Fiber Monday 240: Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice

The continuing adventures of a crochet set made to look slightly pumpkin-y

It is unbelievably beautiful today. The sky is that fabulous September Blue (hilarious, since it's going to be October - er - Inktober tomorrow), there's a firm and fridgey breeze, the leaves are starting to turn, my house smells like apple cider, and my feet are freezing. It's perfect. It's all of 51℉ (~10.5℃) with 43% humidity out there. I'm wearing my fuzzy Star Wars pants and thick socks. I'm hunting for one of my sweaters. I'm in heaven. This is the kind of weather I thrive in.

Unfortunately, I also have a fairly hellacious cold that has made my ears clogged and crunchy, my nose sensitive and stuffy, and my chest prone to causing an obnoxious cough. Also heartburn, because now that I'm not in my 20s any more, heartburn has become more or less my constant companion. It's totally not from overdoing it on coffee. Totally not at all.

So of course I had to spend all morning hooking along and making them patterns up so that I will have a completed Pumpkin Spice Set eventually!

I finally ran out of the original orange skein!
The scarf was about 20" long at this point, so I knew I'd have to add in the other orange skein!

I sipped at my cocoa and continued adding row after row until about ten minutes before I started typing - from 8:30AM to noon, I worked on the scarf. It will be some time before it's 100% done, but I can do that during the week :)

Three and a half hours of work provided this section of scarf!
That skein is about the same size as a bigger skein of Red Heart Super Saver, so there's your scale, lol.

I'm never really alone when I work in the mornings, since I always have the kitty to keep me company, and today she was nestled in her bed, making the biggest biscuits and purring like an engine until she was completely conked out. It was truly precious.

And so it is that I leave you with an image of that kitty, sound asleep, nestled in a fluffy bed with a built in blanket fort.

Go Enjoy Something,

FC

Survival Sunday 239: A Very Vintage Library

Looking through my collections

So, I have a couple of wooden chests in my room. One of them is my old pine toybox, which has my GBA and some old art in it (as well as a couple of childhood novels). The other is my Hope Chest, a very thoughtful gift from my parents on my 18th birthday where I keep most of my home-making supplies until I have my own place. This is where I've been storing some cookbooks from the 1980s - including a very, very weird box of recipe cards that used to stink of musty cigarette smoke.

It's also, unfortunately for me, where I keep my huge bubblebutt TV and VCR (and my partner's N64).

It's so, so heavy. This picture was taken after I'd moved the TV off of the chest and put it back up.

So I moved some stuff around, put some things deeper in storage, and brought out my box of cards, a stack of McCall's Cookery magazines and a binder called McCall's Cooking School, and I'm going to share these with you today.

Here's my box of recipes!

As we all know, the 1980s were all about making food look as unappealing as possible. It's one of the reasons I love looking at old cookbooks and recipes. Not only are you going to get a devastating dose of gelatin-based foods, you're also going to be slapped in the face by weird photography where they black out the background and cast heavy shadows over your food.

It's very unsettling...

I got the nasty musty odor out of my cards by storing a baggie of coffee grounds in the box inside my Hope Chest (which is lined with cedar). That eventually ditched the stink. Then I was just left with the weird recipes.

Some seem very nice, at least.

The magazines... I'm not entirely sure where they came from? All I know is that, in person, their covers are haunting.

The meat substance in the lower right hand corner, for instance, is upsettingly shiny,
and I have no clue what that white stuff is supposed to be.

And just to prove it's not from some ancient, bygone era, it's just from 1983.

The binder is in amazing shape, especially when you take into account the fact that it's older than I am. I don't think anyone ever used it.

And it's a very heavy-duty binder!

See? This one's just from 1986. Which was 33 years ago.
Oof.

Some of these things actually look pretty good, even if I don't like pecans.

Other things...
Not so much.

And the writing can be downright weird at times.

The "some seem really good, some seem terrible" trend continues in the box of cards, too.

Probably tasty, but doesn't look very appetizing for an appetizer...

And yes, for some reason, they have a tiny section on the proper preparation of game, like venison and pigeon...

Which brings me to my reason for bringing any of this up and nearly herniating my spine rather than just asking for help like a normal person.

I want to cook from these books.

Really, really want to.

And I want to make some of the weird stuff, too.

So I was thinking that maybe I could start making up a spreadsheet of what's available, then I could maybe roll for it? I feel like mastering these foods (obviously, I'd have to cut out the game dishes unless someone wanted to provide me with fresh game meat, which I'd, obviously, be very intimidated by...) would make me a better chef.

Also, I kind of want to make weird stuff and watch people eat it.

Because I'm a weirdo.

So let me know in the comments if you're interested in seeing what I can do with some fairly dated and occasionally borderline-racist cookbooks and bizarre recipe cards from yesteryear?

Because I'm down for that.

That'll do it for me, guys.

Go Enjoy Something!!!
FC


***


PS - I'm sorry about that video in the link there guys, but I couldn't not share that after I sat through it. What even... what?

Saturday Casual Gaming 239: Merge Farm

Merge Farm from Gram Games

By now, you'll have noticed that I really, really like merge games. There's something about the "condense two or more of the same item into a new one" gameplay that I find soothing. So I like to move things onto themselves and turn them into new, better versions of themselves. You may recall that I've recently covered an otherwise inoffensive merge game with absolutely unacceptable permissions requests on the Android store?

Well, this game has no such issues.

Also, it's heckin' cute.

If you recognize the name "Gram Games", then you may recall that I've played and enjoyed another of their offerings, Merge Dragons, before. It was a nice three-in-a-row merger that I still like to play now and then, so I was not exactly trepidatious when I downloaded Merge Farm.

It's a cute little game where you merge two of the same crop onto each other to improve how much you harvest from each one. Then, when there's a bit of shine (and/or movement) to your crops, you can easily harvest them by swiping the basket over the crop! Once you collect enough of certain crops, you can sell them to customers near the top of the screen for money, which you can use to buy more crops, buy more space, or eventually buy new and interesting buildings, manufacturing spaces, or farm animals!

Don't want to spend money on crops? Don't worry! The game is gentle with you and will periodically drop leaves from the top of the screen. Tap those leaves to collect them, then match two leaves to get a seed! Match two seeds to get a random crop at level 1! You'll get a lot of tomato plants that way early on, but I use the leaf > seed > crop connection to spawn free crops all the time. More crops mean more sales! More sales mean more money! More money means more space! It's agricultural capitalism at its finest!

On the other hand, things are a bit crowded.

If I have one complaint with this cute, fun game, it's that you can't always click what you want. If the leaf is near the banner ad at the top of the screen (which you can pay real money to remove), then you can't click it. If it's near a customer, you can't click it. There's a big cash shop button in the bottom right that I keep accidentally clicking when I want to check my storage (the gray-and-yellow button) or to shop for new buildings/farm animals (the red-and-yellow button). I also bump the cash shop button when I'm trying to scroll through the available crops to buy more of them.

On the other hand, it's 100% free - you don't have to pay real money for anything if you don't want. The game functions perfectly well on its own without any cash buffs. I actually kind of like having the (mostly) unobtrusive banner ad up above, since I know that supports the developers long-term, and if they're being supported, then they can keep making such cute, fun games!

Overall, I'd have to say that Merge Farm is an excellent choice to pick up for free in the Android or Apple stores. I think it may be on Facebook, as well!

That'll do it for me today!

Go Enjoy Something!
FC

Filmic Friday 239: Johnny Mnemonic aka SUDDENLY JONES

Johnny Mnemonic; Robert Longo dir., Alliance Communications; 1995
Also, SPOILERS AHOY

Just what in the everloving heck did I watch?!

Let me put this out there: cyberpunk might be the most underutilized and underappreciated aesthetic in filmmaking ever. There aren't many cyberpunk films, and the few there are don't tend to have budgets or starpower or... y'know... good writers. Johnny Mnemonic, however, is both the best known and best funded. It has the greatest starpower, and it even has the writer. The writer who literally invented the aesthetic.

It has William Gibson.

Yes, both of these guys are in this movie.
Yes, it's based off of the William Gibson story.
Yes, it had a budget of $40m USD

This is also, strangely enough, one of the less appreciated of the Keanu Reeves ouvre? What went wrong?

I actually kinda don't have an answer, because this movie is heckin fun.

Set in 2021 in a landscape that's really only half a degree away from our own personal late-stage capitalist hell, Johnny Mnemonic tells the tale of a man who only knows that his name is Johnny and that he had to have a great deal of his past removed to make room for an implant that turns his head into a squishy, death-prone USB drive for moving sensitive information from location to location. Since Johnny has no idea why he started doing this job to begin with, he's now continuing to do the work because he needs the money to get the implant removed and his memories restored.

I think we can all guess that this... might not really be a thing he can get done. But Johnny believes.

Now, I also believe that this movie is responsible for a bunch of the current technological designs (VR headsets, keyboard gloves, etc), and I cannot wait to show you this next image, because I really hope we get the chance to explore an internet that looks like this some day:

This is what people in 1995 thought the internet would be like in 2021.
I hope we don't disappoint them :P

The titular Johnny is, in fact, played by Keanu Reeves, who is just as good as he will be in a few years when the Matrix comes out.

Johnny has to take on a data load that's way, way too much for him to handle, so he'll die in 48 hours if he doesn't get it out of him. Unfortunately, what he's carrying is something a lot of people want, so he's constantly under threat. He hires a bodyguard (kind of by accident) named Jane (played by Dina Meyer) to protect him from the Yakuza. Jane has been altered by a doctor named Spider (played by Henry Rollins, yes that one), but he hasn't been able to really help her.

She's a total badass, though. Why does she need help?

Well, unfortunately, Jane is suffering from a new, incurable disease called NAS (Nerve Attenuation Syndrome), which is like if epilepsy and AIDS had a baby. Everyone's terrified by it, no one is willing to really study it, and there is absolutely no cure.

Meanwhile, there's a bit of gang warfare going on between the corporate police or Yakuza and a group of punks called "Lo-Teks" (low-tech). The Lo-Teks are also interested in saving people from the Black Shakes (NAS), but they are being stymied by the corporations, who have more of an interest in treatment than cure.

Also, the Lo-Teks are 100% cyberpunk.
And yes, that's Ice-T.

The Lo-Teks help Johnny when they realize he's being chased by Pharmakom, who they have suspected strongly of intentionally preventing the discovery of a cure for NAS. Unfortunately for everyone involved, the CEO of Pharmakom has hired not only the Yakuza (who turned on him and have decided to steal Johnny's payload for themselves) but also Karl the Street Preacher, a heavily modified killer for hire.

Who is also Dolph Lundgren in his last role before 2010.

Now, with both the Yakuza and Street Preacher after them, Johnny and Jane completely throw themselves on the mercies of the Lo-Teks, who shelter them in their crazy home base, Heaven, which seems to be partly suspended under an utterly decimated Brooklyn Bridge. See, the only person left who can help Johnny at this point is Jones, who lives in Heaven, that's who they have to see.

Jones was experimented on by the Navy to penetrate enemy defenses and hack into their mainframes. He was given a lot of cybernetic implants, and he was really, really good. Unfortunately, he was also the property of the Navy, so he had to be rescued by the Lo-Teks, who brought him to Heaven and took care of him.

By the way, there's no way to prepare for the batwild insanity that is the true identity of the mysterious "Jones".

...

He's a freaking dolphin.

Darwin hack you.

Seriously, there's no warning about Jones. The only animals we've seen up to this point are fish in a tank and a single rat in the underground, so it's not even clear that there are still non-vermin/non-food animals in this post-apocalyptic wasteland.

Jones is, thankfully, able to not only stop Karl the Street Preacher, he's also able to unlock Johnny's head and save his life! Jones is literally the most effective character in this movie and he can't even talk.

So what was Johnny carrying that's so important?

What do you think?

It's the cure to NAS, of course. A group of scientists were very upset that Pharmakom was going to bury the cure in favor of continued treatments that barely worked, so they gathered enough money to hire Johnny, crammed the data into his slowly liquifying brain (they didn't know he didn't have enough space), and were promptly slaughtered by the Yakuza.

So thanks to Jones and one very confused Hawaiian, 2021 was saved.

Go watch this freaking movie.

Even knowing what Jones is does not prepare you.

Go Enjoy Something!
FC

Thursday Art Walk 239: Spooooooops

A continuation of bubbles plus a self-descriptive confection!

Today is another gray and dismal day, but at least it's not a freaking deluge plus hailstorm like we had on Tuesday... that was wild. Today it's about 70℉ (~21℃) and humid. The clouds are low and threatening - it'll probably rain while I'm walking this afternoon, tbh. But I still did art!

I was originally only going to do one section of bubbles today, but I had to move onto the next section as well, since the previous cluster ended up terminating inside another cluster... What a cluster...

But yeah, I worked on that, listened to some jazz, and watched some spooky ghost hunting shows. They're easier if I'm not looking directly at the screen, for whatever reason...

So I did more bubbles!!!

Spoopy WIP continues!

You may have noticed that some of the bubble groupings are the same few colors repeated, and that's because I've changed up how I do the inputs. This could be really cool :) I already like how it's coming along!

The other day, however, I was having a conversation with some friends and admitted that I can get grumpy on long trips (it's usually due to not having enough water and/or bathroom breaks). Somehow, that devolved into some fun, gentle teasing and the phrase "grumpmuffin" came into being. Not being one to let a cute idea get away from me, I immediately grabbed my sketchbook and went to work.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you:
Pure, Unadulterated, 100% Grade-A USDA Certified Chocolate Chip Grumpmuffin!

I really like that design and might reuse it at some point to make a painting lol!

That'll about do it for me today,

Go Enjoy Something!
FC

Wednesdaymania 239: Aki Basho Final!

Day 8 - FINAL

What a weird basho, guys! And a long one! Here's how the last week went:

Day 8

• Ishiura (6-1) vs Tokoshouryuu (3-4) [5-3]
  • Fast and simple
  • Tokoshouryuu wins by hatakikomi
  • I(6-2), T(4-4) [5-4]
• Tsurugishou (5-2) vs Tochiouzan (3-4) [0]
  • Another very quick bout with Tochiouzan basically crumpling
  • Tsurugishou wins by hatakikomi
  • Tsu(6-2), Tochi(3-5) [1-0]
• Kagayaki (3-4) vs Toyonoshima (1-6) [1-1]
  • Oof – Toyonoshima hit the dohyo and the floor very hard
  • Kagayaki wins by oshitaoshi
  • K(4-4), T(1-7)[2-1]
• Shouhouzan (4-3) vs Takagenji (2-5) [1-0]
  • Rapid, violent sumo
  • Takagenji tumbled out hard and fast
  • Shouhouzan won by tsukiotoshi
  • S(5-3), T(2-6) [2-0]
• Azumaryuu (4-3) vs Daishouhou (1-6) [1-3]
  • Deliberate sumo
  • Daishouhou bumps Azumaryuu out by yorikiri
  • A(4-4), D(2-6) [1-4]
• Nishikigi (3-4) vs Enhou (5-2) [0-1]
  • Matta
  • Enhou is so tiny by comparison
  • Nishikigi sent Enhou flying and won by oshitaoshi
  • N(4-4), E(5-3) [1-1]
• Yutakayama (3-4) vs Kotoyuuki (3-4) [3-1]
  • Big slappy sumo
  • Yutakayama slammed down Kotoyuuki with a big tsukiotoshi win
  • Y(4-4), K(3-5) [4-1]
• Okinoumi (7-0) vs Ounoshou (3-4) [2-5]
  • Strong, shovey sumo
  • Okinoumi remains undefeated, beating Ounoshou by yorikiri
  • Okinoumi gets his kachikoshi (overall greater wins than losses in a particular basho)
  • Oki(8-0), Ou(3-5) [3-5]
• Kotoshougiku (4-3) vs Sadanoumi (3-4) [5-1]
  • Kotoshougiku went low, but it worked against him
  • Sadanoumi wins by a cakewalk of a yorikiri
  • K(4-4), S(4-4) [5-2]
• Meisei (6-1) vs Kotoekou (3-4) [4-6]
  • As good as Kotoekou is, and he’s really good, Meisei is just on fire this basho
  • Meisei wins by oshidashi
  • M(7-1), K(3-5) [5-6]
• Shimanoumi (2-5) vs Terutsuyoshi (2-5) [2-4]
  • Terutsuyoshi went low and was spun out by Shimanoumi
  • Shimanoumi won by tsukiotoshi
  • S(3-5), T(2-6) [3-4]
• Takarafuji (4-3) vs Miyougiryuu (5-2) [5-1-13]
  • Myougiryuu out with injury
  • Takarafuji gets a fusen victory
  • T(5-3), M(5-3) [6-1-13]
• Daieishou (3-4) vs Ryuuden (2-5) [5-3]
  • These guys started so fast the video missed their tachiai (the moment the match begins)
  • Ryuuden tries to put up a fight
  • Ryuuden remembered his conservation of motion and used Daieishou’s inertia against him to win by yorikiri
  • D(3-5), R(3-5) [5-4]
• Asanoyama (5-2) vs Aoiyama (1-6) [3-3]
  • Aoiyama looks beaten before the match begins
  • Lots of strong strikes and rapid pushing!
  • Asanoyama fights to win by yorikiri
  • Asa(6-2), Aoi(1-7)[4-3]
• Abi (5-2) vs Hokutofuji (1-6) [2-1]
  • I love Abi
  • Sadly, Hokutofuji overpowers Abi to win by yorikiri
  • A(5-3), H(2-6) [2-2]
• Chiyotairyuu (2-5) vs Endou (5-2) [8-7]
  • Endou!
  • Rapid, forceful and violent bout
  • Endou wins via hatakikomi
  • C(2-6), E(6-2) [8-8]
• Mitakeumi (6-1) vs Takakeishou (5-2) [7-4]
  • Both men are Sekiwake rank
  • Takakeishou was like a cannon
  • Takakeishou won by oshidashi
  • M(6-2), T(6-2) [7-5]
• Tomokaze (4-3) vs Goueidou (5-2) [0]
  • Goueidou tries to use his strength against Tomokaze, but it’s not enough
  • Tomokaze uses superior maneuverability and wins by hatakikomi
  • T(5-3), G(5-3) [1-0]
• Tochinoshin (2-5) vs Shoudai (2-5) [6-8]
  • Poor Tochinoshin. He looks wiped.
  • And yet! He managed to beat Shoudai via tsukiotoshi!
  • T(3-5), S(2-6) [7-8]
• Kakuryuu (4-3) vs Tamawashi (4-3) [10-5]
  • Kakuryuu, a Yokozuna (highest rank), is out with an injury
  • Tamawashi wins a fusen victory
  • K(4-4), T(5-3) [10-6]

Day 9

• Wakatakakage (2-6) vs Toyonoshima (1-7) [0-4]
  • I love to say Wakatakekage’s name
  • Wakatakakage won by oshidashi
  • Toyonoshima is now makekoshi (overall losing record for the basho)
  • W(3-6), T(1-8) [1-4]
• Tsurugishou (6-2) vs Takagenji (2-6) [1-4]
  • Tsurugishou was convinced it was a matta and paid the price for his hesitation.
  • Takagenji won by a very confusing yorikiri.
  • I thought it was a matta, too, Tsurugishou.
  • Tsu(6-3), Taka(3-6) [1-5]
• Tochiouzan (3-5) vs Nishikigi (4-4) [2-3]
  • Solid tachiai with good sumo
  • Tochiouzan won by uwatedashinage
  • T(4-5), N(4-5) [3-3]
• Shouhouzan (5-3) vs Ishiura (6-2) [2-1]
  • Ishiura beat himself
  • Shouhouzan won by hatakikomi
  • It seems that going low is the last thing you want these days
  • S(6-3), I(6-3) [3-1]
• Azumaryuu (4-4) vs Enhou (5-3) [3-1]
  • Weak tachiai
  • Enhou looks like a child wrestling Azumaryuu…
  • After a strong bout, the gyoji (referee) points to Enhou, but of course there’s a monoii (juried replay) called.
  • The judges reverse the decision and Azumaryuu wins by abisetaoshi
  • A(5-4), E(5-4) [4-1]
• Sadanoumi (4-4) vs Yutakayama (4-4) [4-2]
  • A short match
  • Yutakayama wins by tsukiotoshi
  • S(4-5), Y(5-4) [4-3]
• Kagayaki (4-4) vs Kotoyuuki (3-5) [1-6]
  • Kagayaki’s relatively long body did him no favors against apple-on-legs Kotoyuuki
  • Kotoyuuki won by tsukidashi
  • Ka(4-5), Ko(4-5) [1-7]
• Yoshikaze retired
• Terutsuyoshi (2-6) vs Daishouhou (2-6) [4-4]
  • a bout that begins with a lean
  • Daishouhou beats Terutsuyoshi by oshidashi
  • T(2-7), D(3-6) [4-5]
• Ounoshou (3-5) vs Kotoekou (3-5) [4-4]
  • very bumpy sumo
  • Kotoekou won by sukuinage
  • O(3-6), K(4-5) [4-5]
• Kotoshougiku (4-4) vs Meisei (7-1) [2-1]
  • Meisei just… powers through Kotoshougiku, winning by sukuinage
  • Meisei is officially Kachikoshi (more than 50% wins) for the rest of the basho
  • M(8-1), K(4-5) [2-2]
• Shimanoumi (3-5) vs Takarafuji (5-3) [1-1]
  • Very strong sumo here
  • Takarafuji beats Shimanoumi by yorikiri
  • S(3-6), T(6-3) [1-2]
• Okinoumi (8-0) vs Ryuuden (3-5) [4-2]
  • fast, violent start to this bout ending with Okinoumi losing by hikiotoshi
  • O(8-1), R(4-5) [4-3]
• Chiyotairyuu (2-6) vs Aoiyama (1-7) [5-7]
  • Aoiyama, barely held together by wishes and dreams, wins by a rapid tsukidashi!
  • C(2-7), A(2-7) [5-8]
• Hokutofuji (2-6) vs Daieishou (3-5) [2-2]
  • Hokutofuji beats Daieishou by oshidashi quickly and efficiently
  • H(3-6), D(3-6) [3-2]
• Abi (5-3) vs Asanoyama (6-2) [3-4]
  • A messy, frenetic bout that, by all rights, should have been Abi’s except that Asanoyama somehow pulled out a sneaky yorikiri win.
  • Abi(5-4), Asa(7-2) [3-5]
• Tamawashi (5-3) vs Takakeishou (6-2) [4-1-6]
  • Takakeishou battles it out with Tamawashi for an oshidashi win
  • Takakeishou only needs 3 more wins to return to his old Ozeki rank
  • Tama (5-4), Taka (7-2) [4-1-7]
• Mitakeumi (6-2) vs Tomokaze (5-3) [0]
  • A pair of violent plums (both with mauve/purple mawashi belts) duke it out.
  • Mitakeumi wins by oshidashi
  • M(7-2), T(5-4) [1-0]
• Tochinoshin (3-5) vs Endou (6-2) [4-1-6]
  • Somehow, Tochinoshi pulled off a win against Endou by hatakikomi
  • It really was a great henka
  • T(4-5), E(6-3)[5-1-6]
• Shoudai (2-6) vs Goueidou (5-3) [5-11]
  • Goueidou just… mauled Shoudai. Guy had no chance.
  • Goueidou wins by oshidashi
  • S(2-7), G(6-3) [5-12]

Day10

• Takagenji (3-6) vs Daiamami (3-6) [3-2]
  • Very impactful tachiai
  • Daiamami wins by hatakikomi
  • T(3-7), D(4-6) [3-3]
• Tochiouzan (4-5) vs Azumaryuu (5-4) [0]
  • matta (Azumaryuu runs in first)
  • Didn’t pay off for Azumaryuu because Tochiouzan wins by katasukasih
  • T(5-5), A(5-5) [1-0]
• Toyonoshima (1-8) vs Nishikigi (4-5) [1-1-1]
  • Toyonoshima is out with a leg injury, poor guy
  • Nishikigi wins by fusen
  • T(1-9), N(5-5) [1-2-1]
• Yutakayama (5-4) vs Daishouhou (3-6) [2-0]
  • Yutakayama methodically wins by tsukidashi
  • Y(6-4), D(3-7) [3-0]
• Tsurugishou(6-3) vs Meisei (8-1) [5-1]
  • Rapid tachiai moves almost straight into some leaning
  • Meisei tried to basically armdrag Tsurugishou out of the dohyo, but Tsurugishou held on, letting Meisei fall!
  • Tsurugishou wins by uwatenage
  • T(7-3), M(8-2) [6-1]
• Terutsuyoshi (2-7) vs Kagayaki (4-5) [0-3]
  • Terutsuyoshi simply has no defense against Kagayaki.
  • Terutsuyoshi’s loss gives him a makekoshi
  • Kagayaki wins by a very easy yorikiri
  • T(2-8), K(5-5) [0-4]
• Ishiura (6-3) vs Kotoyuuki (4-5) [5-3]
  • Kotoyuuki hit Ishiura so hard at the tachiai that the man flew straight up
  • Kotoyuuki wins by tsukidashi
  • I(6-4), K(5-5) [5-4]
• Okinoumi (8-1) vs Sadanoumi (4-5) [10-4]
  • Okinoumi rushes in with great energy, but his strength does not quite match Sadanoumi’s
  • Sadanoumi wins by yoritaoshi
  • O(8-2), S(5-5) [10-5]
• Shouhouzan (6-3) vs Takarafuji (6-3) [11-4]
  • Shouhouzan put a lot of energy into his fight, but Takarafuji had more power behind him
  • Takarafuji wins by oshidashi
  • T(7-3), S(6-4) [11-5]
• Kotoshougiku (4-5) vs Ounoshou (3-6) [6-1]
  • Ounoshou is a guy who is almost always a better sumo than his record might indicate.
  • After a very good fight, Ounoshou wins by oshidashi
  • K(4-6), O(4-6) [6-2]
• Enhou (5-4) vs Kotoekou (4-5) [1-3]
  • Dude, Enhou is one of the best guys to watch
  • This is a very odd bout, very hesitant
  • Enhou takes pity on Kotoekou, who seems lost, and ends the match
  • Enhou wins by yorikiri
  • E(6-4), K(4-6) [2-3]
• Ryuuden (4-5) vs Tomokaze (5-4) [1-0]
  • These two are fantastically well-matched
  • After some fantastic sumo, Ryuuden wins by uwatenage
  • R(5-5), T(5-5) [2-0]
• Shimanoumi (3-6) vs Asanoyama (7-2) [0]
  • Good charge by Asanoyama allowing him to overpower Shimanoumi
  • Asanoyama is kachikoshi and wins by yorikiri
  • S(3-7), A(8-3) [0-1]
• Daieishou (3-6) vs Aoiyama (2-7) [2-6]
  • Look, he has his moments, but Aoiyama might need to retire soon. He’s literally falling apart.
  • While Aoiyama has a size advantage, he cannot muster enough power to push Daieishou off of him
  • Daieishou wins by oshidashi and keeps Aoiyama from falling off the dohyo and injuring himself further
  • D(4-6), A(2-8) [3-6]
• Hokutofuji (3-6) vs Endou (6-3) [2-6]
  • Lightning fast tachiai that seems to favor Endou
  • Hokutofuji quickly turns that around to win by oshidashi, breaking his six-loss streak
  • H(4-6), E(6-4) [3-6]
• Mitakeumi (7-2) vs Tamawashi (5-4) [18-2]
  • You know, I usually find Mitakeumi kind of bland, but he’s really spiced things up this basho
  • Sometimes you just know how a match will go. This is one of those times. I mean, a 9:1 ratio of wins to losses is kind of a strong trend.
  • Tamawashi gave his all, but lands hard
  • Monoii, but there was no hairpull
  • Mitakeumi wins by hatakikomi and is kachikoshi
  • M(8-2), T(5-5) [19-2]
• Shoudai (2-7) vs Takakeishou (7-2) [1-7]
  • Takakeishou is on a six win streak against Shoudai, so it sounds like he’s really figured Shoudai out
  • Yeah, Shoudai has 0 defense against Takakeishou
  • Takakeishou is kachikoshi and wins by oshitaoshi against Shoudai who is makekoshi
  • S(2-8), T(8-2) [1-8]
• Abi (5-4) vs Goueidou (6-3) [1-4]
  • These two are always a pleasure to watch
  • Abi is so hungry for those wins, and Goueidou has that veteran air around him, so it’s always very dynamic, and today was no exception
  • Abi bursts forward with a flurry of blows, defeating a defensive Goueidou by oshidashi
  • A(6-4), G(6-4) [2-4]
• Tochinoshin (4-5) vs Chiyotairyuu (2-7) [7-2]
  • Oh Tochinoshin. I worry about you, dude.
  • This match definitely feels more like the Tochinoshin I’m used to – strong and methodical
  • Tochinoshin heaves Chiyotairyuu out by yorikiri, leaving Chiyotairyuu makekoshi
  • T(5-5), C(2-8) [8-2]

Day 11

• Chiyomaru (6-4) vs Tochiouzan (5-5) [1-4]
  • Chiyomaru is a green-belted wall of flesh, but Tochiouzan finds a chink in his defense!
  • Tochiouzan wins by hatakikomi and gives us some great facial expressions
  • C(6-5), T(6-5) [1-5]
• Yutakayama (6-4) vs Nishikigi (5-5) [2-2]
  • Battle of dark green mawashi
  • This was totally a matta, but the gyoji let it go
  • Yutakayama wins by yorikiri
  • Y(7-4), N(5-6) [3-2]
• Ounoshou (4-6) vs Takagenji (3-7) [0]
  • First meetings are always interesting
  • Ounoshou seems to instinctively know how to wreck Takagenji and wins by yorikiri, dropping Takagenji to makekoshi
  • O(5-6), T(3-8) [1-0]
• Ishiura (6-4) vs Meisei (8-2) [1-2]
  • Oh Ishiura, I wish this would go in your favor
  • But Meisei is a freight train
  • Meisei just mauls Ishiura and wins by yorikiri
  • I(6-5), M(9-2) [1-3]
• Sadanoumi (5-5) vs Kagayaki (5-5) [6-5]
  • Really dynamic sumo
  • Sadanoumi gets his 200^th victory in the Makuuchi division by oshidashi
  • S(6-5), K(5-6) [7-5]
• Azumaryuu (5-5) vs Kotoyuuki (5-5) [4-3]
  • Azumaryuu watches as Kotoyuuki’s momentum carries him off the dohyo
  • Azumaryuu wins by tsukiotoshi
  • A(6-5), K(5-6) [5-3]
• Daishouhou (3-7) vs Takarafuji (7-3) [0-1]
  • very traditional sumo
  • Takarafuji is kachikoshi and wins by uwatedashinage against a makekoshi Daishouhou
  • D(3-8), T(8-3) [0-2]
• Okinoumi (8-2) vs Tsurugishou (7-3) [0]
  • I love how many first meetings there have been in this tournament!
  • Also, I like both of these guys
  • Battle of black mawashi is over in moments
  • Tsurugishou gets his kachikoshi over Okinoumi by katasukashi
  • O(8-3), T(8-3) [0-1]
• Shouhouzan (6-4) vs Kotoekou (4-6) [1-0]
  • Shouhouzan hits like a cannon
  • Leaning match ends with Shouhouzan winning by yorikiri
  • S(7-5), K(4-7) [2-0]
• Kotoshougiku (4-6), Enhou (6-4) [0]
  • Enhou is so much better than his records, but he’s also roughly 1/6 the size of most opponents
  • I’d holler about the submariner style Enhou employs, but he’s so much shorter than everyone that there would be no point. He’s always going to attack low because that’s where he can reach!
  • Enhou wins by yorikiri!
  • K(4-7), E(7-4) [0-1]
• Terutsuyoshi (2-8) vs Myougiryuu (5-3-2) [1-0]
  • Instant match, just add sumo…
  • Myougiryuu wins by tsukiotoshi
  • T(2-9), M(6-3-2) [1-1]
• Daieishou (4-6) vs Shimanoumi (3-7) [0]
  • A very slappy match
  • Shimanoumi wins by tsukiotoshi
  • D(4-7), S(4-7) [0-1]
• Tomokaze (5-5) vs Aoiyama (2-8) [0-1]
  • Tomokaze wins via oshidashi in a fairly nothing match
  • T(6-5), A(2-9) [1-1]
• Hokutofuji (4-6) vs Asanoyama (8-2) [1-2]
  • Good, dynamic sumo!
  • Hokutofuji wins by a very celebratory oshidashi
  • H(5-6), A(8-3) [2-2]
• Shoudai (2-8) vs Endou (6-4) [4-1]
  • Cue pro-wrestling “both these guys!” chant…
  • Slow tachiai
  • Endou shows his strength by beating Shoudai by uwatedashinage
  • S(2-9), E(7-4) [4-2]
• Abi (6-4) vs Tamawashi (5-5) [2-0]
  • Abi continues his trend of kind of falling apart in the second half of a basho
  • His sumo is still good, but almost ginger.
  • Tamawashi wins by tsukiotoshi
  • A(6-5), T(6-5) [2-1]
• Mitakeumi (8-2) vs Ryuuden (5-5) [1-2]
  • Ryuuden continues his “topple the winners” routine by dispatching Mitakeumi via oshidashi
  • M(8-3), R(6-5) [1-3]
• Tochinoshin (5-5) vs Takakeishou (8-2) [2-1-6]
  • It’s a purple mawashi war
  • Takakeishou obliterates not only Tochinoshin but the Gyoji as well, possibly concussing the official!
  • Takakeishou wins by okuritaoshi. Ouch.
  • Tochi(5-6), Taka(9-2) [2-1-7]
• Chiyotairyuu (2-8) vs Goueidou (6-4) [7-8]
  • Man, this just isn’t Chiyotairyuu’s basho…
  • matta (Chiyotairyuu’s nerves got the better of him)
  • Matta (Goueidou might be messing with Chiyotairyuu)
  • Goueidou shows Chiyotairyuu to his seat in the crowd via oshidashi
  • C(2-9), G(7-4) [7-9]

Day 12

• Yutakayama (7-4) vs Chiyoshouma (5-6) [6-3]
  • Battle of black mawashi
  • Good, good match!
  • Very surprising ending, too, with Yutakayama barely staying in and winning by hikkake!
  • Y(8-4), C(5-7) [7-3]
• Takagenji (3-8) vs Nishikigi (5-6) [0-1]
  • Very solid sumo here
  • Takagenji is headed back down to Juryo now
  • Nishikigi wins by yorikiri
  • T(3-9), N(6-6) [0-2]
• Tochiouzan (6-5) vs Daishouhou (3-8) [0-2]
  • Very quick battle of blue mawashi
  • Daishouhou wins by a quick yorikiri. Sometimes you just know your opponent
  • T(6-6), D(4-8) [0-3]
• Ounoshou (5-6) vs Kagayaki (5-6) [4-5]
  • Ounoshou overwhelms Kagayaki by yorikiri for his 100^th top-division win
  • O(6-6), K(5-7) [5-5]
• Sadanoumi (6-5) vs Tsurugishou (8-3) [2-1]
  • Tsurugishou immediately beats Sadanoumi via hatakikomi
  • S(6-6), T(9-3) [2-2]
• Terutsuyoshi (2-9) vs Azumaryuu (6-5) [1-2]
  • Terutsuyoshi does a beautiful henka and beats Azumaryuu by hatakikomi
  • T(3-9), A(6-6) [2-2]
• Shouhouzan (7-4) vs Kotoyuuki (6-5) [3-4]
  • Very feisty sumo! Kotoyuuki is having one of the best bashos I’ve ever seen from him.
  • Kotoyuuki wins by okuridashi
  • S(7-5), K(7-5) [3-5]
• Okinoumi (8-3) vs Meisei (9-2) [2-0]
  • Okinoumi wins by a very tricky oshidashi
  • O(9-3), M(9-3) [3-0]
• Enhou (7-4) vs Takarafuji (8-3) [0]
  • Enhou is 169cm tall and weighs 95kg – that’s 5’6” or 5’7” and 209lbs. Takarafuji, meanwhile, is 186cm and 161.1kg (6’1”, 355lbs)
  • Takarafuji is far closer to the average sumo in height and weight than Enhou
  • While Enhou lost by uwatehineri, it’s actually a fairly close bout
  • I look up to Enhou – no matter how big the foe or how unlikely a victory may be, he gives everything his all. He’s super inspiring!
  • E(7-5), T(9-3) [0-1]
• Ishiura (6-5) vs Kotoekou (4-7) [4-2]
  • A very cool match!
  • Kotoekou wins by yorikiri
  • I(6-6), K(5-7) [4-3]
• Kotoshougiku (4-7) vs Tomokaze (6-5) [0-1]
  • Kotoshougiku came out like a missile and won by yorikiri
  • K(5-7), T(6-6) [1-1]
• Daieishou (4-7) vs Asanoyama (8-3) [6-1]
  • Daieishou fights hard and beats Asanoyama by tsukiotoshi
  • Did Asanoyama hurt his leg?
  • D(5-7), A(8-4) [7-1]
• Hokutofuji (5-6) vs Chiyotairyuu (2-9) [6-2]
  • A flaily, almost scary match!
  • Hokutofuji gets his 5^th straight win by oshidashi
  • H(6-6), C(2-10) [7-2]
• Shimanoumi (4-7) vs Aoiyama (2-9) [1-0]
  • Shimanoumi has no defense against Aoiyama, who finally gets his third win by tsukidashi and gives Shimanoumi his makekoshi
  • S(4-8), A(3-9) [1-1]
• Abi (6-5) vs Shoudai (2-9) [3-4]
  • Abi mows Shoudai down, thrusting him into oblivion by oshidashi
  • A(7-5), S(2-10) [4-4]
• Tamawashi (6-5) vs Endou (7-4) [11-7]
  • With such a long history between these two, you might think you can skip this match.
  • And you’d be wrong, but… Tamawashi still handily won by tsukidashi
  • T(7-5), E(7-5) [12-7]
• Myougiryuu (6-3-2) vs Takakeishou (9-2) [0-6]
  • With as much rest as Myougiryuu has gotten this basho because of sick or inured opponents, I’d expect more stability from him.
  • Takakeishou wins by tsukiotoshi and is again the sole leader this basho!
  • Takakeishou also wins back his Ozeki rank!
  • M(6-4-2), T(10-2) [0-7]
• Ryuuden (6-5) vs Goueidou (7-4) [1-3]
  • I like both these guys, though Ryuuden has been faltering more than I like to see.
  • A very, very late matta. Is that the same ref who took a tumble?
  • Another matta, this one from Ryuuden being a little overeager
  • Again?!
  • Finally a tachiai, and both men are furious
  • Ryuuden’s long legs betray him, giving Goueidou the perfect leverage to beat him by uwatenage for his kachikoshi.
  • Goueidou’s rank has been in danger, but now he’s quite safe and will not lose rank.
  • R(6-6), G(8-4) [1-4]
• Tochinoshin (5-6) vs Mitakeumi (8-3) [8-3]
  • It is the same gyoji who fell yesterday (Inosuke is his name), and he calls a matta here, too
  • Mitakeumi demands they reset again – headgame city
  • Mitakeumi carries Tochinoshin to the edge but prevents him from falling and damaging himself further.
  • Mitakeumi wins by yorikiri – Tochinoshin cannot lose tomorrow or he will lose his Ozeki rank and come down to Sekiwake rank again.
  • T(5-7), M(9-3) [8-4]

Day 13

• Takanoshou (8-4) vs Azumaryuu (6-6) [2-3]
  • Takanoshou may have just returned to the Makuuchi division with this rapid oshidashi win!
  • T(9-4), A(6-7) [3-3]
• Yutakayama (8-4) vs Enhou (7-5) [0]
  • Yutakayama has won his last 5 bouts
  • Enhou fights like mad but falls on Yutakayama’s legs like in his last bout
  • Y(9-4), E(7-6) [1-0]
• Ounoshou (6-6) vs Nishikigi (6-6) [2-2]
  • Two evenly matched men
  • Ounoshou wins by oshidashi
  • O(7-6), N(6-7) [3-2]
• Shouhouzan (7-5) vs Meisei (9-3) [1-1]
  • matta
  • Matta
  • MATTA – and they might be reprimanded for it? I can’t tell if that was a joke
  • Shouhouzan explodes into action and wins by oshitaoshi
  • Shouhouzan is now kachikoshi
  • S(8-5), M(9-4) [2-1]
• Sadanoumi (6-6) vs Takagenji (3-9) [2-0]
  • Christmas mawashi match
  • Takagenji basically slept through that loss
  • Sadanoumi wins by a very easy yorikiri
  • S(7-6), T(3-10) [3-0]
• Tochiouzan (6-6) vs Kotoyuuki (6-6) [5-2]
  • Tochiouzan really does look like he’s in The Godfather
  • Is he going to be the new Takayasu (facially)?
  • He does not have a defense against Kotoyuuki, unfortunately, and loses by tsukidashi, which puts his rank in jeopardy.
  • T(6-7), K(7-6) [5-3]
• Terutsuyoshi (3-9) vs Ishiura (6-6) [2-3]
  • Ishiura needs a win, he’s lost his last 5 bouts
  • Beautiful henka from Ishiura, who wins by hatakikomi
  • T(3-10), I(7-6) [2-4]
• Tsurugishou (9-3) vs Takarafuji (9-3) [0]
  • Takarafuji is on a 7-win streak!
  • Trust Tsurugishou to bust a streak – he wins by sukuinage!
  • Tsu(10-3), Taka(9-4) [1-0]
• Okinoumi (9-3) vs Kagayaki (5-7) [2-0]
  • Okinoumi looks quite pleased with himself…
  • Okinoumi wins by hatakikomi, handing Kagayaki a makekoshi
  • O(10-3), K(5-8) [3-0]
• Daishouhou (4-8) vs Kotoekou (5-7) [6-6]
  • very strong sumo here!
  • Lots of belt maneuvering
  • Eventually, all good things come to an end, and Kotoekou wins by yorikiri, possibly sending Daishouhou back to Juryo next basho
  • D(4-9), K(6-7) [6-7]
• Daieishou (5-7) vs Chiyotairyuu (2-10) [2-9]
  • Chiyotairyuu has lost 5 in a row so far
  • And gets a sixth loss via yorikiri
  • D(6-7), C(2-11) [3-9]
• Tamawashi (7-5) vs Asanoyama (8-4) [3-0]
  • Two good sumo fighting each other
  • lots of thrusting and shoving
  • Asanoyama wins by tsukiotoshi
  • T(7-6), A(9-4) [3-1]
• Shoudai (2-10) vs Aoiyama (3-9) [4-2]
  • Shoudai is on an 8-bout losing streak
  • Both of these men are having a very bad time
  • Somehow, Aoiyama manages to beat Shoudai by tsukiotoshi
  • S(2-11), A(4-9) [4-3]
• Hokutofuji (6-6) vs Tomokaze (6-6) [0]
  • Hokutofuji is on fire, since he’s won the last 5 bouts he’s had
  • What a rough match!
  • Hokutofuji blazes through Tomokaze for an oshidashi victory
  • Tomokaze is in danger of his first career makekoshi
  • H(7-6), T(6-7) [1-0]
• Kotoshougiku (5-7) vs Endou (7-5) [7-4]
  • Explosive tachiai!
  • Endou somehow pulls out an uwatenage win!
  • K(5-8), E(8-5, kachikoshi) [7-5]
• Abi (7-5) vs Shimanoumi (4-8) [1-0]
  • Come on Abi!
  • Abi goes for the throat and lets Shimanoumi run himself out of the dohyo for a hikiotoshi victory
  • A(8-5, kachikoshi), S(4-9) [2-0]
• Mitakeumi (9-3) vs Myougiryuu (6-4-2) [2-3]
  • While the gyoji points to Mitakeumi, a monoii is called, and rightfully so. That was very close!
  • On further review, Mitakeumi was very much the winner via oshidashi!
  • Mitake(10-3), Myou(6-5-2) [3-3]
• Tochinoshin (5-7) vs Ryuuden (6-6) [1-1]
  • It’s quite the battle, and Tochinoshin remains Ozeki. Today.
  • Tochinoshin wins via yorikiri
  • T(6-7), R(6-7) [2-1]
• Takakeishou (10-2) vs Goueidou (8-4) [3-7]
  • Takakeishou is having a good 5-win streak here
  • But Goueidou SMASH
  • Goueidou wins by uwatenage
  • T(10-3), G(9-4) [3-8]

Day 14

• Ishiura (7-6) vs Wakatakakage (7-5) [2-2]
  • The winner of this bout is Kachikoshi for the basho
  • Wakatakakage is actually a visitor up from Juryo division, since two of the other people in the tournament had to bow out of the Makuuchi division.
  • Rough sumo, but Wakatakakage wins by oshidashi!
  • I(7-7), W(8-5) [2-3]
• Shouhouzan (8-5) vs Azumaryuu (6-7) [0]
  • Black Mawashi Melee
  • What a confusing oshidashi victory for Shouhouzan. Azumaryuu is now makekoshi
  • S(9-5), A(6-8) [1-0]
• Ounoshou (7-6) vs Yutakayama (9-4) [4-3]
  • A fast, fun bout with Ounoshou getting his kachikoshi over Yutakayama by oshidashi
  • O(8-6), Y(9-5) [5-3]
• Tochiouzan (6-7) vs Enhou (7-6) [1-1]
  • Enhou wins this spirited bout by oshidashi and gets his kachikoshi!
  • Unfortunately for Tochiouzan, this likely means he’s back down to the Juryo division for the first time in 12.5 years :(
  • T(6-8), E(8-6) [1-2]
• Terutsuyoshi (3-10) vs Takagenji (3-10) [5-4]
  • What a bad basho for these two
  • The dohyo is also super slippery
  • Very cool match!
  • Their sumo is much better than their records
  • Takagenji finally beats Terutsuyoshi by yorikiri – but also gives him a bloody nose.
  • Teru(3-11), Taka(4-10) [5-5]
• Tsurugishou (10-3) vs Kotoyuuki (7-6) [2-0]
  • Kotoyuuki did not want Tsurugishou to be 11-3, so he beats him by violent tsukidashi
  • Kotoyuuki is now kachikoshi
  • T(10-4), K(8-6) [2-1]
• Kagayaki (5-8) vs Kotoekou (6-7) [7-2]
  • Kotoekou pulls a bullfighter and lets Kagayaki soar into the stands with a hikiotoshi
  • Kaga(5-9), Koto(7-7) [7-3]
• Shimanoumi (4-9) vs Sadanoumi (7-6) [0-1]
  • Skull collision on tachiai
  • Sadanoumi wins the noumi battle with an okurdashi victory
  • Shima(4-10), Sada(8-6) [0-2]
• Chiyotairyuu (2-11) vs Daishouhou (4-9) [0-1]
  • Chiyotairyuu is up, and then he’s down and out by hatakikomi.
  • Daishouhou wins.
  • C(2-12), D(5-9) [0-2]
• Nishikigi (6-7) vs Shoudai (2-11) [2-4]
  • Shoudai reads Nishikigi like a book and guides him safely out of the dohyo
  • Shoudai wins by yorikiri
  • N(6-8), S(3-11) [2-5]
• Daieishou (6-7) vs Meisei (9-4) [2-0]
  • Daieishou wins by oshidashi
  • D(7-7), M(9-5), [3-0]
• Tomokaze (6-7) vs Asanoyama (8-5) [1-1]
  • Strong start, but Tomokaze stumbles soon after
  • The two have a staggering finish
  • Asanoyama wins by uwatenage, handing Tomokaze his first career makekoshi
  • T(6-8), A(8-5) [1-2]
• Hokutofuji (7-6) vs Tamawashi (7-6) [3-5]
  • Winner of this match is kachikoshi
  • Hokutofuji wins by oshidashi and is kachikoshi
  • H(8-6), T(7-7) [4-5]
• Kotoshougiku (5-8) vs Aoiyama (4-9) [14-8]
  • I think I know how this is going to go…
  • But NO! Aoiyama wins by hatakikomi after a lovely little henka
  • K(5-9), A(5-9) [14-9]
• Abi (8-5) vs Takarafuji (9-4) [3-3]
  • Abi quickly overpowers Takarafuji by tsukidashi!
  • A(9-5), T(9-5) [4-3]
• Okinoumi (10-3) vs Endou (8-5) [4-8]
  • I don’t know that this is a proper match, and I feel there should have been a monoii
  • Somehow, Okinoumi is the winner by yorikiri?
  • O(11-3), E(8-6) [5-8]
• Ryuuden (6-7) vs Takakeishou (10-3) [0-2]
  • Takakeishou easily beats Ryuuden and hands him his makekoshi
  • Takakeishou wins by oshidashi
  • R(6-8), T(11-3) [0-3]
• Mitakeiumi (10-3) vs Goueidou (9-4) [6-9]
  • Mitakeumi give Goueidou the ol’ henka and wins by hatakikomi
  • M(11-3), G(9-5) [7-9]
• Tochinoshin (6-7) vs Myougiryuu (6-5-2) [12-9]
  • By all rights, Tochinoshin should smoke Myougiryuu like a kipper…
  • But he steps out almost immediately and doesn’t notice until the gyoji stops him
  • Tochinoshin loses his Ozeki rank (again) by yorikiri.
  • T(6-8, makekoshi), M(7-5-2) [12-10]

Day 15

• Takagenji (4-10) vs Chiyoshouma (6-8) [0]
  • Chiyoshouma was watching all the henkas yesterday and follows suit, beating Takagenji by hatakikomi
  • T(4-11), C(7-8) [0-1]
• Kagayaki (5-9) vs Azumaryuu (6-8) [3-3]
  • very impactful tachiai
  • Kagayaki handily beats Azumaryuu by oshidashi and may have sent him back to the Juryo division.
  • K(6-9), A(6-9) [4-3]
• Shouhouzan (9-5) vs Yutakayama (9-5) [2-0]
  • Yutakayama has an uncharacteristic belt-based victory today by yorikiri!
  • S(9-6), Y(10-5) [2-1]
• Ounoshou (8-6) vs Tsurugishou (10-4) [5-3]
  • Tsurugishou has been awarded the fighting spirit prize, or kanto-sho
  • But Ounoshou cannot let anyone enjoy their victories and continues his winning streak with an oshitaoshi win (his sixth win in a row)
  • O(9-6), T(10-5) [6-3]
• Sadanoumi (8-6) vs Enhou (8-6) [1-1]
  • Evenly matched in stats, and nearly in size
  • Enhou also gets a belt-based victory today by spinning Sadanoumi out via shitatenage
  • S(8-7), E(9-6) [1-2]
• Terutsuyoshi (3-11) vs Nishikigi (6-8) [1-1]
  • Terutsuyoshi pulled off a rare finishing move – sakatottari – and won!
  • T(4-11), N(6-9) [2-1]
• Kotoshougiku (5-9) vs Tochiouzan (6-8) [19-20]
  • Such a long history between these two, and Tochiouzan still looks like an out-of-place extra from The Godfather…
  • Sadly, Tochiouzan cannot win and is sent back to Juryo by oshidashi.
  • K(6-9), T(6-9) [20-20]
• Shimanoumi (4-10) vs Daishouhou (5-9) [1-9]
  • Daishouhou thought he’d won early on, but failed
  • Shimanoumi wins by uwatedashinage
  • S(5-10), D(5-10) [2-9]
• Kotoyuuki (8-6) vs Shoudai (3-11) [1-2]
  • Very good sumo here!
  • Kotoyuuki puts Shoudai to bed by kotenage
  • K(9-6), S(3-12) [2-2]
• Tamawashi (7-7) vs Ishiura (7-7) [0]
  • A first meeting and a make/kachi match (winner is kachikoshi, loser is makekoshi)? Awesome!
  • Aaaand it’s a matta
  • Ishiura flails his way to a befuddled yorikiri win!
  • T(7-8), I(8-7) [0-1]
• Chiyotairyuu (2-12) vs Tomokaze (6-8) [1-0]
  • Tomokaze wins by hatakikomi in this nearly non-match
  • C(2-13), T(7-8) [1-1]
• Daieishou (7-7), Kotoekou (7-7) [3-1]
  • Another make/kachi match
  • Good sumo!
  • Daieishou wins by oshidashi!
  • D(8-7), K(7-8) [4-1]
• Meisei (9-5), Asanoyama (10-4) [0-2]
  • Asanoyama won the outstanding performance prize, or shukun-sho
  • So of course Meisei has to spoil his good mood by winning via yorikiri.
  • M(10-5), A(10-5) [1-2]
• Ryuuden (6-8) vs Aoiyama (5-9) [1-4]
  • If you’d asked me at the beginning of this basho whether I believed Aoiyama would have 5 wins, I’d have laughed, but here we are.
  • Thankfully, Ryuuden remembers to use Aoiyama’s bulk against him and wins by hikkake
  • R(7-8), A(5-10) [2-4]
• Hokutofuji (8-6) vs Takarafuji (9-5) [2-3]
  • Hokutofuji wins the fuji fight via a very slippery oshidashi
  • H(9-6), T(9-6) [3-3]
• Abi (9-5) vs Myougiryuu (7-5-2) [2-1]
  • Abi beats himself, but the gyoji points to him… monoii
  • It turns into a torinaoshi redo. Did Abi injure his foot?
  • Matta
  • Feels like highway robbery when Myougiryuu gets his kachikoshi and wins by yorikiri.
  • A(9-6), M(7-6-2) [2-2]
• Okinoumi (11-3) vs Takakeishou (11-3) [1-3]
  • What a pairing
  • Takakeishou overpowers Okinoumi for an oshidashi victory
  • O(11-4), T(12-3) [1-4]
• Mitakeumi (11-3) vs Endou (8-6) [5-4]
  • Mitakeumi easily slides Endou out of the ring by oshidashi!
  • We have a playoff!
  • M(12-3), E(8-7) [6-4]
• Tochinoshin (6-8) vs Goueidou (9-5) [10-17]
  • oof.
  • See you next basho, Tochinoshin. You’ll be Sekiwake instead of Ozeki :(
  • Goueidou wins by yorikiri.
  • T(6-9), G(10-6) [10-18]
• PLAYOFF: Mitakeumi (12-3) vs Takakeishou (12-3) [5-7]
  • Winner gets the yusho! (Tournament win!)
  • Violent start leads to Mitakeumi winning his second yusho!
  • Mitakeumi wins by yorikiri!
  • M(13-3!), T(12-4) [6-7]

What a great basho, though a very bizarre one! Stay tuned, because next week I’m going to post a quick document on all of the Japanese terms I used here as well as next week’s wrestling blog!

Go Enjoy Something!
FC