Also the first newly promoted sekiwake to win a tournament in 86 years, BTW.)

Either way, as a smaller person no matter how skilled, does he make it to ozeki?

To be considered for ozeki he needs 33 wins over the course of 3 consecutive tournaments at sekiwake rank. He got 12 wins this time, so if he got 11 next time and 10 the following basho then he would be set. He wouldn’t even have to do quite as well as he did this time.

The question is whether his performance this basho was an outlying fluke or whether he can maintain this degree of success consistently. It does appear that he has made significant improvement over the last 16 months that he’s been in the makuuchi division, so I’m hopeful that he’ll be able to continue with this level of success.

 

[Tony Dismukes]

Rikishi have special names called shikona. Here’s what some of them mean-

SHIKONA --- MEANING

Abi --- Fiery Many-Armed Demi-God

Aminishiki --- Beautiful and Relaxed Brocade

Aoiyama --- Blue Mountain

Arawashi --- Rough and Wild Eagle

Asanoyama --- Morning Mountain

Chiyomaru --- 1000 Year Old Sphere

Chiyonokuni --- 1000 Year Old Country

Chiyoshoma --- 1000 Year Old Flying Horse

Chiyotairyu --- Large 1000 Year Old Dragon

Daiamami --- Great Amami Island

Daieisho --- Soaring With Great Prosperity

Daishomaru --- Great Flying Sphere

Endo (Actual Surname) --- Distant Wisteria

Goeido --- Great Splendor

Hakuho --- White Phoenix

Hidenoumi --- Excellent Ocean

Hokutofuji --- Northern Victorious Fortune of Mount Fuji

Ichinojo --- Excellent Castle

Ikioi --- Force

Ishiura (Actual Surname) --- Stone Beach

Kagayaki --- Radiant

Kaisei --- Giant Saint

Kakuryu --- Crane Dragon

Kisenosato --- Village of Rare Strength

Kotoeko --- Graceful Light from a Zither

Kotoshogiku --- Rewarding Chrysanthemum Zither

Kotoyuki --- Courageous and Radiant Zither

Kyokutaisei --- Great Rising Star

Meisei --- Bright Life

Mitakeumi --- Sea of Mount Ontake

Myogiryu --- Dragon of Myogi Mountain

Nishikigi --- Well Dressed Tree

Okinoumi --- Oki Island's Sea

Onosho --- Blossoming Warrior

Ryuden --- Lightning Dragon

Sadanoumi --- Sea of Sada Peninsula

Shodai (Actual Surname) --- Age Of Righteousness

Shohozan --- Mythical Fire Bird of Pine Tree Mountain

Sokokurai --- From the Azure Country

Takakeisho --- Honorable View to Victory

Takanoiwa --- Honorable Boulder

Takanosho --- Prosperous Victory

Takarafuji --- A Treasure of Mount Fuji

Takayasu (Actual Surname) --- Up High and Relaxed

Tamawashi --- Gem Eagle

Terunofuji --- Shining Mount Fuji

Tochinoshin --- Sturdy Heart

Tochiozan --- Sturdy Shining Mountain

Yoshikaze --- Favorable Wind

Yutakayama --- Bountiful Mountain

You left out my favorite: Tobizaru —- Flying Monkey

 

[Unkogami]

Before my time.

He was fun to watch. The encyclopedia of technique.