ヘルット

*Existing Yokozuna*

"A 10-5 result is regrettable, but given that they are not healthy and fought for the full 15 days, it clears the bare minimum of Yokozuna responsibility".

Next basho, the YDC hopes to see them recover their health and pose a strong wall for Aonishiki to contend with.

(4/4)

As for his rope run: "We don't want to specify a number of wins he will need. However, all members felt that the next basho, in which he will have to contend with two hopefully recovered Yokozuna, is crucial".

(3/4)

Furthermore, "Watching him at the end of his championship speech, bow in all four directions, we all felt he has the hinkaku of sumo".

(2/4)

Hear ye, hear ye, the Words of Wisdom of the YDC.
(Hatsu 2026)

*Aonishiki*

Much praise went to the shin-Ozeki, who showed "Sumo standing on reliable basics", and withstood the pressure of the Ozeki rank respectably.

news.web.nhk/newsweb/na/n...
(1/4)

伯乃富士が休場　１２日目まで４場所連続金星獲得など５勝７敗 - スポーツ報知 西前頭３枚目・伯乃富士（伊勢ケ浜）が初場所１３日目を休場した。１２日目に東前頭２枚目・宇良に敗れるなど４連敗中で、ここまで５勝７敗だった。

Hakunofuji is kyujo as of day 13.

hochi.news/articles/202...

For some reason, I think he believed that if the kid gains enough Japanese proficiency, they would allow it. He is still saying that they allowed him to apply again in each of the coming basho.

This is basically a recruitment interview every candidate has to undergo - the first step toward becoming a JSA employee, so to speak.

The reason given was that he has not been living in Japan 1 year as yet.

(2/2)

英国出身３人目の大相撲力士を目指す研修生、面接不合格で夏場所デビューならず　湊親方「日本に住んで１年経ってない」 - スポーツ報知 史上３人目となる英国（９７年中国返還前の香港を含む）出身の大相撲力士を目指し、ニコラス・タラセンコさんが日本相撲協会の面接を受け、３月の春場所の新弟子検査受検が認められなかった。髪を丸刈りにしてスー

Young Nicolas Tarasenko, the British youngster who is aiming to join Grand Sumo, and has been training at Minato beya, has been denied the JSA interview at this time.

He was hoping to debut this May but this may be delayed for a while.

(1/2)

hochi.news/articles/202...

The person falling forward is almost never considered dead (unless his soles fully point upwards). The problem with Ura was that he was falling backwards. To put it in modern terms, his center of gravity was where he couldn't stop himself from falling.

As much as I'm a fan of the Isegahama guys and especially Hakunofuji who is also a kind human being, his toe definitely touched long before they fell.

Did you read my notes from yesterday? Dead body is not about who is being thrown. It's about whether you were in an unrecoverable position before the opponent.

Sumo is not about throwing, you see. If you get crushed by your opponent, you lose, regardless of intent.

The point of contention is whether or not fact (a) trumps fact (c), and of course, whether the fall (c) was indeed non-recoverable. What Takadagawa was saying is that (c) trumps (a).

(4/4)

My take: I think the facts are not in contention here:
(a) Ura initiated and was executing a technique.
(b) Ura had two feet on the ground.
(c) Ura was falling backwards.
(d) Onosato was falling forward.

(3/4)

He says the two shimpan in the video room asked for his input (as apparently, they were divided about this). His take is that Ura was in the process of lifting up Onosato's leg, and as his feet were on the ground, this means he is not dead.

(2/4)

「宇良は死に体ではない」決まり手係の甲山親方が３日目の大の里戦について見解述べる - 大相撲 : 日刊スポーツ 幕内の決まり手係を務める甲山親方（元幕内大碇）が、3日目の大の里－宇良戦について私見を述べた。一番目の取組は、大の里が手をついた時と、宇良の体（たい）がなくな… - 日刊スポーツ新聞社のニュースサイト、ニッカンスポーツ・コム（nikkansports.com）

Nikkan Sports brings an opposing opinion on the Onosato-Ura case. Kabutoyama oyakata was in the video room at the time, in charge of kimarite. But he is NOT a shimpan. His opinion was that Ura's body was not dead.

(1/4)
www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/...

Day 3 san-yaku monoii + torinaoshi Day 3 san-yaku monoii / torinaoshi Source: Nikkan Sports The press asked the head judge, and vice head of the shimpan department, Takadagawa oyakata, about the decisions made on some of the matches…

There was a series of monoii during the high stake matches of day 3, and the Ura vs. Onosato match was especially controversial (among Japanese fans and reporters as well). Takadagawa oyakata answered questions about these matches. I have a summary (with my notes) here:

buff.ly/HCEl7hn

A new episode of Grand Sumo Legends - this time, the subject is "Taiho - Yokozuna of Yokozuna".

www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/...

Raja Pradhan has his annual sumo talk with Demon Kakka, anticipating Hatsu basho:

www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/...

Grand Sumo Review 2025 is now available on NHK World Japan's web site:

www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/...

They also noted the proper punishment for P, had he not already retired, would have been suspension for two basho.

(7/7)

However, the JSA did not view it quite like that. They pointed out he failed both his duty of supervision, and duty of report to his superiors. He was therefore demoted in rank from iin to toshiyori.

(6/7)

It turned out that Kise learned about this from P on November 7th, but did not act. He viewed it as an internal affair and that it was sort of justified because of the theft.

(5/7)

P did not await the results of the investigation, and handed in his intai form, which Kise oyakata delivered to the JSA.

(4/7)

V did not go to hospital but he did have facial injuries and he had to go kyujo.

This was not the first time P has beaten V up, based on eyewitness testimony by other rikishi.

(3/7)

Following the investigation by the compliance committee, it turned out that the perpetrator (P) found out that the victim (V) stole money from his wallet. In a rage, he punched him 5-6 times.

Both rikishi are not sekitori so their names were not published.

(2/7)

木瀬部屋で暴力問題発生　現金盗んだ力士を殴った力士が引退、親方は降格 - 大相撲 : 日刊スポーツ 日本相撲協会は25日、臨時理事会を開き、木瀬部屋の幕下以下力士による暴力問題による懲戒処分を決議した。幕下以下力士Aの引退を認め、懲戒処分とした場合は出場停止… - 日刊スポーツ新聞社のニュースサイト、ニッカンスポーツ・コム（nikkansports.com）

Reset the scandal meters, we have a new case of violence.

On the second day of Kyushu basho, an anonymous tip to the JSA revealed that there has been a case of violence at Kise beya.

(1/7)

www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/...

Name changes at Isegahama

The January banzuke has been published today, and the biggest surprise was the massive name changes at Isegamaha beya, involving all the ex-Miyagino rikishi but Enho (and one non-Miyagino rikishi).

Here is a spreadsheet with the changes.

docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

Tomorrow a new English-dubbed episode of Dosukoi Sumo Salon will be aired on NHK World Japan.

Reminder that with NHK World's new web site, the program will probably be available as soon as the first airing ends.

Check the link for air times, and the video itself:

www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/...

角界の鉄人・玉鷲　連続出場がギネス記録認定「ヤッターという気持ち。超うれしい」 - スポニチ Sponichi Annex スポーツ 角界の鉄人、幕内・玉鷲（41＝片男波部屋）が持つ初土俵からの連続出場記録が、ギネス世界記録に認定された。「2026年度版」で紹介されており、この日「ヤッター…

Tamawashi to be entered into the Guinness Book of Records 2026, for the longest number of consecutive days of tournament participation. "I did it! I'm glad. Where do I get the certificate?"

www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/...

Can't really finish a basho without this, can we?